CELL'S

NTGST SOLDIERS

YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

THE LIBRARY OF THE
DIVINITY SCHOOL

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ALDERSHOT: A RECORD
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AND ITS SEQUEL.

BY HER DAUGHTER.

" To Queen, to Country, but oh ! most to Thee,
My life to give, Who gav'st Thy life for me."

HODDER AND STOUGHTON,
27, PATERNOSTER ROW.
MDCCCLXXIX.
Yale Divinity Librarv

Hazell, "Watson, and Viney, Printers, London and Aylesbury.

TO
MR. ROBERT BAXTER

IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE
OF NUMBERLESS ACTS OF KINDNESS
TO THE WORK AND THE WORKERS,
TO THE DEAD AND TO THE LIVING.

PREFACE.

" "OEGUN, continued, and ended in Thee." So
run the words of one of our Collects, and
I think I may take them as the key-note of this
little book.
Some two months or more ago I was thinking
much over my annual report, and wondering what
different points of the work I should take up ;
when one day, whilst praying about it, the thought
came to me, " Do not write a report, but just give
a sketch of the work from the first. So many
people know nothing about its beginning, nor how
it is carried on." So the first page or two had
been written with this in view, when a letter came
from a dear friend, the writer of the beautiful
" flower letters " for soldiers. In it she suggested
the same thought, very earnestly pressing it upon
me as likely to be of service. This seemed such

VI PREFACE.
a confirmation of my design that I could not but
feel the matter to be of God. The continual claims
of my work, which are just now more than usually
heavy, have prevented my giving as much time to it
as I should have liked ; but such as it is I send it
forth. It had long been in my heart to give some" little
record of my mother, and I feel that this could
hardly be done more fittingly than by thus tracing
the history of that which is her real and best
memorial. May God the Holy Spirit use this book to stir
up many to follow her as she followed Christ.
Mission Hall, Aldershot,
nth May, 1879.

CONTENTS

CHAPTEE I.
PAGE
THE CAMP ........ 1

CHAPTEE II.
VILLAGE MISSIONS ....... 5
CHAPTEE IH.
MY mothee's STOEY ...... 21
CHAPTEE IV.
THE HALL ........ 39
CHAPTEE V.
BRANCH HOMES : WEEDON, COLCHESTER, AND MAN-
CHESTEE ........ 53
CHAPTEE VI.
BRANCH HOMES : PLYMOUTH AND CHATHAM . . 71
CHAPTEE VH.
SPIRITUAL STONES . . . . . .85

Vill CONTENTS.

CHAPTEE VIII. PAGE
DIFFUSION OF BLESSING . . . . . .115

CHAPTEE IX.
THE AUTUMN MANOEUVRES . . . . .129
CHAPTEE X.
SOLDIER&' DIFFICULTIES . . . . . .151
CHAPTEE XI.
PATIENT CONTINUANCE IN WELL-DOING . . . 161
CHAPTEE XII.
TEMPERANCE WORK ...... 171
CHAPTEE XIII.
MEETINGS AND SERVICES ...... 189
CHAPTEE XIV.
" OFF THE STRENGTH "...... 205
CHAPTEE XV.
THE CHILDEEN .....,, 217
CHAPTEE XVI.
THOSE IN HEAVEN ....... 229

\t ®amg.

" Whose are the martial tents that crowd the way
Where all was waste and silent yesterday?
This City of War, which in a few short hours
Hath sprung up here, as if by magic powers ? "

CHAPTER I.
rpWENTY-FIVE years ago Aldershot was a
-*- small obscure country village, numbering
scarcely six hundred inhabitants, a mere handful
of thatched cottages clustered to right and left of
the picturesque old parish church and parsonage.
The landscape around is all of the loveliest,
broken with ridges of low hills, dense plantations
of fir trees, and wide stretches of open moorland,
fragrant in their season with gorse and heather.
Away on the further side of the town, running
under the range of " Caesar's Camp " and " Hungry
Hill," stretches the " Long Valley," a place of wild,
almost eerie, desolation, though with a beauty all its
own of form and colour, and celebrated now in the
annals of Aldershot as the scene of many a dusty
battle and bloodless victory. Looking away again
beyond the village, the eye rests upon the long
ridge of the Hog's Back, which lies between the
towns of Guildford and Farnham, ending abruptly
just before it reaches the latter in the higher fir-
crowned Hill of Crooksbury.

4 THE CAMP.
In 1854 came the Crimean War, quickly followed
by the horrors of the Indian Mutiny, and during this
period a good deal of the land about a mile away from
the village was purchased by Government for the pur
pose of forming a "permanent camp of instruction."
Acres of gorse and heather were soon burnt down,
fir woods cleared away, and upon the open space
rose street after street of the dreary black huts
which formed "the Camp."
Then below the hill on which the camp stands
were erected the huge blocks of the "permanent
barracks " for cavalry, artillery, and infantry. Close
up to these, with nothing but a roadway between,
comes the town itself, a mass of irregularly-built
houses, dotted down without any apparent idea of
order or plan, unless it might be how near they
could get to the Government ground. By degrees
this town has extended itself all the way back to
the village again.
In a few years the population had increased from
600 to 7000, and the camp numbered from 12,000
to 18,000 soldiers.
Such was the place to which my mother came in
1862, and here her mission work for soldiers began.
But before entering into the details of this work,
I must tell how God led her first into the field of
active service ; and to do this I must go back for a
few years1.

" Slowly moves the march of ages,
Slowly grows the forest king,
Slowly to perfection cometh
Every great and glorious thing.
" Broadest streams from narrowest sources,
Noblest trees from meanest seeds,
Mighty ends from small beginnings,
From lowly promise, lofty deeds.
" Acorns which the winds have scattered
Future navies may provide ;
Thoughts at midnight whispered lowly
Prove a people's future guide."

CHAPTER II.
TT was jn the summer of 1857 that my dear
-*- mother was led to take an interest in the
spiritual welfare of some villages near our old home
in one of the midland counties. She had been for
months laid aside by such serious and depressing
illness that more than once we thought she would
be taken from us.
One day the post brought a letter from an old
friend, asking if we would receive her little girl on
the way to visit a former nurse at P  , a place
which she mentioned as though well known to us.
An immediate reply was sent, to the effect that we
should be very happy to receive the child, but that
we thought there must be some mistake in the
name of the village, as we had never heard of it.
However, the name proved to be right, and in due
course the little girl came and was sent on to her
destination. This slight incident was the first link
in the chain which brought my mother into contact
with a place of which she had never previously even
heard. Feeling too weak to undertake a long journey in

8 VILLAGE MISSIONS.
search of the change she so much needed, it occurred
to her to ask if lodgings could be found at P  ,
where she could spend a few weeks gaining strength
in the pure country air before proceeding further.
This was easily accomplished, and in a short time
we were settled in the village. She rallied with
wonderful rapidity, and soon set about inquiring
into the moral and spiritual condition of the people.
A dark picture was drawn. The living had been
sequestered for ten years ; none of the usual
agencies were at work, such as district visiting,
tract distribution, or Bible-classes. One service in
the National Schoolroom on Sunday evening, and
one at a small Dissenting Chapel, were all the
means of grace provided, save the regular service
of the Parish Church in an adjoining village, which
many from age and infirmity could not attend ;
while many of the strong and healthy, finding no
interest taken in their well-being, were utterly reck
less and hardened. The first thing was to write for
a supply of tracts, and with these silent messengers
we began a course of domestic visitation, which soon
showed that, dark as was the picture which had
been drawn, the reality was far darker. Ignorance
and poverty, vice and suffering, were met at every
turn. The sick lay unvisited and uncheered, the
guilty unwarned, and the dying unprepared for their
awful change.

VILLAGE MISSIONS. 9
The great thought was how to reach the largest
number. With this view my mother began a series
of cottage readings — for which many, it is hoped,
will have cause to bless God through all eternity.
The attendance on the second Sunday had greatly
increased, the attention deepened and intensified.
New truths were being unfolded to them in language
and ideas suited to their own modes of thought and
measure of comprehension. The effect was most
gratifying. One old man in particular drew her
attention : his whole soul seemed visible in his
countenance, the tears again and again defying
his efforts to restrain them. At the close of the
reading she spoke personally to him ; when to her
amazement he said, —
" I won't hide it from you, ma'am — I am a
Mormon."
Concealing as far as possible her dismay, she
replied, —
"Well, my friend, I hope you will soon find a
more excellent way."
She often recalled his look of earnest severity as
he fixed his glistening eyes upon her and said, —
" Ma'am, I am over seventy-four, and have lived
in this parish more than twenty-eight years ; but
no one before you ever told me I had a soul to
be saved, except our prophet. Eighteen months
ago he baptized me, and made me a Christian." .

10 VILLAGE MISSIONS.
To have argued with such a man under such
circumstances would have been folly ; the Word that
had been just read had taken hold upon him, and
thankfully it was left in the hands of that most
blessed Spirit whose office it is to convince of sin,
and to lead the poor helpless soul to Jesus the
sinner's Friend. Others among that little assembly,
their eyes still moistened with tears, bore the same
testimony to their neglected state; so that the
wonder was that this fearful Mormon delusion had
not ensnared many more.
Every succeeding Sunday showed the importance
of the work begun, and as time sped by the problem
arose how best to maintain and deepen the interest
which had been so unexpectedly excited. No gentle
man's family was resident in the village to whom
Mrs. Daniell could turn for help in this little home
missionary work ; and the only person we heard of
as likely to carry it on was a tradesman's wife, just
then in the first depths of sorrow for the loss of an
only daughter who had fallen asleep in Jesus. To this
childless mother she introduced herself, and pleaded
with her in the name of her sainted child to arouse
herself from her grief, and come to the help of the
Lord among the many hundreds around her who
were truly as sheep without a shepherd. At first
she shrank from the task, pleading her inability ;
but my mother urged upon her that a life of active

VILLAGE MISSIONS. 11
usefulness was the very thing to allay her grief,
and thank God, the plea succeeded.
The next Sunday, being the last of our stay in
the village, it was arranged for this new helper to
attend the cottage reading, that she might see and
judge for herself as to the work that would devolve
upon her. At the close of the little service, while
their hearts were softened by the parting appeal that
had been made to them from God's holy Word, my
mother asked, as they stood round, if they would
prove the gratitude they had so often expressed by
receiving the friend she had asked to supply her
place, and from Sunday to Sunday meet her to read
the same blessed truths which she had so earnestly
pressed upon them. A cheerful assent was given,
and the next day amid many tears and prayers we
left. Both tracts and books were put under Mrs.
V  's care, and a promise was made that every
alternate Sunday a letter should be addressed to
these little cottage gatherings in the same simple
and unreserved strain which had been adopted
when reading to them.
In November we paid a second visit to P 
for a single Sunday. Many a tear testified to the
power of that Word they were again permitted to
read together. At the close Mrs. Daniell proposed
to the young girls to learn the portion of Scripture
which had been read, and repeat it during the week

12 VILLAGE MISSIONS,
to Mrs. V  . The suggestion was received with
such evident pleasure, that the proposal was made
to them to do this every week, with the promise
that, the next time my mother was able to come
over, each girl should receive a new Bible.
From this proposition an industrial evening class
sprang up, which proved a blessing to many of
their families, for friends gave left-off clothing,
which the girls, after the portion of Scripture
had been repeated, were taught to mend and to
make. The boys soon asked to be allowed to meet in the
same way, each learning his weekly portion. They
began a Savings' Bank, which was encouraged by
sending a small contribution to each boy. The
Religious Tract Society kindly gave a supply of
tracts, which were soon in active circulation, and
regularly exchanged once a week.
What was done at P  excited an inquiring-
spirit in two of the adjoining villages, and the
letters written expressly for the little assembly at
the cottage weje borrowed for reading in the other
hamlets. Four shillings were subscribed at one of
them for the purchase of tracts, and a request made
for help in arranging their distribution.
The poor old Mormon renounced Mormonism, as
he told the "Elder" who came to see what had
become of him, " for evee," adding with firm con-

Village missions. 13
fidence, " I have found what is far more blessed to
my soul;" while to Mrs. Daniell the grateful old
man sent the message, " Tell her I pray for her by
name every morning and night, and many times
a day." The letter she addressed to him con
gratulating him on his public renunciation of his
Mormonite profession gave him intense pleasure.
After hearing it read over twice, he asked the
bearer to call sometimes and read it again, for
" It is worth reading forty times ! "
Thus my dear mother was led on, step by step,
"by the good hand" of our God upon her, the
circle of labour widening, just as we have seen the
ripple extend from the first dip of the pebble as it
flew from the hand. But still she felt something
xaore must be done to keep pace with the success
God had so lovingly granted. Her heart was set on
placing a Scripture Reader in the village, to labour
there and in the adjacent hamlets. This desire
she was soon permitted to realize. Within a few
months after her first visit, God so touched the
hearts of many of His people that, in response to
a short appeal, she received funds sufficient to place
an earnest man to labour in the district. His
success was beyond her expectation, and a room
for the meetings was called for. God blessed this
effort also, and on Easter Monday, 1860, a com
fortable Mission Reading Room was opened, at the

14 VILLAGE missions.
cost of above £400.* The library for this room,
and a beautiful set of full-sized maps for the walls,
were given by two friends. The opening services
were conducted by Robert Baxter, Esq., and were
well attended. The work continued to increase.
Often as many as three hundred were gathered in
the new reading room, and open-air meetings in
other villages were equally well attended.
In the meantime God had given her the means
to support another missionary for the low lodging-
houses in Rugby, through which 14,000 tramps
and vagrants passed yearly. She was, moreover,.
enabled to help with the salary of a third agent ;
and in August 1860, a few months after the
opening of the reading room, a fourth mission was
commenced to another sadly-neglected parish.
Between the first and last established there
was a painfully curious similarity. Both livings
had been sequestered ; and in both, besides the
utter neglect and spiritual destitution already
mentioned, there was great danger from the fact
that, in one instance the heir, and in the second
the actual possessor of much of the property of the
place, were perverts to Romanism. In the second
of these parishes the circumstances were peculiarly
* In all this she was much cheered by the active sympathy and
co-operation of the nobleman who owned most of the adjacent
property^ and who delighted in the 'success of her work.

VILLAGE MISSIONS. 15
sad. Some time after the mission had been esta
blished, the term of sequestration (twenty years)
came to an end. We were told that the unhappy
vicar returned to his parish, and arriving late on
Saturday night, went to the public-house, the habit
of a lifetime being, alas ! unbroken. The landlady,
thinking it was some wretched tramp, ordered him
out, when to her overwhelming surprise he informed
her that he was her clergyman, come to minister
to her and the rest of the parish on the following
day ! The sequel of the story is almost too dreadful
to be believed. Much to our distress, we heard
shortly afterwards that the poor man had suddenly
dropped down dead while drinking in a gin palace
in London.
But to return to the establishment of the fourth
mission. No cottage could contain half or a tenth
part of the numbers that pressed to attend the
missionary's services ; after much prayer and con
sultation with a beloved helper — now in heaven — it
was decided to get a builder in the parish to erect
a reading room at his own expense, my mother
engaging to take it on lease. The offer was accepted,
and on the 18th October, 1861, the opening services
were .conducted by the late Rev. W. Pennefather,
the present Bishop of Ballaret, S. A. Blackwood,
Esq., and others. It was a time never to be for
gotten by those present ; the room,, calculated to

16 VILLAGE MISSIONS.
hold about three hundred, was densely crowded,
while outside the numbers were even greater than
within !
The beginning of that same year (1861) witnessed
the starting of a fifth mission — the one at Ventnor.
In this last the agent employed was a Bible-woman.
Her efforts were much blessed, and the mothers'
meeting in connection with this work was most
specially encouraging ; it increased rapidly to as
many as one hundred and thirty members. An
afternoon Bible and sewing and writing class was
begun for young women. Here also the mission
room (three small rooms thrown into one) was
fitted up as a nightly reading room for the working-
men, who were met one evening in the week for
reading and prayer.
Three out of these five missions are still continued,
two of them in connection with the Aldershot work,
and their efficient maintenance is most important,
on account of the Romanising influences which are
so continually brought to bear upon the people. In
the one case the property has passed into the hands
of the perverts to Romanism, and in the other the
Roman Catholic family who had been for some
time absent have again come into residence. The
work of the missions still goes on. Only a few
days ago I received a letter from Mrs. V  .
She writes: —

VILLAGE MISSIONS. 17
"I often wish you could look into the Mission Eoom
on a Monday afternoon. I feel sure you would be glad
to see such a number of tidy mothers at work, looking so
contented and happy. Twenty-five were there yesterday
afternoon, and that has been the average weekly attend
ance this year. There are now forty-one members on the
list. Nearly all met together at our February tea meet
ing, and a very enjoyable day it was. The mothers all
desire to express their gratitude to you for the kind help
you give them." (This refers to the little bonus on their
clothing club savings.) "It certainly is a great benefit to
their families. The women like to sing. They generally
sing three hymns. We are now reading the ' Pilgrim's
Progress; ' they like it much."
In connection with the mission at Ventnor, which
some time before her death Mrs. Daniell gave up
into the hands of a committee, we had a wonderful
testimony to God's faithfulness and His overruling
providence. My mother and I had so often longed
in our work at Ventnor for a larger room for the
mothers' meeting, a reading room for the men,
missionary's residence, etc. ; and there was one
particular spot upon which we had set our hearts,
nearly opposite our old mission room, which was
just in the very centre of all our poor people.
How well I remember, in our constant visits to
that street, our saying to each other over and over
again, — " Oh, if we could only get that piece of
2

18 VILLAGE MISSIONS.
ground and build ! That would be the very place
for us."
Time passed on; we were absent for a year or two
from Ventnor, but still the desire for a Mission room
for the place never left our minds. At last my
mother heard that some funds which had been col
lected by a dear friend for the erection of a church
there, had, through some complication in his affairs,
been thrown into Chancery. Circumstances had now
rendered this building unnecessary, and it suggested
itself to her and to others what a blessing it would
prove if she could recover the money and build with
it the Workman's Hall. Proverbially it is no easy
matter to rescue funds from " the fangs of Chan
cery," and in this instance there were difficulties
that seemed to render the matter more than usually
hopeless. However, she set to work with earnest
prayer for God's blessing and guidance. Letters
were written to all the subscribers whose names and
addresses could be procured, and most signally did
He crown her efforts with success. When the letter
came from the lawyer who kindly acted for her,
saying, " I am happy to inform you that your
unique appeal has been complied with," we felt,
as the Psalmist says, " like those who dream," for
the surprise quite equalled the joy. But this was
not the whole of the Lord's goodness to us in the
matter. Does He not give good measure, pressed

VILLAGE MISSIONS. 19
down and running over? On our return to Ventnor,
we found that in the meantime "our piece of ground"
was just "let for building purposes," and two cottages
were rapidly rising upon it. How we had looked
and longed for that ground in days that were past !
and now we were often quite cast down as we passed
and repassed, feeling that we had, as it were, only
just lost it. But God's ways are not as our ways.
Only a few months later my mother heard from one
of her co-trustees to the following effect : —
" A few days ago it came to Major E.'s ears that the
two parties who were building the cottages had fallen
out, and wished to put them up to auction to divide the
money. The cottages are built as if they had been de
signed for our purpose, and with a little alteration in the
nterior will be just what could be desired, with rooms
also for the missionary. The sale was to take place
yesterday, and both Mr. G. and myself coincided with
Major E. that we could do no other than try and be the
purchasers. To me it seemed a most marked leading of
Providence, and we met yesterday to pray for the guid
ance of God in this matter. There was great competi
tion, especially from one party, but at last K., who had
been deputed to bid by Major E,, triumphed, and God
answered our prayers, — and may we not say the prayers
of dear Mr. Levingston ? " (the original collector of the
money). " The cost was £400, ind £10 auctioneer's
fees."

20 VILLAGE MISSIONS.
Thus did God give us the desire of our hearts.
But perhaps it may be asked, "What has all this
to do with the work at Aldershot and the other
Soldiers' Homes ?" The answer is, " It was in this
gradual way that God led my dear mother out to
work ; and it was also through the establishment
of the village missions that she was brought into
contact with the Country Towns Mission Society,
through which she always engaged her agents; and
it was the gentleman then acting as Secretary of
that Society who first pressed Aldershot upon her
notice, and entreated her to take it up and work it
in the same way as her existing Mission Stations."
But this account had better be given in her own
words, as she told it at the Barnet Conference in
1863, sitting in the door of one of the tents.

" I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.'

CHAPTER III.
" /~~\NE day a gentleman connected with the
^^ Country Towns Mission, at the close of an
interview respecting my village missions, said, 'I
wish you would adopt Aldershot.' I had been pray
ing for some weeks, ' Lord, what wilt Thou have me
to do ? ' for each summer of the four previous years
we had begun a new mission; but the idea of adopts
ing Aldershot seemed so strange that I laughed at
the suggestion. ' How could I go to such a place,
and what could I do there?' An inward voice
however said, ' That is the work for which you have
been praying ! ' Still I hesitated, but resolved to
mention it to my daughter, who was at that
time ill, but who had been of essential service to
me in carrying on my village missions.
" I had feared that these missions had been occu
pying too much of my time, and expected that my
daughter would have made this an objection to
such an addition of labour as the adoption of
Aldershot would involve. But on my mentioning it
to her, the reply was, ' Oh, mother dear, as a soldier's

24 my mother's story.
daughter, that is just what I should like.' Thus
the way seemed to be opening. I said, ' Well, let
us pray about it, and if the Lord clearly leads us
to undertake it, we will do so.'
" A proposal was made that I should draw up a
paper for the Country Towns Mission Magazine ; but
I was unable to find time for this. Just at this
time a letter suddenly recalled me to Ventnor,
Avhich obliged me to decide on leaving town at five
o'clock on Monday the 11th, the day before Chris
tian friends were to assemble at Barnet for the
Conference. At eleven o'clock the night before, I
sat down to write a letter to Mr. Pennefather, which
I left with my daughter, saying, ' Look that over,
and if it will do, send it to the printer, get a pToof-
sheet, and let the letter meet me at Barnet on
Wednesday.' " This letter was as follows : —
" 'London, August 10th, 1862.
" ' My deae Fkiend, — In a visit on mission business
which Mr.  paid me last Monday, he pressed me
" to adopt Aldershot" as anew field for missionary labour.
The arguments used to induce me to take up such a
notorious place were, —
" ' First, the success God has granted to each of the
other missions ; and secondly, my once very close con
nection with a soldier's life. Will these two facts carry
weight in your mind in reference to this special work ? I

my mother's story. 25
frankly confess they had their weight with me, and I
promised, subject to certain conditions, to undertake it.
One of these conditions to be the general approval of my
Christian friends, to be shown by their continued confi
dence in me, as regards the means with which to under
take and carry on such a work.
" ' If I know anything of my own heart, I am ready to
say to every call of the Master, " Here am I, send me ; "
but then we must be careful not to mistake the voice of
partial friends for the Master's call. I believe when the
Lord calls His people to any particular work, He makes
their way quite plain, though not always quite smooth,
before them ; at least, this has been eminently the case in
the four missions that I have been permitted to establish ;
and now I am asking dear friends to help me to lay this
new work before Him. He knows the deep need there is
of such a mission ; and knows also the weakness and
inefficiency of the instrument sought for to establish it ;
and what I want you and other friends to pray for at the
Conference is, not that I may be permitted to commence
the work, but rather that I may be kept from taking any
steps in the matter unless He has chosen me to this
honour.
iv " ' So much has been written of Aldershot, that it is
unnecessary for me to enter into the loathsome details of
the unblushing vice that tracks the everyday path of the
poor soldier. A Christian officer, who has been there for
two years, told a friend on the 17th of last month that
nothing that was ever said of the abounding wickedness
could go beyond the reality.

26 my mother's story.
" ' Something therefore ought to be done over and above
what may yet have been attempted ; for it is still most
truly " one of Satan's strongholds." But, dear friend, we
know that Jesus was manifested to destroy the works of
the devil. If the time to favour Aldershot be come, some
loving voice will bid me GoD-speed, and some loving
hands be stretched out to help forward the mission. I
feel thankful my attention has been called to the place
just now, as I am sure, during the hallowed season of the
Conference, you will enlist the sympathies and prayers of
our beloved Christian friends for the success of the work.
" ' The number of troops stationed at Aldershot during
the summer is estimated at from 12,000 to 24,000. For
this number Government provides four chaplains, one
Presbyterian minister, and two Eoman Catholic priests.
The Soldier's Friend Society has four Scripture readers.
Taking the whole of this agency, and supposing it to be
of the most efficient kind, it is about one agent to every
2,000. But this is only within the camp. Outside there
are above a hundred public-houses, some with dancing-
saloons and other arrangements, by which these wretched
panderers to vice entrap the unwary ; and the moment
the poor soldier, tired with the forced inaction of camp
life, sets his foot beyond the lines, his case seems despe
rate. Now it is in the midst of this mass of iniquity that
the proper mission work is needed ; and if God should
bless my efforts, I propose to locate a missionary and a
Bible-woman there. Try to interest God's children in the
work. I have seen, I think, a suitable Bible-woman and
missionary. Oh that God may show His own people the

MY MOTHER'S STORY. 27
importance of such a mission ! All hearts are in His
hands, and He can dispose them as He pleases.
" ' The Barnet Conference of 1860 was the cradle of the
Hilmorton Mission, which has been so greatly blessed.
May the Conference of 1862 be the cradle of as suc
cessful a mission to the camp and town of Aldershot !
Do not in the devotional exercises forget to ask special
prayer. " All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer,
believing, ye shall receive." I shall long to hear what
you think on the subject, and to have your advice as
to the propriety of undertaking the work.
" 'Believe me, very affectionately yours,
"(l. d:
" Copies of this letter were circulated among the
friends at the Barnet Conference (1862), and a
portion of it read by Mr. Pennefather, before
making it the subject of special prayer. Many
friends at once said, ' Oh, if you begin a mission
at Aldershot, we shall be so glad to help you.' I
wrote to the Earl of  , who had assisted me
every year in my other missions. He sent me a
cheque for £32, and said how glad he was I had
thought of such a place.
"Thus I seemed committed to the work, but
knew no more how to begin it than a child. I
asked one friend if she would accompany me to
Aldershot, but she had set her heart on going with
me to my village missions near Rugby, and was

28 MY MOTHER'S STORY.
sure her mother would not spare her for both places.
I had been invited by Mrs.  to visit her at
Brighton, but had declined on account of going
to Aldershot. At length, however, I agreed to
spend with her the last fortnight in August. One
day I said to this dear friend, ' Won't you go with
me to Aldershot ? ' She replied, ' Oh, no, I couldn't
go.' I lifted up my heart to God, and said, ' Lord,
if Thou wilt, Thou canst incline her to go.' During
my visit to this lady^I was begged to lead the worship
in the family, and in reading the 3rd chapter of the
Revelation, that verse was specially given to me,
' Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and
no man can shut it.' I asked different friends to
plead that promise in relation to the proposed work
at Aldershot, feeling so trembling and weak, and
so unequal to the undertaking. A few days after,
taking the hand of my friend, I said, —
" ' I have told my daughter I hoped you would go
with me to Aldershot.'
" To my surprise, she said, with tears, ' My dear,
I am going.'
" ' Are you really ? ' said I. < Thank God ! What
has decided you ? '
" ' Oh, that verse, " Behold I have set before thee
an open door, and no man can shut it." '
" I could not answer a word. In every letter 1
had written during the week, I had asked my

MY MOTHER'S STORY. 29
friends to plead this promise ; and surely the Lord
having, by this word, inclined my friend's heart to go
with me, was a pledge that He was going to bless.
" Another step in the way was this. I knew no
one at Aldershot, and was quite in the dark with
whom first to communicate respecting my design,
when I received a letter from a lady in Scotland,
saying, ' I am sure you will be delighted to know
that Dr.  is at Aldershot.' How wonderful !
Here was the ' open door.' I immediately wrote to
Dr.  , telling him of my intention, saying, ' I
have heard that you are at Aldershot ; if so, write
to me by return of post.' He replied, ' Come at
once. We leave on September 6th' (it was now
the end of August), adding, 'You must not go
into the camp.'
" Accordingly the next day we both started. We
never thought of going into the camp. Dr.  ,
with a friend, met us in a carriage, and we asked
him, —
" ' Where are you going to drive us ? '
" ' To the camp,' he replied.
" ' Why, I thought you said we were not to gc
there.' " ' Oh,' said he, ' you are invited by the chaplain
to tea, and after that to a soldiers' prayer-meeting.'
" As we drove through the town, and observed its
extent, my heart sank within me. What were we

30 MY MOTHER'S STORY.
among so many ? After tea we went to the prayer-
meeting. The soldiers had heard a rumour of the
intention of a lady to endeavour to do something for
them, and they now prayed the Lord to bless her
efforts. At the close of the meeting the officers
said to my friend, —
" ' Do ask Mrs. Daniell to tell the men her
object.' "I turned round in my seat, and said, 'Well,
dear friends, it must seem very strange for two
ladies to come thus amongst you. I have been
asked and the Lord has laid it on my heart to
do something for the soldiers here, but we want
your help, and we know it was never said that a
lady appealed to a British soldier for help in vain.
Will you come forward and help us ? for we cannot
do without you. We have need of you, and the
Lord hath need of you. Let me press on you the
exhortation of St. Paul, " I beseech you, therefore,
by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies
a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is
your reasonable service." Don't think anything
has been gained while one soul remains unsaved
in this camp. Let us go forth bearing the reproach
of Jesus, and if scorned of men, reply, " If this is to
be vile, I will be yet more vile, so that He be
glorified." ' In this strain I talked to them for
twenty minutes.

