Commissioner John Lawley

Commissioner John Lawley (31 December 1859–9 September 1922) was a Commissioner in The Salvation Army, the second highest rank attainable by Officers in the organisation, and the highest 'appointed' rank. An early Salvationist, he joined The Salvation Army in 1877 when it was still called The Christian Mission. He was aide-de-camp to General William Booth from 1890 to 1912 as well as to General Bramwell Booth from 1912 to 1921.

John "Johnny" Lawley was born at Foulden in Norfolk in 1859, the youngest of four children born to John Lawley (1835–1918), a farm labourer, and his wife Anne (née Feetham; 1836–1924). The father was a heavy drinker, and by 1871 the entire family were in the workhouse in Swaffham in Norfolk. Later they moved to Bradford in search of work and where "Johnny" was employed in a mill firstly as bobbin ligger and later as an engine cleaner.

In 1877, aged 17, Lawley was converted at a meeting of The Christian Mission in Bradford, and soon became the Mission's fortieth evangelist. The young Lawley wanted to wear a dress that would declare to all that he belonged to God, so he obtained a missioner-frock coat, black necktie, a wide brimmed hat, and an umbrella which he used to wave in processions.

Lawley's first command was the Spennymoor Christian Mission Station which opened on 28 April 1878. Here he preached fourteen sermons a week. Aged 19 he was a Captain in The Salvation Army, and by 1891 he was a Colonel. When sent to Jarrow with another Salvationist the two met such fierce hostility that a superintendent of the police, two sergeants, and seven constables were unable to keep order. In one open-air meeting here "Lawley was thrown to the ground, and as the mob closed upon him, things were at a serious pass. Just then a newly converted desperado fought her way to him, hauled him up by the collar, and holding him thus, with flaming eyes and clenched fist, dared the mob to touch him".

...
Wikipedia