Arthur Booth-Clibborn (1855-1939)
Arthur Booth-Clibborn's life was marked by a journey from a Quaker upbringing to a deep conviction of faith in Jesus and a call to ministry through the Salvation Army.
Keith Malcomson preaches about Arthur Clibborn's journey from growing up in a Quaker family with deep convictions against military service to his encounter with the true gospel and sanctification experience through the Salvation Army. Despite being expected to take over the family's mill business, Arthur felt the call of God burning within him, leading him to pursue holiness and a deeper relationship with God through the Salvation Army's militant evangelism and fiery baptism of the Holy Ghost.
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Arthur Clibborn was born in 1855 into a well to do home in Moate, Co. Westmeath, Ireland. His godly family were Quakers. While Arthur was yet young the family moved to Bessbrook in County Armagh. The Bessbrook community was a Quaker stronghold with a mill built by a Quaker family. Some of Arthur's other ancestors were the leading writers in defence of Quaker doctrines such as pacifism. In his young days Arthur read these writings which marked him ever after with very deep convictions about Christians not being involved in military service or in wars. Sadly by the time Arthur came along the fire had gone out of Quakerism, erroneous beliefs had come in and the clear direct gospel proclamation had been replaced by morality.
At the age of 13, Arthur's parents sent him to boarding school in France and to Switzerland where he graduated from Lausanne University and gained initial experience in foreign languages. When he returned to Bessbrook he worked in the family's linen mill but as yet without any clear understanding of the gospel. As a result of revival ferver stirred up by the Moody and Sankey meetings in Belfast and Dublin in 1874 Arthur came under the sound of the true gospel in meetings in Portadown. It was at these meetings that he was convicted of sin and saved by faith in the Blood of Jesus.
As the years passed it was expected that he would take over the mill after his father, but the call of God began to burn. At the age of 26 he was appointed as a Quaker minister. He walked in the light he had at the time but much more was to come. He began to hear of the work of the Salvation Army which carried forth the work of militant evangelism with a fiery baptism of the Holy Ghost. He then read Catherine Booth's books which created a deep hunger within him for holiness. Captain Edmunds of the Salvation Army came to Bessbrook to hold meetings. Arthur saw that this man had something which he desperately needed. After this in an all night of prayer with three other friends he entered into an experience of sanctification or of holiness of heart by faith. A week later he attended a Salvationist convention in where godly officers had gathered to hear from God and to meet with Him. In these meetings Arthur saw a movement with which he could identify; it was primitive Christianity of the Bible kind.
Sermon Outline
- Arthur Booth-Clibborn's Early Life
- Education and Early Career
- Conversion and Call to Ministry
- Sanctification and Salvation Army Influence
- Heard about the Salvation Army's work
- Read Catherine Booth's books and sought holiness
- Experienced sanctification through prayer and meetings
Key Quotes
“It was at these meetings that he was convicted of sin and saved by faith in the Blood of Jesus.” — Keith Malcomson
“He then read Catherine Booth's books which created a deep hunger within him for holiness.” — Keith Malcomson
“In these meetings Arthur saw a movement with which he could identify; it was primitive Christianity of the Bible kind.” — Keith Malcomson
Application Points
- We can learn from Arthur's example of seeking holiness and a deeper relationship with God.
- The Salvation Army's emphasis on militant evangelism and the Holy Ghost can be a powerful influence in our lives.
- Prayer and seeking God's presence can lead to experiences of sanctification and a deeper walk with God.