our party sets out； there will be no violent wrenching of home ties。 In our ship we shall export them allfather； mother； and children。 The individuals will be grouped in families； and the families will； on the Farm Colony； have been for some months past more or less near neighbours； meeting each other in the field； in the workshops； and in the Religious Services。 It will resemble nothing so much as the unmooring of a little piece of England； and towing it across the sea to find a safe anchorage in a sunnier clime。 The ship which takes out emigrants will bring back the produce of the farms； and constant travelling to and fro will lead more than ever to the feeling that we and our ocean…sundered brethren are members of one family。
No one who has ever crossed the ocean can have failed to be impressed with the mischief that comes to emigrants when they are on their way to their destination。 Many and many a girl has dated her downfall from the temptations which beset her while journeying to a land where she had hoped to find a happier future
〃Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do；〃 and he must have his hands full on board an emigrant ship。 Look into the steerage at any time； and you will find boredom inexpressible on every face。 The men have nothing to do； and an incident of no more importance than the appearance of a sail upon the distant horizon is an event which makes the whole ship talk。 I do not see why this should be so。 Of course； in the case of conveying passengers and freight； with the utmost possible expedition； for short distances； it would be idle to expect that either time or energies could be spared for the employment or instruction of the passengers。 But the case is different when； instead of going to America； the emigrant turns his face to South Africa or remote Australia。 Then； even with the fastest steamers； they must remain some weeks or months upon the high seas。 The result is that habits of idleness are contracted； bad acquaintances are formed； and very often the moral and religious work of a lifetime is undone。
To avoid these evil consequences； I think we should be compelled to have a ship of our own as soon as possible。 A sailing vessel might be found the best adapted for the work。 Leaving out the question of time； which would be of very secondary importance with us； the construction of a sailing ship would afford more space for the accommodation of emigrants and for industrial occupation； and would involve considerably less working expenses； besides costing very much less at the onset； even if we did not have one given to us； which I should think would be very probable。
All the emigrants would be under the charge of Army Officers； and instead of the voyage being demoralising； it would be made instructive and profitable。 From leaving London to landing at their destination； every colonist would be under watchful oversight； could receive instruction in those particulars where they were still needing it； and be subjected to influences that would be beneficial everyway。
Then we have seen that one of the great difficulties in the direction of emigration is the cost of transport。 The expense of conveying a man from England to Australia； occupying as it does some seven or eight weeks； arises not so much from the expense connected with the working of the vessel which carries him； as the amount of provisions he consumes during the passage。 Now； with this plan I think that the emigrants might be made to earn at least a portion of this outlay。 There is no reason why a man should not work on board ship any more than on land。 Of course； nothing much could be done when the weather was very rough； but the average number of days during which it would be impossible for passengers to employ themselves profitably in the time spent between the Channel and Cape Town or Australia would be comparatively few。
When the ship was pitching or rolling； work would be difficult； but even then； when the Colonists get their sea…legs； and are free from the qualmishness which overtakes landsmen when first getting afloat； I cannot see why they should not engage in some form of industrial work far more profitable than yawning and lounging about the deck； to say nothing of the fact that by so doing they would lighten the expense of their transit。 The sailors； firemen； engineers； and everybody else connected with a vessel have to work； and there is no reason why our Colonists should not work also。
Of course； this method would require special arrangements in the fitting up of the vessel； which； if it were our own； it would not be difficult to make。 At first sight it may seem difficult to find employments on board ship which could be engaged in to advantage； and it might not be found possible to fix up every individual right away； but I think there would be very few of the class and character of people we should take out； with the prior instructions they would have received； who would not have fitted themselves into some useful labour before the voyage ended。
