Biggest Crowd Ever Assembled in Rushden
Thousands of People Cheer the Veteran Warrior
The General in Tears at Rushden
Both Rushden and Higham Ferrers gave a right royal welcome yesterday morning to General Booth, the grand old leader of the Salvation Army. Never before has so great a crowd of people been seen in Rushden, practically the whole town turned out to do honour to the hero of a struggle which has lasted half-a-century. Many of the factories closed for the time-being, and the children from the various day schools were lined along the whole route. The crowd was estimated at 10,000 or 12,000, but it is impossible to arrive at any accurate figures. One of the officers accompanying the General informed a representative of "The Rushden Echo" that the reception at Rushden was the finest they had had in any town the same size and that the crowd was the largest.
Getting the General to Rushden
No definite steps having been taken by the public authority to urge the General to make a halt at Rushden, the editor of "The Rushden Echo" wrote on Monday, July 8th, to Colonel Eadie, who has charge of the touring arrangements, and the following reply was received:-
| In reply to your letter of the 8th inst, I beg to say that I regret our inability to promise definitely that the General can stop in Rushden for a few minutes to speak to the people on our way through on the 18th inst, owing to the difficulty that time makes.
However, I will remember your desire, and if it is at all possible we will arrange it, but, as yoiu may know, we are due to leave Bedford at 9am and to arrive at Wellingborough at 10.30, with a promised stop at Higham Ferrers for ten minutes. The distance we have to travel is 23+ miles, and you will understand that we cannot travel at a greater pace than we have arranged.
We will, however, do our best in the matter.
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A further letter was written by the editor to Colonel Eadie, pointing out that Rushden contained
and was the fifth largest town in Northamptonshire, and showing that the General would have to pass the Green and need not leave his car, in response, the following letter was received:-
| Chas Cross, Esq
Dear Sir, I am instructed by Colonel Eadie to say that he cannot make any promise to you that the General will stay at Rushden. You made your appeal too late to arrange anything definite, but if there is a good crowd of people you may expect the General may stop for a minute or two.
Yours faithfully,
John Wm Allen, Staff Captain.
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This, of course, was sufficient justification for collecting a crowd.
The General and the Children
On Wednesday Mr J T Colson and Mr John Claridge, chairman and vice-chairman of the Rushden School Managers, consulted the head-teachers of the day schools, and decided to take the scholars to various points where they would be able to see the General. The scholars of the National School were massed on the high pavement of High Street South, and as he motored into Rushden the General stopped and spoke a few words to them.
The General's Arrival
By 9am thousands of people were assembling on and near the Green, and by 9.30 probably 8,000 or 10,000, young and old, were eagerly awaiting the General. Inspector Cameron, PS Judge, and the staff of police kept good order. The Salvation Army band rendered some good selections of music, including "Jerusalem, my happy home" and "The Southall March." Soon after 9.45 the General and his party, accompanying five passenger motor cars, besides one for luggage, entered Rushden by the Bedford Road. Near the Green the road was absolutely impassable by reason of the dense crowd, who cheered enthusiastically as the motor cars drew up. The General was manifestly surprised by the cordiality of his reception, no less than by the unexpectedly large concourse of people.
Mr Ballard's Welcome
Mr F Ballard, JP, chairman of the Rushden Urban Council, officially welcomed the General. He said:
"General Booth, Dear Sir, As chairman of the Rushden Urban Council, and on behalf of the members of that Council, I wish to extend to you a very cordial welcome to our town and to state how deeply we appreciate the good work you are carrying on. We are not in a position to extend to you a civic welcome, as our friends at Higham Ferrers are doing, but, notwithstanding that, our welcome is most cordial. We deeply appreciate the good week you are doing and we wish you God-speed on the journey you are now undertaking on behalf of the moral and spiritual well-being of the community."
Mr Ballard then shook hands with the General on behalf of the town.
The General's Speech
General Booth, speaking from his car, in clear distinct tones, said:
"My Dear Friends, I feel you are my friends, and I need not say what pleasure it would give me to stay and speak to you for little season on the things which lie so near my heart, and which have to do so intimately with your present happiness and the happiness of those who are dependent upon you, and which have so much to do with your future welfare in this world and in the world to come. But I have not a very long time to stay here, and I can do no more than express my thankfulness, my gratitude, for the interest you feel in my personally and in the movement which God Almighty has called me to direct, and which has been made so great a blessing to so many thousands, so many tens of thousands, so many
Hundreds of Thousands
of the working men and women all round the world. All I can say to you is - Look to yourselves. Think about your own heart. Do those things which will make the most for your own personal happiness. Look well to your own interests. Do well for yourselves in this world and in the world to come, and then give yourselves over to think about other people's sorrows and trials and difficulties, and try and be a friend to those who are friendless, try and help those who have none to sympathise with them, and so shall you be happy. If you will be a friend to your fellows, especially to the lost, the suffering, the sad, and if you will be the friend of Jehovah, and if you will answer to ends for which Jesus Christ died on the cross and will so shape your lives that they shall be a blessing to those around you, you will be real Salvationists, whether you wear my uniform or not, and whether you fight under my banner or not. We will all fight together for the glory of God, and at last God shall lead us to the Everlasting City. God bless the children! God bless the fathers and the mothers! Oh, you fathers! you fathers! you fathers!
Think About Your Children,
and shape your course for their future well-being, and then it will be for your happiness when you lay down to die, and when you rise again in the resurrection morning and meet me at the great Bar. The blessing of God be upon Rushden and upon you all".
The General's speech, which was heard distinctly by a large portion of the crowd, made a deep impression.
Mr Ballard and other prominent townspeople then shook hands with the General, the call was given, and the motors were soon rolling towards Higham Ferrers.
In his progress through the streets of Rushden the General was in tears as he saw the thousands of merry school children waving their hands to him.
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