.^J 
 
 .%. 
 
 
 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 y 
 
 A 
 
 
 A 
 
 f/^ 
 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 11.25 
 
 '- illM 
 
 • 50 ^^ 
 
 ^ 1^ IIIII2.0 
 
 M 
 
 2.2 
 
 1.4 
 
 18 
 
 1.6 
 
 V 
 
 <^ 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, NY. 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
 m 
 
 iV 
 
 iV 
 
 ^s 
 
 ^<b 
 
 \ 
 
 
 
 6^ 
 
 Ci> 
 
 -<i^ 
 

 
 ce 
 
 Ki 
 
 CIHM 
 
 ICMH 
 
 Microfiche 
 
 Collection de 
 
 Series 
 
 microfiches 
 
 (Monographs) 
 
 (monographies) 
 
 Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 
 
 
Technical and Sibliographic Notes / Notes techniques et bit.lio(|raphiques 
 
 The institute has attempted to obtain the best original 
 copy available for filming. Features of this copy wiiich 
 may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any 
 of the images in the reproduction, or which may 
 significantly change the usual method of filming, are 
 checked beiow. 
 
 
 Coloured covers/ 
 Couverture de couleur 
 
 Covers damaged/ 
 Couverture endommagee 
 
 □ Covers restored and/or laminated/ 
 Couverture restauree et/ou pelliculee 
 
 D 
 D 
 
 n 
 
 Cover title missing/ 
 
 Le titre de couverture manque 
 
 Coloured maps/ 
 
 Cattes geographiques en couleur 
 
 Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ 
 Encre de couleur (i.e. autre q>je bleue ou noire) 
 
 Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ 
 Planches et/ou illustration; en couleur 
 
 □ Bound with other material/ 
 Relie avec d'autres documents 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 n 
 
 Tight b nding may cause shadows or distortion 
 along interior margin/ 
 
 La reliure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la 
 distorsion le long de la marge interieure 
 
 Blank leaves added during restoration may appear 
 within the text. Whenever possible, these have 
 been omitted from filming/ 
 II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajout^es 
 lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le textr , 
 mais, iorsque cela etait possible, ces pages n'ont 
 pas ete filmees. 
 
 Additional comments:/ 
 Commentaires supplementaires: 
 
 This Item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ 
 
 Ce document est filme au taux de reduction mdique ci-dessous. 
 
 L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il 
 lui a et6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet 
 exemplaire qui sont peut Stre uniques du point de vue 
 bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image 
 reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification 
 dans la methode normale de f ilmage sont indiqucs 
 ci-dessous. 
 
 □ Coloured pages/ 
 Pages de couleur 
 
 □ Pages damaged/ 
 Pages endommagees 
 
 □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ 
 Pages restaurees et/ou pellicul^es 
 
 Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ 
 Pages decolorees, tachetees ou piquees 
 
 □ Pages detached/ 
 Pages detachees 
 
 0?' 
 
 Showthrough/ 
 ransparence 
 
 /j Quality of print varies/ 
 
 Qualite inegale de I'impression 
 
 □ Contin 
 Paginal 
 
 □ Inclu 
 Comi 
 
 uous pagination/ 
 Pagination continue 
 
 des index(es)/ 
 Comprend un (des) index 
 
 Title on header taken from:/ 
 Le titre de Ten-t^te provient: 
 
 □ Title page of issue/ 
 Page de titre de la livraison 
 
 livraison 
 
 □ Caption of issue/ 
 Titre de depart de la 
 
 Masthead/ 
 
 Generique (periodiques) de la livraison 
 
 I 1 Masthead/ 
 
 lU A 
 
 
 
 14X 
 
 
 r~' 
 
 
 18X 
 
 
 
 22X 
 
 
 
 76 X 
 
 
 
 30 X 
 
 
 
 
 _ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 / 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ~ 
 
 
 l^X 
 
 
 
 
 16X 
 
 
 
 
 20X 
 
 
 
 24X 
 
 
 I J 
 
 ?H)( 
 
 
 
 -!-! V 
 
qu'il 
 I cet 
 t de vue 
 
 ge 
 
 a*ion 
 
 Ihe copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks 
 ta the generosity of: 
 
 IMational Library of Canada 
 
 The images appearing here are the best quality 
 possible considering the condition and legibility 
 of the original copy and in keeping with the 
 filming contract specifications. 
 
 Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed 
 beginning with the front cover and ending on 
 the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, or the back covf r when appropriate. All 
 other original copies are filmed beginning on the 
 first page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, and ending on the last page with a printed 
 or illustrated impression. 
 
 The last recorded fra.Tie on eech microfiche 
 shall contain the symbol —»> (meaning "CON- 
 TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), 
 whichever applies. 
 
 Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at 
 different reduction ratios. Those too large to be 
 entirely included in one exposure are filmed 
 beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to 
 right and top to bottom, as many frames as 
 required. The following diagrams illustrate the 
 method: 
 
 L'exemplaire film6 fut reproduit grSce d la 
 g6n6rosit6 de: 
 
 Bibliothdque natlonale du Canada 
 
 Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le 
 plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et 
 de la nettet6 de l'exemplaire filrn6, et en 
 conformit6 avec les conditions du contrat de 
 filmage. 
 
 Les exemplaires originaux dort la couverture en 
 papier est imprim6e sont film6s en commenpant 
 par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la 
 dernidre page qui cumporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustratioii, soit par le second 
 plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires 
 origiriaux sont film6s en commengant par la 
 premidre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par 
 la dernidre page qui comporte une telle 
 empreinte. 
 
 Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la 
 dernidre imago de chaque microfiche, selon !e 
 cas: le symbote — ^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le 
 symbole V signifie "FIN". 
 
 Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Stre 
 film6s d des taux de reduction diff^rents. 
 Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Stre 
 reproduit en un seul clich6, il est film6 d partir 
 de I'angle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite, 
 et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre 
 d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants 
 illustrent la mdthode. 
 
 32X 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
TWtrSOTvarnw 
 
 ARA^Y 
 
 AD 1950 
 

 oi=>E booth:. 
 
 His Motto: >' Do as yet are toh!, and Jont ars^.fy." 
 
 tl 
 
 PROLOGUE. 
 T was a strange procession of men 
 and Wfimen going by— the like 
 of which I had never seen be- 
 fore. The scene : the Thames 
 Embanltment. The month : 
 October of the year of grace, one 
 thousand eight hundred and 
 ninety, and rather a feggy day. 
 
 The men were mostly attired 
 in a uniform, a compound of the 
 water-side character, the fire- 
 man, and the hotel messenger. The women wore bonnets 
 
 like half-closed, semi- circular sun-blinds, such as we see 
 .-\broad, and dresses of dark material, sack-shaped and 
 drawn in a little at the waist. Many wore white 
 sashes, a welcome relief to their sombre attire. A fair 
 proportion carried tambourines, which they rattled and 
 flourished with energy and glee. 
 
 Anon, as the vast procession glided by, came a weird, 
 grey-headed man, seated in a carriage, who bowed in 
 response to a mixture of cheering, hooting, and laughter 
 —the cheering, let me hasten to declare, predominating. 
 
 " Who is he ?" I asked of a stranger at my elbow. 
 
 "The General," he replied; "he buries his wife to- 
 day, and — " 
 
 I heard no more, thanks to the rush of a gang of 
 ruffians on pocket -picking bent. When the wave of 
 confusion arising from this cause had in a measure 
 subsided, a coffin covered with flowers on a simple 
 carriage was borne along, and I judged that it contained 
 all that was left of the General's wife. 
 