To begin with； there would be a large amount of the ordinary ship's work that the Colonists could perform； such as the preparation of food； serving it out； cleaning the decks and fittings of the ship generally； together with the loading and unloading of cargo。 All these operations could be readily done under the direction of permanent hands。 Then shoemaking； knitting； sewing； tailoring； and other kindred occupations could be engaged in。 I should think sewing…machines could be worked； and； one way or another； any amount of garments could be manufactured； which would find ready and profitable sale on landing； either among the Colonists themselves； or with the people round about。
Not only would the ship thus be a perfect hive of industry； it would also be a floating temple。 The Captain； Officers； and every member of the crew would be Salvationists； and all； therefore； alike interested in the enterprise。 Moreover； the probabilities are that we should obtain the service of the ship's officers and crew in the most inexpensive manner； in harmony with the usages of the Army everywhere else； men serving from love and not as a mere business。 The effect produced by our ship cruising slowly southwards testifying to the reality of a Salvation for both worlds； calling at all convenient ports； would constitute a new kind of mission work； and drawing out everywhere a large amount of warm practical sympathy。 At present the influence of those who go down to the sea in ships is not always in favour of raising the morals and religion of the dwellers in the places where they come。 Here； however； would be one ship at least whose appearance foretold no disorder； gave rise to no debauchery； and from whose capacious hull would stream forth an Army of men； who； instead of thronging the grog…shops and other haunts of licentious indulgence； would occupy themselves with explaining and proclaiming the religion of the Love of God and the Brotherhood of Man。
CHAPTER 5。 MORE CRUSADES。
I have now sketched out briefly the leading features of the threefold Scheme by which I think a way can be opened out of 〃Darkest England；〃 by which its forlorn denizens can escape into the light and freedom of a new life。 But it is not enough to make a clear broad road out of the heart of this dense and matted jungle forest； its inhabitants are in many cases so degraded； so hopeless； so utterly desperate that we shall have to do something more than make roads。 As we read in the parable； it is often not enough that the feast be prepared； and the guests be bidden； we must needs go into the highways and byways and compel them to come in。 So it is not enough to provide our City Colony and our Farm Colony； and then rest on our oars as if we had done our work。 That kind of thing will not save the Lost。
It is necessary to organise rescue expeditions to free the miserable wanderers from their captivity； and bring them out into the larger liberty and the fuller life。 Talk about Stanley and Emin！ There is not one of us but has an Emin somewhere or other in the heart of Darkest England； whom he ought to sally forth to rescue。 Our Emins have the Devil for their Mahdi； and when we get to them we find that it is their friends and neighbours who hold them back； and they are； oh； so irresolute！ It needs each of us to be as indomitable as Stanley； to burst through all obstacles； to force our way right to the centre of things； and then to labour with the poor prisoner of vice and crime with all our might。 But had not the Expeditionary Committee furnished the financial means whereby a road was opened to the sea； both Stanley and Emin would probably have been in the heart of Darkest Africa to this day。 This Scheme is our Stanley Expedition。 The analogy is very close。 I propose to make a road clear down to the sea。 But alas our poor Emin！ Even when the road is open； he halts and lingers and doubts。 First he will； and then he won't； and nothing less than the irresistible pressure of a friendly and stronger purpose will constrain him to take the road which has been opened for him at such a cost of blood and treasure。 I now； therefore； proceed to sketch some of the methods by which we shall attempt to save the lost and to rescue those who are perishing in the midst of 〃Darkest England。〃
SECTION 1。A SLUM CRUSADE。OUR SLUM SISTERS。
When Professor Huxley lived as a medical officer in the East of London he acquired a knowledge of the actual condition of the life of many of its populace which led him long afterwards to declare that the surroundings of the savages of New Guinea were much more conducive to the leading of a decent human existence than those in which many of the East…Enders live。 Alas； it is not only in London that such lairs exist in which the savages of civilisation lurk and breed。 All the great towns in both the Old World and the New have their slums； in which huddle together； in festering and verminous filth； men； women； and children。 They correspond to the lepers who thronged the lazar houses of the Middle Ages。
As in those days St。 Francis of Assissi and the heroic band of saints who gathered under his orders were wont to go and lodge with the lepers at the city gate