h all the central funds,
reports are called for from time to time as to the extent to which
such estimates have been realised.

"He was always keen and far-sighted in his consideration of the
proposals put before him, and quick to find a flaw or weakness, or
to point out any responsibilities which had not been sufficiently
taken into account.

"Until recent years, when his world-wide journeyings made it
necessary to pass the responsibility on to the Chief of the Staff,
he largely initiated his own schemes for raising money, and wrote
his own principal appeals.

"Those who refer to The General as 'a puppet in the hands of
others,' or as anything but an unselfish, disinterested servant of
humanity, only show their ignorance of their subject."

One of the schemes by which our finances have been greatly helped
everywhere, and which is now imitated by many Churches and Societies all
over the world--the Self-Denial Week, established in 1886--was The
General's own invention. It was at a time when, as he writes:--

"In some Corps half, and in some more than half, of our Soldiers
have been for months without any income at all, or at most with
just a shilling or two. In addition, many of our regular
contributors, as owners of land or of manufacturing houses, have
suffered from the depression, and have not been able to assist us
further.

"The rapid extension of The Army has necessitated an increased
expenditure. Our friends will see that our position is really a
serious one.

"What is to be done? Reduction, which means retreat, is impossible.
To stand still is equally so.

"We propose that a week be set apart in which every Soldier and
friend should deny himself of some article of food or clothing, or
some indulgence which can be done without, and that the price
gained by this self-denial shall be sent to help us in this
emergency.

"Deny yourself of something which brings you pleasure or
gratification, and so not only have the blessing of helping us, but
the profit which this self-denial will bring to your own soul."

This effort, which in the year of its inauguration only produced 4,280,
has in twenty-six years grown till it totalled in Great Britain in 1911,
L67,161, and has so taken hold of the people's minds and hearts
everywhere as to produce even in poo