Here is some background information about the title of my blog: The Hallelujah Lass.
The hallelujah lassies were women and girls who preached for the salvation army in England in the 19th century.
They preached on the street corners and were not afraid to go to the worst of the worstand tell them of Jesus’ love for them.They were not shy about their faith!
The Salvation Army in America was started not by men nor by women,but by young girls.Eliza Shirley,16,was the first to go.And of the seven girls who later followed her,only one was over the age of twenty!
Eliza Shirley was the picture of a proper young lady.She loved crinolines,kid-leather gloves and her best friend,Beck (Elizabeth Pearson).They were complete opposites though.Beck was a year younger then Eliza but was much more knowing.She was strong and blunt and took pride in meeting things head-on.
Eliza on the other hand was pampered by her parents and didn’t mind not knowing.In fact,she preferred not knowing about ugly things.But when she finally met God, her circumspect existence turned upside down.The girl who wanted nothing more then to turn her head from the grittiness of the world was anxious to see what great plans God had in store for her.
At first her parents weren’t very enthiousiastic but it wasn’t long until they overcame their many objections.
Eliza’s parents,Annie and Amos Shirley
The Salvation Army stationed her in Bishop Auckland,a coal-mining village in county Durham in north England.There she served with Anni Alsop,another young girl.They visited prisons,helped out sick mothers,and walked the streets delivering ‘the salvationist’,the gazette of The Salvation Army.They also held open air meetings.Annie and Eliza preached and sang.Eliza preached the sermons that she had memorized as a child when she was bored during services.
Meanwhile her father went to America for work.He told her about the ungodlyness and convinced her that the army was needed there.She wrote to William Booth asking for permission to start the work in America.
He wasn’t sure about it but told her to go ahead and do it,starting it on the principles of The Salvation Army.If it was a succes,he told her,they might take it over.
Eliza and her mother went to America to join her father .Eliza’s Parents started working with her for the Salvation Army.At firs they did not have any succes at all .But then they converted one of the worst drunks in the neighbourhood,and that news travelled far!People started following.
When General Booth heard about the success he promoted the Shirleys to Captain and promised to send George Scott Railton to the country to take charge.
The book about Eliza Shirley’s life by Wendy Lawton.
Some interresting links on Eliza Shirley and the Salvation Army.
Hallelujah Lasses and Their Work
The Girl Who Invaded America (by Ken Elliot)
Eliza Shirley was my great-great grandmother. Thank you for such a wonderful tribute to a woman whose strong will and perservence brought the love of Jesus and the ministry of The Salvation Army across the pond to the United States.
*This is a great history–she has left an amazing legacy in her “safe” houses around the US.
Dear Ms Crowell,
I’m just starting graduate school and would love to research your grandmother for my school work. Please contact me when you have a moment.
Thank you so very much! Best to you – hdp
nowrocks@comcast.net