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
A fifth objection is the lack of accuracy shown by the Army in its
reports of work accomplished.[98] This has special reference to the
statistics published by the Army, and is a good criticism. At different
times and in different parts of the world, statistics are given out,
which seems to emanate from no one authority, which are often
contradictory, and which create confusion in the mind of the person
wishing to get at the facts. As a result of a good deal of recent
criticism on this point, all future statistics of the Army in the United
States are to come from one point only, are to be in charge of an
expert, and no publication of statistics is to be allowed without the
consent of the National Headquarters.
The sixth and last objection is a very important one and one which has
been seen in the history of organizations without number, viz: that the
organization tends to become an end in itself, instead of a means to an
end. This objection is also allied to a former one regarding a lack of
cooperation on the part of the Army with other organizations. More and
more an organization, formed as is the Army, feels complete in itself,
and works continually for its own interests and its own glory. In a
large number of instances the objective point that was once humanity and
the glory of God tends to become the advancement of the Army. While
feeling that this objection is a serious one, it still cannot be
considered as anything but unavoidable, considering the government and
general character of the movement. If it were possible for the Army to
be governed locally, and to some extent, nationally by boards, a part of
whose membership represented the public, we believe that the tendency to
advance its own interest would be diminished. Study out the workings and
control of this organization, and it is found a machine, ever seeking to
increase its power and field of work. If this machine could be
controlled to some extent by the public which feeds it, it might be kept
as a useful servant, but otherwise, in spite of the great service which
it does society to-day, the tendency to get away from its object and to
become an object itself, will be more and more dangerous.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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