THE FIRST EDITOR OF THE INDIAN WAR CRY

MRS MAJOR LOUISA MARY TUCKER (NEE BODE)

by Margaret du Plessis

ESTABLISHING THE SALVATION ARMY NATIONWIDE 

Surveying the land

Captain W J Gladwin, officer responsible for arranging special events, wrote to readers of the Indian War Cry. [1] He requested their assistance in helping to make the necessary arrangements for the visit of Major & Mrs Tucker to Southern India and Ceylon.  

SOUTH INDIA AND CEYLON - Planning a Tour - 15 January – 14 February 1883

The officer who goes out to spy out those lands, left Bombay on Monday. A thousand extra copies of the Indian War Cry were printed and sent flying all about the region, enclosing the following notice which tells all about the proposed invasion.

My Dear Sir, -

Herewith I send you a copy of the Indian War Cry containing an item on our proposed tours in South India. The time given to these visits is necessarily very short. We have so few officers for our great work in this land, and the demands for work at our new stations are very pressing. But much can be done in a short time, and friends can help us very much by a little arrangement beforehand. I shall be glad to hear from any person. Give us items as to your station or neighbourhood; the state of the people, religious interests etc. Let me know where I can see a few persons to explain our Army work. Even those who misunderstand and object to our methods ought to give us at least a personal hearing.

I shall be grateful to have invitations to call and see persons in all the stations along the route. We can arrange the hour of calling, and you can ask such friends as you choose, to meet at your place. Parties at other stations are requested to write also, as we may soon be able to plan further visits. If any small public meeting can be arranged we shall be thankful. Native and English friends alike are welcome to correspond and assist in these tours.

Major and Mrs Tucker, with other Officers, are to make a Tour through South India and Ceylon in February and March. They will hold meetings in as many places as practicable. These will be general evangelistic services, and in some of the larger towns, assisted by public Processions. I am to arrange for these Meetings and Processions, and those who wish to promote these valuable services should let me know at an early date.

The plan of my trip is as follows:-

Bombay dept 15th January; Madras 7 am 17th; Tanjore 8.30pm 18th ; Trichinopoly 10.40pm 19^th; Negapatam 9.40 am 22^nd; Jaffna 23^rd; Trimcomalee 25^th; Batticaloa  27^th; Caltura 30^th; Colombo 31^st; Kandy 1^st  February; Tuticorin 4^th; Tinnevelly 5^th; Madurai 6^th; Coonoor 10^th Bangalore 14^th.

Hours of arrival and for the latter part of the tour will be announced when more fully informed as to the route, and openings for our visits. Please write me at once, addressing in care of the Post Master at any of the above Stations. Observe the dates, and be sure to send in time.

Yours very sincerely

W.J. Gladwin  
Captain, Salvation Army

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Miscellany

Many of the early Indian War Crys have a column called “Scrips and Scraps”. This usually contains fascinating news and information and advertisements that are of interest even to our own generation. It gives us a glimpse of what it was really like for the early Salvationists in India in the 1880’s. Here are a few [2] .

Once again mention is made of Mrs Major Tucker and her enthusiasm not only as editor of the War Cry but also as a champion seller of the War Cry. She set the example for others to follow.

*****

  “On Saturday evening Mrs Tucker received Rs 11.00 for sale of War Crys, making Rs 23.90 for the ten days from 7^th to 16^th. This was equivalent to a sale of over fifteen hundred (1500) War Crys. Every soldier and officer should stir themselves up to sell at least ten Rupees worth every month.”
 

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 “Some of our Madras Lasses have sent their jewellery through Captain Gladwin to be sold and credited to the Madras Corps. It has realised Rupees 62.14. Someone else has sent us a gold and silver medal, the sale of which has realised Rs 63.00. What a shame that professing Christians should dare to lock up God’s money in such gewgaws, when it is clearly needed to send Salvation rolling through India. Probably there is enough jewellery in the homes of the readers of the Indian War Cry to enable us to start at least a dozen new stations before next Christmas. Send it along to be melted down for the service of God.
 

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 “Wanted! Wanted! Gold and silver rings, earrings, brooches, bracelets, chains, medals, studs, breastpins and other similar idols to be melted down for the salvation of India”

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“Ruth Ayah, converted last year, has just sent us twelve rupees, the ‘tenth’ of a year’s wages. How many of our European friends are giving as large a proportion out of their abundance? God bless her.”