第5章
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  ThatStateactionalwayshasbeenmoreorlessmisdirected,andalwayswillbeso,is,Ibelieve,perfectlytrue。ButIamnotawarethatitismoretrueoftheactionofmenintheircorporatecapacitythanitisofthedoingsofindividuals。Thewisestandmostdispassionatemaninexistence,merelywishingtogofromonestileinafieldtotheopposite,willnotwalkquitestraight——heisalwaysgoingalittlewrong,andalwayscorrectinghimself;andIcanonlycongratulatetheindividualistwhoisabletosaythathisgeneralcourseoflifehasbeenofalessundulatorycharacter。ToabolishStateaction,becauseitsdirectionisnevermorethanapproximatelycorrect,appearstometobemuchthesamethingasabolishingthemanatthewheelaltogether,because,dowhathewill,theshipyawsmoreorless。“WhyshouldIberobbedofmypropertytopayforteachinganotherman’schildren?“isanindividualistquestion,whichisnotunfrequentlyputasifitsettledthewholebusiness。Perhapsitdoes,butIfinddifficultiesinseeingwhyitshould。TheparishinwhichIlivemakesmepaymyshareforthepavingandlightingofagreatmanystreetsthatIneverpassthrough;[230]andImightpleadthatIamrobbedtosmooththewayandlightenthedarknessofotherpeople。ButIamafraidtheparochialauthoritieswouldnotletmeoffonthisplea;

  andImustconfessIdonotseewhytheyshould。

  Icannotspeakofmyownknowledge,butIhaveeveryreasontobelievethatIcameintothisworldasmallreddishperson,certainlywithoutagoldspooninmymouth,andinfactwithnodiscernibleabstractorconcrete“rights“orpropertyofanydescription。Ifafootwasnotsetuponme,atonce,asasquallingnuisance,itwaseitherthenaturalaffectionofthoseaboutme,whichIcertainlyhaddonenothingtodeserve,orthefearofthelawwhich,agesbeforemybirth,waspainfullybuiltupbythesocietyintowhichIintruded,thatpreventedthatcatastrophe。IfIwasnourished,caredfor,taught,savedfromthevagabondageofawastrel,IcertainlyamnotawarethatIdidanythingtodeservethoseadvantages。And,ifI

  possessanythingnow,itstrikesmethat,thoughImayhavefairlyearnedmyday’swagesformyday’swork,andmayjustlycallthemmyproperty——yet,withoutthatorganizationofsociety,createdoutofthetoilandbloodoflonggenerationsbeforemytime,Ishouldprobablyhavehadnothingbutaflintaxeandanindifferenthuttocallmyown;andeventhosewouldbemineonlysolongasnostrongersavagecamemyway。

  Sothatifsociety,having,quitegratuitously,[231]doneallthesethingsforme,asksmeinturntodosomethingtowardsitspreservation——evenifthatsomethingistocontributetotheteachingofothermen’schildren——Ireallyinspiteofallmyindividualistleanings,feelratherashamedtosayno。AndifIwerenotashamed,I

  cannotsaythatIthinkthatsocietywouldbedealingunjustlywithmeinconvertingthemoralobligationintoalegalone。Thereisamanifestunfairnessinlettingalltheburdenbebornebythewillinghorse。

  Itdoesnotappeartome,then,thatthereisanyvalidobjectiontotaxationforpurposesofeducation;but,inthecaseoftechnicalschoolsandclasses,Ithinkitispracticallyexpedientthatsuchataxationshouldbelocal。Ourindustrialpopulationaccumulatesinparticulartownsanddistricts;thesedistrictsarethosewhichimmediatelyprofitbytechnicaleducation;anditisonlyinthemthatwecanfindthemenpracticallyengagedinindustries,amongwhomsomemayreasonablybeexpectedtobecompetentjudgesofthatwhichiswanted,andofthebestmeansofmeetingthewant。

  Inmybelief,allmethodsoftechnicaltrainingareatpresenttentative,and,tobesuccessful,eachmustbeadaptedtothespecialpeculiaritiesofitslocality。Thisisacaseinwhichwewanttwentyyears,notof“stronggovernment。”butofcheerfulandhopefulblundering;andwemaybe[232]thankfulifwegetthingsstraightinthattime。

  TheprincipleoftheBillintroduced,butdropped,bytheGovernmentlastsession,appearstometobewise,andsomeoftheobjectionstoitIthinkareduetoamisunderstanding。Thebillproposedinsubstancetoallowlocalitiestotaxthemselvesforpurposesoftechnicaleducation——ontheconditionthatanyschemeforsuchpurposeshouldbesubmittedtotheScienceandArtDepartment,anddeclaredbythatdepartmenttobeinaccordancewiththeintentionoftheLegislature。

  AcrywasraisedthattheBillproposedtothrowtechnicaleducationintothehandsoftheScienceandArtDepartment。But,inreality,nopowerofinitiation,norevenofmeddlingwithdetails,wasgiventothatDepartment——thesolefunctionofwhichwastodecidewhetheranyplanproposeddidordidnotcomewithinthelimitsof“technicaleducation。”Thenecessityforsuchcontrol,somewhere,isobvious。Nolegislature,certainlynotours,islikelytograntthepowerofself-taxationwithoutsettinglimitstothatpowerinsomeway;anditwouldneitherhavebeenpracticabletodevisealegaldefinitionoftechnicaleducation,norcommendabletoleavethequestiontotheAuditor-General,tobefoughtoutinthelaw-courts。TheonlyalternativewastoleavethedecisiontoanappropriateStateauthority。Ifitis[233]askedwhatistheneedofsuchcontrolifthepeopleofthelocalitiesarethebestjudges,theobviousreplyisthattherearelocalitiesandlocalities,andthatwhileManchester,orLiverpool,orBirmingham,orGlasgowmight,perhaps,besafelylefttodoastheythoughtfit,smallertowns,inwhichthereislesscertaintyoffulldiscussionbycompetentpeopleofdifferentwaysofthinking,mighteasilyfallapreytocrocheteers。

  Supposingourintermediatescienceteachingandourtechnicalschoolsandclassesareestablished,thereisyetathirdneedtobesupplied,andthatisthewantofgoodteachers。Anditisnecessarynotonlytogetthem,buttokeepthemwhenyouhavegotthem。

  Itisimpossibletoinsisttoostronglyuponthefactthattheefficientteachersofscienceandoftechnologyarenottobemadebytheprocessesinvogueatordinarytrainingcolleges。Thememoryloadedwithmerebookworkisnotthethingwanted——is,infact,ratherworsethanuseless——intheteacherofscientificsubjects。Itisabsolutelyessentialthathismindshouldbefullofknowledgeandnotofmerelearning,andthatwhatheknowsshouldhavebeenlearnedinthelaboratoryratherthaninthelibrary。Therearehappilyalready,bothinLondonandintheprovinces,variousplacesinwhichsuchtrainingistobehad,andthemainthingatpresentistomakeitinthefirstplaceaccessible,andinthenext[234]indispensable,tothosewhoundertakethebusinessofteaching。Butwhenthewell-trainedmenaresupplied,itmustberecollectedthattheprofessionofteacherisnotaverylucrativeorotherwisetemptingone,andthatitmaybeadvisabletoofferspecialinducementstogoodmentoremaininit。These,however,arequestionsofdetailintowhichitisunnecessarytoenterfurther。

  Last,butnotleast,comesthequestionofprovidingthemachineryforenablingthosewhoarebynaturespeciallyqualifiedtoundertakethehigherbranchesofindustrialwork,toreachthepositioninwhichtheymayrenderthatservicetothecommunity。Ifalloureducationalexpendituredidnothingbutpickonemanofscientificorinventivegenius,eachyear,fromamidstthehewersofwoodanddrawersofwater,andgivehimthechanceofmakingthebestofhisinbornfaculties,itwouldbeaverygoodinvestment。Ifthereisonesuchchildamongthehundredsofthousandsofourannualincrease,itwouldbeworthanymoneytodraghimeitherfromthesloughofmisery,orfromthehotbedofwealth,andteachhimtodevotehimselftotheserviceofhispeople。Here,again,wehavemadeabeginningwithourscholarshipsandthelike,andneedonlyfollowinthetracksalreadyworn。

  TheprogrammeofindustrialdevelopmentbrieflysetforthintheprecedingpagesisnotwhatKantcallsa“Hirngespinnst。”acobweb[235]spuninthebrainofaUtopianphilosopher。Moreorlessofithastakenbodilyshapeinmanypartsofthecountry,andtherearetownsofnogreatsizeorwealthinthemanufacturingdistrictsKeighley,forexampleinwhichalmostthewholeofithas,forsometime,beencarriedout,sofarasthemeansatthedisposaloftheenergeticandpublic-spiritedmenwhohavetakenthematterinhandpermitted。Thethingcanbedone;Ihaveendeavouredtoshowgoodgroundsforthebeliefthatitmustbedone,andthatspeedily,ifwewishtoholdourowninthewarofindustry。Idoubtnotthatitwillbedone,wheneveritsabsolutenecessitybecomesasapparenttoallthosewhoareabsorbedintheactualbusinessofindustriallifeasitistosomeofthelookerson。

  Perhapsitisnecessaryformetoaddthattechnicaleducationisnothereproposedasapanaceaforsocialdiseases,butsimplyasamedicamentwhichwillhelpthepatienttopassthroughanimminentcrisis。

  Anophthalmicsurgeonmayrecommendanoperationforcataractinamanwhoisgoingblind,withoutbeingsupposedtoundertakethatitwillcurehimofgout。AndImaypursuethemetaphorsofarastoremark,thatthesurgeonisjustifiedinpointingoutthatadietofpork-chopsandburgundywillprobablykillhispatient,thoughhemaybequiteabletosuggestamodeofliving[236]whichwillfreehimfromhisconstitutionaldisorder。

  Mr。Boothasksme,Whydoyounotproposesomeplanofyourown?

