Leeds - Salvation Army

This is the first monthly report from the Salvation Army station here.

A tent has been purchased and erected on a piece of ground near New Briggate, in the very centre of the town. In front we have one of the best open-air stands in Leeds, and we mean to use it.

Thousands pass on their way to Rounday Park on Sunday, large numbers of whom have already stopped and heard the Gospel.

The tent was fixed on Saturday, July 1st, and in the evening Canon Jackson offered up prayer that God would bless. the work and the presence of God was felt in the first prayer meeting... 

During the week-night meetings every seat has been occupied, and many have had to stand, and we get the right sort of folks. The infidels come in large numbers and look daggers at us, and even the Jews can't let us alone. An awfully hardened lot come into the back of the tent and look on. I don't know how many we have offended, but the thing is melting down beautifully. One chap gave me 10 shillings last night and pulled out a cigar, tore it up, and said he would give up smoking.

Best of all, God has been with us, and between 20 and 30 have professed to find Jesus. Particulars of some of these cases may be given next month.

From, 'The Christian Mission Magazine', August 1876, pages 187/8.

We rejoice to be able to report, this month, about a hundred cases of conversion; some of them among the most interesting and remarkable cases  I have ever known.

A DAY OF VICTORY.

Sunday, July 30th, was a day of victory.

7 a.m.-prayer meeting; 55 present. God gave us the spirit of supplication and prayer. One man saved.

11 a.m.-I preached in the tent, 150 present. It was a mellowing time.

12 15 p.m.-Open-air meeting. Great crowd listened well.

2 p.m. - Open-air meeting-, North· Street end of New Briggate. Mr Broadbent held the fort while we mustered our forces at Lady Lane Bridge, and missioned the Laylands. Processioned to the tent, which was well packed. The- Rev. George Warner preached a powerful sermon on Scriptural Holiness; the word was in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. This is the sort of preaching Leeds requires today.

6 p.m.- Open-air meeting Mr Broadbent held the fort again in North Street, while we missioned the streets, processioning to the tent, up North Street, by the Infidels' Hall; invited them to come to Christ and get salvation. The tent crammed; many standing outside listened to the gospel. I preached from the Great Supper. The Spirit was present convincing of sin. Fifteen accepted the invitation and came and partook of gospel Supper, many others making excuses like the people of old. The singing and speaking in the streets and kneeling clown to pray, caused the people to come running as if they were coming to a fire. May God give us power to deal with them for Jesus!

From, 'The Christian Mission Magazine', September 1876, pages 227. 

T H E CIRCUS.
Once more we are to the front in Leeds. The Circus having been obtained for Sabbath services, Miss Booth came down to conduct tho 1irst month's meetings. Already thousands have heard the word of life, and many precious souls have the word into life and liberty.

From, 'The Christian Mission Magazine', July 1878, pages 185.

WHEN you sent me to Leeds I laid myself entirely in the hands of my Father and bless God He is always with us. There are souls saved every night. Bless God we have a good army, who have got fully sanctified-between forty and fifty new members, who go out into the open air and tell their old companions what Jesus has done for them. We are firing right and left and well we may; we are going to drive the devil, I believe, from this neighbourhood. The roughs are beginning to be uneasy. when the devil is raging, God's people are always ready for the attack. Bless God, we take blood and fire into every street. We have the full armour; we are nothing wanting except money, and that Is very scarce, but we are fully trusting in God to deliver us. Lighthouse packed every Sunday, bless God, and it will hold nearly nine hundred.

From, 'The Salvationist', March 1879, page 76.

ON Sunday, July 13th, we had our Anniversary Services. Capt. Fawcett from Sheffield in command all day. At night the Salvation Hall was crowded to excess, not even standing room, and scores obliged to be turned away. At the close in the prayer meeting we had some four or five souls, and lots stricken all over the place and the Lord has been blessing us with souls at almost every service. Praise His holy name. On the Monday following, in the evening, we had seven or eight souls and four or five next night, and so on every night. Then agin on the following Sunday, the 20th, the place was packed again, as on the previous Sunday. Sister Parkins spoke with power, and we had more souls. Then, on the Monday night we were favoured with a visit from the GENERAL who seemed highly delighted with the turn affairs were taking at the old quarters at Leeds; and well he might, seeing the victory the Lord was giving us over this great stronghold of the devil. We had again a full house, and a glorious wind up and sinners seeking mercy at the finish. Hallelujah!

From, 'The Salvationist', September 1879, page 244.

