But along with these cheering expressions of approbation there came the invariable murmuring objections.  One of these strove to minimise the value of the effort, by arguing that it was only an attempt to extend The Army’s religious influence.  People said they would be willing to help if all religious and propagandist motives were eliminated from the Scheme.

     One night a gentleman was announced as wishing to see me.  He
     declined to give his name, and the only description of him I could
     gain was that he was a prominent member of the Stock Exchange.

     “I want to ask you one question—­only one,” he said, upon entering
     my office, “about this Social Scheme of yours.”

     “All right,” I replied, “as many as you like.”

“Well,” he continued, “I want to know whether you are going to give religion alongside your other benefits to these people whom you seek to help?  I am not a religious man myself.  I am not saved, and never shall be—­I am a lost soul; but there is no reason why these poor wretches should not have religion; and if you will give them religion, I will help you.”

“Yes,” I answered, “we will give them religion.  While we won’t refuse to help them because they are irreligious—­but, on the contrary, will take in the vilest and the worst—­we will give them all as much religion as we can.”

     “I will help you,” he answered, as he handed me Bank of England
     notes for L500.

     He came to see us again and again, proving for the time being a
     generous friend.  Then he disappeared.

     In a very short time, and in the readiest and most kindly manner,
     L104,000 were subscribed.  But, alas! only a very small proportion
     of the L30,000 that was asked for annually was forthcoming.

In this, as in many other similar cases, I have found that whilst the public will be ready—­nay, eager—­to embrace a new thing, they soon get tired of it, run after some other novelty, and leave you largely to struggle for its continuance, as best you can.

     5.  It is enough here to state that the results at the onset were
     remarkable.  Amongst others four, which might have been expected,
     were immediately realised:—­

     (a) The first was the bringing into public view the ocean of
     tears, misery, and evil which was rolling around us in every
     direction.

(b) Another result was that people everywhere were awakened from their selfish lethargy, to look upon these waters of tribulation, and were amazed to find the depth, the darkness, and the despair with which they rolled forward, as well as the damnation to which they invariably led.

(c) A further effect was that a large number of people were won over to care for the