Charles Jeffries

Commissioner Charles Henry Jeffries (1864 – 1 February 1936) was a British pioneer Salvationist and notable convert, after he left the Skeleton Army and attained the third highest rank possible as an Officer in The Salvation Army.

He was the grandfather of actor and director Lionel Jeffries.

'Skeleton' leader

Jeffries was born in Shadwell in London in 1864, the son of Emma (née Petty) (born 1838) and William Jeffries (1832–1870), a mariner, who married in 1859 at Christ Church in Tower Hamlets.

Conversion

Jeffries was proselytized with between 20 and 30 other 'Skeletons' at a meeting they had come to disrupt in Whitechapel; after his conversion he started to attend a Salvation Army corps, soon becoming an active Soldier. He and the other former 'Skeletons' quickly became the object of attack from their old colleagues. Jeffries wrote in his diary:

"In the Open-Airs my old mates gave me many a blow and kick - but I stuck fast. At times they would follow me home singing, 'Jeffries will help to roll the old chariot along' - and, thank God, I am doing it."

In late 1882 Jeffries attended training college, and became an Officer. In March 1883 he was promoted to Lieutenant and was sent to Penzance where in seven months he made 300 converts. During this period Jeffries was summoned before the magistrates five times for preaching in the streets. Promoted to Captain, he was sent to St Blazey and then to Devonport, at both of which he made conversions.

He was among the first Salvation Army officers to arrive in Australia, landing in Sydney in August 1884, and where he was Social Secretary for a period. He was imprisoned in Sydney in 1889 for seven days with seven other Salvationists for preaching in the open. By now promoted to Adjutant, when he left Australia in March 1897 he had promoted the work of The Salvation Army by opening twelve new corps, established Rescue Homes and commenced Social Work in Adelaide and Melbourne, and had also married Captain Martha Harris and had four children. In October 1899 Jeffries was appointed Provincial Commander for Wales. In January 1900 he was at the London Headquarters discussing his plans for evangelizing the Welsh-speaking people of Wales. In December 1901 he was appointed Provincial Commander for the North West of England.

In 1907 Colonel Jeffries was appointed Assistant Field Secretary at the National Headquarters in London, and in 1911 became Field Secretary, making him responsible for appointing and promoting some 2,000 Corps Officers. Jeffries served in China from February 1918 until April 1919, when General Bramwell Booth summoned him back to London where he was appointed Commissioner.

Commissioner In January 1922 Jeffries was appointed as Principal of the International Training College at Clapton, a post he held for nine and a half years.

He was British Commissioner from 1931 to 1935, making him responsible for The Salvation Army's evangelical work in the United Kingdom. Jeffries was one of the seven Commissioners that called for the first Salvation Army High Council and was notably involved in the controversy that surrounded the Council's vote that Bramwell Booth should be removed as General of The Salvation Army.

He married his Australian wife, Captain Martha Harris (1866–1933) in 1889, and with her had seven children: Arthur Jeffries (1890 –); Alice Jeffries (1891 –); Howard Jeffries (1893 –); Henry Charles Jeffries (1895–1976); Bernard Jeffries (1899 –); Ernest Jeffries (1900 –), and Eveline Irene Jeffries (1902–1982).

Jeffries retired from active service at the end of 1935. However, he continued to travel extensively on behalf of The Salvation Army, preaching the Gospel throughout the United States and Canada.