MY MOTHER'S STORY. 31
" After I had done, all came round me, and said
how thankfully they would help in every way they
could ; and even before a word was spoken, I saw
by their countenances that I had not asked their
help in vain.
"One of the Scripture readers also came and
begged me to take his Bible-class on Sunday ; to
which I replied that if I could do s^ without in
fringing any military regulations it would give me
pleasure. Accordingly on Sunday I attended his
Bible-class, and the Lord blessed His Word to a
poor backslider, who was restored and still remains
faithful. In the evening Dr.  brought in four
officers, who joined us in prayer for a blessing on
our efforts.
" On Monday several friends called at the hotel
where we were staying, — the vicar, chaplain, etc., to
whom we said that from our hearts we desired to
work with, and not against, those who were engaged
in the same Master's service in the place, although
we could not put ourselves under their control.
" On Tuesday we went out, looking for lodgings.
Mrs.  said we must get a place to work in; for
the first glance at the low public-houses and
dancing-saloons told us that the great want of the
place was a puBLic-house opened for different pur
poses, and conducted on totally different principles
from those already abounding; a house to which

32 my mother's story.
both soldier and civilian might be invited to pass
those seasons of leisure now spent in the pursuit of
pleasures which only debased the mind and hardened
the heart. But I dreaded the idea of bricks and
mortar. We inquired, however, about some houses
which were in progress of building, and found that
none of them were for sale; but our informant gave
us the name of a gentleman who owned a good deal
of land, and was interested in the place.
" On our return to the hotel we found a letter,
telling us that two of the friends who had joined us
in prayer on the Sunday evening would call in the
afternoon to take us for a drive through the camp,
and after tea would return with us to our hotel for
Bible-reading. When the carriage came, I asked
that, instead of going through the camp, we might
go a mile or two in the country to see the gentleman
who had been named to us in the morning.
" On arriving at the house, the officers remained
in the carriage, while my friend and I went in to
state the purpose of our visit. Having introduced
ourselves, Mrs.  said we had come for the
purpose of establishing a mission at Aldershot, and
hoped he would be willing to help us.
" I added, ' We have heard that you are kindly
disposed, and have come to ask your advice and
help in procuring a piece of land for the erection of
a Mission Hall,'— giving him, at the same time, a

MY mother's story. 33
running description of my village missions; and
concluding by saying that before asking him to
interest himself in our project, he should under
stand that it would be quite distinct from any sect
or party, and would not be placed under the control
of any clergyman or minister, but would stand upon
perfectly neutral and independent ground, as all my
other missions did.
" The gentleman replied, ' If these are your prin
ciples, ma'am, I shall be delighted to help you.'
"I then asked him if he had a piece of land
which would be suitable, and if he would sell it to
us at a low price. Mr.  expressed his readiness
to do so; and the evident interest which his counte
nance evinced led me to say, without premeditation,
and as it were in joke, — '¦
" ' Perhaps, Mr.  , you will give us a piece of
land?' " ' Well, ma'am,' he replied, ' I will do so with
pleasure.' " I was perfectly astounded, and said, ^What !
give us a piece of land? Do I understand you
aright ? '
" ' Yes, quite. I am sure you are working on the
right principle, and I shall be happy to give you the
ground.' "I tapped at the window, and beckoned our
friends to come in, and on their entering, said, —

34 my mother's STORY.
" ' Dr.  , Mr.  offers to give us a piece of
land.' " The response to this was a look which seemed
to say, ' You have surely lost your senses.' Inter
preting it thus, I appealed to Mr.  , ' Did you
not say you would give us the land ? '
" ' Certainly,' he replied; ' and I shall be happy to
wait on you, and take you to see two or three plots
from which to choose your site.'
" We left with hearts full of praise to God, and
feeling that He was indeed fulfilling His word,
' Behold I have set before thee an open door.'
"On returning, we drove through the camp,
taking tea in Dr.  's tent, and after tea returned
again to the hotel, where the officers met us for
Bible-reading, or rather said they did not intend
to have their usual reading meeting, but wished me
to speak to them ; and if ever God helped me to
speak to the hearts of men it was that night. I
spoke only of Jesus and of our duty to serve Him,
saying we were doing nothing for Him until we
were taking up our cross daily and following Him ;
that I wanted all to be so occupied with the need of
dying souls as to be unable to see the difficulties
in the way — to act like the man who, seeing a
vessel wrecked upon the coast, persisted, though
repeatedly baffled, in his apparently fruitless
attempts to rescue the men, who, amidst the

MY MOTHER'S STORY. 35
raging storm, still clung to the rigging; and who
to all the persuasions of his friends and the taunts
of foolhardiness from those less brave than himself,
replied, ' I see nothing but the men in the rigging.'
After I had spoken I asked them to pray ; and if
you could have heard their brokenness of heart !
Some told the Lord they had been living to them
selves, but that by His grace they would go from
that room to do and dare anything for Him, not
counting their lives dear unto them; but would
witness in camp and town that Jesus is the one
and all-sufficient Saviour. And they have never
flinched. Satan has raged; there has been oppo
sition, as might have been expected, but the work
has proceeded ; and if no further result had been
obtained than the quickening of these Christian
officers to work for their Lord, a blessing would
have been gained of which we cannot estimate the
worth. " On Thursday evening we were taken to a school
in the New Town, where from thirty to forty
soldiers were gathered together. After singing
' Lord, I hear of showers of blessing,' one of the
officers prayed. I then spoke to the men as I had
already spoken to their officers, concluding by say
ing, ' We do not want fair-weather Christians, so
don't give me any promise now; but if after con
sideration and prayer you resolve to help on the

36 MY MOTHER'S STORY.
Lord's work here, through evil report and good
report, how gratefully shall we accept such service.'
A few days afterwards, a joint letter was written
by several of these men, in which they said, ' Others
may give their thoughts and time and talents, but
the men that write this letter, ma'am, give you
their hearts.'
" The following day Mr.  most kindly fulfilled
his promise to show us the plots of ground which
he thought suitable. As we came to one open
space, I asked to whom it belonged. He replied,
' That is mine, and is one of the pieces I intended
to show you.'
" ' Oh,' said I, ' my friend has been looking at
that spot, and has set her heart upon it.' Mr. 
replied that we were welcome to that piece, but he
had two other plots to show us, and would rather
we reserved our decision until we had seen them.
"We came to another piece, preferable to the
former, and when he pointed it out, I said, ' But
you don't intend to give us this ? '
" He replied, ' Yes, ma'am, that is at your service,
if you choose it; but I should wish you not to
decide till you have seen the third piece.'
" We went on farther, and again stopped, when
he said, ' This is the other piece.' I turned round
with grateful surprise and said, ' Surely you do not
intend to offer us this piece for our Mission Hall ?'

MY MOTHERS STORY. 37
" ' Yes, I do,' he replied ; ' if this meets your
wishes, it is yours.'
" ' Thank God ! ' said I, taking his hand. ' It is
not given to me, but to Him ; and believe me, if
there is one gift, in that fast on-coming day, of
which you will never repent, it is the ground on
which we are now standing. It is the Lord's, and
so far as human law can make it, shall be conse
crated to His work for ever ! '
" I gave him references to friends in London, but
I afterwards found that he had not applied to them.
Was not this ' an open door ' ? We had not been
in his house ten minutes before the Lord inclined
this gentleman's heart towards us. And it will
always be so ; our God wants whole-hearted
devotedness to Him, and if we yield ourselves
unreservedly to His service, He will make all
obstacles disappear. And now, with a heart full
of thankfulness, I commend the giver of that piece
of land to your prayers.
" In October, a house was taken and fitted up for
the purposes of the Mission, and also as a daily
reading-room, in which meetings of various kinds
are held.
" Before deciding to open this house for a Sunday
evening service, I had interviews with several
friends, — Mr. Baxter, Captain Fishbourne, Lord
Radstock, and others, each of whom kindly pro-

38 MY MOTHER'S STORY.
mised to share these weekly services. Lord Radstock
was the first to help on the Mission in this way,
and long will that first visit be remembered. The
rooms were crowded, and thus have they continued
ever since. The day after the foundation-stone
was laid, Mr. Blackwood went down and gave the
Thursday evening address, which was much enjoyed
by both the officers and men. We have now a
regular Thursday evening as well as Tuesday evening
service in the Mission House. Mothers' Meetings,
and Sewing Classes for the poor soldiers' wives who
are living out of barracks, have also been begun.
In addition to these, a Young Men's Christian
Association has been formed, and a Sunday after
noon Bible-class, which is presided over by an officer
of earnest piety."

&&* fall.

" Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain
Thee ; how much less this house that I have builded

CHAPTER IV.
A PUBLIC-HOUSE without the drink ! That
-*--*- was the problem to be solved, — a place which
would attract both soldier and civilian from "the low
and debasing pleasures Satan's votaries spread for
them on all sides." Mrs. Daniell's desire was "to
erect a Mission Hall, on a similar plan to the Work
man's Hall at Notting Hill, with lecture-room, read
ing-room, coffee and smoking-rooms, together with
bath-rooms, and residence for the missionary staff."
Some slight modifications were made ; yet the idea
as a whole was carried out, and on February 11th,
1863, the foundation-stone of the new building was
laid by the Earl of Shaftesbury. A large number
of friends came from a distance, as well as from the
camp and town, to witness the ceremony,
After prayer by the Rev. James Dennett, then
Incumbent of Aldershot, the following hymn was
sung, accompanied by one of the regimental
bands : — " This stone to Thee in faith we lay ;
We build this temple, Lord, to Thee :

42 THE HALL.
Thine eye be open night and day
To guard this House and sanctuary.
"When here Thy people see Thy face,
And dying sinners pray to live,
Hear Thou in heaven Thy dwelling-place,
And when Thou hearest, Lord, forgive."
After laying the stone, Lord Shaftesbury said
(as reported in the papers) : —
"It is necessary to give a word of caution — not to
those who have undertaken the charge of this establish
ment, but to remind those standing here — in reference to
its object, that it is for social recreation, for religious
instruction, for the purpose of communicating to every
individual that knowledge which cannot be given on a
large scale in camp. It is to give them access to the
Fountain of faith, to put before them religious books, to
give them access to religious services ; but it is no part of
its object whatever — and most careful will be the con
ductors of this establishment to avoid it — :to enter upon
controversial teaching. It is sufficient that the truths of
the Gospel shall be placed before them in all free sincerity,
and that every man shall have the opportunity, as far as
can be given him, of seeking social and religious inter
course and of receiving and imparting instruction."
Lord Shaftesbury also powerfully repelled the
objection that soldiers were a hopeless class, and that
to attempt to Christianize them was merely the
dream of pious enthusiasm. He appealed to facts, to

THE HALL. 43
the lives of Christian soldiers whose names shone so
brightly in the pages of history, and he appealed
to the examples of true piety which are still the
ornament of the British army. He recalled the
letters from private soldiers in India during the
fearful revolt which for a moment shook our Indian
empire. These letters were not intended for pub
lication, but they showed the Christian spirit of the
men who turned the tide of war and re-established
Her Majesty's dominion. He appealed in like
manner to the letters from private soldiers during
the Crimean war, and to the evidence which these
letters gave, that the prayer-meetings, the Bible-
readings, and the religious intercourse of the soldiers
helped to inspire these men with new endurance
and with redoubled energy, whether in the dreary
trenches of Sebastopol, or in the shock of battle.
He concluded by saying : —
" I do hope that those good and gallant men who shall
come to this Institution to share in the blessings it is well
calculated to afford, will come with a good and hearty
spirit, determined to avail themselves of these signal
advantages ; that they will turn to good account the short
time they may be enabled to participate in all these great
benefits, and recognise the hand of God which has touched
the hearts of those good people who founded an institu
tion so essential to their welfare."

44 THE HALL.
Lord Shaftesbury then read the names of the
trustees, — Mrs. Daniell, Mrs. Fleming, Lord Henry
Cholmondeley, the Honourable Arthur Kinnaird,
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir E. F. Campbell, Bart., 60th
Rifles, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry M. Havelock,
Bart., Captain E. Gardner Fishbourne, R.N., C.B.,
Messrs. Stevenson A. Blackwood, John Halliday,
Frederick Eggar, Robert Baxter, — and remarked
that they were a goodly company. The ceremony
of laying the foundation stone was over at three
o'clock; afterwards a public luncheon was provided
in the Assembly Rooms, followed by addresses
from Lord Caltnorpe, Rev. W. Pennefather, Cap
tain Trotter, and Mr. Baxter. During the after
noon a prayer-meeting was held, and at six o'clock
there was a public meeting, which many soldiers
attended. During that evening meeting the Word came
home with power to at least one soul, who was, we
believe, then added as a spiritual stone to the
heavenly Temple.
Only a few weeks before, Mrs. Daniell had had a
letter forwarded to her by Mr. Pennefather from
a lady in Ireland, asking him if he could interest
any Christians in Aldershot in her son. He was
just going to join a cavalry regiment stationed
there, and she was intensely anxious that he should
be influenced for God. My mother's answer to Mr.

THE HALL. 45
Pennefather was characteristic, — " Tell your dear
friend not to be anxious. By God's help I will
throw a living cord around her son when he arrives
at Aldershot, and seek to win him to Christ."
She also wrote a note to the young officer him
self, that he might find a welcome on his arrival.
There was some delay in his joining, so that it
happened he did not call on my mother till the
very day she was leaving for a while. Indeed,
the cab was at the door and she was just going
when Mr. B. was announced. After a few words
of welcome and apology that she must needs hurry
away, she spoke very earnestly to this effect: —
" Mr. B., I am a mother myself, and I cannot tell
you how anxious I feel for my son, nor how grateful
I should be if any one would interest themselves in
him; so you will pardon my speaking to you. But
I do beg you that in the midst of all the tempta
tions by which you will be surrounded, — and there
will be not a few, — I do beg you never to forget the
Great White Throne, and that you will have to
stand before it."
They parted; but those few words, "the Great
White Throne," remained fixed in his memory, and
that few moments' talk proved the turning point in
his life, till at the evening meeting on the day the
foundation stone was laid, he entered into peace, and
learned that for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ

46 THE HALL.
there was for him " no condemnation," and nothing
to fear from coming judgment.
It was expected that the new buildings would be
completed and opened in August, but the work did
not proceed so rapidly as we hoped, so that it was
not till October that we were fairly in possession.
The opening was inaugurated by a week of special
services, commencing on Sunday, October 11th. To
Mrs. Daniell's great joy, many friends from a
distance came down early enough on Saturday,
the 10th, to join in the gathering for prayer at
eight o'clock, thus fulfilling a hope that she had
expressed in a letter some days before, that they
should go "together as one dear family into the
presence chamber of our one Father to lay the
building at His feet and ask Him to take possession
of it as His own, to fill it with His glory, and to
make it the blessed birthplace of precious souls."
Many well-known and highly-honoured workers
met at this service of dedication. Many were the
earnest pleadings that the goings of our God and
King might there be seen, and most abundantly
have these prayers been answered. Truly can we
say after the lapse of all these years, " Praise ye
the Lord. 0 give thanks unto the Lord, for He is
good : for His mercy endureth for ever."
During the week prayer-meetings were held every
morning at 8 o'clock ; a meeting for prayer and

THE HALL. 47
addresses at 3 p.m., and again for addresses at
6*45 p.m.
Sunday, the 11th, we gathered in the large hall
at 8 o'clock for prayers. In the evening the first
address was given by dear Mr. Pennefather on
the words, " And Enoch walked with God, and he
was not, for God took him." The choice of subject
was singularly characteristic of the beloved speaker,
and fitted for the opening motto of a work through
which we hoped and prayed many should learn the
blessedness of this life of communion and fellow
ship. The Hall was filled to overflowing — indeed,
numbers were unable to enter. The second address
was given by Mr. Robert Baxter, who has been
throughout the most faithful friend and supporter
of the Mission in all its branches. All through the
week the attendances were large, soldiers forming at
every meeting the majority of the audience.
Perhaps it would be as well here to give some
description of the Hall itself. It stands on high
ground near the Cavalry Barracks. Of the exterior
we need say but little, as our frontispiece gives a
good representation. It is in the Elizabethan style
of architecture ; a pretty low-gabled building of
grey Kentish ragstone, surmounted by sloping roofs
¦of red and black tiles, and now in its older days
covered with Virginia and other creepers. Over the
porch runs the inscription, — " Our God, we thank

48 THE HALL.
Thee, for all things come of Thee, and of Thine
own have we given Thee " (1 Chron. xxix. 13, 14).
Passing through the porch the large hall is seen
straight in front. It is of beautiful proportions,
thirty feet by seventy, comfortably fitted up with
chairs, and the walls adorned with texts ; a high-
pitched open roof, from some of the beams of which
hang several flags giving brightness and colour to
the room. To the left of the entrance is the bar,
where tea, coffee, cocoa, and all kinds of light
refreshments can be obtained at a very cheap rate.
Still further to the left is the smoking-room, pro
vided with bagatelle and other games ; and beyond
this again a dining-room. Returning to the
entrance we find to our right the little library,
where the books for lending are kept, and close
to this is a comfortable large Teading-room, fifteen
feet by thirty, the walls bright with pictures, and
the tables plentifully supplied with the Times)
Standard, Daily News, Punch, Illustrated London
News, Army and Navy Gazette, periodicals and
books of all kinds. Over the reading-room is the
drawing-room, — " the officers' room," as it was called
at first, before the exigencies of the work demanded
my mother's continual presence. The need for this
room soon sprang out of the Bible readings she began
on her first visit to Aldershot, when after mess of
an evening several officers would seek her lodgings

THE HALi. 49
to talk over the proposed work. Such gatherings
were almost always ended by my mother's saying,
" Shall we not have a little Bible reading and
prayer before we separate ? "
And so when, in looking over the building before
it was completed, she came to the small sitting-room
set apart for her use on her flying visits, she at once
said, — " Oh, this is not large enough for 6m- Bible
readings : these two rooms must be thrown into
one." The result was the very pretty drawing-room,
which has been, thank God, used, as every other
room in the house, as a meeting-place between
many sinners and their Saviour.
Passing through the large hall we now find to
our left a staircase leading up to the class-room,
which is used for the nightly Bible readings,
Mothers' Meetings, Band of Hope, and other small
gatherings. But this class-room was not built at
the time of which I am writing, having been
added with other rooms in the year 1868. The
Institution was, by the Deed of Trust, under the
direction of Mrs. Daniell during her lifetime, and
after her death under that of the surviving trustees.
or someone appointed by them. Before she died
my mother had her own name taken off the list of
trustees, and mine inserted in its place.
From the above description it will be seen that
i

50

THE HALL.

the building contains a spacious hall, class room,)
reading and smoking rooms, refreshment bar,
dining-room, kitchen, and other rooms for the
servants and those who carry on the work. The
hall is used for tea-parties and other social gather
ings, Sunday evening services, etc. The class-room
for prayer-meetings, Bible readings, Mothers' Meet
ings, Band of Hope meetings, Temperance Meet
ings, and the nightly Bible-class. The reading
and smoking rooms are open daily to members
from 7 a.m. till 11 p.m. for refreshments, reading,
games, and social intercourse. The refreshment
bar is open to the public generally (Sundays ex
cepted), from seven in the morning until ten at
night. Refreshments are supplied at the following
prices : —

Large cup of coffee

ld.

Small „ „ . .

• • id.

Large .cup of tea

2d.

,, ,, cocoa

ld.

Cake per slice

ld.

All sorts of cakes, puddings, jam tarts, etc., etc., are
supplied in pennyworths, and hot joints and soup
from 12 till 2 o'clock daily.
And so the work began.
The interest awakened in all parts of the kingdom
was something extraordinary. Much prayer had been
offered at the Barnet Conference — nor at the Con-

THE HALL. 51
ference alone. All through the country the prayers
of the Lord's remembrancers were daily ascending.
The Mission was literally steeped in prayer. Led on
step by step in paths of which she little dreamed,
the Lord continually " set before " my mother " an
open door," thus fulfilling the word on which He
had caused her to hope.

Wgi ^xmufy §amts : (wEttumr, (Master, mh
" Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the
curtains of thine habitation : spare not, lengthen thy cords and
strengthen thy stakes."

CHAPTER V.
T~\URING all the years of happy work that my
-*-'' mother and I were permitted to have to
gether at Aldershot, the thought was continually
suggested to us and continually expressed, " Oh
what a blessed thing it would be if we could only
have Branch Homes in other military stations!
How trying it is for the men to go away from
Aldershot to other places where there is no Home,
no one to take an interest in their welfare ! "
And again, " Oh for some thousands of pounds
that we might put a Home in every garrison ! "
Thus we talked and planned and wished ; but
the dear Master's time was not then fully come ;
and He did not see fit ever to give to her to
whom He had granted the honour of founding this
Soldiers' Mission this desire of her heart. At all
times very far from strong, and constantly subject
to weeks of illness, the marvel was, not that she
did not accomplish more, but that God enabled her
to accomplish so much. In the early days of the

56 BRANCH HOMES:
Mission, as far back as 1864, the need of more
accommodation in the Hall had been urgently felt.
The men's nightly Bible-class had so increased that
there was no room suitable for their meeting ; the
Lecture Hall, independently of the expense of heat
ing and lighting it, being as much too large as the
other rooms were too small. But it was not till
1867 that Mrs. Daniell was enabled to provide
the additional room so much required, which of
course gave her much extra thought and anxiety
as well as work. This and her continual ill health
and suffering, culminating in 1868 in the lingering
illness which eventually ended her life, will account
for the fact that, though often and urgently longing
to extend her mission " to the regions beyond," she
was never able to do so. The Lord had in His
great goodness given her the joy, not only of plant
ing the Village Missions and that at Aldershot, but
also of seeing them live and grow and flourish in a
very remarkable degree. Then, after nine years of
work at the latter place, He called her to Himself.
" Finished the toil, the rest begun ;
The battle fought, the triumph won."
And so the extension which we had planned together
had to be carried out by one alone.
Chatham was the first garrison suggested. Several
of the Christian men in the Engineers were con-

WEED-ON, COLCHESTER, AND MANCHESTER'. 57
sjantly oscillating between that place and Aldershot,
and many and earnest were the entreaties that a
Home should be provided for them there as well as
here. Immediately after my dear mother's death
111 1871, the idea took more and more possession
of my mind that I would try and raise a Home at
Chatham as a memorial to her. An appeal was
issued, and a few hundred pounds collected ; but
as it was most difficult to meet with a suitable site,
and the sum required for the building was large,
there was some delay in the commencement of the
work. In the interval my thoughts were successively
turned to Weedon, Colchester, and Manchester.
The first and last places were specially laid upon
my heart, on account of men going there from
Aldershot who had received blessing at the Hall.
In the autumn of 1872 we were daily expecting
that two batteries of Artillery would leave for
Weedon, and their distress at the idea of being
"Homeless" kept the matter continually before us.
As it turned out, they were not finally removed
there till the following spring ; but in the interval
I paid a visit to friends in Leicestershire, and with
them went over to Weedon. We knew hardly any
thing of place or people, and emerged from the
train into a terra incognita. Leaving the railway
and Middle Weedon behind us, we crossed the

58 BRANCH H0ME3 :
large breezy field locally called " Government," on
the top and sloping side of which lie the Artillery
and Infantry Barracks, almost in the centre of the
triangle formed by the three different portions of
the village. Across the little stream, and down
the hill again, a short walk brought us into Lower
Weedon, a long irregular winding street, which
finally merged into a country road, after passing
the schools, church, and vicarage. The Vicar kindly
told us of one house, and we got the key from the
schoolmaster. It was a little off the road, and in
some respects would have answered our purpose,
as there were a coach-house and loft which might
possibly have been adopted ; but of course some
expense would have attended this alteration, and
we finally, though not on this occasion, settled
upon two rooms in a large cottage about midway
down the street. It was a strange old-fashioned
house, high chimneypieces, large open fireplaces,
and whitewashed rafters, with a curious old staircase
leading from the reading-room to the meeting-room.
The place was easily fitted up with a few chairs.,
etc.; books and papers were supplied, and the little
Home was ready for the men on their arrival.
One of the missionaries had been with them
on the march, and provision was kindly made at
several places to give them a tea, followed by
dissolving views> addresses, etc. Great success

59
attended "these 'efforts to preserve them from- the
perils of the way. I say "perils" advisedly, as no
one knows but those who have to go through it what
snares and pitfalls are spread for the men in these
marches across the country. Always billeted at
public-houses, sometimes of the very lowest order,
it is indeed an ordeal through which very few of
¦them come out unscathed.
It would be truly a work for God if the Christians
of any town through which our soldiers pass when
they change quarters would get up some little
social entertainment for them, to keep them from
the temptations of the " public." On this occasion
the result was eminently satisfactory. In one
battery there was not a single defaulter on the
whole line of march, and in the other only one.
Arrived at Weedon, the missionary made his way
¦ to the Home, and there with some of the men of
the first battery commended the work to God. I
made arrangements with the village missionaries
to attend twice a week, visiting the men in their
barracks by day, and holding a meeting at the
Home in the evening. Thus the Gospel was
preached to very, many, and we believe we shall
by-and-bye see that the Lord caused some of the
• seed to fall on good ground, to His praise and
•,glory, and the redemption of souls " from the hand
of the enemy." In this way, with one or .two visits

6(3 BRANCH HOMES:
froni myself, the work was carried on throughout
that year ; and in the beginning of the following
year, 1874, two friends and co-workers went to the
village for a few weeks. They remained there till
just before the batteries left for Ireland, after which
I gave up the rooms, as it seemed impossible to
break up fresh ground without having permanent
helpers there. These could not be spared, as larger
and more important spheres would have suffered.
Moreover, the work for which the little Home had
been opened was accomplished. It was during my
last visit to Weedon that the Institute at Plymouth,
which had previously been offered to me, was again
pressed upon my notice, and this seemed another
indication that the smaller field must be given up
for the larger ones which God in His providence
was opening before me.
Amongst these was the work at Colchester. The
military glory of the past, " the pomp and circum
stance" of Roman warfare, has long since passed
away ; but the old castle and walls, the story of
its siege, and the Roman remains that abound
¦in the town and neighbourhood, all combine to
make Colchester a place of unusual interest. For
many years it has been one of our principal mili
tary stations, and since the development of the
new dep6t system the garrison has been largely
increased.