  Really,thatisnoanswertomyargumentthathistreatmentwillmakethepatientverymuchworse。[NoteaddedinSocialDiseasesandWorseRemedies,January,1891。]

  [237]

  LETTERSTOTHE“Times“

  ONTHE

  “DARKESTENGLANDSCHEME。”

  I。

  The“Times。”December1st,1890

  SIR:Ashorttimeagoagenerousandphilanthropicfriendwrotetome,placingatmydisposalalargesumofmoneyforthefurtheranceofthevastschemewhichthe“General“oftheSalvationArmyhaspropounded,ifIthoughtitworthyofsupport。Theresponsibilityofadvisingmybenevolentcorrespondenthasweighedheavilyuponme,butIfeltthatitwouldbecowardly,aswellasungracious,torefusetoacceptit。I

  havethereforestudiedMr。Booth’sbookwithsomecare,forthepurposeofseparatingtheessentialfromtheaccessoryfeaturesofhisproject,andIhavebasedmyjudgment——Iamsorrytosayanunfavourableone——uponthedatathusobtained。Beforecommunicatingmyconclusionstomyfriend,however,Iamdesiroustoknowwhattheremaybetobesaidinarrestofthatjudgment;[238]andthematterisofsuchvastpublicimportancethatItrustyouwillaidmebypublishingthisletter,notwithstandingitslength。

  ThereareoneortwopointsuponwhichIimagineallthinkingmenhavearrivedatthesameconvictionsasthosefromwhichMr。Boothstarts。

  Itiscertainthatthereisanimmenseamountofremediablemiseryamongus,that,inadditiontothepoverty,disease,anddegradationwhicharetheconsequencesofcausesbeyondhumancontrol,thereisavast,probablyaverymuchlarger,quantityofmiserywhichistheresultofindividualignorance,ormisconduct,andoffaultysocialarrangements。Further,Ithinkitisnottobedoubtedthat,unlessthisremediablemiseryiseffectuallydealtwith,thehordesofviceandpauperismwilldestroymoderncivilizationaseffectuallyasuncivilizedtribesofanotherkinddestroyedthegreatsocialorganizationwhichprecededours。Moreover,Ithinkallwillagreethatnoreformsandimprovementswillgototherootoftheevilunlesstheyattackitinitsultimatesource——namely,themotivesoftheindividualman。Honest,industrious,andself-restrainingmenwillmakeaverybadsocialorganizationprosper;whilevicious,idle,andrecklesscitizenswillbringtoruinthebestthateverwas,oreverwillbe,invented。

  TheleadingpropositionswhicharepeculiartoMr。BoothItaketobethese:——

  [239]1ThattheonlyadequatemeanstosuchreformationoftheindividualmanistheadoptionofthatformofsomewhatcorybanticChristianityofwhichthesoldiersoftheSalvationArmyarethemilitantmissionaries。Thisimpliesthebeliefthattheexcitementofthereligiousemotionslargelybyprocessesdescribedbytheiremployersas“rousing“and“convivial“isadesirableandtrustworthymethodofpermanentlyamendingtheconductofmankind。

  Idemurtothesepropositions。Iamofopinionthatthetestimonyofhistory,nolessthanthecoolobservationofthatwhichlieswithinthepersonalexperienceofmanyofus,iswhollyadversetoit。

  2ThattheappropriateinstrumentforthepropagationandmaintenanceofthispeculiarsacramentalenthusiasmistheSalvationArmy——abodyofdevotees,drilledanddisciplinedasamilitaryorganization,andprovidedwithanumeroushierarchyofofficers,everyoneofwhomispledgedtoblindandunhesitatingobediencetothe“General。”whofranklytellsusthatthefirstconditionoftheserviceis“implicit,unquestioningobedience。”“Atelegramfrommewillsendanyofthemtotheuttermostpartsoftheearth“;everyone“hastakenserviceontheexpressconditionthatheorshewillobey,withoutquestioning,orgainsaying,theordersfromheadquarters“

  “DarkestEngland。”p。243。

  [240]Thispropositionseemstometobeindisputable。Historyconfirmsit。FrancisofAssisiandIgnatiusLoyolamadetheirgreatexperimentsonthesameprinciple。Nothingismorecertainthanthatabodyofreligiousenthusiastsperhapswemayevensayfanatics

  pledgedtoblindobediencetotheirchief,isoneofthemostefficientinstrumentsforeffectinganypurposethatthewitofmanhasyetsucceededindevising。AndIcanbutadmiretheinsightintohumannaturewhichhasledMr。Boothtoleavehisunquestioningandunhesitatinginstrumentsunboundbyvows。Avolunteerslaveisworthtenswornbondsmen。

  3ThatthesuccessoftheSalvationArmy,withitspresentforceof9416officers“whollyengagedinthework。”itscapitalofthreequartersofamillion,itsincomeofthesameamount,its1375corpsathome,and1499inthecoloniesandforeigncountriesAppendix,pp。

  3and4,isaproofthatDivineassistancehasbeenvouchsafedtoitsefforts。

  HereIamnotabletoagreewiththesanguineCommander-in-chiefofthenewmodel,whoselaboursincreatingithaveprobablyinterferedwithhisacquisitionofinformationrespectingthefateofpreviousenterprisesoflikekind。

  ItdoesnotappeartomethathissuccessisinanydegreemoreremarkablethanthatofFrancisofAssisiorthatofIgnatiusLoyola,thanthat[241]ofGeorgeFox,oreventhanthatoftheMormons,inourowntime。WhenIobservethediscrepanciesofthedoctrinalfoundationsfromwhicheachofthesegreatmovementssetout,Ifinditdifficulttosupposethatsupernaturalaidhasbeengiventoallofthem;stillmore,thatMr。Booth’ssmallermeasureofsuccessisevidencethatithasbeengrantedtohim。

  ButwhatbecameoftheFranciscanexperiment?*Iftherewasoneruleratherthananotheronwhichthefounderlaidstress,itwasthathisarmyoffriarsshouldbeabsolutemendicants,keepingthemselvessternlyapartfromallworldlyentanglements。Yet,evenbeforethedeathofFrancis,in1226,astrongparty,headedbyEliasofCortona,thedeputyofhisownappointment,begantohankeraftertheseverythings;and,withinthirtyyearsofthattime,theFranciscanshadbecomeoneofthemostpowerful,wealthy,andworldlycorporationsinChristendom,withtheirfingersineverysinkofpoliticalandsocialcorruption,ifsobeprofitfortheordercouldbefishedoutofit;

  theirprincipalinterestbeingtofighttheirrivals,theDominicans,andtopersecutesuchoftheirownbrethrenaswerehonestenoughtotrytocarryouttheirfounder’splainestinjunctions。WealsoknowwhathasbecomeofLoyola’sexperiment。FortwocenturiestheJesuitshavebeenthehopeoftheenemiesofthePapacy;wheneveritbecomestooprosperous,theyaresuretobringaboutacatastrophebytheircorruptuseofthepoliticalandsocialinfluencewhichtheirorganizationandtheirwealthsecure。

  *Seenotepp。245-247]

  [242]Withtheseexamplesofthatwhichmayhappentoinstitutionsfoundedbynoblemen,withhighaims,inthehandsofsuccessorsofadifferentstamp,armedwithdespoticauthority,beforeme,commonprudencesurelyrequiresthat,beforeadvisingthehandingoverofalargesumofmoneytothegeneralofaneworderofmendicants,I

  shouldaskwhatguaranteethereisthat,thirtyyearshence,the“General“whothenautocraticallycontrolstheaction,say,of100,000

  officerspledgedtoblindobedience,distributedthroughthewholelengthandbreadthofthepoorerclasses,andeachwithhisfingeronthetriggerofaminechargedwithdiscontentandreligiousfanaticism;withtheabsolutecontrol,say,ofeightortenmillionssterlingofcapitalandasmanyofincome;withbarracksineverytown,withestatesscatteredoverthecountry,andwithsettlementsinthecolonies——willexercisehisenormouspowers,notmerelyhonestly,butwisely?Whatshadowofsecurityistherethatthepersonwhowieldsthisuncontrolledauthorityovermanythousandsofmenshalluseitsolelyforthosephilanthropicandreligiousobjectswhich,Idonotdoubt,arealoneinthemindofMr。Booth?WhoistosaythattheSalvationArmy,intheyear[243]1920,shallnotbeareplicaofwhattheFranciscanorderhadbecomeintheyear1260?

