The Social Work of the Salvation ArmyLamb, Edwin Gifford
History
The Social Work of the Salvation Army
Lamb, Edwin Gifford
Poor; Salvation Army; Social history
idea of salvation may have no value in itself, still if the emotional
element assists in the moral and social salvation of individuals, we
have no reason for not tolerating it unless it has evil effects of real
importance. Such effects, however, tend to decrease, as the movement
advances, and the education and enlightenment of the masses increase.
From an economic point of view, we believe that the work of the
Industrial Department has been successful. We have seen that large
numbers of men, who are out of work, are taken in by this department and
kept for a number of weeks or months, and that, during this time,
besides making their own support, and gaining in efficiency, in many
cases, they are able to return to a more important part in production.
Let us see what this means. While these men are out of work, they are
not producing anything. They are idle, and thus a loss to the community.
In addition, they are fast losing any potential ability for production,
which they have had. But they now become producers, a gain to the
community, and their potential ability for production is at least
conserved if not increased. Secondly, out-of-work men are a burden on
the community. While they continue to live without employment, they must
be supported in some way or other by private or public charity, and they
form a great item of expense to the community. But in the hands of the
Industrial Department, they cease being an expense to the public and
become to some extent a gain. Thirdly, some of these men are in danger
of becoming members of pseudo-social and anti-social classes; it is from
them that the pauper and criminal classes gain recruits. But through the
elevating environment of this branch of the Army's work, their character
is affected, and they are raised to a higher level. In this way then, in
successful cases, the worthless men become workmen. Worthless men are
changed into economic assets. The dependents become independent. Working
by means of the laws of environment and association, the Army elevates
the degenerate from a pseudo-social and anti-social class to a higher
level and to social position. Where individuality was lost, independence
of character reasserts itself.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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