Weedon, colchester, and Manchester, §1
In the spring of 1864, some nine years before my
first acquaintance with the place, a few friends had
met together to consider the possibility of opening a
" Home " for the soldiers quartered there. Principally
through the instrumentality of one of their number,
this was shortly after accomplished, and for some
years it held on its way and was the means of benefit
to many. Just after the commencement of my tiny
effort at Weedon, in April 1873, I heard from
Mr. Baxter, telling me that there was some idea
of giving up the Home at Colchester, and asking
me if I would take it. After some little time for
prayerful consideration I decided to do so. I paid
one or two visits to the place to make a few
necessary alterations. The Home was closed for a
few weeks, and then after being freshly papered,
painted, and made as bright as possible, it was
re-opened in July 1873, with a tea-party, given to
about seventy soldiers. During the three following-
days a series of special services was held, when
addresses were given by Lord Radstock, Mr. Robert
Baxter, Admiral Fishbourne, the Rev. T. Richardson,
and others. Those days were blessed days of in
gathering. Only the other night, during a flying-
visit to Colchester, as I stood talking to a sergeant
of Artillery, those first meetings were brought back
to my mind. This sergeant, amongst others, had
there been met with by the power of God's Holy

62 BRANCH HOMES :
Spirit ; and as we were talking together we could
not but recall how God had in that very room —
"this dear little place" as he loved to call it —
brought him to Himself. Another of that sheaf of
firstfruits was speedily gathered into the heavenly
garner; whilst others are still left to witness for
their Lord below. As far as we know the first to
receive Christ during that opening week was a.
young lance-corporal in the 50th Regiment. He
had evidently been seeking for some little time
before the evening I was asked to speak to him.
The truth of a present salvation went home to his
heart, and he was led by the Holy Spirit to an
immediate acceptance.
The next morning he sent the following little
note, written hurriedly on a scrap of paper jast
before leaving Colchester for another station : —
" My deae Feiend, — Accept this note from me. I
could not go away from here without letting you know
how happy I feel. I seem so overjoyed with myself that
I hardly know what to do, to think that I have found
Jesus." And again, later, after reaching Netley, he
wrote, —
"There is one very nice church here; but there is
only one service held in it on Sundays, and there is no
Bible-class. I went to M  , which is about three-

"WEEDON, COLCHESTER, AND "MANCHESTER. 63
quarters of a mile off, and I met a man, who said there
was a service to be held in the chapel at seven o'clock on
Sunday evening ; so I went, and asked the woman that
had the charge of the door if there was a Bible-class held ?
She said there was on Wednesday evening, so I hope to
go to-night. It is held by Mrs. P  I am told. Please
remember me to Sergeants H  and D  . I seem
to miss the evenings at the Home, but I hope to make
myself at home here.
'"In Christ my full salvation stands,
In Him alone my glorying be :
Nothing shall pluck me from His hands,
From condemnation I am free.
Be holiness my costly dress,
And my best robe His righteousness.'
" Your humble servant,
" C. D., looking to Jesus for help."
I wrote to the Mrs. F  mentioned in his letter
asking her to interest herself in him, which she
kindly did. Some months after she told us he was
ordered off to Ashantee,' and added, " He has grown
much in grace, and has regularly attended the
Bible-class. He has been quite my Bible-woman's
right hand."
For some time we had looked on the little Home
at Colchester as merely a temporary arrangement,
the increase of the garrison as well as other circum
stances pointing to the necessity of enlarging the

64 BRANCH HOMES :
place of our tent. But as yet we did not see how
this was to be accomplished. It was merely a
matter of thought and prayer and desire. But He
Who giveth liberally and loves to satisfy the long
ings of His people had His own time and way for
fulfilling this desire of our hearts.
One day, in the early part of 1876, I was driving
with a dear friend and fellow-helper when the con
versation turned, as it was often wont to do, to the
subject of starting fresh Homes. After a little con
versation she said, " I think I shall sell that house
of mine and give you the money for another Home."
Of course I thought it most wonderfully kind of
her, but I rather demurred to the idea, saying, —
" I am not sure whether you ought to do that ;
though you are not using the house now, you might
by-and-by want it, and it would not be well to give
up property so irrevocably as that."
She laughingly held to it that she should not
want it, " not as long as you will have me," and so
the matter was settled. There was a little talk as
to the probable sum the house would realize. She
thought it would be about £1,500, as that was the
price put upon it in a division of the property which
had been made some time before.
Months passed on. The day for the sale came,
and great was my surprise to receive a telegram
from my friend to this effect,-—

"WEEDON, COLCHESTER, AND MANCHESTER. 65
" House sold for £2700."
This was indeed of the Lord, and was an addi
tional proof of how He blesses gifts made to Himself.
Truly "the earth is the Lord's and the fulness there
of; " " The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich."
When this large donation was first made, we
thought of starting altogether a new Home in
another garrison town which I had been asked to
take up ; but as we saw the increasing needs of
Colchester, on account of its enlarged numbers,
my friend and I decided it would be better to
appropriate her gift to building a new Home in
that place. The next thing was to get a site. One
after another was suggested by different friends,
who were kindly interested, till at last one day,
going up St. Botolph's Street, we saw a board
up on the theatre, " For Sale," etc. This seemed
just the very spot we wanted, and we hastened to
make inquiries. To make a long story short, after
some time the negotiations fell through, and we
were finally led to decide upon a beautiful old red-
.brick house in Queen Street, one of the great
attractions of which is a large garden of half an
acre, with splendid trees. I did not take possession
of this till the beginning of 1878. The alteration
of the house to adapt it to its new purpose, and the
erection of the lecture hall,, was begun in June.
The internal arrangements of the new Home are
5

66 BRANCH HOMES :
very much on the same plan as in all the others ;
but, having more space, I have been able to set
apart two or three bedrooms for the benefit of any
men who might be on pass at Colchester, and need
such accommodation. I trust that a still larger
blessing may rest on the work in its new quarters.
The immediate cause of the establishment of the
Home at Manchester was the same that led me to
open the one at Weedon, namely, the departure
for that station of a regiment out of which God
had gathered many souls to Himself in Aldershot.
Some time before the camp broke up for the
autumn manoeuvres of 1873, we had many anxious
inquiries from the men as to what they should do
when they reached their new quarters. " We shall
miss the Home so much if we have no place to go
to," was the reiterated cry, till at last one evening I
said to them, "Well, I suppose I must go to
Manchester and see if I can get a little Home for
you." So to Manchester I went, with the same friends
who had first gone with me to Weedon, and
after a considerable search we found a small house
nearly opposite the infantry barrack gate, which
would answer our purpose. Later on, I returned
with another friend, and by dint of a week's hard
work the house was furnished and quite ready for
the men on their arrival from Cannook Chase. God

WEEDON, COLCHESTER, AND MANCHESTER. 67
gave us a very happy week amongst them. Friends
on the spot were most kind in their offers of serviee,
especially the army Scripture Reader, a very earnest
man, who hailed with delight this beginning of a
work which he felt would be a real help to his own.
In the beginning of 1874, accompanied by a very
dear friend, who, since my mother's death, had
spent much of her time with me, I went for a
fortnight to Manchester. It was a time of most
delightful opportunity, both amongst the men and
women. Our days were given up to visiting the
married quarters, and the evenings to the usual
work of the Home, the Bible-class and personal
conversation. Everywhere God set before us "an open door."
I remember one little woman telling me with tears
how long she had been seeking Jesus-, how often
she had knelt down and asked for pardon, how
many nights she lay awake thinking of it, and yet
she could not feel she was saved ; and " then the
other day," she went on, "when I heard you coming
upstairs, I just locked my door, I was so afraid you
should come ; and then I unlocked- it again, hoping
you might come ; and then after all you didn't,
and I was so disappointed, and thought I was just
left outside, and I grieved so."
After one or more conversations, it pleased the
Good Shepherd to lead her to trust in His love,

68 BRANCH HOMES :
and come and fall down before Him, And she
found rest unto her soul.
" Thou knowest all the past, — how long and blindly
On the dark mountains the lost wanderer strayed ;
How the Good Shepherd followed, and how kindly
He bore it home upon His shoulders laid,
And healed the bleeding wounds, and soothed the pain,
And brought back life and hope and strength again."
Another instance of God's wonderful mercy at this
same time in the salvation of a soul who was on
the very brink of self-destruction only came to my
knowledge a few months ago in a letter from the
husband of one of our workers, himself among the
fruits of the Mission. I think his own account had
better be given of the poor woman's words, as she
told her thrilling story to my correspondent.
"'Well, D.  , you know me and my family now
nearly twenty years. You also knew my first
husband. Well, he was a good man, as you know.
My present husband, you also know him, but I am
sorry to say you do not know much good of him,
for he is a liar and a drunkard, as you know ; but
you don't know all— he is such a villain. I would
not tell it to any other. Well, he has led me such
a life that I have often wondered how I am even
now alive. My life has been such a miseiy, such
a burden to me, that I have often wished I was
dead, and it was only the thought of what would

"WEEDON, COLCHESTER, AND MANCHESTER. 69
become of my poor soul that kept me back from
committing suicide long ago.'
" Well, she went on to tell me how, through the
cruelty of her husband, her life was a trouble to
her, and one day, as she could not bear it any
longer, she went out to the town and purchased
some poison. She brought it home, cleaned up her
house, set everything in order, said her prayers,
committed her soul as she thought to the keeping
of the God who gave it, went to the table, took the
bottle, poured the poison into a tea-cup, had it in
her hand going to raise it to her mouth and drink
it, when a knock came to the door. She put down
the cup and opened the door, thinking it might be
some of the soldiers' wives come for something,
and they would not detain her long. She covered
the cup with a towel, so that it might not be seen.
Well, had an angel or some other supernatural
being appeared to her at the time, she could not
be taken more aback — a lady and a stranger with
' May I come in, Mrs. C  ? ' ' Well, I could not
speak for the life of me ; I could not say no nor
yes ; but she did come in, and oh, thank God she
did. She remained with me for a long time, as I
then thought ; she spoke to me just as if she knew
what I was going to do, and oh, how her words went
home to my soul ! After she had prayed, I thought
really that she came direct from the throne of

70 BRANCH HOMES.
mercy to prevent me from committing that dark
deed which would for ever hurl my soul from the
presence of its God and Saviour.' "
For these five years past I had known of her as
an earnest Christian, but only now can I realize how
close to the fire lay the brand thus plucked out of
the burning.
Then there were other cases of husbands and
wives being led to rejoice with one heart over their
newly-found treasure, as "heirs together of the
grace of life."
I am almost tempted to linger over the account
of God's work in this regiment, the gratitude both
of the men and women, their touching letters, and
the work that they began on their removal to
another station ; but time and space alike forbid
my dwelling longer upon this portion of our
Mission field. Amidst many vicissitudes the
Home continues to the present day.

Ixmxti) §omts: Pptmtt|i imir %af|am.
" Take up the torch and wave it wide,
The torch that lights Time's thickest gloom."

CHAPTER VI.
TN December 1873, just after the Homes at
-*- Weedon, Colchester, and Manchester had been
started, I received a letter from an officer quartered
in Plymouth, asking me to extend my interest to
that garrison.
He had watched the working of the Aldershot
Mission Hall during the life of its founder, and
although, before he came here, he had been some
what prejudiced against it, he left the camp im
pressed with the idea that Mrs. Daniell's plans were
the best on which to conduct similar institutions.
Some three years before, an Institute had been set
on foot and successfully worked at Plymouth by a
committee ; but owing to the removal from the
town of the earnest and energetic honorary secre
tary, who had been the mainspring of the under
taking, the work had languished; and when my
friend wrote, little was being accomplished. As
may be supposed, this fresh invitation was a matter
for very earnest prayer and careful consideration.

74 BRANCH HOMES :
I went down twice to Plymouth to see the Home
and hear the details of its previous management,
but it was not till November 1874 that I really
began working the Institute. During my visit in
May it was decided that in order to carry on any
thing like an efficient work, larger premises would
be required, as the present house was not only
insufficient for the more direct wants of the Home,
but it also lacked accommodation for the lady
superintendent, a requisite quite indispensable to
the success of the undertaking.
It was during that visit in May that the first-
fruits of what has since proved a most abundant
harvest was gathered in. One evening the little
library was visited by a man of the Royal Marines.
He looked thoughtful and worn ; and after a short
conversation I found he was in an anxious, troubled
state of mind. Feeling the burden of sin, and
dissatisfied with all his own attempts at reforma
tion, he yet could not appropriate to himself the
finished work that the Lord Jesus Christ had
wrought out for him. He came again more than
once, and day by day grew more restless and uneasy,
till his agony of mind became almost unendurable,
and he wandered about for miles in his wretched
ness. At length, after another talk over some of
the precious promises of the Bible, " it began to
dawn toward the first day of the week," the resurrec-

PLYMOUTH AND CHATHAM. 75
tion morning of his soul. I told him again of the
readiness of the Lord to receive, and how much he
grieved Him by doubting Him. He longed for us to
take Him at His word. At last, after praying with
him, I said, —
" Now will you kneel down here by yourself, and
just go to Christ, with all your sin and all your
unworthiness, and believe that when you go He
receives and pardons you at once ? "
Very quietly he agreed to this, and I left him
alone. On my return to the room a short time
afterwards, I was thankful to see the whole expres
sion of his face changed. Though the tears were
falling, yet the despair and wretchedness were all
gone, and it was radiant with his newly-born joy.
All he could say was, —
" Oh, Miss ! why could not I ever see it before ?
How blind I've been ! Now I know it's all done
for me, and I'm saved ! "
Truly he could say, " The Lord hath done great
things for me, whereof I am glad." A month later,
when I had returned to Aldershot, he wrote the
following letter : —
" Dear Friend, — Oh, how often have I wrote these two
words, but never felt their full power before ! Many,
many thanks for your kind present '' (a New Testament).
' ' I read a few verses first thing every morning. I have
sent you a little marker ; please accept it. I want to let

76 BRANCH. HOMES :
you know how I am getting on, but hardly know how to.
I am, as it were, lost in amazement. Oh, how acutely I
hears my comrades now to what I used to ! I long for
the day's duty to be over, to be at the Institute again. I
distributed a few bills round the barracks to-day, and I
have got two or three more to join the Bible-class. Cor
poral B  , I think, is still clinging to a straw with the
lifeboat close by his side. The men in my room under
stand me now ; they take no notice of me. I kneel at my
bed night and morning, as you bade me. I felt sorrow
ful when you left, but Jesus made me know it was a sin ;
that I was selfish, and that He wanted you somewhere
else. I can find many, many faults with myself now,
that I never dreamt of before ; but oh, how happy I feel
resting in Jesus, with the assurance of being forgiven."
He is still living in the joy of that assurance,
kept by the mighty power of God. On my last
visit to Plymouth I found him just the same as
ever, so grateful and humble, and anxious to do
anything he could to help on the work. I could
not but be touched by one instance of this. One
day he came to me, and said in a most mysterious
manner, —
" I should like to have a few minutes' conversa
tion with you, Miss, before you go."
" Certainly, B  , whenever you like."
"I want to speak to you about something very
particular, Miss ! "

PLYMOUTH AND CHATHAM. 77
In a day or two the opportunity came, and then
he confided to me that he was thinking of getting
married. " But you see, Miss, I can't quite make up my
mind about it. I have only got a short time more
to make up my twenty-one years, and I've been
thinking  " and then there was rather a long
pause and a good deal of hesitation. Presently he
resumed, — " I've been thinking that if you could only
let me do some work at one of the Homes : you
know I should have my pension, Miss, so I should
not want any pay : if you would only let me be in
the work I would much rather, and then I would
not get married at all, Miss ! "
Such was B  's determination, and hitherto he
has kept in the same mind.
Thus at the very threshold of the work God
stamped it with the seal of His approval, and
during the two to three years that, amidst much
discomfort, we carried it on in those small incon
venient rooms, He continued to give us numberless
tokens of His favour.
It would take too much time to enter into all the
details of our search for another Home — either for
a site on which to build, or a house that could by
any means be adapted. At last, one morning in
January 1876, during one of my visits, the friend who
had first asked me to Plymouth came in in triumph.

78 BRANCH HOMES :
"I have found the site: couldn't be better —
Stonehouse Market — quite central ; between the
Barracks : you must go and look at it ! "
It proved to be the very place for us, and after
some time the site was obtained, and the work of
building begun. The waiting time had been long,
but at last, in July 1877, the new Home was
finished. The Homes have been so often described that it
seems superfluous to enter into a special description
of all the rooms. The distinctive feature of the one
at Plymouth is that it has more than any of the
others the appearance of a fine gin palace, having
plate-glass windows, in which " tea," " coffee," and
"hot suppers," are advertised, instead of the usual
" wines " and " spirits." It is brilliantly lighted
with an abundance of gas. Pushing open the glass
swing door, the soldier finds himself in a large
bright bar, fitted up with seats and tables, marble
counter, etc., the walls decOrated with pictures,
while just below the cornice run the words, beauti
fully illuminated in clear bold letters, legible to all
who enter, — " Whether, therefore, ye eat or drink,
or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."
Passing on through the bar is the corridor, which
extends the whole depth of the building, a distance
of nearly a hundred and seventy feet. To the left of
this are the library, bath, game, billiard, and reading

PLYMOUTH AND CHATHAM. 79
rooms. Upon the corridor also opens a broad flight
of stairs leading to the lecture hall and class-room.
Up and down each side of the hall run the lines,
graven on the sword of one who has gone to his rest,
and years ago placed as our motto on the title-page
of our " Soldiers' Hymn-Book," —
" To Queen, to country, but oh ! most to Thee,
My life to give, Who gav'st Thy life for me."
And over the end window is a scroll, which cannot
fail to catch the eye, either as a beacon of hope,
inciting to joyful expectation, or as a word of warn
ing and terror, — " Surely, I come quickly. Amen.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
As my pen traces these lines I cannot but recall
in connection with this new Home all the loving
devotion of my dear friend and helper Miss Lea.
First led by God's providence to interest herself
in the small Institute, her enthusiastic nature took
up with the greatest joy every little detail of the
larger building. It was just her one absorbing
pleasure and delight and pride to do everything
that she could to make it bright and attractive.
Her generous open hand was continually lavishing
fresh gifts upon it ; and after the opening the great
success of the work was largely due to her wonderful
and self-sacrificing devotion. Called comparatively
late in life to give herself to any specific work, it
seemed as if she could never do enough to show the

80 BRANCH HOMES :
joyful thanksgiving that filled her heart in being
thus permitted to labour. Or was it that even then
there were continually premonitions of the coming
end ? dim foreshadowings that she must be up
and doing "with her might," for the night was
coming on apace when she could no longer work for
the One she loved, no longer point sinners to Him
who was to her "the chiefest among ten thousand
and the altogether lovely."
The new Home was opened in July 1877, but
before the first anniversary came round she "was
not," for God had taken her to be with Himself.
In the very midst of her work the summons came
and she passed away, —
" . . . to some perfect wondrous service yonder
Within that Holy Place,
Where veilless, in its full transfigured glory,
His servants see His face."
By one of those overrulings of God's providence
which we are so often permitted to see, this sudden
entrance into glory through the valley of the shadow
of death was one of the links in the chain which
brought another soul from spiritual death into the
light and life and liberty of the Gospel. For some
time before her death Miss Lea had been enabled to
enlist the kind sympathy and interest of some of
the officers in the garrison in the work carried on at
the Home. One, especially, had with his wife been

PLYMOUTH AND CHATHAM. 81
much drawn towards the place. Living, as he was,
only for the world and time, the winning of his soul
for Christ was laid in a remarkable way upon Miss
Lea's heart. She mentioned him more than once
in her letters to me, and though she was not per
mitted herself to see the change, yet it was doubt
less in answer to her prayers, together with those
of many others, that he was shortly after her death
brought to a knowledge of Christ, and has ever since
been a special helper in the work she so much loved.
As I said before, Chatham was the garrison which
was first suggested for a Branch Home; but al
though never lost sight of, circumstances postponed
the accomplishment of this design till after Weedon,
Colchester, Manchester, and Plymouth had all been
grafted on to the parent stem. This arose from the
fact that building a new Home required large funds,
which necessarily took some time to gather, while at
each of the other places Homes either stood ready to
one's hand, or the requirements of the garrison were
met by the use of smaller accommodation which
could at once be secured.
By the early part of 1872 I had paid a visit to
Chatham, seen the only site which seemed at all
suitable, and had entered into negotiations for
its purchase. In all this the Rev. Daniel Cooke,
the Vicar of Old Brompton, in whose parish the
barracks are situated, was most kind and help-
6

82 BRANCH HOMES :
ful. There was then on the site a small mission
room, which had previously been used for services
for the dockyard men and others, and was still the
place of rendezvous to a few officers, who met there
for a weekly Bible reading. All the preliminary
negotiations — collecting the funds, etc. — took some
time, and the work was further retarded by the
commencement of the other Branch Homes pre
viously described ; so that it was not till September
1875 that the building was actually commenced, and
the Home was not ready for opening till June 1876.
I had intended going down to Chatham with one
of my kind helpers in January of that year, but
just as everything was arranged I was suddenly
called to Plymouth, on account of a serious illness
of Miss Lea's, so that my friend had to go alone.
She was given a hearty welcome in the house of
friends, who were staying for a time in Chatham,
where the gentleman was engaged in some military
inspection work. Both very earnest Christians,
they had been longing for some door of usefulness
to be opened, and the three weeks they had spent
at Chatham had been weeks of much prayer that
God would give them something to do for Him.
The letter, asking them to receive my friend, was
felt to be the answer to these prayers. And they
were indeed the very helpers we needed.
A farewell tea was given to the men of the

PLYMOUTH AND CHATHAM. 83
16th Regiment, a large band of them, who were"
previously members successively at the Plymouth
and Aldershot Homes, having joined a battalion
at Chatham. Then step by step the way seemed
to open out before us, and in February a small
house was rented, and the little preparatory Home
fairly inaugurated, though it was necessarily on a
very limited scale. However, it was in the highest
sense most eminently successful, and much of the
work of those four months still abides.
The opening week was one of very special enjoy
ment. The first meeting was in the afternoon of
the 10th June, and very pleasant it was to see not
only a number of new friends from the town and
neighbourhood, but also many old ones who had
come from a distance to unite their prayers and
praises with ours. Mr. Robert Baxter presided, and
the Rev. Daniel Cooke, with various other speakers,
took part. Most tender and touching allusion was
made to the one who, thirteen years before, had
under God been the founder of the Aldershot Mission
Hall, and we felt that no more fitting memorial
could have been raised to her than another Soldiers'
Home. Very delightful Bible readings were held every
afternoon, and public meetings in the evening, and
it was altogether a time to which many look back
as particularly bright and happy.

84 BRANCH HOMES.
Though the numbers attending have never been
very large, yet the homey-ness and social happi
ness at this house has been very striking, and
for none of the other Homes has a deeper affection
been entertained. A remark which well illustrates
this was made by one of the men as he was leaving.
Turning round to look for the last time at the place
he loved so well, he was heard to say, " Oh you
dear little Home, I wish I could take you up in my
arms and carry you away with me ! "
Thus through God's goodness I have been enabled
to carry out, to a certain extent, my mother's
wishes, and though there is still " much land to be
possessed," and many garrisons are still unprovided
with a Home, yet we thank God for all that He
has accomplished, not only in the extension of this
Mission, but also that He has since 1862 raised up
so many who have stretched out a helping hand to
our soldiers in all parts of the kingdom.

Spiritual Stems.
' Hearts I have won of sister or of brother,
Quick on the earth, or buried in the sod,
Lo I every heart awaiteth me, another
Friend in the blameless family of God."

CHAPTER VII.
TTITHERTO I have dwelt principally upon the
-* — *- material buildings, telling how, first in Aider-
shot, and then in one place after another, God pro
vided the outward machinery for the work. But,
thanks be to His holy name, there is much to tell
of the " lively stones," who are slowly but surely
being " built up a spiritual house," to the praise of
the glory of His grace.
It is superfluous to dwell any further on the deep
necessity for such a work. The testimony of all
at the time of the founding of the mission was to
the same effect — the terrible temptations and snares
spread for the soldier in the innumerable public-
houses and dancing-saloons of the town, while no
other counter-attraction was provided. Government
libraries and reading-rooms were established after
wards, but this has not materially lessened the
need of the Institutes. Soldiers, like other people,
when their day's work is over, enjoy having some
place to go where they can spend their evenings

88 SPIRITUAL STONES.
away from the barrack-room. And when we con
sider the peculiarities of a soldier's life, we can
well understand how to him, almost more than to
any other class, there must be a special attraction
in a house where he can be "at home" for his
evenings, meeting his comrades in social inter
course, and otherwise enjoying himself. Unable,
as a rule, to make a home for himself, there is
no "ain fireside" to which he can resort; and
for the very short time he is stationary in one
place, he has few opportunities of making friends.
Added to this is the fact that, owing to class preju
dice, hardly a respectable house will open its doors
to him. All these things combine to make him
thoroughly appreciate the social advantages offered
to him in the Homes.
From the day soon after my mother's first arrival
here, when some of the men wrote to her, — " Others
may give their thoughts and time and talents, but
the men that write this letter give you their hearts"
— from that time to the present, none have more
thoroughly appreciated her work than those for
whose sakes it was primarily begun. And well
they might. " Look at those dancing-halls," said
a godly soldier to a friend, who had gone down for
the laying of the foundation-stone. "Look at
those dancing-halls ; you may throw a stone over
twenty of them; there is nothing in London to

SPIRITUAL STONES. 89
match it. We have long been praying for such a
place as this will be."
That the same feeling was shared in by the officers
is shown by the following extract from the letter of
a major in a cavalry regiment which was long
quartered in the camp : —
" Of the benefit of the Hall, as forming a retreat
for soldiers so disposed from public-houses and
canteens, there can exist no shade of opinion. I
rejoice that I have got such an asylum or place of
refuge for many of my men, apart from any religious
or temperance motives. But of course, anxious as
I am both for their spiritual and worldly benefit, I
can with sincere gratitude return thanks to God,
who has raised up Mrs. Daniell and such a noble
Institution." It is touching to recall some of the many
expressions of the soldiers, showing their love
and attachment to the Home, sometimes pathetic
and sometimes amusing.
" If you will believe me, ma'am," said one of
them, " it is like going out of hell into heaven, to
come up here from one of our rooms."
"  was saying to me to-day," wrote one of
our friends, " that he never knew before that there
was a Soldiers' Home in Aldershot. They tell us in
our room," he added, " that we make a regular idol

90 SPIRITUAL STONES.
of this Hall, but I tell them it's a better idol than
the ' Victory ' " (a public-house in Aldershot).
" You don't know what this place is to us," said
another, — ¦" a sort of covert to run into. I used to
hate Aldershot, and count the time till I should
leave it; but now I dread leaving it."
" We do hope to see that dear little Hall soon,"
wrote the wife of a trumpet-major, both of whom
had found Christ here in one day; " we were greatly
disappointed that we could not be there to the tea
on the day after Christmas."
" I wish," writes another, " that we could put the
Hall upon wheels and run it up here."
Another graphic little touch was supplied by a
friend : —
" I had my farewell words with M  . He told
me he was very glad he was off at a moment's
notice, for it was just like hanging, and he would
rather have it over and done with. He had never
loved any place like this ; he had never minded
leaving home, but this seemed almost too much
for him to talk about."
A visitor at the Hall in 1865 writes regarding the
social aspect of the work : —
" Round that Hall their most tender and cherished
recollections seem to cluster, and increasingly we
recognise the wisdom which designed it to be, not
merely a place of religious instruction, but a real

SPIRITUAL STONES. 91
Home to them — a place where, if so inclined, they
can read, or write letters, or, as is oftener the case,
can stand about or sit on the broad window-seats,
drinking their coffee and chatting— just the free
happy talk which even a lady may overhear with
out fear of one word which could distress or annoy.
When the Hall was yet a thing of the future, some
wondered at the attempt to combine the two, others
doubted the wisdom of it, and both prophesied
failure; but the result has far more than justified
the purpose."
At the first Bible-class at which this lady was
present, her attention was considerably arrested by
the following words, which occurred in one of the
prayers, uttered not lightly, but with perfect
reverence of tone and expression : —
"0 Lord! Thou knowest what a fix the poor
soldier was in at Aldershot before this blessed
place was built."
-j, And this brings us to what has always and
designedly been the prominent feature of the work,
— its spiritual aspect. Delightful as it was to Mrs.
Daniell to see the men's social enjoyment, and pro
vide for it in every legitimate way, it was still more
the joy and rejoicing of her heart to win their souls
for Christ. Never for one moment did she take the
tone of apology for thus seeking first their spiritual
interests. She rather gloried thus " in the name of

92 SPIRITUAL STONES.
the Lord" to lift up her banner ; seldom has that
word been more abundantly fulfilled, " Them that
honour Me, I will honour." She never looked upon
the men as children to be amused, but " as undying
souls, capable of rising to the height of fellowship
with God."
It would be impossible to estimate the number
who owe their conversion directly or indirectly to
her instrumentality. Eternity alone will reveal it.
The following are some among many instances : —
In July 1 864 my mother received a letter from a
stranger, telling her of the earnest desire of a poor
old man that she would try and influence his son.
" Oh ! if I could only write, I would write to the
lady Daniell, and I am sure she would look after
my poor prodigal boy." His friend promised he
would write for him, and so the letter was dispatched,
telling of his sainted mother's dying prayers, and
the father's longing for his boy, and also giving
some few particulars of the reckless careless life
which the son was leading. After reading the letter
Mrs. Daniell sent off at once to the barracks to ask
G  to come and see her the next afternoon, which
was Sunday. True to his word, the young man
arrived, and was taken up to the drawing-room. I
have often heard my mother describe that interview
— the fine tall stalwart young fellow, in all the
strength of his manhood, utterly careless and un-

SPIRITUAL STONES. 93
moved at first, and treating everything that she said
to him with lightness. For some time she did not
seem to make any way with him, when suddenly
taking up a Bible she said, —
" Do you see this nice new Bible, G  ? I will
give it you for your own, if you will promise me
one thing."
His eyes glistened, and he appeared softened, as
he agreed to her request.
" Promise me that you will read some of it every
day, and it shall be yours."
The promise was given, and so was the gift.
Then she spoke of his father's anxiety for him,
and reminded him of his mother.
" You know, G  , there are all her prayers for
you to be answered : they are indented round God's
throne. When are you going to let the answer
come ? "
That interview ended in deep solemnity, and was
the turning-point of the young dragoon's life. He
stayed with his comrades to the afternoon Bible-
class, and from that day till he left Aldershot was
never absent for one day from the Hall except
when on duty. He became as earnest for God as
he had before been for the world. Some time later,
letters came from him from Ireland, in which he
said : " Oh, happy, happy day, that 16th July,
when you sent for me to the Mission Hall ; " and

94 SPIRITUAL STONES.
again, "My heart yearns for Aldershot, the place
of my second birth."
Months afterwards he was met with by a dear
friend beside the happy death-bed of the young-
woman to whom he was engaged, herself another
of Mrs. Daniell's spiritual children. Those who
knew him best testified to the brightness and con
sistency of his Christian life. This is only one
amongst many proofs that we are continually
receiving of the blessedness of a mother's early
influence and prayers.
But another instance may be given of quite a
different type.
One evening in the spring of that same year
which witnessed G  's " death unto sin and new
birth unto righteousness," I was standing outside
the drawing-room, watching the men as they filed
out after their nightly Bible-class. During my
mother's address, I had noticed a Highlander evi
dently under deep impression. He was a steady
grave-looking man — an old soldier — with a thought
ful intent Scotch face ; and I felt so sure he was
unhappy that, as he passed, I put the question
to him, — "Are you happy ?"
" Oh, no, far from that;" and then he told me
how he had long been seeking, and never could
find peace, and how restless and unsatisfied he
was. It was too late that night for him to stay

SPIRITUAL STONES. 95
for a talk, as he came from the North Camp, but
I asked him to come down the next night, and
Mrs. Daniell would speak to him. He was on
duty that evening, but said he would be on pass
the following one. I give the rest of the story in
his own words, as he wrote about it to my mother
some time afterwards : —
" You prayed for me, that my heart might be opened
to believe, and my eyes open to see all that had already
been done. I felt the same as a condemned criminal,
and so I was until I believed. You read several passages
to me, and explained them. Then you read the 24th
verse of the 5th chapter of St. John, ' He that believeth
on me hath everlasting life.' When you were explaining
these words to me I was in an awful state of mind, I
thought everything had been done that could be done
now, and there was no hope ; I was always looking into
my own heart, and found no change ; when at last, for
my time was nearly up, and me not saved, I spoke to
you about feeling the same wicked heart. You told me
I had nothing to do with that, that it would always be
a wicked one ; and so it will, and a deceitful one, while
this life lasts. But blessed be God that sent me to
Aldershot, and for sending me to meet with you there ;
and for ever blessed be His holy name for sending Christ
His Son to die for sin, and for leaving those words that
were uttered by Christ on this earth. And the same
Christ chose you as an instrument in drawing me to
Himself. . . . Although I have never written to you

