But the main thing, after all, in all this action was the revelation of an Army, unable as yet to make itself well understood in words but capable of thus manifesting its resolution to fight for the liberation of all men from the power of sin.

We had issued already a Common People’s Gospel, written by our Chief Secretary, Colonel Vamamuro, which gave a very clear explanation of our teachings and system.  This book was not only a sort of harmony of the Gospels, but explained how we understand and teach the Salvation Christ bought for us all.  This Gospel came to be appreciated and utilised by almost all the missions in the country, and greatly helped us also in making clear our meaning to the nation.  By its sale, as well as that of The War Cry, throughout the country very many, even of those who were too far off for it to be possible for them to attend any of our Meetings, were led to Christ.

And thus steadily, though slowly, we made our way, until we had Corps in most of the great cities, and became known generally wherever there were thinking and reading people.  Our Halls were, and still are, very small, it being almost impossible to find either large ones hireable, or large spaces available for building upon, in the great cities.  Yet marvellous were the displays of God’s power to save in the little rooms, which were packed to the doors night after night, and in the Open-Air Meetings.  Our leaders in the country, for several years, were Officers who, amidst the multitudes of India, or of the slums of London had seen how souls could be won, in spite of every outward disadvantage, by the irresistible power of the Holy Ghost.  And thus the numbers of our Japanese Soldiers and Officers steadily grew.  Just as in England, men who had been notorious in sin became equally notorious witnesses for Jesus.  Japan is a great country for holiday festivals, when all the streets are by day beflagged and by night illuminated with Chinese lanterns, almost the whole population turning out on such occasions.  Our troops naturally made the most of such days, and it became a common thing to see men and even women kneeling in an Open-Air Meeting to seek Salvation.

So when it was announced, in 1907, that The General was coming, Japan resolved to give him a welcome such as he had never had before.  That a man should undertake, at seventy-eight years of age, such a journey, was felt to be a tribute both to the country and to the man himself, and there was a desire, if anything more in non-Christian than in Christian circles to hear him, and do him honour.

“Tell him,” said a Tokio editor, “that he is coming to a country such as he has never before visited—­which can appreciate self-sacrifice, as we have shown in the late war.”