 Coming from a far-ofT, lone land, I could not under- 
 stand this seen.'. Honour is shown to dead warriors; 
 bat their wives die and are borne quietly to the grave. 
 And why should the General bow and smile? Why 
 should he seem to rejoice at /wr death ? Why— 
 
 And 30 I speculated, wandering away until I reached 
 the railway-station, and there I bought a magazine which 
 reviews the reviewers, doubtless little to the taste of 
 those who at one time sat undisputed judges of all things 
 literary. Within it was the story of the " General " and 
 his departed wife. 
 
 An amazing story. A great and good work being done 
 
 by great and good people. Alone in my cliamlc. I re ul it 
 closely, seeing naught but brave work in what had been 
 done until I came to the General's motto, •' Baas you 
 are told and doiCt argufy," and then I paused to think. 
 
 No harm, but much good, might come of it now ; but, 
 anon, when some ruler, less wise and just than he, shoul<l 
 be at the head of this vast and growing body— what then ? 
 
 And I thought and thought of the possibilities arising in 
 the future, and I was thinking of them still when the sun 
 went down. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE ARMY PREVAILS. 
 
 " This is the day appointed for the King to pay homage 
 to Pope Booth the Third." 
 
 I heard these words as I stood in a wide street of a 
 great city. Near me stood two white-haired men in seedy, 
 threadbare black atiire. One, methought, looked like a 
 bishop on whom parlous times had fallen. 
 
 It was he who spoke, as I could tell by the answer 
 given by the other. 
 
 " Yes ; it is so," he said. " Albert Victor the Second 
 can hold out no longer. He must yield to the arrogant 
 demands of the head of the all-pervading Army. My 
 brother, we must not whisper a word .-igainst it lest we 
 be hanged or burned as heretics." 
 
 " We are the last of the bishops," returned the other, 
 bitterly. "All the others are dead, or have recanted 
 and become officers in the Army. Hark t the roll of 
 drums and the rattling of tambourines. The red- 
 jerseyed men and the Hallelujah lasses are escorting the 
 King to his humiliation." 
 " Will they pass this way ?" 
 "They must do so." 
 
 " Then let us, my brother, choose a convenient door- 
 step from whence we may safely view the saddeninji 
 sight." '^ 
 
 But the other demurred, and, pleading an engagement 
 elsewhere, disappeared. 
 
 The remaining man, looking about him, soon found a 
 suitable place for espying the coming procession in 
 the doorway of a closed shop, which I judged by the sign 
 overhead had once been occupied by a tobacconist 
 It was now in a state of semi-ruin. 
 
POPE BOOTH. 
 
 There was ample room for two, and, urged by curiosity, 
 I joined the old man in the doorway. He looked at me 
 suspiciously, but, apparently relieved by my appearance, 
 gave vent to a soft sigh and said— 
 
 " Vpu are not one of them ?" 
 
 "No," I replied, " nor do I know whom you mean." 
 
 "The Salvation Army," he replied, shortly, "under 
 command of Pope Booth the Third. Surely you have 
 heard of ,4/w.?" 
 
 Booth's time, but those who came after him have grown 
 like unto the old Popes of Rome. The lust of temporal 
 I>ower has laid hold of them." 
 
 " But how came it," I asked, " that the people allowed 
 themselves to be thus enslaved ?" 
 
 " The creed of the Salvationists swept over the land like 
 a huge tidal wave," replied my companion ; " it carried 
 all things before it. The strong and weak were borne 
 away on the foam-crested sea. No man, no body, 
 
 Tn . ,.«„f.,„-i r , . I ' luaui-ticsicu sca. «o man, no body, 
 
 .f the namrir Vr: °n"" "■"' knowledge no sect was prepared to resist the compact force thi 
 
 " H is ^on^^^^^^^ '"^ ^°"'^^"'"" ^^"' °"- ' '''''-'' '° » ^'-'- ^^ ^'^ -- o^ -^^ '-istible 
 
 All nations will soon be 
 under the hoofs of his fol- 
 lowers, who joyfully give 
 him blind obedience or pro- 
 fess to do so. Some, I fear, 
 are pliant for their private 
 ends. Three generations 
 ago the Army was started 
 to regenerate the people. 
 It is now employed to keep 
 them in captivity. " 
 "How?" I asked. 
 "By the compact voting 
 
 power of the Army. It 
 
 votes to a man as its Head 
 
 dictates. The Parliament 
 
 and its offices, all places of 
 
 importance and power, are 
 
 filled by its followers. 
 
 Prisons, places of refuge, 
 
 schools, all municipal gov- 
 ernments are in their 
 
 bands." 
 " What of the army and 
 
 navy ?" 
 
 " Both are employed in 
 fighting nations, who have been branded by the Pope as 
 heretical." 
 
 "And the church— ><7«r church ?" 
 
 "Shattered twenty years ago, now only existing 
 here and there in fragments and in secret. So with 
 all forms of faith but that originated by the Prophet 
 Booth." 
 
 " The Prophet Booth ?" 
 
 " Yes ; so he is now calle4, although he laid no claim to 
 the title. Stead, sixty years ago, declared him to be on a 
 level with the Prophets, and pronounced his Army to be 
 the greatest movement in the religious world since the 
 time of the Apostles, So it was, perhaps, in the first 
 
 SoxM qf the men carried bannert. 
 
 power. 
 
 " And implicit obcdjijnce 
 still exists?" 
 
 My companion opened 
 his lips to reply, but was 
 checked by a sudden influx 
 of a motley crowd into the 
 street. They poured into it 
 from every avenue— men and 
 women and children. The 
 red jersey and the hideous 
 sun-shade bonnets were 
 everywhere. There was no 
 beauty, save the beauty of a 
 ragged variety among the 
 people. 
 
 On the face of one and all 
 was a set smile, the Army's 
 sign of happiness, which my 
 companioa told me in a 
 whisper Pope Booth the 
 Third had commanded 
 them to wear whenever 
 they walked abroad. 
 
 Some of tl e men carried 
 banners with legends in- 
 scribed thereon, such as 
 
 " The Devil is dead," " When the Pope speaks let no dog 
 bark," "The World is under the heel of the Army," 
 and so on. 
 
 At least four-fifths of the women had tambourines, and 
 methought that the jingling they made would not have 
 been unpleasant if one could have been far aloft-in a 
 balloon, let us say. But, being in their immediate neigh- 
 bourhood, the sound was far from musical. 
 
 A roar and a parting of the people, caused by a number 
 of Marshals of the Army riding by on horseback. Be- 
 hind them a host of men and women mingled, walking 
 six abreast, shouting, laughing, singing. 
 
 Brass bands, withcheekswollen men pouring out deafen- 
 
 J 
 
 ii 
 
POPE BOOTH. 
 
 V 
 
 ing strains-tunes mingled-a jumbling of melody-wild 
 cnes of "Halleluj-ah "-frenzy ev.rywhere-a torrent of 
 half, maddened people, and then-the King. 
 
 1 saw him. a man in his early prime, standing i„ a 
 common waggon, and I judged that it was one part of the 
 creed of Pope Booth to teach Kings humility. 
 
 Around the Monarch, proud but sad. stood a ring of 
 women-Hallelujab lasses-rattling their tambourines • 
 plam creafires to be sure, and well chosen to keep the 
 ^yal heart sound and strong. No man or woman 
 Old the Monarch reverence. 
 
 And so he went by-to do homage to the quicJJly. 
 grown great social, political, 
 
 and religious power. Behind 
 
 him, a torrent of people 
 
 closing in upon the cortege 
 
 as it passed. All went with 
 
 it— the street was emptied, 
 
 and I was left alone with 
 
 my companion. 
 " Whither are they 
 
 going?" I asked. " To St, 
 
 Paul's ?" 
 
