evolution and ethics and other essays-第51章
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299。
This much for the legal questions which have been raised by various
persons since the first edition of the pamphlet was published。
DR。 GREENWOOD'S 〃GENERAL BOOTH AND HIS CRITICS〃
So far as I am concerned； there is little or nothing in this brochure
beyond a reproduction of the vituperative stuff which has been going
the round of those newspapers which favour 〃General〃 Booth for some
weeks。 Those who do not want to see the real worth of it all will not
read ＇317＇ the preceding pages； and those who do will need no help
from me。
I fear； however； that in justice to other people I must put one of Dr。
Greenwood's paragraphs in the pillory。 He says that I have 〃built up；
on the flimsy foundation of stories told by three or four deserters
from the Army〃 （p。 114）； a sweeping indictment against General Booth。
This is the sort of thing to which I am well accustomed at the hands
of anonymous newspaper writers。 But in view of the following easily
verifiable statements； I do not think that an educated and； I have no
doubt； highly respectable gentleman like Dr。 Greenwood can； in cold
blood； contemplate that assertion with satisfaction。
The persons here alluded to as 〃three or four deserters from the army〃
are：
（1） Mr。 Redstone； for whose character Dr。 Cunningham Geikie is
guarantee； and whom it has been left to Dr。 Greenwood to attempt to
besmirch。
（2） Mr。 Sumner； who is a gentleman quite as worthy of respect as
Dr。 Greenwood； and whose published evidence not one of the champions
of the Salvation Army has yet ventured to impugn。
（3） Mr。 Hodges； similarly libelled by that unhappy meddler Mr。
Trotter； who was compelled to the prompt confession of his error （see
p。 277）。
（4） Notwithstanding this evidence of Mr。 Trotter's claims to
attention； Dr。 Greenwood quotes a ＇318＇ statement of his as evidence
that a statement quoted by me from Mr。 Sumner's work is a 〃forgery。〃
But Dr。 Greenwood unfortunately forgets to mention that on the 27th of
December 1890 （Letter No。 VII。 above） Mr。 Trotter was publicly
required to produce proof of his assertion； and that he has not
thought fit to produce that proof。
If I were disposed to use to Dr。 Greenwood language of the sort he so
freely employs to me； I think that he could not complain of a handsome
scolding。 For what is the real state of the case？ Simply thisthat
having come to the conclusion； from the perusal of 〃In Darkest
England；〃 that 〃General〃 Booth's colossal scheme （as apart from the
local action of Salvationists） was bad in principle and must produce
certain evil consequences； and having warned the public to that
effect； I quite unexpectedly found my hands full of evidence that the
exact evils predicted had； in fact； already shown themselves on a
great scale； and； carefully warning the public to criticize this
evidence； I produced a small part of it。 When Dr。 Greenwood talks
about my want of 〃regard to the opinion of the nine thousand odd who
still remain among the faithful〃 （p。 114）； he commits an imprudence。
He would obviously be surprised to learn the extent of the support；
encouragement； and information which I have received from active and
sincere members of the Salvation Army ＇319＇ but of which I can make
no use； because of the terroristic discipline and systematic espionage
which my correspondents tell me is enforced by its chief。 Some of
these days； when nobody can be damaged by their use； a curious light
may be thrown upon the inner workings of the organization which we are
bidden to regard as a happy family； by these documents。
＇320＇ （blank page）
＇321＇
THE SALVATION ARMY
ARTICLES OF WAR；
To be signed by all who wish to be entered on the roll as soldiers。
Having received with all my heart the Salvation offered to me by the
tender mercy of Jehovah； I do here and now publicly acknowledge God to
be my Father and King； Jesus Christ to be my Saviour； and the Holy
Spirit to be my Guide； Comforter； and Strength； and that I will； by
His help； love； serve； worship； and obey this glorious God through all
time and through all eternity。
Believing solemnly that The Salvation Army has been raised up by God；
and is sustained and directed by Him； I do here declare my full
determination； by God's help； to be a true soldier of the Army till I
die。
I am thoroughly convinced of the truth of the Army's teaching。
I believe that repentance towards God； faith in our Lord Jesus
Christ； and conversion by the Holy Spirit； are necessary to Salvation；
and that all men may be saved。
I believe that we are saved by grace； through faith in our Lord
Jesus Christ； and he that believeth hath the witness of it in himself。
I have got it。 Thank God！
I believe that the Scriptures were given by inspiration of God； and
that they teach that not only does continuance in the favour of God
depend upon continued faith in； and obedience to； Christ； ＇322＇ but
that it is possible for those who have been truly converted to fall
away and be eternally lost。
I believe that it is the privilege of all God's people to be
〃wholly sanctified；〃 and that 〃their whole spirit and soul and body〃
may 〃be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ。〃
That is to say； I believe that after conversion there remain in the
heart of the believer inclinations to evil； or roots of bitterness；
which； unless overpowered by Divine grace； produce actual sin； but
these evil tendencies can be entirely taken away by the Spirit of God；
and the whole heart thus cleansed from anything contrary to the will
of God； or entirely sanctified； will then produce the fruit of the
Spirit only。 And I believe that persons thus entirely sanctified may；
by the power of God； be kept unblamable and unreprovable before Him。
I believe in the immortality of the soul； in the resurrection of
the body； in the general judgment at the end of the world； in the
eternal happiness of the righteous； and in the everlasting punishment
of the wicked。
THEREFORE； I do here； and now； and for ever； renounce the world with
all its sinful pleasures； companionship treasures； and objects； and
declare my full determination boldly to show myself a Soldier of Jesus
Christ in all places and companies； no matter what I may have to
suffer； do； or lose； by so doing。
I do here and now declare that I will abstain from the use of all
intoxicating liquors； and also from the habitual use of opium；
laudanum； morphia； and all other baneful drugs； except when in illness
such drugs shall be ordered for me by a doctor。
I do here and now declare that I will abstain from ＇323＇ the use of
all low or profane language； from the taking of the name of God in
vain； and from all impurity； or from taking part in any unclean
conversation or the reading of any obscene book or paper at any time；
in any company； or in any place。
I do here declare that I will not allow myself in any falsehood；
deceit； misrepresentation； or dishonesty； neither will I practise any
fraudulent conduct； either in my business； my home； or in any other
relation in which I may stand to my fellow men； but that I will deal
truthfully； fairly； honourably； and kindly with all those who may
employ me or whom I may myself employ。
I do here declare that I will never treat any woman； child； or
other person； whose life； comfort； or happiness may be placed within
my power； in an oppressive； cruel； or cowardly manner； but that I will
protect such from evil and danger so far as I can； and promote； to the
utmost of my ability； their present welfare and eternal salvation。
I do here declare that I will spend all the time； strength； money；
and influence I can in supporting and carrying on this War； and that I
will endeavour to lead my family； friends； neighbours； and all others
whom I can influence； to do the same； believing that the sure and only
way to remedy all the evils in the world is by bringing men to submit
themselves to the government of the Lord Jesus Christ。
I do here declare that I will always obey the lawful orders of my
Officers； and that I will carry out to the utmost of my power all the
Orders and R
