Since I wrote last, the Lord has been pouring out His Spirit in a wonderful manner. On Monday night our Barracks were packed to such excess that we found we must take our flight into larger Barracks. 37 sought Salvation. On Tuesday I took the Townhall. Although it is a great expense we determined to possess it for God. 200 brave Salvation soldiers met together for open-air and march to the Town Hall, which was packed as much as the little one used to be. A splendid meeting, and 60 sinners in the Fountain. Hallelujah! Wednesday, better than ever. It was our assembly. The Barracks were packed. Over 200 told what God had done for them and 61 more fell into the cleansing Fountain. Glory be to Jesus. Not a bad assembly that! We have been going on at the same speed all the week, souls every night. Some have got saved in their homes and one in an engine shed. Major Corbridge was here on Friday night. We had a good time. Yesterday beats all. Processions tremendous all day. Two halls packed to excess in the afternoon and at night we had to get a third hall and then left scores in the streets. 31 more souls were captured at the end of the day, making the total cost of the Devil and gain for King Jesus of 240 souls in one week. Hallelujah!
From, 'The War Cry', page 3, 1st December 1881.
The work is going ahead so gloriously that we cannot take our procession down the street without causing an obstruction. Myself and Lieutenant have just been before the magistrates, charged with obstructing the thoroughfare; the Lord stood by his children, and the case was dismissed. Hallelujah! The affair caused a great stir, and hundreds went to the Abbey Arms, six or seven miles, to hear the case. We came back with a hundred Soldiers in rank, singing all through the town, people turned out of their houses, and waved their pocket-handkerchiefs, rejoicing that The Salvation Army had won the day. Hallelujah!
People are beginning to call this the Salvation Town, we have Salvation Cottages, and Salvation Rows; nearly all the people in one long row of houses are saved. The publicans are complaining because their beer is getting sour. Pigeons can now be had for half-price, and all the pigeon-flyers are seeking the Saviour. Yesterday. we had two barracks packed, and sixteen more were added to the list of prisoners; making seventy-five for the week, and 1,000 for the ten weeks. Hallelujah 1
Capt. THURMAN.
From, "The War Cry," page 4, 8th December 1881.
Saturday, 7.50. (Ballington Booth)
Pleasing and enthusiastic reception at this Station. Immense crowds all along route. The Market thronged; Board Schools were, for some hours, filled to overflowing. Testimonies, upwards of thirty most noted characters. Souls, and at Salvation work till late. Sunday, all the town astir. Baptism Meeting in the Town Hall, representing all classes. Altar surrounded. Weeping and praising. Afternoon, processioning. Difficult to gain admission; some of the Staff shut out: packed to the doors. Overflow meeting and crowds refused.
Sight most touching, and great meeting; wonderful proof of sceptics, swearers, and drunkards, bargemen, pitmen, and navvies, living a changed life. Surely a Reformation of the Neighbourhood. Training Home men commenced operations twelve weeks ago. Thousand converts since. Hallelujah forever!
From, "The War Cry," page 4, 15th December 1881.
Christmas has passed away, and with it some of the best meetings it has been my lot to witness.
"Zulu George" has been with us, and causing a great stir and commotion. Halls have been crowded, streets have been blocked, Mercy-seat crowded, hundreds have been rejoicing. Because they have found the Saviour and have now happy homes. Hallelujah!
Brother I said, " Last Christmas I had not got a bit of food in the house for myself and family, and I was earning fifty shillings per week: 1 had spent all in drink; but this year we are all saved and have plenty to eat."
Brother — rejoices that he is saved. Last year he bought the publican a goose, this year he has got one for himself. Hallelujah!
Brother W. says, "I sold five homes up [through drink, but to-day I am saved?
Another, *1 have sold seven homes up, and served the devil with all my heart, and done everything but murder, but the Lord has saved, even me!"
Brother D. through his sin and wickedness, broke his wife's heart and brought her to the grave, but one night he was going to the theatre, half intoxicated, came into the Salvation Hall and got saved, and today is going to glory.
We must not forget Brother P., who married a wife with £1,000, but took to drink and put it all down his throat and was brought as Iow as sin and the devil could bring him, till he thought there was no mercy for him. He came to the Army and found Salvation.
I could go on telling of these cases, but have not the pace. We have converted poachers, gamblers, pigeon-flyers, drunkards by scores, and men who have attempted murder and suicide. Ten thousand Hallelujahs for what God has done, and ten thousand more for what He is going to do.
Yesterday we had a grand tea-meeting: over 500 sat down; splendid march afterwards, and Hall crowded to excess, Meeting led by *Zulu George;" all on fire, and we had to shout "Hallelujah!" over twelve more enlisting under the blood-stained banner.
Capt. THURMAN, Lieut, PHILLIPS, "Zulu George."
From, "The War Cry", January 5th, 1882, page 3.
Captain Thurman says. Getting on better than ever, marches tremendous, Hall crammed, hundreds outside. Twelve souls for the day. Forward!"
From, "The War Cry," page 2, 16th February 1882.
(also, page 3, 16th February 1882.)
(Capt. Thurman) - Five months ago the public houses here were full, doing a roaring trade. Loafers were standing at the corners, and drunken men staggering about the streets, miserable homes, children starving and all in rags, hundreds going head-long to hell. But this has mysteriously, though certainly, disappeared. The Salvation Army came to the town. Public houses are now empty, and the landlords applying to have the rates reduced, theatre shut up, drunkards turned into sober men, miserable homes into happy homes, children well clothed and fed, streets quiet and orderly, except when the Salvation Army comes marching along, and then there is "Hallelujah noise." The loafers are turned into Salvation Soldiers and instead of lounging about or leaning against posts or the walls and beer shops, they may be seen and heard in the ranks of the Salvation Army praising God. Hundreds of the worst are now on their way to glory. Hallelujah! for such a mighty work. Yesterday, hundreds in procession, and Barracks packed to excess: five more in the fountain.
From, "The War Cry," page 3, 23rd February 1882.
(Capt. Thurman) —"The fire is burning! Our Soldiers can sing that, and no mistake, because the fire of the Holy Ghost is burning within them now as it has never done before. I cannot describe the Meeting on Friday; everybody on fire. Many testified to having been saved from all sin and that pride and temper and self had been destroyed; besides many who rejolced that the dumb devil had been turned out of their heart. At the close about twenty more consecrated their all to God, Hallelujah! Sunday, eighty converted drunkards, poachers, pigeon-flyers, and sinners of all sorts, met at seven o'clock to wrestle with God for the Salvation of souls. Thank God, prayer was answered; after a day of singing and shouting, and praying, seven were persuaded to leave the ranks of the devil, and enlist under the blood stained banner, Hallelujah!
From, "The War Cry," page 3, 2nd March 1882.
I do not know where the meetings were held.