LEEDS II (Capt Milner) - "Blood and Fire" is still our motto. We have had some grand meetings and the Factory has many a night been the scene of the sinner's conversion to God. A good day last Sunday. Salvation meetings outside and our Soldiers giving glory to God for blessings received.

From, "The War Cry," page 3, 19th January 1882.

LEEDS II

(Capt, Hayward). - On Sunday night twelve prisoners were taken for the Master, and on Monday thirteen more were captured; one was a woman who had been drunk for six weeks. On Saturday night an infidel's daughter came to the fountain and was filled with the peace of God. One man, on giving his experience, said he had intended to murder his wite and seven children, as poverty was behind and before him, but hearing The Army sing,

"Heaven's a beautiful city,"

he cast away the knife and followed to the Barracks and got saved.

From, "The War Cry," page 3, 16th February 1882. 

LEED III

Since last wrote you we have had some good times, and on Sunday and Monday twenty two sinners and backsliders came to the feet of Jesus. On Sunday night the rain was coming through the roof, making the people look up as it came upon thEIR heads. But our Soldiers were looking up for a blessing, and down it came, flooding every, heart. We did  praise God for over twelve at the Mercy-seat. Monday was a very lively time: volley firing, chorus-singing, short speaking, full of power. Another gap was made in the enemy's ranks; ten more in the fountain. We are looking for greater things. A policeman said to me the other day, "Captain, you see that man there. he hass been one of the worst in Hunslet, I have watched him many an hour. He never had scarcely any clothes until The Army came. Now you have picked him up, and see him - he comes out dressed in broad-cloth on a week night? The police here are very kind.

From, "The War Cry," page 3, 23rd February 1882.

LEEDS I

Saturday night's "Hallellujah Go" was splendid, five prisoners. Sunday we commenced a march round Jericho at seven am., and continued it until ten pm. During all this time we felt the Lord with us, and were believing for victory. The morning march and meetings were good.

Afternoon, Free-and-Easy, pitmen, pudlers, potmen, sailors, tap-room attenders, tinkers, and all sorts of the very worst of characters testified to the saving power of our Saviour and King.

One man, who had been a publican, said he had never found anything like this religion before, aud he could not tell what he had been about that he did not begin to serve God sooner.

Another, quite a youngster, said, "About three months ago you would have found me on a Saturday night at the amphitheatre or concert-hall; but, thank God," he said, "I'm playing at a fresh game, I'm having a game of football, kicking the devil about,*

Everybody anxious to see the new Officers consequently. in spite of the pouring rain, our Hall was packed all day, especially at night; the people were determined somehow or other to be in. The meeting was commenced in the usual order, and, in answer to believing prayer. the power of the Spirit was manifest. When our Captain and Lieutenant had spoken, and we were singing the last hymn, several volunteered, and it was not long before we saw such a sight as is too rarely witnessed. Wives with their husbands, mothers and sons with their fathers, brother with brother, and sisters with their sister, all weeping at one common Mercy-seat. Oh, the sight was grand to behold. Thank God:

After they had all testified that Jesus saved them, we found that thirty-six had surrendered their all to Christ, making a total for the day of forty precious souls. Hallelujah!

Up to the time that this report is written there have been captured sixty-eight prisoners from the enemy. Hundreds more to follow! We will not rest satisfied until we see Leeds at the Master's feet.

From, "The War Cry," page 2, 9th March 1882.

LEEDS III

(Capt. Harrison) -After labouring here for five months, during which time we have seen hundreds of precious souls born for glory, the order comes to bid farewell to the brave 208th. "Anywhere with Jesus" is the Salvation Soldiers' cry, and away we go. though it costs us a tremendous wrench to farewell to the comrades who have rallied and fought round us Iike true Soldiers of the Cross. On Sunday, many wept as we bade them good-bye. The Barracks were full, and hundreds had to be tumed away. About a dozen sought the pardon of their sins.

From, "The War Cry," page 3, 9th March 1882.

LEEDS I

(Capt. Cator). Our next step in Leeds must be to build a Temple, but although Iimited for room here, we are having the Lord's presence with us. Our place could not hold one third of the people who flocked to hear, yet our meetings all day were exceedingly powerful. In the afternoon we had nine seeking the Saviour, and at night when we went into the prayerr-meeting then the sinners commenced to come to Jesus, and forty-four souls were the result of our evening meeting, making ninety-seven for the week.

From, "The War Cry," page 3, 16th March 1882

We wound up with ninety-seven souls for the week.

 

Somewhere near here.