Divine
Communion
Part
1 - Introduction
By David Woodbury
Over the years The Salvation Army
has often been criticised and derided for it non-observance of the rite of Communion, or the Lord’s Supper. This writer believes that the Army’s stance on
the matter has a good theological basis; however, it is not the purpose of
these article to defend the Army’s position, but rather to explore the
Salvationist’s engagement in deeper communion with God.
Perhaps nothing else in SA music
or literature expresses the intimacy of a relationship with God more
definitively or fervently, than the band arrangement by Arthur Gullidge of Divine Communion. The simple connect of
three Christian songs provides us with clear direction in seeking real and
authentic communion with God. Salvationists, who do not actively observe
communion or the Lord’s Supper, are nonetheless, an intrinsically sacramental
people. Their sense of communion is perhaps best expressed in this piece of
music.
In seeking to fully comprehend
this piece of music and the subject it addresses, we need to look back at the
composer and the environment that gave rise to it. Published shortly after the
close of World War 2 Divine Communion
was to become one of the most notable and inspiring of Army compositions. This
arrangement not only expresses the Salvationists perception of communion but
also has within it the keys needed to enter into real and authentic communion
with God.
Arthur Gullidge faced hardship
early in life when his father was tragically killed in a mine accident... His
mother, who had previously been a Salvation Army officer returned with young
Arthur to her family home in Tasmania and was later re-accepted as an Active
officer.
During his formative years,
Arthur shared life in his mother’s appointments in Salvation Army social homes
eventually becoming involved in the Melbourne City Corps where the deputy
bandmaster, Allen Sharp, gave him a cornet and took time to tutor the young
Arthur Gullidge. He was later to recall: Before long, I had to confess to
the young man that I had taught him all I knew. I could see that he wanted to
delve into the mysteries of harmony and counterpoint to a degree beyond my
knowledge. When a few years later I entered the Army’s training college, Arthur
[at 17 years of age] was appointed to the position I had occupied as
Deputy Bandmaster.
A
short appointment as Bandmaster at the Collingwood Corps was followed by him
taking up the baton at the Brusnwick Corps. His growing interest in Brass band
music soon saw him composing music for both The Salvation Army and a secular
publication, the Regal Brass Band Journal, under the name of W. Arthur
Greendale.
Following the outbreak of World War 2, Arthur Gullidge enlisted
with a number of his men from the Brunswick band and formed the core of the
2/22nd Battalion Band. Members of the band as stretcher-bearers soon
faced the reality of war when they arrived with the battalion in Rabaul in New
Guinea. It was here among the trauma of the battlefield that Arthur Gullidge
was to write a piece of music that would forever list him as one of the Army’s
great composers; Divine Communion.
Fellow Salvation Army bandsman,
Wilfred Trigg was to write from the battlefield; Arthur has written a simple selection around two or three songs that I played
one day down at Bonegilla, while amusing myself on the accordion. “All there is
of me, Sweet will of God and Holy Spirit Faithful Guide”. Wilfred Trigg
went onto make what was a classic understatement: It is in the usual Gullidge style, but should prove very useful if he
sends it for publication.
Divine Communion was published, although Arthur Gullidge was never to hear in
played in a Salvation Army meeting or to see a printed manuscript, However, it
went on to become one of the most inspirational pieces of music in the history
of Salvation Army brass band music. Its sense of intimacy with God permeates
the music, perhaps an intimacy that could only be inspired by the spectre of
eternity that hung over Arthur Gullidge on the New Guinea battlefield.
Arthur Gullidge, along with many
of his fellow Brunswick bandsmen were to pay the ultimate sacrifice. On 23
January 1942 Japanese forces invaded Rabaul and of the 1400 Australians
defending the town only around 400 made it safely back to Australia. Arthur
along with 15 of his fellow bandsmen were taken prisoner by the Japanese and
along with other prisoners of war were embarked on the Japanese transport ship
the Montevideo Maru. On 1 July
1942, the Montevideo Maru was torpedoed off the coast of the Philippines
by an American Submarine. In what was one of the greatest of Australian
maritime disasters 1053 Australian prisoners lost their lives.
 |
| Arthur Gullidge with his wife, Mavis, and daughter Judith.. |
Over the years many Salvation
Army congregations have been drawn intrinsically to the throne of God by the
simple yet powerful message of self-surrender,
closeness to God and the assurance of eternal guidance. The
composition has recently been re-edited for smaller combinations and recorded
afresh by the International Staff Band.
Perhaps
it is in the way of God that in the crucible of war and suffering God wrings
from a man’s soul the riches of his spirituality. In the years since the tragic
death of Arthur Gullidge, the message of his music lives on, enriching the
spiritual lives of thousands around the world and leaving in his music,
precious keys to communion with God.
Next post: Divine Communion
Part 2 – Self-surrender - All there is of me, Lord
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