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Erik Wickberg
General Erick Wickberg was the 9th General of the Salvation Army.
| General Erik Wickberg | |
|---|---|
| Rank | General |
| Birth Date | July 6, 1904 |
| Death Date | April 26, 1996 |
Appointments
| Appointment | Rank | From | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton, Scotland | Lieutenant | ||
| Chief of the Staff - International Headquarters | Commissioner | 1961 | 1969 |
| General - International Headquarters | General | September 21, 1969 | July 6, 1974 |
Memories of Training Days
General Wickberg on his training days:
“We were 500 Cadets in my Session. Our Training Principal was Commissioner Charles Jeffries. But we did not see much of him except in big meetings and lectures. He had opened our work in China, and he loved China. He often spoke about that great country. But it impressed us more to learn that he had been the leader of the “Skeleton Army” that fought William Booth and his Salvation Army on the streets of Whitechapel. Until he was converted and became a Salvationist himself. He was a 'he-man', a quick-witted Londoner, a man of few words, always to the point, who could preach about hell-fire and the tail of the devil, so that we seemed to small sulphur and brimstone!
“Towards the end of the Session nearly all the men had had an interview with the Principal - but not I. I had almost given up hope of being called. Then one day, after a lecture at Mildmay, I was called. But not into an office. The Commissioner was just ready to leave - putting on his coat. 'How are you, Wickberg?' he asked. 'What do you read?' - What a question I thought - and then I said: 'I read the Bible and Orders and Regulations.'
”'Of course, you do,' said the Commissioner, 'what else?'
“Again I thought: 'What a question!' But then I took courage and said: 'Well, there isn't much time here to read much else.' I shall never forget his reaction. He grabbed me with one hand, looked straight into my eyes and siad: 'Wickberg, if you are going to do the work of a Salvation Army Officer as you should, you will never have more time than you have here.' This he said and departed. But I never forgot it.”