English evangelist Rodney "Gipsy" Smith was born in 1860 and died in 1947. His evangelistic ministry spanned various continents and seven decades. During the time this book was written (1901) he was the missioner for the National Free Church Council. He continued this work until 1912. Under the auspices of the YMCA he ministered to soldiers in World War I for which he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire by King George V. He continued to hold evangelistic/revival meetings until shortly before his death.