 "No— that is now the 
 
 Chief Clothing Emporium 
 
 for the Army," he said. 
 
 "The Pope holds his court 
 
 in Olympia. It is the creed 
 
 of the Army to despise the 
 
 beautiful and encourage the 
 
 hideous. Would you go 
 
 thither }" 
 
 "Ay 1 readily." I re- 
 plied. 
 
 "Come, then." he said, 
 as he took my hand. " We 
 must hasten if we would be 
 in time." 
 
 Around the monarch stood a ring qf nalklujah lateu, 
 II 
 
 without attempt at anything like harmonious arrange- 
 mcnt. ■ 
 
 Stretched above his head was a canopy, on which 
 was cmUazoned the motto of the Prophet Booth- 
 " Do asj'ou art told, and don't aigu/y." 
 Indeed, as I glanced around from an elevated position 
 my companion had obtained for mc-how I know not-I 
 saw this motto everywhere. 
 
 In frames and hung upon the walls, written in chalk, 
 pamted m red upon the iron columns and girders. It was 
 clear to me that this motto was esteemed of much impor- 
 tance by the Pope, and no pains were spared to fully im- 
 
 press it on the people. 
 
 A rattle of tambourines, 
 and all rose but the Pope, 
 lie sat with twinkling eyes, 
 and one hand resting on a 
 velvet-covered pedestal be- 
 fore him. 
 
 I now observed that that 
 hand was covered with a 
 glove of golden thread, save 
 for the thumb, which was 
 bare, and extended so as to 
 be easily seen. 
 
 Another flourish of tarn- 
 bourines, and enter the King 
 — alone. 
 
 No court, no attendants 
 behind— nothing to show 
 that he was aught more 
 than any other servant of 
 his Holiness. 
 
 A dead silence fell upon 
 the vast concourse. The 
 King, with humbled mien, 
 advanced to the pedestal 
 and, bending down, iissed 
 the bare thumb. 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 ■SHB king's humiliation. 
 
 In a moment, as it seemed to me, I found myself in 
 Olympia. a huge, plain building of iron and glass 
 endowed with space, but with little else to recommend it' 
 From end to end it was crowded with the hosts I had seen 
 mthestreet-an unlovely mass of hideously-clad women 
 and red-jerseyed men. 
 
 Araund Um. u the back, stood .n ill.fo™ed ^i-cM^ .f with „™, -t . ... 
 
 Then he sank upon one knee, and the Pope, rising 
 removed h.s glove and extended his arms as if to bleS 
 him. I could look upon the scene no more, and touch- 
 >ng my companion on the arm, wc hurried out. 
 
 "And It has come to this-in sixty years ?" I said. 
 Man ,s but man all the world over." replied my com- 
 panion. " Power is an intoxicating thing, and under its 
 influence strange pranks are played. A heavy yoke is 
 
 !!r t'!!.!'-!°^'!' """. "•? .'''" "°' ^" •' '""k- how. 
 
 """ "' ' ' Wfaithf 
 
POPE BOOTH. 
 
 " I have to meet souiv; friends— private friends," he 
 muttered ; "and yet, methinks, I can trust you." 
 
 He looked at mc wistfully. 
 
 I assured him he would find no enemy in me, and the 
 lookof mistrust melted away. 
 
 "Come," he said. 
 
 We walked to^jjther through many streets, all silent 
 .'>nd deserted. My companion told me th;it the people 
 had gathered in or near Olympia ip obedience to the com- 
 r.iand of the rope. 
 
 "Some are inhiding," he added, with a shy glance in my 
 flirection. "And it i said that many thousands, who in 
 their hearts deny thii man allegiance, are skulking hero 
 and thereto-day." 
 
 By this time I was athirst ; and as it had been my 
 i:ibi'. to drink a glass of mild ale when I needed it, I 
 .ooked around me for some inn or respectable public- 
 (louse. But I saw none. 
 
 Remarking on this to my companion, ho told me that 
 there were no o/ai drinking places for the sale of intoxica- 
 ting liquors in the country. I was ama?ad there.at, and 
 maryelled why I had not heard of this before. 
 
 " \Vhat has become of the great .biewers ?" I asked. 
 
 " Dead^ or in prison, and their estates confiscated for 
 the benefit of the children of deceased JjriHffeards. " I 
 
 "They might be put to a worse :us6'''ltan thai, 
 marked. • "' '■' ' v ■■ i 
 
 "There are whispers," said my companloftj ' cfitfetly, 
 "of the funds being misappropriated. . Heavy salaries 
 arc paid to the ofHcers who are high in fafcur with the 
 Pope. They say, too, that fourth-fiftlis of 'the -children 
 receiving the benefit of the charity are hot'tW phildren of 
 deceased drunkards, but the offspring oE livFng members 
 of the Army." ^- ,:■ '''::■ 
 
 " The charities of the last century suRe^re^Trorri abilse," 
 I said, " But what of the publicans ?" '■''^V- | 
 
 " AH banished to the recently -discovered North Pole, 
 there to expiate their sins as purveyors of destruction to 
 the people," replied my companion. "And, again, it is 
 said that many a man goes thither who is not a publican, 
 but simply obnoxious to the Pope." 
 
 "As like as not," I said. " Well, as no drink is to be 
 had I will fall back upon an old. friend — a cigar. There 
 may be a tobaccorist handy." 
 
 "Xay," interposed the old man; "the tobacconists 
 went with the publicans. One great manufacturer of 
 tobacco has been publicly whipped for ignoring the Papal 
 edict against the manufacture and sale of tobacco in any 
 forni. It scared the rest. You see, no man can enter the 
 Army if he drinks or smokes, and as all are commanded 
 to enter the Army the tabooed trades. had to give 
 way." 
 
 a publican 
 
 " And if a man not a tobacconist or 
 refuses to enter the Army— what then ?" 
 
 " He is either imprisoned or banished, and there is 
 talk of a few heretics being burned as a check against 
 growing signs of rebellion against his Holiness. But here 
 we are. Follow me, and do not speak unless you are 
 addressed by one of the members of the Band of the New 
 Reformation." 
 
 CHAPTER HI. 
 
 A MEETINT, OF DISSSNTERS. 
 
 Mv companion tapped lightly upon the door three times. 
 After a short delay it was opened a few inches, and 
 somebody within said — 
 
 " The word ?" 
 
 To which, in response, my companion whispered— 
 
 "Reformation!" 
 
 Immediately the door was thrown open and we entered. 
 
 In the passage stood a tall young fellow, whose appear- 
 ance suggested an athlete of one of the Universities as I 
 had known them in my youth, and this, notwithstanding 
 the fact that he was wearing a red jersey, on which 
 was embossed the familiar but, to me, always terrible 
 i^otto, "Bl6od and Fire." 
 
 " I beg your pardon, my lord," he said ; "we did not 
 expect you to-day." 
 
 "I have brought a friend with me," my companion 
 answered. 
 
 The young athlete, who by this time had closed and 
 barred the door, led the way to the back of the house, 
 where he opened another door, showing the way to a 
 cellar. 
 
 Descending about a dozen steps, I found myself in an 
 underground place, about fifteen feet long and twelve 
 wide, from which all daylight had been carefully excluded. 
 
 In the centre was a table, around which about a dozen 
 men were seated, svith one at the head, who acted as 
 president or chairman. 
 
 A small lamp was hanging from the ceiling, and by its 
 weird, imperfect glare I was able to see the faces of those 
 assembled. 
 
 They were a ml.xed body, as I judged— bankrupts in 
 purse, if thread-bare clothing i.s any guide to that condi- 
 tion, and clericals of various denominations. 
 
