The General’s indignation was specially aroused when “socialist” spouters tried to block all his plans of beneficence with their foul misrepresentations.  He fought every such attempt with the utmost determination, and by the help of God and the more intelligent of his fellow-countrymen, crushed every such attack more completely than the public sometimes knew, for he resolutely kept out of any political or social agitation and went calmly on his way, even when his quietude led the enemy to imagine that he was yielding.  In later years, when all the pressmen of a city came together to meet him, the Social Democratic paper representative would, of course, come with the rest.  On the occasion of such an interview once in Denmark, he writes:—­

“The Social Democrat usually contents himself by compassionating the inadequacy of my efforts for dealing with the miseries which they contemplate, with the remark that I don’t go deep enough, that mine is a superficial operation, whereas they destroy poverty by dragging it up by the roots!

“My notion is that the principles upon which my efforts are founded carry me to the lowest roots of all, namely, the selfishness of human nature.  Their notion is that capital is the root of the misery.  Destroy the capital, or rather I expect they mean divide it up, or let everybody have the benefits that flow out of its possession.  My notion is that the roots of the selfishness are to be found in human nature itself.”

Chapter XIII

Women And Scandinavia

For a number of years it was The General’s custom to conduct the annual review of our Swedish troops at Sodertelge, a beautiful seaside spot, near enough to Stockholm to make it easily accessible, and yet far enough down the Fjord to make the journey thither a very delightful excursion.

The sight of from fifteen to twenty steamers crowded with Salvationists making their way, with streaming banners, music and song, to the camp ground, was almost like a glimpse of the coming glory when the whole earth should rejoice before the Lord.  But, of course, there came always to that great gathering a sufficient number of the unconverted to furnish abundant opportunity for conquests to be made, and the great Meetings, lasting throughout the day, never broke up without the ingathering of many souls.

The Councils for Officers which followed during the next few days in Stockholm and elsewhere, gave The General great opportunities to confirm and extend the influence of his teachings throughout the whole of these Northern countries.