The general is in his happiest mood.  He thanks the friends of King Williamstown and Mr. and Mrs. Osborne Howe for their noble gift to his men.

=The S.C.A.  Tent Services.=

The Soldiers’ Christian Association had their tent splendidly fitted up, as all their tents are.  But it was most unfortunate.  Twice was it blown down by fierce sandstorms, and on the second occasion the tent-pole was broken beyond repair.  A tree was, however—­not commandeered, but—­bought.  Handy men of the Royal Engineers speedily reduced its size and placed it in position, and there it stood braving its native winds.

In this tent splendid work was done.  Night by night men were seeking Christ.  The demand for Bibles was great.  On one occasion the workers were employed for two hours giving out Bibles and Testaments to soldiers who came crowding round and begging for them.  From the first night of its erection the tent was crowded.  The workers had never in their long experience seen such a blessed work of grace.  Men by the score were delighted to be spoken to about the salvation of their souls.

The pens, ink, and paper, provided free, were a great boon to the soldiers.  From three to four hundred sheets of paper per day were given to the men, who, of course, had to make special application for it.

[Illustration:  MORNING SERVICE ON THE VELDT.]

Mr. Denman reports:  ’Many whole days we have done nothing but receive in our private tents men who were anxious and troubled about their souls’ salvation; others came to us who had got cold and indifferent, because of the absence of the means of grace.  These in very many instances, under God’s blessing, were helped and restored to the enjoyment of the means of grace and the Christian privileges.  One dear Christian man came in, threw his arms around my shoulders, and burst into tears, and said, “God bless you dear men for coming out here to care for us, and to help us on in the Christian life.  He will reward you both for leaving home and dear ones.  I am sure you have been such help to so many of us."’[9]

Thus was the work of the S.C.A. appreciated, and eternity alone will reveal the good accomplished by its means.

[Footnote 9:  News from the Front, April, 1900.]

=Christian Work under Mr. Burgess.=

The work of the Wesleyan Church at Sterkstroom was also actively carried forward.  The chaplain at Sterkstroom was the Rev. W.C.  Burgess.  At one time he was assisted by no fewer than five Wesleyan soldier local preachers.  These were Sergeant-Major C.B.  Foote, of the Telegraph Battalion Royal Engineers, a much respected local preacher from the Aldershot and Farnham Circuit; Sergeant-Major T. Jones, of the 16th Field Hospital R.A.M.C.; Corporal Knight, of the 8th Company Derbyshire Regiment; Trooper W.W.  Booth, of Brabant’s Horse; and Mr. Blevin, of King Williamstown, and late of Johannesburg, one of Mr. Howe’s workers.