Albert Orsborn (4 September 1886 – 4 February 1967) was the 6th General of The Salvation Army (1946-1954).
Born Albert William Thomas Orsborn, he became an Officer of The Salvation Army in 1905. Albert served as a Corps Officer and in divisional work in the British Territory of the Army. In 1909, he married his first wife, Captain Evalina Barker.
In 1925, he was sent to serve as Chief Side Officer at the International Training College. In 1933, he was farewelled to New Zealand as Chief Secretary. He then became Territorial Commander of Scotland and Ireland in 1936. In 1940, he became British Commissioner.
Albert Orsborn’s first wife, Captain Evalina Barker, died in 1942. This was a very hard time for him. Two years later, in 1944, he married his second wife, Major Evelyn Berry. They were married for just a year when she died.
In 1946, the High Council of The Salvation Army elected Albert to become the General of The Salvation Army. He married his third wife, Commissioner Mrs Phillis Taylor (a daughter of General Higgins), in 1947.
General Orsborn served as General for eight years. He was the author of The House of My Pilgrimage. He retired on 30 June 1954.
General Albert Orsborn died at the age of 80 years and 5 months.
Throughout the course of his Salvation Army life Albert wrote many wonderful songs and books.
Some of you may know that I attend The Salvation Army and sing in the local choir ( in the Army they are referred to as Songsters).
For as long as I care to remember it has been customary either during or at close of practice. The devotional period is usually about ten minutes and consist of a thought/bible reading and prayer
Our practice is on a Thursday night and last nights thought was about “When you think someone doesn’t care they actually do”
Here is the words and music of two retired Generals John Gowans and John Larsson of The Salvation Army.
Do you sometimes feel that no one truly knows you, And that no one understands or really cares? Through his people, God himself is close beside you, And through them he plans to answer all your prayers. Chorus Someone cares, someone cares, Someone knows your deepest need, your burden shares; Someone cares, someone cares, God himself will hear the whisper of your prayers.
2. Ours is not a distant God, remote, unfeeling, Who is careless of our loneliness and pain, Through the ministry of men he gives his healing, In their dedicated hands brings hope again.
A while ago I heard a song of the same title sung by Govan Salvation Army band, it was an old recording but non the less I loved the song and still do. Below is the words to the song.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. …
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Have you ever wondered how the wold began
Have you wondered how the heavens came to be
Of the miracle of life and all creation?
Just look around and you will surely see
God is in the autumn leaves, God is in the chilling breeze,
God is in the rainbow rare, God is everywhere
God is in the falling snow, God is in the ember’s glow
God is in my earnest prayer.
Have you heard the silence of a sunset?
And then pondered on the uselessness of noise?
Have you thought of the Creator, where to find him?
It’s so simple, just consider all life’s joys
God is in the wind that blows, God is in each flower that grows,
God is in the tallest tree, God is in the sea,
God is in the darkest night, God created heaven’s light,
Her father was a carriage builder and sometime Methodist lay preacher, her mother a deeply religious woman of Puritan type. Catherine, in adolescence an invalid, was educated principally at home, and early acquired some competence in the theology of her day. The family moved to London in 1844, and she became an active member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Brixton. When this church expelled a group of “reformers,” she and her future husband joined them. They were married in 1855, and Catherine became her husband’s devoted helper.
Catherine Booth was a convinced believer in women’s right to preach the gospel, and her pamphlet Female Ministry (1859) is still cogent. She herself began to preach in her husband’s church at Gateshead in 1860. She became a notable orator and in 1880–84 conducted highly successful meetings in various halls in the West End of London. In 1885 she took part in a campaign that secured the passing of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, designed to protect young girls.
She did not believe that the sacraments are essential to salvation. Although the evolution of the sacramental attitude of the Salvation Army must not be wholly attributed to Catherine Booth, her beliefs were undoubtedly influential.
“Can a woman forget her nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.
Mark 6: 34
When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.
When I was looking for readings for today’s blog I felt I had to put both of the above readings up.
Generals John Gowans & John Larsson of The Salvation Army were two very talented officers in the Salvation Army who wrote 10 musicals.  This song is from the second musical, titled “Hosea” – the story of the Old Testament prophet’s faithfulness and forgiveness towards his unfaithful wife, relating this to God’s forgiveness of His people who had broken their promises to Him.
1. If human hearts are often tender, And human minds can pity know, If human love is touched with splendor, And human hands compassion show,
Chorus Then how much more shall God our Father In love forgive, in love forgive! Then how much more shall God our Father Our wants supply, and none deny!
2. If sometimes men can live for others, And sometimes give where gifts are spurned, If sometimes treat their foes as brothers, And love where love is not returned,
3. If men will often share their gladness, If men respond when children cry, If men can feel each other’s sadness, Each other’s tears attempt to dry,
Last Sunday I lost a dear friend to Cancer. She had Cancer on two separate occasions, only difference was unlike the first time where she beat the disease, the second time she wasn’t so lucky and died on Sunday 4th June 2023.
She along with her sister, like me were brought up in The Salvation Army. She was still a member of a Corps (as the Army calls it) when she was ‘Promoted to Glory’ which is another Army term.
The Celebration of her life is to be held tomorrow in that Church.
Yesterday the Corps band played ‘Gaudian of my Soul’ as a tribute to this person as that was one of her many favourite pieces
Along with Joy to the World, Hark the herald angels and Away in a manger I think I have got to admit that Who is He is my favourite carol I like playing in my Corps Band because for me it is a carol that speaks volumes. It’s a carol that tell us Jesus was a ‘special baby’ he was to be a baby that grew into a man and to perform miracles before he was crucified on the cross to save us from our sins.
Verse 1
Who is He in yonder stall,
at Whose feet the shepherds fall?
Chorus
‘Tis the Lord!
O wondrous story
‘Tis the Lord,
the King of Glory!
At his feet we humbly fall,
Crown Him, crown Him
Lord of all!
Verse 2
Who is He in deep distress,
fasting in the wilderness?
Verse 3
Who is He
to Whom they bring
all the sick and sorrowing?
Verse 4
Who is He on yonder tree,
dies in grief and agony?
Verse 5
Who is He Who from the grave
comes to heal
and help and save?
Verse 6
Who is He Whom from His throne
rules through all the world alone?
“Can a woman forget her nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.
Mark 6: 34
When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.
When I was looking for readings for today’s blog I felt I had to put both of the above readings up.
Generals John Gowans & John Larsson of The Salvation Army were two very talented officers in the Salvation Army who wrote 10 musicals.  This song is from the second musical, titled “Hosea” – the story of the Old Testament prophet’s faithfulness and forgiveness towards his unfaithful wife, relating this to God’s forgiveness of His people who had broken their promises to Him.
1. If human hearts are often tender, And human minds can pity know, If human love is touched with splendor, And human hands compassion show, Chorus Then how much more shall God our Father In love forgive, in love forgive! Then how much more shall God our Father Our wants supply, and none deny!
2. If sometimes men can live for others, And sometimes give where gifts are spurned, If sometimes treat their foes as brothers, And love where love is not returned,
3. If men will often share their gladness, If men respond when children cry, If men can feel each other’s sadness, Each other’s tears attempt to dry,
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