  Thepersonalcharacterandtheintentionsofthefoundersofsuchorganizationsasweareconsideringcountforverylittleintheformationofaforecastoftheirfuture;andiftheydid,itisnodisrespecttoMr。BoothtosaythatheisnotthepeerofFrancisofAssisi。ButifFrancis’sjudgmentofmenwassoimperfectastopermithimtoappointanambitiousintriguerofthestampofBrotherEliashisdeputy,wehavenorighttobesanguineabouttheperspicacityofMr。Boothinalikematter。

  AddingtoalltheseconsiderationsthefactthatMr。LlewelynDavies,thewarmthofwhosephilanthropyisbeyondquestion,andinwhosecompetencyandfairnessI,forone,placeimplicitreliance,flatlydeniestheboastedsuccessoftheSalvationArmyinitsprofessedmission,Ihavearrivedattheconclusionthat,asatpresentadvised,Icannotbetheinstrumentofcarryingoutmyfriend’sproposal。

  Mr。Boothhaspithilycharacterizedcertainbenevolentschemesasdoingsixpennyworthofgoodandashilling’sworthofharm。Igrievetosaythat,inmyopinion,thedefinitionexactlyfitshisownproject。Fewsocialevilsareofgreatermagnitudethanuninstructedandunchastenedreligiousfanaticism;nopersonalhabitmoresurelydegradestheconscienceandtheintellectthan[244]blindandunhesitatingobediencetounlimitedauthority。Undoubtedly,harlotryandintemperancearesoreevils,andstarvationishardtobear,oreventoknowof;buttheprostitutionofthemind,thesoddeningoftheconscience,thedwarfingofmanhoodareworsecalamities。Itisagreatereviltohavetheintellectofanationputdownbyorganizedfanaticism;toseeitspoliticalandindustrialaffairsatthemercyofadespotwhosechiefthoughtistomakethatfanaticismprevail;towatchthedegradationofmen,whoshouldfeelthemselvesindividuallyresponsiblefortheirownandtheircountry’sfates,tomerebruteinstruments,readytothehandofamasterforanyusetowhichhemayputthem。

  Butthatistheendtowhich,inmyopinion,allsuchorganizationsasthattowhichkindlypeople,whodonotlooktotheconsequencesoftheiracts,arenowgivingtheirthousands,inevitablytend。UnlessclearproofthatIamwrongisfurnished,anotherthousandshallnotbeaddedbymyinstrumentality。

  Iam,Sir,yourobedientservant,T。H。Huxley。

  [245]

  NOTE。

  Anauthoritativecontemporaryhistorian,MatthewParis,writesthusoftheMinorite,orFranciscan,FriarsinEnglandin1235,justnineyearsafterthedeathofFrancisofAssisi:——

  “AtthistimesomeoftheMinoritebrethren,aswellassomeoftheOrderofPreachers,unmindfuloftheirprofessionandtherestrictionsoftheirorder,impudentlyenteredtheterritoriesofsomenoblemonasteries,underpretenseoffulfillingtheirdutiesofpreaching,asifintendingtodepartafterpreachingthenextday。Underpretenceofsickness,oronsomeotherpretext,however,theyremained,and,constructinganaltarofwood,theyplacedonitaconsecratedstonealtar,whichtheyhadbroughtwiththem,andclandestinelyandinalowvoiceperformedmass,andevenreceivedtheconfessionsofmanyoftheparishioners,totheprejudiceofthepriests。Andifbychancetheywerenotsatisfiedwiththis,theybrokeforthininsultsandthreats,revilingeveryotherorderexcepttheirown,andassertingthatalltherestweredoomedtodamnation,andthattheywouldnotsparethesolesoftheirfeettilltheyhadexhaustedthewealthoftheiropposers,howevergreatitmightbe。Thereligiousmen,therefore,gavewaytotheminmanypoints,yieldingtoavoidscandal,andoffendingthoseinpower。Fortheywerethecouncillorsandmessengersofthenobles,andevensecretariesofthePope,andthereforeobtainedmuch[246]secularfavour。Some,however,findingthemselvesopposedbytheCourtofRome,wererestrainedbyobviousreasons,andwentawayinconfusion;fortheSupremePontiff,withascowlinglook,saidtothem,’Whatmeansthis,mybrethren?Towhatlengthsareyougoing?Haveyounotprofessedvoluntarypoverty,andthatyouwouldtraversetownsandcastlesanddistantplaces,asthecaserequired,barefootedandunostentatiously,inordertopreachthewordofGodinallhumility?Anddoyounowpresumetousurptheseestatestoyourselvesagainstthewillofthelordsofthesefees?

  Yourreligionappearstobeinagreatmeasuredyingaway,andyourdoctrinestobeconfuted。”

  Underdateof1243,Matthewwrites:——

  “Forthreeorfourhundredyearsormorethemonasticorderdidnothastentodestructionsoquicklyastheirorder[MinoritesandPreachers]ofwhomnowthebrothers,twenty-fouryearshavingscarcelyelapsed,hadfirstbuiltinEnglanddwellingswhichrivalledregalpalacesinheight。Thesearetheywhodailyexposetoviewtheirinestimabletreasures,inenlargingtheirsumptuousedifices,anderectingloftywalls,therebyimpudentlytransgressingthelimitsoftheiroriginalpovertyandviolatingthebasisoftheirreligion,accordingtotheprophecyofGermanHildegarde。Whennoblemenandrichmenareatthepointofdeath,whomtheyknowtobepossessedofgreatriches,they,intheirloveofgain,diligentlyurgethem,totheinjuryandlossoftheordinarypastors,andextortconfessionsandhiddenwills,laudingthemselvesandtheirownorderonly,[247]andplacingthemselvesbeforeallothers。Sonofaithfulmannowbelieveshecanbesaved,exceptheisdirectedbythecounselsofthePreachersandMinorites。”——MatthewParis’sEnglishHistory。TranslatedbytheRev。J。A。Giles,1889,Vol。I。

  II

  The“Times。”December9th,1890

  Sir,——ThepurposeofmypreviousletteraboutMr。Booth’sschemewastoarousethecontributorstothemilitarychestoftheSalvationArmytoaclearsenseofwhattheyaredoing。Ithoughtitdesirablethattheyshouldbedistinctlyawarethattheyaresettingupandendowingasect,inmanywaysanalogoustothe“Ranters“and“Revivalists“ofundesirablenotorietyinformertimes;butwiththisimmenselyimportantdifference,thatitpossessesastrong,far-reaching,centralizedorganization,thedisposalofthephysical,moral,andfinancialstrengthofwhichrestswithanirresponsiblechief,who,accordingtohisownaccount,isassuredoftheblindobedienceofnearly10,000subordinates。Iwishthemtoaskthemselves,Oughtprudentmenandgoodcitizenstoaidintheestablishmentofanorganizationwhich,undersundry,bynomeansimprobable,contingencies,mayeasilybecomeaworseandmore[248]dangerousnuisancethanthemendicantfriarsofthemiddleages?Ifthisisanacademicquestion,Ireallydonotknowwhatquestionsdeservetobecalledpractical。Asyoudivined,IpurposelyomittedanyconsiderationofthedetailsoftheSalvationistscheme,andoftheprincipleswhichanimatethosewhoworkit,becauseIdesiredthatthepublicappreciationoftheevils,necessarilyinherentinallsuchplansofdespoticsocialandreligiousregimentationshouldnotbeobscuredbytheraisingofpointsoflesscomparative,howevergreatabsolute,importance。

  Butitisnowtimetoundertakeamoreparticularcriticismof“DarkestEngland。”Attheoutsetofmyexaminationofthatwork,IwasstartledtofindthatMr。Boothhadputforwardhisschemewithanalmostincrediblyimperfectknowledgeofwhathadbeendoneandisdoinginthesamedirection。Asimplereadermightwellimaginethattheauthorof“DarkestEngland“posedastheColumbus,oratanyratetheCortez,ofthatregion。“GotoMudie’s。”hetellsus,andyouwillbesurprisedtoseehowfewbooksthereareuponthesocialproblem。Thatmayormaynotbecorrect;butifMr。Boothhadgonetoacertainreading-roomnotfarfromMudie’s,Iundertaketosaythatthewell-informedandobligingstaffofthenationallibraryinBloomsburywouldhaveprovidedhimwithmorebooksonthistopic,inalmostallEuropeanlanguages,thanhewould[249]readinthreemonths。Hassocialismnoliterature?Andwhatissocialismbutanincarnationofthesocialquestion?Moreover,Iampersuadedthateven“Mudie’s“resourcescouldhavefurnishedMr。Boothwiththe“LifeofLordShaftesbury“andCarlyle’sworks。Mr。Boothseemstohaveundertakentoinstructtheworldwithouthavingheardof“PastandPresent“orof“Latter-DayPamphlets“;though,somewhatlateintheday,ajudiciousfriendcallshisattentiontothem。Tothoseofmycontemporariesonwhom,asonmyself,Carlyle’swritingsonthistopicmadeanineffaceableimpressionfortyyearsago,whoknowthat,forallthattime,hundredsofableanddevotedmen,bothclericalandlay,haveworkedheartandsoulforthepermanentamendmentoftheconditionofthepoor,Mr。Booth’s“GotoMudie’s“affordsanaptmeasureofthedepthofhispreliminarystudies。However,Iamboundtoadmitthattheseearlierlabourersinthefieldlabouredinsuchadifferentfashion,thattheoriginalityoftheplanstartedbyMr。

  Boothremainslargelyunaffected。Forthemnodrumshavebeat,notrombonesbrayed;nosanctifiedbuffoonery,afterthemodeloftheorationoftheFriarinWallenstein’scampdeartothereadersofSchiller,hastickledtheearsofthegroundlingsontheirbehalf。