 I could have gone round and laid a finger on each, 
 saying to one, "You are a Bishop," to another, "You 
 are a Dean," to a third, "You are a shining light among 
 the Baptists," to a fourth, " The Congregationalists own 
 you for a mainstay," and so on. 
 
 Church and Dissent were pretty evenly represented 
 
 drawn together, as it seemed to me, into close brother- 
 hood by the bonds of oppression. 
 
 ^ 
 
POPE BOOTH. 
 
 1 
 
 My guidu motioned for mo to lake a seat at the lower 
 end of the table, at the same time suggesting the need of 
 iilencc on my part. 
 
 Unheeded, but heeding all that passed, I sat still and 
 wLnt, listening to an earnest debate on the condition ol the 
 country. 
 
 The president arose und thus addressed those around 
 him — 
 
 " Brethren, we have this day witnessed a scene that 
 his made my heart burn within me-the humiliation of 
 our beloved young King. What Rome was in the 
 middle ages, England, this empire, is to-day. It is 
 enslaved, held fast in the grip temporal under the guise 
 of tha grip spiritual. It is no marvel that it should be so, 
 for m-in is but man, and we are not here to condemn 
 him who rules us with a rod of iron, but to find out what 
 road will lead us again to freedom of conscience. Fr,»e. 
 dom of th'j body is in the hands of other men. Mark the 
 evolution of the Head of the Army. 
 
 " Booth the I-irst, an honest, self-denying man, pos- 
 sessed of great administrative power, absolute, wise and just, 
 daing good, raising thousands from the slough of misery 
 and vice, in error made the law of his people, • Do as you 
 are told and don't argufy.' Booth the Second, earnest 
 and well-meaning, desirous of followinc; in the footsteps 
 of his father, but like him resolved on being absolute. The 
 Army growing in numbers, and drawing all sorts of men 
 into its vortex, and all streams of charity bearing into the 
 one channel which flows into the coffers of the organisa- 
 tion. The motto of the family strengthened by time-no 
 dissent, no argument allowed in the ranks, obedience in all 
 things spiritual and temporal enforced. The Army a 
 politka! po-va; ruling as one man, guided by one man- 
 filling the House of Parliament with Salvationists-the 
 Lords aboliilied, the Chur V 'iscstablished, all other 
 denominations with a sense -r R.owing absorption chilling 
 them. India, Europe— the whole world permeated with 
 the New Religion, swelling like some huge bubble blown 
 by irresistible force out of the mouth of a volcano. 
 
 "Booth the Third," here the president lowered his 
 voice to little above a whisper, "lacking many of the 
 qualities of his predecessors, not made of the stern stun- 
 without which ambition may lead to chaos, inflated with 
 pf^de, has been borne away on the shoulders of p 
 quickly-grown supremacy into the dark region of tyranny. 
 All things in th- grasp of the Salvation Army, luhuh no 
 longer saves. Home, dress, food, all chosen for the people. 
 A crusade against all things I.->natifuL To e.it sufficient, 
 and to sleep with a roof over one's head, the highest' 
 worldly thoughts encouraged. All others declared b> 
 Cooth the Third to be r.-ink heresy. Salvation books, 
 Salvation papers. Salvation clothes, Salvation boots, linen 
 
 -all things to be of the Salvation type-and those who will 
 have none of them to go hungry and barefoot. Sixty years 
 ago the wise men, such as Stead, foresaw great possibilities 
 forthegeueral's offspring -and see how their visions have 
 been falsified ! A monster, octopus-like, throws out huge 
 tentacles on every ride-grasping .ill things-holding all 
 things but our inmost thoughts. Brethren, how lor- 
 shall these things be?" 
 
 The passion of the man was fearful. He was moved to 
 the very centre. He quivered like the leaves of an aspen 
 tree as he concluded und resumed his seat. Half-a- 
 dozen speakers arose and a confusion of tongues ensued. 
 
 While endeavouring to unravel their mingled utter- 
 ances, I felt a finger laid upon my arm, and turning, 
 saw the young athletic doorkeeper t)ehind me. 
 
 "Vouare to come with me," he said, and rising, I 
 followed him from the house. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A SA\EI) CITV. 
 
 " It is cool and quiet here," he said, as wc reached the 
 street, " very different to the heated atmosphere below." 
 
 "Heated more by the words of the speaker than aught 
 else," I replied. " But tell me. was not his statement ar. 
 exaggeration ?" 
 
 "It is a question I expected you would ask," h- 
 returned. "and I will answer it by showing you some 
 things in this changed city. " 
 
 I asked him what name he bore and, smiling, he 
 said — 
 
 " Call me Baliol, for I was educated in the college oF 
 that name, and would fain do honour to its memory." 
 
 " Is it a departed thing?" I asked. 
 
 "Ay !" he said, " the two great Universities are now 
 gi«;n over to the use of the invalids of the Army-men 
 and women who have fallen out of the ranks fainting by 
 the way. All such who have their weakness thus marked 
 are treated as lunatics. It is part of the creed of Booth, 
 that those who have not the strength to be good are 
 insane." 
 
 "Then verily," I said, "a huge proportion of the 
 population is in need of confinement." 
 
 "But a vast number of the lunatics," said Baliol. 
 ' ' are cunning enough to conceal their malady. Vou miy- 
 know them by their furious beating of drums, wild rattle 
 of tambourines, and loud proclamations of having no 
 thought of aught save the Army. Like the Queen in the 
 play, they do protest too much. She did it to hide her 
 'railty ; they do it to conceal their weakness." - 
 
 Talking thus, we came to a spot which I recognised as 
 I'iccadilly, but changed-as all things were that I had as yet 
 beheld. The fashionable hosiers exhibited red jerseys. 
 
10 
 
 POPi: BOOTH. 
 
 _^As. and other garments, all with the Army brand in 
 «he most prominent places Th^ v . "^,, ''^"^ '" 
 become a barracl<s NoT" • ^^'^ '" "'" ^""^ 
 
 horses ..ST ""^'' '■'^^' °f "'^nibus.o, 
 
 horses ^u>re .n the streets, and none could have told bv 
 
 west ot the great metropolis. 
 
 >• ratt L"!;'T"''""-"^""°""^'^^ byhalf-a.score women 
 .; dreadful allu.ons to his sinful life, and declaring he was 
 
 Scarce had he gone when another turmoil in an opposite 
 ^■rection attracted my attention. ^^ ^ 
 
 • -'R to make the best of her beauty 
 
 Denuded of ,„h „„.„„„ ,, „ „„„ 
 
 :* "T •■■■"■ '■»>™ ""ins on Jp J, It 
 St. p m and be saved ■'^ 
 
 Entrrrt^^^^'"^"-^^''^^"'^^'''-°^^^eHomeof 
 
 I motioned to Baliol, and we hurried on. and my heart 
 was s,ck wu in me, for on all sides was viden Lf X 
 
 !;r:L:r'''^°~-^-"^^---o;d^: 
 
 At every street-corncr there were printed directions to 
 gu.de the people into the paths of righteousness. „d the 
 first lesson taught to one and al, was obed.>n.» t. P 
 Sootli the Third. ^'1^= 
 
 Especially were the people commanded to eschew ,]. 
 
 th.ngMending to vanity, and as rtu.r„edrmrrdi:g 
 
 calldTm"' "''"/ '' ' """ '" ^ S°'2-- "-^°- that 
 xt 1:;:^;: JJ-'- ^'^•^^ once seen of Murat. 
 
 no^nc^.rr:;:--:r^^^^^^ 
 
 and are the livin. ^ V J ^' ''''™ "^''" '^' '^"''. 
 ance." ^ ^'"^od.ment of the Spirit of In.toler- 
 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE CITY AT NIGHT. 
 
 iT Will soon be nieht "snirl r^i:„i 
 Oxford -.,.«► u °'' '^^ "'^ strolled down 
 
 uxlord-.treet an hour later, •« Whit wiM ,-. ^ • , 
 hours of darkness ?" vv .1! j ou do m th. 
 
