“Gipsy” Smith – converted to Christ

ON THIS DATE

English-born Rodney “Gipsy” Smith, 16 was converted to Christ 11/17/1876.  He taught himself to read, became a Salvation Army officer (invited to the Army by Booth himself) and later was associated with the Methodist.  He traveled several times to America.  He sang (when younger known as the singing Gipsy boy) and preached, emphasizing the love of God.  His life was from 3/31/1860 to 8/4/1947.

Smith quotes:

“I’m God’s messenger from the gypsy tent. And it’s the message that’s important, not the messenger.”

“The way to Jesus is not by Cambridge and Oxford…Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Socrates…It is over an old-fashioned hill called Calvary.”

“I wonder what would happen if the preacher stopped in his sermon next Sunday morning and said, ‘Have you paid your debts this week?’  ‘In what sort of a temper did you come down to breakfast this morning?’”

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George Bennard – birth, Feb. 4, 1873

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.

George Bennard was born this date, 2/4/1873, in Youngstown, Ohio. While he was still a lad his family moved to Io­wa (first Al­bia, then Lu­cas).  His dad, a coal miner, passed away when George was 16 and he supported his mother and four sisters for some time.

He started attending meetings of the Salvation Army and was converted to Jesus Christ. He met and married Araminta Statler Beeler (she was born in 1871 and died in 1941) and together they worked for the Salvation Army in Illinois. 

Later George became a Methodist evangelist traveling in both Ca­na­da and the States.  During this time he not only preached but wrote hymns (some 300 total).  None is so well known or so well loved as “The Old Rugged Cross” (1913). Another one worth singing and knowing is Speak, My Lord.

Eventually Reed City, Michigan became his home.  He died there 10/10/1958.  The Reed Cham­ber of Com­merce erected a cross near his place and Reed is home to The Old Rug­ged Cross His­tor­ic­al Mu­se­um.

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WISDOM

To a dentist, wisdom is associated with a tooth.

To a theologian, wisdom is associated with Truth.

To the Salvation Army, wisdom is associated with Booth.

Friend, Seek God’s wisdom – don’t be uncouth.

                – eab, 10/26/09

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Rodney “Gipsy” Smith – birth, Mar. 31, 1860

Christ, the Transforming Light,

Touches this heart of mine,  

Piercing the darkest night,

Making His glory shine.

Refrain:

Oh, to reflect His grace

Causing the world to see

Love that will glow,

Till others shall know

Jesus revealed in me.

Rodney “Gipsy” Smith born was born this date, 3/31/1860, in a gyp­sy tent, in Ep­ping For­est, near Wanstead (6 miles northeast of London).  His father, Cornelius (yet unconverted) told his mother (as she was dying) how to be saved and she was.  Later he was converted and (when Rodney was about 15) Cornelius let his son to Christ. 

After a stint with the Salvation Army, Gipsy became a Methodist evangelist and traveled to several countries preaching and singing.  He was in American a number of times.  In fact, he was on his way here when he died, aboard the Queen Ma­ry 8/4/1947.

 A quote attributed to Smith says, “Anyone can preach to a crowd, but it takes the grace of God to preach to one man.”

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Salvation Army – founded, Jul 5, 1865

True faith is the most wonderful thing in the world.

                Samuel Logan Brengle, Resurrection Life and Power
                 (London: Salvationist Publishing and Supplies, LTD, 1925), 103.

 

Faith may see difficulties but it does not magnify them…

Faith may be sore tempted, but it does not yield to discouragement…

Faith obeys…real faith obeys when there is no sign.

                Samuel Logan Brengle, Resurrection Life and Power
                 (London: Salvationist Publishing and Supplies, LTD, 1925), 104-5.

 

What is this fire? 

It is love…faith…hope…passion, purpose, determination…devotion. 

It is a divine discontent with formality, ceremonialism, lukewarmness…noise…

                Samuel Logan Brengle, Resurrection Life and Power
                (London: Salvationist Publishing and Supplies, LTD, 1925), 109.

 

We can only receive as we believe.

                Samuel Logan Brengle, Resurrection Life and Power
                 (London: Salvationist Publishing and Supplies, LTD, 1925), 123.

 

The Salvation Army was founded this date, 7/5/1865.  It was originally named Christian Mission.  Brengle was little more than five years old when it started but he rose to become one of the greatest voices in the Salvation Army and, WAS the greatest American voice therein.

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Samuel L Brengle – Sanctified, Jan. 9, 1885

We are now becoming what we shall ever be – lovers of God and the things of God, or haters of God and the things of God.

– Samuel Logan Brengle, Resurrection Life and Power (London: Salvationist Publishing and Supplies, LTD, 1925), 34.

 

…Every thoughtful studious, prayerful Christian becomes his own theologian…but his theology is really limited to those article of faith which vitalize his life, guide…his conduct, mold his spirit…purify his nature and kindle his hope for the future.

– Samuel Logan Brengle, Resurrection Life and Power (London: Salvationist Publishing and Supplies, LTD, 1925), 40.

 

A spiritual leader is one who lives in the Spirit, who dwells in such constant and intimate closeness with God, that he and his Lord commune with each other…and when God speaks he rises up and follows.

– Samuel Logan Brengle, Resurrection Life and Power (London: Salvationist Publishing and Supplies, LTD, 1925), 65.

 

…minister…too busy to patiently wait on God in secret prayer…too busy discussing the breadth of phylacteries to give time to self-examination and solemn secret worship and adoration of the Lord.

– Samuel Logan Brengle, Resurrection Life and Power (London: Salvationist Publishing and Supplies, LTD, 1925), 86.

 

Oh, that we may be so filled with the Spirit that we may arouse wholesome fear in the hearts of men…

– Samuel Logan Brengle, Resurrection Life and Power (London: Salvationist Publishing and Supplies, LTD, 1925), 97.

Samuel Logan Brengle was filled with the Holy Spirit (his “personal Pentecost” this date (1/9/1885) in Boston.  He became the greatest voice for holiness with the Salvation Army.  

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Gipsy Smith – converted to Christ, Nov. 17, 1876

“Jesus, Revealed in Me” (stanza 2)

 

Here Lord I bring my heart,

My love, my strength, my will;

Cleanse me in every part,

With all Thy Spirit fill.

 

Written by Rodney Simon “Gipsy” Smith.  Gipsy (also spelled “Gypsy”) Smith was born in a gipsy tent near London, England in 1860; he was “born again” (John 3.3) this date in 1876.  Smith worked with the Salvation Army (had high regard for William Booth), with the Methodist, and evangelised among several other groups.  He made five preaching trips to America as well as preaching in Australia.

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