Charles Mathers GEDDES

GEDDES, CHARLES MATHERS (JOCK) (b. Aberdeen, Scotland, 14 Mar 1904; d. Sydney, NSW, 6 Nov 1979). Salvation Army brigadier.

Son of a staunch labour party family, Jock, as he was known to everybody, became a rebel with a 'devil-may-dare' attitude to most things, including the church. He was a noted convention breaker as a youth. He was described as one with 'fire in his belly'. Coming to Australia to learn farming he commenced in the Atherton district, working hard but becoming known for reckless living. His employer, a religious man, tried to influence him to better things and did better than he realised.

Upon an invitation to a Christian meeting he was encouraged to come because some nice girls would be there. He got more than he bargained for. Meeting up with a lady known as the 'Angel Captain' who was Maud Wall of the Salvation Army, he was further invited to a cottage meeting at the home of the Pillinger family. He went and heard an officer preaching from a wheel chair. He was Ensign Matt Cross a veteran of World War One. Jock little knew that a commitment of his life that night at the kitchen table would lead him to a life, eight years of which would be occupied as a chaplain and Red Shield War Services representative giving service in several war zones, not least that of Tobruk where he became one of the wellknown 'Rats'. One day, he would be honoured with the Anzac of the Year award. He became Chaplain of the Rats of Tobruk Association in Sydney.

Outside of those war service years he was an evangelist, a vigorous preacher, using striking methods to attract attention. He called himself a 'showman for Christ' carrying huge crosses down streets of cities and provincial towns; preaching from inside a coffin; dressing up in period costume; carrying large banners. He could gather hundreds in open air places to hear the message of the gospel. Many were won for Christ including one man who drank too much, with whom he prayed and said he would pray with him all night till he got 'saved'. This man became a minister of the Presbyterian church and moderator. Set back in his fifties with a heart attack he had to restrict his work but became visitation chaplain of the Sydney Congress Hall and later as counsellor to homeless men, men from the courts, alcoholics and dispossessed. He sometimes would have several thousand interviews a year.

Amongst all awards received, there was none that gave greater satisfaction than that of the Order of the Founder, the Salvation Army's highest award. It was given because of distinguished and memorable service which in spirit and achievement would have specially commended itself to the Founder, William Booth. Apart from evangelist, chaplain, corps Officer and pastor, Charles Mathers Geddes was one of the greatest of morale boosters. He would call himself a 'trophy of Grace'.

W Cairns, Padre Jock O.F. (Canberra, 1975); The Year Book of the Salvation Army (London, 1991)

WILLIAM RAMSAY CAIRNS