252 LETTERS TO THE ''TIMES." v 



petitive system. With thrift and self-respect de- 

 nounced as sin, with the suffering of starving men 

 referred to the sins of the capitalist, 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 " Gen- 

 eral " like Cyril, 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. 

 We hunted up the man, followed him to the coun- 



