in darkest england and the way out-第62章
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ind friends in it。 There is not one sinner in the world no matter how degraded and dirty he may bewhom my people will not rejoice to take by the hand and pray with； and labour for； if thereby they can but snatch him as a brand from the burning。 Now； we want to make more use of this； to make the Salvation Army the nucleus of a great agency for bringing comfort and counsel to those who are at their wits' end； feeling as if in the whole world there was no one to whom they could go。
What we want to do is to exemplify to the world the family idea。 〃Our Father〃 is the keynote。 One is Our Father； then all we are brethren。 But in a family； if anyone is troubled in mind or conscience； there is no difficulty。 The daughter goes to her father； or the son to his mother； and pour out their soul's troubles； and are relieved。 If there is any serious difficulty a family council is held； and all unite their will and their resources to get matters put straight。 This is what we mean to try to get done in the New Organisation of Society for which we are labouring。 We cannot know better than God Almighty what will do good to man。 We are content to follow on His lines； and to mend the world we shall seek to restore something of the family idea to the many hundreds of thousandsay； millionswho have no one wiser or more experienced than themselves； to whom they can take their sorrows； or consult in their difficulties。
Of course we can do this but imperfectly。 Only God can create a mother。 But Society needs a great deal of mothering； much more than it gets。 And as a child needs a mother to run to in its difficulties and troubles； to whom it can let out its little heart in confidence； so men and women； weary and worn in the battles of life； need someone to whom they can go when pressed down with a sense of wrongs suffered or done； knowing that their confidence will be preserved inviolate； and that their statements will be received with sympathy。 I propose to attempt to meet this want。 I shall establish a department； over which I shall place the wisest； the pitifullest； and the most sagacious men and women whom I can find on my staff； to whom all those in trouble and perplexity shall be invited to address themselves。 It is no use saying that we love our fellow men unless we try to help them； and it is no use pretending to sympathise with the heavy burdens which darken their lives unless we try to ease them and to lighten their existence。
Insomuch as we have more practical experience of life than other men； by so much are we bound to help their inexperience； and share our talents with them。 But if we believe they are our brothers； and that One is our Father； even the God who will come to judge us hereafter for all the deeds that we have done in the body； then must we constitute； in some such imperfect way as is open to us； the parental office。 We must be willing to receive the outpourings of our struggling fellow men； to listen to the long…buried secret that has troubled the human heart； and to welcome instead of repelling those who would obey the Apostolic precept： 〃To confess their sins one to another。〃 Let not that word confession scandalise any。 Confession of the most open sort； confession on the public platform before the presence of all the man's former associates in sin has long been one of the most potent weapons by which the Salvation Army has won its victories。 That confession we have long imposed on all our converts； and it is the only confession which seems to us to be a condition of Salvation。 But this suggestion is of a different kind。 It is not imposed as a means of grace。 It is not put forward as a preliminary to the absolution which no one can pronounce but our Lord Himself。 It is merely a response on our part to one of the deepest needs and secret longings of the actual men and women who are meeting us daily in our work。 Why should they be left to brood in misery over their secret sin； when a plain straightforward talk with a man or woman selected for his or her sympathetic common…sense and spiritual experience might take the weight off their shoulders which is crushing them into dull despair？
Not for absolution； but for sympathy and direction； do I propose to establish my Advice Bureau in definite form； for in practice it has been in existence for some time； and wonderful things have been done in the direction on which I contemplate it working。 I have no pleasure in inventing these departments。 They all entail hard work and no end of anxiety。 But if we are to represent the love of God to men； we must minister to all the wants and needs of the human heart。 Nor is it only in affairs of the heart that this Advice Bureau will be of service。 It will be quite as useful in affairs of the head。 As I conceive it； the Advice Bureau will be THE POOR MANS LAWYER AND THE POOR MANS TRIBUNE。
There are no means in London； so far as my knowledge goes； by which the poor and needy can obtain any legal assistance in the varied oppressions and difficulties from which they must； in consequence of their poverty and associations； be continually suffering。
While the 〃well…to…do〃 classes can fall back upon skilful friends for direction； or avail themselves of the learning and experience of the legal profession； the poor man has literally no one qualified to counsel him on such matters。 In cases of sickness he can apply to the parish doctor or the great hospital； and receive an odd word or two of advice； with a bottle of physic which may or may not be of service。 But if his circumstances are sick； out of order； in danger of carrying him to utter destitution； or to prison； or to the Union； he has no one to appeal to who has the willingness or the ability to help him。
Now； we want to create a Court of Counsel or Appeal； to which anyone suffering from imposition having to do with person； liberty； or property； or anything else of sufficient importance； can apply； and obtain not only advice； but practical assistance。
Among others for whom this Court would be devised is the shamefully…neglected class of Widows； of whom in the East of London there are 6；000； mostly in very destitute circumstances。 In the whole of London there cannot be less than 20；000； and in England and Wales it is estimated there are 100；000； fifty thousand of whom are probably poor and friendless。
The treatment these poor people by the nation is a crying scandal。 Take the case of the average widow； even when left in comfortable circumstances。 She will often be launched into a sea of perplexity； although able to avail herself of the best advice。 But think of the multitudes of poor women； who； when they close their husbands' eyes； lose the only friend who knows anything； about their circumstances。 There may be a trifle of money or a struggling business or a little income connected with property or some other possession； all needing immediate attention； and that of a skilful sort； in order to enable the poor creature to weather the storm and avoid the vortex of utter destitution。
All we have said applies equally to orphans and friendless people generally。 Nothing； however； short of a national institution could meet the necessities of all such cases。 But we can do something； and in matters already referred to； such as involve loss of property； malicious prosecution； criminal and otherwise； we can render substantial assistance。
In carrying out this purpose it will be no part of our plan to encourage legal proceedings in others； or to have recourse to them ourselves。 All resort to law would be avoided either in counsel or practice； unless absolutely necessary。 But where manifest injustice and wrong are perpetrated； and every other method of obtaining reparation fails； we shall avail ourselves of the assistance the Law affords。
Our great hope of usefulness； however； in this Department lies in prevention； The knowledge that the oppressed poor have in us a friend able to speak for them will often prevent the injustice which cowardly and avaricious persons might otherwise inflict； and the same considerations may induce them to accord without compulsion the right of the weak and friendless。
I also calculate upon a wide sphere of usefulness in the
