OPENING
On Sunday we took the town by storm. We arrived here on Saturday night. We were not in the town two hours before we let the people of Guildford know we were here. Lieut. Sister Wishear and myself went round the lowest streets with a bell, stopped ontside a publican's door and rung the bell, and out came the drunkards, crying, "What's up, then?" I began to cry up Salvation without money or price.
We sang a verse
"The Lamb was slain on Calvary,
That's the news!
To set the world of sinners free,
That's the news!"
the police came to tell us to shut our mouths and go on, because it was not allowable for us to hollow in the street. We still went on with our bell and a great crowd after us, people wondering what was up, and we sang another verse-
"The Lord has pardoned all my sins,
That's the news!"
We very soon saw that strong drink was a curse in this town and proved it on Sunday by the opposition we had from the devil's agents, We commerced on Sunday at seven a.m., with fourteen at Knee-drill. Mr Collins brought few kind friends to assist us, and we marched in the open-air. Inside meetings packed all day, though it seemed as if all the forces of hell were let loose upon us, yet, praise God, we had victory.
Atter speaking to the perishing multitude, at night, for half-on-hour with all the strength and energy I had, warning them of an awfui eternity that awaited them, we found we had the Superintendent of Police there. He got up and told the roughs he had been watching them, and said he should have some of them before the magistrates, for he knew them. God bless the Superintendent, I went to him after the meeting, and he said he would give us any assistance he could; so that if the policemen fell out with us on Saturday night, the Superintendent fell in love with our work on Sunday night. Everyone pray for Guildford, and the police, for a good Christmas for them. It is high time something was done to put down the sin and drunkenness here. Hallelujah! We'll fight the battle to the gate, God helping us. Captain KNIGHT.
From, "The War Cry," page 4, 29th December 1881.
(Capt Knight) - Brother Crocker writes:- "I arrived on Saturday evening just in time for open air March, quiet Crowds following In-side, Old Barracks packed. A real Salvation Army Free-and-Easy. Souls at tha close. Sunday seven o'clock Knee-drill; about fifty present. March at ten o'clock very good. Inside, full. Holiness Meeting: about forty out for a clean heart. Guildford Soldiers are going in for a clean-heart Salvation. Afternoon march, grand; great crowds following. Town all alive. Inside, crowded; a large number unable to get in. A blessed season and souls saved. Inside the Old Barracks again at 5.30; as many outside as in, crying out. Why not have a larger Hall that we may come in, too?" The meeting was a powerful one. Amongst the speakers for the evening was a well-known lady, Mrs Onslow (wife of Gulldiord Onslow, M.P.) We closed the day with thirteen souls at the feet of Jesus."
From, "The War Cry," page 3, 9th February 1882.
It is wonderful what can be done in a little time. Arrangements made on the Friday, bills out on the Saturday, and on Saturday night we are in full swing. Capt. Knight is up to business; we had a good Free-and-Easy. On Sunday at seven Knee-drill there were over seventy present. At eleven o'clock a capital Holiness Meeting, a good few consecrated. The meetings that followed were excellent for power and Salvation.
A Holiness Convention was held Monday afternoon and night; over seventy consecrated themselves, The two lectures were productive of good, financially and spiritually: ten souls came out on Monday night. Durig the services a good few testified to great good done by The Army: people come eight and ten miles to the meetings held in an old barrack-room, which is not near big enough. This difficulty is met by the kindness of our Congregational friends, who lend us their Mission Hall for Sundays,
Nearly ail the roughs attend the meetings, some have got saved not a few were pleased to hear somebody asking where The Army was. All The Army saw at tirst was two little lasses, since then a good work has been done; the biggest swearer in Guildford has got saved. One man, who is unconverted acknowledges the grand difference in His wife and home. A young man who used to stand on a pubic house table to curse The Army, has also got saved and lots of families have been made happy. We hear the Captain holds family prayer-meetings, and if they won't let her in she preaches away through the cracks of the doors. Some of the young men are very rough, the Captain has once been knocked down, and on Sunday, for the first time, we were knocked down too,
The members of other churches are getting sanctified, and there is every sign of a mighty work breaking out. There has been great prejudice; this however, is beginning to die away.
We were pleased with one case of a man who pleaded with God until four o'clock in the morning for a clean heart, and got it. Guildford, keep holding on! keep shouting Salvation through the cracks of the doors.
Such shining faces, happy voices, converted Soldiers, and happy converts are sure to have a telling effect, Only eight weeks old! If this Salvation Baby has done so much in infancy, what about the giant days? The Salvation Army Litany is; At it! At it! Always at it! Never leaving off!
From, "The War Cry," page 2, 2nd March 1882
I had the opportunity of spending last Sunday with the Soldiers here, and though they was rather shy at first, yet we had some blessed meetings.
Sunday morning's Knee-drill was attended by over 200, some of whom came a distance of four miles or more to be present. We had an outpouring of the Spirit, and felt it good to be there.
Holiness Meeting at eleven; good time, six souls out for pardon and eight or ten for the blessing.
Free-and-Easy, good attendance, two or three out for pardon,
Salvation Meeting, 6.30, place packed; best of order and attention while several spoke of the Saviour's love, and the way to be made truly happy in this life. Everyone seemed convinced that we were right, and at the close we had six at the Mercy-seat who and their sins washed away. One old man, who said he had been on the brink of Hell through drink, wept like a child, gave God his heart, and signed the pledge on his knees.
While we were all rejoicing at what God had done for so many in Guildford since The Army came, one very respectable young fellow came out, pulled off his overcoat, knelt down, and wrestled for twenty minutes; but he was enabled to rejoice in a full Salvation before rising. God bless the Soldiers at Guildford, and make the good and true Soldiers of King Jesus. The prayers of all our comrades should be offered on the behalf of the Officers there, who have received some rough handling. The Captain is very unwell indeed.
From, "The War Cry," page 2, 6th April 1882.
Another glorious week has just passed and perhaps the best week that our soldiers ever witnessed in Guildford. At last, we are again able to go out into the open air and by that means the workers is reviving and sinners getting saved nearly every meeting. We had a great time on Sunday, 22 professing to find Salvation. After the evening service, we had a “Hallelujah wind-up,“ when 100 testified to the saving power of the Saviour. One brother saying that, before the Salvation Army came, he felt like a Farthing rushlight, just possessing a slight glimmer of religion; but, praise God he now feels something similar to a furnace, all ablaze with glory. Hallelujah! The band is gaining ground, now numbering 20 members. The first Little Soldiers' Meeting was held on Saturday afternoon, over 60 being present and 36 came out and gave the heart of Jesus. Hallelujah!
From, 'The War Cry', August 1882.
GUILDFORD (Capt. Knight) -This past week has been one of the most blessed weeks that has ever been witnessed in this town. On Sunday night eleven came out to the Great Physician, and He healed them with the balm of Gilead. We are compelled to hold over some interesting experiences.
From, 'The War Cry,'
.
I do not know where the meetings were held.