vitality suddenly begins to germinate again. Joyousness, a sacred
gift long dethroned by the hellish laughter of derision and
obscenity, rises like a flood miraculously out of the fetid dust
and mud of the slums; rousing marches and impetuous dithyrambs
rise to the heavens from people among whom the depressing noise
called "sacred music" is a standing joke; a flag with Blood and
Fire on it is unfurled, not in murderous rancor, but because fire
is beautiful and blood a vital and splendid red; Fear, which we
flatter by calling Self, vanishes; and transfigured men and women
carry their gospel through a transfigured world, calling their
leader General, themselves captains and brigadiers, and their
whole body an Army: praying, but praying only for refreshment,
for strength to fight, and for needful MONEY (a notable sign,
that); preaching, but not preaching submission; daring ill-usage
and abuse, but not putting up with more of it than is inevitable;
and practising what the world will let them practise, including
soap and water, color and music. There is danger in such
Activity; and where there is danger there is hope. Our present
security is nothing, and can be nothing, but evil made
irresistible.

WEAKNESSES OF THE SALVATION ARMY.

For the present, however, it is not my business to flatter the
Salvation Army. Rather must I point out to it that it has almost
as many weaknesses as the Church of England itself. It is
building up a business organization which will compel it
eventually to see that its present staff of enthusiast-commanders
shall be succeeded by a bureaucracy of men of business who will
be no better than bishops, and perhaps a good deal more