rayer.*

ALMIGHTY FATHER, I have often sinned against Thee. O wash me in
the precious blood of the Lamb of God. Fill me with Thy Holy
Spirit, that I may lead a new life. Spare me to see again those
whom I love at home, or fit me for Thy presence in peace.

Strengthen us to quit ourselves like men in our right and just
cause. Keep us faithful unto death, calm in danger, patient in
suffering, merciful as well as brave, true to our Queen, our
country, and our colours.

If it be Thy will, enable us to win victory for England, and
above all grant us the better victory over temptation and sin,
over life and death, that we may be more than conquerors through
Him who loved us, and laid down His life for us, Jesus our
Saviour, the Captain of the Army of God. Amen.

The general who officially invited all his troops to use such a prayer
could not fail to prove a warm friend and patron of Soldiers' Homes;
and to the Pretoria Home he came, not merely formally to declare it
open, but to attend one of the many concerts given there, thus
encouraging by his example both the workers and those for whom they
worked. A supremely busy and burdened man, _that_ he made a part of
his business; and surely he was wise, for one sober soldier is any day
worth more than a dozen drunken ones.

The general who thus deliberately encouraged his troops to live
devoutly, instead of being deemed by them on that account unsoldierly
or fanatic, secured such a place in their confidence and affection as
few even of the most magnetic leaders among men ever managed to
obtain. The pet name by which they always spoke of him implied no
approach to unseemly familiarity, but betokened the same kind of
attachment as the veteran hosts of Napoleon the Great intended to
express when they admiringly called their dread master "The Little
Corporal." He amply justified their confidence in him, and they amply
justified his confidence in them; and so on resigning his command in
South Africa he spoke of these "my comrades," as he called them, in
terms as gratifying as they are uncommon:--

I am very proud that I am able to record, with the most absolute
truth, that the conduct of this army from first to last has been
exemplary. Not one single case of serious crime has been brought
to my notice--indeed, nothing that deserves the name of _crime_.
There has been no necessity for appeal