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From the time when the Salvation Army began to acquire strength and to grow from the grain of mustard seed until now； when its branches overshadow the whole earth； we have been constantly warned against the evils which this autocratic system would entail。 Especially were we told that in a democratic age the people would never stand the establishment of what was described as a spiritual despotism。 It was contrary to the spirit of the times； it would be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence to the masses to whom we appeal； and so forth and so forth。
But what has been the answer of accomplished facts to these predictions of theorists？ Despite the alleged unpopularity of our discipline； perhaps because of the rigour of military authority upon which we have insisted； the Salvation Army has grown from year to year with a rapidity to which nothing in modern Christendom affords any parallel。 It is only twenty…five years since it was born。 It is now the largest Home and Foreign Missionary Society in the Protestant world。 We have nearly 10；000 officers under our orders； a number increasing every day； every one of whom has taken service on the express condition that he or she will obey without questioning or gainsaying the orders from Headquarters。 Of these； 4；600 are in Great Britain。 The greatest number outside these islands； in any one country； are in the American Republic； where we have 1；018 officers； and democratic Australia； where we have 800。
Nor is the submission to our discipline a mere paper loyalty。 These officers are in the field； constantly exposed to privation and ill…treatment of all kinds。 A telegram from me will send any of them to the uttermost parts of the earth； will transfer them from the Slums of London to San Francisco； or despatch them to assist in opening missions in Holland； Zululand； Sweden； or South America。 So far from resenting the exercise of authority； the Salvation Army rejoices to recognise it as one great secret of its success； a pillar of strength upon which all its soldiers can rely； a principle which stamps it as being different from all other religious organisations founded in our day。
With ten thousand officers； trained to obey； and trained equally to command； I do not feel that the organisation even of the disorganised； sweated； hopeless； drink…sodden denizens of darkest England is impossible。 It is possible； because it has already been accomplished in the case of thousands who； before they were saved； were even such as those whose evil lot we are now attempting to deal with。
Our fifth credential is the extent and universality of the Army。 What a mighty agency for working out the Scheme is found in the Army in this respect！ This will be apparent when we consider that it has already stretched itself through over thirty different Countries and Colonies； with a permanent location in something like 4；000 different places； that it has either soldiers or friends sufficiently in sympathy with it to render assistance in almost every considerable population in the civilised world； and in much of the uncivilised； that it has nearly 10；000 separated officers whose training； and leisure； and history qualify them to become its enthusiastic and earnest co…workers。 In fact； our whole people will hail it as the missing link in the great Scheme for the regeneration of mankind； enabling them to act out those impulses of their hearts which are ever prompting them to do good to the bodies as well as to the souls of men。
Take the meetings。 With few exceptions； every one of these four thousand centres has a Hall in which； on every evening in the week and from early morning until nearly midnight on every Sabbath； services are being held； that nearly every service held indoors is preceded by one out of doors； the special purport of every one being the saving of these wretched crowds。 Indeed； when this Scheme is perfected and fairly at work； every meeting and every procession will be looked upon as an advertisement of the earthly as well as the heavenly conditions of happiness。 And every Barracks and Officer's quarters will become a centre where poor sinful suffering men and women may find sympathy； counsel； and practical assistance in every sorrow that can possibly come upon them； and every Officer throughout our ranks in every quarter of the globe will become a co…worker。
See how useful our people will be in the gathering in of this class。 They are in touch with them。 They live in the same street； work in the same shops and factories； and come in contact with them at every turn and corner of life。 If they don't live amongst them； they formerly did。 They know where to find them； they are their old chums； pot…house companions； and pals in crime and mischief。 This class is the perpetual difficulty of a Salvationist's life。 He feels that there is no help for them in the conditions in which they are at present found。 They are so hopelessly weak； and their temptations are so terribly strong； that they go down before them。 The Salvationist feels this when he attacks them in the tap…rooms； in the low lodging houses； or in their own desolate homes。 Hence； with many； the Crusader has lost all heart。 He has tried them so often。 But this Scheme of taking them right away from their old haunts and temptations will put new life into him and he will gather up the poor social wrecks wholesale； pass them along； and then go and hunt for more。
Then see how useful this army of Officers and Soldiers will be for the regeneration of this festering mass of vice and crime when it is； so to speak； in our possession。 All the thousands of drunkards； and harlots； and blasphemers； and idlers have to be made over again； to be renewed in the spirit of their minds； that ismade good。 What a host of moral workers will be required to accomplish such a gigantic transformation。 In the Army we have a few thousands ready； anyway we have as many as can be used at the outset； and the Scheme itself will go on manufacturing more。 Look at the qualifications of these warriors for the work！
They have been trained themselves； brought into line and are examples of the characters we want to produce。
They understand their pupilshaving been dug out of the same pit。 Set a rogue to catch a rogue； they say； that is； we suppose； are formed rogue。 Anyway； it is so with us。 These rough…and…ready warriors will work shoulder to shoulder with them in the same manual employment。 They will engage in the task for love。 This is a substantial part of their religion； the moving instinct of the new heavenly nature that has come upon them。 They want to spend their lives in doing good。 Here will be an opportunity。
Then see how useful these Soldiers will be for distribution！ Every Salvation Officer and Soldier in every one of these 4；000 centres； scattered through these thirty odd countries and colonies； with all their correspondents and friends and comrades living elsewhere； will be ever on the watch…tower looking out for homes and employments where these rescued men and women can be fixed up to advantage； nursed into moral vigour； picked up again on stumbling； and watched over generally until able to travel the rough and slippery paths of life alone。
I am； therefore； not without warrant for my confidence in the possibility of doing great things； if the problem so long deemed hopeless be approached with intelligence and determination on a scale corresponding to the magnitude of the evil with which we have to cope。
SECTION 2。HOW MUCH WILL IT COST？
A considerable amount of money will be required to fairly launch this Scheme； and some income may be necessary to sustain it for a season； but； once fairly afloat； we think there is good reason to believe that in all its branches it will be self…supporting； unless its area of operation is largely extended； on which we fully rely。 Of course； the cost of the effort must depend very much upon its magnitude。 If anything is to be done commensurate with the extent of the evil； it will necessarily require a proportionate outlay。 If it is only the drainage of a garden that is undertaken； a few pounds will meet the cost； but if it is a great dismal swamp of many miles in area； harbouring all manner of vermin； and breeding all kinds of deadly malaria； that has to be reclaimed and cultivated； a very different sum will not only be found necessary； but be deemed an economic investment。
Seeing that the country pays out something like Ten Millions per annum in Poor Law and Charitable Relief without securing any real abatement of the evil； I cannot doubt that the public will hasten to supply one…tenth of that sum。 If you reckon that of the submerged tenth we have one million to deal with； this will only be one pound per head for each of those whom it is sought to benefit； or say ONE MILLION STERLING to give the present Scheme a fair chance of getting into practical operation。
According to the amount furnished； must necessarily be the extent of our operations。 We have carefully calculated that with one hundred thousand pounds the scheme can be successfully set in motion； and that it can be kept going on an annual income of #30；000 which is about three and a…quarter per cent。 on the balance