Oldham - Salvation Army

OPENING

(From the Oldham Evening Express)

Marching along.

Marching along.

The brothers and sisters assembled early in the morning at a Prayer Meeting. Commencing their march about eight o’clock, They tramped from Manchester to Oldham, singing all the way, and stopping at various points to make prayer, always brief and earnest. They will return to their homes and their occupations, leaving the Station in charge of the Captains Jackson, the two "lasses." Perhaps some of the more prominent members may come to assist until the Station becomes a self-supporting one, but it will be out of sheer love for the work and not because it is a source of pecuniary profit to themselves. This is always done in the manner followed yesterday.

Under these circumstances it is difficult to perceive why they should be annoyed Oldham people ought to give them fair play, which is all they require. The conduct of the large crowd which yesterday assembled at the first services, will in all probability be mis-presented before the outside public, and Oldham will obtain a worse name for rough conduct than has ever been the case. ln justice to Oldham people it ought to be stated that yesterday's proceedings were not ended in a hostile sense. The opportunity to indulge in a little rough play was seized by many, but that was all, and no bodily harm was intended. No one was injured, and the danger arose more from want of thought then want of heart. The arrangements of the warriors were mainly responsible for the disorderly proceedings

It was intended to hold an open-air meeting in Tommyfeld. When the Salvationists. numbering between fifty or sixty brothers and sisters, arrived there no rallying point was visible. They began to sing and the pressure to see them was so great that the weight of the crowd being on the top side, they were hustled into a corner amongst the stalls. Here they lost sight of Major Taylor, who is rather under the medium height, and wore a blue helmet. The crowd pressed upon him, and but for the presence of the constables he might have been injured. However, he got back to the original station, and after a time singing was again commenced. A number of roughs again crowded upon the singers, and the rain was descending heavily, and it appeared impossible to get a hearing there, the constables escorted the Major and his Staff, which had now been strengthened by the accession of Major Blandy, an elderly gentleman and two "Hallelujah Lasses" to the Skating Rink. As soon as their destination became known the crowd broke up into sections, some making one way, some another, but all striving to get there first and secure a good seat.

[The description which follows is most graphic, showing the need of such an agency as the Salvation Army in the town and as the police were present and rendered invaluable service, we feel quite confident that the good seed sown at the opening of the Station, will bring forth an abundant harvest.)

The Afternoon Meeting.

The visitor to the Rink on Sunday afternoon had a far better chance of seeing The Army at work, The Rink was never more than three parts full, owing to the energetic action of the Chief Constable, who, with a strong force of constables, was on the ground, and refused admission to such of the crowd as seemed to be disposed towards riotous behaviour

The proceedings commenced with a hymn-

"There is a fountain filled with blood,"

The chorus,

"I do believe,"

was sung half a dozen times over, the audience, mostly composed of young men, standing respectfully, and singing with great heartiness. The constant repetitions of the chorus were, however, very trying to the audience after a time, and some sat down before the conclusion of the hymn. Before singing the last verse one of the Sisters Jackson made a short address relative to the sentiment expressed in the verse. The remarks on the Immortality of the soul and its power of experiencing pain or pleasure after the

"poor stammering tongue lies silent in the grave." 

made a profound impression.

The younger of Sisters Jackson rose at once to speak... Taking no notice of these interruptions, she went on note the case of the young man at Barrow a week or two ago who, on being asked to give his heart to God, said there was plenty of time yet, and he had no need to be in a hurry, but who, in the week following. is caught between the buffers of two railway trucks and crushed to death. As the sister spoke, she gradually grew more excited and impressive, but she had the best appeal on the whole. After her speech, more singing was indulged in. The old hymn.

"My Jesus, I love Thee,"

was sung to the tune of "Toiling On." with the chorus, which gave the rougher portion of the audience an opportunity to show their vocal powers. 

Even after the singers on the platform had given up the chorus, these toughs kept "Toiling On," and when they were tired out they hailed their performance with a round of applause, an incident which called forth a rebuke from Major Taylor who advised them not to applaud, but to say "Hallelujah," which he explained meant "Glory to God." Several of the audience took him at his word at the conclusion of the next item in the programme a solo song by "Fiddler Dick."

