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upon 〃sand；〃 but upon the bottomless bog of the stratum of the Workless。 It is here where we must begin。 The regimentation of industrial workers who have got regular work is not so very difficult。 That can be done； and is being done； by themselves。 The problem that we have to face is the regimentation； the organisation； of those who have not got work； or who have only irregular work； and who from sheer pressure of absolute starvation are driven irresistibly into cut…throat competition with their better employed brothers and sisters。 Skin for skin； all that a man hath； will he give for his life； much more； then； will those who experimentally know not God give all that they might hope hereafter to havein this world or in the world to come。
There is no gainsaying the immensity of the problem。 It is appalling enough to make us despair。 But those who do not put their trust in man alone； but in One who is Almighty； have no right to despair。 To despair is to lose faith； to despair is to forget God Without God we can do nothing in this frightful chaos of human misery。 But with God we can do all things； and in the faith that He has made in His image all the children of men we face even this hideous wreckage of humanity with a cheerful confidence that if we are but faithful to our own high calling He will not fail to open up a way of deliverance。
I have nothing to say against those who are endeavouring to open up a way of escape without any consciousness of God's help。 For them I feel only sympathy and compassion。 In so far as they are endeavouring to give bread to the hungry； clothing to the naked； and above all； work to the workless； they are to that extent endeavouring to do the will of our Father which is in Heaven； and woe be unto all those who say them nay！ But to be orphaned of all sense of the Fatherhood of God is surely not a secret source of strength。 It is in most casesit would be in my ownthe secret of paralysis。 If I did not feel my Father's hand in the darkness； and hear His voice in the silence of the night watches bidding me put my hand to this thing； I would shrink back dismayed； but as it is I dare not。
How many are there who have made similar attempts and have failed； and we have heard of them no more！ Yet none of them proposed to deal with more than the mere fringe of the evil which； God helping me； I will try to face in all its immensity。 Most Schemes that are put forward for the Improvement of the Circumstances of the People are either avowedly or actually limited to those whose condition least needs amelioration。 The Utopians； the economists； and most of the philanthropists propound remedies； which； if adopted to…morrow； would only affect the aristocracy of the miserable。 It is the thrifty； the industrious； the sober； the thoughtful who can take advantage of these plans。 But the thrifty； the industrious； the sober； and the thoughtful are already very well able for the most part to take care of themselves。 No one will ever make even a visible dint on the Morass of Squalor who does not deal with the improvident； the lazy； the vicious； and the criminal。 The Scheme of Social Salvation is not worth discussion which is not as wide as the Scheme of Eternal Salvation set forth in the Gospel。 The Glad Tidings must be to every creature； not merely to an elect few who are to be saved while the mass of their fellow are predestined to a temporal damnation。 We have had this doctrine of an inhuman cast…iron pseudo…political economy too long enthroned amongst us。 It is now time to fling down the false idol and proclaim a Temporal Salvation as full； free； and universal； and with no other limitations than the 〃Whosoever will；〃 of the Gospel。
To attempt to save the Lost； we must accept no Limitations to human brotherhood。 If the Scheme which I set forth in these and the following pages is not applicable to the Thief； the Harlot； the Drunkard； and the Sluggard； it may as well be dismissed without ceremony。 As Christ came to call not the saints but sinners to repentance； so the New Message of Temporal Salvation； of salvation from pinching poverty； from rags and misery； must be offered to all。 They may reject it； of course。 But we who call ourselves by the name of Christ are not worthy to profess to be His disciples until we have set an open door before the least and worst of these who are now apparently imprisoned for life in a horrible dungeon of misery and despair。 The responsibility for its rejection must be theirs； not ours。 We all know the prayer； 〃Give me neither poverty nor riches； feed me with food convenient for me〃and for every child of man on this planet； thank God the prayer of Agur； the son of Jakeh； may be fulfilled。
At present how far it is from being realised may be seen by anyone who will take the trouble to go down to the docks and see the struggle for work。 Here is a sketch of what was found there this summer：
London Docks； 7。25 a。m。 The three pairs of huge wooden doors are closed。 Leaning against then； and standing about； there are perhaps a couple of hundred men。 The public house opposite is full； doing a heavy trade。 All along the road are groups of men； and from each direction a steady stream increases the crowd at the gate。
7。30 Doors open； there is a general rush to the interior。 Everybody marches about a hundred yards along to the iron barriera temporary chair affair； guarded by the dock police。 Those men who have previously （i。e。； night before） been engaged； show their ticket and pass through； about six hundred。 The restsome five hundred stand behind the barrier； patiently waiting the chance of a job； but less than twenty of these get engaged。 They are taken on by a foreman who appears next the barrier and proceeds to pick his men。 No sooner is the foreman seen； than there is a wild rush to the spot and a sharp mad fight to 〃catch his eye。〃 The men picked out； pass the barrier； and the excitement dies away until another lot of men are wanted。
They wait until eight o'clock strikes； which is the signal to withdraw。 The barrier is taken down and all those hundreds of men； wearily disperse to 〃find a job。〃 Five hundred applicants； twenty acceptances！ No wonder one tired…out looking individual ejaculates； 〃Oh dear； Oh dear！ Whatever shall I do？〃 A few hang about until mid…day on the slender chance of getting taken on then for half a day。
Ask the men and they will tell you something like the following story； which gives the simple experiences of a dock labourer。
R。 P。 said： 〃I was in regular work at the South West India Dock before the strike。 We got 5d。 an hour。 Start work 8 a。m。 summer and 9 a。m winter。 Often there would be five hundred go； and only twenty get taken on （that is besides those engaged the night previous。） The foreman stood in his box； and called out the men he wanted。 He would know quite five hundred by name。 It was a regular fight to get work； I have known nine hundred to be taken on； but there's always hundreds turned away。 You see they get to know when ships come in； and when they're consequently likely to be wanted； and turn up then in greater numbers。 I would earn 30s。 a week sometimes and then perhaps nothing for a fortnigh