as 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 class whom it was proposed to benefit, and to
believe in the possibility of the Scheme being realised. Many of
these proved permanent friends of our Social Ope