 " I am wearj' of serious things," I replied ".r^^ 
 ^-h^.someplacewhithere^l.:r:^ 
 
 heard that d.'.. "'" " ""'"^= ^">'"^-^' ^ ^-i 
 
 " By my life." he said. «' you will have to wander far to 
 find what Yoa would cali amusement." 
 The theatres," I hinted. 
 
 io.:f.i;i;::nrs;:^"->-"»-^"='«-.o 
 
 "A concert-room, then." 
 theI^^'"°^'"^'"^^^P'^>''"°-P"^''^.3a;ethatof. 
 
 this life rT d'"''"' ': ''■"' ''' ^'^ ^^^^'^- --^'-y of 
 
 cms iiie ? I desperately asked 
 
 •'Nothing that is open to the eye," returned Baliol. 
 . f"'>°"'"='y''^"3tmetosho.-you something that u^ 
 interest .f it does not amuse you. " ^ ' 
 
 usld'tr'^'f''""''''''"^'' '° '^"-•^ ^"''''enly upon 
 us, and the n.ght was there. With it was hearr? , • 
 
 orbells.om various quarters, and B::::^::::ZI 
 
 was done for the good of the peop.e-a signal r' re 
 
 " Only the patrols are supposed to be abroad," he said 
 and they are commanded to arrest all stragglJr^ Th - 
 there :s some rare sport for them chasing Se unc'uO^Vl 
 soldiers of the Army and heretics " 
 
 There was no lighting up, as I had known it in mv 
 
 youth, but fro. ihe summit of high public buildin "a^' 
 
 monuments the glare of the electric light spran^ ou^ 
 
 Vejrd tndeed were the s.reets-so brilliant in the gh'e' 
 
 so deep in the shadow. ^ ' 
 
 The people melted away like ir.ects who shun the 
 
POPE BOOTH. 
 
 11 
 
 called my atten- 
 beating of many 
 
 JUS uniform thai 
 : seen of Murat. 
 nt creature, and 
 ien. 
 
 Marshals," sail 
 ^bout the land, 
 pirit of latoler- 
 
 strolled down 
 you do in the 
 
 d, " and long 
 amusement of 
 
 .'hich sounded 
 >-!hinij I had 
 
 wander far to 
 
 !io refused to 
 
 save that o! 
 
 lonotony of 
 
 ned Baliol, 
 Z tfaat will 
 
 lenly upon 
 d a ringing 
 me that it 
 I to retire 
 es as soon 
 
 " he said, 
 rs. Ah : 
 
 undutiful 
 
 it in my . 
 lings and 
 ang out. 
 >e glare, 
 
 hun the 
 
 light, and in a little while Baliol and I were alone, 
 standing in a deep shadow by Tottenhini-court-road. 
 
 We remained there for awhile until the beating of a 
 drum announced the coming of a patrol —some fifty men, 
 who carried staves wherewith to beat the unfaithful, and 
 these they thrust into shcJy corners as they passed to 
 asccitain if any defiant citizen were skulking there. 
 
 But somehow they passed us by, and crossing the road, 
 w c hastened down a broad way, and presently paused by 
 ihe door of a house, wherein all seemed still and dark. 
 " We will enter here," said Baliol. 
 The door opened with a touch and we went in, and 
 passed down a passage to a room at the back. The door 
 was locked, but Baliol had a key with which he opened 
 it. 
 
 A dozsn men were there, engaged in gambling, and 
 we stood aside to watch them. They paid no heed 
 to us, at which, as I had done more than once that 
 <lay, I marvelled. 
 
 At intervals one of their number went <■••' of the room 
 and returned in a little while with some dri larudekind 
 of loving-cup, which was hastily passed round and emptied. 
 Suddenly there was an alarm of a patrol going by, 
 and the cards and dice were hastily gathered together and 
 thrust into a cupboard in a corner of the room. Then all 
 began to sing at their loudest an Army song. 
 
 " It is death or banishment," said Baliol, "to partake 
 of strong drink or gamble, but the prohibition has simply 
 driven open vice and folly into secret corners. Nay more, 
 it has made votaries of both of men who cared little for 
 such things before." 
 
 " But these are few," I urged. " What are they among 
 so many ?" 
 
 "Within the heart of this great city alone," said 
 Baliol, "there are ten thousand such dens as this. The 
 good that the fust Booth did by persuasion has more than 
 been undone by force. Come, let us go on." 
 
 He led me from place to place, and showed me many 
 strange and painful things. Without, in the streets, all 
 was quiet — behind the walls was a vast mass of corruption. 
 It was hideous, horrible, to see the many secret ways of 
 vice, and among the most earnest votaries of it were men 
 who trebled their sin by wearing the garb of sanctity, the 
 uniform of the Pope. 
 
 No class, it seemed, was exempt — among the highest 
 and the lowest unspeakable things were done. 
 
 Secret stills, distilling liquor, were in every street ; the 
 forbidden tobacco was indulged in places not easy of 
 access by the patrol ; women flaunted in meek attire— the 
 same old story of man and woman's sin, intensified by a 
 tyrant legislation. 
 
 In my earlier days, when the blood ran hotly in my 
 
 \ veins, I had seen much of the seamy side of life, but never 
 ; aught like this. So pure and white without, so dark 
 
 within, were these abodes of men— miles and miles of 
 ' whited sepulchres with a sprinkling of houses where the 
 
 truly faithful dwelt. 
 For, mark you, .\i,r. were not given over to the w.iys of 
 j Evil. Among the hosts were many of the faithful 
 
 believers in the Spirit which governed the first ruler of 
 ■ the Army, and true to him who now governed them 
 
 because they hoped that Spirit was in him too. 
 I grew v,-eary of these scenes, and would have fain 
 , retired, but Baliol said he had one more place to show me, 
 ' which on no accDunt could be passed by. He took ms 
 
 ; by the hand, and in a moment we were there. 
 
 I 
 
 CIIAl'TER VI, 
 
 THE I-ArrHKI.-[. UEIiELLIOfS. 
 
 A ROOM in one of the outbuildings of Olympia. In it 
 some half-dozen m^n were assembled, all attired as 
 Marshals of the great Army. 
 
 Grave, earnest men these, with sorrowful eyes, sitting 
 in solemn council together. 
 
 One was speaking as we glided into their presence and 
 stood aside to listen. 
 
 "Brother soldiers," he was saying, "dark times have 
 fallen upon us. The world is again triumphant. Our 
 Head thinks more of tempsral power than of the 
 spiritual welfare of the people. Marked you him to-day 
 as our King bent the knee before him? How his eyes 
 glistened and his body swelled with pride ! 0!i ! pitiful 
 sight. And he is not content. " 
 
 "What asks he for now ?" enquired another, a white- 
 bearded, venerable old man, who had been a boy-soldier, 
 so Baliol told me, under the first Booth. 
 
 " He meditates calling on all the Kings of the earth to 
 do him homage," was the sorrowful reply, "and now 
 he is preparing edicts to command them to recognise his 
 Infallibility, and to fill his coffers by taxing their people. 
 Even as this land is now well within his hand, so he 
 would have ALL. He seeks to be the Temporal Ruler of 
 he world." 
 
