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The Bishop of Wcdefield (Dr. Wahham How*), studies the scheme with deepest interest.
I have jusfe received your book, which you have so kindly sent me. I have already bought a copy, which I shall give away. I am studying your scheme with the deepest interest, and I trust and pray it may bring blessing and hope to many. May I venture to express my sympathy with you in your recent heavy bereavement ? You do not sorrow as those that have no hope.
Gwion Farrar preaching at Westminster Abbey, says we are bound to help the scheme or find a better one,
It was not difficult to see, as early as half past one on Sunday afternoon last, that something was about to take place in Westminister Abbey. A friendly policeman informed nie that the service in the fine old pile of buildings did not commence till three o'clock, but that as Canon Farrar was announced to preach, and upon auch an all-absorbing topic as General Booth's new book, people were bent upon securing a good position by being' in time.
Some three-quarters of an hour before the service commenced the gigantic building was crowded, and the trooping multitudes only arrived at the doors to find a crowd waiting for the least opportunity of getting in. It was reported that thousands were turned away.
Canon Farrar had announced his subject as " Social Amelioration," and at the outset stated that he alone was responsible for tho opinions he proposed to express in connection with General Booth's scheme. In a very masterly and eloquent way he pictured the social evils which die-graca our civilisation, the small and ineffectual efforts being puc forth for their removal, and the terrible responsibility resting upon us as a nation to do our utmost to forward any scheme which appeared likely to effect an amelioration. He proceeded:—
Well, here was General Booth's scheme, which he had examined, and with which he had been deeply struck. He pitied the cold heart which could read and not be stirred by " Darkest England." In his beat judgment he believed the scheme to be full of promise if the necessary funds were provided, and he merely regarded it as his humble duty to render the undertaking such aid as he could.
Had any such scheme been proposed by a membor of the Church of England, he should have given it every support. He regarded the scheme as supplementing, not interfering with, the work of the Uburcb, as preparing for, not hindering, the Church's work. The scheme, although no Christian scheme could be wholly dislinked from religion, was yet moat prominently a social scheme ; its origin was The Salvation Army, but it was intended to promote the work of the common Church.
Was the scheme to bo thrown aside contemptuously at once on account of prejudice, because it emanated from The Salvation Army ? If any thought so, he blamed them not, but he for one declared ho could not share their views. He was, perhaps, more widely separated from some of the methods of the Salvation Army than many of his brethren, but the work of the Army had not been unblessed, and there was much that might be learned Irom an organisation which in so short a time had accomplished so great a