The Mercy Seat - Our Altar

The Mercy Seat

Walk into any Salvation Army Corps (Church) and you will notice in front of the platform is the Mercy Seat – our Altar. The Year Book describes it: “A bench provided as a place where people can kneel to pray, seeking salvation or sanctification, or making a special consecration to God’s will and service. The Mercy Seat is usually situated between the platform and the main area of Army halls as a focal point to remind all of God’s reconciling and redeeming presence.”

We use different names to describe the Mercy Seat – the Penitent Form or the Altar. Whatever name we use is precious to the Salvationist. 

The war was on- 1941/42. Japanese fighting planes were dropping bombs on targeted areas. Houses burning, people fleeing for refuge! The fall of Singapore was imminent. 

In the shadows of the evening, a group of young people in their teens made their way to the Army hall. Their eyes were focused on the Mercy Seat. All of them had at some time or other knelt at this same Mercy Seat to seek forgiveness for their sins, to seek healing, or to rededicate their lives to God. It meant much to them.

With their own pocket money they hired a small lorry. It waited outside the hall. Out came this group of youthful Salvationists carrying the wooden bench – their altar, the Mercy Seat. They placed it, plus Song Books and Bibles on to the lorry and it sped off.

When they got to their destination, other Salvationists were waiting with paint and brushes. They quickly painted over the words “TO THE UTTERMOST HE SAVES” There hidden away in someone’s home was the Mercy Seat. It remained unused for three and a half years. God bless the youth of The Salvation Army.

Fast forward to August 1945. The British returned to Singapore. Prison doors opened and our officers returned to the hall. The first thing they did was to have a thanksgiving meeting. Never mind there was no Army flag and no Mercy Seat. For to Salvationists they were mere symbols. They sang praises unto God and thanked Him for their deliverance from prison. They read the word of God and prayed.

Suddenly a lorry arrived and stopped outside the Army hall. Out rushed the youthful Salvationists their faces radiant with joy as they carried the Mercy Seat and placed it at its rightful place!

Missionary officers and locals hugged each other and danced for joy. There wasn’t a dry eye that day as they celebrated their freedom. At the conclusion of the meeting all knelt at the Mercy Seat to rededicate their lives to God. The Mercy Seat was wet with tears – tears of joy! Just picture the scene.

I know the story is true for it was told to me by those who were present in that meeting – Commissioners Frederick Harvey and W Stan Cottrill and Major Will A Price. All these officers who mentored me are now with the Lord in Heaven. What precious memories.

When the Training College was re-opened in January 1954, this same Mercy Seat was placed at the Training  College chapel at 207 Clemenceau Avenue.  A new text was written on it, “FAITHFUL IS HE THAT CALLETH YOU.”  It was a reminder that God who called us into the ministry would always remain faithful to us. The first four cadets of the Shepherds’ Session knelt at this Mercy Seat to sign their covenants. Subsequent sessions did the same. Praise God, He Who called us is always faithful. My wife and I formed 50 % of the cadets in this first session after the war. Next year we would have completed our 60 years of service as Salvation Army officers. We owe it all to God who called us to serve Him.

Today that same Mercy Seat is at THQ chapel at Bishan. Our brothers and sisters in Christ still use it.

In days long past the mercy seat

   Was made of purest gold;

‘Twas placed upon the sacred ark,

   Love’s meaning to unfold.

Within the holiest place God planned

  Redemption’s grace to show;

More sacred now is Calvary’s hill

  Where healing waters flow.

Thy blood, O Jesus, spotless Lamb

   Once lifted up to die,

Was shed to cleanse our fallen race

  And lead them to realms on high.

No one too sinful, or too low,

  Too desolate, too blind,

But here before the mercy seat

  Can full deliverance find.

O hallow now our mercy seat,

   Thou Son of God most high!

Here may the lame man leap for joy,

   The dumb sound joyful cry,

The sin-sick soul, though wearied sore,

   By evil power possessed,

The halt, the blind, the great, the small,

  Find peace from sins confessed.

We seek the healing of the Thy cross,

   The mercy of Thy grace;

Here at this sacred mercy seat

   May we behold Thy face;

Here may we glimpse Thy holiness,

   Here on our souls descend,

Here may we meet, and talk with Thee,

  Our Master and our friend.   (Doris N Rendell, SASB 590)