96 SPIRITUAL STONES.
before, still my heart has been full of gratitude to you.
I think upon you often. The happiest days that ever I
spent were in Aldershot after my conversion."
And so to the bright young cavalry man, who
had till then lived in utter carelessness, and to the
grave thoughtful Scotchman, who had gone heavily
for so long because of the burden of his sin, " the
grace of God which bringeth salvation appeared,"
and both were "translated into the kingdom of
God's dear Son."
" Ever with so soft a surge and an increasing,
Drunk of the sand, and thwarted of the clod,
Stilled and astir, and checked and never-ceasing,
Spreadeth the great wave of the grace of God."
How well I remember a day or two afterwards
standing in the bar talking to D  . He never
wearied of taking out his little Testament and
pointing to the verse which had been used by God
to bring him into liberty. With his finger tracing
each line, he read and re-read it, dwelling with
special emphasis on the word "hath."
" To think I should have come all the way from
Scotland to find this which I have been seeking
so long — so many years."
It was very cheering to my mother to hear the
most satisfactory testimony to D  's Christian

SPIRITUAL STONES. 97
character some months after he had left Aldershot ;
and it is not very long since I had myself the
pleasure of seeing him, and finding that he was
still not only witnessing a good confession, but also
engaged in much blessed service for his Master.
One day Mrs. Daniell received a letter from a
poor woman, begging her to try and reach her son,
a wild thoughtless boy, deaf to all her prayers and
entreaties for him. He was invited to the Hall,
and after some conversation, in which he was
besought to turn to God, he said, —
" I wish I was like my mother. I have thought,
but I don't think the thoughts go very deep."
Mrs. Daniell read and prayed with him, and
spoke much of the love of Christ for him, but he
received it all with an air of great indifference.
"Well, ma'am, I won't deceive you, I am not
going to be religious yet. I like a soldier's life,
and mean to enjoy it for some time longer."
" Well, if the love of Christ will not reach you,
let me read you another word : ' He that, being
often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly
be destroyed, and that without remedy ' "
He still seemed unmoved, and she gave him up
rather hopelessly, as he went off with an almost
supercilious manner, as much as to say all that had
nothing to do with him. But the next day he
came to tell her how wonderfully God had wrought 7

98 SPIRITUAL STONES.
with him. As he left her the evening before, the
Holy Spirit began moving in his darkened soul,,
and before he got back to the camp he was brought
down to his knees, and then and there sought and
found God's pardoning mercy.
These are merely typical cases, of which almost
numberless specimens could be given. One of the
most remarkable features of the work through all
these years, both here and at the Branch Homes,
has been the continued ingathering of souls. With
out any noise or excitement, without any special
manifestation of what is commonly known as revival
work, the blessing has continued year by year,
month by month, week by week, I might almost
say day by day. I believe that this is chiefly to
be traced to the atmosphere of personal influence
with which our many meetings are encompassed.
The little " library " in each Home, from which
many hundreds of books are yearly issued, is also
in a peculiar way a kind of mainspring to the whole
of the spiritual work. Eveiy evening, from about
six o'clock till the men leave, these little rooms
are always occupied by myself or one of my fellow-
workers, and it is there that by far the larger
proportion of our work for souls takes place.
I will add a description of one of my evenings in
the library, written the same night, February 5th,
1872, a very fair sample of hundreds of others :—

SPIRITUAL STONES. yy
" The men begin to drop in about five or six o'clock,
and settle down to their different entertainments, some to
a book in the reading-room, or to a friendly chat, others
to refreshments at the bar, while others again turn into
the smokingrroom. About six o'clock, as usual, I went
down to the library, a tiny square room, where the books
for lending are kept. The men resort here to become
members, or to sign the pledge. It has the advantage of
having two sides nearly all of glass, so that the going and
coming are distinctly visible. This evening I had not
been seated long before a corporal of the  regiment
came in, bringing two friends. This corporal himself had
only a few weeks before been brought back to the Lord,
after a lengthened time of backsliding. A tap at the door
was followed by his entrance into the little room with one
of his friends, ' who wishes to sign the pledge, if you please,
ma'am.' As the trio kept close together there was not
much opportunity of talking, beyond a friendly earnest
invitation to come to-morrow to hear Mr. Blackwood's
address. One of the bills announcing his meeting was
given them, and they followed their friend to the smoking
room. Later on, a second tap and a similar entrance and
request ; this time a private bringing a friend to sign.
Then there was a little movement outside, as one after
another filed out of the reading-room, the last one turning
back to say, in a cheerful hearty voice, to those who were
still reading : ' We are going to have a few minutes of
prayer upstairs, will more of you come ? ' This ' few
minutes of prayer ' takes place nightly in the class-room
before the meeting. They have hardly passed out of

100 SPIRITUAL STONES.
sight when the front door opens again, and the mis
sionary makes his appearance with a non-commissioned
officer. Passing by the library, he says, as he opens the
door beyond, ' This is our reading-room ; ' and the new
comer is introduced to the other rooms, which seem to
give satisfaction, as he announces his intention of be
coming a member, for which purpose he is brought to
the library,
" ' Good evening, ma'am ; I am sorry to trouble you,
but I thought I should like to be a member of this
place.' " He was assured that it was no trouble, but a very
great pleasure ; and a hope was expressed that he would
make the Mission Hall his home. ' Had he been here
before ? '
" ' Yes, some years ago ; but I only came occasionally
to meetings, and have never been a member.'
" A few kind inquiries drew from him a very sad story
of domestic trouble and grief, which awakened much
sympathy. Then he wished to sign the pledge. After
filling in his teetotal card I asked the question, —
" ' And how is it with your soul ? Have you ever
begun to think about that ? '
" ' Yes ; that's just what I came up here to-night for.'
" ' Have you felt yourself to be a lost sinner, unpre
pared to meet God, not ready to face Him ? '
" ' Yes, very often ; and I have tried and tried, and
gone on sometimes better.'
'"Ah, but have you ever known what it was to have
your sin forgiven ? '

SPIRITUAL STONES. 101
" ' No, I've never had that,' and in a moment the face
which had been grave and sad almost to sternness
relaxed, the tears gathered, and some even fell. Poor
fellow ! it was the old story of having tried hard many
a time to be better by leaving off the drink, which had
been, as usual, the great stumbling-block ; but after a
week or two, there being no quickening of God's Spirit,
no laying hold of Christ, in a word, no power from above,
the old habit had returned and the struggle had been
given up in despair. Oh, how sweet it was to be able
to tell him of that love of God which sought him, and
which could not only pardon and blot out all the past
life of sin, but also give him a new life, a new strength,
which should enable him in the future to live to His
honour and glory ! How precious it was to point to a
Saviour who would not only save from the penalty, but
also from the power of sin ! Forgiveness, present and
complete, was his first, his greatest need. God offered
it to him now, freely. Would he accept it at once ?
Would he let God save him to-night ?
" I cannot attempt to give every detail of the conver
sation. Many precious portions of God's own Word
were read, and many illustrations used, amongst others
this one : —
" ' Supposing he were in prison under condemnation of
death — that he knew to-morrow morning's sun would
witness his execution — but that to-night, during the short
time left him of his life, a friend came into his cell with
the glad tidings of a free pardon from the Queen — would
he accept it ? Would he not be only too thankful to

102 SPIRITUAL STONES.
have it? Was he willing to go to God now, and tell
Him he gladly took the offered gift ? It was a gift ; a
thing not to be earned, but simply taken and thanked for.'
After prayer it seemed as if the Holy Spirit enabled him
to see that the debt really had been paid for him. His
first words were, —
" ' I can never thank you enough for speaking to me.'
" ' It is God you have to thank. Do you know what
He has done for you ? '
" ' Yes ; He's forgiven me. And now,' and this was said
with great deliberation and emphasis, — ' and now it will be
easy for me to forgive those who have so wronged me.'
" Then there was a little talk about the new life that
must follow. If he was saved it must necessarily be
seen by his new life. He could not but show love and
gratitude to the One who had rescued him from destruc
tion. The words have unfortunately passed from my
memory, but the tone of the response has left an in
delible impression. It seemed to come so heartily and
earnestly, and yet almost in a matter-of-fact way, as if
that were a question that could by no possibility admit of
any doubt. Such a gift as he had received that night
must entail the joyful consecration of his life fo the
service of God.
"During this time the bell had rung, and the men
were gathered in from the various rooms to the class-room
for their nightly Bible-class. Our new friend joined
them, and listened with earnest attention, especially to
the concluding words, ' Where art thou ? Hiding from
God, or hiding in Him ? '

SPIRITUAL STONES. 103
" The address over, I went again to the library, while a
few men of the 100th and 50th regiments met with
another friend upstairs to plead especially for their
respective corps.
" In the library my first visitor was a corporal, brought
by the Missionary, who had told me previously he hoped
he was really seeking God. He had been first impressed
during the week of services held by Captain Pym, who
had also spoken personally to him. It was more than a
fortnight since he had been to the library, and I was most
thankful to see him once again, and especially to hear that
he had really sought the Lord Jesus for himself, and
teen found of Him. There was very little to tell, simply
the fact of having yielded to God's plan of salvation, and
taken Him at His word.
" Then G  came to renew his membership. His
testimony was also clear and distinct, that he too had
received the forgiveness of sins. ' It is all so changed
now; my heart seems so light to what it was.'
" After this, there was a succession of visitors for
books, members' tickets, etc. : some I trust the Lord's
children ; others halting between two opinions, almost
persuaded ; and others again of whom I cannot speak
certainly, but who attend all the meetings regularly, and
are most grateful for the privileges of the Home, and are
doing all they can to induce comrades to come with them.
B  is of the latter class. He is almost overwhelming
in his expressions of gratitude and thankfulness, and does
not know how much his old mother (seventy-seven years of
age) would thank us for hirn if she only had the opportunity.

104 SPIRITUAL STONES.
In the middle of all this the sergeant came back to take
away his pledge card, his face quite lighted up, as he
said, —
" ' I can never thank you enough, ma'am, for the
words you have said to me to-night. Oh ! how thank
ful I am I came in ! '
" Then, just before shutting up the library, one of the
Christian men came in.
" ' Have you seen that sergeant ? I do think that he
has found Jesus to-night. After the meeting I went up
to him, seeing he was a stranger, and asked him the
question which Mr. H  had been speaking about:
" Where art thou ? " and he said directly, " Thank God :
not hiding from Him, but hiding in Him. " '
" This joyful news was confirmed by the Missionary as
I was on my way upstairs.
" ' I wanted to have a word, please, ma'am, about that
sergeant. He does seem so happy in Jesus. He came
up to me after class, and thanked me for inviting him in,
and said, " What a wonderful thing it is to be saved for
nothing." '
"I could only 'praise the Lord for His goodness
and for His wonderful works to the children of men.'
" I have thus given some idea of the evening work, but
of course every evening is not like this one. We are not
always permitted apparently to reap so speedily. I say
apparently, as we cannot tell at once whether it was
a true case of conversion to God or not. I have only
given the account just as it took place in our ordinary
routine."

SPIRITUAL STONES. 105
God has given us in a remarkable degree "the
joy of harvest." And while to hundreds the Homes
have been the place of their spiritual birth, they
have been also in a no less remarkable degree the
rallying point to Christians, where " those who fear
the Lord speak often one to another ;" a place too
where numbers of backsliders have once again
listened to the voice of Christ, and have been led
back with weeping and supplication to the " foun
tain of living waters." But as in earthly husbandry
there are the various operations of ploughing and
harrowing and sowing — the breaking up of the
fallow ground, and the gathering out of the stones,
— all as needful as the work of the harvest field and
the garnering of the precious sheaves, without which
indeed there would be no precious sheaves to bind
and garner, — so in the spiritual world all these
earlier efforts have to be put forth in their due
season, or there would never be the rejoicing over
" first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in
the ear." "As is the earthy," so also "is the
heavenly." The largest proportion of the work of
the Homes is in these preparatory stages. Day after
day, in all kinds of ways, the blessed message of God's
love is being continually rehearsed. In season and out
of season, to men, women, and children, to the poor
and to the rich, " is the Word of this salvation sent "
through the various instrumentalities of these Homes.

106 SPIRITUAL STONES.
Of a great deal of this seed sowing we never
see the results ; but though much lies hidden and
apparently lost to us here, it will not be so always.
We look to see many up yonder who have been led by
words long since forgotten by us to accept Christ as
their Saviour. And even now much of this buried
seed is continually being brought to light. A
corporal who came here from Ireland in 1874, to
join another battalion of his regiment, gave us a
very pleasing testimony to the truth of this. After
some little conversation, he said, to our surprise and
pleasure, — "I found the Lord when I was here
before; " and then he went on to speak so nicely
about how much fruit there was which we never
saw. " You may only see a little of it here ; but we
meet with men all over the world who say they
found Christ in the Mission Hall at Aldershot."
"Have you often met with them? "
" Oh, yes, five or six times — when I've not
expected it."
Another equally cheering report reached us
through an officer about one of the men of his
regiment. He had been brought to God at Aider-
shot some years before ; but the beginning of his
Christian life had been so full of stumbles and falls
as to cause us much sorrow of heart. Great was
our joy at hearing that " W. is the shining

SPIRITUAL STONES. 107
light of the regiment," leading a most consistent
life and earnestly working amongst his comrades.
His term of service has since expired, and he has
been for some time employed as a Town Missionary.
One young soldier who was converted at the little
Plymouth Home, writing to congratulate me on the
opening of the new Home, says : —
" I feel sure many a poor rotten decayed branch you
have been the means in the Lord's hands of pruning and
training for the Master's kingdom. I was at a meeting
in the Curragh, and I met a man who was a Christian,
and we got into conversation about where we were con
verted. He said, ' It was in one of Miss Daniell's Homes
that I first saw the truth.' He said it was some time
before he could see the .thing, but that was the first con
viction, and it was through going to that early service
that was the means of convincing him. Now, dear lady,
these are all proofs that there is a great work going
on. So you see that makes the third one since I left
Plymouth." Then from another who came on a few days' visit
to Aldershot, we heard much the same. He was
just brimful of delight at being back at the " dear
old Mission Hall," where he had himself received
Christ. " I shall never forget the Hall, and never love
any other place so well. That classroom is the
dearest spot on earth to me ; and I am always

108 SPIRITUAL STONES.
meeting with men who can say the same. Often
and often I ask, ' Where were you converted ? ' and
the answer is, ' Oh ! at Aldershot Mission Hall.' "
The night he told me this he took part in our
usual evening meeting, and telling the men how in
that very room he had first found peace, he urged
upon them to come and yield themselves at once to
God. After serving his time he became a colporteur,
in which work he has been much encouraged, having
continued opportunities for speaking to numbers of
the way of salvation, and telling of that Saviour
whom he first learned to love at the Aldershot
Soldiers' Home.
But perhaps no more striking instance could be
given of the buried seed having sprung up into
resurrection life than that which is told by the
writer of the following letter, which came to me
in the autumn of 1874 : — " August 20th, 1874.
" ' Cast thy bread upon the waters : for thou shalt find it after
many days.' — Eccles. xi. 1.
" It is with pleasure I write this letter to you. I have
never seen you but once, and I don't expect ever to see
you again until I meet you in heaven, when we will sing
the redemption song together. In the month of January
1870, I was Serjeant in the Boyal Horse Artillery, then
stationed at Aldershot, in the East Block. The serjeant-
major of my battery asked me one evening to go with

SPIRITUAL STONES. 109
him to the Soldiers' Home, which I did. The lecture,
or sermon, was delivered by  , and was very inte
resting. The audience were all soldiers ; most of them
were privates. When I came downstairs, the serjeant-
major introduced me to you. You spoke to me very
kindly, and inquired into my spiritual state. But alas ! I
had none of that kind of experience to give you. You
asked me, if it was God's will to call me that night, was I
prepared to meet my God ? I answered, ' No.' You told
me if the trumpet would sound that night to call every
one to judgment, that you were prepared to meet your
Saviour ; you had no fear. This I could not believe. I
thought it was a mere fancy of yours. I did not know
that the Scripture said, ' Perfect love casteth out all fear.'
My idea of religion was this : that if we lived a moral life,
went to church once a week, repeated the general con
fession and Lord's, prayer with the minister, the responses
in the psalter, litany, and communion, and were attentive
to the sermon — that is, not to go to sleep ; to believe
there are three Persons and one God, and that Jesus
Christ died for sinners ; to offer up a prayer every night
to God before going to bed, the Lord's Prayer, and one
or two collects from the Prayer Book ; to be honest, not
to swear, not to tell lies, — that we had done well, and that
God might forgive us at the hour of death, and receive us
into heaven. But this we could not be certain of until
we went before the Judge. You then gave me two little
books to read and return, and come again to the meeting.
I promised to do so. I took the books home, intending
to read them. I thought there might be nice stories in

110 SPIRITUAL STONES.
them, as I have often read in tracts. I looked at one of
them and saw the title of the book on the outside of the
cover, ' The Blood of Jesus.' From the title I thought
it was a dry book. But however, as I promised you I
would read them, I would try, for the sake of keeping my
promise, before I would go again. I expected you would
ask me if I read them. I did not like to tell you I did ;
and to say I had not time would not be the truth. I did
try to read the one I have already mentioned. I did
read part of it ; it was as hard for me to read it, and as
badly suited to my taste then,, as to drink the bitterest
medicine. I could not get through with it. On the first
of the following month I was sent to Woolwich ; and in
the following June I purchased my discharge, with the
intention of coming to this country with my wife and
children, and then being free from the army I would
inquire more after religion. I had a desire to be re
ligious, and always had a respect for religion and religious
people. I did not know anything about justification hy
faith. I thought that I had to be just so sorry for my
sins ; that I had to be confirmed before I could be a
Christian, because the Church required it ; that I had to
be so long striving and working ; that I had to make up
lost time ; in fact, I thought there was a great deal for
me to do ; that there was so much repentance, so much
sorrow for sin, so much prayer, so much knowledge of
Scripture required. I might go on writing so much of
one thing and so much of another that I would fill several
sheets of paper, and weary you in reading it. I tried to
come to God with my own righteousness ; that I was not

SPIRITUAL STONES. Ill
so bad as other people ; instead of coming, not only in the
words but the spirit of the publican. Our litany brings
us in the words of the publican, but how far do we
come in the spirit? 'God is a Spirit, and they that
worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth '
(John iv. 24).
" About two years ago I began to seek earnestly after
knowledge. I quit reading novels ; it was very hard on
me to do so. I commenced reading the New Testament,
with Barnes' notes, every night, and got so interested and
a thirsting for knowledge that I never got weary. I
became very anxious to join a Bible-class, but did not
know of any to join. I came to a knowledge that God
would forgive sin, not only at the hour of death, but
to-day, — the moment it was asked in faith ; and then I
went to God earnestly, just using my own words, and
asked Him to forgive me my sins and to make it known
to me, in some way or other, that I could not have any
doubt.. Then Satan would say, — for now I believe it was
him, — ' You can't expect that now ; it is very well for you
to ask for it, and it is right, for you to ask for it, but you
are too unworthy yet ; go on as you are going.' Then I
began to reason with Satan, and believed him ; denying
the word of God, where He so kindly said, ' Him that
cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out.' ' Whoso
ever will, let him take of the water of life freely.' I
reasoned with the devil, and not with Him who said,
' Come now, and let us reason together : though your sins
be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow ; though they
be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.' Had I then

112 SPIRITUAL STONES.
opened my Bible, and turned to the fourth chapter of St.
James, I would read, ' Besist the devil, and he will flee
from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to
you.' And then in the third of St. John, 'And as
Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so
must the Son of man be lifted up : that whosoever be
lieveth on Him should not perish, but have eternal life.'
When the devil said I was too unworthy, I should have
said, ' This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all accepta
tion, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sin
ners, of whom I am chief ' (1 Tim. i. 15). Sometimes I
would feel that my sins were all forgiven, and that I loved
God with all my heart, soul, and mind, and would be
willing to give up anything or do anything for Christ's
sake. Again, doubts would arise that after all I may be
deceiving myself, that I am not yet born again, and I would
feel cast down.
'•' About two months ago I found one of the books you
gave me ; it was written on the third chapter of Philip
pians, and I read it. The other book I thought was lost ;
I did not remember seeing it since I left England ; I did
not look for it.
" On Saturday, the 1st August, I was looking for a
piece of paper, and found the book, and saw the title of
the book on the cover, ' The Blood of Jesus.' Them I
knew by that title it was a beautiful book. I was so
pleased to find it. I remembered the giver. I sat down
to read it ; the first part of the preface rather cast me
down, but the latter part gave me courage to go on. I
read chapter after chapter with such eagerness, I wanted

SPIRITUAL STONES. 113
to read the whole book at once. The Gospel never seemed
so plain to me before. It then seemed as if I always read
it with a veil over my eyes.
" The offer was too great and too free. Full pardon
for all my sins, an heir of God, and joint heir with Jesus
Christ, and to share His glory at the throne of God. It
was so much I could not accept it in the way it was
offered to me. I wanted to do something. How blind !
" I thank my God that I see more clearly now that
instead of trying to earn it myself by works, I had only to
come to God through the merits of Jesus, not mine, and
have my sins all washed away in the blood of Jesus ; be
lieve, receive, and go my way rejoicing. I did come to
Him just as I am, a poor naked, blind, wretched, mise
rable sinner, and can now say in all sincerity and truth, if
the trumpet would sound now, and the Son of man come
again in His glory to judge the world, I am ready to meet
Him and rejoice at His coming, So you see what a pre
cious gift this little book has been to me. By the light of
the Holy Spirit and this book all doubt and fear is re
moved. Faith and love have taken their place. I did
not intend to take up so much of your time. When I
commenced writing I thought two pages would contain
all I would say; twenty could not contain all I would
wish to say.
" I wish I had more of those books, ' The Blood of
Jesus,' that I might lend them ; for it seems that I shall
be always wanting to read this one myself. I feel so
rejoiced that I could not help writing to you, and also to
give you courage to go on. 'Be not weary in well-
8

114 SPIRITUAL STONES.
doing ; ' and as you give a book or a tract to some poor
perishing sinner, ask God to bless it to him, and He will
do it ; it may not be for many years.
" And may God in His infinite goodness and mercy, in
a special manner pour down the continual dew of His
blessing on the author and the giver of this precious book.
And I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be
preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Amen.
" Circulate plenty of these books ; and may the Holy
Spirit lead all who read them just as they are to the
Saviour of the world, that they may feel the cleansing
power of the blood of Jesus. H. J."

liffttsiott oi ^Imxxxtx.

" He first nndeth his own brother, and he brought him to
Jesus."

CHAPTER VIII.
T I -lHIS most imperfect sketch of the work
-*- amongst the men would be still more in-^
complete than it must necessarily be if I failed
to notice the blessing that has accrued not only
to such numbers of themselves, but also to their
relations and friends ; and the good which the
"mission children" have been the means of effecting
both before and after leaving the service.
The " ingenuity of love," of which we have often
heard, seemed to be well illustrated by the efforts
of a young lance-corporal to reach his comrades.
His great anxiety was to draw them to Christ, and
he was always trying different ways, "if by any
means he might save some." Just before leaving
for a foreign station, he came into the library, and
said he should like to show me his scrap-book.
" You know, ma'am, I find very often they won't
read the tracts or little books, and I can't get
them to attend to anything, so I thought of this
plan. I copy anything into it that I can get hold

118 THE DIFFUSION OF BLESSING.
of, a hymn or text, and then put a few scratches
of red or blue ink about it, and they are so eager
to read it, that they are always asking for it.
When I put anything fresh in, it must always go
the rounds from one to another."
It was really most interesting to see the pains
he had taken to render the book attractive, with
different coloured letters, little scrolls, and various
kinds of bold and clear printing. The first entry
in it was his name in ornamental letters, and under
neath, " In remembrance of Mrs. Daniell." Then
came the letter which had been written to them,
giving an account of her death ; then our motto
card for the year, etc. On one page I noticed, in
very large black printing, "Prepare to meet thy
God ;" so sharp and defined, that it could not fail
to catch the eye of all who turned over the leaves
of the book; while on another, just as clear and
legible, was the question, " What must I do to be
saved?" and then the hymn —
" Nothing, either great or small ;
Nothing, sinner, no ;
Jesus did it, did it all,
Long, long ago."
Much might be told of the various efforts to reach
their comrades. This testimony often comes from
quite independent sources, and is all the more
valuable. One such was given to a friend as she

THE DIFFUSION OF BLESSING. 119
was speaking to a man of the Artillery. Not de
cided himself for the Lord, yet under a certain
amount of impression, he had been touched to the
heart by the efforts made by a Christian comrade
named H  to win him. He was especially struck
by seeing "the tears running down H  's face,"
when he refused to come up to the Home. Another
time, going to this comrade's hut, he found him on his
knees, and four or five laughing at him. " I was
properly shamed," the man added, when giving this
account. Another instance was a remarkable illustration
of the truth that God hath before prepared the
good works wherein His children should walk. A
lady who was engaged in the work was visiting
her own home in the north of England, and at a
little meeting was much struck by the earnestness
with which a poor woman prayed for the conversion
of her young nephew, who was about to sail for
India. Upon inquiry, she gave the name of a sol
dier in the battalion which some of our Christian
men were just joining. Word was sent to one of
them to try and find the boy, — for he was but a
boy,^ — and on the evening of their arrival he reeled
home to bed in the very room where this man —
perhaps the brightest of the band — was " stopping."
As soon as he was sober enough, the Christian
soldier sought him out, talked and prayed with

120 THE DIFFUSION OF BLESSING.
him, brought him to the meeting, and before the
regiment sailed he gave every evidence that he had
indeed passed from death unto life. Soon afterwards,
he wrote from India that he had himself been
blessed to the conversion of a comrade.
It has been a great happiness to find how fre
quently the influence of the men has extended not
only to their comrades, but to their relations and
friends. One of our Christian men, who had been much
troubled for the soul of a brother, of whom he had
lost sight for many years, resolved, after praying
for eighteen months that they might be brought
together again, to write and ask their old school
master in Ireland if he eould give him any infor
mation. The answer brought the welcome news
that he had lately received a letter from the brother,
who was working in the north of England, asking
for tidings of his soldier-brother, about whom he
had been thinking a great deal for the previous
eighteen months ! Communication being thus re
stored, the civilian brother soon afterwards came
to Aldershot. There, under the power of the Word
in the Mission Hall, he was brought to feel himself
a sinner, and there was soon reason to believe that
he was rejoicing in the pardoning mercy of God,
through Christ Jesus.
An extract from a letter gives another interest-

THE DIFFUSION OF BLESSING. 121
The sergeant to whom it refers had
been converted at the Hall, and was for long one
of our most active workers.
"After the class I had the Artillery prayer-meeting.
Sergeant G  asked me if I remembered our once
praying about a letter which he had written one night on
guard to his wife's step-father. I remembered it well, and
that at the time he had said that he thought if he had had
a quire of paper with him instead of two sheets, he could
have filled it all. The following week he had told us
that his wife had heard from her mother, and she said
that the husband, who seems to have been a great drinker,
and had been tramping about the country when the letter
arrived, had come back two days before she wrote, had
read the letter, and seemed very much impressed by it.
That may have been two months or more ago, and I had
always forgotten to ask G. if he had heard anything more.
Now he told us that the man still kept sober, and gave
hopes of real amendment ; but the best of it was that the
daughter's husband, who had also been a hard drinker
and a very bad husband, had read the letter, and they
believed it had been the means of his conversion."
In the description of the Branch Homes, I spoke
of the sheaf of first-fruits that God had graciously
given at the opening service of the Colchester
Home. One of these was a private in the 50th
regiment. He was very anxious about his aged
mother, and wrote to her repeatedly, telling her of

122 THE DIFFUSION OF BLESSING.
Christ. After some time he had the joy of hearing
from his sister that his mother told her to say that
she had light in her soul ; and he then said, " I
would rather hear that than have a thousand
pounds." Indeed, this quite took the sting out of
the other bad news the sister sent, that one of his
brothers had reduced what he gave his mother
weekly (five shillings) because he was engaged
to be married. It was Monday morning he heard
this, and he immediately either wrote, or settled
on writing, to say that, in addition to what he
already contributed, he would give her the five
shillings, spreading the matter before the Lord in
prayer. Just twenty minutes before he was to go
on guard, a message came to tell him he was put
on some field-works, which would give him the five
shillings extra a week.
The following year C  S  went to visit
his aunt at Plymouth. His words and prayers
and hymns had a great effect upon her, and when
he left her she was in deep trouble about her
soul. Very shortly after this I was at Plymouth,
and at S  's request went to see her. Poor
thing ! she was indeed heavily burdened, longing
for deliverance, but unable to find peace. I had a
very few words of conversation with her, showing
how free was the ofter of salvation, and pointing
her to the precious words of encouragement given

THE DIFFUSION OF BLESSING. 123
in the Scriptures. She listened as if for life, and
was drawn by the cords of His great love to appre
hend almost in a moment the blessed truth of a
present and immediate salvation. We knelt to
gether, and gave God thanks.
These are purely representative cases to show
how the circle of influence has ever been a widening
one. Parents, brothers and sisters, friends, and in
numberless cases, those with whom they hope to
form still closer ties, are brought to be sharers with
them in the hope of the Gospel. They have also
been permitted, in some instances, to begin work on
a more extended scale. So early as 1864 my dear
mother received a letter from an officer, in which
he said : —
" When you started the Aldershot Mission, we prayed
that it might be a centre from which streams of blessing
might flow to the ends of the earth. The paper I enclose
is an answer to our prayers. Serjeant  is now in
China. The Lord blessed him on the voyage and is
blessing him, making both him and his wife shining
lights in the midst of surrounding darkness ; and now
remembering Aldershot days and the blessed work we
were privileged to join in there, they have established a
little mission in Shanghai, for which they ask the prayers
of Aldershot friends."
And some years later, a Serjeant in the regiment
for whose benefit the Manchester Home was first

124 THE DIFFUSION OF BLESSING.
begun, was the principal means of inducing some
clergymen and officers to start a small Institute in
another garrison.
Another officer writes this year from a foreign
station : —
" It struck me so much this mail getting letters
from M  from Natal, K  from Cyprus, and
M  from Sir S. Browne's force in Afghan ; all
these converted either at Chatham Home or Aider-
shot, and all forming centres for work in these
outlandish places."
One thus mentioned has begun a tiny " Soldiers'
Home " in Cyprus.
Not a few from amongst those whom God has
drawn to Himself have in their turn become
workers with Him, some as Scripture readers
and colporteurs, others as servants in the various
Homes. One of the former, brought to God here in
1867, has been for some time employed in connec
tion with the Aldershot Home as Missionary. He
visits a great deal in the Camp, and is always
ready to welcome the men as they arrive at the
Home in the evening. Just now he is off to Zulu-
land, to do what he can in ministering to the men,
whether in the field or in hospital. This work
was undertaken at his own earnest desire. When,
on the 11th February, the terrible news of Isandula
came, which called for the immediate despatch of so

THE DIFFUSION OF BLESSING. 125
many of our brave men to Natal, it brought to us,
not only the deep gloom of sorrow for our national
losses, but also a special trouble in the departure of
some of the regiments that were ordered off, for
in them were many men who were wont to meet
here night by night, and several amongst these
looked on the Hall as their spiritual birthplace. I
did long that in some way or other the influence of
the Home might accompany them, and great was
my thankfulness when W  said, after our little
workers' prayer-meeting on the following Monday
morning, —
" I do wish, ma'am, you would send me out to
Natal with the troops. I just should like to go."
" Well, W  ," I said, " that is the very thing
that I should like, too ; but I hardly know how it
can be managed. But we will kneel down and ask
God to make His will clear to us. He can smooth
away all difficulties, and take you to Natal, if He
has work for you to do there."
We prayed together, asking that He would make
His way plain before our face. Most abundantly
were those prayers answered. Step by step we
heard the guiding voice, " This is the way ; walk
ye in it." We had but to " stand still and see the
salvation of the Lord."
During the week many plans were discussed. An
officer whom I consulted told me he feared it could

126 THE DIFFUSION OF BLESSING.
not be done under £200 ; still I made inquiries
about the expense of passage by the mail steamers ;
and then at one time the question was mooted
whether W  could not go out as servant to an
officer. However, on talking over this last scheme
with him, we decided that such a situation would
necessarily prevent his doing the work we wanted,
so it was given up. The expense of the journey by
mail steamer seemed too a formidable obstacle,
though a friend to whom I had told our thought
had most kindly sent me a cheque for £50. So the
days went on, mostly in prayer and expectancy,
" watching daily at His gates, waiting at the post
of His doors," till Saturday night came, and
nothing was decided. That evening a friend arrived
for a week's special services, who with his wife had
been brought to God in the Hall more than four
years before. In the course of conversation I
mentioned W  's wish, saying I had not been
able to see how it could be managed, but I felt
sure God would open the door if He wanted us to
enter it.
"Oh," said Mr. G  , "I think Government
would give you a free passage for him. I will
write to ¦  ; I think he could get it done."
So the letter was sent, and we waited the issue.
First came a very kind reply, showing thorough
appreciation of the proposed effort; and then on

THE DIFFUSION OF BLESSING. 127
the Tuesday evening a telegram from the Horse
Guards : —
" Passage to Natal will be provided in the steam
ship Egypt for a Scripture Reader. He will have to
embark at Southampton by noon on 28th instant,
reporting himself on board to the staff officer super
intending the embarkation. He will not be required
to pay for rations."
Early next morning our friend took W  off to
the outfitters, and there provided him with all he
wanted for a complete " kit," from the waterproof
bedding, valise, corduroy suit and helmet, down to
the little etna and camp saucepan ; and on Friday
morning he went off in high spirits by the 7*30
train to Southampton. Thus in ten days from the
day he first proposed it, W  's desires were
granted, and he was off " to Natal with the troops."

