thought of praying, much less of speaking, in public.

'Since you can pray so beautifully, will you come and talk to us on our
special Prayer-Meeting night?' some of the people asked. But Mrs. Booth
was horrified.

'Of course, I said "No,"' she wrote. 'I don't know what they can be
thinking of.'

Just at this time an argument began in one of the newspapers as to
whether women had the right to speak for God or not. Mrs. Booth wrote an
answer to this question you can read it for yourself in her book,
'Practical Religion'--and she showed from God's Word, that women have the
same right to help to get people saved that the men have. The little
pamphlet was already printed and being widely read, and our Army Mother
lay alone in her room very ill, when the thought flashed into her soul,
'You have been helping other women to preach and to speak for God. What
about yourself?'

'Oh, no, Lord, not me; I can't. I am, as Thou knowest, the most timid and
bashful disciple ever saved by grace.' That was her answer.

Then the Lord took her back to the days when she first gave herself to
Him, at the age of fifteen. He showed her that all the way along this one
thing had hindered and stopped her from 'being the blessing or from
getting the blessing He intended.'

'Lord,' she cried, 'if Thou wilt come back to me as in the old days, I
will obey, though I die in the attempt.'