an ancient nation absorbed by the Ottoman
Empire. Forced to emigrate because of the
ish War (1877-1878), he moved to the promised land
that was America. He made his way to West Berkeley,
California, where, with his towering physique, he
made his mark as a violent drunk.
the work he could handle. To satisfy his insatiable
thirst for alcohol, he had a window installed be-
tween his shop and the bar next door so booze
could be passed through to him.
work of the Army. Curious, he followed the Army
procession back from an open-air, attended the
meeting and fell under deep conviction. At home
that night, he pled with God for mercy. Then and
there, he began a new life in Christ.
pressed by the colorful uniform he designed. He
was soon dubbed Joe the Turk. He now drew at-
and thrilling testimony of God's
deliverance.
with no formal charge at all. The
Army maintained correctly that the
U.S. Constitution guaranteed the
right to proclaim the Gospel in the
open air. In what became a familiar
pattern, whenever Salvationists were
arrested for conducting open-air
meetings, Joe came to town, promptly
held an open-air meeting and was ar-
rested. He would refuse bail and insist
on a trial, which the Army would win
based on its constitutional rights.
context of his witness in and through The Salva-
tion Army. On one occasion, in Macomb, Illinois,
Joe ran the crooked mayor out of town, proclaimed
himself the acting mayor and made the corps
officer the acting sheriff.
my's right to expression and as the public came to
appreciate not only the Christian character of the
Army but its growing social work that reached the
most desperately poor. Joe spent the remainder of
his officership as a traveling trade department
representative, selling Army merchandise, con-
ducting meetings and telling his stories.