 " He has the misses with him," said a third, " for they 
 have been taught to look to him for all things, lie 
 governs Parliament, commerce, and the social life. What 
 he says is to be— must be, and that which he says shall 
 not be is put aside. And who dare say aught to the 
 contrarj- ? Have we not ALL to do as we are told, and 
 not argufy ? We have naught of our own— our lives, out 
 consciences are in his keeping. And how long, I ask, 
 shall these things be?" 
 
 The speaker paused, and, raising his hand, brought it 
 down heavily upon the table and resumed — 
 
12 
 
 POPE BOOTH, 
 
 " Liberty of mind and body is (feaJ/ The Army was 
 an eddy at first— it is now a whirlpoor, drawing all men 
 and things into its centre. And what are now the chief 
 agents of its power ? Ambitious men, who Jiave made this 
 new Christian body a stepping-stone to high positions. 
 Who are its supporters ? A few that are zealous, and 
 hosfs of those dependent on its bounty." 
 
 " Aye ! there's (he rub," interposed another of the 
 Marshals. "When Booth theFirst conceived his great plan 
 ofproviding homes for all that would work, he did not 
 see that the end would be to destroy the energy ami ^elf- 
 reliance of the people. Look at the great workshops 
 throughout the land— off- 
 spring of the first the General 
 endowed with money sub- 
 scribed by a charitable 
 public. Lcok at them, I 
 
 say — filled with men and 
 
 women who Aa//-viot\i, who 
 
 dribblt through the labour 
 
 of the day, just earning 
 
 their bre.id and no more ; 
 
 lazily content'.d with their 
 
 lot, without any great 
 
 earthly hope ; void of am- 
 bition, seeking neither to 
 
 raise themselves nor their 
 
 offspring; sufificient for the 
 
 day suffices for them; the 
 
 New State must take care of 
 
 them on the morrow." 
 A rapid debate ensued, 
 
 from which I learnt that the 
 
 country was growing poorer. 
 
 There was more evenness 
 
 in the social st<ite ; but the 
 
 level was a low one, save 
 
 with a few— leaders of the 
 
 Army and men in high 
 
 places, who were favourites of the Pope. 
 Then, in a whisper, they talked of a New Reform.iion, 
 
 of a rebellion against the absolute power of the man who 
 
 was the real Head of the State, and in the midst of a quiet, 
 
 earnest discussion I left them. .y 
 
 \ -^ 
 
 CHAPTER VII, 
 
 DRUMMED OUT. 
 
 It was day again, and it seemed to me that some time 
 had elapsed since I walked with Baliol and saw the Holy 
 City under the cover of darkness. But what had hap- 
 pened in the time I could not tell. 
 
 Anon 1 saw the offenders pass in a vmggon. 
 
 Let it suffice that it was high noon and I was in Cheap- 
 side, strolling along. 
 
 A great multitude were abroad— hurrying to and fro— 
 with eager faces, some stopping here and there to exchange 
 a word or two with other wayfarers. 
 
 The windows were filled with sight-seers, mostly women 
 —some pretty enough, perchance, in face and form, but all 
 hideous to the eye, thanks to the orthodox bonnet and 
 sombre, sack-like dress. 
 
 I marvelled at the scene, wondering if the King were 
 again about to visit his Holiness the Pope, and, to satisfy 
 myself, I stopped a passer by and questioned him. 
 
 " What 1" he exclain ed, 
 "know you not that the 
 seven Marshals who' dis- 
 sented to the Infallibility of 
 the Pope are this day to be 
 drummed out of the Army?" 
 I was fain to express my 
 ignorance of the impending 
 humiliation of those who had 
 dared to dissent from the 
 Church of Booth. 
 
 "They have done so," 
 continued my informant, 
 "and you will see them 
 carried by on their way to 
 the big pillory for heretics 
 in Smithfield." 
 
 I stood aside, and anon I 
 saw the offenders pass in a 
 waggon, with their hands 
 fastened behind them, and 
 the buttons and facings re- 
 moved from their uniforms. 
 Behind the waggon were a 
 score or so of drummers, who 
 beat their instruments furious- 
 ly without time or tune, and a 
 flood of rabble followed, hooting and howling as rabbles 
 are wont to do when opportunity offers for the offensive 
 exercise of their lungs. 
 
 Every indignity that tongue c-'ild pour out w.-vS heaped 
 upon these men. The males hissed or roared, the women 
 at the windows shrieked and rattled tambourines. " Death 
 to the Heretics 1" was cried on every side. 
 
 And the seven men bore it all unmoved. If they 
 looked at the seething crowd it was with pity ; when struck 
 with a stone, or some other popular streel missile, they 
 smiled. 
 
 On their faces rested a light such as historians record 
 has been s.en on the faces of martyrs. I knew these 
 
POFE BOOTH. 
 
 13 
 
 men. They were pari of the body, who in secret 
 
 council had demurred to the growing arrogance of the 
 
 Pope. 
 The fruit of that meeting was open dissent, and here 
 
 was their reward. 
 I followed these men, and beheld them placed side by 
 
 side in a huge pillory for every thoughtless fool or vicious 
 
 ruffian to pelt with refuse and abuse. 
 And freely was the right of the public exercised. It 
 
 was high holiday for all the rabble of the town— a carnival 
 
 for hot-blooded, unthinking fanatics. Sickened, I turned 
 
 f/om the scene and strode away. 
 And as I walked I 
 
 marked that there were 
 
 many gloomy faces in the 
 
 street. 
 Men looked ashamed at 
 
 each other, and some started 
 
 and trembled if only the 
 
 hind of a friend was laid 
 
 upon them. 
 I noted also two or three 
 
 men with faces stern, 
 
 wandering about, occasion" 
 
 ally stopping a passer-by to 
 
 speak one word to him and 
 
 pass on. 
 Whoever was thus spoken 
 
 to turned from his course 
 
 and hurried west. 
 
 I, too, went that way 
 until I came to the Marble- 
 arch, through which from 
 every direction streams of 
 men were pouring. 
 
 They all bore in the direc- 
 tion of the Reformers'-tree, 
 under whose branches sedi- 
 tion had been spouted before 
 
 against rulers who were not tyrants, but served the people 
 well. A vast multitude had already assembled, and I, 
 urged by my curiosity, was about to join them when the 
 rattle of drums fell upon my ears, and I saw a great body 
 of the Army — picked men, as it seemed to me — who fell 
 upon the crowd with sword and bayonet and rifle, slaying 
 right and left, and driving the terrified people like chaft 
 before the wind. ^ 
 
 Some stood stubbornly against the onslaught, and were 
 cut down, dying with the ••ji.' "Heretic 1" or 
 " Unbeliever !" hissed in their eav , It was a fearsome, 
 bloody scene, and, overcome by the sight, I swooned 
 away. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 A DAY IN THE COUNTRY. 
 
 In the country now (how transported thither I know not), 
 seated by the window of a cottage upon a hill com- 
 manding a view of one of the fairest spoU in southera 
 England. 
 
 Just by the window an old man was digging in the 
 garden, and I saw branded on the handle of the tool the 
 words " Salvation Spade." There were also some words 
 too small for me to read, which I judged then to be a text. 
 This was no cause for surprise, for I knew that the 
 word of much import to us all was on all things. It was 
 
 the trade-mark of the Pope, 
 and without it nothing was 
 genuine. To trade in that 
 which was not approved of 
 was heresy, and punishable 
 by the aw of the Army. 
 
 The law of the land was 
 dead. 
 
 With one stroke of the 
 pen his Holiness had abro- 
 gated all laws but such as 
 he made, and given one 
 simple guide to the people — 
 " Do as you are told and 
 don't argufy." 
 
 I could not call to mind 
 
 who told me of these things, 
 
 but as I sal by the window 1 
 
 knew that they had been 
 
 done. Nay, more. I knew 
 
 also that the great word of 
 
 need on which the Army had 
 
 been founded had lost its 
 
 power among the people. 
 
