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Frank Bell (Salvation Army officer)

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Frank Bell (c. 1869[1] – 4 April 1957) was a colonel in the Salvation Army. From 1920 he and his wife served in Australia as principals of the "Army"'s training garrisons in Melbourne and Sydney. He was known as a strong personality, a forceful and earnest speaker.[2]

History

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No details have been found regarding his origin and first 20 years with the Salvation Army.

Around 1910 he became associated with the training of cadets for service as Salvation Army officers, first with the International Training Garrison in London, England, then as principal of the Toronto, Canada, garrison.[2]

After the Great War of 1814–1918, when the Salvation Army organisation was held in stasis, Bramwell Booth made a tour of global Salvation Army operations, and ordered numerous changes to its upper ranks to advance his vision of a cohesive organisation.[3]
In October 1920 Commissioner James Hay (1865–1962) announced changes to its Territorial Division, which included Australia, breaking its command into two rival divisions under commissioners of similar ranking: Colonel Ernest Knight of the Melbourne Training College becoming chief secretary for the eastern territory, based in Sydney,[a] and Commissioner William J. Richards in charge of the southern territory, based in Melbourne.
Similar upheavals were imposed on the US organisation.[6]

Bell, ranked lieutenant-colonel, succeeded Knight as colonel in charge of the Melbourne training college, and Lieutenant-Colonel Alfred J. S. Harris, of the Adelaide garrison, was appointed to a new training College in Sydney, due to be opened in March 1921.[7] In 1926 he was transferred to the Sydney training college, while Harris was transferred to Melbourne.[8] No explanation was given for this exchange of responsibilities. Harris was replaced by Bettridge in 1929.[9]

He became a "radio star" in 1929 when 2BL began regularly broadcasting the Sunday services he conducted at the Congress Hall, Elizabeth Street, Sydney. In 1931 he wrote an article on the international nature of the Army for the Daily Telegraph, one in a series for "Church Week".[10] He returned to the topic in 1934, with the impending retirement of Edward J. Higgins.[11]

He is a strong personality, a forceful and earnest speaker. The night service has been ranged as a special civic service and invitations to attend have been accepted by the mayors and aldermen of Newcastle, Wickham, Stockton, and Carrington. The programme of meetings includes a special lecture on the "Army Founder" tonight, meetings at 11, 3.15, and 7 tomorrow, and a special gathering for Salvationists on Monday night.[2]

He was an enthusiast for the Council of Churches as a pressure group combating social ills — he was concerned wit the insidious erosion of Sunday by innocent pleasures — picnics and bushwalking, concerts and, worst of all, the family motor car.[12] The Council had some success fighting Sunday dancing and organised sports.[13] In 1938 he was elected president of the Council of Churches in New South Wales. [14]

Other interests

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  • Bell conducted Bible classes.[15]
  • Bell believed in the healing power of prayer, having himself overcome an (undisclosed) complaint said to be incurable.[16]
  • Was he the Frank Bell who photographed The wreck of the Euroka on Long Reef.[17]

Publications

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In 1942 he published a booklet collection of his sermons.[18] Other publications include:[19]

  • 1939 The international imbroglio : is it judgment?
  • 1942 Shadow of catastrophe : France's fateful example
  • 1942 Rendezvous with destiny
  • 1947 The world's malady diagnosed and the shape of things to come

Family

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Bell married Miriam (c. 1866[b] – 15 July 1944).[21] They had one son and four daughters, all Salvation Army officers.

  • C. Mabel Bell,
  • Kathleen Bell married Captain, later Brigadier, George H. C. Garlick on 28 December 1927.[22] Both were lifelong Salvationists[23]
  • Herbert Bell
  • Mildred Bell (c. 1900 – 4 or 5 July 1933) was their youngest daughter.[20]

Notes

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  1. ^ Knight retired and was replaced in 1923 by John McInnes, whose non-appearance is unexplained; Walter Suttor (died 1949)[4] in 1924[5] and George Carpenter in 1927.
  2. ^ Bell was due to retire in 1933 at age 65.[20]

References

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  1. ^ ""Good For 10 Years"". The Sun. No. 7504. New South Wales, Australia. 18 January 1934. p. 17. Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ a b c "Salvation Army Citadel". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. No. 16, 840. New South Wales, Australia. 4 October 1930. p. 11. Retrieved 24 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Salvation Army Changes". The Herald (Melbourne). No. 13, 924. Victoria, Australia. 27 October 1920. p. 9. Retrieved 24 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Late Col. Suttor Was a Great Salvationist". Mudgee Guardian and North-western Representative. New South Wales, Australia. 14 November 1949. p. 11. Retrieved 26 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Brevities". Lithgow Mercury. New South Wales, Australia. 14 July 1926. p. 2. Retrieved 26 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Religious". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). No. 12916. New South Wales, Australia. 2 October 1920. p. 9. Retrieved 26 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Church Notes". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 6 November 1920. p. 10. Retrieved 24 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Personal". Evening News (Sydney). No. 18299. New South Wales, Australia. 13 February 1926. p. 6. Retrieved 26 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Personal". The Herald (Melbourne). No. 16, 300. Victoria, Australia. 15 August 1929. p. 7. Retrieved 26 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Church Week". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Vol. 1, no. 223. New South Wales, Australia. 2 November 1931. p. 6. Retrieved 24 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "The Salvation Army". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 30, 154. New South Wales, Australia. 25 August 1934. p. 9. Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Cars and Concerts Threaten Sabbath". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Vol. 2, no. 181. New South Wales, Australia. 13 September 1932. p. 7. Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "How to Stop Sunday Sport". The Courier-mail. No. 905. Queensland, Australia. 24 July 1936. p. 16. Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "Council of Churches". The Methodist. Vol. 47, no. 24. New South Wales, Australia. 11 June 1938. p. 20. Retrieved 24 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "The Churches". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 31, 849. New South Wales, Australia. 27 January 1940. p. 12. Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "Fifty Cures". The Sun (Sydney). No. 3856. New South Wales, Australia. 12 March 1923. p. 7. Retrieved 24 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "Euroka on Long Reef". Daily Telegraph (Sydney).
  18. ^ "The Colonel At Least Doesn't Mention Licorice Allsorts". The Daily Mirror (Sydney). No. 490. New South Wales, Australia. 5 December 1942. p. 5. Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Works by Frank Bell". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  20. ^ a b "About People". The Age. No. 24, 409. Victoria, Australia. 6 July 1933. p. 7. Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 33, 248. New South Wales, Australia. 17 July 1944. p. 8. Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "Salvation Army Notes". Sunday Times. No. 2187. New South Wales, Australia. 1 January 1928. p. 12. Retrieved 26 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "Personal". Glen Innes Examiner. Vol. 18, no. 2376. New South Wales, Australia. 20 January 1944. p. 4. Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
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