Elijah Cadman
Encyclopedia
Commissioner
Elijah Cadman (10 December 1843 – 12 December 1927) was an evangelist
, an early member of The Salvation Army
and the originator of the idea that Salvationists should wear uniforms. Just five feet tall, he became known as "the Converted Sweep" and "Fiery Elijah" because of his zeal for preaching.
, the youngest of five children of a drunkard
father who died when Cadman was three years old. Aged six Cadman was unusually small and, because of his size, found work at that age climbing and cleaning chimney
s for a chimney sweep
. He would start work at 4 a.m. and continued climbing chimneys until he was 13, when the British Government passed a law which stopped boys from working up chimneys.
Cadman was often drunk from the age of 6, and by the time he was 17 he could "fight like a devil and drink like a fish". Aged 21 Cadman become a Christian
after listening to a street preacher in Rugby
whom he had planned to heckle
. After his conversion Cadman spent all his spare time as a Methodist
lay preacher
. An illiterate, Cadman hired a boy to read the Bible to him and committed large sections of it to memory. He was aged 22 when he was taught to read and write by his young wife. In 1876 he sold his house and chimney-sweeping business and took his wife and children to London where he joined William Booth
's The Christian Mission. In 1876 Cadman was appointed to the Hackney
(East London) Christian Mission Station, where he visited the slums in the day and preached in the streets at night.
expected that their own army would soon be joining in that conflict. Hence, those who read the newspapers became used to military terms and expressions. In 1878 Cadman was sent to open The Christian Mission's campaign in Whitby
in Yorkshire
where he printed posters (left) announcing that the 'Hallelujah Army' was declaring 'War in Whitby' under the command of 'Captain Cadman'. Following this publicity, 3,000 people regularly attended his meetings there, and when William Booth, the General Superintendent of The Christian Mission, stated that he intended to visit Whitby Cadman announced that "the General of the Hallelujah Army" was coming to "Review the Troops". Thus, Cadman was the first self-styled 'Captain' of The Salvation Army
and the first person to refer to William Booth as the 'General'. Later, Cadman was put in command of the Yorkshire Corps, being responsible for all the newly renamed Salvation Army's activities in that county.
Cadman was also the originator of The Salvation Army uniform, declaring at the newly formed The Salvation Army
's War Congress in August 1878, "I would like to wear a suit of clothes that would let everyone know I meant war to the teeth and salvation for the world". Cadman's earliest uniform cap is held in The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre's collection, together with his Bible, his bugle and his brass 'War Office' plaque from the days when he commanded the Army's Yorkshire Division.
in the West Indies, South Africa, the United States of America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Scandinavia, Germany and other countries. Until July 1900 he was in charge of The City Colony, a homeless shelter in London which took the poor and destitute and gave them board and lodgings in exchange for a day’s work .
Commissioner Elijah Cadman died on 12 December 1927 and, like many prominent Salvationists, was buried in Abney Park Cemetery
in Stoke Newington
.
Commissioner in The Salvation Army
The rank of Commissioner in The Salvation Army is the second highest rank attainable by Officers in the organisation, and the highest 'appointed' rank, as the rank of General is by election...
Elijah Cadman (10 December 1843 – 12 December 1927) was an evangelist
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
, an early member of The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
and the originator of the idea that Salvationists should wear uniforms. Just five feet tall, he became known as "the Converted Sweep" and "Fiery Elijah" because of his zeal for preaching.
Early life
Cadman was born in CoventryCoventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, the youngest of five children of a drunkard
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
father who died when Cadman was three years old. Aged six Cadman was unusually small and, because of his size, found work at that age climbing and cleaning chimney
Chimney
A chimney is a structure for venting hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the...
s for a chimney sweep
Chimney sweep
A chimney sweep is a worker who clears ash and soot from chimneys. The chimney uses the pressure difference caused by a hot column of gas to create a draught and draw air over the hot coals or wood enabling continued combustion. Chimneys may be straight or contain many changes of direction. During...
. He would start work at 4 a.m. and continued climbing chimneys until he was 13, when the British Government passed a law which stopped boys from working up chimneys.