 Familiarity had at least bred 
 
 indifference. With Salvation 
 
 hats, boots, shoes, clothe?, 
 
 liveries, and everything in common use, what could be 
 
 expected ? Musing on the knowledge of these things, I 
 
 watched the old man until he was aroused from his labour, 
 
 by a youth in the uniform of a private of the Army. 
 
 "Friend Michael," he said, sternly, "you have not 
 your jersey on. " 
 
 The old man pleaded the heat of the day, at which the 
 young man laughed. 
 
 " Heat and cold, light and darkness," he said, "are 
 nothing to us, for they are of this world. It is the com- 
 mand of his Holiness that all men shall have some outward 
 and written sign of belonging to the faithful. Do as you 
 ' are tolJ, and don't—" 
 
 / 
 
 \ ,, , 
 
 
 ^^ 
 
 -^^^fe""*^ 
 
 t-vsga^M 
 
 i0i& 
 
 
 
 i'^, 
 
 
 
 ^tjgo^ 
 
 0^ 
 
 i. — 
 
 
 
 
 
 H't 
 
 An old man was digging in the garden. 
 
u 
 
 FOPE BOOTH. 
 
 The old man cast down his spade, and picking up a red 
 jersey from the ground, struggled .iito it, muttering 
 something, of which I heard fragments, and judged they 
 were not loving messages to the Pope. 
 
 The young man, with a warning word for Michael not 
 to be caught again without his jersey, on pain of being 
 reported to the Vigilance Committee, passed on, and then 
 the old man turned to me and said— . 
 
 " You see the life we lead. There is no hole or corner 
 safe from the prying of these people. They pester us 
 abroad, they invade our homes, they haunt us everywhere ; 
 but mark ye, sir, not for loiio. We shall not wait centuries 
 this time for a Reformation, for these old eyes of mine will 
 see it." 
 
 I did not make a verbal reply, but there must have 
 been something in my look that suf4ccd for it, and he i 
 went on. 
 
 " It will not this time be the work of a King to serve 
 his lustful turn, for our monarch, albeit not a great man, is 
 a good one. The blow will come from the people, who 
 wait in hosts for a Cromwell— for a leader." 
 
 "Surely you mean a Garibaldi?" I said, "for he it 
 was who destroyed the temporal power of the Pope of 
 Rome." 
 
 " Well, cal' him what you will," said the old man, "so 
 that he be the leader of the people to freedom. There 
 never was such a tyranny as this born of a promise to set 
 the people free. The first Booth-when I was but a 
 young man -gained the ear of one Stead. Mayhap you 
 have heard of him ?" 
 I nodded assent. 
 
 " He was a leader of the ; eople, and had a vast follow- 
 ing. Booth the Righteous, as you may kniw, the first 
 was called, gained his ear, and filled it with schemes for 
 the salvation of the bodies and souls of men. He asked 
 for power-money— and by the aid of Stead and others he 
 obtained it. So he set about and laboured, and there was 
 much blossom and a great promise of fruit. 
 
 " Mark ye," said the old man, leaning on his spade and 
 gazing fixedly at me, "in the hands of a man like the 
 General the fruit would have been good; but he did not 
 live to see it gathered in. The Army grew in riches and 
 in power, but Us rules weakened. Their heads would 
 not stand the intoxicaiing power they inherited. The 
 strong, guiding hand has become the clenched fist 
 of th, tyrant. Instead of being lei we .-—Heaven 
 help us ! — driven." 
 
 So it was everywhere, this tyrant power. A young 
 church grown rapidly corrupt ; its mission perverted ; its 
 strength used for the aggrandisement of a few leaders, and 
 not for the people. The history of Rome repeated. 
 And while the old man was falkint' I heard shouting 
 
 afar off, and I saw a body of men marching along the high 
 road. 
 
 They were rudely armed with scythes, sledge-hammers, 
 and old-fashioned guns, and at the head of thcm.walked a 
 man bearing a red cap fixed upon the top of a pole. 
 
 " Did I not tell you so ?" cried the old man, exultingly. 
 " The hour has come ! The signal has been given t 
 From every quarter of this Booth-ridden land bands of 
 brave men are bearing down upon Olympia. They go to 
 fight and win freedom or— a grave !" 
 
 He tore off his red jersey and trampled it under foot. 
 
 Then, seizing his spade, he hurried after the retiring band. 
 
 I lingered for awhile, debating within my mind whether 
 
 I would go or remain there, and was disturbed in my 
 
 meditations by the entrance of a fair young girl. 
 
 She was engaged in tearing one of the hideous Army 
 bonnets to pieces. 
 
 " Why do you, a man, linger here?" she said. " Go 
 and do your share of releasing us from the iron rule of the 
 Hideous. Fight to restore Beauty to the land. Bring 
 back to us sweet music and away with the deafening drum 
 and the childish tambourine. Bring back the quiet faith 
 of ou. forefathers, and banish hysteria. Give us again 
 attire becoming to the form with which we are endowed. 
 Put an end to the enforced scarecrow apparel for sweet- 
 hearts, wives, and daughters—" 
 
 I staved no longer, but, rising hurriedly, left the house 
 and ran after the band of men, who were now mere specks 
 in the distance. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE FALL OF THE POPE. 
 
 I COULD not overtake those who had gone before. Making 
 all the speed in my power did not lessen the specks, but 
 I could see that they were gathering fast. 
 
 I passed by many loneiy houses which were closed, but 
 anon I came to a village where there were a few women 
 and children standing by the doors. 
 
 The street was strewn with torn uniforms and other 
 insignia of the Army. The women and children clapped 
 their hands as I went by. 
 
 "Down with the Pope 1" shrilly cried an urchin of five,, 
 and the women shrieked with laughter. 
 
 Fixed ipon a wall on the outskirts of the village was a 
 huge placard, on which was inscribed the one law of his 
 Holiness— " Do as you are told and don't argufy." It 
 was torn here and there and defaced in many places— such 
 a thing I had not seen before, for no sacrilegious hand 
 had ever been laid upon anything that emanated from 
 Olympia. 
 
 I travelled miles, and reached at last oce of the suburbs 
 of the great city. I knew not which it was, nor did I 
 
 • i 
 
POPE BOOTH. 
 
 15 
 
 stay to enriuire, for that, too, was deserted by men, and 
 only women and children were to be seen. No convey- 
 ance was in sight, but I cared not for that, feeling no 
 sense of fatigue. 
 
 The sign of renouncement of the Army and its works 
 was everywhere. Fierce denunciations of the Pope were 
 chalked upon the walls. From afar the sound of many 
 thousand voices floated towards me. 
 
 I grew eager to reach Olyr ia, fearing the work would 
 be done ere I reached the spot. From the spectator I 
 had suddenly been transformed to the partisan. I burned 
 to be one among the assailants of the tyrant's stronghold. 
 
 I bounded along, like one endowed with unearthly 
 j.ctivity. I tlew on, with my mind in a whirl and a chaos 
 cf strange cries in my ears. 
 
 And then in a moment all was clear .igain, and I was 
 T the midst of a surging throng. Ahead of me was a 
 young man held aloft upon the shou'ders of the people. 
 
 It was Baliol, with a sword in his hand. I heard his 
 voice urging the people to be free— or die. 
 
 And what a motley assemblage there was around him 1 
 
 It was no ordinary street mob, but a gathering of 
 men of the middle and upper classes — merchants, trades- 
 men, bishops, clergy and curates, ministers of every de- 
 nomination, who had been despoiled and were now seek- 
 ing the downfall of the despoiler. 
 