%^t Jtttfttttm ^ajtaw&m.
" Sow ye beside all waters
Where the dew of heaven may fall,
Te shall reap if ye be not weary,
For the Spirit breathes o'er all."

CHAPTER IX.
rpHIS flight of W  's to Zululand reminds
-*- me of rather a fresh element, which was
brought into the work the very year of my dear
mother's death, her earnest interest in which
called forth the last letter she ever sent to the
men. The year 1871 was marked in the annals of the
camp by the largest gathering of troops ever drawn
together in one place in England. When the news
of the "projected invasion " reached us, we felt that
such an opportunity for sowing broadcast the Word
of the Kingdom should not be lost, but that 'every
nerve must be strained to use it to the very utmost.
The first thought was to stir up the Christian
members of the Home to earnest and systematic
prayer and effort ; and to this end the following
letter was written to them. This and their answer
will, I am sure, be read with interest : —

132 THE AUTUMN MANOEUVRES.
" To the Christian Members of the Aldershot Mission
Hall and Soldiers' Home and Institute.
" My dear Friends, — I thank you much for your con
tinual remembrance of me in prayer. In the midst of
this long trial of illness, it has not been one of the least
of my consolations that so many prayers have constantly
ascended for me from Aldershot, and above all, from the
dear Mission Hall. In that day when we shall meet
together in our ' Father's house ' above, you will doubt
less learn — it may be with surprise — how many of the
blessings and alleviations that have been showered upon
me have been sent in answer to your supplications.
" But my object is not simply to thank you, but also to
stir you up on a subject which has much occupied my
mind during the last few days : I mean the proposed
large addition to your numbers in camp at the end of this
month. This seems to me to call for increased activity
and earnestness in our Mission work. It is an opportu
nity given us by God. Shall we not consider together
how we may best use it for the advancement of His glory,
^n seeking the salvation of the thousands of precious souls
who are for a brief period to be brought under our influ
ence ? I say ' our ' influence, because, though alas ! I am
no longer able personally to labour, yet I love to think
of you all as, in a measure, my representatives ; and as I
look upon the photograph which has been so kindly sent
to me, I pray God that the spiritual life given to most of you
in that Mission Hall maybe so strong and vigorous that it
may enable you all to be ' workers together with Him.'

THE AUTUMN MANOEUVRES. 133
" I know you will all agree with me that, before any
fresh effort in the way of work for God, we should have
renewed and very earnest and very special intercourse
with Him.
" My first suggestion, therefore, is that as many of you
as possible should meet together in the class-room at 6-30
every evening for prayer. Those whose duty keeps them
later, could drop in quietly without disturbing the others,
if the door were left open. Let your prayers be short
and to the point. Ask God1 to prepare the hearts of those
who are coming to receive the Word, and to give to each
one of you not only courage and zeal and love, but also
wisdom and prudence in every effort you may make. Be
much in prayer also for this during the day.
" Then secondly, as to the means to Be used. It would
be well for you to arrange amongst yourselves for every
new regiment and battery to be visited each day by two
of you during the ten days or fortnight they will be in
camp. Remember for how short a time you will have
them with you, and concentrate all your energy on them
especially. The kind friends who are taking our place at
the Hall will supply you with tracts and notices, and will
also draw out a plan, showing the order in which you had
better visit the several regiments.
" Our prayers will not cease to ascend with yours in
earnest supplication that the great encampment of 1871
may be the means of bringing many, not only under the
sound of the Gospel, but also to accept the offered pardon,
that so at that other and greater gathering now fast
approaching, each one of you may be amongst the number

134 THE AUTUMN MANOEUVRES.
of those who, ' having turned many to righteousness, shall
shine as the stars for ever and ever.'
" I remain, your true friend,
" Louisa Daniell.
" Eastwick House, Great Malvern,
" August 17th, 1871.
"Proverbs xxiv. 11, 12. Jude 22, 23.

" ' Blessed is the servant whom his Lord, when He cometh, shall
find so doing.' — Luke xxii. 43."
After a time, the following answer was received :
" I feel assured that you will forgive our apparent
neglect in not having answered your kind letter before,
and will accept our thanks for it now. We feel that we
ought to be very grateful to Almighty God for His
unnumbered mercies, especially for having inclined your
heart to take such a great interest in us, and in having
established such a noble work in Aldershot. We hear
with grief and sorrow of your great trials and sufferings,
yet it is not unmixed with joyful gratitude when we
remember that our dear Elder Brother is with you, and
helps you to suffer for His sake. I have taken the liberty
of addressing this to you, on behalf of my brother com
rades and self, to thank you once more for all that has
been done for us, and for the great interest taken by
yourself, Miss Daniell, and the dear ladies at the
Home. Our hearts are full of gratitude to the Giver of
all good, and we trust by His grace to be enabled, by
our present and future zeal in His cause, to testify that
we are worthy of the great interest so kindly taken in us.
" We continue to supplicate our God in your behalf,

THE AUTUMN MANOEUVRES. 135
that you may be exceedingly blessed (even in the midst
of all your severe trials and afflictions), and that your
kind heart may be warmed by further good accounts of
your loving children at the Institute, and by the knowledge
that many a weary soul has found peace in believing.
" We have much cause indeed to be thankful since the
work has been started of visiting the different regiments,
and distributing tracts, for we have seen already some
fruit : and we cannot help feeling and being conscious
that the Lord is working and manifesting His power in
this great camp more and more. In several places where
it has been our privilege to labour and to take a message
of God's love, we have been received with gladness, and
have found many anxious to hear about Jesus' love to
poor sinful men. In others we have met here and there
with slight opposition, but we found it a sweet privilege
to suffer for His sake who suffered so much for us.
"It is very sweet to us to hear that in the midst of
such deep affliction you still remember us. We consider
it a deep honour and privilege, and give you, dear, dear
lady, our heartfelt and humble thanks. We feel it a
great honour to be your ' representatives ' in such a
noble and glorious work. And now, dear lady, we trust
you will forgive the imperfect form of our humble
thanks, and we can jointly say, ' Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His
abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively
hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that
fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you who are

136 THE AUTUMN MANOEUVRES.
kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
We desire to offer our united prayers in your behalf, and
also for dear Miss Daniell ; for have we not the blessed
promise that ' whatsoever ye ask in My name, I will
give it you ' ?
"We thank you also for the tracts, and have the
honour to subscribe ourselves, dear lady, your grateful
children, "The Christian Members of the Mission Hall."
A plan was drawn up for the systematic visiting
of each different regiment and battery. Night by
night the kind friends who were here in our absence
made arrangements with the men, settling how the
various corps should be visited on the morrow,
sending them out " two and two," with tracts and
invitations. Besides this, our two missionaries were
constantly at work in the same way; one remaining
at " head-quarters," the other paying visits of two
and three days to the several divisions in their
encampments at Woolmer, Hartford Bridge Flats,
Chobham, and Pirbright. Our anxious desire
through it all was that, either by tract, by per
sonal conversation, or by securing their attendance
at the services in the Mission Hall, the " gospel of
the grace of God " might be brought to bear upon
each individual soul of the thousands congregated
together. By God's blessing and help this was, we
believe, most thoroughly accomplished; and the

THE AUTUMN MANOEUVRES. 137
results of that three weeks' special effort for God
will only be known in that day when "every
man's work shall be made manifest." A short
time afterwards the following letter was received,
bearing testimony to the benefit reaped by one soul;
and we trust that it was only the first-fruits of an
abundant harvest, to be gathered in " after many

" I had the great pleasure of attending the Mission Hall
at Aldershot when lately with the autumn manoeuvres, and
am happy to say much to my greatest benefit. I have
since been working as the Lord would have me for the
spread of His name, and have made many Christian
friends, who although I am now about to leave, sad indeed
is the parting ; but the Lord's ways are all for the best,
teaching us that here we have no abiding place, but seek
one above, whose Author and Maker and Finisher is
Christ, who is the same yesterday and for ever, in Malta,
and everywhere. I return my thanks for the glad news I
heard at Aldershot Mission Hall ; also the work of the
Lord is going on wonderfully at Tralee and Dublin.
Praying earnestly that the Lord will keep them. . . .
" Oh, what a glorious shout there'll be
When we arrive at home 1 .
Our friends and Jesus we shall see,
And God shall say, ' Well done.' "
During the autumn manoeuvres of the following
year we had the same delightful opportunity
through our Scripture Readers of proclaiming the

138 THE AUTUMN MANOEUVRES.
Gospel, either by word of mouth or through the
medium of books and tracts, to the many thpusands
congregated together. Before giving extracts from
the many letters written from " the seat of war " by
" our own correspondents," perhaps it will be well
to describe their plan of operations. The " southern
army," assembled on the downs around Blandford,
consisted mostly of regiments drawn from various
parts of the kingdom, but some few from the
Aldershot division joined its ranks. Knowing as
we do something of the difficulties and temptations
that beset the line of march (the men being billeted
in public-houses), it occurred to us to send two of
our Scripture Readers, well known and loved by the
members of the Hall, to meet them, as far as it was
practicable, at their various halting-places. The
one who first started, after seeing them at two
halting-places, hastened on to Blandford, where he
secured lodgings as near the camp as possible for
himself and his fellow-worker, who was following in
the company of another regiment. I had previously
written to a friend, the rector of a village near
Blandford, to interest him in our undertaking. He
had often preached for us in the Hall, and thus
knew the nature of the work, in which he most
heartily sympathised. His reply was an exceedingly
kind one, and through his help the Missionaries
were comfortably domiciled. Their work was two-

THE AUTUMN MANOEUVRES. 139
fold .-—first, to do all they could for their old
friends in the regiments which had been stationed
at Aldershot, either when meeting them on the line
of march or at Blandford ; secondly, to spread
among the regiments, who were ordered to Aider-
shot after the campaign, the knowledge of the fact
that a Home and a welcome awaited them on their
arrival at the new station. Perhaps a copy of the
little paper of invitation with which they were pro
vided may prove not uninteresting.
" To the Non- Commissioned Officers and Men of the
 Battalion,  Begiment, Boyal  .
"When you come to Aldershot, will you make your
way to the ' Soldiers' Home,' standing close to the East
Cavalry Barracks ? A hearty welcome awaits you there !
"Newspapers, Periodicals, Books, and Games are pro
vided in the Beading and Smoking Booms. Befresh-
ments at moderate charges can be obtained at the Bar.
And the Hall or Class room is opened nightly for Bible
Classes, Gospel Addresses, or Temperance Meetings.
" You are affectionately invited to use this Home as
much as possible. Nothing will give your Friends here
greater pleasure.
" Aldershot Mission Hall, and Soldiers' Home and
Institute. "August, 1872."
I now subjoin the extracts from the Missionaries'
journals and letters : —

140 THE AUTUMN MANOEUVRES.
" Friday, 9th August. — Afternoon, I went to P  to
meet with  B.A., to have a meeting with the
dear men. This battery has just left Aldershot for Bland
ford. I reached the place about six o'clock. At some
thing after seven we had a meeting. I gave the men a tea.
I had C  , B  , S  , H  , and 0  -. They
were very pleased to see me, and our meeting was a
happy one.  seemed much affected. Broke up about
nine, as they start very early in the morning. Saw them
off about half-past five o'clock, and then returned home."
" Salisbury Street, Blandford,
" August 12th, 1872.
" My dear Madam, — I reached Southampton a little
before nine o'clock Saturday night ; but as the train was
so late, C  had gone, and I was not able to find him till
Sunday morning. Found him at the  Hotel. He
was so pleased to see me. He said, ' I waited for you as
long as I could at the station, and was sorry to leave
without seeing you.' He also wishes me to tell you he is
all right, and very happy. I was able to get only C  and
B  to tea with me on Sunday evening. They were very
busy all day, cleaning their harness for inspection ; so as
little could be done among them I went round by the dock,
where I found a poor old Christian preaching. . . . After
he had done, I asked if I might speak. I did so from
Luke x. The afternoon I went to L  Street. Here
there are only low lodgings. Hundreds came out to hear.
After tea,  and I went to the Park, where great num
bers were pleasure seeking. I again stood up for the

THE AUTUMN MANOEUVRES. 14l
dear Lord, and soon had about four or five hundred round
me. C  and two other soldiers stood with me. . . .
This morning I came on to Blandford, and found Mr. V 
had engaged a room for me at Tarrant Monkton, near to
the encampment. The Bev.  C  has just called to
see me, and he is doing all he can to help me in the work.
He is coming down to speak in the room for me, or
do anything he can to help. There are only the 3rd
Dragoon Guards, and 12th Lancers, as whole regiments,
here as yet. Numbers coming in to-morrow.''
The next extract is from the other Missionary,
who started a few days later, to follow the line of
march of another regiment : —
" Basingstoke, August 14th, 1872.
" Dear Madam, — I arrived here quite safe. ... I found a
place close to the station, and soon found B  and P  ,
and I afterwards found D  . . . I had these to tea, and
they were very pleased. I had a long conversation with
p  about salvation. Poor fellow I he seems thirsting
after righteousness, but he wants to feel something. . . .
He said he longed to be a Christian, but he is such a
temper that he often speaks too sharp. I directed him to
Christ, and I hope and trust the Lord will show Him His
righteousness. I saw Col. S  , and he was pleased to
see me. The regiment left here this morning. I undid
my bundle of tracts, and went round amongst them. I
gaw j)  } J  , P  , and B  , who said he would
have a word with P  whenever he got the opportunity.

142 THE AUTUMN MANOEUVRES.
I saw another who had just begun to attend the Hall before
leaving Aldershot. I spoke to him of Christ's salvation.
I told all I spoke to about the meetings at Blandford, and
asked them to try and attend them as often as possible. I
hope to have a better chance with the  in getting
them together. ... I trust the Lord will bless the means
used to keep His children together from the ways of the
world during this time of trial. It will be a hard and sore
battle with them, but I commend them and myself to the
Lord." " Tarrant Monkton, near Blandford,
" August 15th, 1872.
" - . . To the Cavalry Camp it is six miles. I was
there yesterday, and last night I saw J  ,  , K  ,
W— — , M  , Sergt. H  , etc., etc. We had a very
happy little meeting. ... It was a blessed time. ... I
have the coffee machine, and it will be very useful
indeed if I may be allowed to use it at the Camp, as
an order is now out that no soldier may go beyond
a mile from the Camp. So I thought I would make
some coffee in the Camp for the men, if I am allowed ;
that I will hear from Captain D  . We had a happy
meeting last night, just a little away from the tents, M  ,
B  , G  , T  , and H  , and poor C  , who
walked about four miles to the meeting with me. This is
about the distance from one end of the race-course to the
other, and the Artillery are encamped at one end and the
Cavalry at the other. I thought when S  came, I would
go over to the Cavalry, and work a few days, and then work

THE AUTUMN MANOEUVRES. 143
back again' to the Artillery, and S  could work at the
line. The dear men are that pleased to see me, that my
hand stands a poor chance. All wish to be remembered to
you. It is truly refreshing to hear how earnestly you are
pleaded for and the dear Mission Hall at large.
" I don't think we can do better than we are — working
all day with the tracts, and a meeting every night.
"I went with C  to the Cavalry Division on Saturday.
I saw B  and T  . We managed to take a room
for meetings, between the two Cavalry Brigades. We went
out well loaded yesterday, and came home empty. I
must say there is plenty of work. The fields are white to
harvest — the souls are thirsting for food. They snap up
everything. We could make away with all our tracts in
a day or so. The large bundle I brought with me is
nearly all gone. The tracts that C  brought are nearly
all gone. We gave away half the Testaments yesterday :
they were received very eagerly. ... I was at the meet
ing of the Infantry last night. I was so pleased to see
our dear friends in the  still standing steadfast. . . .
After the meeting, I met a man of the  corps, from
¦  , a Christian. He was so pleased to know about the
the meetings, and wished he had known before. . . .
Yesterday, over in the camp of the  , the men were
playing at some game, and there were hundreds of people
standing round. C  asked if they would allow him to
go in the ring for a few minutes, and as soon as he got in,
one of the men took hold of his arm, and said, ' You're the
chap ! I'll back you up ! ' But C  spoke to him of the
Lord Jesus, and he very sotn slunk away then ; and C 

144 THE AUTUMN MANOEUVRES.
began to give away the tracts, books, and Testaments,
and they almost rushed upon him for them.
" We had a good day yesterday — a fine chance of giving
away tracts. There were thousands of people about. I
should think we gave away about 5000 tracts and little
books. At times I was surrounded by the dear soldiers
to get them. ... In the evening we had a good meeting
in the cottage I told you of. Our dear Lord's presence
was very sweet. We sung so hearty, ' I was a wandering
sheep.' I read and spoke from John iii. We meet every
night at half-past seven o'clock. I have no doubt S 
has told you all about his meeting.
" Will you pray for J  ? He got his leg broken on
Saturday through a kick of one of their horses. It was a
very bad break. I did not know it had happened till
Sunday night, and yesterday I went to see him. As I
entered his tent, I found him reading a small Bagster's
Testament. As soon as he saw me his face brightened
up. ... He told me he found peace in prison about six
months ago. He said, ' I had been drinking, and came
in and said and did something to one of the officers, which
was the cause of my imprisonment; and while there I
became wretched about my soul, and in that lonely prison
Jesus spoke peace to my burdened soul, and now in this
hospital tent He is so precious to me.' . . . There was
such a nice spirit of prayer for him in our meeting last
night. ... I have had much real joy in the dear Lord's
work down here, and I feel assured I shall have, through
the many prayers that are being offered up for me.
" The Bev. Mr. C  held the meeting of the Infantry

THE AUTUMN MANOEUVRES. 145
last night. One man of the  regiment seemed deeply
impressed by the Word. Mr. C  has promised to
come over and hold an open-air service on Sunday next,
God willing.
" At the Cavalry Camp to-day I had a very nice conver
sation with Col. S  , who said, ' I am so pleased to hear
of your cottage meetings, although I have not been able to
come myself. My servant told me what happy meetings
you are having. I shall always be glad to see you in my
regiment.' . . . Working through the  Militia.
Tracts were quite new here, and men were very anxious
to get them. I found two sergeants, Christians, when I
got to the meetings. . . . This morning I finished going
through the  Militia, and the afternoon in the Cavalry.
We had a most blessed meeting at night. Twelve of the
dear men were present. Col.  said, 'I am so thank
ful you came down here to work.' "
After more than a fortnight at Blandford, the
two missionaries returned home to Aldershot on
Monday, the 26th. The next day the Northern
Army marched out. Most of the men who had
been attending the Hall during several months
belonged to this division, and special interest was
therefore taken in it. Two of our missionaries were
again sent out, the third remaining for the work
of the Hall. I again cull from the journals and
letters : —
"Went out with the Northern Army to Bramsbill. 10

146 THE AUTUMN MANOEUVRES.
At night we had a good meeting of the men, and a large
number of strangers and villagers. We read and prayed.
It was very happy to see many faces beaming with joy,
while we stood and sung that hymn, ' Oh, happy day.'
Our meeting closed at eight o'clock.
" To-day we marched to Burghfield. At night we had
a meeting in a wood, when a good number came to hear.
Our singing was the means of drawing a great many
strangers." "Froxneld, August 30th, 1872.
" My dear Madam, — I am glad to tell you we have
had a good number at our meetings ; and although the
marchings have been very heavy, yet it has been no
hindrance as yet to men coming together at night about
seven o'clock. We have as many as sixty or seventy a
night to our meeting. Many come round as we strike
up our hymns. Many others stop awhile, and then pass
on. Please to excuse my writing any more now from
under a hedgerow on the Froxfield Common."
" Last night our meeting was the most affecting one I
have witnessed for some time. . . . We invited the dear
men to a tea at 4-30, and here I will give you their
names. . . . We began by singing that precious hymn, 'Oh
eyes that are weary.' Then H  and G  prayed.
Then two or three spoke shortly, so that many might
pray. There was truly a sweet spirit of prayer. You
were much prayed for by the dear men, that God would
use you to the conversion of many precious souls. De

THE AUTUMN MANOEUVRES. 147
madam, it was a time of weeping, yet rejoicing. Dear
M  said, ' If dear Miss D  could just see us
gathered in this happy meeting, how it would rejoice
her.' Our time came to part. Some said, ' Good-bye ; '
others could not. It was so hard to part.
" The Spirit of the Lord was there, and while allusion
was being made to the thought of many of us parting
soon, all seemed to feel it, and some could not refrain
from tears, remembering the sweet fellowship we had
had together at the Mission Hall, and many were the
earnest prayers offered up to God for His blessing on
you, and the work which the Lord had put into your
hands. Thanks were given for blessings received then,
and some of the dear men, who we scarcely hoped to see
many more times, seemed as if they could hardly say
good-bye." Before passing on from this subject, it may be
well to give the following letter, from one who had
found the Lord here four years before, and who
had since, by God's grace, maintained a consistent
Christian walk. He was at Blandford for the
manceuvres, and wrote to give us an account of
the spiritual work going on there. The Mr. C 
mentioned is one of the missionaries.
"Near Blandford, August 21th, 1872.
"... I have no doubt you will be glad to hear of the
welfare of some of the Lord's people here. ... I arrived
on the 8th. Owing to our long stay, we have begun to

148 THE AUTUMN MANOEUVRES.
feel quite at home, and have made the acquaintance of
some dear children of God in the town, who have minis
tered to us both spiritually and temporally. Mr. C 
and H  arrived here about ten days since. I have
seen them several times ; but as they are more engaged
among the Infantry Camps, which are five miles distant,
we are not able to meet so often as could be wished. I
have visited the Christians in the Cavalry Brigade, and
found them all rejoicing in Christ, though all have more
or less felt the evil influence of the circumstances in
which they are placed ; but this has been blessed to our
profit, in giving us to value the opportunities of meeting
together for exhortation and prayer, which have been
arranged nightly. The attendance proves how much
they are valued- ... I have felt much the necessity of
continual fellowship with the Lord amid the surrounding
bustle and strife, as in the world we have tribulation;
but 'I will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is
stayed on Me.' " ' 'Tis only in Thee hiding,
I know my life secure ;
Only in Thee abiding,
The conflict can endure'
" I have been enabled to enjoy the Lord's presence
much of late, which has given me much joy and power
in commending Him to others. . . . Pray for us all, that
we may live in that atmosphere of unbroken communion,
and that we may go on believing, for it seems to me that
he who believes most fights best ..."

;he autumn manoeuvres. 149
Some time after this, a man of another corps,
in speaking of the writer of the above, made use
of some such expressions as the following : — " I
never liked anything better than going round the
rooms with C  . He would go into a room, and
not come out again till he had spoken personally
to every man in it. I never saw any one so bold
as he was, and pleasant with it too."

J50lirmV Difitntltirs.
1 If on my face, for Thy dear name,
Shame and reproach shall be ;
All hail reproach, and welcome shamer
If Thou remember me."

" Then shall He own my worthless name-
Before His Father's face,
And in the New Jerusalem
Appoint my soul a place."

