These Treasurers, if anybody took the trouble to interview them, would make it impossible for any decent person to believe the lies that have been told about our “not publishing accounts,” our “extravagance,” etc.  They know how carefully even the smallest Corps book or collecting-card is examined, and with what precise and skilful method every account is kept.

Like almost all our Local Officers, they are particularly cheery, friendly men and women.  I fear we have but few women Treasurers, as finance, like so many other things, is supposed to be “beyond women’s powers,” and the sisters really do not, as a rule, like arithmetic.  But man or woman, you have only to watch one of them a few moments, when anybody is trying to arrange a joint excursion with various Corps, to see that, with all their kindliness, the interests committed to their charge always command their first sympathy.  Treasurer Pitman, of Leatherby, “never could see,” and never will, why either Birmingham I or Leamington, or any other Corps, should be more favoured, or more burdened, than his own.  Even should his words at times seem rough, or few, he will charm you, almost without exception, if you get out of his wife or the Captain, or somebody, all he does and suffers for Christ’s sake.  Nobody will ever know how often it was the Treasurer who gave half the “twopence to make up a shilling” in the street-corner collection that, perhaps, made the impression that The Army was “not self-supporting!”

But, in spite of all his jollity, the Treasurer is often a sorely-tried and burdened man.  For, Oh, it is a struggle to get the pence together, week after week, especially where the Corps has a “Hall of its own,” for ground rent and interest on which it must pay L5 to L10 a week!

The Treasurer’s great opportunity comes when he has the joy of harbouring in his own home, for a night or two, the Chief of the Staff, or some other “Special from London.”  Then he may get a chance to “put a word in” for his Corps.

Does the Chief ask him, “Why do we not get on better in this town?”

“Well, Chief,” he will reply, “just look at our Hall.  It fairly stinks—­always has done, owing to that canal at the back.  That has almost made it impossible for us to get a large congregation, especially in warm weather.”

“But why don’t you get a better place?”

“Well, there is nothing in the town large enough to let, and as for building—­any site that would be of use would cost a pile of money, and we have no hope of raising any large sum here.”

“Why?  Have you no rich friends?”

“There are a few very rich men here.  I was seeing one of them myself only last month when we wanted to get some new instruments for our Band.  But what do you think he said to me?

“‘Why,’ said he, ’I have more than enough to do to keep up my own church.  We have got to rebuild it, and it will cost us L30,000.’”