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Souvenirs of Salvationism 3
by
Commissioner Wesley Harris
EARLY day
Salvationists were encouraged to purchase various household
items that would testify to their Salvationism. For example, I
have teaspoons with handles in the form of the Founder.
Photographs of Army leaders adorned the walls of many homes,
including that of my boyhood, and looking through old copies
of Army periodicals I see advertisements for quilts and even
toilet covers emblazoned with the Army crest!
In The War Cry for 5th August, 1905 was an
advertisement for various Salvation Army clocks all at ten
shillings and sixpence. I have such a clock which every hour
on the hour plays a tune, in turn, the choruses, Grace
there is my every debt to pay and Trusting thee ever.
My clock once belonged to Major Mary Anderson OF, a legend in
her lifetime on account of her work as a court officer in
Melbourne and one after whom the Army’s well known Women’s
Refuge and Half Way Houses in Melbourne are named.
I took the clock to a meeting in a large Salvation Army Corps
to use as an illustration and it brought the congregation some
merriment and me just a little embarrassment. From one of its
cogs it has a couple of teeth missing - not surprising for a
centenarian! – and because of that when I wanted it to play in
the meeting it was stubbornly silent and later, at a critical
point in my sermon, it chimed forth inopportunely – providing
at least one feature of my presentation which has not been
forgotten!
Some years ago The War Cry carried a story concerning a
similar clock. It concerned a young man called Arthur who
played in a young peoples band and then in a well-known senior
band. Unfortunately he became discouraged and left the Army.
In time he joined an ‘outside’ band, ceased to be a practising
Christian and struck up a friendship which was less than
helpful.
One evening he was at his companion’s home drinking and
playing cards when suddenly he heard the sound of an Army
tune. It was a timely sound in more ways than one as the
melody of ‘Grace there is my every debt to pay’ filled the
room. The associated words written by Herbert Booth may not
have been known to the owner of the clock but they went
straight to Arthur’s heart and he repeated them as he listened
to the tinkling sound of the clock.
Grace there is my every debt to pay
Blood to wash my every sin away,
Power to keep me spotless day by day,
For me, for me.
His friend explained that the old clock had been passed on to
him by his mother who was a Salvationist and, according to the
War Cry report, the music of the clock led to Arthur
returning to his place in the corps and once again donning his
uniform. No doubt that was the very kind of effect early day
Salvationists hoped for when they produced the clock
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