s should
be sent to the Soldiers' Widows and Orphans Fund, and so before I
left East London we sent the sum of L43 to Sir A. Milner for the
fund above referred to. Besides the Soldiers' Home, we started a
Soldiers' 'Social Evening' on Wednesdays in Wesley Hall, which
was largely patronised by the men. I have found the officers
without a single exception ready to further my work in every way.
I had also a good deal of hospital work, which to me was full of
pathetic interest. I have had the joy of harvest in some
instances, for some of the men have been led to Christ. When I
purposed leaving, the circuit officials generously took the Town
Hall for two nights at a cost of L14 for my Farewell Service on
Sunday night, and the Farewell Social on Tuesday. The hall was
packed with about 1500 people on the Sunday. We had a grand
number of soldiers. Then on the Tuesday in the same hall there
were about 1000 people who sat down to tea, including from 400 to
500 soldiers. When tea was over I was to my surprise presented
with a purse of sovereigns from the circuit, and to my still
greater astonishment Col. Long of the Somerset Light Infantry
came on the platform, and spoke most appreciatively of my work
amongst the men, and their great regret at my departure. When he
had finished he called upon Sergt.-Master-Tailor Syer to make a
presentation to me on behalf of the men. It was a beautiful
walking-stick with a massive silver ferrule suitably inscribed,
and a very fine case of razors. Then every soldier in the hall
rose to his feet and gave the departing chaplain three cheers. It
was really one of the proudest moments in my life."

[Sidenote: _The Soldiers' Reception Committee._]

Of the Durban Soldiers' Reception Committee the chairman was the Rev.
G. Lowe, also a Transvaal refugee Wesleyan minister; and in a letter
from him now lying on my table he states that he was sometimes on the
landing jetty for fifteen hours at a stretch. He adds that he was the
first to begin this work of welcoming the troops on landing at
Durban, and obtained the permits to take in a few friends within the
barriers for the distribution of fruit, tobacco and bread to the
soldiers, on the purchase of which nearly L300 was expended.
Twenty-five thousand troops were thus met; over L2000 sent home to the
friends of the soldiers; mor