V "DARKEST ENGLAND" SCHEME. 275 



personal and real estate which has been given 

 over to Mr. Booth is that it is held "in trust." 

 The supporters of Mr. Booth may feel justified 

 in taking the statement " on trust." I do not. 

 Anyhow, the more completely satisfactory this 

 " trust " is, the less can any man who asks the 

 pubhc to put blind faith in his integrity and his 

 wisdom object to acquaint them exactly with its 

 provisions. Is the trust drawn up in favour of 

 the Salvation Army? But what is the legal 

 status of the Salvation Army? Have the soldiers 

 any claim? Certainly not. Have the officers any 

 legal interest in the " trust "? Surely not. The 

 " General " has taken good care to insist on their 

 renouncing all claims as a condition of their ap- 

 pointment. Thus, to all appearance, the army 

 as a legal person, is identical with Mr. Booth. 

 And, in that case, any " trust " ostensibly for the 

 benefit of the army is — what shall we say that is 

 at once accurate and polite? 



I conclude with these plain questions — will 

 Mr. Booth take counsel's opinion as to whether 

 there is anything in such legal arrangements as 

 he has at present made which prevents him from 

 disposing of the wealth he has accumulated at 

 his own will and pleasure? Will anybody be in a 

 position to set either the civil or the criminal law 

 in motion against him or his successors if he or 

 they choose to spend every farthing in ways very 

 different from those contemplated by the donors? 



