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Inspiration Of George Scott Railton
by Steve Bussey
Commissioner George Scott Railton is
such an inspiration. Many do not realize how significant his
contributions were to the founding and formation of The
Salvation Army. From his prolific writings to his first drafts
of Orders and Regulations, his theological insights alongside
Catherine Booth, his relentless work ethic, his extensive and
unparalleled global travel, and his multiplicity of languages
mastered - it is hard to begin to capture all that this one
man did for spreading the blood and fire gospel to the ends of
the earth!
And yet, he was also considered an
oddball and iconoclast. Frederick Booth-Tucker called him,
"one of nature's thoroughbreds who required neither whip nor
spur" - but, left to his own devices could throw the whole
mission off a cliff, except for the "iron hand in a velvet
glove of the Booths which held the reins" and channeled his
idiosyncrasies into productive kingdom building.
Bramwell Booth eventually stepped into
the role that Railton was fulfilling as second-in-command
(Chief of Staff), and Railton was gracious to empower him in
this role.
Demonstrating ultimate humility, he
knew that what mattered most was the glory of God and the
salvation of the world.
In his biography of William Booth,
published a mere eight months before he himself was "promoted
to Glory" on a train in Germany, Railton said the following:
"The organization of The Army has been,
and is, in all countries a steady, careful development. But it
has only been made possible by continual maintenance of a
complete confidence in God for the needed supplies of wisdom
and grace to enable each to submit to others for Christ’s
sake, to bear and forbear for the good of the whole Army,
seeking ever to learn to do better, and yet being willing to
be forgotten, and even to be undervalued and misunderstood, by
a superior, for Christ’s sake.
The teaching and enjoyment of this
great blessing, with all the deliverance from self-seeking and
pride which it brings, has made it possible to go on imposing
more and more of regulation and discipline on all sorts of men
and women without either souring their spirit or transforming
The Army’s system into mere machinery. The Army will go on to
carry out its Founder’s purpose better and better the more it
learns how to sit constantly at the feet of the one great
Master."
- George Scott Railton. (1912). General
Booth. London: Hodder & Stoughton. p.71.
What an inspiration! What a role model!
May we all seek to trust fully in God's confidence and place
no value on the applause or recognition of people - living
"soli deo gloria" - for the glory of God alone!
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