Where Have The Hallelujah Bands Gone?

I found an interesting article in the Salvation Army Historical Society Magazine, written by Major Stephen Grinsted. It talks about Hallelujah bands- the way the first salvation army meetings used to be. Here are a few excerpts:

‘Hallelujah Bands were not a Salvation Army, let alone Christian Mission, idea. They started in the Black Country around Birmingham in about 1862 during a time of great spiritual awakening when thousands of men and women were being converted. (Led by Rev. T. Whitehouse)’

‘William Booth heard of Whitehouse’s exploits and he copied them. And not only did he copy them, Booth improved and developed them to greater effect.’

‘In June 1877 William Booth said: ‘I do not know where the name Hallelujah Band came from; all I know it is there, and has come to signify a certain sort of service different to the usual proper orthodox order of Divine Worship. We all know what that is like- first a hymn, then a prayer, then another hymn, then a chapter, and a sing again, then preach, another hymn, the benediction, home to dinner, then a nap.’

‘Booth continued: ‘Now the Hallelujah Band stands out in contradistinction to all this: it is the very opposite to what I call the dry, desolate, styled, one-man system. It begins with a platform crowded with the holiest and liveliest people you have with a sort of Chairman, who mostly stands and selects the most effective speakers around him, who deliver addresses from five to fifteen minutes in duration, interspersing with earnest prayers and enthusiastic song, bringing all to a close with a prayer- meeting and penitent form.’

‘Booth said that the four things necessary to an effective Hallelujah Band were a good leader, a hallelujah people, unity of aim on the part of the speakers and finally an ability to draw the net in at the close. The Mission Superintendents embraced these tactics and new vitality was breathed into The Christian Mission, which would soon became The Salvation Army.’

‘William Booth and his missionaries, Corps Officers and Soldiers freed up worship. They made it accessible and exciting. People were uplifted and as a result their lives were changed.’

William Booth talked about the Hallelujah Band being so different to the proper orthodox worship. He describes the orthodox worship like this. ‘first a hymn, then a prayer, then another hymn, then a chapter, and a sing again, then preach, another hymn, the benediction, home to dinner, then a nap.’

Does this sound like your standard Salvation Army meeting? This is exactly what William Booth didn’t want! He had been around these meetings, but he was stirred up for more. Have we completely done the opposite of what William Booth wanted?

Where have the Hallelujah Bands gone? The meeting that William Booth describes with the Hallelujah Band in it sounds incredible! I would love to be a part of that!The Hallelujah Bands saw in thousands of conversions to Christ. I’m not saying this is a formula for revival, but it saw results. It made worship in the Army exciting and free! Bring them back!

I think we need to pray for freedom in worship in Army Meetings! In fact let’s step out in faith and do it! Even if we are the only ones in the room being free before the Lord, it will set something off in your meeting, a true fire of the Lord, that won’t be extinguished.

I know someone who simply raised his hand to the Lord in a Salvation Army meeting. The next thing he knew, he saw others feeling free to do the same.

I want to encourage you to feel free to worship God however you need to in Army Meetings. The more people see others so overcome by the presence of the Lord and just so in love with God, I think they will seek after God’s presence more and more. One day in the near future I honestly believe that we will see complete freedom in worship in Army Meetings, flowing from a far more intimate relationship with God. People will be lead off the streets, come into a meeting and just be so overcome with God’s presence that they fall to their knees and confess that Jesus is Lord! This will be so awesome!

Wouldn’t it be interesting if we brought back Hallelujah Band style meetings? HBs brought new life into the very beginning of the Salvation Army, I wonder if it could do the same in the Army today?

Blessings!
Phoebe