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Early beginnings

Kempsey HallAfter a journey of 20 miles on horseback and 12 miles on foot, the first Salvation Army officers to arrive at Kempsey on 15 June 1889 were Captain R. J. Hopper and Lieutenant Thomas Roskelly. They immediately began operation of The Salvation Army by slathering the town with posters with the words: Where will you spend eternity? and Prepare to meet your God! No doubt there must have been a few raised eyebrows about this relatively new spiritual formation, storming the town with such candour! The first report in The Salvation Army newspaper War Cry about the work in Kempsey was printed on 22 June 1889, a report that had been sent by wire from Captain Hopper himself: Wonderful and enthusiastic opening at Kempsey; town stirred; hall packed.

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