evolution and ethics and other essays-第41章
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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
country； ＇253＇ threatened him with public exposure； and forced from
him the payment to his victim of ＇Pounds＇ 60 down； an allowance of
＇Pounds＇ 1 a week； and an insurance policy on his life for ＇Pounds＇
450 in her favour〃 （p。 222） 。
Jedburgh justice this。 We 〃constitute ourselves prosecutor； judge；
jury； sheriff's officer； all in one；〃 we 〃practice intimidation as
deftly as if we were a branch of another League； and； under threat of
exposure；〃 we 〃extort a tolerably heavy hush…money in payment of our
silence。 〃
Well； really； my poor moral sense is unable to distinguish these
remarkable proceedings of the new popular tribunate from what； in
French； is called chantage and； in plain English； blackmailing。 And
when we consider that anybody； for any reason of jealousy； or personal
spite； or party hatred； might be thus 〃hunted；〃 〃followed；〃
〃threatened；〃 and financially squeezed or ruined； without a particle
of legal investigation； at the will of a man whom the familiar charged
with the inquisitorial business dare not hesitate to obey； surely it
is not unreasonable to ask how far does the Salvation Army； in its
〃tribune of the people〃 aspect； differ from a Sicilian Mafia？ I am no
apologist of men guilty of the acts charged against the person who
yet； I think； might be as fairly called a 〃victim；〃 in this case； as
his partner in wrong…doing。 It is possible that； in so peculiar a
case； Solomon himself might have been puzzled ＇254＇ to apportion the
relative moral delinquency of the parties。 However that may be； the
man was morally and legally bound to support his child； and any one
would have been justified in helping the woman to her legal rights；
and the man to the legal consequences （in which exposure is included）
of his fault。
The action of the 〃General〃 of the Salvation Army in extorting the
heavy fine he chose to impose as the price of his silence； however
excellent his motives； appears to me to be as immoral as； I hope； it
is illegal。
So much for the Salvation Army as a teacher of questionable ethics and
of eccentric economics； as the legal adviser who recommends and
practices the extraction of money by intimidation； as the fairy
godmother who proposes to 〃mother〃 society； in a fashion which is not
to my taste； however much it may commend itself to some of Mr。 Booth's
supporters。
I am； Sir； your obedient servant；
T。 H。 Huxley。
＇255＇
III
The 〃Times；〃 December 11th； 1890
Sir；When I first addressed you on the subject of the projected
operations of the Salvation Army； all that I knew about that body was
derived from the study of Mr。 Booth's book； from common repute； and
from occasional attention to the sayings and doings of his noisy
squadrons； with which my walks about London； in past years； have made
me familiar。 I was quite unaware of the existence of evidence
respecting the present administration of the Salvation forces； which
would have enabled me to act upon the sagacious maxim of the American
humourist； 〃Don't prophesy unless you know。〃 The letter you were good
enough to publish has brought upon me a swarm of letters and
pamphlets。 Some favour me with abuse； some thoughtful correspondents
warmly agree with me； and then proceed to point out how much worthier
certain schemes of their own are of my friend's support； some send
valuable encouragement； for which I offer my hearty thanks； and ask
them to excuse any more special acknowledgment。 But that which I find
most to the purpose； just now； is the revelation made by some of the
documents which have reached me； of a fact of which I was wholly
ignorantnamely； that ＇256＇ persons who have faithfully and zealously
served in the Salvation Army； who express unchanged attachment to its
original principles and practice； and who have been in close official
relations with the 〃General〃 have publicly declared that the process
of degradation of the organization into a mere engine of fanatical
intolerance and personal ambition； which I declared was inevitable；
has already set in and is making rapid progress。
It is out of the question； Sir； that I should occupy the columns of
the 〃Times〃 with a detailed exposition and criticism of these pieces
justificatives of my forecast。 I say criticism； because the assertions
of persons who have quitted any society must； in fairness； be taken
with the caution that is required in the case of all ex parte
statements of hostile witnesses。 But it is； at any rate； a notable
fact that there are parts of my first letter； indicating the inherent
and necessary evil consequences of any such organization； which might
serve for abstracts of portions of this evidence； long since printed
and published under the public responsibility of the witnesses。
Let us ask the attention of your readers； in the first place； to 〃An
ex…Captain's Experience of the Salvation Army；〃 by J。 J。 R。 Redstone；
the genuineness of which is guaranteed by the preface （dated April
5th； 1888） which the Rev。 Dr。 Cunningham Geikie has supplied。 Mr。
Redstone's story is well worth reading on its own account。
＇257＇ Told in simple； direct language such as John Bunyan might have
used； it permits no doubt of the single…minded sincerity of the man；
who gave up everything to become an officer of the Salvation Army；
but； exhibiting a sad want of that capacity for unhesitating and blind
obedience on which Mr。 Booth lays so much stress； was thrown aside；
pennilessno； I am wrong； with 2s。 4d。 for his last week's salaryto
shift； with his equally devoted wife； as he best might。 I wish I could
induce intending contributors to Mr。 Booth's army chest to read Mr。
Redstone's story。 I would particularly ask them to contrast the pure
simplicity of his plain tale with the artificial pietism and
slobbering unction of the letters which Mr。 Ballington Booth addresses
to his 〃dear boy〃 （a married man apparently older than himself）； so
long as the said 〃dear boy〃 is facing brickbats and starvation； as per
order。
I confess that my opinion of the chiefs of the Salvation Army has been
so distinctly modified by the perusal of this pamphlet that I am glad
to be relieved from the necessity of expressing it。 It will be much
better that I should cite a few sentences from the preface written by
Dr。 Cunningham Geikie； who expresses warm admiration for the early and
uncorrupted work of the Salvation Army； and cannot possibly be accused
of prejudice against it on religious grounds：
（1） 〃The Salvation Army is emphatically a ＇258＇ family concern。 Mr。
Booth； senior； is General； one son is chief of the staff； and the
remaining sons and daughters engross the other chief positions。 It is
Booth all over； indeed； like the sun in your eyes； you can see nothing
else wherever you turn。 And； as Dr。 Geikie shrewdly remarks； 'to be
the head of a widely spread sect carries with it many advantagesnot
all exclusively spiritual。'〃
（2） 〃Whoever becomes a Salvation officer is henceforth a slave；
helplessly exposed to the caprice of his superiors。〃
〃Mr。 Redstone bore an excellent character both before he entered the
army and when he left it。 To join it； though a married man； he gave up
a situation which he had held for five years； and he served Mr。 Booth
two years； working hard in most difficult posts。 His one fault； Major
Lawley tells us； was； that he was 'too straight'that is； too honest；
truthful； and manlyor； in other words； too real a Christian。 Yet
without trial； without formulated charges； on the strength of secret
complaints which were never； apparently； tested； he was dismissed with
less courtesy than most people would show a beggarwith 2s。 4d。 for
his last week's salary。 If there be any mistake in this matter； I
shall be glad to learn it。〃
（3） Dr。 Geikie confirms； on the ground of information given
confidentially by other officers； ＇259＇ Mr。 Redstone's assertion
