Today
As millennial Salvationists, we do not by any means have the attacks and complete degradation that the early Salvationists faced. The early Salvationist had to face a barrage of different attacks, not only by the common folk but also through the local magistrates and sheriffs. But think of it, with all of these attacks, the army still managed to grow and expound beyond anything that William Booth could have hoped.
Early Salvationist had to fight against the very thing that put in place to protect them and give the right to freedom. In various shires around England, the actors participated in the persecution of Salvationists were no convicted or the charges were thrown out. Even to the fact of violence against women Salvationists, these attackers were let off with nominal fines and slaps on the wrist. Such as the case with three men who disturbed a Salvation Army meeting because the leader of that meeting was “a female minister.” These three men were let off with a nominal fine, a slap on the wrist. Not only were the attackers not being prosecuted, but Salvationists were being charged and sentenced.
Salvationists were actually being charged with crimes in the early years of the Army. One particular instance is a Captain Lock who was sentenced because she knelt to pray in a large open area. She and four others were jailed for a period of three days and as a result of this jailing, Captain Lock subsequently died eighteen months later.
Many early Salvationist were fined or jailed for such things as conducting an open-air, preaching in an open area, and playing an instrument. Not all these violations happen in England, but as Ireland and Scotland, such cases were arising.
In May of 1885, William Booth announced that no fewer than 600 Salvationist were placed in prison. These Salvationist were in defense of their right to preach salvation to all people.
In the early days of The Salvation Army, there was heavy opposition to their cause. There were organized mobs that had banded to together for the soul purpose to defeat the Army and their mission. One such organized mob was commonly named “The Skeleton Army”
“The Skeleton Army” was certainly organized to carry out their destruction. This mob was organized to very core with a flag, gazettes, and a motto, “Be just and fear not”. They met together and learned the music of the songs that the Army were singing, but fashioned their own words to fit their cause.
The Army did not fight with fists, but fought with their prayers. Their prayers won, Charles Jefferies, second in command of “The Skeleton Army” was saved. He was saved, due in large part to the watchnight service that was led all night. The next morning Jefferies, was saved. As a result, that evening thirty of his compatriots were led to the Lord that night.
Skeleton armies began to spread throughout the country of England. But without fail, the police force chose to ignore the happenings of these armies.
The Salvation Army in those early years was tough. But the Army pressed on, and continued to fight for men’s souls, especially those trying to persecute them. May we have the same vigor as those early Salvationists for men’s souls and may we have more success without the persecution.
Early Salvationist had to fight against the very thing that put in place to protect them and give the right to freedom. In various shires around England, the actors participated in the persecution of Salvationists were no convicted or the charges were thrown out. Even to the fact of violence against women Salvationists, these attackers were let off with nominal fines and slaps on the wrist. Such as the case with three men who disturbed a Salvation Army meeting because the leader of that meeting was “a female minister.” These three men were let off with a nominal fine, a slap on the wrist. Not only were the attackers not being prosecuted, but Salvationists were being charged and sentenced.
Salvationists were actually being charged with crimes in the early years of the Army. One particular instance is a Captain Lock who was sentenced because she knelt to pray in a large open area. She and four others were jailed for a period of three days and as a result of this jailing, Captain Lock subsequently died eighteen months later.
Many early Salvationist were fined or jailed for such things as conducting an open-air, preaching in an open area, and playing an instrument. Not all these violations happen in England, but as Ireland and Scotland, such cases were arising.
In May of 1885, William Booth announced that no fewer than 600 Salvationist were placed in prison. These Salvationist were in defense of their right to preach salvation to all people.
In the early days of The Salvation Army, there was heavy opposition to their cause. There were organized mobs that had banded to together for the soul purpose to defeat the Army and their mission. One such organized mob was commonly named “The Skeleton Army”
“The Skeleton Army” was certainly organized to carry out their destruction. This mob was organized to very core with a flag, gazettes, and a motto, “Be just and fear not”. They met together and learned the music of the songs that the Army were singing, but fashioned their own words to fit their cause.
The Army did not fight with fists, but fought with their prayers. Their prayers won, Charles Jefferies, second in command of “The Skeleton Army” was saved. He was saved, due in large part to the watchnight service that was led all night. The next morning Jefferies, was saved. As a result, that evening thirty of his compatriots were led to the Lord that night.
Skeleton armies began to spread throughout the country of England. But without fail, the police force chose to ignore the happenings of these armies.
The Salvation Army in those early years was tough. But the Army pressed on, and continued to fight for men’s souls, especially those trying to persecute them. May we have the same vigor as those early Salvationists for men’s souls and may we have more success without the persecution.
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on Thursday, April 21, 2005 at 11:15 PM.
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