252 LETTERS TO THE " TIMES " v 



competitive sj'stem. With thrift and self-respect 

 denounced as sin, with the suffering of starving 

 men referred to the sins of the capitaUst, the 

 gospel according to Mr. Booth may save souls, 

 but it will hardly save society. 



In estimating the social and political influence 

 which the Salvation Army is likely to exert, it 

 is important to reflect that the officers (pledged 

 to blind obedience to their " General ") are not 

 to confine themselves to the functions of mere 

 deacons and catechists (though, under a " General " 

 like C}Til, Alexandria knew to her cost what 

 even they could effect) ; they are to be " tribunes 

 of the people," who are to act as their gratuitous 

 legal advisers ; and, when law is not sufficiently 

 effective, the whole force of the army is to obtain 

 what the said tribunes may conceive to be justice, 

 by the practice of ruthless intimidation. Society, 

 says Mr. Booth, needs " mothering " ; and he sets 

 forth, with much complacency, a variety of 

 " cases," by which we may estimate the sort of 

 " mothering " to be expected at his parental 

 hands. Those who study the materials thus set 

 before them will, I think, be driven to the con- 

 clusion that the " mother " has already proved 

 herself a most unscrupulous meddler, even if 

 she has not fallen within reach of the arm of 

 the law. 



Consider this " case." A, asserting herself to 

 have been seduced twice, " applied to our people. 



