1929 Original Salvation Army Photo General Evangeline Booth Vintage

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Seller: memorabilia111 ✉️ (808) 100%, Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, US, Ships to: US & many other countries, Item: 176299960793 1929 ORIGINAL SALVATION ARMY PHOTO GENERAL EVANGELINE BOOTH VINTAGE. A VINTAGE ORIGINAL APPROXIMATELY 6 1/2 X 8 1/2 INCH PHOTO FROM 1929 OF SALVATION ARMY GENERAL EVANGELINE BOOTH  General Evangeline Cory Booth, OF was a British theologian and the 4th General of The Salvation Army from 1934 to 1939. She was the first woman to hold the post. 
General Evangeline Booth Born on Christmas Day, 1865, Evangeline was the fourth daughter (and seventh child) of the Founders, William and Catherine Booth. Early in her Salvation Army career, she was appointed Captain of the Great Western Hall, Marylebone, where there was very strong opposition to the Salvation Army. Wherever trouble threatened, William's solution was invariably the same, "Send Eva!" As Field Commissioner, Eva traveled throughout Great Britain, courageously facing riotous crowds. Following a period in charge of Officer Training, she was appointed temporary Territorial Commander of the United States, then Territorial Commander of Canada. In 1904 she returned as Commander of the United States, and held this position until 1934. In the aftermath of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, she led a mass meeting in Union Square, New York, and raised over $12,000 for S.A. relief work amongst the victims of the disaster. In August 1917, despite differences between Commander Eva and U.S. General George Pershing, the first of 250 Salvationists left New York for the front line of the Great War in France. They soon won the confidence of the troops, with their cheerful brand of "seven-days-a-week" Christianity. As tributes poured in, Eva protested: "The Salvation Army has had no new success; we have only done an old thing in an old way." The American people disagreed, and subscribed an unprecedented $13 million to clear debts incurred by the Army, through its provision of canteens, hostels, rest rooms during the war, and afterwards on the provision of care and accommodation for the returning forces. In 1927 Eva visited her brother, General Bramwell Booth, with a memorandum which sought to change the way in which the salvation Army appointed its General. Bramwell was not convinced; he was adamant that he would appoint its successor, as his father had done before him. In January 1929 the first High Council decided otherwise, and since then the General has been elected by the High Council, in line with Eva's original proposal. Evangeline Booth was elected General by the second High Council in 1934. She brought to the Generalship a wealth of experience in many areas of the Army's work, but never lost the zeal and enthusiasm of the early years. Dubbed "The Musician General' by Army papers of the time, she took a great interest in the soul-winning activities of the musical sections of the Salvation Army. Like her father, the Founder, Eva extensively traveled the world. After her election as General she toured Great Britain, and in 1935 India, Ceylon, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii and the United States; then, immediately upon her return, Norway and Sweden. By the end of 1935 she undertook a "motorcade" - the entire East Coast of England up to Darlington then several Western Counties and the Thames Valley. The following year, she went on another motorcade, from Land's End to John O'Groats, and visited Canada, United States and France, though by this time she was over seventy years old. The Salvation Army's work greatly prospered during Evangeline Booth's leadership, with S.A. activities being commenced in Singapore, Egypt, French Equatorial Africa, the Philippines, Mexico, and Penang (Malaya). Her term of office ended on October 31 1939, when commissioner George Lyndon Carpenter was elected as the Army's fifth General. Towards the end of November, Evangeline left Britain for New York, and spent the remaining years of her life in the land which she had served for so very many years. On July 17, 1950, she was Promoted to Glory at the age of 84. Biography of Famous Salvation Army Leader Evangeline Booth Part 1 About the Salvation Army leader in the United States Evangeline Booth, history and biography of the religious woman who brought the Army to America. EVANGELINE BOOTH (1865-1950) Even in her 80s, Evangeline Booth still had the spunk and energy of the young English beauty who made her father's London-based Salvation Army an American institution. Today the Army claims 27,000 officers and cadets in 91 different countries. Its charitable works for the poor, the derelict, and the spiritually lost are world-famous. The Salvation Army is more than street-corner bands and Christmas bell ringers. It is a multimillion-dollar organization operating a far-flung network of hospitals, welfare missions, home for unwed mothers, employment agencies, and family-counseling clinics. But on Christmas morning, 1865, it was no more than an idea forming in the mind of an unconventional Methodist minister named William Booth. That same morning his wife gave birth to the couple's 8th child, a girl. Catherine Booth had just read Uncle Tom's Cabin and wanted to name her baby