The Death of Catherine
The death of Catherine, William Booth’s devoted wife for 35 years, was a savage blow to both William and the Salvation Army worldwide. William might have been the General but Catherine was the “Army Mother.” She not only served her husband faithfully but in her own right broke new ground constantly.
Catherine was laid in state and over the next five days, more than 50,000 people filed past. They came from every walk of life. Salvation Army Captains walked next to chimney sweeps and lawyers followed boot polishers.
Olympia Hall packed in 36,000 people for the actual funeral. The service was unlike any other ever held in London. Flags from every nation the Army had reached flew over the gathering. White streamers fluttered from the stage and in true Army style, everyone wore a white armband to symbolise victory (and not black to symbolise mourning).
Catherine’s last message was read out. “My place is empty but my heart is still with you. You are my joy and crown. Your battles, sufferings and victories have been the chief interest of my life for these twenty five years. They still are … I am dying under the Army flag, and it is yours to live and fight under. God is my salvation and refuge in the storm.”
The funeral procession took four hours to reach the cemetery. Several of the Booth children spoke before William stood to his feet. “What then is there left for me to do? My work is plainly to fill up the weeks, days and hours and cheer my poor heart as I go along with the thought that when I have served my Christ and my generation according to the will of God – which I vow this afternoon I shall do with the last drop of my blood – then I trust that He will bid me to the skies as He bade her.” William then bent down and gently kissed Catherine’s coffin.
God’s pathway for you is holy ground, sanctified by Christ’s blood and His unceasing desire that you fulfil your destiny. Suffering will be part of that pathway. It was for Jesus and it will be for you. Keep walking. Don’t be put off. Don’t turn to the left or the right. Walk straight. You walk for Christ and for His glory.