CHAPTER X.
A SOLDIER'S is proverbially not the calling
-*--*- suited to a coward. Men whose " trade " it
is to go with their lives in their hand and to be
willing, at any moment, to face the enemy's bullet
or the thrust of his bayonet, must be endowed,
in no scant measure, with physical courage and
endurance. And though now the soldiers of
Christ have not, as in the early days of the
Church, to follow Him
" Through flood, through fire and sword,"
yet there is abundant need for the prayer of the
Apostles to find its constant echo from their lips,
" And now, Lord, behold their threatenings : and
grant unto Thy servants that with all boldness
they may speak Thy word."
True, the persecution for righteousness' sake does
not often go beyond the cutting word, the sharp
pointed ridicule, or the sneer of contempt ; but
such weapons are just those which the enemy of
souls most constantly uses against young Chris-

154 soldiers' difficulties.
tians, knowing too well their terrible power. To
some sensitive natures it is indeed a struggle to
come out boldly on the Lord's side in face of jesting
and mockery. It would be quite impossible for
me to give the numerous instances of this that have
come before us. Perhaps there is no more accurate
test of the tone of their Christian life than that of
kneeling down by their beds " before the lights are
out." How often has the dreaded scoff kept them
back from witnessing for the Lord ! But if really
His, this is always done sooner or later, and they
have no true peace till they have thus shown their
colours. A man in a Highland regiment once gave us his
experience in this matter: — "I think what had
kept me back was the fear of man. I dared not
kneel down. Then, one night, a corporal of the
Rifles spoke about soldiers being afraid to kneel
down in their rooms. Ah ! I felt that condemned
me, and I must do it that night. I waited about
ever so long, was very slow in taking off my clothes,
and I didn't kneel till the lights were out. There
was no one saw me but the man in the next bed,
but every one in the room knew it pretty soon, and
by next day it was all over the dep6t, ' So-and-
so's turned a blue light!' The worst was the next
night ; generally there's plenty of chatting when
we're getting to bed, but there wasn't a word in

soldiers' difficulties. 155
the whole room then, while they were waiting to
see me do it. But I've not much to complain of
with comrades; it's the evil heart within is the
worst." One evening at a Bible-class the remark was
made that persecution for Christ may take different
forms, sometimes it might be a scornful look.
" Oh, yes ! " said one of the men very cheerfully,
" when I was coming- out with my Bible under my
arm some man in the balcony called out, ' Let us
pray.' "
Quite accidentally, in the course of conversation
one evening with some of the Christian men, the
fact was mentioned that when they had been out
on the manceuvres one of their number was kneel
ing down praying one morning, and a man took a
great piece of wood and struck him on the head
with it. Of course pillows, boots, potatoes, coals,
and occasionally the contents of a can of water,
are veiy ordinary missiles.
It would be easy to multiply instances, and to
tell of much active effort that has been repeatedly
put forth to induce the Christian soldier to deny
Christ, but enough has been said to indicate what
those who will "live godly in Christ Jesus" have
to go through. Nor is it only in the endurance
of these things that the Christians have to show
boldness and determination. When a civilian is

156 soldiers' difficulties.
converted, though he may have much to bear from
his fellow-workmen as long as he is with them,
yet he is not always necessarily in their society.
He can be away from them at meals, and his work
over he goes to his home, and has some hours
free from their persecution and temptations. But
with the soldier this is quite different. Morning,
noon, and night, on parade, on guard, or in his
leisure hours, he is continually in the company of
his godless comrades. There is no escaping from
it. If, as is too often the case, he is the only
Christian in the room, he leads, so to speak, the
life of an alien. From being completely at home
with them, the life and soul perhaps of all the
"goings on" in the room, he suddenly falls into
the place almost of a stranger ; sometimes un
noticed at all, sometimes noticed as the fitting
butt for some scathing irony or some unseemly
jest. Then too there is the continual trial of hearing
the " conversation of the wicked." The swearing
and cursing and blasphemy has proved an inde
scribable torture to many of the followers of the
Lord, and has driven them to their wits' end. One
man said about this, on his removal to another
station, where, alas ! there was no Home where he
could spend his evenings, —
" I used to go to church or chapel whenever I

soldiers' difficulties. 157
could, but when there was no place open, I have
often walked the streets, even in the pouring rain,
rather than go back to my barrack room to hear
the talk."
Another told us how he " stuffed his fingers in
his ears," after going to bed at night, that he
might not hear the awful language.
A Highlander writes from Natal: — "During
the passage out from England the swearing and
sin around, from the time we rose in the morning
till we closed our eyes at night, was something
appalling." Added to this public life and the constant sur
roundings of the world, there is much in the
military training itself which renders the men
more peculiarly susceptible to temptation. Accus
tomed to be continually thought for, instead of
being made to think for himself, all his wants of
daily food and clothing provided for him without
any care of his own, "Tommy Atkins" naturally
falls into a light-hearted careless life, and with the
passions of a man has much of the character of a
child. Moreover, " he does not, as any other work
ing man, stand alone in his individuality, but
becomes a unit in a mass ;" and so he too often
sinks or rises, swayed by the multitude around
him. I have been led to consider all these things
as furnishing perhaps some clue to what has

158 soldiers' difficulties.
always been a painful mystery : " How is it that
so many professing Christians from amongst both
officers and men go back to the world ? " I do not
mean only of those who have been brought to God
through the instrumentality of the work at Aldershot
and the Branch Homes, though we of course have
had some bitter trials in that way ; but I have been
struck through our years of work by the numbers
— I might almost say the innumerable numbers —
who, in answer to the question whether they were
on the Lord's side, have answered with sad and
downcast faces, " Oh, I knew all about that once.
Once I was happy ; once I was serving God ; but
now  " and there was no need for them to fill up
the blank. We knew, alas ! too well what that
" but now " meant.
We think the discipline of the military life and
the surroundings to which I have referred, may
in a great measure account for this. Then of
course, like so many others who have not had the
privilege of careful training in their childhood, they
lack those mental and moral restraints which form
additional bulwarks against the power of temptation
for those who have had more pains bestowed upon
them. Besides all this, they are mostly, when first
converted, very ignorant of their Bibles, — I mean of
even the letter, to say nothing of the entire absence
of any spiritual understanding, and they are also

soldiers' difficulties. 159
constantly placed in circumstances where they can
get little if any help in the way of Christian
teaching or communion. Of course, all these disad
vantages tend to choke the good seed ; and though
there are, thank God, abundant testimonies that He
can and does " keep the feet of His saints," yet at
the same time, as I said before, as I look back on the
experience of the past years, I cannot but be struck
by the numbers of those to whom the work at the
Homes has been blessed — not by bringing them for
the first time to God, but by leading the steps of the
wanderers once more into the paths of peace.

"^utxttxt Cowtirroarca in; Widl-Wnxxj."
" I thank my GOD upon every remembrance of you."

n

CHAPTER XI.
TT would be quite easy to fill two or three chapters
-*- with nothing but histories of backsliders re
stored ; but were I to do so this volume would out
grow all reasonable limits. I would rather say
something on the happier topic of the " patient
continuance in well-doing."
Let me give one illustrative incident. It was in
the year 1868 that one night, on leaving the library,
I noticed a young soldier waiting about, who seemed
anxious to be spoken to. When asked, he said he
was unhappy about his soul, and had got a pass,
hoping he might find someone who would speak to
him. After a short time, I went down to the Read
ing Room, and began to tell him about the love of
Jesus. He listened most attentively and eagerly,
and seemed thoroughly wretched. I proposed prayer.
After I rose from my knees he still remained kneel
ing, and at last burst out, in the most despairing
tone of voice, — " Oh, I have such dreadful secrets."
I asked him to get up, and we would look toge-

164 "patient continuance in well-doing."
ther at some more texts, which might help him.
After some further talk, he said, —
" Oh, I must tell you everything !"
"Well, what is it?"
" I'm not English at all : I'm German."
" Well ? and you ran away from home, I suppose ? "
" Yes, ma'am ; and then I went on board a shipT
and ran away from that, and went on board another,
and ran away from that. And I enlisted in the
 Regiment, and after a bit I deserted from that.
Then I went in another ship to Russia, and there I
was miserable; I went to Malta and gave myself up.
However, the doctor would not pass me, so the
regiment did not claim me. Then I came to Man
chester, where I enlisted in the regiment I am
now in."
All this was said amidst many tears and sighs.
When he had ended, I asked, " Is this all you have
to tell me?"
" Yes, ma'am."
" Well, I have just the same thing to tell you as
I had before, — ' the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth
us from all sin,7 and He can cleanse all these sins
of which you have been telling me, as well as the
sins of your whole life. Only go to Him now, and
put Him to the test."
After a little more talk, without a word from me,
he fell on his knees, and began praying for himself

165

most earnestly, though in very broken words and
accents — just one or two short sentences, when his
tears prevented his going on. I prayed with him
again, and then he seemed able to grasp the truth
of a present salvation even for him, and gave God
thanks. Not long after he was much troubled by a letter
from home, which he brought on himself by send
ing rather a sermon. I asked if he had confessed
his sins to them in the past and asked his father's
forgiveness. " No."
He soon saw that this was the true way of preach
ing at home, and wrote a most humble penitent
letter, to which he received a kind reply.
A few weeks after his conversion he was found
pleading with and for a young man who was in
much spiritual darkness. His remark was, " 
is so troublesome," — by which he meant " troubled,"
— " he can't trust in Jesus."
After some months he was led aside by the sneers
of his comrades and induced to leave off attending
the Hall for a time. He was however repeatedly
sent for, and at last a little note brought him
" home " again, and we fully believed that day also
saw him restored to the joy and rejoicing of his
Heavenly Father's house. When I was speaking
and praying with him, some of his broken utterances

166 "patient continuance in well-doing."
for himself were most touching. There was no diffi
culty in persuading him to return to Jesus ; he was
just longing to go back to Him.
" Take me for Thy child once more," he prayed.
" I am not worthy ; but oh, take me ! When Jesus
died He said it was finished — nothing more to be
done. Oh, let it be finished for me. Satan has
stolen my soul away from Thee, and told me the
earthly pleasures were better than the heavenly
pleasures : but oh, show me that it is not so ! Let
me alway serve Thee, and not turn away when the
fight comes."
He continued stedfast while the regiment was in
Aldershot, and I heard from him once or twice after
wards. Then for some years I quite lost sight of
nim till a few months ago, when the calling out of
the Reserves brought him to the neighbourhood" of
Plymouth. He soon made his way to the Home
there, delighted once more to find himself in such a
place. God has mercifully kept him through all
these years.. He is now married and settled down
with his wife and two children in a little village in
Cornwall, where he is a member of a Church, teacher
in a Sunday-school, and seems to be leading a
consistent life.
Incidental testimony comes to us from various
quarters. Sometimes it is an officer mentioning
one by name who had found the Lord here a year

"patient continuance in well-doing." 167
before, and telling us how a friend in a distant city
had spoken of the ," Aldershot men" as the main
stay of his Bible-class among the troops, particularly
singling out this sergeant as his greatest help. The
mention of another name drew forth the encouraging
news that only three weeks before he had b&en in
Edinburgh on temporary duty, and was still holding
on his way bearing quiet testimony to the reality of
the change which had taken place here four years
before. Another of our old members, who left the
Camp in 1865, writing from the North of India to
a lady connected with the Garus-Wilson Society,
says under date of November 11th, 1872: —
" Captain M  asked one of our men if he was
ready ? He said ' yes,' with a smile. He asked him
'when?' He said, 'Two years ago at Aldershot.'
Soon after he was taken with cholera at Murree,
but God has spared his life, and I hope to see
him soon."
An officer writes : —
" Touching those men of my Battalion who found bless
ing in attending the services at the Mission Hall, I am
happy to say I have not heard of any one whom we had
reason to believe truly converted to God going back to
that world which knows Him not. On the contrary, they
seem to be upheld by the prayers in their behalf vhich
are so often offered by their old Christian friends, and
which I trust will continue to follow their spiritual course

168 "patient continuance in well-doing.
as they accompanied its commencement. Poor  , my
former servant, certainly has been a backslider, by all
accounts, since getting his discharge ; but he was not one
of those who were converted during the stay of the
regiment in Aldershot, having been a religious man long
before the return of his regiment from China in 1862. I
feel no doubt that the Lord will, after showing him the
folly and evil of his heart, bring back the poor wanderer
to the narrow path. Our Christian men remember most
gratefully the privileges and blessings -ef the Aldershot
Mission. To speak of the fruits of the Mission work as
mere transitory excitement can only be charitably ac
counted for by supposing that those who thus describe
them are quite ignorant of what God has wrought by
,<means of your Institution. I was a close watcher of what
went on there during my two years at the camp, and can
testify to the blessing experienced by all ranks since its
commencement. How many more could add their testi
mony to mine in this matter ! "
How many indeed ! As I copied this letter I was
reminded that only the other day a friend who was
lunching here spoke of one of these very men, who
is now employed as a policeman in her village, and
is a centre of much blessing to others. " It does me
good only to look at his face," she added. These
testimonies are well supplemented by the following
extract from a letter written in 1877 from the
Woolwich Home: —

"patient continuance in well-doing." 169
" L  bas been transferred to the District Staff, and
¦J  to another battery, which remains here. They both
left their battery with such good characters. J  got
the cross whips and £3, being the best driver in his battery ;
and their Captain told Col.  that L  was the best
gunner they had, and the Sergeant-Major also said the same.
You no doubt remember them both before they knew the
Lord in years gone by. What a different character their
Captain would then have had to give of them ! "
The " L  " mentioned here is one of the many
instances too of the truth of that promise, " In due
season we shall reap if we faint not." Brought as
we hoped to God about the year 1867, his onward
Christian life was marked by nothing but a succes
sion of falls, owing to the terrible power which
" the drink " had over him. Time after time did he
fall, and time after time was he lifted up out of the
mire a'nd set again on his feet, our only consolation
for a long time being that these awful falls came
gradually at longer and longer intervals, and were
of decreasing duration. At length the power of the
enemy seemed broken, the poor captive set free.
For a year or more before the battery left he was
walking consistently " in the comfort of the Holy
Ghost," and has since held firmly on his way, and
become quite a leader amongst the other men.
As our hearts turn to one and another of those
who through God's goodness are witnessing a goo

170 "patient continuance in well-doing."
confession, we often in spirit press onward to that
time when they will all be together in the Father's
House above, when she who by His special grace
was permitted so successfully to labour for their
sakes shall have the unspeakable joy of presenting
them before God.
Shall not they be her hope, and joy, and crown of
rejoicing " in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ
at His coming ' ?

fymguam WLexh

" I admire those who avoid wine as they would fire, yet fire is
i good creature of God."— Clement of Alexandria.

CHAPTER XII.
QOME few years ago a lady was holding a little
^ service in a room densely crowded with poor
people. For several Sundays she had met them
in this way, and as each Sunday evening came
round, the room grew fuller, and the rapt attention
of the people seemed to deepen. On this particular
Sunday, as she was talking to them, she suddenly
asked, —
" Oh ! what is the hindrance ? What is keeping
you back from the new and blessed life of which I
am telling you ? You are so kind to me, so earnest,
so willing to listen, and yet there is something I am
sure — some great and terrible hindrance — between
you and that better life ! "
There was a moment's pause, while she lifted up
her heart to God that He would] Himself speak to
them. Then she asked again, —
" Oh ! what is keeping you back from these offers
of mercy? "
The answer came with terrible emphasis from one
voice after another in that crowded assembly, —

174 temperance work.
" It's the drink." " Yes, it's the drink— it's all
the drink."
Women wept, and the voices of strong men
shook, as they gave the answer, and they and
their friend went down on their knees to tell
God about their terrible bondage, and to beseech
His power to deliver.
And after nearly seventeen years of this work
amongst soldiers, if the same kind of question were
put to me, if I were asked, " What is the greatest
hindrance you have to. contend with in your
work?" I should answer, without the slightest
hesitation, —
" It's the drink. Yes, it's the drink — it's all the
drink." We cannot but feel strongly on this matter. Every
year's experience only shows us more and more un
mistakably that indulgence in the craving for drink
is the sin which more than any other hinders the
work of God, brings reproach upon His name, de
stroys countless numbers of souls, and continually
saddens and discourages the heart of the worker.
This being the case, it is easily seen what a power
ful adjunct — nay, what an absolute necessity, the
temperance work is in connection with the Homes.
It is an acknowledged fact that drunkenness is
the curse of the British army. Put away drunken
ness, and you would put away nine-tenths at least of

TEMPERANCE WORK. 175
all the crime in the Service ; we might almost go
farther, and say all the crime. It is not long since
an officer commanding a battery said, with marked
emphasis, —
" If it were not for the drink there would be no
crime at all in my battery."
And this was not the testimony of a teetotaler.
It certainly seems a pity he should not become one,
if it were only for the sake of the example to his
men. I think perhaps nothing would give a plainer
proof of , the hindrance the drink is than just
transcribing from the old reports of this Mission
the various incidental remarks made on the sub
ject, made of course without the smallest idea of
their ever being used for such a purpose.
" He had been converted in India several years before,
but on his return home he fell under the power of his
old enemy drink, and for many months led a life of terrible
sin and wretchedness."
" She had been dreadfully given to drink."
"She drove her husband almost desperate, and he
began to drink."
" He had been ten years in the service, drinking hard
all the time ; and though he had taken it into his head to
sign there was about him the excitability of a man who
is habitually under the influence of drink."
" I have great cause to bless the day I signed the pledge.

176 TEMPERANCE WORK.
I often fear that had I continued to drink, I, like many
others, might have fallen away, and become a curse to
society, or filled a drunkard's grave."
"Poor fellow! It was the old story of having tried
hard many times to be better by leaving off the drink'
which had been as usual the great stumbling-block.''
" He had been very unsteady, drunkenness and insu
bordination continually getting him into the military
prison." " Under the influence of drink he stole something in the-
town, was imprisoned by the civil power, and since he had
been out had been going on the same. This night he was-
drinking in a public-house where he had spent much, and
having spent his last penny, they would give him none."
" ' I had been drinking, and came in and said and did
something to one of the officers, which was the cause of
my imprisonment.' "
" The first was written by one who ten years ago came
into the Hall intoxicated to sign the pledge."
" Distributed tracts among the people and soldiers con
gregated around Edmond's Menagerie. One told me that
that week he had spent .£8 in drink. In three weeks he
had consumed all his savings."
" The husband seems to have been a great drinker, and
had been tramping about the country. The daughter's
husband had also been a hard drinker, and a very bad
husband."

TEMPERANCE WORK. 177
" He was so depressed, and could take no pleasure in
anything. I daresay it is partly physical, though he is
not aware of it. So hard a drinker as he was before his
conversion must feel the effects sometimes."
" He was spoken to and prayed with many times ;
made many resolutions, and seemed very wretched ; but
was so tied and bound with the chain of sin that again
and again he fell back into the old habits of drinking."
" T  came to say there was a rifleman in great trouble,
not very sober, and wanting to sign the pledge. He had
been drinking in the canteen. . . . While the regiment
was abroad, he had during a drunken fit deserted and
joined the Fenians. . . . He left off drinking for a time.
However, he took to it again, and kept on till this
evening." " Corporal D  writes : ' I saw the awful amount of
crime that was day by day committed by the men, and
the punishment they were undergoing, through that
accursed enemy drink.' "
" He said, ' Drinking was his great temptation.' "
"He was at length induced to come up and sign the
pledge ; and though not perfectly sober that first evening,
yet, by God's preventing grace, be held to his promise."
" He says he has been so miserable, and tried to drown
it in drink." 12

178 TEMPERANCE WORK.
" There's a little room near his office where he used to
go when he had been drinking."
" W. B., that great drunkard ! "
"There was a great change in him; he had left off
drinking." " After a grievous fall he had come back, and for four
teen months led a Christian life, thanking God every day
for having taken away all taste for drink, till one sad day
he thought he could trust himself to take a glass of beer.
For a week he kept to that ; then the old longing revived,
and he fell lower and lower."
" Another of F  's special interests was C  . He
had professed to surrender to God, but, alas ! the drink
had again and again overcome him."
" C  was full of joy over an answer to prayer for a

comrade who was much tempted to drink."
" He had been on guard, and the men had asked him
to lend them money, and had spent it in drink."
' ' More than once has he been awakened after one of
his drunken frolics by the pleading tones of his mother's
voice, as, kneeling by his bedside, she besought with
agony for the soul of her son."
" Then I just tried to forget it all, and went to the
drink." " All the next day he drank."

TEMPERANCE WORK. 179
" He said he had been drinking all the week, and even
then was not perfectly sober. He kept his promise, and
seemed going on steadily, but we soon heard he had again
given way to drink. For two months this terrible
struggle continued, — some days sober, and then returning
to the old sin ; then again a temporary amendment, but
to fall deeper and deeper. At length, one day, when he
was roaming about in a state of utter misery and wretched
ness, he said to himself, 'I have heard all about this
peace that is to be had by believing ; and if it is to be
had, I won't leave this field till I get it ; ' and he fell on
his knees by the side of a hedge and prayed in an agony
for a very long time. At last, he said, it seemed to him he
heard someone saying the word ' Peace ' out loud, and
from that moment his soul was filled with joy, and he
praised the Lord for having saved him. At his hands the
Kingdom of Heaven suffered violence, and he took it by
force. He went down to the Home early the next Sunday,
morning to tell of his deliverance from the power of sin
and his joy in the Lord. The mats which he used to
make to sell at the public-houses for drink, he now makes
to sell to buy clothes for his children."
" He had been to the meeting, and he had not been
quite sober. ... A very bitter earthly trial had thrown
him into such depths of sorrow that he took to drinking."
If our memories would but serve us, I might
multiply these cases a hundredfold. It is compa
ratively rare to meet with any of the men who have

180 TEMPERANCE WORK.
not been more or less under the influence of drink.
Of course there are exceptions; but this is true of
the majority.
I remember a farrier sergeant of Artillery who
came into the Hall years ago to sign the pledge,
telling me he had been in the habit of spending as
much as £70 a year in drink.
Another told me how twice or three times over
his parents had sent him the money to purchase his
discharge. Each time he spent it all in drink, till
at last his poor mother died of a broken heart.
Speaking of his past life, an old marine said to
me one day, —
" Oh, miss, I cannot tell you what the drink did
for me; how it dragged me and pulled me down.
Well, there, miss, I could not tell you the things
that I did. I remember once me and five others
had just joined a new ship. We had got our
new kits and all, and then we got leave and came
ashore. We drank and drank till we had drunk
away all our money, and then we begun on our kits,
and we drank all the clothes, everything we had,
boots and socks and all, till we had nothing but just
the one shirt and trousers we stood in. Of course
we were over our time, and there were bills out for
us, and a reward to anyone who would take us back
to the ship. So we promised a comrade we would
give ourselves up to him if he would give us half

TEMPERANCE WORK. 181
the money beforehand, which he did, and we all
drank it together, and then went back to the ship.
" Ah, miss," he said not long ago, " I was such
a drunkard. I was too bad even for the public-
houses. The landlord of the ' George' told me once
that he'd forgive me all my score if I'd never come
into the place again."
With reference to this subject, a friend supplies
me with the following : —
" Only during the last few months we have been
struggling in one single Home — it seems almost vainly —
with four cases in which the love of drink amounts
to a perfect passion. The first was a trumpeter, a
young man of five or six-and-twenty, naturally nervous
and excitable to an unusual degree, but apparently pretty
steady till a year or two ago, when in his despair at
the death of the young woman to whom he was en
gaged, he took to drinking ; he really seems at times
reduced to a condition of perfect childishness — unable
to keep away from the Home, and occasionally remain
ing steady for a week or two, and then falling again
into a fit of headlong drinking. A second has seen
nearly twenty years' service, drinking heavily the greater
part of the time. With him it is not ' the company,'
but sheer craving for ' the drink ' itself. He told me
that he would go away by himself with a bottle of
whiskey, and pour down glass after glass as hard as
he could drink it, and keep this on at intervals for
days. At one time it seemed as though there were

182 TEMPERANCE WORK.
really hope for him, and that he had got a glimpse of the
idea that Christ could save him even from this ; but,
alas ! he was drawn down again, and I fear continues
in much the same state. Another was also an old
soldier. In India many years ago he made a profes
sion, but never gave up the moderate use of intoxicants,
and in a period of spiritual darkness was led into the
habit of drinking to excess, till every fibre of manliness
and courage seems sodden out of him. The fourth was
quite a young soldier, the son of most loving and de
voted Christian parents, moving in a superior social
position. Drink brought him into the ranks, and drink
pursues him there with a relentless vigour. For a few
weeks he appeared to have gained the victory, truly,
we believe, through the power of Christ. Then he was
just induced to touch that fatal ' one glass,' and from
that moment it has only been downward and downward.
So far as I am able to judge, I am convinced that,
humanly speaking, each of these four men might now
have been a saved soul, had it not been for the deadly
power of the drink. It often seemed as though we
could not keep them sober long enough for them to
'come to themselves' and 'come to their Father.' I
never wonder when I hear the men speak of it as 'the
cursed drink ! ' I have never seen cases in which there
seemed a greater shrinking from its bondage, and crav
ing, almost agonizing, for deliverance, than in these
four ; and yet they are still held in its pitiless grasp."
I have paused here to read over a correspond-

TEMPERANCE WORK. 183
ence which was carried on for three years with one
who went through a most awful struggle with
this same demon, drink. Brought up by an earnest
godly father, himself a man of most superior
mind and education, the early subject of the
strivings of the Holy Spirit, aud apparently led
to rest in Christ, the drink exercised a fatal hold
over him. The record of his repeated falls and
agonizing straining after deliverance we can never
forget ; the piteousness of his sorrow, the deep
shame of his contrition, intermingled with fitful
gleams of again seeing the Saviour's face and
being restored to Him, make up a spiritual history
too painful to contemplate. After a while he
drew himself entirely from the influence of the
Home, and for the last six years I have not
heard from him, and know not if he is alive or
dead. We still ask God, if he yet lives, to seek
and to save him, and that He would in His
great goodness break the iron chain which binds
him so relentlessly.
I think enough has been said to give a most
emphatic answer to the question, " Is there not
a cause ? "
The means by which we seek to promote total
abstinence at the Hall (and when I speak of the
work at the Hall I include the Branch Homes,
as they are all worked on precisely the same

184 TEMPERANCE WORK.
plan) are, first, by means of the refreshment bar,
where the soldiers and working men can get tea,
coffee, cocoa, and other non-intoxicating drinks,
with all kinds of refreshments, at a moderate cost.
Secondly, by the more direct efforts of the Total
Abstinence Society, which was established soon
after the opening of the Hall in 1863. In the
report for 1864, my mother said — •
" The Temperance Association connected with the
Institution has 500 members. Both its President and
Vice-President are Christian officers in the camp. And
it is a cheering fact that many of the men, after joining
the Association, pass on at once to our Bible Classes."
The working of the Society has been much on
the same basis ever since, only from the constant
moves in camp it is liable to continual changes
of the committee. During the last year we have
had four different Presidents in the Aldershot
Home. Of course this has been rather excep
tional, but it will serve to illustrate the ever-
varying nature of the working staff, and give some
idea of the difficulties with which we have to
contend. The committee, as far as possible, con
sists of a man from each regiment in camp, and
one civilian member. Each has his own book,
in which are entered the names of all from his
regiment who sign the pledge, over whom he is

TEMPERANCE WORK. 185
expected to watch, by bringing them to the
meetings, or trying to recall them to their allegi
ance to the Society when they have unhappily
been induced to break the pledge. At our weekly
committee-meeting, we generally have a sort of
roll-call, with, I am afraid, very often a sadly
long list of "wounded " and "missing." We have
a general meeting every Thursday, into which we
introduce as much variety as possible. The first
Thursday in each month there is a tea party, —
admission by 6d. tickets. During the last five
months the numbers at these tea parties have
varied in the different Homes from 150 to 430.
The tea is followed by a lecture on the subject of
Total Abstinence. Then we have lectures with
dissolving views, and lectures with chemical ex
periments. On another Thursday we dispense with
a lecturer altogether, and the men themselves
speak or recite or read or give us part songs, all
bearing on the same subject. We find variety in
the menu gives the greatest chance of its being
popular. The men can sign whenever they like. Most
days we have one or more signatures, but Thurs
day evenings are our great recruiting times. We
have lately introduced a new element into the
Society, in the shape of a beautiful little medal,
which has given immense satisfaction to those

186 TEMPERANCE WORK.
who have become possessed of it. It will also be
a fresh impetus to the cause, by inducing many
others, not only to join our ranks, but also to
keep their promise, as the medal is only won
after a year's victorious campaign.
Since the beginning of the year we have, in
the mother Home alone, taken nearly 500 signa
tures. A great number of these break, — a much
larger proportion, I fear, than was formerly the case,
— but there is always a residuum left who con
tinue faithful. Even of those who do break many
soon sign again ; if they do not at once renew
their pledge, or perhaps never do so, they are
mostly, I think, benefited to a certain degree by
having signed. It makes a point to which they
can look back ; and who can tell but that in
years to come, perhaps when far away from any
of the Homes, they may be led to begin again?
I cannot forbear giving another short extract
from one of the reports which bears upon this
subject. " In glancing through the pages of the pledge-book, we
could not but feel that there was almost a sacredness
about some of those blotted signatures, in some cases the
sign of the first effort to turn heavenward ; in others, almost
the earliest act of a soul born of God, and from that
moment determined ' to depart from iniquity.' It was
intensely interesting to read the date affixed to a name,

TEMPERANCE WORK. 187
and then hear the remark, ' Ah ! it was two days after
that he came to the Lord ; ' and then of another, ' Just a
week afterwards he found peace ; ' again, on the other
hand, ' That was the next day, or three days after he
found Christ.' There is a strange connection between
the two, and we bless God for the simple instrumentality
which has been so often signed with the seal of His
approval. Of course, of those who have taken the pledge
a part have fallen, some of whom have never yet returned
to the ranks of total abstinence ; others again have in
this way first learned the secret of their own weakness
and sinfulness, and have come back to ' try again,' and in
many cases to find Him ' without whom nothing is strong,
nothing is holy.' "
That the men themselves feel their drinking
habits to be the greatest enemy in their way is
abundantly proved by the fact of the numbers who,
the moment they wish to be better, sign the pledge
as the first step in their desired reformation.
And now as to the result of all this Temperance
Work ? I think I may unhesitatingly say, and I
feel sure all my fellow-workers in this Mission
would confirm the statement, that out of the
hundreds of men who we trust have been con
verted to God, almost all have first come to the
Homes to sign the pledge.
It is for this reason that we value the
Temperance pledge.

188 TEMPERANCE WORK.
How thankfully, in looking over the terrible drink
record in the earlier part of this chapter, have I
remembered that of most of those I may now say,
" And such were some of you ; but ye are washed,
but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name
of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.'.'

gt^iings anir Spinas.
" Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another.'