Cadman was often drunk from the age of 6, and by the time he was 17 he could "fight like a devil and drink like a fish". Aged 21 Cadman become a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
after listening to a street preacher in Rugby
Rugby, Warwickshire
Rugby is a market town in Warwickshire, England, located on the River Avon. The town has a population of 61,988 making it the second largest town in the county...
whom he had planned to heckle
Heckler
A heckler is a person who harass and try to disconcert others with questions, challenges, or gibes.Hecklers are often known to shout disparaging comments at a performance or event, or interrupts set-piece speeches, for example at a political meeting, with intent to disturb its performers or...
. After his conversion Cadman spent all his spare time as a Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
lay preacher
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
. An illiterate, Cadman hired a boy to read the Bible to him and committed large sections of it to memory. He was aged 22 when he was taught to read and write by his young wife. In 1876 he sold his house and chimney-sweeping business and took his wife and children to London where he joined William Booth
William Booth
William Booth was a British Methodist preacher who founded The Salvation Army and became its first General...
's The Christian Mission. In 1876 Cadman was appointed to the Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
(East London) Christian Mission Station, where he visited the slums in the day and preached in the streets at night.
The Salvation Army
In 1877 the Russo-Turkish War broke out, and many in Great BritainUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
expected that their own army would soon be joining in that conflict. Hence, those who read the newspapers became used to military terms and expressions. In 1878 Cadman was sent to open The Christian Mission's campaign in Whitby
Whitby
Whitby is a seaside town, port and civil parish in the Scarborough borough of North Yorkshire, England. Situated on the east coast of Yorkshire at the mouth of the River Esk, Whitby has a combined maritime, mineral and tourist heritage, and is home to the ruins of Whitby Abbey where Caedmon, the...
in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
where he printed posters (left) announcing that the 'Hallelujah Army' was declaring 'War in Whitby' under the command of 'Captain Cadman'. Following this publicity, 3,000 people regularly attended his meetings there, and when William Booth, the General Superintendent of The Christian Mission, stated that he intended to visit Whitby Cadman announced that "the General of the Hallelujah Army" was coming to "Review the Troops". Thus, Cadman was the first self-styled 'Captain' of The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
and the first person to refer to William Booth as the 'General'. Later, Cadman was put in command of the Yorkshire Corps, being responsible for all the newly renamed Salvation Army's activities in that county.
Cadman was also the originator of The Salvation Army uniform, declaring at the newly formed The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
's War Congress in August 1878, "I would like to wear a suit of clothes that would let everyone know I meant war to the teeth and salvation for the world". Cadman's earliest uniform cap is held in The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre's collection, together with his Bible, his bugle and his brass 'War Office' plaque from the days when he commanded the Army's Yorkshire Division.
Later years
In his later years Cadman campaigned on behalf of The Salvation ArmyThe Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
in the West Indies, South Africa, the United States of America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Scandinavia, Germany and other countries. Until July 1900 he was in charge of The City Colony, a homeless shelter in London which took the poor and destitute and gave them board and lodgings in exchange for a day’s work .
Commissioner Elijah Cadman died on 12 December 1927 and, like many prominent Salvationists, was buried in Abney Park Cemetery
Abney Park Cemetery
Abney Park in Stoke Newington, in the London Borough of Hackney, is a historic parkland originally laid out in the early 18th century by Lady Mary Abney and Dr. Isaac Watts, and the neighbouring Hartopp family. In 1840 it became a non-denominational garden cemetery, semi-public park arboretum, and...
in Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington is a district in the London Borough of Hackney. It is north-east of Charing Cross.-Boundaries:In modern terms, Stoke Newington can be roughly defined by the N16 postcode area . Its southern boundary with Dalston is quite ill-defined too...
.
External links
- Elijah Cadman: the 'Fighting Sweep' on The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre website
- Cadman on The Salvation Army Collectables website
- http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19060704&id=Cg4uAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0X4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=6637,363399Article about Cadman in The Montreal GazetteThe Gazette (Montreal)The Gazette, often called the Montreal Gazette to avoid ambiguity, is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, with three other daily English newspapers all having shut down at different times during the second half of the 20th century.-History:In 1778,...
5 July 1906]