Jersey - Salvation Army (1879)



This report does not really qualify as 'A revival', but it looks like something might be happening but I have stopped researching the Salvation Army magazines. There are bound to be more reports in 'The War Cry' that began in January 1880.

 OUR most southerly station-the nearest yet to sunny France. Already at least one of the French newspapers has noticed- not very favourably, but that does not matter-the work, and we ask special prayer for Jersey, not only for its own sake, but that the work here may be helpful in getting a footing in France.

Sisters Elliott and Fysh commenced operations. At first the open-air meetings were good, but the attendance in the halls was very small and not of the right class; still the work was becoming known and talked of, and our sisters, who are very poorly and overworked, kept bravely on.

Brother Edmonds was then ordered to proceed to the island from Falmouth, and we will content ourselves this month with giving some extracts from his letters:-

"We had," he says, the day after his arrival, "a splendid procession last night; I led six of our people down through the main street, and throngs followed. If those who come after us only had the pluck to come in we should have filled the place."

"Last night we had fifty folks in the hall, and two came out for salvation- some others wanted to come, but the devil objected. One woman said, 'I's a great sinner, I knows it, and I will come and be saved some night."

" I am having some semi-outrageous bills done, which will draw the people. "What insignificant things those were you sent to start with." He was right, the bills were very proper and very pretty, and it seems, so far as attracting the people, very useless.

A day or two later we find the repeated efforts- the new bills, the increased congregations and the enthusiastic processions had stirred up something, for this morning we were called to see the Mayor at the Town Hall. He charged us with having caused an obstruction and obscene language (!) to be used by the roughs and warned us that if we continued we should be arrested and locked up. I told him we were working under the Rev. W. Booth, and though he wished us to stop we could do so under your orders only." 

We had fully 200 inside last night of just the right sort, and two came out for salvation."

Later--"The sisters' voices are completely done up: I have to sing solos pretty often. Upon receiving instructions to continue the processions silently, I find this plan seems more effective than the other."

A day or two later Brother Edmonds says:-

"Last night we had a grand open-air meeting in one of the principal squares. We had a silent procession, and the astonishment that took hold of the people was wonderful. Inside we had the best week-night meeting yet-300 present, about a hundred of the lowest of the town.

"'We had a big navvy down (for salvation); when he got up he said, 'Of a truth, God has pardoned me I am. sure.' The sisters are very poorly still- almost done up." But these same Sisters are still sticking bravely to their post. Before this is in their hands reinforcements will have arrived, and we expect to hear glorious news from Jersey. 

While some of the local papers have given unfavourable notices, there has been also a voice on the other side, and the Jersey Observer is speaking out boldly.

From, 'The Salvationist', November 1879, page 290-1.

Additional Information

I do not know where the meetings were held.


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