I have been in The Army for twenty years, but have never had such
an eye-opener in all my experience. I tell you if ever I have felt
ashamed of myself and my performances, it has been since this
officer came. She's the right woman in the right place, there's no
doubt about it. She can 'sit on' a fellow without crushing the life
out of him. The whole band is changed. She's just got our chaps,
the thirty of them; and she's as true and straight as a die. The
beauty of her life and example beats all we have ever had. Makes you
feel you must be good whether you will or not.' This was intensely
interesting to me, coming as it did so spontaneously from a man not
at all in the habit of praising his Officers. After our conversation,
I began to study the character and work of that unobtrusive woman.
I consider her success mainly attributable to her strict adherence
to the godly principles which rule her life, and to the careful
cultivation of certain useful qualifications which are within the
reach of all. Three words sum them up, consecration, concentration,
conservation. Every power of her being, every treasure of her heart,
every hour of her time is at the service of God and humanity. My
'Ideal F.O.' is a God-possessed woman absorbed with a passion for
soul-saving which nothing can quench.
She has so schooled herself that she now possesses the ability to
focus every power of mind, body, and soul on the object of the
moment, whether it is saving a drunkard, clearing a debt, settling
a dispute, or leading a meeting.
There is complete abandonment but very little wreckage in her work.
She conserves her energies in fitness, her soul in tenderness, her
people in love, and the interests of The Army in loyalty.
Consequently, her work wears well.
The feature which impressed me most in my F.O. was her faith, her
indomitable faith in God, faith for the very worst, faith in the
midst of darkness, tireless, persistent, fruitful, wondrous in its
effect upon others. She literally accepts no defeat. Her convictions
are strong, her brain fertile, and when failure appears imminent,
her tactics are changed and seeming defeat turned into victory.
The shepherd spirit is characteristic of her. Watching and caring
for souls seems part of her being. Hence visitation is a joy to her.
The bright cheeriness of her manner, and her loving compassionate
heart, ensure a welcome everywhere; and whilst she weeps over the
wanderer, and spares no pains to win him back, she is inexorable
where wrong is concerned. Sin must be confessed and forsaken.
Wrong-doing must be righted, reparation must be made.
More time and prayer are spent by this particular officer on
personal dealing than on any other aspect of her work. No wrong
thing is ever winked at, be it in the wealthiest or the poorest;
in the heart, the habit, or the home. The fierce light of the
Judgment is brought to bear so powerfully upon evil that the
wrongdoer must either give in to God or give up his profession.
Her soldiers and people regard their Officer with deep respect and
affection. She is as accessible to the youngest child as to the
eldest soldier, yet is over familiar with none.
For her platform she studies much, often alas! far into the night,
when she has sent her lieutenants to rest. She is not what is
termed a brilliant speaker, but her matter is arresting,
convincing, converting.
To her lieutenants she is a charming companion, a wise leader. In
her home she is a model of cleanliness and good management.
The business side of a woman's work is often, I have heard, the
weak point; but as a Commanding Officer my Ideal possesses a large
capacity for business and relish for it, to which, as a lieutenant,
she was a stranger. She shoulders financial burdens with a loyal
courage, and carries them through successfully. Her writing table
is the index to her brain, and bears the stamp of order upon it.
You cannot surprise her with an outstanding liability. She has her
hand on everything in a corps in a remarkably short time. The
yearly expenditure is calculated, the ordinary resources
discovered, special efforts estimated, the deficit boldly faced;
then prayer, faith, and extraordinary effort are brought to bear
upon meeting it. She runs all her financial efforts on the budget
principle.
On corps organization and oversight, she is equally systematic and
comprehensive. You will find the individuality of my Ideal
wherever you touch the corps; converts, backsliders, seniors,
juniors, young people, home league, boys' band, swimming club,
corps cadet, company guards, 'War Crys,' songsters. In fact, there
is no activity in the corps over which she does not exert a
personal influence and directorship, though far from desiring to
do everything herself.
Her lieutenants share her confidence, and work to the full. She
never acts without the co-operation of her locals, where it is at
all possible to secure it. She values their judgment, and fully
appreciates their toil.
She has a duty ready for the youngest soldier and convert, and an
encouraging word of approval for all.
Alert to avail herself of every possible means to improve her corps,
amenable to reason, correct in her judgment, strong in discipline,
humble as a child.
In the estimation of her two Generals, Kate Lee won a chief place. It was
an honour that she held dearer than any badge, that once when chosen to
represent the Field Officers to The Founder, the aged white-haired Leader
stooped and kissed her as a daughter before her comrades.