The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1891. GENERAL BOOTH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2149, 13 January 1891, Page 2

The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1891. GENERAL BOOTH.

General Booth fills a large space in the world at the present time. The position he occupies is an enviable one, and must enlist general sympathy. Like Goldsmith’s parson he seems “ more pleased to raise the wretched than to rise.” He is the head of the youngest religious sect with which we are acquainted, and though his organisation is only about ten or twelve years old, his efforts on behalf of suffering humanity have already put the older religious institutions to the blush, and are beginning to stir them to action. While the others have been wasting their energies in theological disputes, sometimes splitting straws and at other times splitting heads, but always anathematising one another, General Booth has been developing a scheme for the regeneration of the fallen and the wretched. He believes that in order that there should be a sound mind in a sound body both body and mind must be looked after. With this object in view he proposes to raise sufficient money to place the wretched poor of London and other towns in positions where they can work and earn their own living. He has undertaken a prodigious task, and if he does much in it he will perform something like a miracle. Peabody spent half a million of money on a similar enterprise, but where are its fruits now ? Echo answers where ? Several philanthropists have from time to time done their part, with good results for the time being in the limited area which came within the scope of their operations, but all these are like drops in the ocean. Palliatives can never cure deep rooted-diseases, neither can a few philanthropic individuals set society right and prevent starvation and misery. The world is fruitful, broad, and beautiful ; it produces more than enough for the comfort and convenience of all, and it can produce a great deal more if its resources are properly utilised. A few get tens of thousands of times more than they want, and the result is others starve. Nothing which will not attack the system which permits such a state of things to exist, will have any lasting effect. Well-disposed people, as well as thorough humbugs, tell us that it is no use to look to Parliament for the social regeneration of the masses—that to effect reforms in our social condition is outside the functions of government—and that society must resort to other means than that of legislation to secure a ,greater degree of comfort to the poor. It is difficult to conceive how any one who claims to be sane can give utterance to such ideas as these. Society must obey the law, and cannot act outside of it. If society undertakes any important enterprise it must, first of all, appeal to Parliament to give it a legal status. The fact is, society could not set itself right as it is constituted at present, without the authority, sanction, and assistance of legislative enactments, and consequently permanent improvement is impossible until Parliament takes the matter seriously in hand. General Booth may succeed in improving the condition of a few thousands during the next few years, but ao fast as one slum is emptied it will be refilled, and if be had Xing Solomon’s mines to draw upon he could not look after the interests of all. There is only one way, and that is the way instituted by the Apostles, the violation of which cost Ananias and Sapphira their lives. This must be brought about by legislation, but we are afraid it will be some time before much is done in that direction. Meantime General Booth will do good in more ways than one. He will relieve a great many wretched creatures and at the same time draw attention to their lot. In that way he cannot fail to do good, and we sincerely wish him success.