V " DARKEST ENGLAND " SCHEME 257 



story is well worth reading on its own account. 

 Told in simple, direct language such as John 

 Bunyan might have used, it permits no doubt 

 of the single-minded sincerity of the man, who 

 gave up everything to become an officer of the 

 Salvation Army, but, exhibiting a sad want of 

 that capacity for unhesitating and blind obedience 

 on which Mr. Booth lays so much stress, was 

 thrown aside, penniless no, I am wrong, with 

 2s. 4td. for his last week's salary to shift, with his 

 equally devoted wife, as he best might. I wish 

 I could induce intending contributors to Mr. 

 Booth's army chest to read Mr. Bedstone's story. 

 I would particularly ask them to contrast the 

 pure simplicity of his plain tale with the artificial 

 pietism and slobbering unction of the letters 

 which Mr. Ballington Booth addresses to his 

 " dear boy " (a married man apparently older than 

 himself), so long as the said "dear boy" is facing 

 brickbats and starvation, as per order. 



I confess that my opinion of the chiefs of the 

 Salvation Army has been so distinctly modified by 

 the perusal of this pamphlet that I am glad to be 

 relieved from the necessity of expressing it. It 

 will be much better that I should cite a few 

 sentences from the preface written by Dr. 

 Cunningham Geikie, who expresses warm admir 

 ation for the early and uncorrupted work of the 

 Salvation Army, and cannot possibly be accused 

 of prejudice against it on religious grounds : 



229 



