were, "Boys, there is a grand work for you to do,
I believe." Railton's brother, Lancelot, was also
a Methodist minister. Railton worked as a clerk
for a shipping company but felt the urge to
travel. He traveled to Morocco as a missionary
but soon returned. Railton read a copy of the
Christian Mission report, "How to reach the
masses with the Gospel," by William Booth,
and soon joined the Mission. Railton became an
ally of Catherine Booth and lived with the
Booth family. He was loyal to the Mission and
committed to its efforts, serving as its secretary
tions and opening foreign lands to Army work.
Railton was there alongside Bramwell and Wil-
liam Booth when the name was changed from
lujah Lassies.* They sailed on the SS Australia
and arrived on U.S. soil on March 10, 1880.
Marching down the gangplank, they flew the
(a.k.a Ashbarrel Jimmy), a notorious alcoholic
who turned his life around. After a few months
in New York, Railton, the Army's first Commis-
sioner, went to St. Louis to open the work in
unsuccessful, and he was called back to
London. En route to home, Railton landed
in Halifax, Canada, and hosted the first
meetings there in 1881.
continued, and he conducted
campaigns in the Nether-
lands, Africa, Russia and
South America. Railton
also served as Terri-
torial Commander
in Germany and
work in Japan and China.
his journeys around the world, dying in 1913.
His wife received his last letter after his death.
He wrote: "I am having the ride of my life. The
beauty of all that I see is beyond description."
Railton was buried beside Catherine and Wil-
liam Booth in Abney Park Cemetery in London
as their loyal ambassador. His legacy can be
found in many Salvationists in their passion for
travel and commitment to helping others.
Lancelot and Margaret Railton. He was