The daughter of the house in which Kate Lee had taken rooms, attracted her. Commandant Lucy Lee lent the girl the two volumes of ’Catherine Booth: the Life of The Army Mother,’ which she read with delight. In the loving, eager spirit of this school girl, Ina, Kate detected something which reminded her of her own early longings. All her spiritual mother-love went out to Ina, and she led her into the Kingdom of God, and then step by step along the way of the Cross and the highway of holiness.
It was some time before permission was gained for the new convert to become a Salvationist, but gradually the parents began to recognize the beauty of a life wholly yielded to God, and became willing for their daughter to go Kate Lee’s way, and all the way. Kate did not make things easy for this new recruit. When she saw the spiritual light burning brightly in her soul, and the heavenly vision leading Ina to visit the saloons, she encouraged her, and frail though she herself was, she introduced her to the best way of doing this work. An anonymous article written to ‘The Warrior’ shows how this corps cadet learned to fight:–
Ina’s heart was filled with a great longing. She was tired, yet not satisfied, at the end of a busy Sunday. Going to and from the meetings, teaching a company of Juniors, seeking souls in the prayer meetings, and yet how little she seemed to be doing when the need was so great.
Then a voice said, ’Go to the saloons, and try and win some poor drink-slave for Jesus.’ How could she obey? She had never darkened the doors of such places. Brought up in a sheltered home, she had never seen the sad effects of drink, nor all the miseries that follow in its train. But the call had come, and months ago she had promised to follow where Jesus led. Securing a bundle of ‘War Crys,’ Ina started off, trembling at the thought of her venture. As she reached the first drink-shop with its startling sign, ‘The Tiger,’ the idea of entering it seemed to her agitated mind as impossible as to attack such a ferocious beast. The suggestion of leaving such a task for an older and more experienced comrade was natural; but no, the call had come; there must be no retreat. So with a prayer for wisdom and strength, she stumbled through the darkened entrance, and as the door swung open, a blaze of light dazzled her eyes. Such a sight met her fearful gaze! Men drinking, women huddled together supping the stuff that is cursing the homes and blighting the lives of little children. The whole atmosphere was repelling. The tobacco smoke, the sickly smell of beer, and the coarse jests that fell upon her ears; but her spirit rose to the attack in the name of the Lord, as the boy David of the Bible had faced the giant.
There was a sudden hush as the crowd looked at this uniformed girl in an out-of-the-way district, and the murmur went round, ‘Salvation Army.’
‘Yes,’ said the corps cadet, ’and I have come to ask you to buy a “War Cry."’
‘We don’t want war, Miss; we’ve had too much already.’
‘Yes,’ answered the cadet, ’but the outcome of the Salvation War means an everlasting peace.’
The word peace seemed to change the atmosphere. ’We know you’re all right,’ a voice answered. ’You mean well. Here’s a penny, miss.’ And then another, and yet other hands were stretched out for a paper.
Whilst she was handing round the papers, Ina’s heart was going up to the Lord in prayer that each might be the means of blessing, and even directing some soul into the way of life. Then with a kindly smile and a hearty ‘God bless you,’ she passed out and into another bar. Here sat a military man drinking with his wife. ’Will you buy a “War Cry"’? she asked. ‘No,’ came the rough answer. Then turning to the wife, an appeal was made. In a nervous, confused way the woman bent her head low, and sought for a penny for the paper. The husband seemed touched by his wife’s action which may have called to mind their better days. ’Well, miss, I couldn’t buy a “War Cry,” as I like my beer, and I don’t want to be a hypocrite.’ But the cadet told him he could read a ‘War Cry’ even if he did like his beer, but she prayed in her heart that it might be the means of making him hate his beer.