The Salvation Army Hurstville
The Salvation Army officially began in Hurstville in April 1899.
The first appointed officer, Captain Alfred Hodges, related his memories of the commencement of the Hurstville Salvation Army during its Golden Anniversary in 1949:
The Divisional Commander at the time was Major Wessberg. He directed that Lieutenant Sam Mitchell, who was stationed with Captain Hodges at Marrickville, precede the Captain to Hurstville, make a general survey, and meet the Divisional Commander and Captain the following Saturday. When the Divisional Commander, with the Captain, arrived as scheduled, there was no Lieut Mitchell nor had he been seen around. However, that Saturday night, just before a prayer meeting was to commence at a friend's residence, they were startled by the sound of voices singing praises. On going to investigate, it was found to be none other than the Lieutenant with a number of converts, stating that the Lord had called him to Tom Ugly's Point, where he held services during the week and many souls were won and now he had marched them in true Army form to Hurstville.
Early meetings of the Army in Hurstville were conducted in the cottage of William Holloway, and by 1906 a hall was secured. However falling attendance meant that the Army wasn’t able to survive in Hurstville and in 1907 the officers were withdrawn.
On 8 January 1914 it was reopened with Adjutant and Mrs Harry Sharp appointed as leaders. The early meetings were held in the Carrington Hall, situated above the local undertakers on Carrington Avenue in Hurstville. Years later, Major Allen Sharp (Adjutant Sharp's son) recalled those early meetings: Coffins lined the stairway and supplied 'atmosphere' for the solemn warnings pronounced by the leader of the meetings. One Sunday evening, to the accompaniment of the undertaker's hammering on a 'rush' job, the Army upstairs sang You are drifting to your doom!
