In the early days of the salvation army women were needed, not only as soldiers and local officers in their corps, but sometimes to begin the army's work in a place. they had to be pioneers to show the way the others. in 1880 Captain Mrs Caroline Reynoldds was sent to begin salvation army work in ireland, with four other women officers, and so became the first woman divisonal officer of the salvation army.
eliza shirley, who was converted during captain mrs Reynolds command at conventry, england, emirgrated with his parents to america, they set out to look for a building in whih to hold army metings. jesus was born in a stable, said young lieutenant eliza, when they found an old chairfactory in philadephia. if that was good enough for him will do for the birthplace of the salvation aarmy in america. they rented the building and called it the salvation factory, after the corps buildding at coventry. it became the scene of many conversations.
later , captain emma westbrook and six women salvation army were chosen to accompany george scott railton when he set out,, in 1880, establish the salvation army officially in the united states pf america. eliza shirley's parents were made captains when railton arrived in philapedia. later mrs shirley, as a widow, pioneered te salvation army in canada. she was the first woman to become a divisional officer in the united states.
if pioneering was sometimes difficult for women in their own land, how much more difficult it could be when it meant showing the way ina a cuntry that was not their own! william and catherine booth did not withhold their family from the hardship and suffering that pineering could bring. yheir daughter , catherine, at a youthful age travelled with a young companion, who afterwards became her sister in law, to paris, to begin salvation army work in france. this was in 1881. later the young catehrine went to switserland to being army work there. in both countries she faced great opposition from those who misunderstood the army's purpose. but her corage was great, and she showed a fine example of what a christian soldier can endure.
sometimes she fund difficulty in getting the men t follow her lead. some were critical, and this made it hard for the woman to fulfil all that she felt was expected of a salvionist leader, but she went on with the work with all her heart.
in sweeden, a young woman named hanna oucherlony was influened by prayers conducted by bramwell booth in her parents home. bramwell, who had been working very hard, had been ordered by the doctor to rest and had been sent to Sweden for a short holiday. however, he could not refrain from holding a few meetings and, as a result, hanna later visited London and met the army there. she came again a year later and agreed to begin the work of the salvation army in her country.
the women who marched at the head of the little hands of despised salivationist in years gone by were accustoming people to woman taking an active, shrinking share of Gd, her supposed inferiority. we may truly say that we were opening a door through which women might carry the message of love and life to multitudes who would never recieve it save from a woman;s lips.
that door will never again be shut.
but was bramwell too hopeful? women as we already noticed, lost their place in the church after a ttime. was it not possible that through their own shriing, or the prejudice of others they could do so again?
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