CHAPTER XIII.
T I iHE Homes are essentially so bound up with
-*- " meetings " that one short chapter must be
devoted to that topic. I hardly know where to
commence, they are so many and various.
Perhaps Monday morning will start us best on
the round, as that begins with one for " prayer,"
and much of the blessing that falls on us through
the week doubtless has its rise in the little room
where the workers meet together to " put Him in
remembrance." It was after one of these little Monday morning
gatherings that the missionary, as my readers will
remember, volunteered for Zululand ; and there,
Monday by Monday, he is continually thought of.
The half-hour over, the workers scatter to their
different occupations, many of them to reassemble
at two o'clock, or a little after, the same day, when
the "mothers' meeting " stops the way, — "stops the
way" it often does literally, as the women crowd
into the sitting-room, which for the time being is

192 meetings and services.
turned into "the shop," lending library, and "receipt
of custom." Here they get their orders for calico,
flannel, bedding, boots, coals, etc., etc., change their
books, and pay in their pence, or shillings, as the
case may be. The mothers' meeting goes on till four
o'clock, and is supplemented on the first Monday in
each month by the mothers' prayer-meeting. The
mothers gone, there is a little breathing-space till
six o'clock, and we have no more " meetings " that
day till half-past seven, when the ringing of the bell
warns us that the nightly address is going to begin.
Two points are specially noticeable at these gather
ings, even to a casual observer, — the continual sight
of the same faces night after night, and the very
marked attention of the audience. I think almost
everyone who has ever addressed them — and certainly
many scores have done so — has been struck by this
latter point.
We are sometimes questioned as to the necessity
or even advisability of this daily gathering ; but
the longer we go on in the work and the more
experience we can gather from each of our Branch
Homes, the more we feel convinced of the wisdom
God gave to the founder of this Mission in leading
her to provide this nightly means of grace for the
men. It must never be forgotten that the sur
roundings of the soldier are not such as to foster
his spiritual life. On the contrary, the whole current

MEETINGS AND SERVICES. 193
of the stream sets earthwards. He has neither
time nor place in barracks for quiet Bible-reading
and prayer; so that the one short hour set apart for
this in the " Home," — the evening family prayers,
as it were, — are peculiarly precious seasons to his
soul. " I should not like it if there was any less
of the Bible," said a cavalry man one night; "we
seem to want all we can get of it." Then too
it is desirable that there should always be some
directly spiritual teaching to which any stranger
may at once be invited, as a night never passes
without one or more fresh ones dropping in. There
is no compulsion in the attendance at the class,
which is held in a room set aside for the purpose, so
that their games and reading are not interfered with.
A bell rings at half-past seven; one of the mission
aries announces that it is time for the meeting, and
then whoever chooses adjourns to the class-room.
On Monday night, after the Bible-class, there is
yet a fourth meeting, — a regimental prayer-meeting ,
at the mother Home it is for the cavalry, where
the Christians of the cavalry brigade meet to ask
God's blessing on themselves and their unconverted
comrades. These little "regimental prayer-meetings" were
established in January 1867. I quote from my
mother's report for that year. Referring to them,
it says : — lo

194 MEETINGS AND SERVICES.
" They have proved a means of incalculable blessing to
the Christian men, many of whom look forward to what
they call 'our evening' with especial pleasure. The
numbers present on each occasion necessarily vary with
circumstances. Sometimes no more than two of a regi
ment are able to be at the Hall on their appointed
evening ; at other times so many as ten or twelve
assemble. We have heard of one cavalry soldier who
found peace during one of these meetings ; but it is an
exceptional case when any who are themselves uncon
verted thus join in bringing their comrades before God,
which is the special object of these gatherings. The
brotherly love which we are so deeply anxious should
prevail in the Hall appears to be fostered by these
regimental meetings. The men seem to be drawn one to
another, as they sit together in a place which to many
of them is filled with sacred associations, and talk over
the disappointments or encouragements of another week ;
and then kneel and ' tell Jesus both what they have done
and what they have taught,' for almost every one of
them is earnest about the soul of another. Three or four
pray, as the time allows ; it is most touching to hear their
intercessions for others, — sometimes even by name, —
for ' our officers,' and ' our ladies,' the wives and the
children, for any who have wronged them, or manifested
opposition, for the seeking ones, or for any of the little
praying band who may be on furlough, or absent from any
other cause. ' 0 Lord, remember V  ,' was the prayer
one evening for one who was on duty, ' and while he is
guarding others, do Thou guard him.' Often too there

MEETINGS AND SERVICES. 195
are the lowliest confessions of sin and unfaithfulness, and
the most ardent pleadings after conformity to the will of
God, and more love to Jesus and knowledge of Him.
We trace much blessing to the defmiteness in prayer,
which might be unsuited to the more public meetings.
At the first of these little gatherings ever held, only two
were present. The next week another, for whom they
had prayed as a backslider, was with them, giving thanks
for his restoration to the fold of God; and each succeeding
week the Lord added to their number, until there was
quite a little company in that regiment, of whom there
was reason to hope that they had taken service under
the banner of Christ."
Tuesday, there are no gatherings all day, but the
Bible-class again meets at 7-30, and a regimental
prayer-meeting is held afterwards for some of the
infantry regiments.
Sometimes, lately, the Tuesday evenings have
been varied by what the men call a " Social Tea,"
—just a gathering of a few of the Christian members
where they can enjoy happy intercourse together
round the tea-table. They take it by turns to
invite half-a-dozen comrades who have not yet
decided for Christ, in the hope that this may be the
means of drawing them more to the Home, where
they may hear further of Him. But I think,- on
the whole, these little parties are mostly a time of
pleasure and refreshment to the Christian men.

196 MEETINGS AND SERVICES.
Tea over, singing is the order of the day, one hymn
after another being quickly asked for. Sometimes
a very short address of about ten minutes is given,
and we always close with prayer. I should add
that the men pay ninepence each for this tea party,
as everything has to be of most superior quality —
tea and butter and marmalade and jam and cake,
all of the best !
Wednesday, we have the Band of Hope from 5-30
till 7 p.m., an hour-and-a-half, which, as with all
other work for children, taxes our energies to the
utmost. Oh the Babel of little voices while they
are gathering, and the din that the riotous footsteps
make at the end as they patter down the stairs and
emerge once more into freedom and liberty of limb
and lung outside !
Half-an-hour's interval, and then the class-room
is once more in requisition for the nightly gathering.
On Thursday at 7-30 we have our temperance
meeting, followed by signing the pledge, taking
members' cards, paying subscriptions, etc. There is
a great deal of business doing that night, and the
men linger about in groups, chatting together, often
persuading some lingerer to come to the point, and
go up to the front and enter his name. It is a night
when they have more time to spare than usual, as
many of them are "on pass" for the believers'
meeting;.

MEETINGS AND SERVICES. 197
This little meeting was begun by my mother to
draw the young converts together, and also to try
and give them teaching suited to those who have
enlisted under Christ's banner, the nightly Bible-
classes partaking more of the character of addresses
for preaching the Gospel. Yery happy times have
been passed together on these Thursday evenings,
and many a young soldier of the Cross has " come
weary, and refreshed himself there."
Friday there is again the nightly meeting.
followed by the Committee-meeting of the Total
Abstinence Society. One Friday in the month, that
before the tea-party, the Committee meets for busi
ness ; the other gatherings are mostly for prayer.
Saturday afternoon at 4*30 there is a drawing-
room meeting. This has been held from the very
first for the officers and their families. During my
mother's life she usually gave the address herself,
as she did also at the nightly meetings for the men.
Since her death the different friends who kindly
come for the, Sunday services speak at this meeting,
which has been a great means of refreshment and
strengthening to many.
The usual evening meeting at 7-30 on Saturday
is one for prayer to seek a blessing on the services
of the next day.
The regimental prayer-meeting this evening is for
the Engineers and Artillery and Army Service Corps.

198 MEETINGS AND SERVICES.
On Sundays our meetings consist of a short one
from three to four in the afternoon, after which
some of the men sing hymns for an hour. Then
before the evening service a few of them meet
together again for prayer, often going forth from
this little gathering with tracts and invitations to
draw outsiders to the Hall. The evening service is
at 7-15, and is over by 8-30, but is followed again
by a prayer-meeting.
Thus, through all the circle of the clays, prayer is
continually ascending.
So much for the ordinary daily meetings. Now
for a few words about our other gatherings.
First, as to size, comes the Picnic, which in my
dear mother's lifetime had become an annual insti
tution. Since her death in 1871 we have been only
able to have it twice ; but as it was almost one of
her last wishes that it should be continued, I still
hope to have it whenever it is at all practicable. It
is always one of the brightest days of the year to
the men and women, — one to which they look back
with very great delight.
A friend who was present thus describes one held
during Mrs. Daniell's lifetime : —
"You wanted me to tell you something about the
picnic. It was such a bright beautiful day, and one
would think none of those who were there will ever
forget it. This year again Captain Mangles placed Poyle

ENTRANCE PORCH OF THE SOLDIERS HOME AND INSTITUTE, ALDERSHOT. [Page 199.

MEETINGS AND SERVICES. 199
Park at Mrs. DanielFs disposal for the day in the most
liberal manner, kindly giving every assistance in his
power. Two or three days before, we had driven over to
reconnoitre ; and though the shady field where they had
camped once before was now ' up ' for hay, we found
another very pleasant spot, under and around a large
clump of trees, just below the hill-side, which afterwards
made a capital platform for the addresses. There was
considerable difficulty about the arrangements for the hot
water, the bailiffs house, where it was thought that it
could be boiled, being so far away that it seemed hopeless
that it should be even warm by the time it reached the
ground ; eventually everything was smoothed by the kind
loan for the day of a camp-boiler belonging to the Con
trol Department, which was driven over early in the
morning, with its own staff of men and horses, and
worked admirably. All the other arrangements w^re
entrusted to Corporal G  , one of our old members,
who came on leave from Woolwich for some days, and
was quite invaluable. I could not pretend to say what
the quantities of tea, sugar, cake, bread, jam, butter, and
ginger-beer were ; I only know that when we got to the
Park on the day and ventured to look at the supplies
carefully stored within the sacred enclosure under the
trees, they seemed almost unlimited ; but I believe that
not much was brought home again.
" Several of the regular attendants at the Hall— the
' household troops,' as they like to call themselves — got
passes for the day, and almost as soon as we were out of
our beds, we became conscious that they were in the

200 .MEETINGS AND SERVICES.
house. In due time they came up to prayers, and im
mediately afterwards these pioneers effected their start —
a very merry one — in a cart so fully laden that several of
them were obliged to walk. Then the Hall resigned itself
for a few hours to quietness, and the preparation of blue
and white satin rosettes, for which the waiters had impor
tuned so late in the day that some were only finished in
the carriage, on our way to Poyle Park.
" Long before the hour for starting, groups began to
assemble on the green ; at first a little shyly, but by the
time the conveyances arrived, there was quite a large
crowd. As usual, Mr. A  kindly lent some waggons;
and Col. G  was good enough to send several military
train carts, and two beautiful new ambulance waggons,
with springs and curtains. Of course there was a great
bustle at starting, wonders of packing and arrangement,
but at last we were all under weigh, several friends kindly
taking up the party from the Hall, or going round by the
stations to meet the guests who were coming from town.
Everything looked so gay and bright when we reached
the Park ; flags flying from the trees, and the ground
dotted over with the variety of colour which one could
not see at any other than a soldiers' picnic. Whilst
waiting for tea, a good deal of singing went on. One
very zealous group, provided with hymn-books, formed a
nucleus, about which a large number gathered, joining in
as their memories or the simplicity of the words served
them ; and outside again were the fluctuating stragglers
who knew nothing about ' singing the Lord's song in a
strange land,' and merely strolled up to listen. There

MEETINGS AND SERVICES. 201
was a great deal of quiet merriment going on when the
tea came round, carried in huge cans by the voluntary
waiters to those who ' sat in companies upon the green
grass ; ' and one could not but feel that He whose presence
made the blessedness of that feast was at ours too, for
there were so many of His workers there, only watching
for something to do for Him. As we went about, and
came here or there upon some of these, walking or stand
ing in earnest talk, we could only turn quickly aside with
a prayer, knowing that He was being lifted up who should
perhaps draw some dying soul to Him. It was very sweet
to feel how this hidden ministry adorned and beautified
the outward loveliness. For myself, I had some very
pleasant little talks, — recognitions of men I had last seen
at  , come to find a second home here, and of poor
little Mrs.  , who had walked all the way from the
North Camp, having mistaken the hour at which the
waggons were to leave. But we felt pretty sure that her
long journey had not been in vain. Late in the evening,
she came to tell me tearfully that she saw things now as
she had never seen them before, and I think the light
which broke then has been shining ever since. After a
while we became conscious of the setting in of the tide
towards a natural terrace in the hill-side, where the
speakers stood, with about half of us grouped in a loose
semicircle in front, and the other half packed among the
low gnarled trees which fringed the bank a little above.
You can't think what a pretty sight it was, with the falling
sun lighting up the bright uniforms and listening faces ;
and then the sloping Park, and the shadowy trees with

202 MEETINGS AND SERVICES.
the old white house among them, and the soft dreamy
blue distance, cut short at last by the straight outlines
of the Camp hills, by which mind, as well as eye, was
brought up sharply as we remembered all that lay beyond
them, and thought of the sore conflict which any must
wage who would there ' live godly in Christ Jesus.' One
just felt then how everything melted away beside the
mighty events which were transacting in the few hundred
feet around, where the souls for whom Christ died might
be receiving or rejecting the Word which should judge
them in the last day. There were several hymns and
prayers and addresses — very simple and suited to the
occasion — from Major Webber Smith, Capt. Moreton, and
Lord Badstock. Then, directly these were over, the
business of packing up and leaving began. The carriage
in which we were was one of the last, and for a long time
in the narrow roads we had to go at a foot's pace behind
the heavier part of the cavalcade (sixteen waggons, I
think) , catching snatches of hymns as they came back to
us from one or other of the carts. Then, as we got space,
and drove quickly by, it was pleasant to catch sight of the
faces of so many of the poor hard-working mothers, enjoy
ing to the very last their rare holiday."
And then, besides the picnic, we have other social
gatherings, amongst which are a free tea-party on
"boxing night," and another on Good Friday, to
which the members of the Institute, with their
wives, and the members of the mothers' meetings,
with their husbands, are invited. The tables cleared,

MEETINGS AND SERVICES. 203
a lecture, with dissolving views, or a Gospel address,
always follows. There is also the children's party,
with its Christmas-tree or bran-pie, and plenty of
games, in which it would be hard to say whether the
teachers or the children take most pleasure.
One year it occurred to two of the men that it
woulol be a fitting token of their gratitude to give a
tea-party themselves on " boxing day." The idea
was most cordially received, and an elaborate system
of subscriptions, kept at work for some weeks,
resulted in their issuing tickets to two hundred,
including a good number of officers and ladies
interested in the Mission. The Hall was beautifully
decorated with flags and evergreens, and after the
tea an exquisitely-bound Bible was presented to me,
subscribed for by about forty soldiers. Several
hymns, especially adapted for the occasion, had
been kindly written by friends at a distance, and
were sung during the evening ; but the chief point
of interest was a beautiful series of dissolving views,
illustrative of Bunyan's matchless " Pilgrim's Pro
gress." It seems to have been a time of much
enjoyment, only dashed by the sad blank made by
Mrs. Daniell's absence.
Another feature of the work is the occasional
recurrence of a week or ten days' special services,
carried on either by one individual or by various
speakers. For some years we commemorated in

2C4 MEETINGS AND SERVICES.
this way the laying of the foundation stone and the
opening of the Hall. I should here like to say that,
in common, I believe, with many other workers, we
increasingly apprehend the value of these sustained
services. It may be interesting for me to mention, in closing
this chapter, that we think that the ordinary routine
of one year's meetings for adults, at the Aldershot
Home alone, would comprise above 31,000 different
attendances. This makes no account of the extra
ordinary numbers who come on special occasions,
and we have carefully placed our averages at a low
figure.

"@ff t\z Storjtlj."

CHAPTER XIV.
"j^TO lodgings— no rations — no fire — no light :
-jL^ that is what "off the strength" means to
every soldier's wife. If you are "on the strength,"
all these necessaries of existence are provided for
you by Government ; if not, you must provide them
for yourself out of what your husband can give you
from his pay, which varies in the case of a private
from four and sixpence to ten shillings per week.
As rent is exceedingly high in Aldershot and in
most garrison towns, it will be evident to the most
casual observer that the home of a soldier and his
wife, under these circumstances, cannot well be of
the most luxurious description. To .say that they
are miserably poor hardly gives a fair picture of
their sufferings. The marvel is how they contrive
to live at all — how they keep body and soul together
even when there is only the wife to think of ; but
if, as is often the case, there are one, two, three, and
sometimes four little hungry clamouring mouths
waiting to be filled, the marvel becomes a greater
marVel still.

208 "off the strength."
When Mrs. Daniell first came to Aldershot, the
terrible distress amongst the women stirred her
feeling heart to its very depths. In her first report,
issued the beginning of 1864, she writes : —
" Domiciliary work is diligently carried on by both the
missionary and the two Bible-women, and many a sad
case of heart-rending destitution has this house-to-house
visitation brought to light — a destitution that at times
seems appalling from the difficulty of dealing with it.
One poor woman was found only the other day with a
new-born infant, with nothing to cover it, and herself,
poor creature ! with only one torn garment just over her
shoulders, without nourishment, and owing a large sum
for rent."
But my mother was not content with mere
pity. She immediately set to work to see what
could be done to relieve their dire necessities. For
this purpose she started a mothers' meeting and
sewing classes. To the former a club is attached,
to which the women pay in, according to their
means, by weekly instalments, for the purchase of
any article of ready-made clothing, boots, shoes,
hosiery, bedding, or coals, — a bonus of twopence on
each shilling being given.
The sewing classes were established first of all
for the purpose of teaching the poorer members of
the meeting to work, and then of giving them
needlework to do at their own homes, thus adding

"OFF THE STRENGTH." 209
some little trifle to their weekly pittance. These
classes were carried on for some time, but were, a
few years before my mother's death, merged into the
Aldershot Mission Hall Soldiers' Wife Aid Society.
The women who belong to our mothers' meeting are
thus still helped by giving them needlework to do
at their own homes, the making of each article, for
which very good remuneration is given, being paid
for as soon as it is finished. In this way they earn
generally from a shilling to three or four shillings per
week, which is of course an immense boon to them.
Though I have said above that the woman's
income from her husband varies from four and six
pence to ten shillings per week, I must rather qualify
that statement, as it often so happens that for a time
her receipts from that quarter are nil. I have only
just this morning been sending relief to a woman, in
answer to the pleadings of one of the Bible- women.
"She is very far from well, ma'am, and last
week when her husband came home not one penny
did he bring her. He has been getting less pay
lately, having had to give up his office work and
go ball-firing, and then he was put under stoppages
for boots, or some other things he was obliged to
get, so the poor creature this morning had not a
morsel of fire, nor a bit of bread in the house."
Nor is this hy any means a solitary instance.
The men are naturally every now and again " under
14

210 "off the strength."
stoppages" for different articles of clothing, when
all the pay that they could draw would be a few
pence daily. This is all very well for a single man,
but it entails dreadful suffering when he is married,
and has a wife and family to provide for. Of
course the mistake is for him to marry under such
circumstances, but much as we may blame such a
want of consideration, it does not alter the facts of
the case, and we have unfortunately to deal with
things as they are — not as we should like them to be.
Even when there is not a vacancy for another
woman " on the strength," or a man may not have
served long enough to be entitled to that privilege
for his wife, any well-conducted soldier can always
in his turn get permission to marry ; and when
"married with leave," though the advantages of
free quarters, including coal and light, cannot be
accorded them, yet the man is often allowed to take
his "rations" home, which "rations" with a little
aid from the wife's culinary powers is enough for
two. There is too always the hope that the wife
may be taken " on the strength." Unfortunately
however the men frequently do not care even to
obtain this permission ; hence the large number
of women " off the strength." Of late years the
Government authorities have afforded great help
to these women by giving them the regimental
shirts to make ; many of the officers' wives in the

"off the strength." 211
different garrisons take a great and self-denying
interest in their distribution.
In our work amongst the women another of our
difficulties arises from the changing character of a
camp life. "Here to-day and gone to-morrow" is
the frequent exclamation regarding both them and
their husbands. We just seem to get to know
them, when a sudden order comes, and they are
off, and in most instances we see them no more.
Owing to this migratory state of things, we often
lose as many as fifty members of our mothers' meeting
in the course of three or four months. This makes
the work amongst them an additional responsibility,
as we are so continually made to experience that
the time for reaching them is indeed short. Our
numbers however, in spite of all this, are a cause for
thankfulness. Varying as they must ever be, it is
nevertheless a flourishing meeting, especially when
we remember that of late years several others have
been started, both in the town and camp. Taking
the five weeks of the present quarter as a sample,
I find that the numbers at Aldershot have been as
follows : —
April 7th  103
„ 14th (Easter Monday and Bank Holiday) 50
„ 21st  98
April 28th  82
May 5th  87

212 '-off the strength.
From the beginning of the Mission the poor
women have been cared for, not only through the
mothers' meeting and the Work Society, but by
the house-to-house visitation of the Bible-women.
The number reached in this way is very large,
and these visits are as a rule most gratefully
received. During one year, in which a record
of the numbers were kept, our two Bible-women
paid 2,363 visits.
The mothers' meeting is composed, not only of
soldiers' wives, but also of many whose husbands
have left the service, and have become pensioners.
Added to these, there are a good number of civilians
who, in the course of years, have joined the meeting.
As they belong to a more settled population, these
have gradually accumulated, so that they now con
stitute a large proportion of our members ; though
the actual number of soldiers' wives who have
passed through the meeting has been infinitely
larger. In 1875, when we took the trouble to
ascertain the point, I find that three hundred
different women attended the meeting during the
year. From amongst both classes, God has given
us very much encouragement. In the earlier days
of the Mission my mother was often depressed by
the comparatively small results of the work amongst
the women, as compared with that for the men.
I see in her report for 1866 she speaks of this.

"off the strength." 213
Referring first to the deep distress of many of
them, she went on to say :—
" Some of the instances of suffering thus brought to light
were truly heart-rending. We may here allude to the
fact that the extreme poverty of many who have been
induced by the Bible-woman to attend the mothers'
meeting makes that branch of the work far from satisfac
tory. As a class, the women here are so absorbed in
winning the bread that perishes that all earnest care for
that which endureth unto everlasting life seems to have
vanished away. .... Week after week the Gospel is
set before them, but with results so small to our eyes,
compared with those which attend the other branches of
the Mission, that we at times are tempted to exclaim, ' I
have laboured in vain, and spent my strength for nought.'
We feel constrained to ask our friends for special prayer
in this behalf, believing that all our desires for these our
poor toiling sisters would be fulfilled in the pouring out
upon them of that Spirit Who is promised to them that
ask." Since that time I am thankful to say God has
revived His work amongst them, and many have, we
trust, each year " sat at the feet of Jesus and heard
His Word."
The other day, when at Colchester for a few days
to see after the progress of the new Home, I unex
pectedly came upon one of them. Soon after I
arrived they told me of a poor woman who had

214 «OFF THE STRENGTH."
come down from London to see her son, who was
supposed to be dying in the Hospital. After a little
talk with her, hearing all about her trouble and
her deep anxiety on account of this boy, I said
something to her about her own state, and received
the brightest answer.
" Oh yes, indeed, I know the Lord, and it was at
Aldershot I found Him. One day I went into the
Hall, and I was in great trouble. I had once cared
for these things, but had grown cold and neglectful.
Miss H  saw I was in trouble, and she spoke to
me and showed me what the Saviour had done for
me, and ever since it has been quite different with
me ; now all I long for is that my poor boy should
find Him too. I would not mind losing him, if I
could only be sure he had received Jesus."
Her son recovered sufficiently for her to take him
home, but we trust that before this her heart's desire
had been given her in seeing him brought back to
God.
At our monthly prayer-meeting, which is held
after the mothers' meeting the first Monday in
eveiy month, it is a great joy to look round and
recall that of one and another and yet another it
can be said, " She was born here." One of those
who led us in prayer at our last little gathering was
after months, I think I may say years, of earnest
prayerful seeking, enabled to see the finished work

"OFF THE STRENGTH." 215
of Christ in her behalf. We remember the great
joy it was to hear her for the first time praying
aloud with us, and thanking God for all the
spiritual blessings she had found in the Home.
She has been a member for years, and has hardly
ever missed a meeting since she first began at
tending. At that same prayer-meeting there were
two sweet-looking young women sitting together,
who were both led to Christ last year. One of them
came up to me a few weeks ago, after our mothers'
meeting was over, and said, in a very broken voice, —
" I did so want to speak to you to-day. It is just
a year to-day since you led me to Christ. I thought
I must speak to you, and thank you for all you did
for me."
We praised God together for His goodness to
her, and that He had also since then brought her
husband to Himself. Now, poor thing, she is in
much trouble, her husband being one of the many
who have gone out to Natal, leaving their wives
behind. Our Work Society is a particular boon just now, as
it enables us to help many of them who are really
in sore straits, and will be till their husbands can
send them remittances. Being reminded of the
work again I would here mention what a great help
it would be if friends would kindly send me orders
for the articles made by the women. Or if any

216 "off the strength."
lady would have a sale of it in her drawing-room we
should indeed be thankful. There are many good
needlewomen amongst our mothers, so that we are
quite able to undertake any orders that friends
would intrust to us, either underclothing for them
selves and children, or as gifts to the poor. Our
principal way of disposing of it is by the half-yearly
sale in the Hall, and through the kindness of
various friends who have sales for us at their own
houses. In the latter way we sold £170 worth last
year. The clothes are of good material, and much
cheaper than they could be purchased at any ready-
made shop.
As this little volume is intended for general
circulation, it seems unadvisable to refer to one
branch of work for women, which however was not
lost sight of by my mother in the conduct of the
Mission.

' Sow in the morn thy seed.'

CHAPTER XV.
"A/TRS. DANIELL'S first effort for the good of
-LVJ- the children was by the formation of a Band
of Hope, which was begun in 1866, but, from some
cause or another, was given up for a while. The
Christian members of the Home have from time to
time taken an active part in it. In 1868 it was
reorganised by a non-commissioned officer in the
Artillery, who acted as superintendent. The follow
ing letter from him to my mother will be read with
interest : —
" Dear Madam, —
" I beg to forward you this report of my humble
labours among the children of the Mission Hall Band of
Hope. I hope you will excuse me if I first state my
reasons. I had been labouring amongst a few children
in the battery to which I belonged at Weedon and
Northampton, previous to my arrival at this station.
After I arrived I ceased doing anything for my Master,
and He brought me down very low by taking away from
me to His glorious mansion above my youngest child, in

220 the children.
such a manner that I saw and felt that the Lord was
correcting me. I resolved from that time, God helping
me, to lead a different life. A kind Providence led me to
your much-loved Soldiers' Home, and on my second or
third visit the preacher singled me out, on Sunday
afternoon, 8th July, 1868. At that blessed meeting I was
shown myself, and my glorious Master was pleased to
give me that peace which passeth all understanding, and
I was led to see that, poor and humble as I was, my
Saviour had much work for me to do. I felt that intem
perance in this camp was the greatest curse, and was the
means of keeping many from the Lord. I embraced the
temperance cause, seeking strength and consolation from
that ever-flowing Fountain, the Lord Jesus. In Septem
ber I was appointed Assistant Secretary to the Society,
but still I felt I must do something for the children, and
with your very kind permission I commenced the Band of
Hope on the 22nd October last. Miss D  very kindly
assisted me, and presented hymn-books and cards to com
mence with. The result was that on the 22nd October,
1868, eight were present ; on the 4th May, 1869, seventy-
eight were present. In the interval one hundred and
forty-seven signed. Previous to the 25th March, the
numbers were not kept so well as they have been
since. Of the above number who have joined, five
have joined a second time, having broken their pledge
about Christmas, two have died, and five are known to
have left the town with their parents. I think I may
safely say that the Band of Hope has been quite a
success ; although many have joined who do not regu-

THE CHILDREN. 221
larly attend, I am in hopes they will come forward bright
little jewels. . . .
" I beg, dear Madam, to remain,
" Your truly obedient servant,

o

The Band of Hope now meets on Wednesdays at
5-30. The first half-hour is occupied with taking
the pence of those children who pay into the penny
bank. They are all divided into classes, each class
being taught by one of the soldiers, who take a
great interest in the children, and are much appre
ciated by them. On inquiring into the cause of the
absence of one of the children lately, the answer the
mother gave was, " Oh, he hadn't the heart to come
again, now his teacher is gone to Natal."
Many of them are very fond of the meeting, and
are much distressed if anything keeps them from
coming regularly. The special feature is the text,
which is learned by all, after which the superinten-
olent calls upon one child from each class to repeat
it. A short address is then given; sometimes a
story is told; and occasionally the meeting is varied
by the children themselves reciting some little piece.
I was asking an artilleryman the other day if his
children liked coming.
" Oh, indeed they do, ma'am; they are always
talking about it from the time they come back from
it one Wednesday till they go the next."

