Cradley Heath - Salvation Army

What a rush! Theatre gets packed; we wish we had more theatres; the masses like plain buildings. No carpets to spoil hair, plain benches and boards and 1500 people and that is not all; 11 souls get washed in the Saint cleansing fountain.

...How we long for Cradley Heath's first 7 am love feast! Long before 7 am on Sunday morning people float through the streets like a swarm of bees. Captain Johnson begins before seven. Talk about sharpshooting, 160 speak in one hour. Is not 160 short, good testimonies are better than two hours bad preaching? What if! What interest! What joy! When the meeting is over we all have to pass through the street gate, to be counted up. No mistake; 378 have started Sunday well. 10 o’clock is soon here; Captain Johnson first again, because before time. Generally 70 are out, but this morning over 100 are in the march. As we are turning up at narrow place someone whispered, “this is the worst street in all the town.“ Gamblers and pigeon flyers abound. As we go along, we espy a public house with a remarkable sign. “Why not?“ Is its name. The theatre was quite full at the 11 o’clock Holiness meeting. Several sought and found the baptism of fire, one soul found peace. At 2 pm we met in a large yard belonging to the corporation for a United monster procession.

700 in this grand march. The theatre and Primitive school room were both filled; souls saved in both places. We were glad to find great unity existing among all the denominations. The church has confessed to having been quickened – revived and benefited by the Army coming to Cradley. Ministers of the town and other friends, help and unite with the Army in various ways, thereby showing their love and sympathy for the greatest soul saving movement of the 19th century. The theatre on Sunday night was densely packed – filled to suffocation; hundreds outside; mighty influence; rapt attention; over 30 souls. Before leaving, one young woman screamed for mercy.

From, 'The War Cry', November 1880.

Hallelujah! Floods of salvation still continue in this district. Men and women whose lives have been a burden to them, whose souls have been steeped in sin, are awakening up to the fact that there is still balm in Gilead. Hallelujah! There is a Physician there who can heal hearts that are broken on account of sin. During the short time the Army has been here there has been raised a fighting band of real soldiers, who are willing to be led anywhere to rescue dying men and women and every night we are proving that God can and does use wholehearted people. Many who have been daredevils in the service of Satan are now as earnest in the service of Christ. Praise His Holy name!

…Friday, nights are glorious.

…Good day on Sunday, 330 at knee drill; good marches, place full at night, 28 souls all day.

From, 'The War Cry', October 1881.

As you enter Cradley Station you cannot help observing a flag three yards long, flying on the top of a pole twenty feet above the Theatre, with a great big "Hallelujah" on. We have good cause to shout Hallelujah! For people are coming for Salvation by the score. whole, gangs of youths have been broken up by a lot of them joining he Army: Brother Smith said to a lad at the form, who was crying for mercy, "Now, you must give up your old companions." The lad looked up and sad "I've got none, sir. They have all got saved." We are having a hard fight here over the drink. The pubiicans are crying out bitterly against us. Some of them got out bills saying they would give ten per cent of their takings to Capt. Wookey to induce our people to drink, but we have learnt that the right side of the public-bouse is the outside. We have had over 100 souls this last three weeks; more to fullow.

From, "The War Cry," page 3, 26th January 1882

Captain Wookey has a grand go here. The fame of the "Gipsey Lass," in her costume and singing, had reached this place before us, and the streets were crowded with people hours before the time of meeting. We crammed nearly 2000 into the Theatre, and there were as many outside: and when we opened the doors they crowded in upon us, so that we were obliged to promise to hold a meeting outside. But when we got outside we found it impossible; the people thronged us so, At last the "Gipsey" reached her lodgings, and the dense multitude shouted until we went upstairs, and I proposed we should talk to them out of the window. The "Gipsy" sang a solo leaning out of the window, to between 3000 and 4000 people, the larger portion joining in the chorus. After prayer the crowd dispersed. Surely the fields are white here to harvest. O God, save thousands.

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

I do not know where the meetings were held.