Elijah Cadman (1843-1927) Salvation Army

Commissioner Elijah Cadman was an evangelist and early member of the Salvation Army - the idea of wearing a uniform was his idea. He stood only 5 feet tall and became known as the ‘Converted Sweep’ and ‘Fiery Elijah’ because of his zeal for preaching.

Elijah was born in Coventry on 10thDecember 1843. He was the youngest of 5 children. His father was transported aboard the ’ Equestrian’ to Australia in 1845 for stealing.

He started work as a silk weaver along side his mother and one of his sisters. Aged from 6 -13 he found work as a chimney sweep, until it became unlawful. By the time he was 17 he could ’ fight like a devil and drink like a fish.’

Aged 21 he became a Christian having heard a street preacher in Rugby - who had intended to heckle! He abstained from drinking and smoking. He then spent all his spare time as a Methodist lay preacher. Elijah was illiterate and hired a boy to read the Bible to him. He committed large chunks to memory.

Aged 22 he married Maria Rosina Russell (1841-1923) in 1865 who taught him to read and write. They had 6 children , 2 died as children.

Aged 33 (1876) he sold his house and chimney sweeping business and took his wife and children to London to join William Booth’s The Christian Mission.
He was appointed to the Hackney (East London) Christian Mission Station where he visited slums in the day and preached in the streets at night.

Elijah was instrumental in the militarization of the language used by the SA.
In 1878 Elijah was sent to open The Christian Mission’s campaign in Whitby. He announced the ‘Hallelujah Army’, under Captain Cadman, was declaring war in Whitby. 2,000 at once wanted to join the SA. 3,000 regularly attended the meetings. He announced that the ‘General’ was coming to Review the troops. His reports in the* Christian Mission * magazine were ’ War News’.

Later Elijah was put in command of the Yorkshire Corps and made responsible for all the newly named SA s activities in the county.

The style of the uniform was decided at the August 1878 Congress, Elijah said , *I would like to wear a suit of clothes that would let everyone know I meant war to the teeth and salvation to the world,

1881 Elijah is now a Major. In 1888 he is appointed to International HQ in London. In 1890 he is a Colonel and first leader of the Men’s Social Work HQ…

In later years he held the role of International Commissioner and campaigned for the S.A. abroad in many countries. Until July 1900 he was in charge of the City Colony- a homeless shelter in London.

He joined William Booth on all his motorcades around the UK.

Elijah and his wife, Marina, retired from active service in 1915. Marina died on 8th Janaury 1923, Elijah died on 12th December 1927 .

As prominent Salvationists the couple were buried in Abney Park Cemetery in Stoke Newington.

( Elijah’s uniform etc. is part of the S.A. International Centre’s collection)

Sources
The Salvation Army
wikipedia