Little Eva. Booth demurred and wrote Evelyne on the birth certificate. Years later, in the U.S., Evelyne would be persuaded by Frances Willard, founder of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, to adopt the name Evangeline as more dignified, befitting the commander of Salvationist forces in America. Though all the Booth children accepted their father's vision of a paramilitary Christian movement, Evangeline threw herself into the cause at an early age with characteristic gusto. The Booths preferred street corners to indoor churches, and popular musical instruments like banjos, tambourines, and drums to organs, in their drive to reach the lower depths of London society. The Salvation Army was a controversial late arrival in Victorian England. Violence and abuse dogged the steps of its "soldiers." Like her colleagues, Evangeline weathered harassment from street toughs, bullying saloonkeepers, and unsympathetic civil authorities. At 15 she was a sergeant selling the Army paper War Cry in the slums of East London. In her early 20s she was a captain and a compelling skid-row evangelist. But she feared she was still not reaching deep enough into the city's underworld. So Evangeline Booth dressed in rags and became a flower girl on the steps in Piccadilly Circus, ministering incognito to alcoholics, beggars, and prostitutes. She became commander of the London detachment and her father's favorite troubleshooter. Once a splinter group in the U.S., led by her brother Ballington Booth, sought to lure American Salvationists away from their London affiliate and into a rival group called Volunteers of America. When Evangeline arrived in New York, the doors to Army headquarters on 14th Street had been locked against her. Undaunted, she mounted the fire escape and climbed through a rear window. The dissidents hissed and booed until she literally wrapped herself in an available American flag and challenged: "His that, if you dare." In the stunned silence she played her concertina and sang "Over Jordan without Fearing." Ballington's rebellion was quelled. 'Biographical Highlights Evangeline Booth is one of America’s greatest public servants.  Driven by her faith, she devoted her life to selfless service to help the poor and less fortunate.  Booth successfully led the American Salvation Army for 30 years before becoming the first woman General for the International Salvation Army. Historic Roots Eva (Evangeline) Cory Booth was born on December 25, 1865 in London, England.  She was the seventh child born of William and Catherine Booth.  Her father, William Booth, a Methodist minister, left the Methodist Church to become an evangelical preacher in the slums of London. The same year Evangeline was born, her parents founded The Christian Mission, which later was renamed The Salvation Army in 1878.  The word "army" was used in the name to indicate that the organization is a fighting force, at war with the powers of evil (The Salvation Army). Eva was often featured as a singer or musician at her father’s sermons. At the age of fifteen, Eva began preaching.  William Booth was proud of his daughter’s public speaking skills and was also aware of her organizational ability. At the age of 26, he promoted her to the rank of Field Commissioner. She became head of the Army’s International Training College and Commander of The Salvation Army in London for five years (Ludwig 1962). Following her service in London, she became the Territorial Commander of The Salvation Army’s forces in Canada from 1896-1904.  Her sister, Emma Booth-Tucker, along with her husband, headed the American Salvation Army. In 1903, they were killed in a tragic train accident. In 1904, Eva was appointed Commander for The Salvation Army in the United States. At this time, with the persuasion of her friends, she changed her name to Evangeline (Salvation Army USA). For 30 years (1904-1934) Evangeline Booth served as the Commander of the American Salvation Army. Under her leadership, she expanded the social services of the Army by establishing hospitals for unwed mothers, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, services for the unemployed, and homes for the elderly (History’s Women).  During her first Christmas season in New York, Evangeline was appalled to learn that there were 70,000 children going to school without breakfast.  She quickly got to work, and on Christmas day that year, The Salvation Army provided food for 30,000 people (Ludwig 1962). In 1934, she was elected as the organization’s International Commander-in-Chief.  Evangeline became the first woman General for the International Salvation Army headquartered in London, England.  She served as the General for five years.  As General, she traveled to such places as India, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan to promote the work of the Salvation Army. Retiring in 1939, Evangeline Booth returned back to her adopted country, America, where she continued to be a public servant until her death at the age of 84 in Hartsdale, New York.  At the request of her father, Evangeline never married. He believed that with such a strong personality she could serve the Salvation Army best as a single officer.  