5.But those show a curious ignorance who set down our successes to this discipline,as though it were something of the prison order,although enforced without any of the power lying either behind the prison warder or the Catholic priest.On the contrary,wherever the discipline of the Army has been endangered,and its regular success for a time interrupted,it has been through an attempt to enforce it without enough of that joyous,cheerful spirit of love which is its main spring.Nobody can become acquainted with our soldiers in any land,without being almost immediately struck with their extraordinary gladness,and this joy is in itself one of the most infectious and influential elements of the Army's success.But if this be so,amid the comparatively well to do,judge of what its results are likely to be amongst the poorest and most wretched!To those who have never known bright days,the mere sight of a happy face is as it were a revelation and inspiration in one.
6.But the Army's success does not come with magical rapidity;it depends,like that of all real work,upon infinite perseverance.
To say nothing of the perseverance of the Officer who has made the saving of men his life work,and who,occupied and absorbed with this great pursuit,may naturally enough be expected to remain faithful,there are multitudes of our Soldiers who,after a hard day's toil for their daily bread,have but a few hours of leisure,but devote it ungrudgingly to the service of the War.Again and again,when the remains of some Soldier are laid to rest,amid the almost universal respect of a town,which once knew him only as an evil-doer,we hear it said that this man,since the date of his conversion,from five to ten years ago,has seldom been absent from his post,and never without good reason for it.His duty may have been comparatively insignificant,"only a door-keeper,""only a War Cry seller,"yet Sunday after Sunday,evening after evening,he would be present,no matter who the commanding officer might be,to do his part,bearing with the unruly,breathing hope into the distressed,and showing unwavering faithfulness to all.The continuance of these processes of mercy depends largely upon leadership,and the creation and maintenance of this leadership has been one of the marvels of the Movement.We have men to-day looked up to and reverenced over wide areas of country,arousing multitudes to the most devoted service,who a few years ago were champions of iniquity,notorious in nearly every form of vice,and some of them ringleaders in violent opposition to the Army.We have a right to believe that on the same lines God is going to raise up just such leaders without measure and without end.