222 THE CHILDREN.
I cannot give a better account of how we started
our day-school than by culling a few extracts from
a paper written for a magazine the year we opened
it (1868). " ' The Wellington Arms.'
" ' It is not the will of your Father which is in heaven that one
of these little ones should perish.'
" At the extreme south of the Government ground at
Aldershot, the sandy plain drops abruptly down towards
the country. Between the fields and the massive wall
which forms the boundary of the South Cavalry Barracks
there lie on the side of the hill a number of houses,
planted about in irregular rows. This is 'West End,'
one of the lowest parts of the town, where live many of
the wives of the soldiers married without leave, whose
existence — poor things ! — is for the most part one of
extreme misery. It may be imagined that the children
of such parents are dragged up in the most distressing
way. It is well for them if, like Topsy, they are merely
left to ' grow ; ' but too often they seem to be trained in
sin. Only a day or two since a little child, scarcely so
high as the table, was pointed out as having sworn most
terribly. " It must not be supposed that during the six years
of the existence of this Mission no thought Was given to
these neglected little ones ; but, as is our wont before
entering on a new field of work, we waited to see if other
workers would take it up. So long as five years ago we
had decided on opening a room in West End, which is too

THE CHILDREN. 223
far from the Parish and National Schools to allow of the
distance being traversed by infants two or three times a day
in all sorts of weather. However, it was represented to us
that this might be felt as an interference by the Wesleyan
body, whose chapel happens to be the nearest place of
worship, and the scheme was therefore abandoned ; for
keenly anxious as we are to press within every open
door, we have ever determined, with the great Apostle,
that our building should ' not be on another man's foun
dation, but that, as it is written, to whom He was not
spoken of, they shall see ; and they who have not heard
shall understand.'
" When, after five years' waiting, we found that nothing
had been done, we felt that our path lay clear before us.
A month or two since, the dim visions of a possible
school were finally crystallised into form by a passing
remark made one evening by the Vicar of Aldershot as
to the need of such a thing in West End. The very
next morning one of the Bible-women mentioned that a
public-house, with a dancing-saloon attached, in the very
midst of the population, was vacant, and might probably
be rented. A kind friend undertook negotiations with
the landlord, and in the course of two days we were in
possession of the keys of the ' Wellington Arms,' on a
lease of three months. A considerable sum was needed
to put the premises into even temporary repair, but the
situation was so admirable that we felt it was worth the
outlay. The .house stands at a corner where four roads
meet two other of the angles being occupied by public-
houses  < The Lamb ' and ' The Imperial.' The dancing-

224 THE CHILDREN.
saloon behind the bar makes a capital schoolroom, now
that paint, whitewash, and soap and water have effaced
the indescribable filthiness which seemed like an outward
expression of the moral corruption of the place. Sundry
announcements relative to ' stout, ale, porter, and shaving '
were obliterated from the doorposts, and on 5th October,
just ten days after it was first proposed, the school was
opened with eight little pupils as shy and untamed as deer.
"Their ignorance was almost incredible. Only one
knew the alphabet, and several seemed never even to
have heard the name of Jesus. They were so unaccus
tomed to a moment's thought that they wearied of even
the most interesting story, and we found it necessary to
change the occupation about every five minutes. Some
of the little boys seemed at first to be given over to a
hopeless stolidity ; they stood indeed with the others,
but in a state of inanition that was most perplexing. One
little boy, whose grey eyes and tiniest of mouths won
our hearts by their wistful expression, set all discipline
at defiance by running incessantly round the room. The
poor child was at one time subject to fits, and we soon
felt that he was scarcely accountable, especially as his
natural infirmities must have been greatly augmented by
the influences of a home where both father and mother
are drunkards.
" 'I don't want to go home at four o'clock,' he said
one day ; ' mammy will be drunk.'
"Kind and gentle care has done much with him as
well as with the others, and the school now consists of
thirty-five children, who are making so much progress

THE CHILDREN. 220
that we feel that the experiment has now passed over the
boundary mark into the region of successes. We have
therefore opened negotiations for taking the house for a
term of years.
"We began with as little machinery as possible — a
black board, some alphabets, two dozen slates, and some
scraps for work. Since then we have added some beau
tiful Scripture prints — a grant from the Beligious Tract
Society — and a gallery to hold fifty children. We have
also ordered some desks, in the hope of beginning a night-
school for boys between the age of twelve and sixteen.
This will serve another purpose beyond the one imme
diately on the surface — that of supplying work for our
Christian soldiers, two or three of whom have volunteered
their services as a free-will offering to the Lord. As time
goes on we hope that the 'Wellington School' may become
a centre of blessing in West End."
This hope, I trust, has been in measure fulfilled.
There certainly is a very marked difference in the
West End of to-day and the West End described
above. My mother's wishes for something to be done -in
the way of a night-school were very shortly carried
into effect, and though it has long been discontinued,
owing to the great difficulty of finding the needed
leisure for arranging for the supply of teachers who
were so perpetually on the wing, I think that during
its existence it did a good work. In her Report for
15

226 THE CHILDREN.
1868 my dear mother tells a little of our experience.
She says : —
" As soon as a moderate degree of success in the day-
school assured us that education met with any measure
of appreciation in West End, our thoughts reverted to the
many pleadings of a general officer for the rough boys,
who, with a terrible reversal of the Apostolic injunction,
might truly be said to be ' in understanding children, but
in malice men ' — ' a hundred years old in everything
that's bad,' as one of the teachers said only last night.
"Our thoughts were happily met by a request from
the boys themselves, conveyed through one of the Bible-
women. Besides two officers now removed, our staff of
teachers numbers nine, so as to allow of three being
present every evening. It may appear somewhat para
doxical, when it is remembered that soldiers are the
teachers, but it is nevertheless true, that not the least of
our difficulties has been that of instilling into their minds
the importance of some degree of discipline. Of course
we are all of one opinion as to the vanity of attempting
to rule such undisciplined spirits by any law but that of
love, but at first it seemed very hard for some of the
teachers to see that a broken rule is far more galling than
the same rule when firmly though kindly enforced. A
penny a week is the 'fee,' but, naturally enough, the
boys prefer spending it at the sweet-shop; and constantly,
at first, would arrive without the penny which had just
been given by their parents ; whilst others, profiting by
the suggestion, would be seen quietly to pocket theirs for

THE CHILDREN. 227
future expenditure, solemnly asseverating that they had
not got one: But now that we have at last induced the
teachers to stand firmly, on the principle that 'no penny'
involves 'no admittance,' these little occurrences do not
often take place.
" Of course we have the usual' stories to tell of lights
put out, inkstands overthrown, and other tricks which
try the nerve and temper of the amateur schoolmasters,
not to mention the more serious delinquency of extreme
irreverence during the short prayer which closes the
evening. " ' It would be none too many to have a teacher to
each boy to hold him,' was the good-humouredly irritated
remark which followed the recital of the gymnastic feats
performed during prayers by one of the hopeful flock.
" Still, in spite of these drawbacks, a considerable
advance in reading, writing, and arithmetic appears to
be made, and the teachers are animated by a love for the
souls of their pupils, and a sense that their work is for
eternity. " ' It will be worth it all,' they say, ' if only one boy
is brought to Jesus.'
" We feel assured that even already the labour has not
been in vain, though many of the boys have been steeped
in sin. During a spelling-lesson one of the teachers asked
a boy of eleven or twelve if he knew the meaning of the
word ' gaol,' and was horrified by the cool rejoinder, —
" ' Oh, yes ; I've been in three times.'
" Most of these boys, and a good number of our little
day scholars, have become members of the Band of Hope."

228 THE CHILDREN.
The day-school still holds on its way, faithfully
taught by one of those dear women who owe their
salvation to the Hall. Our average number on the
books is from fifty to sixty, although large schools
have recently been built by the Board at a much
shorter distance than the old parish schools.

Wlgau xtx "§tsbm.
" They are gathering homeward from every land
One by one,
As their weary feet touch the shining strand
One by one ;
Their brows are inclosed in a golden crown,
Their travel-stained garments are all laid down,
And clothed in white raiment they rest on the mead
Where the Lamb loveth His chosen to lead,
One by one."

CHAPTER XVI.
T 1 1HIS little volume would hardly be complete
-*- without some slight record of the "happy
dying " as well as "happy living " of some of those
who " have been converted to God through the in
strumentality of the Homes. Many are still witness
ing to their Lord down here, but many have heard
His voice, " Come up higher," and have entered in
" through the gates into the city."
How we thank God upon every remembrance of
them, as we think of the glorious " with Christ "
which is now their happy portion. How truly we
can say with all our hearts, " We bless Thy holy
name for all Thy servants departed this life in Thy
faith and fear." " 'Midst cherubim and seraphim
They mind their Lord's affairs ;
Oh, if we bring our work to Him,
Our work is one with theirs.''
Perhaps before passing on to those who were
blessed it would be well to say something of the

232 THOSE IN HEAVEN.
last days of her through whom, in God's hands,
the blessing came.
It was in September 1871 that, after months of
weariness and suffering, it pleased God to take my
mother to Himself. For nearly three years before
her life had been most precarious, but till the
previous May she had been able to be a good deal
at Aldershot superintending the work, and almost
to the very last she took the liveliest interest in
everything connected with it. The daily reports
were a continual enjoyment to her till within a short
time of the end. About ten days before her death a
great sense of unworthiness seemed resting upon her.
I often heard her saying to herself, " So unworthy,"
" If I am worthy," " So sinful." A friend sent her
some flowers with Heb. xii. 6, and Dan. xii. 3.
" Ah, what has it all been ? " she said. " I have
only reached the scaffolding ; they " (referring to
those converted at the Hall) — " they will all be far
above me ; . . . I shall just get within the gates."
She often quoted these two lines :
" He'll not live in glory,
And leave me behind. "
Asking the nurse if her little girl liked being with
us at Malvern instead of in London, she looked up
wards and said, " I should like to be up there."
Reading from the texts for the day on the roll,

THOSE IN HEAVEN. 233
"But committed himself to Him that judgeth righ
teously," she said,—
" 'Committed himself : that is just what I have
to do, isn't it?"
Another time she said to me, —
" I hope you feel Jesus near ; you must want Him
under this very heavy trial. It is worse for you."
And then again, —
" Do you know what I have been trying to spell
out? " 'Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,' "
referring to the 51st hymn in our Soldiers' Hymn-
book. I read it to her, and she followed with great
enjoyment, and then said, —
" Don't read to me any more. I am taking up
those texts one by one. It is as much as I can do.
They have been such a comfort to me. I can't tell
you what a comfort that roll has been to me."
Gazing on it very steadfastly, she turned her face
away with such a smile of contentment, as if she
had just got something to rest upon.
After a time of great suffering, she said, —
" Oh, how much of sin and of the old man there
must be still left in me to need all this discipline."
And again on another day, —
" What a long time of preparation it seems to
take ! "
To some dear friends who came to see her she

234 THOSE IN HEAVEN.
spoke with the greatest interest of their work,
giving them each a text and speaking to them of
her wishes for her own beloved Mission. She said
that her request from her dying bed was that the
friends who had been interested in the work at
Aldershot would continue their help and would
never forsake it.
Another day she asked me, —
" Can you say, 'I give thee joy ' ?"
I hesitated for a moment, and she looked at me
inquiringly, and then repeated, —
" ' I give thee joy,' " as if she wanted me to say it
after her.
On my answering, —
"Yes, I can and do, with all my heart," she said
with great satisfaction, —
" Ah, that is right, that is what I wanted."
Then after a little she repeated, —
" ' Ye are they which have continued with me in
my temptations ' — continued."
She then said, —
" He who has helped me hitherto  "
I finished it, —
" Will help me all my journey through." And
she nodded.
" Jesus — He knows it all, though no one else
does " (alluding to her sufferings). " Oh, dear Lord I
how long ? ' I sleep, but my heart waketh.' "

those in heaven. 235
On my saying the text to her, " Father, I will
that they also whom Thou hast given me be with
me where I am," she repeated with great emphasis,
" Where I am."
I subjoin a letter which I wrote at the time to
the members of the Home, copies of which were dis
tributed amongst them, and were much valued.

" To the Members op the Aldeeshot Mission Hall and
Soldiers' Home and Institute.
" ' Be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and
patience inherit the promises.' — Hebrews vi. 12.
"Dear Friends, — It is hardly a month ago that the
one whom you have all loved so much and prayed for so
constantly sent you a few words of earnest entreaty to be
up and doing in the work that the Lord had so evidently
brought to your very door.
" Now she has heard the Master's voice, * Come up
higher,' and has gone to be for ever with Him. The Lord
took your dear friend, Mrs. Daniell, to be with Himself
' in glory everlasting ' on Saturday evening, the 16th inst.
The last words to which she responded, before uncon
sciousness came on, were the name of Jesus, and that
verse, ' I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.' She
repeated ' nor forsake thee ' after me, and then said, ' I
know  ,' but was too weak to finish the sentence.
I said, ' You know He never will, don't you ? ' She

236 THOSE IN HEAVEN.
bowed her head in token of assent; and then the last
words shortly after were, ' Let me go.'
" You all know the message she sent you on the 6th
August, but I will write it here that you may never forget
it : ' Tell the dear men I shall never see them again in the
earthly home that I have provided for them ; but I look
to see them all in their beautiful home above — the Father's
house.' Dear friends, do not let her miss one of you.
Oh that you may be her ' glory and joy ' ' in the presence
of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming ! '
" By God's great mercy, and in answer, I am sure, to
the many prayers which were continually ascending for
her, she was spared very acute suffering, though there
was necessarily much pain and weariness accompanying
such a long and trying illness.
" On the morning of the 7th she said, ' Tell all the dear
ones who love me that my Father is taking me home by
a very rough way ; but I stay myself constantly on the
verse, " He led them forth by the right way." ' Later
she said, ' I have the royal word of a King to go upon,
haven't I ? He won't leave me, will He ? ' This she
repeated the next day, when asked if she felt Jesus near
her ; she answered, with quite a brightness in her face,
' Oh, yes ! He is very near, though I cannot see Him with
the eye of sense, yet I know He is here, and I have not a
fear or a doubt. I have the royal word of a King to go
upon.' Later in the day, after being more ill, she said,
' I think this must be the going home, but it is a very
rough way — only it is the Lord's way.' A day or two
afterwards, when very much exhausted, she said, 'Oh,

THOSE IN HEAVEN. 237
this is very wearying ! I should like to shout and sing
psalms of rejoicing, and praise Him for all His mercies ;
but He knows I would if I had the strength.'
" One of her favourite verses, the first line of which she
constantly repeated, was —
" ' Come, Lord, when grace has made me meet
Thy blessed face to see ;
For if Thy work on earth be sweet,
What must Thy glory be ! '
That prayer has been answered, and an ' entrance ' has
¦been ' ministered unto her abundantly into the everlasting
kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.'
"On the Monday preceding her death she said, 'I'm
going fast. It is sweet to lie in Jesus' arms.' I said,
' Isn't it sweet to be going home ? ' She answered, ' Yes,
lovely.' Another time she repeated, ' On this face is mortal
pain, but glory in my soul ; ' and on one of the last days
she said, looking up, ' I shall see His face ; I shall see
Him.'

... t

Do we mourn when another star
Shines out from the glittering sky ?
Do we weep when the raging voice of war
And the storms of conflict die ?
Then why should our tears run down,
And our hearts be sorely riven,
For another gem in the Saviour's crown,
And another soul in heaven ? '
Shall we not rather give thanks to our God and Father

238 THOSE IN HEAVEN.
who hath made her ' meet to be partaker of the inheritance
of the saints in light.
" To the last the Mission Hall was very dear to her
heart, and the daily accounts of God's work amongst you
were the great enjoyment of her sick couch. Ah ! dear
friends, how she grieved over any coldness of heart, or
wandering from God and His service, in any one of you !
and how earnestly she longed that you might grow up to
be ' young men,' yea, even ' fathers ' in Christ !
" Oh, may I entreat you, as from her dying bed, now,
each one of you, to dedicate yourselves afresh to His
blessed service. If her voice could reach us now, I am
sure we should hear words of earnest entreaty to be more
than ever devoted to Him — to work with all the energy of
our whole heart for the spread of His kingdom. She has
left me, as her most precious legacy, the carrying on of
her work at Aldershot, — a sacred charge which I most
gladly undertake, in the midst of my deep sorrow, ' for
her sake and the Master's,' as she said. You know what
she has so often tried to impress upon you, — that our
work at the Hall could not go on with any degree of suc
cess without your aid in Camp. Then, in loving remem
brance of her who is gone, I would ask you to continue
yet more abundantly all your efforts and prayers, that the
Hall may be increasingly the birthplace of souls who shall
add hereafter to her joy and happiness, and to the glory
of that God in whose service she so delighted.
" I would say one parting word to those of you who are
leaving Aldershot at this time. At the various stations to
which you are going, you may possibly not have the same

THOSE IN HEAVEN. 239
privileges that God has given you at Aldershot in the
way of outward help ; but, wherever you may be, the
throne of grace and the precious Word of God will always
be accessible to you. Do, I entreat you, live much in a
spirit of prayer, and make your Bible your constant com
panion ; let it be so stored in your memory, that with the
Psalmist you may be able to say, ' Thy Word have I hid in
my heart.' I cannot tell you the comfort your dear friend
just gone home found from the fact that she had made so
many of its precious truths her own ; she could lie and
meditate on them when she could no longer hold her Bible
or read it. Only a few days before her death she said,
' Tell them I have found in this illness the truth of what
I have often told them,- — we must have the Word in our
hearts, not only in our hands.'
" I remain, your true friend,
" G. F. S. Daniell.
" Eastwick House, Great Malvern,
" 20th September, 1871.
" ' Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth ;
yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and
their works do follow them.'— Rev. xiv. 13.
" ' The exile is at home !
O days and nights of tears,
O longings not to roam,
O sins, and doubts, and fears !
What matter now, when (so men say)
The King has wiped those tears away ?
" ' O happy, happy bride !
Thy widowed hours are past !

240 THOSE IN HEAVEN.
The Bridegroom at thy side,
Thou all His own at last.
The sorrows of thy former cup
In full fruition swallowed up.' "
I give the following details of her funeral, from a
short paper published at the time.
"'0 Death! where is thy sting?' This was deeply
felt when, on Tuesday, September 26th, the remains of
her who had ' laboured much in the Lord ' were laid in
their resting-place, 'waiting for the redemption of the
body.' " It was a very quiet peaceful funeral, with a character
altogether of its own, — little of the display of this world's
signs of grief, but much of the honour which loving and
grateful hearts could give ; and that was all for which the
departed would have cared.
" In response to the wish expressed by several officers,
permission was sought, and given with all kindness by the
authorities, for her to be laid in the military cemetery, a
quiet sunny spot, walled round by low hills, where,
according to her own wish, those for whom she gave the
last years of her life will be able to come and see her
grave. It lies just within the gate, on a spot sloping
towards the south, half-way up the hill-side, where the
sun will touch it almost all day, — a fit resting-place for
her whose whole life was lived so much in the light of
eternity; fitting too that as a soldier's wife it should
be among soldiers that the body waits for the voice of the
archangel and the trump of God.

THOSE IN HEAVEN. 241
" Those among the many who loved her who were able
to come to her funeral, assembled at the Mission Hall
before eleven o'clock on Tuesday morning. Many officers
now in camp were present, among them General Sir
Hope Grant, G.C.B., commanding the division, attended
by his aides-de-camp, Colonel Gamble, A.Q.M. Gen. ;
Colonel Cameron, 4th Begt. ; Major Noble, R.E., and
Major Gossett, B.E. Besides these were other friends
from a distance — Lord Badstock, Mr. Bobert Baxter,
Colonel Oakes, Colonel Wyatt, Major Brooke, Colonel
Holden, Mr. Henry Thompson, and others, who had been
her fellow-labourers in the gospel of Christ, and who had
formed her friendship when stationed here in former
years. The service was read by the Bev. W. Haslam,
two or three of the chaplains to the forces and the
clergyman in temporary charge of the living of Aldershot,
being also present in the cemetery.
" As there happens to be no building attached to the
military cemetery, it was arranged that the earlier part of
the service should be read in the large hall, where the
coffin, which for some days had rested in the class-room,
was placed, and when, all were gathered, they listened to
those words which the Church of England has so appro
priately selected as the key-note to guide the hearts which
sorrow not without hope — ' I am the resurrection and the
life, saith the Lord.' And then having heard His voice,
it seemed as though she who was gone spoke, saying,
' I know that my Redeemer liveth,' whilst they who had
been privileged to see her work of faith and labour of love
and patience of hope in o-ur Lord Jesus Christ, could
16

242 THOSE IN HEAVEN.
truly answer back and say, ' Blessed be the name of the
Lord.' All must have felt too that being dead she yet
spoke to us as her last message in the closing words of
the resurrection chapter, ' Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be ye steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the
work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your
labour is not in vain in the Lord.' Ah, how truly she
must know that now !
" Then in the pause, whilst we waited expecting the ordi
nary bearers to come forward, the eight soldiers who filled
the front row stood up and gathered round the coffin — her
own children in the faith — standing there with a sort of
quiet appropriation which must have touched many hearts.
Not one hired hand lifted her, for with one exception, each
of these Christian men owed to her not only unnumbered
kindnesses, but ' his own self beside,' and very reverently
and lovingly these ' devout men carried her to her burial.'
" There was only a plain hearse and six mourning-
coaches, with four engineers walking beside each, Sir
Hope Grant's carriage, and a long train of followers on
foot, five or six abreast, mostly officers and soldiers, but
also a good many of the women belonging to Mrs.
Daniell's mothers' meeting.
"When the pall was removed, the flowers which had
covered it were laid upon the coffin, and they were
lowered with it by the soldiers into the grave, preaching
their silent lesson of the resurrection of the body and the
life of the world to come. While standing round the open
grave, Mr. Haslam spoke a few words, and then read the
remainder of the service.

THOSE IN HEAVEN. 243
" And so all came away, feeling that it was not herself
whom we had left there, but only the dress which she
had laid aside for a time, till in clothing of wrought gold
and in the fine linen which is the righteousness of saints,
she shall enter into the King's palace and join the blessed
company which shall be presented to the Father by the
King Himself, saying, ' Behold, I and the children whorn.
Thou hast given Me.'
' Then cheerly to your work again,
With hearts new braced and set
To run untired love's blessed race,
As meet for those who, face to face,
Over the grave their Lord have met.' "
We love to think that in that " entrance " which
was "ministered unto" her "abundantly into the
everlasting kingdom" there were some of her children
in the faith waiting to bid her welcome. For us the
sorrow and anguish of parting, for them the comfort
and felicity of everlasting reunion. And perhaps,
as they wait up yonder for the unfolding of the
palace gates, when "the Lord my God shall come,
and all the saints with Him," and commune to
gether of the wonders of His grace and goodness in
the past, it may be that they also still watch with
deep untiring interest the progress of His kingdom
here on earth.
Before my mother's death one and another had
been called home. As far as we know, the first
for whom the King's messenger came was one who,

244 THOSE IN HEAVEN.
with her husband, had been brought to God through
attending the services soon after the Hall was first
opened, and later on they both came to us as ser
vants. Her bright cheery ways made her a great
acquisition, and we hoped that we were settled with
those who would be a real help in the work. But
God saw fit to order otherwise. After a short
illness she was taken from the earthly service to
the heavenly rest — happy and bright through all
her sufferings, and at length departing with the
joyous utterance on her lips, " Come, Lord Jesus,
come quickly ! "
Another, an officer, who comes distinctly before
me, died about two years afterwards.
I can picture him now as he said "Good-bye"
to me one day ih July 1868, looking in perfect
health and in joyous spirits, as he was off for his
long leave, first to London and then abroad. " Good
bye," he said; "good-bye; and if we never meet
here again, we shall be sure to meet up there."
Such words are often said at parting, and after
the response was given I never heeded them again
till the sad after circumstances recalled them. He
left us on the Tuesday ; the following Saturday
week, in the coldness and stillness of death, his
body was laid to rest for its last long sleep — for
he too had gone in to " see the King."
An attack of scarlatina came on almost imme-

THOSE IN HEAVEN. 245
diately after he left us. We suppose he must have
taken the infection even before he left Aldershot,
while visiting the poor people of his district.
He had been drawn to the Hall by a brother
officer's repeated invitation to come to the service.
On the very first night God met with him and
showed him himself; and a few days afterwards,
in a conversation with Mrs. Daniell, he was brought
into peace, and led to entire consecration of heart
and life. The question which seemed to bring him
to the real point of decision was whether he should
go to the Derby or not. I think the use of the
very simple argument, "What would the Lord
Jesus do?" enabled him by God's grace to see
distinctly what was the right course for him to
pursue ; and from that day onwards we may truly
say his path was as "the shining light, shining
more and more unto the perfect day." When
the summons came there was nothing left to do —
neither doubt nor fear shadowed the closing hours
of that bright young life, but happy in the assur
ance of " how sure and certain his salvation was,"
he passed away, his last conscious words spoken to
his mother being, " Don't prevent my going home."
Such a death at the early age of twenty-two, and
with every prospect of earthly enjoyments before him,
needs no comment. He too had learned the secret
that " to depart and to be with Christ is far better."

246 THOSE IN HEAVEN.
" For ah ! the Master is so fair,
His smile so sweet to banished men,
That they who meet it unaware
Can never rest on earth again."
"My dear Saviour!" were the dying words of
another officer, as he passed through the valley of
the shadow of death. With what comfort they
sounded in the ears of the sorrowing wife, as she
watched at his bedside.
"We often said," she wrote, in her account of
his death to my mother, "that we could never
thank and praise God enough for taking us to
Aldershot. In York his sufferings had been very
great. He often feared death, and wondered what
would become of him. You, dear Mrs. Daniell, were
the instrument in God's hand to show us the pro
vision He had made in His love and mercy for lost
sinners. My dear husband ever remembered this."
I will now give one or two instances of later
years. The news of the first came to me a few
months ago, in a letter from a friend who was
superintending the Plymouth Home.
" Another of the Mission children is ' safe home ' — so
long ago as last April — Serjeant H  of the 16th. A
16th Serjeant and his wife are here on furlough, and
seem to delight in coming to the meetings. His name
is C  ; I don't remember him at all. He says he
was only in the little Home four or five times, and it

THOSE IN HEAVEN. 247
may not have been in my days. I asked after H  ,

and he said he died in the spring. You may imagine
how anxiously I asked the next question. He said, ' So
happy, so very happy.' You remember he didn't go on
very well after he was made Serjeant, but C  says he
was all right for long before his death. He was, I think,
seven months in hospital, and was wasted to nothing,
but ' so happy.' It has made me feel what a call it is
not to lose an opportunity. I don't know if you remember
about his conversion ; it was quite one of the most sudden
I ever remember. Indeed, really, as I look at it, I don't
think I recollect another so sudden. I had been speaking
one Sunday afternoon about the broad and narrow way;
yes ! and I remember too, now, how his very coming
had hung on what seemed a chance. After the meeting
the previous night he had come up the stairs ; I am not
sure that he even went into the reading-room. I went
after him when he was half way down again, and begged
him to come the next day, and it was after that Sunday
meeting that I spoke to him, and asked on which road
he was ? He said, ' I am afraid the wrong one.' I don't
think I said above three sentences about the door into the
right way being Christ Himself. Would he not go ? 'Yes.'
' When ? ' I remember he answered with such unusual
decision, 'Now !' We knelt down at once, and I believe
the matter was then and there settled. It's just what
Mr. Scott was saying last night — 'It's not time that's
wanted, but decision.'
"When H  was dying, he had his Bible on the
bed and a little book on it with 'Jesus loves me' ih it,

248 THOSE IN HEAVEN.
H  kept repeating those words over and over again.
' Jesus loves me ! Jesus loves me ! I'm going to
Jesus ! ' with the happiest smile on his face.
"There was another man named Y  standing by, and
at last he felt he couldn't stand it any longer, and went
away. After a time he came back again, and then he found
H  going on just the same. His poor failing voice,
so soon to be hushed in death, bearing his dying testi
mony, ' Jesus loves me ! Jesus loves me ! ' This was
the means of Y  's conversion ; and C  says he has
been very consistent."
Another who has died during the past year was
the mother of some of the Band of Hope children
attending the Chatham Home. Her husband, a
sailor, had been away from her for nearly three
years; during a greater part of the time it had
been quite a struggle to her to provide for herself
and children. She bravely battled on till within a
short time of his return, when her previous delicacy
increased very much, and she was unable to do
anything more. She coughed dreadfully, but the
one hope was that she might live to see her husband
again. Being suddenly taken very much worse,
she began to be in great concern about her soul.
She had always been a respectable hardworking
woman; but now, when death seemed staring her
in the face, she felt how utterly unprepared she
was ; and the remembrance of an address she had

THOSE IN HEAVEN. 249
heard at one of the mothers' meetings, on the
wheat and the tares, came back to her with great
distinctness. She became so absorbed in this one
thought, that she lost all interest in everything;
all care in her children and home seemed swallowed
up in the one intense anxiety, "What must I do to
be saved?"
" I heard that the tares and wheat should grow
together, and at the end the tares should be burnt.
Oh, if I should be a tare ! "
The friend who had given the address went to see
her, found her very ill and weak, and most eager to
hear what she had to tell her. After a few words
Mrs. B  said, —
" I was brought face to face with my Maker last
week, nearer than I ever was before ;" and evidently
she felt she was not ready.
"You have been a good wife and mother, but
that wasn't enough to satisfy you ? "
"Oh, no!"
She listened most earnestly as the precious sacri
fice of the Lord Jesus Christ was held up before
her eyes. She received it all so simply and re
joicingly that God must evidently have done all
the work and prepared her heart. Every now and
again as she listened she said, " I see, I see," and
then, " How beautiful, how splendid! " The ques
tion was asked, " You can rest your soul there ? "

250 THOSE IN HEAVEN.
"Yes, I can rest there."
She lingered for several weeks, giving bright
testimony of her joy in the Lord, and then still
" resting there " she " entered the river."
" These are they which have washed their robes,
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
" Therefore are they before the throne of God."
I have of course only given a very few instances
among numbers of whom I might tell, but I must
not write more, as I have already exceeded the
limits I had assigned to myself.
Enough has been said to show how graciously
God has blessed my dear mother's faithful en
deavours, how His guiding hand led and sustained
her in the path which He had Himself marked out.
Could she have seen on the day when she began her
first little cottage meeting at P  , " whereunto this
would grow," she would doubtless have shrunk
back appalled ; but having been faithful in that
which was least, her Heavenly Father committed to
her hands a work whose influences have been felt
throughout the British army.
This Mission I earnestly commend to the prayer
ful sympathy of all to whom the work of God is
dear. I think I need not say much as to the claims
of our soldiers upon us who live here at home, in a
peace secured to us by their hardships and dangers.

THOSE IN HEAVEN. 251
We who can recall the dreary sufferings of the
Crimean winter, and the still more appalling horrors
of the Indian Mutiny, the unflinching bravery of
Isandlana, and the calm courage of Rorke's Drift,
should need no argument to convince us how great
is the debt we owe, and no pressure should be
needed to induce us to discharge the obligation so
indisputably resting upon us.
We have reaped and are continually reaping
their carnal things ; is it a great thing if we should
sow unto them spiritual things ?
" If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn
unto death, and those that are ready to be slain ; if
thou sayest, Behold we knew it not ; doth not He
that pondereth the heart consider it ? and He that
keepeth thy soul, doth not He know it ? "

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" The life and character and career of this great and good man are traced in
these pages with a firm and faithful hand, guided by an ardent sympathy with
*he great and good work he performed." — Public Opinion.

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