Manuscript journal of a Lieutenant of the Geneva Corps of the Salvation Army, written during the 'Swiss Expedition' of William Booth's daughter Catherine ('la Maréchale'), including an account of her arrest following the funeral of Charles Wyssa.

In English. 12mo, 344 pp. Nineteen lines to the page. In original binding, covered with modern imitation red watered silk. Original green endpapers. Text clear and complete, in pen and pencil. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Written entirely in English, except for the first page: 'Journal intime du Lieutenant R. G. Ther | 27 Juin au 31 Dec. 1883. | Genève - Chambery - Rolle.' This first-hand account of la Maréchale's controversial 'Swiss Expedition' is an important document in the history of the Salvation Army. According to Catherine Booth-Clibborn's entry in the New DNB, when she and her husband-to-be Arthur Clibborn 'attempted to extend Salvation Army operations to Switzerland in 1882–3 she ignored her father's pleas for moderation, deliberately flouted a decree against holding army meetings, and was arrested outside Neuchâtel. She was tried, acquitted, and deported from Switzerland'. William Booth's biographer David Malcolm Bennett points out that 'it was strangely in peace-loving Switzerland that the Salvation Army encountered its most vehement opposition from officialdom as well as a high level of violence'. These events - including la Maréchale's arrest at the funeral of eighteen year-old convert Charles Wyssa, perhaps 'the first to die for the cause' (Baker), after receiving a severe beating from work-mates for joining the Army - are fully represented in this clear, well-written and entertaining account. Forever 'turning out' early in the morning, and always brim full of optimism, the indefatigable author travels to prayer meetings, lodges with sympathisers, pays visits, and folds many copies of the French-language equivalent of 'The War Cry' - 'En Avant' - for sale. Early on in the journal are translations by the diarist of two newspaper articles describing the sect's activities. As the journal opens the diarist is based in Rolle, travelling on 28 June 1883 to Geneva: 'I was very pleased to be amongst all my dear Sergeants again. The same brilliant faces, and the same earnest devotion.' Having returned to Rolle, 2 July, the diarist reports 'evident signs of excitement among the population': 'Charles Wurlod [with whom he is lodging] asked me not to have a meeting in his house for that night as his tenants were getting very frightened and I think he was himself as well. | So we arranged for a little consecration among ourselves at Golay's without any singing so as not to excite the population. [...] We had one of the most glorious Consecration meetings I have ever been in in my life. About 20 of us present stood up to consecrate ourselves afresh to the Lord, even if it were necessary to die for Him. The Devil was working outside, by 10 O'Clock an immense crowd had assembled in front of the house, and as the women who were in our meeting left, the crowd amused itself by throwing buckets of water upon them. - Liberti et Patrie - And then a fearful bombardment of the house commenced. Stones were brought in a cart for the purpose. The door was burst open, windows and shutters smashed. This lasted till nearly one O'Clock in the morning.' Entry for 7 July opens: 'Although during the week it seemed as though a black crowd [sic] was hanging over our work at Rolle, yet it became blacker during the afternoon when a gendarme brought a letter to Mr Golays from the Prefet informing him that the reunions of the Armée du Salut where [sic] completely interdis.' Entry for 15 July describes a 'tremendous long walk in company with a band of Salvationists [...] We spent a most joyous time together'. 7 August is 'Another Glorious day', with the opening of the sect's 'new hall at [rue] Chanoines': 'At night we had a still more glorious sight the Hall packed out'. 5 August marks 'The Visit of the 1st. Corps Vaudois to Geneva'. Entry of 8 August begins: 'Walked up in the morning with Colonel to see Charles Wyssa. Spent a most useful time together.' Describes the Colonel's comments on 'healing by faith'. On 16 August a scandal is brewing: 'I feel myself in a very difficult position with respect to the Major. I wish I knew more about the affair. I seem to have done my duty in the case. I have informed the Colonel and he has told the Maréchale, but I have not the slightest knowledge if she has been told anything, or even if she knows anything about it.' 18 August is a 'Happy Day!' The diarist travels to Lausanne to meet the Maréchale: 'Found the Maréchale & Miss Charlesworth there looking very tired and knocked up. We all took train to-gether to Gland'. Three days later the diarist sups with the Maréchale at Genollier, and on 29 August the diarist walks with the Colonel, and 'the whole truth of the thing burst upon me. But the Lord helped me to hear it, altho' at times it was hard'. The Colonel takes the diarist 'to Genollier with him to see the Maréchale about the affair. In spite of the awful trial this proved to be for me yet I cannot help but thank the Lord for it all, for it has brought me nearer to the Maréchale and to the Colonel'. 30 August describes a meeting of the Maréchale with 'The Officers of the Swiss Expedition'. The entry for 10 September is headed 'Charles Wyssa's Funeral. | Arrest of Marshal and Miss [Maud] Charlesworth.' It begins 'So this was the first Salvationist funeral that I had ever attended in my life. We all met together in the garden at Wyssa's so familiar to me.' The service is led by the Colonel in the garden, 'where officers and soldiers together with the Marechale were gathered around the coffin of our dear soldier. It was a most impressive moment. But even [sic] Swiss intolerance broke out even at a funeral. The Mayor of the commune of Chene came and said in the name of the law he dispersed the meeting, of course it made no difference to us, for we went on burying our dead as if nothing had happened. The celebrated Mrs Josephine Butler who was present then spoke and the procession was formed headed of the different officers.' The funeral is described, following which the Maréchale and Miss Charlesworth 'were arrested. This of course caused great excitement, they drove off to the Hotel de Ville amid <?> Amens! [...] The detective who had arrested them was there, having seen them safely across the frontier which meant in this case safely across the road.' The journal continues with a detailed account of the religious trials and triumphs of the narrator. On 6 October there is a description of a political meeting at a theatre, in which 'the deputy for Chambery' - 'evidently a radical' - addressed the electors. The last entry, penned on 31 December, is written with typical good-humour and optimism: 'I was in Geneva this time last year and find myself still here although certainly I had been through other scenes of battle since then. | Great blessing had been flooding down upon us during teh whole of the Christmas week and now we were to have still <?> ones during the New Year. We had a half night of prayer a watch night in our little hall it was a most blessed time, the Lord down the Spirit upon us in preparation for the battle and struggle of the year we just entered upon. Glory to His Name. May I serve Him with more faithfulness more wholeheartedness during 1884 then I have done during 1883. Lord help me.'?>?>