  Sadlybehindthegreatageofrowdyself-advertisementinwhichtheirlothasfallen,theyseemnottohaveadvancedonewhit[250]beyondJohntheBaptistandtheApostles,1800yearsago,intheirnotionsofthewayinwhichthemetanoia,thechangeofmindoftheill-doer,istobebroughtabout。Yetthenewmodelwasthere,readyfortheimitationofthoseancientsaversofsouls。TherantingandroaringmystagoguesofsomeofthemostvenerableofGreekandSyriancultsalsohadtheirprocessionsandbanners,theirfifesandcymbalsandholychants,theirhierarchyofofficerstowhomtheartofmakingcollectionswasnotwhollyunknown;andwho,asfreelyastheirmodernimitators,promisedanElysianfuturetocontributoryconverts。ThesuccessoftheseantiqueSalvationarmieswasenormous。SimonMaguswasquiteasnotoriousapersonage,andprobablyhadasstrongafollowingasMr。Booth。YettheApostles,withtheirold-fashionedways,wouldnotacceptsuchasuccessasasatisfactorysignoftheDivinesanction,nordepartfromtheirownmethodsofleadingthewaytothehigherlife。

  IdeemitunessentialtoverifyMr。Booth’sstatistics。Theexactstrengthofthepopulationoftherealmofmisery,beitone,two,orthreemillions,hasnothingtodowiththeefficacyofanymeansproposedforthehighlydesirableendofreducingittoaminimum。Thesolequestionforconsiderationatpresentiswhetherthescheme,keepingspeciallyinviewthespiritinwhichitistobeworked,islikelytodomoregoodthanharm。

  [251]Mr。Boothtellsus,withcommendablefrankness,that“itisprimarilyandmainlyforthesakeofsavingthesoulthatIseekthesalvationofthebody“p。45,whichlanguage,beinginterpreted,meansthatthepropagationofthespecialSalvationistcreedcomesfirst,andthepromotionofthephysical,intellectual,andpurelymoralwelfareofmankindsecondinhisestimation。Menaretobemadesoberandindustrious,mainly,that,aswashed,shorn,anddocilesheep,theymaybedrivenintothenarrowtheologicalfoldwhichMr。

  Boothpatronizes。Iftheyrefusetoenter,foralltheirmoralcleanliness,theywillhavetotaketheirplaceamongthegoatsassinners,onlylessdirtythantherest。

  IhavebeeninthehabitofthinkingandIbelievetheopinionislargelysharedbyreasonablementhatself-respectandthriftaretherungsoftheladderbywhichmenmaymostsurelyclimboutofthesloughofdespondofwant;andIhaveregardedthemasperhapsthemosteminentofthepracticalvirtues。ThatisnotMr。Booth’sopinion。Forhimtheyaremerevarnishedsins——nothingbetterthan“Pridere-baptised“p。46。Shuttinghiseyestothenecessaryconsequencesofthestruggleforlife,theexistenceofwhichheacceptsasfullyasanyDarwinian,*Mr。Boothtellsmen,whoseevilcaseisoneofthoseconsequences,thatenvyisacorner-stoneofour[252]competitivesystem。Withthriftandself-respectdenouncedassin,withthesufferingofstarvingmenreferredtothesinsofthecapitalist,thegospelaccordingtoMr。Boothmaysavesouls,butitwillhardlysavesociety。

  *Seep。100

  InestimatingthesocialandpoliticalinfluencewhichtheSalvationArmyislikelytoexert,itisimportanttoreflectthattheofficerspledgedtoblindobediencetotheir“General“arenottoconfinethemselvestothefunctionsofmeredeaconsandcatechiststhough,undera“General“likeCyril,Alexandriaknewtohercostwhateventheycouldeffect;theyaretobe“tribunesofthepeople。”whoaretoactastheirgratuitouslegaladvisers;and,whenlawisnotsufficientlyeffective,thewholeforceofthearmyistoobtainwhatthesaidtribunesmayconceivetobejustice,bythepracticeofruthlessintimidation。Society,saysMr。Booth,needs“mothering“;andhesetsforth,withmuchcomplacency,avarietyof“cases。”bywhichwemayestimatethesortof“mothering“tobeexpectedathisparentalhands。Thosewhostudythematerialsthussetbeforethemwill,I

  think,bedriventotheconclusionthatthe“mother“hasalreadyprovedherselfamostunscrupulousmeddler,evenifshehasnotfallenwithinreachofthearmofthelaw。

  Considerthis“case。”A,assertingherselftohavebeenseducedtwice,“appliedtoourpeople。Wehunteduptheman,followedhimtothecountry,[253]threatenedhimwithpublicexposure,andforcedfromhimthepaymenttohisvictimof[Pounds]60down,anallowanceof[Pounds]1aweek,andaninsurancepolicyonhislifefor[Pounds]

  450inherfavour“p。222。

  Jedburghjusticethis。We“constituteourselvesprosecutor,judge,jury,sheriff’sofficer,allinone;“we“practiceintimidationasdeftlyasifwewereabranchofanotherLeague;and,underthreatofexposure。”we“extortatolerablyheavyhush-moneyinpaymentofoursilence。“

  Well,really,mypoormoralsenseisunabletodistinguishtheseremarkableproceedingsofthenewpopulartribunatefromwhat,inFrench,iscalledchantageand,inplainEnglish,blackmailing。Andwhenweconsiderthatanybody,foranyreasonofjealousy,orpersonalspite,orpartyhatred,mightbethus“hunted。”“followed。”

  “threatened。”andfinanciallysqueezedorruined,withoutaparticleoflegalinvestigation,atthewillofamanwhomthefamiliarchargedwiththeinquisitorialbusinessdarenothesitatetoobey,surelyitisnotunreasonabletoaskhowfardoestheSalvationArmy,inits“tribuneofthepeople“aspect,differfromaSicilianMafia?Iamnoapologistofmenguiltyoftheactschargedagainstthepersonwhoyet,Ithink,mightbeasfairlycalleda“victim。”inthiscase,ashispartnerinwrong-doing。Itispossiblethat,insopeculiaracase,Solomonhimselfmighthavebeenpuzzled[254]toapportiontherelativemoraldelinquencyoftheparties。Howeverthatmaybe,themanwasmorallyandlegallyboundtosupporthischild,andanyonewouldhavebeenjustifiedinhelpingthewomantoherlegalrights,andthemantothelegalconsequencesinwhichexposureisincluded

  ofhisfault。

  Theactionofthe“General“oftheSalvationArmyinextortingtheheavyfinehechosetoimposeasthepriceofhissilence,howeverexcellenthismotives,appearstometobeasimmoralas,Ihope,itisillegal。

  SomuchfortheSalvationArmyasateacherofquestionableethicsandofeccentriceconomics,asthelegaladviserwhorecommendsandpracticestheextractionofmoneybyintimidation,asthefairygodmotherwhoproposesto“mother“society,inafashionwhichisnottomytaste,howevermuchitmaycommenditselftosomeofMr。Booth’ssupporters。

  Iam,Sir,yourobedientservant,T。H。Huxley。

  [255]

  III

  The“Times。”December11th,1890

  Sir,——WhenIfirstaddressedyouonthesubjectoftheprojectedoperationsoftheSalvationArmy,allthatIknewaboutthatbodywasderivedfromthestudyofMr。Booth’sbook,fromcommonrepute,andfromoccasionalattentiontothesayingsanddoingsofhisnoisysquadrons,withwhichmywalksaboutLondon,inpastyears,havemademefamiliar。IwasquiteunawareoftheexistenceofevidencerespectingthepresentadministrationoftheSalvationforces,whichwouldhaveenabledmetoactuponthesagaciousmaximoftheAmericanhumourist,“Don’tprophesyunlessyouknow。”Theletteryouweregoodenoughtopublishhasbroughtuponmeaswarmoflettersandpamphlets。Somefavourmewithabuse;somethoughtfulcorrespondentswarmlyagreewithme,andthenproceedtopointouthowmuchworthiercertainschemesoftheirownareofmyfriend’ssupport;somesendvaluableencouragement,forwhichIoffermyheartythanks,andaskthemtoexcuseanymorespecialacknowledgment。ButthatwhichIfindmosttothepurpose,justnow,istherevelationmadebysomeofthedocumentswhichhavereachedme,ofafactofwhichIwaswhollyignorant——namely,that[256]personswhohavefaithfullyandzealouslyservedintheSalvationArmy,whoexpressunchangedattachmenttoitsoriginalprinciplesandpractice,andwhohavebeenincloseofficialrelationswiththe“General“havepubliclydeclaredthattheprocessofdegradationoftheorganizationintoamereengineoffanaticalintoleranceandpersonalambition,whichIdeclaredwasinevitable,hasalreadysetinandismakingrapidprogress。

  Itisoutofthequestion,Sir,thatIshouldoccupythecolumnsofthe“Times“withadetailedexpositionandcriticismofthesepiecesjustificativesofmyforecast。Isaycriticism,becausetheassertionsofpersonswhohavequittedanysocietymust,infairness,betakenwiththecautionthatisrequiredinthecaseofallexpartestatementsofhostilewitnesses。Butitis,atanyrate,anotablefactthattherearepartsofmyfirstletter,indicatingtheinherentandnecessaryevilconsequencesofanysuchorganization,whichmightserveforabstractsofportionsofthisevidence,longsinceprintedandpublishedunderthepublicresponsibilityofthewitnesses。

