In some countries, of course, there is more rapid development of our purely evangelistic propaganda, while in others our philanthropic agencies are more active.  Progress in human affairs is generally tidal.  It has been so with us.  A period of great outward activity is sometimes followed by one of comparative rest, and in the same way the spirit of advance in one department sometimes passes from that for a time to others.  A period of great progress in all kinds of pioneer work, for example in Germany, is just now being followed there by one of consolidation and organization.  A time of enormous advance in all our departments of charitable effort in the United States is now being succeeded by a wonderful manifestation of purely spiritual fervour and awakening.

In this, the old country, our very success has in some ways militated against our continued advance at the old rate of progress.  Not only has much ground already been occupied, but innumerable agencies, modelled outwardly, at least, after those we first established, have sprung into existence, and are working on a field of effort which was at one time largely left to us.  And yet during the last five years the Army has enormously strengthened its hold on the confidence of all classes of the people here, increased its numbers, developed in a remarkable degree its internal organization, greatly added to its material resources, as well as maintained and extended its offering of men and money for the support of the work in heathen countries.

But even in places where we have appeared to be stagnant, in the sense of not undertaking any new aggressive activities, we are constantly making as a part of our regular warfare new captures from the enemy of souls, maintaining the care of congregations and people linked with us, working at full pressure our social machinery, training the children for future labour, raising up men and women to go out into the world as missionaries of one kind or another, and doing it all while carrying on vigorous efforts to bring to those who are most needy in every locality both material and spiritual support.

Like all aggressive movements, the Army is, of course, peculiarly subject to loss of one kind or another.  That arising from the removals of its people alone constitutes a serious item.  Any one who knows anything of religious work amongst the working-classes will understand how great a loss may be caused—­even where the population is, generally speaking, increasing—­by the removal of one or two zealous local leaders.  But such losses are trifling compared with those which follow from some stoppage of employment when large numbers of workmen must either migrate or starve.

Similar results often occur from the change of leadership.  The removal of our Officers from point to point, and even from country to country, is one of our most indispensable needs; but, of course, we have to pay for it, chiefly in the dislocation and discouragements and losses which it often necessarily entails.