Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/104

 96] ENGLISH HISTOEY. [mat

amount was found by the persons who were benefited. The Earl of Aberdeen bore testimony to the splendid results which had been accomplished by the social work of the Salvation Army. He had visited the farm colony, and, as one who knew some- thing of agriculture, he was highly pleased with what he saw there. It was gratifying to learn that a tract of land had been secured in Western Australia for the over-sea colony. Lord Monkswell also had visited the farm colony, and was gratified with what he witnessed. The Salvation Army un- doubtedly understood how to do the greatest possible amount of good with a small sum of money. Mr. Cecil Ehodes, who took the place of Lord Loch, could only speak to them of South Africa, where the work of their organisation came before him in a very practical way. The Parliament there was asked to make a grant in aid of the work, and he was a member of the Cabinet to whom the matter was submitted for consideration. Statistics were called for, and it was seen that the Salvation Army afforded a home for the w T aifs and strays — for the homeless — and that it was through the medium of their agencies that those who had been in prison or destitute obtained a fresh start in life. The practical outcome of the opinion of that Parliament on the work was a vote in aid, and it had been continued ever since. He was told that in fifteen of our colonies grants were now made by the different Parliaments towards this social work, not on a sentimental basis, but as a practical return for the good work done in distant parts of her Majesty's empire. He had been told that members of other religious organisations in this country objected to details of the Salvation Army's work; but let them put those details aside and recognise that the work that was being done was for the betterment of humanity. Lord Justice Eigby said that, although he might be far behind the majority of those present in his knowledge of the everyday working of the Salvation Army, he hoped he was not far behind them in his sympathy with its work. For many years he had the honour of being consulted by the Salvation Army in matters which fell within the scope of his profession, and so he possessed rather special information as to the way in which the funds entrusted to it had been administered, and also on the question of its constitution. He remembered the time when it was supposed that, though the leaders of the movement might be really earnest in their desire to do good, they could not be expected to have those prudential qualities which would turn to the best account the properties which they had. He soon found, when he had to do with them, that a man might be em enthusiast without being a visionary, and bold without being reckless.

By a coincidence the Mansion House meeting was followed (April 24) by a revival in the House of Commons of the old-age pensions question. At the general election promises were made by candidates on both sides without counting the cost