  Letusasktheattentionofyourreaders,inthefirstplace,to“Anex-Captain’sExperienceoftheSalvationArmy。”byJ。J。R。Redstone,thegenuinenessofwhichisguaranteedbytheprefacedatedApril5th,1888whichtheRev。Dr。CunninghamGeikiehassupplied。Mr。

  Redstone’sstoryiswellworthreadingonitsownaccount。

  [257]Toldinsimple,directlanguagesuchasJohnBunyanmighthaveused,itpermitsnodoubtofthesingle-mindedsincerityoftheman,whogaveupeverythingtobecomeanofficeroftheSalvationArmy,but,exhibitingasadwantofthatcapacityforunhesitatingandblindobedienceonwhichMr。Boothlayssomuchstress,wasthrownaside,penniless——no,Iamwrong,with2s。4d。forhislastweek’ssalary——toshift,withhisequallydevotedwife,ashebestmight。IwishIcouldinduceintendingcontributorstoMr。Booth’sarmychesttoreadMr。

  Redstone’sstory。IwouldparticularlyaskthemtocontrastthepuresimplicityofhisplaintalewiththeartificialpietismandslobberingunctionoftheletterswhichMr。BallingtonBoothaddressestohis“dearboy“amarriedmanapparentlyolderthanhimself,solongasthesaid“dearboy“isfacingbrickbatsandstarvation,asperorder。

  IconfessthatmyopinionofthechiefsoftheSalvationArmyhasbeensodistinctlymodifiedbytheperusalofthispamphletthatIamgladtoberelievedfromthenecessityofexpressingit。ItwillbemuchbetterthatIshouldciteafewsentencesfromtheprefacewrittenbyDr。CunninghamGeikie,whoexpresseswarmadmirationfortheearlyanduncorruptedworkoftheSalvationArmy,andcannotpossiblybeaccusedofprejudiceagainstitonreligiousgrounds:——

  1“TheSalvationArmyisemphaticallya[258]familyconcern。Mr。

  Booth,senior,isGeneral;onesonischiefofthestaff,andtheremainingsonsanddaughtersengrosstheotherchiefpositions。ItisBoothallover;indeed,likethesuninyoureyes,youcanseenothingelsewhereveryouturn。And,asDr。Geikieshrewdlyremarks,’tobetheheadofawidelyspreadsectcarrieswithitmanyadvantages——notallexclusivelyspiritual。’“

  2“WhoeverbecomesaSalvationofficerishenceforthaslave,helplesslyexposedtothecapriceofhissuperiors。”

  “Mr。Redstoneboreanexcellentcharacterbothbeforeheenteredthearmyandwhenheleftit。Tojoinit,thoughamarriedman,hegaveupasituationwhichhehadheldforfiveyears,andheservedMr。Boothtwoyears,workinghardinmostdifficultposts。Hisonefault,MajorLawleytellsus,was,thathewas’toostraight’——thatis,toohonest,truthful,andmanly——or,inotherwords,toorealaChristian。Yetwithouttrial,withoutformulatedcharges,onthestrengthofsecretcomplaintswhichwerenever,apparently,tested,hewasdismissedwithlesscourtesythanmostpeoplewouldshowabeggar——with2s。4d。forhislastweek’ssalary。Iftherebeanymistakeinthismatter,I

  shallbegladtolearnit。”

  3Dr。Geikieconfirms,onthegroundofinformationgivenconfidentiallybyotherofficers,[259]Mr。Redstone’sassertionthattheyarewatchedandreportedbyspiesfromheadquarters。

  4Mr。Boothrefusestoguaranteehisofficersanyfixedamountofsalary。Whileheandhisfamilyofhighofficialsliveincomfort,ifnotinluxury,thepledgedslaveswhosedevotionisthefoundationofanytruesuccesstheArmyhasmetwithoftenhave“hardlyfoodenoughtosustainlife。Onegoodfellowfranklytoldmethatwhenhehadnothinghejustwentandbegged。”

  Atthispoint,itisproperthatIshouldinterposeanapologyforhavinghastilyspokenofsuchmenasFrancisofAssisi,evenforpurposesofwarning,inconnectionwithMr。Booth。Whatevermaybethoughtofthewisdomoftheplansofthefoundersofthegreatmonasticordersofthemiddleages,theytooktheirfullshareofsufferingandprivation,andnevershirkedintheirownpersonsthesacrificestheyimposedontheirfollowers。

  Ihavealreadyexpressedtheopinion,thatwhatevertheostensiblepurposeoftheschemeunderdiscussion,oneofitsconsequenceswillbethesettingupandendowmentofanewRanter-Socialistsect。Imaynowaddthatanothereffectwillbe——indeed,hasbeen——tosetupandendowtheBoothdynastywithunlimitedcontrolofthephysical,moral,andfinancialresourcesofthesect。Mr。Boothisalreadyaprinterandpublisher,who,itisplainlydeclared,utilizestheofficersofthe[260]Armyasagentsforadvertisingandsellinghispublications;

  andsomeofthemaresostronglyimpressedwiththebeliefthatactivepushingofMr。Booth’sbusinessisthebestroadtotheirmaster’sfavour,thatwhenthepublicobstinatelyrefusetopurchasehispaperstheybuythemthemselvesandsendtheproceedstoheadquarters。Mr。

  Boothisalsoaretailtraderonalargescale,andtheDeanofWellshas,mostseasonably,drawnattentiontotheverynotablebankingprojectwhichheistryingtofloat。AnyonewhofollowsDeanPlumptre’sclearexpositionoftheprinciplesofthisfinancialoperationcanhavelittledoubtthat,whethertheyare,orarenot,adequatetotheattainmentofthefirstandsecondofMr。Booth’sostensibleobjects,theymaybetrustedtoeffectawideextensionofanykingdominwhichworldlypossessionsareofnovalue。Weare,infact,insightofafinancialcatastrophelikethatofLawacenturyago。Onlyitisthepoorwhowillsuffer。

  Ihavealreadyoccupiedtoomuchofyourspace,andyetIhavedrawnupononlyoneofthesourcesofinformationabouttheinnerworkingoftheSalvationArmyatmydisposition。Fargraverchargesthananyheredealtwitharepubliclybroughtintheothers。

  Iam,Sir,yourobedientservant,T。H。Huxley。

  [261]P。S——IhavejustreadMr。Buchanan’sletterintheTimesofto-day。Mr。Buchananis,Ibelieve,animaginativewriter。Iamnotacquaintedwithhisworks,butnothinginthewayoffictionhehasyetachievedcanwellsurpasshisaccountofmyopinionsandofthepurportofmywritings。

  IV

  The“Times“December20th,1890

  Sir,——IndiscussingMr。Booth’sprojectsIhavehithertoleftinthebackgroundadistinctionwhichmustbekeptwellinsightbythosewhowishtoformafairjudgmentoftheinfluence,forgoodorevil,oftheSalvationArmy。Salvationism,theworkof“savingsouls“byrevivalistmethods,isonething;Boothism,theutilizationoftheworkersforthefurtheranceofMr。Booth’speculiarprojects,isanother。Mr。Boothhascaptured,andharnessedwithsharpbitsandeffectualblinkers,amultitudeofultra-Evangelicalmissionariesoftherevivalistschoolwhowerewanderingatlarge。Itisthisskilfully,ifsomewhatmercilessly,driventeamwhichhasdraggedthe“General’s“coach-loadofprojectsintotheirpresentposition。

  [262]Looking,then,atthehostofSalvationistsproper,fromthe“captains“downwardstowhom,inmyjudgment,thefamilyhierarchystandsintherelationoftheOldManoftheSeatoSinbad,asanindependententity,Idesiretosaythattheevidencebeforeme,whetherhostileorfriendlytotheGeneralandhisschemes,isdistinctlyfavourabletothem。Itexhibitsthemas,inthemain,poor,uninstructed,notunfrequentlyfanatical,enthusiasts,thepurityofwhoselives,thesincerityofwhosebelief,andthecheerfulnessofwhoseenduranceofprivationandroughusage,inwhattheyconsiderajustcause,commandsincererespect。Formypart,thoughIconceivethecorybanticmethodofsoul-savingtobefullofdangers,andthoughthetheologicalspeculationsofthesegoodpeoplearetomewhollyunacceptable,yetIbelievethattheevilswhichmustfollowinthetrackofsucherrors,asofallothererrors,willbelargelyoutweighedbythemoralandsocialimprovementofthepeoplewhomtheyconvert。IwouldnomoreraisemyvoiceagainstthemsolongastheyabstainfromannoyingtheirneighboursthanIwouldquarrelwithaman,vigorouslysweepingoutastye,onaccountoftheshapeofhisbroom,orbecausehemadeagreatnoiseoverhiswork。I

  havealwayshadastrongfaithintheprincipleoftheinjunction,“Thoushaltnotmuzzletheoxthattreadethoutthecorn。”IfakingdomisworthaMass,asagreat[263]rulersaid,surelythereignofcleanliving,industry,andthriftisworthanyquantityoftambourinesandeccentricdoctrinalhypotheses。AllthatIhavehithertosaid,andproposefurthertosay,isdirectedagainstMr。