 About a hundred yards down the street I saw Olympia, 
 surrounded by a mass of red-jerseyed men, with a fringe of 
 women wearing the Army bonnet. 
 
 They were leaping up, shrieking " Hallelujah!" rattling 
 tambourines, beating drums, and waving weapons in the 
 air. A wall of fanatics intervened between the people 
 and the home of the Pope. 
 
 As yet there was no fighting, for the besieging hosts 
 were loth to make these innocent men and women the 
 victims of their wrath. 
 
 The foremost urged upon them to give way, promising 
 them, that nothing worse than banishment should befall 
 their Head. 
 
 But the women only shrielc^d " Hallelujah !" and the 
 •II ^n got ready to fight. 
 
 A shot was fired. 
 
 I saw the smoke of it from an opening on the level of 
 the galleries of Olympia, and Baliol clapped his hand to 
 his left arm. 
 
 The 3hot had been fired at him. lie was hit. 
 
 A mighty roar rose up from the besieging people, and 
 with irresistible force they bore down upon the devoted 
 few, who, men and women alike, fought nobly, and when 
 they fell died with V Hallelujah 1" on their lips. 
 
 They were the children of the Army of the first Booth, 
 who fought against the sin and darkness of their time, 
 
 winning great battles, ignoring persecution, and earning 
 the good will of many wise and thoughtful men. 
 
 But their numbers were few, and they could not resist 
 the mighty force brought against them. The greater part 
 of the army had fled. Corrupt Marshals, venial Officers, 
 half-hearted men of the ranks had fled by their tens, hun- 
 dreds, and thousands. Only a devoted few, blind to 
 the errors of their Head, fought and died for a lost cause. 
 
 The defenders were scattered, the doors broken in, 
 and the victims poured through into the h\:ge hall. And 
 then came chaos. 
 
 I know not how to describe it, for it seemed to me 
 that my vision took in many things at once. A proud 
 man in pontifical robes, fleeing to a strong, small fort 
 just without Olympia, attended by a few of his surviving 
 followers — a treasury broken into and a general scramble 
 for its contents, in which even good men joined— blows 
 exchanged— bloodshed, turmoil, and concision on every 
 side. 
 
 Some cried aloud for the life of the Pope, but there 
 were strong men in the crowd, who, though they loved 
 him not, stood between him and his foes. The majority of 
 the latter but yesterday were outwardly his friends. 
 
 " Let him see to the spiritual welfare of those who 
 believe in his teaching," the strong men cried, '• but the 
 temporal power we take from hiva— for good and all." 
 
 The angry mob still demanded that he should not only 
 be deposed, but crushed, destroyed, and fighting was 
 resumed. But the strong men prevailed. 
 
 From the interior of Olympia to the street was an easy 
 transition for me, and then I saw that reaction had set in. 
 
 The insignia of the Army were disappearing. Men 
 were tearing off their uniforms and rending them to 
 shreds. Busy hands tore down or defaced the edicts of 
 the Pope. The numerous barracks were invaded by 
 howling mobs, who destroyed all things within their reach. 
 There was drinking everywhere. Every man, as it 
 seemed to me, had his pipe ready for the hour of freedom. 
 There was shouting and laughter on every side. 
 
 It was not a pretty sight, but it h.as been ever thus in. 
 this world. The straight-laced Puritans' dictatorship gave 
 way to the lewd monarchy. Humanity, like a pendulunv 
 pushed aside, when let go will swing far in the opposite 
 direction, and many a movement to and fro takes place 
 ers it is quiet again. 
 
 There was much drinking, open vice on every side, 
 leavened, be it said, with a fair sprinkling of good men 
 and women, who went about beseeching the mad people 
 to b«, still. 
 
 At eve, y street-corner there was an orator, who, for 
 good or ill, utilised the hour of freedom to give vent to 
 the thoughts which had been stifling within him foi 
 
Id 
 
 POPE BOOTH. 
 
 years. But few lUtened. The first hour of freedom was 
 given up to pleasure. There was dancing in the streets- 
 music and mitth everywhere. As I listened my brain 
 became confused-all things grew misty before my eyes- 
 they faded out-and I awoke, to find 'twas but a dream I 
 
 A dream ! No more ! But some dreams come true. 
 Wealth U pouring into the coffers of General Booth, and 
 be cnes yet for more. Give him the million he asks for, 
 and anon he will want more-then more and more. 
 
 Let the wise, the thoughtful, .■ n \ f le benevolent pause 
 ere they put too much power into the hands of those who 
 •re welding together a mass of humanity, mostly of the 
 lowest type, to be shaped this way and that as the Head 
 directs. The rule of the Army is autocratic. They have to 
 obey, or are virtually crushed. No member of it is a free 
 agent. The fears of the ignorant are played upon, and 
 the masses are bribed with promises of temporal advan- 
 ta(ges to come out of following the tea<;hing of the English 
 Madhi. Think of the rapid formation of this body, and 
 what It will be in another generation, unless its rising is 
 checked. 
 
 All other religious denominations will be driven to 
 the wall, all other channels of charity dried up, and the 
 freedom of society at large imperilled. There is no ruling 
 power so severe, so relentless, as the iron hand of fana- 
 ticism, and it has never shown its head more clearly than 
 It does to-day in this strange hysterical organisation. 
 
 Given a continual increase in the strength of this body 
 and the very heart of this nation will be taken away. It 
 IS Socialism in its most daiigerous form that is now about 
 to be attempted if the public will only find the funds. 
 
 Give any man a small certainty and he will in nine 
 hundred and ninety cases out of a thousand drift on 
 without ambition. " The poor we have always with us," 
 and too much cannot be done to raise the unfortunates from 
 a low level ; but do not let the power to do so remain in 
 one body, which, working honestly now, may in the 
 
 future have other aims than finding food for one's body 
 and salvation for his soul. 
 
 The Roman Church was not autocratic at its birth, but 
 with increasing power it became so. We haveonly to 
 read the history of the Middle Ages to understand what it 
 did and what it attempted to do. Man is but man in 
 whatever age he moves. Booth the First, we will grant. 
 IS a self-denying, conscientious man, but he cannot hand 
 down these qualities to his successors. Ambition of the 
 worldly sort will sooner or later step in, and a trammelled 
 people, bound down by iron laws temporal and spiritual, 
 will then look back upon the past and ask themselves 
 what manner of men we were to allow the tentacles of a 
 One Man Power to lay hold of all things 
 
 Let the "General" stick to his first idea-teaching 
 men sobriety and the need of purity ; but when he enters 
 into the arena of Socialism and coolly asks for millions 
 wherewith to work out his aims, it is time for all men to 
 pause and think. Darkest England is dark enough now. 
 but It may become darker by-and-bye. 
 
 The times were changing for the better before the 
 A-rmy reared its head of " Blood and Fire." The regene 
 ration of man cannot be effected in a day. Hysteria is an 
 ephemeral thing. The blowing of brass instruments pleases 
 the ears of the multitnides. unifo.ms charm the eyes of the 
 masses, but when we see behind all this there is a spread- 
 ing afo./«/, power it is time for those who have higher 
 ways and thoughts to take the field in self-defence. 
 
 There is no time to be lost. The work of Charity- 
 true Charity, that will be a lasting benefit to the poor 
 without being injurious to the general community-can 
 and must, go on, but it ought not to be in one man's hands 
 If the day should come-and as things are it seems to 
 l>e fast approaching, when all the hopes of the needy are 
 placed on one ^.«;r*-then that source will be the rulinc 
 power of the country. You may, at first, smile at this 
 idea, but less probable suggestions have been laughed at. 
 ! derided, and in th,i end come true. 
 
 I