d, so soon, be
united into one Commonwealth, much less that Mr. Deakin would, for so
many of the next ten years, be Premier of the whole.)

But a remark he once made respecting the reported scepticism of some
highly-placed Colonials might be made with regard, alas! to many
"statesmen" of Christian lands nowadays, and we cannot but see in that
fact, and in the friendliness of so many such persons with us, a token
of the meaning both of the scepticism, and The Army's position. In how
many instances have men, moving in influential circles, met with a
Christianity manifestly formal and carrying with it no impress of
reality! How natural for them to sink into scepticism! But the moment
they encounter men who convince them instantly that they believe the
Bible they carry, scepticism retires in favour of joyous surprise, and
without any desire to discuss doctrines, they become our lifelong
friends.

The General's ability in securing the assistance of all sorts of men,
including those whose religious opinions widely differed from his own,
or who had got none at all, was remarkable. When reproached, as he was
sometimes, for taking the money even of sporting men, he would always
say that he only regretted that he had not got a larger amount, and that
he reckoned the tears of the poor creatures that would be relieved would
wash the money clean enough in the sight of God for it to be acceptable
in His sight.

"Met Mr.----. He is interested in our Maternity work, and promised
some time back to assist us with the Hospital we are proposing to
erect. He is a multi-millionaire. He promised L2,500 right
away--L1,500 when the sum of L23,500 had been raised, making
thereby a total of L25,000 with which building operations could be
commenced.

"He is a young man; sprightly and generous, I should think. I
wanted him to make his promise L5,000 in round figures. But he
simply said, 'I cannot promise.' We shall see!"

The following description of one Australian night ride may give some
idea both of the eagerness of the people to hear him, and of the amount
of fatigue The General was able to endure:--

"We left at 5 P.M. The journey was certainly unique in my history.
Six or seven times in that night, or early morning, was I fetched
out of my carriage to deliver addresses. The Mayors of two of the
towns were there to receive me, with crowds all placed in orderly
fashio