  Booth’sextremelyclever,audacious,andhithertosuccessfulattempttoutilizethecreditwonbyallthishonestdevotionandself-sacrificeforthepurposesofhissocialisticautocracy。

  InowproposetobringforwardalittlemoreevidenceastohowthingsreallystandwhereMr。Booth’ssystemhashadafairtrial。Iobtainit,mainly,fromacuriouspamphlet,thetitleofwhichruns:“TheNewPapacy。BehindtheScenesintheSalvationArmy。”byanex-StaffOfficer。“MakenotmyFather’shouseahouseofmerchandise“Johnii。

  16。1889。PublishedatToronto,byA。Britnell。Onthecoveritisstatedthat“ThisisthebookwhichwasburnedbytheauthoritiesoftheSalvationArmy。”Iremindthereader,oncemore,thatthestatementswhichIshallcitemustberegardedasexparte;allIcanvouchforisthat,ongroundsofinternalevidenceandfromotherconcurrenttestimonyrespectingthewaysoftheBoothhierarchy,I

  feeljustifiedinusingthem。

  ThisisthepicturethewriterdrawsofthearmyintheearlydaysofitsinvasionoftheDominionofCanada:——

  [264]“Then,itwillberemembered,itprofessedtobethehumblehandmaidoftheexistingchurches;itsprofessedobjectwastheevangelizationofthemasses。Itrepudiatedtheideaofbuildingupaseparatereligiousbody,anditdenouncedthepracticeofgatheringtogetherwealthandtheaccumulationofproperty。Menandwomenotherthanitsownconvertsgatheredarounditandthrewthemselvesheartandsoulintothework,forthesimplereasonthatitoffered,astheysupposed,amoreextendedandwidelyopenfieldforevangelicaleffort。Ministerseverywherewereinvitedandwelcomedtoitsplatforms,majorsandcolonelswerefewandfarbetween,andthesupremacyandpoweroftheGeneralwerethingsunknown……Carewastakentoavoidanythinglikeproselytism;itsconvertswerenevercoercedintojoiningitsranks……Inaword,theorganizationoccupiedthepositionofanauxiliarymissionandrecruitingagencyforthevariousreligiousbodies……Themeetingswerecrowded,peopleprofessedconversionbythescore,thepublicliberallysuppliedthemeanstocarryontheworkintheirrespectivecommunities;thereforeeverycorpswaswhollyself-supporting,itsofficerswereproperly,ifnotluxuriously,caredfor,thelocalexpenditurewasamplyprovided,and,underthesupervisionofthesecretary,alocalmember,andtheofficerincharge,thefundsweredisbursedinthetownswheretheywerecollected,andthe[265]spiritofsatisfactionandconfidencewasmutualallaround“pp。4,5。

  Suchwasthearmyasthegreentree。Nowforthedry:——

  “Thosewhohavebeendailyconversantwiththearmy’smachineryarewellawarehowentirelyandradicallythewholesystemhaschanged,andhow,fromabandofdevotedanddisinterestedworkers,unitedinthebondsofzealandcharityforthegoodoftheirfellows,ithasdevelopedintoacolossalandaggressiveagencyforthebuildingupofasystemandasect,boundbyrulesandregulationsaltogethersubversiveofreligiouslibertyandantagonistictoeveryother?

  branchofChristianendeavour,andboundhandandfoottothewillofonesupremeheadandruler……Astheworkhasspreadthroughthecountry,andastheareaofitsendeavourshasenlarged,eachleadingpositionhasbeenfilled,oneaftertheother,byindividualsstrangerstothecountry,totallyignorantofthesentimentsandidiosyncrasiesoftheCanadianpeople,trainedinoneschoolundertheteachingsanddominanceofamemberoftheBoothfamily,andoutofwhomeveryideahasbeencrushed,exceptthatofunquestioningobediencetotheGeneral,andtheabsolutenecessityofgoingforwardtohisbiddingwithouthesitationorquestion“p。6。

  [266]“Whatistheresultofallthis?Inthefirstplace,whilstmaterialprosperityhasundoubtedlybeenattained,spiritualityhasbeenquenched,and,asanevangelicalagency,thearmyhasbecomealmostadeadletter……Inseventy-fivepercentofitsstationsitsofficerssufferneedandprivation,chieflyonaccountoftheheavytaxationthatisplaceduponthemtomaintainanimposingheadquartersandalargeornamentalstaff。Thewholefinancialarrangementsarecarriedonbyasystemofinflationandahand-to-mouthextravaganceandblindnessastofuturecontingencies。Nearlyallofitsoriginalworkersandmembershavedisappeared“p。7。“Inreferencetothereligiousbodiesatlargethearmyhasbecomeentirelyantagonistic。

  Soldiersareforbiddenbyitsrulestoattendotherplacesofworshipwithoutthepermissionoftheirofficers……Officersorsoldierswhomayconscientiouslyleavetheserviceortheranksarelookeduponandoftendenouncedpubliclyasbacksliders……Meansofthemostdespicabledescriptionhavebeenresortedtoinordertostarvethembacktotheservice“p。8。“InitsinnerworkingsthearmysystemisidenticalwithJesuitism……That’theendjustifiesthemeans,’ifnotopenlytaught,isastacitlyagreedasinthatcelebratedorder“

  p。9。

  Surelyabitter,overcharged,anonymouslibel,isthereflectionwhichwilloccurtomanywhoread[267]thesepassages,especiallythelast。

  Well,Iturntootherevidencewhich,atanyrate,isnotanonymous。

  Itiscontainedinapamphletentitled“GeneralBooth,theFamily,andtheSalvationArmy,showingitsRise,Progress,andMoralandSpiritualDecline。”byS。H。Hodges,LL。B。,lateMajorintheArmy,andformerlyprivatesecretarytoGeneralBoothManchester,1890。I

  recommendpotentialcontributorstoMr。Booth’swealthtostudythislittleworkalso。Ihavelearnedagreatdealfromit。Amongotherinterestingnovelties,ittellsmethatMr。Boothhasdiscovered“thenecessityofathirdsteporblessing,intheworkofSalvation。Hesaidtomeoneday,’Hodges,youhaveonlytwobarrelstoyourgun;I

  havethree’“p。31。AndifMr。Hodges’sdescriptionofthisthirdbarreliscorrect——“givingupyourconscience“and,“forGodandthearmy,stoopingtodothingswhichevenhonourableworldlymenwouldnotconsenttodo“p。32——itissurelycalculatedtobringdownagoodmanythings,thefirstprinciplesofmoralityamongthem。

  Mr。Hodgesgivessomeremarkableexamplesofthearmypracticewiththe“General’s“newrifle。ButImustreferthecurioustohisinstructivepamphlet。ThepositionIamabouttotakeupisaseriousone;andIprefertofortifyitbythehelpofevidencewhich,thoughsomeofitmaybeanonymous,cannotbesneeredaway。AndIshall[268]

  bebelieved,whenIsaythatnothingbutasenseofthegreatsocialdangerofthespreadofBoothismcouldinducemetoreviveascandal,eventhoughitisbarelyentitledtothebenefitoftheStatuteofLimitations。

  Onthe7thofJuly,1883,you,Sir,didthepublicagreatservicebywritingaleadingarticleonthenotorious“Eagle“case,fromwhichI

  takethefollowingextract:——

  “Mr。JusticeKayrefusedtheapplication,buthewasinducedtorefuseitbymeanswhich,asMr。JusticeStephenjustlyremarked,werehighlydiscreditabletoMr。Booth。Mr。BoothfiledanaffidavitwhichappearstotallytohavemisledMr。JusticeKay,asitwouldhavemisledanyonewhoregardeditasafrankandhoneststatementbyaprofessedteacherofreligion。”

  WhenIaddressedmyfirstlettertoyouIhadneversomuchasheardofthe“Eagle“scandal。ButIamthankfulthatmyperceptionoftheinevitabletendencyofallreligiousautocraciestowardsevilwasclearenoughtobringaboutaprovisionalcondemnationofMr。Booth’sschemesinmymind。SupposingthatIhaddecidedtheotherway,withwhatsortoffeelingshouldIhavefacedmyfriend,whenIhadtoconfessthatthemoneyhadpassedintotheabsolutecontrolofapersonaboutthecharacterofwhoseadministrationthis[269]

  concurrenceofdamnatoryevidencewasalreadyextant?

