Booth went home to tell his wife “I have found my destiny”, and later formed his own movement “The Christian Mission”. Booths organization became established but the results were disappointing, this was due to the fact that there were 500 charitable and religious groups also trying to help in the East End. Then in 1878 the Christian Mission changed its name to the Salvation Army, and that’s when things began to happen. The idea of an Army fighting sin caught the people’s attention and the Army began to grow rapidly. Soon many people were starting a new life as a soldier in the Salvation Army.
In 1891 Booth wrote a very controversial book 2In darkest England and the way out”. It showed his plans for helping the poor and needy.
The Salvation Army soon spread abroad. Booth was ‘promoted to glory’. In 1912 the Army was at work in 58 countries.
William Booths purpose in starting the Salvation Army. Booth was an outspoken man and he wanted to rescue people from the gutters. He once quoted; “when a horse is down he is helped up and while he lives he has food, shelter and work.” Fact remained that cab-horses had better standard of living than many people.
Catherine Mumford was also a main role in the start of the Salvation Army.
She was born in Ashbourne, derby on January 1829. She was a serious and sensitive girl who had a strong Christian upbringing. By the age of 12 years she had read her bible eight times. At 14 she became ill and spent much of her time writing articles encouraging people not to drink.
She met William when he came to preach at her church. They fell in love and after three years engagement they got married. They had a simple wedding so that they could use all there time and money for God. Catherine spent most of her time working in the church but found the courage to speak at children’s meetings. Women didn’t speak at adult meetings, but Catherine believed that women had an equal right to speak. Catherine began to speak to people in there homes, mainly alcoholics whom she helped ton start a new life. When the Christian mission started in 1865 William preached to the poor while Catherine preached to the rich, who often gave financial support. She began to hold her own campaigns and designed a flag, bonnets for the ladies. She soon became known as the ‘army mother’.
Opposition that the Salvation Army uncounted. The main opposition came from pub owners who lost a lot of there regular customers when they converted in Booths army. This meant there profits fell rapidly and business suffered.
When the army did street parades for the homeless and the people who couldn’t get to them, people often complained and became angry and it quite often resulted in violent attacks. The police often imprisoned the savationalists for the street processions because of there new policy ‘peace at any price’.
People didn’t agree with Booths outlandish ways and how he converted criminal characters and invited them to church meetings, this upset many people. However the Salvation Army continued to do good wherever they could and the people gradually began to notice all the hard work they had done to help the less fortunate and the Salvation Army became a respected organization.
Before 1880 the Salvation Army didn’t have a standard uniform people just wore odd assortments. It took two years to get a standard uniform. The first compulsory uniform for men and women was a navy blue serge uniform. Men wore a high neck tunic, with a stiff collar over a scarlet jersey, Military cap with a red band and gold writing which said ‘the salvation army’. Women wore long navy skirts, high neck tunics with white lace collar, and a black straw bonnet. However men continued to where the head gear they preferred until 1891 when a new one was introduced for soldiers and another for officers.
The army has spread to a lot of places in the world;
1880 the army started doing work in USA and Australia
1882 the army started work in Canada, Sweden, India and Switzerland.
1901 the first SA missionary hospital founded in India
1988 the SA started work in Liberia.
1990 work started in Hungary, Germany and Czech Republic.
1994 work started in Guam, Micronesia and Latvia.
1999 work began in Vietnam.
Wherever the army is at work in the world there aim is to spread good new about Jesus Christ. Approx two- thirds of the countries where the army is at work can be classified as developing Countries.
The SA does a variety of work for people and these are some of them;
Soup Runs where food is taken to towns where the people are homeless.
Midnight control
Support work in prison
Emergency backup
Charity shops
Mothers groups
3 course meals fro £1.70
Songster brigade
Church
Youth clubs
Children’s homes
Elderly homes
Job centers
Missing person’s bureau
Banks for micro loans used in Africa today.
Members of the Salvation Army are called Soldiers. To become a soldier, the person should have faith in Jesus Christ. They will then attend several classes to learn about the Army, doctrines etc. they then speak about morality and standards expected. At the end of the course they sign a covenant ‘Articles of War’ and are publicly enrolled at a Sunday service. They then have a choice whether to wear uniform or not.
Salvation Army officers have status of ordained ministers and are employed full time on professional basis.
Ministry includes preaching Christian gospel, visiting hospitals, institutions, prisons, counseling, conducting weddings, funerals, dedication of children.
Local officers like church elders, take on responsibilities in looking after and running of the corps.
Adherents are people who chose to make SA there spiritual home and place of worship- they don’t make the same commitments as soldiers.
SA has several symbols they use:
Crest- Blue border-holiness/ purity of God
Yellow star- fire of the Holy Spirit.
Red – blood of Jesus
Motto in star- blood and fire
Flag- first used in Coventry 1878. Usually carried at dedication of children, funerals of soldiers for example.
