Can it be necessary to remind the reader that in The Army no distinctions of race, country, age or colour exist, so far as Officers are concerned?  When it is inevitable to have together in one Officers’ Meeting groups who do not speak the language chiefly employed, some one of their number is so placed amongst the group as to be able to translate to them The General’s addresses.

Here we have a gathering of men and women from near and far, most of whom must needs carry on their work amidst small communities living very widely apart, and where they could very rarely see another Officer, or be visited by any leader.  To bring all these up before the tribunal of their own consciences as to the extent to which they had discharged all the obligations they took upon them when they first engaged to form and lead on the forces whose duties, in so vast a territory, must be too varied and too difficult to prescribe by any fixed routine, could not but be of priceless value.  Would to God that all persons engaged in missionary work were periodically passed through such examinations, by fire!  How easily may any one in such solitary spheres yield to discouragement, or to some ill-feeling towards a predecessor in the same appointment, or towards some leader who has not seemed sympathetic enough!

Remembering that each of these has to go back to some position of lonely toil, with no guarantee of salary, and no prospect of improving circumstances, in a country whose large towns could be counted on the fingers of one hand, you can understand the supreme importance and the after-effect of such Meetings.  The letter goes on:—­

“On this and the previous day, my host, the Doctor, had invited guests to meet me at luncheon.  Yesterday we had the ministers, who were mostly very friendly and sympathetic.  As the Doctor put it, ‘To-day we had the sinners,’ who he reckoned were by far the most enjoyable—­Judges, Commissioners of Crown Lands, etc.  All were very respectful, and, to say the least of it, were in sympathy with my Social scheme, if not actually having strong faith in its success.

“I had some further conversation with a member of the South African Cabinet, who said he was on the most intimate terms both with the leaders of the Afrikander Bund, and with Mr. Rhodes.  He was quite sure that however any one from political motives, might disguise their feelings, they were equally in sympathy with me.  We had some conversation as to the co-operation of the authorities, supposing lazy people turned out unwilling to carry out the engagements they might sign in England.  He said he felt sure if anything were wanting in present law to ensure authority being respected, that it would readily be remedied.”

This has reference to the scheme of an Over-Sea Colony in South Africa with which The General had been occupied ever since 1890.  He, of course, always foresaw the risk that persons, who were sent out in connexion with such a plan, might see in the colonies an easier career than that of the cultivation of land, and that there must needs be some assurance of their being held to their agreement in any such case.  He goes on:—­