  IhavenothingtosayaboutMr。Boothpersonally,forIknownothing。

  Onthatsubject,asonseveralothers,Iprofessmyselfanagnostic。

  But,ifheis,ashemaybe,asaintactuatedbythepurestofmotives,heisnotthefirstsaintwho,asyouhavesaid,hasshownhimself“intheardourofprosecutingawell-meantobject“tobecapableofoverlooking“theplainmaximsofevery-daymorality。”IfI

  wereaSalvationistsoldier,IshouldcrywithOthello,“Cassio,I

  lovethee;butnevermorebeofficerofmine。”

  Iam,Sir,yourobedientservant,T。H。Huxley。

  V

  The“Times。”December24th,1890——

  Sir,——IfIhaveanystrongpoints,financeiscertainlynotoneofthem。Butthefinancial,orratherfiscal,operationsoftheGeneraloftheSalvationArmy,astheyaresetforthandexemplifiedin“TheNewPapacy。”possessthatgrandsimplicitywhichisthemarkofgenius;[270]andevenIcancomprehendthem——or,tobemoremodest,I

  canportraytheminsuchamannerthateverylineament,howeverharsh,andeveryshade,howeverdark,canbeverifiedbypublishedevidence。

  Supposethereisathriving,expandingcolonialtown,andthat,scatteredamongitsartisansandlabourers,thereisasprinklingofMethodists,orothersuchultra-evangelicalgoodpeople,doingtheirbest,inaquietway,to“savesouls。”Clearly,thisisanoutpostwhichitisdesirabletocapture。“We。”therefore,takemeasurestogetupaSalvation“boom“oftheordinarypattern。Enthusiasmisroused。AscoreortwoofsoldiersareenlistedintotheranksoftheSalvationArmy。“We“selectthemanwhopromisestoserveourpurposesbest,makea“captain“ofhim,andputhimincommandofthe“corps。”

  Heisverypleasedandgrateful;andindeedheoughttobe。Allhehasdoneisthathehasgivenuphistrade;thathehaspromisedtoworkatleastninehoursadayinourservicenoneofyoureight-hournonsenseforusascollector,bookseller,generalagent,andanythingelsewemayorderhimtobe。“We。”ontheotherhand,guaranteehimnothingwhatever;todosomightweakenhisfaithandsubstituteworldlyforspiritualtiesbetweenus。Knowingthat,ifheexertshimselfinarightspirit,hislabourswillsurelybeblessed,wecontentourselveswithtellinghimthatif,afterall[271]expensesarepaidandourdemandsaresatisfiedeachweek,25s。remains,hemaytakeit。And,ifnothingremains,hemaytakethat,andstayhisstomachwithwhatthefaithfulmaygivehim。Withacertaingrimplayfulness,weaddthatthevalueofthesecontributionswillbereckonedassomuchsalary。Solongasour“captain“issuccessful,therefore,abeneficentspringofcashtricklesunseenintoourtreasury;whenitbeginstodryupwesay,“Godblessyou,dearboy。”

  turnhimadriftwithorwithout2s。4d。inhispocket,andputsomeotherwillinghorseintheshafts。

  The“General。”Ibelieve,proposes,amongotherthings,todoawaywith“sweating。”Mayhenotaswellsetagoodexamplebybeginningathome?Mylittlesketch,however,lookssolikeamonstrouscaricaturethat,afterall,ImustproducetheoriginalfromthepagesofmyCanadianauthority。Hesaysthata“captain““hastopay10percent。

  ofallcollectionsanddonationstothedivisionalfundforthesupportofhisdivisionalofficer,whohasalsotheprivilegeofarrangingforsuchspecialmeetingsasheshallthinkfit,theproceedsofwhichhetakesawayforthegeneralneedsofthedivision。

  Headquarters,too,hastherighttoholdsuchspecialmeetingsatthecorpsandsendaroundsuchspecialattractionsasitswisdomseesfit,andtotakeawaytheproceedsforthepurposesitdecidesupon。

  [272]Hehastopaytherentofhisbuilding,eithertoheadquartersoraprivateindividual;hehastosendthewholecollectionoftheafternoonmeetingofthefirstSundayinthemonthtothe’ExtensionFund’atheadquarters;hehastopayfortheheating,lighting,andcleaningofhishall,togetherwithsuchnecessaryrepairsasmaybeneeded;hehastoprovidethefood,lodging,andclothingofhiscadet,ifhehasone;headquarterstaxeshimwithsomanycopiesofthearmypaperseachweek,forwhichhehastopay,soldorunsold;

  andwhenhehasdonethis,hemaytake$6or$5,beingawoman,orsuchproportionofitasmaybeleft,withwhichtoclotheandfeedhimselfandtopaytherentandprovidefortheheatingandlightingofhisquarters。Ifhehasalieutenanthehastopayhim$6perweek,orsuchproportionofitashehimselfgets,andsharethehouseexpenseswithhim。Now,itwillbeeasilyunderstoodthatatleast60

  percent。ofthestationsinCanadatheofficergetsnomoneyatall,andhehastobegspeciallyamongsthispeopleforhishouse-rentandfood。TherearefewplacesintheDominioninwhichthesoldiersdonotfindtheirofficersinallthefoodtheyneed;butitmustberememberedthatthevalueofthefoodsoreceivedhastobeaccountedforatheadquartersandentereduponthebooksofthecorpsascashreceived,theamountbeingdeductedfromanymoneysthattheofficerisabletotakefromthe[273]week’scollections。Sothat,nomatterhowmuchmaybespeciallygiven,theofficercannotreceivemorethanthevalueof$6perweek。Theofficercannotcollectanyarrearsofsalary,aseachweekhastopayitsownexpenses;andifthereisanysurpluscashafteralldemandsaremetitmustbesenttothe’warchest’atheadquarters。”——“TheNewPapacy“pp。35,36。

  Evidently,Sir,“headquarters“hastakentohearttheinjunctionaboutcastingyourbreaduponthewaters。Itcaststhecrumbofadayortwo’sworkofanemissary,andgetsbackanyquantityofloavesofcash,solongas“captains“presentthemselvestobeusedupandreplacedbynewvictims。Whatcanbesaidofthesedevotedpoorfellowsexcept,Osanctasimplicitas!

  Butitwouldbeagreatmistaketosupposethatthemoney-gatheringefficacyofMr。Booth’sfiscalagenciesisexhaustedbytheforegoingenumerationoftheirregularoperations。Considerthefollowingedifyinghistoryofthe“RescueHome“inToronto:——

  “Itisafinebuildingintheheartofthecity;thelotcost$7,000,andabuildingwasputupatacostof$7,000more,andthereisamortgageonitamountingtohalfthecostofthewhole。Thelandto-daywouldprobablyfetchdoubleitsoriginalprice,andeveryyearenhancesitsvalue……Inthefirstfivemonthsofits[274]existencethisinstitutionreceivedfromthepublicanincomeof$1,81270c。;

  outofthis$600waspaidtoheadquartersforrent,$59052c。wasspentuponthebuildinginvariousways,andthebalanceof$62218c。

  paidthesalariesofthestaffandsupportedtheinmates“pp。24,25。

  SaidInottrulythatMr。Booth’sfiscbearsthestampofgenius?Whoelsecouldhavegotthepublictobuyhima“cornerlot。”putabuildinguponit,payallitsworkingexpenses:andthen,notcontentwithpayinghimaheavyrentfortheuseofthehandsomepresenttheyhadmadehim,theysaynotawordagainsthismortgagingittohalfitsvalue?And,sofarasanyoneknows,thereisnothingtostopheadquartersfromsellingthewholeestatetomorrow,andusingthemoneyasthe“General“maydirect。

  Oncemorelistentotheauthorof“TheNewPapacy。”whoaffirmsthat“outofthefundsgivenbytheDominionfortheevangelizationofthepeoplebymeansoftheSalvationArmy,onesixthhadbeenspentintheextensionoftheKingdomofGod,andtheotherfivesixthshadbeeninvestedinvaluableproperty,allhandedovertoMr。Boothandhisheirsandassigns,aswehavealreadystated“p。26。

  AndthisbringsmetothelastpointuponwhichIwishtotouch。Theanswertoallinquiriesastowhathasbecomeoftheenormous[275]

  personalandrealestatewhichhasbeengivenovertoMr。Boothisthatitisheld“intrust。”ThesupportersofMr。Boothmayfeeljustifiedintakingthatstatement“ontrust。”Idonot。Anyhow,themorecompletelysatisfactorythis“trust“is,thelesscananymanwhoasksthepublictoputblindfaithinhisintegrityandhiswisdomobjecttoacquaintthemexactlywithitsprovisions。IsthetrustdrawnupinfavouroftheSalvationArmy?ButwhatisthelegalstatusoftheSalvationArmy?Havethesoldiersanyclaim?Certainlynot。

  Havetheofficersanylegalinterestinthe“trust“?Surelynot。The“General“hastakengoodcaretoinsistontheirrenouncingallclaimsasaconditionoftheirappointment。Thus,toallappearance,thearmy,asalegalperson,isidenticalwithMr。Booth。And,inthatcase,any“trust“ostensiblyforthebenefitofthearmyis——whatshallwesaythatisatonceaccurateandpolite?

  Iconcludewiththeseplainquestions——WillMr。Boothtakecounsel’sopinionastowhetherthereisanythinginsuchlegalarrangementsashehasatpresentmadewhichpreventshimfromdisposingofthewealthhehasaccumulatedathisownwillandpleasure?Willanybodybeinapositiontoseteitherthecivilorthecriminallawinmotionagainsthimorhissuccessorsifheortheychoosetospendeveryfarthinginwaysverydifferentfromthosecontemplatedbythedonors?