After "Dick" had finished a short address, confusion arose amongst the audience, owing to three near the windows looking upon the uncovered rink peeping through the windows as if something of interest was going an outside. Of course, everybody else wanted to see, and stood upon the forms, calling forth a spirited remonstrance from Captain Jackson, the elder sister, who said she had had charge of a week-night meeting attended by 500 children in Barrow, and they did not need half so much looking after as the Oldham audience. She implored them, if not for her sake, at least for the credit of the town to which they belonged, to behave like men, and give them a fair chance, which was all that they wanted. This, coupled with the presence of the Chief-constable, who hurried up, sobered the audience, and quietness was restored.

Major Taylor then addressed the meeting, but suffered from an interruption caused by a brick-bat being sent through one of the windows. How this happened is a mystery to the police, who were patrolling along that side of the Rink but did not see the missile thrown. The meeting shortly after concluded amid some confusion, and several of the Salvationist were mobbed by the crowd on coming out of the Rink and had to run for shelter...

THE EVENING MEETING.

The arrangements for the evening meeting were very good and reflect the highest credit upon the Chief-constable, who had the full strength of the police force on duty; constables patrolled the two assailable sides of the building, and were drawn up right across the entrance, allowing no one to pass who did not seem to be respectable and law-abiding, Under the gable of Priory House, a strong force was kept in reserve and policemen could be seen dotted about in the building. The Mayor was also present in the Rink, which was about five-sixths filled. When every seat is occupied, there is accommodation for 2,100. Though all seats were not filled last night, fully that number were present, as many preferred to stand in the aisles, thus getting nearer to the platform. 

The audience was a most respectable and attentive one, and the sight of it must have amply repaid the Salvationists for their experience in the morning and afternoon. No interruptions took place at any part of the service, which consisted, as before, of singing, Bible reading, prayer, short addresses, and solos. The great merit of their brevity and variety.

On the part of the converts, they consist in a simple, plain statement of personal experience; on the part of the organizers and conductors, of personal experience, varied with illustrations from the experience of others, there is no argument or splitting of theological hairs. The whole points of the creed of the Salvationists are - Man is a sinner, Christ a Saviour. He died for everyone; therefore He died for you, He saved me; therefore He can save you

Come then, to the Fountain, it is free, without money and without price. The changes are rung upon these few points again and again, but they are never reasoned about. It is so, that is all - if you believe you will be saved. if you disbelieve you will be damned. If you believe you will go to Heaven, if you disbelieve you will go to hell. No refinement of terms. Hell, to the Salvationists, is a lake burning with brimstone and fire. "Fiddler Jack" in the afternoon spoke of hell as the "blue lake." In the evening, the same person, speaking of the "fountains flowing with blood," said, "I went into that fountain a sinner, and came out of it a saint." There are no doubters or weak-kneed disciples among the "Salvationists." Each and every one professes the utmost confidence in personal Salvation and if the accounts which they give of their lives before conversion are not exaggerated, then the mere fact that these men have been changed justifies the constitution of The Salvation Army.

The Army never abandons a place which it has once stormed. The work begun yesterday at the Skating Rink is to go on and on until the Day of Judgment. There will be a prayer meeting at eight o'clock on Sundays, an open-air meeting at ten, an indoor meeting at eleven, another open-air meeting at two in the afternoon, and an indoor meeting at three and a third indoor meeting at half-past six in the evening. Holding services every night as they do, they claim that they are, as they express it, "putting full time in for the Lord" Major Blandy intends to stay for a few days, but Major Taylor and himself have other work to attend to, and the Station at Oldham will be left in the charge of the Sisters Jackson, both of whom take rank as Captains. There is no doubt but that these ladies will do good. They speak earnestly and feelingly, and in tones that thrill the hearer as it is in the power of few men to accomplish. They do not appeal to the reason as much as to the emotions. Still, they cannot fail to be a benefit to the town, and all who have the fair name of Oldham at heart ought to discountenance by word and action any attempt to molest them or any of their followers.

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

Thank God for what He is doing here. The devil has been defeated at every meeting. Drunkards, wife beaters, pigeon flyers, jailbirds and other singers are being saved. Bless God forever! And we are still rolling the old chariot along and the publicans are crying out because the Army is going about, and if this Salvation business keeps going on, the publicans will have to close altogether. Praise God forever! 1,200 have already professed to find the peace that the world cannot gain and the station has only been opened eight weeks. Last Sunday we had 700 at the 7 o’clock knee drill. The soldiers speak well of the great saving power of Jesus. We are real “Death and Glory Boys!”

From, 'The War Cry', May 1882.

This is just one example of what was happening here. More reports can be seen from the War Cry in future months/years.

I do not know where the meetings were held.