The morning call., 1890-12-29
BOOTHS COLONIES.
The Latest Scheme for Uplifting
IS Fallen Humanity.
Or. stebbins' Views on the Salvation Army.
r Mighty Undertaking-He Hopes and
.: Thinks 1t VIII Do Good.

:: DR. Stebbins had his choir sing "Hold the
Fort last night before he commenced dis
cussion of the scheme which Rev. William
Booth. General of the Salvation Army, has
submitted as solution OF the social prob
lem in his recently published book In
Darkest England. and the Way Out The
old tune was heard with manifest satisfac-
tion by many of the congregation. and
served the S. eaker as starting point for a
description of the army, musicleaders and
theology.
An organization that now has 1900 stations
and 10000 officers was worthy, the speaker
thought, Of more than casual attention. Its
methrd is that of continuous religious re-
yivalism-the revivalism that was known
TO the world 100 years ago. Its central idea
is that there is 10 human being that may
not come back to God and have home in
the heavenly mansion. 1t has produced
great results in numbers, General Booth
claiming that il has rescued tens of thou
sands.
A NEW DEPARTURE.
Yet he has come TO the conclusion that to
carry out his work there must be new de-
paTture from the present plan. lie believes
that mans heart must be reached before
he can be reformed. but some have fallen so
low that they are TOO weak or too despairing
10 sieze the rope that is cast ont to them,
and he mas invented plan 4or aiding these
fallen and wretched people.
Booth is above all things great organizer,
one of The greatest the world has ever
known. He has comprehensive knowl-
edge OF human nature and he mas adapted
all:hiS method to the kind of men he wishes
to influence The hymns Of the army are
not so lovely. so tender nor so pathetic "a
the hymns of the negroes They have moth
ing so sweet and tender as ''Swing low,
sweet CHARIOT; or
The old religion, the old religion
That was good enough for mpdder,
Is good enough for me.
But the army tunes are amazingly realistic.
There is the inspiration of the fife and drum
inihem. Booth intends that this religion
shall have some staying power, so he is
organizing colonies for the reclamation of
the miserable and dispaiIing people of
London.
IN DARKEST ENGLAND.
In the city of London, living in different
grades of poverty and restitution, there are
million people, three times as many to be
fed, clothed and housed as there are people
in this city. Their condition is worse, so
says Booth, than anything Stanley found
in Darkest Africa. Every attempt 10 help
them has been uDayailing. Booth has aided
thousands. but theiabyss still yawns, so he will
try to muster them into the army which is an
organization in which everybody must obey
orders. 1t is positive, arbitrary and abso-
lutte. The Church of Rome has no such
power as it exercises. Booth can send to
one OF his officers in California, India or
Mexico, and at moments notice transfer
4 60 @har rzFN l,. IL
if that man disobeys he has no alternative
bat to return to his old condition, more
hopeless than before.
His plan is to found colonies In city coun-
try ard beyond the sea for the out-of-work
classes. In the city colony they will be
gwen some easy employment by which they
VIII be enabled to earn their board. He now
has a host employed in London making
benches for tile stations throughout the
world. These receive no money, but are fed
and given daily opportunity to seek for
permanent employment. Country colonies
who viii be recruited from the city, will be
placed on farms and instructed in the
mysteries of agriculture. The same course
Will be pursued with those who are sent be-
yond the seas 1t is intended that in the
city colonies there shall be associated simple
schemes of comfort and relaxation. London
Is about seventy miles from the sea, and
many OF its unfcrtunates never get glimpse
of the ocean. General Booth intends that
tHes Nnail nave the means Oh going TO the
shore, and he will propose to the roads to
carry them for one penny and back.
ENGLAND WOULD SAVE MONEY.
England now pays e10,000,000 year for
the support of the poor. and Booth wants
E, 100000 with which 10 carry out his plans.
lie thinks this would be a saving to the
country. He will strike to the yitals of the
existing evils and destroy their powers. He
will awaken the heart of the man and take
him away from his surroundings
The General is meeting with generous
response to his appeal He is receiving
gifts of go, fi00, el000, and even 10000
lie Will have the money, and will have in
his hands one of the greatest enterprises on
earth.
Within the last few days clouds have D.
peared upon the horizon, that to some minds
threaten the success of tho scheme. People
are beginning TO find flaws In the plan.
Suppose Booth should have 5000 men on his
farms and 800. of them will not obey He
cannot make them obey. 1t would require
Il renodelng of the laws of England The
plan may fail But suppose that it does
fail 1t Will have thrown more light OH the
Submerged tenth" than the werld has ever
seen.
In conclusion DIR. Stebbins spoke no Pc
fully of Booths plan, and reminded his
hearers that the world owes some of its
greatest debts 10 men who have been un-
successful