  [276]Imayaddthatacarefulstudyofthetermsofa“DeclarationofTrustbyWilliamBoothinfavouroftheChristianMission。”madein1878,hasnotenabledpersonsofmuchgreatercompetencethanmyselftoanswerthesequestionssatisfactorily。*

  Iam,Sir,yourobedientservant,T。H。Huxley。

  *SeePrefacetothisvolume,pp。ix-xiii。

  OnDecember24thaletterappearedinthe“Times“signed“J。S。

  Trotter。”inwhichthefollowingpassagesappear:——

  “ItseemsapitytoputadamperonthespiritsofthosewhoagreewithProfessorHuxleyinhisdenunciationofGeneralBoothandallhisworks。MayIgiveafewparticularsastothe’book’whichwaspublishedinCanada?IhadthepleasureofaninterviewwiththeauthorofabookwritteninCanada。ThebookwasprintedatToronto,andtwocopiesonlystruckoffbytheprinters;oneofthesecopieswasstolenfromtheprinter,andthequotationsenttoyoubyProfessorHuxleywasinsertedinthebook,andisconsequentlyaforgery。Thebookwaspublishedwithouttheconsentandagainstthewilloftheauthor。

  [277]“Sothequotationisnotonly’abitter,overchargedanonymouslibel,’asProfessorHuxleyintimates,butaforgeryaswell。AstoMr。Hodges,itseemstometobesimplytriflingwithyourreaderstobringhiminasanauthority。Hewasturnedoutofthearmy,outofkindnesstakenonagain,andagaindismissed。Ifthishadhappenedtooneofyourstaff,wouldhisopinionofthe’Times’asanewspaperbetakenforgospel?“

  Butinthe“Times“ofDecember29thMr。J。S。Trotterwrites:——

  “IfindIwasmistakeninsaying,inmyletterofWednesday,tothe’Times’thatMr。HodgeswasdismissedfromtheserviceofGeneralBooth,andregretanyinconveniencethestatementmayhavecausedtoMr。Hodges。”

  AndonDecember30ththe“Times“publishedaletterfromMr。HodgesinwhichhesaysthatMr。Trotter’sstatementsastheyregardhimself“aretheveryreverseoftruth——IwasneverturnedoutoftheSalvationArmy。Nor,sofarasIwasmadeacquaintedwithGeneralBooth’smotives,wasItakenonagainoutofkindness。InordertorejointheSalvationArmy,IresignedthepositionofmanagerinamillwhereIwasin[278]receiptofasalaryof[Pounds]250perannum,withhouse-rentandonethirdoftheprofits。InsteadofthisMr。Boothallowedme[Pounds]2perweekandhouse-rent。”

  VI

  The“Times。”December26th,1890

  Sir,——IammuchobligedtoMr。J。S。Trotterfortheletterwhichyoupublishedthismorning。Itfurnishesevidence,whichImuchdesiredtopossessonthefollowingpoints:——

  1。Theauthorof“TheNewPapacy“isaresponsible,trustworthyperson;otherwiseMr。Trotterwouldnotspeakofhavinghad“thepleasureofaninterview“withhim。

  2。Afterthisresponsiblepersonhadtakenthetroubletowriteapamphletofsixty-fourcloselyprintedpages,someinfluencewasbroughttobearuponhim,theeffectofwhichwasthatherefusedhisconsenttoitspublication。Mr。Trotter’sexcellentinformationwillsurelyenablehimtotelluswhatinfluencethatwas。

  3。HowdoesMr。TrotterknowthatanypassageIhavequotedisaninterpolation?Doeshepossessthatothercopyofthe“two“whichalone,asheaffirms,wereprinted?

  [279]4。Ifso,hewillbeabletosaywhichofthepassagesIhavecitedisgenuineandwhichisnot;andwhetherthetenorofthewholeuninterpolatedcopydiffersinanyimportantrespectfromthatofthecopyIhavequoted。

  ItwillbeinterestingtohearwhatMr。J。S。Trotterhastosayuponthesepoints。Butthereallyimportantthingwhichhehasdoneisthathehastestified,ofhisownknowledge,thattheanonymousauthorof“TheNewPapacy“isnomereirresponsiblelibeller,butapersonofwhomevenanardentSalvationisthastospeakwithrespect。

  Iam,Sir,yourobedientservant,T。H。Huxley。

  [ImayaddthattheunfortunateMr。TrotterdidmethefurtherserviceofelicitingtheletterfromMr。Hodgesreferredtoonp。277——whichsufficientlyestablishesthatgentleman’scredit,andleadsmetoattachfullweighttohisevidenceaboutthethirdbarrel。]

  January,1891。

  [280]

  VII

  The“Times。”December27th,1890

  SIR,——InmakinguseoftheonlyevidenceoftheactualworkingofMr。

  Booth’sautocraticgovernmentaccessibletome,IwasfullyawareoftheslipperynatureofthegrounduponwhichIwastreading。For,asI

  pointedoutinmyfirstletter,“nopersonalhabitmoresurelydegradestheconscienceandtheintellectthanblindandunhesitatingobediencetounlimitedauthority。”Nowwehaveit,onMr。Booth’sownshowingthateveryofficerofhishasundertakento“obeywithoutquestioningorgainsayingtheordersfromheadquarters。”AndthepossiblerelationsofsuchorderstohonourandveracityaredemonstratednotonlybythejudicialdeliveranceonMr。Booth’saffidavitinthe“Eagle“case,whichIhavealreadycited;notonlybyMr。BramwellBooth’sadmissionbeforeMr。JusticeLopesthathehadstatedwhatwas“notquitecorrect“becausehehad“promisedMr。Steadnottodivulge“thefactsofthecasethe“Times。”November4th,1885;butbythefollowingpassageinMr。Hodges’saccountofthereasonsofhiswithdrawalfromtheSalvationArmy:——

  “ThegeneralandChiefdidnotandcould[281]notdenydoingthesethings;theonlyquestionwasthis,Wasitrighttopractisethisdeception?ThesepointsofdifferencewerefullydiscussedbetweenmyselfandtheChiefoftheStaffonmywithdrawal,especiallytheLeamingtonincident,whichwastheonethatfinallydrovemetodecision。Ihadcometotheconclusion,fromthefirst,thattheyhadactedastheysupposedwithasingleeyetothegoodofGod’scause,andhadpersuadedmyselfthatthethingswere,asagainstthedevil,righttobedone,thatasinbattleonepartycapturedandturnedtheenemy’sowngunsuponthem,so,astheywerefightingagainstthedevil,itwouldbefairtouseagainsthimhisweapons。AndIwrotetothiseffecttothe“General“p。63。”

  Now,Idonotwishtosayanythingneedlesslyharsh,butIaskanyprudentmanthesequestions。CouldI,underthesecircumstances,trustanyuncorroboratedstatementemanatingfromheadquarters,ormadebytheGeneral’sorder?HadIanyreasontodoubtthetruthofMr。

  Hodges’snaiveconfessionofthecorruptinginfluenceofMr。Booth’ssystem?Anddiditnotbehovemetopickmywaycarefullythroughthemassofstatementsbeforeme,manyofthemduetopeoplewhosemoralsensemight,bypossibility,havebeenasmuchbluntedbythearmydisciplineinthe[282]useoftheweaponsofthedevilasMr。Hodgesaffirmsthathiswas?

  Therefore,inmythirdletter,IcommencedmyillustrationsofthepracticalworkingofBoothismwiththeevidenceofMr。Redstone,fortifiedandsupplementedbythatofanon-Salvationist,Dr。

  CunninghamGeikie。Thattestimonyhasnotbeenchallenged,and,untilitis,Ishallassumethatitcannotbe。Inmyfourthletter,IcitedadefinitestatementbyMr。HodgesinevidenceoftheJesuiticalprinciplesofheadquarters。WhatsortofanswerisittotellusthatMr。Hodgeswasdismissedthearmy?Achildmightexpectthatsomesuchredherringwouldbedrawnacrossthetrail;and,inanticipationofthestaletrick,Iaddedthestrongprimafacieevidenceofthetrustworthinessofmywitness,inthisparticular,whichisaffordedbythe“Eagle“case。ItwasnotuntilIwrotemyfourthlettertoyou,Sir——untiltheexploitationofthe“captains“andtheJesuitryofheadquarterscouldbeproveduptothehilt——thatIventuredtohaverecourseto“TheNewPapacy。”Sofarasthepamphletitselfgoes,thisisananonymouswork;and,forsufficientreasons,Ididnotchoosetogobeyondwhatwastobefoundbetweenitscovers。Toanyoneaccustomedtodealwiththefactsofevolution,theBoothismof“TheNewPapacy“wasmerelythenaturalandnecessarydevelopmentoftheBoothismofMr。Redstone’scaseandofthe[283]“Eagle“case。

  Therefore,Ifeltfullyjustifiedinusingit,atthesametimecarefullywarningmyreadersthatitmustbetakenwithduecaution。

  Mr。Trotter’susefulletteradmitsthatsuchabookwaswrittenbyapersonwithwhomhehadthe“pleasureofaninterview。”andthataversionofitinterpolated,accordingtohisassertionwaspublishedagainstthewilloftheauthor。HenceIamjustifiedinbelievingthatthereisafoundationoftruthincertainstatements,someofwhichhavelongbeeninmypossession,butwhichforlackofMr。Trotter’svaluablecorroborationIhaverefrainedfromusing。ThetimeiscomewhenIcansetforthsomeoftheheadsofthisinformation,withtherequestthatMr。Trotter,whoknowsallaboutthebusiness,willbesogoodastopointoutanyerrorthattheremaybeinthem。Iamboundtosupposethathissoleobject,likemine,istheelucidationofthetruth,andtoassumehiswillingnesstohelpmethereintothebestofhisability。

  1。“Theauthorof’TheNewPapacy’isaMr。Sumner,apersonofperfectrespectability,andgreatlyesteemedinToronto,whoheldahighpositionintheArmy。Whenheleft,alargepublicmeeting,presidedoverbyapopularMethodistminister,passedavoteofsympathywithhim。”

  [284]Isthistrueorfalse?

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