War Cry - March, 2015 Page 40

hen General John Gowans, The Salvation
Army's 17th international leader, was but
a mere lieutenant, he was in charge of the

Edge Hill Corps in Liverpool, England. It was there
that Lt. Gowans learned an incredible technique for
conducting open-air meetings. Of greater importance
was the introduction of a banjo player named Ken to
the Army. This month's

iRony features the events lead-

ing up to Ken's conversion.

The technique Gowans learned came from Major

William Straw, a seasoned officer who employed this
strategy for most of his soul-winning career: find a
theater with a long line of patrons waiting to buy their
tickets and you have a captive audience! Gowans and
his band of soldiers selected a cinema near their corps,
and for several weekly open-air meetings on Saturdays
and Sundays the Salvationists would play, sing and
preach souls into the Kingdom of Heaven. That is, un-
til they met Ken.

Ken was a foul-mouthed, usually inebriated, but tal-

ented street musician who had a pretty good technique
of his own. He played his banjo well, and crowds en-
joyed singing along with his barroom songs and listen-
ing to his gutter talk.

It didn't take long for Ken to muscle into the curb

area where the Salvationists spread the Gospel. He
even accused the Sallies of invading

his territory. Lt. Gowans had
only two musicians he
could rely on: a boy
fairly new on the
cornet and an older
baritone player way
past his prime.
Besides, Ken
could play rings
around them.

They had to

reach a compro-
mise. Gowans sug-
gested to Ken that
they share their audi-

ence and the half hour before the theater patrons scur-
ried inside. Ken could have the first 10 minutes as long
as the remaining time was dedicated to the Gospel.
Surprisingly, Ken agreed, and the arrangement
worked out far better than Gowans could have hoped.

After a few weeks, Ken began playing his banjo with

the Sallies' band, remembering the old gospel songs he'd
learned as a boy in church. He even accepted an invita-
tion to come to the corps hall for a Sunday service.

During that following week, Gowans was doing some

pastoral visitation, and he decided to pop in to see Ken.
What Gowans found broke his heart. Ken had only a
box spring for a bed and a box for a table, with no dishes
to speak of. The lieutenant soon brought over a few of
his soldiers to tidy up the place and make it look cheer-
ful. He also secured furniture, dishware and a mattress
on which Ken could sleep in comfort. The Christlike
love shown to Ken melted his heart, and he was glori-
ously saved.

Ken became a soldier of the East Hill Corps. He loved

wearing his uniform, especially to the open-air meetings.
The soldiers of the corps loved him, and for many years
Ken was an integral member of the Army
he once opposed and cursed.

Ken is in Glory now. The once foul-

mouthed banjo player living on a
Liverpool street is now sing-
ing with the angels.

iRony

...... ......

The War Cry | MARCH 2015

MAJOR FRANK DURACHER

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C y

y | M

| M

MARC

ARC

H 2

015