te hours of toil in
the cause, if God allowed that sort of thing. But God has seen to it
that many such a Treasurer has climbed out of the very gutter into a
well-to-do employer's position, _because_ he sought first His Kingdom
and His righteousness.

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