However, she adopted and raised four children, one of whom, Pearl, became an officer in the Salvation Army (The Salvation Army). Importance Evangeline Booth played a significant role in establishing the prominence and respect of the American Salvation Army. Under her leadership, she persuaded the United States government to allow women in The Salvation Army to serve overseas during World War I (Library of Congress). One of the women officers in The Salvation Army suggested they make doughnuts for the American soldiers. It was a great success. Soldiers wrote to their families and friends about The Salvation Army’s “Doughnut Girls”, their compassion, and front line service (McKinley 1980). For The Salvation Army’s work during the war, President Wilson awarded Evangeline Booth the Distinguished Service Medal in 1919.  As Commander of the American Salvation Army, Evangeline Booth responded with emergency relief and assistance in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. This was the Army’s first large-scale and systematic relief effort for a natural disaster.  Disaster relief then became a part of The Salvation Army’s services, which the public continues to depend on today (McKinley 1980). Ties to the Philanthropic Sector Evangeline Booth served as Commander of the American Salvation Army for 30 years which allowed her the opportunity to work among and help the poor throughout the United States. Evangeline was very active in raising money to support the causes of the American Salvation Army. She approached rich men and asked them for large donations and also led many fundraising drives. At the conclusion of her service in the United States, the American Salvation Army had assets of thirty-five million dollars (Ludwig 1962). Key Related Ideas Evangeline Booth was a Christian social reformer who dedicated her life to helping people through her service in The Salvation Army.   A Christian social reformer is one who changes society for the better through religious beliefs. Evangeline Booth added a disaster relief program to the Salvation Army.  Disaster relief involves coming to the aid of those suffering from catastrophes, often those resulting from nature. Under Evangeline Booth’s leadership in the American Salvation Army, she expanded the human social services programs.  Human social service programs include programs that target the basic needs of those in society, often for the low-income or impoverished. General Evangeline Cory Booth, OF (December 25, 1865 – July 17, 1950) was a British theologian and the 4th General of The Salvation Army from 1934 to 1939. She was the first woman to hold the post. Contents 1 Early life 2 The Salvation Army 3 Fourth General 4 Later years 5 References 6 External links Early life She was born in South Hackney, London, England, the seventh of eight children born to William Booth and Catherine Mumford, who had earlier in the year founded The Christian Mission, which became The Salvation Army in 1878. Catherine Booth had recently read Uncle Tom's Cabin and wanted to name her baby 'Evangeline', but William Booth did not like the name and wrote 'Evelyne' on the birth certificate. Years later, while in the United States, Evelyne would be persuaded by Frances Willard, founder of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, to adopt the name 'Evangeline' as being more dignified and more befitting the commander of The Salvation Army in America.[1] At 15 she was a Sergeant selling the Army's paper The War Cry in the slums of east London.[1] In 1887, at 21 years of age, she became the officer of the corps in Marylebone, where there was very strong opposition to The Salvation Army. Wherever trouble threatened, General Booth’s solution was invariably the same, 'Send Eva!'.[2] The Salvation Army She was appointed as Field Commissioner throughout Great Britain from 1888 to 1891, courageously facing riotous crowds. From 1891 until 1896 she was in charge of Officer Training. When in 1896 an American break-away group led by her brother Ballington Booth and his wife Maud Ballington Booth attempted to tempt American Salvationists away from The Salvation Army and into a rival group called Volunteers of America, General Booth sent Evangeline to New York. When she arrived the doors to Army headquarters on 14th Street had been locked against her. However, "she mounted the fire escape and climbed through a rear window. The dissidents hissed and booed until she literally wrapped herself in an available American flag and challenged: "Hiss that, if you dare." In the stunned silence she played her concertina and sang "Over Jordan without Fearing." Ballington's rebellion was quelled."[1][3] She was appointed temporary Territorial Commander of the United States, then Territorial Commander of Canada. In 1904 she returned as Commander of the United States, and held this position until 1934. In the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, she led a mass meeting in Union Square, New York, and raised over $12,000 for Salvation Army relief work among the victims of the disaster. During this period she became a US citizen.[2] In August 1917, despite the differences between Commander Evangeline Booth and US General Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), the first of 250 Salvationists left New York for the front line of the Great War in France. They soon won the confidence of the troops with their cheerful brand of ‘seven-days-a-week’ Christianity. As tributes poured in, Evangeline protested: ‘The Salvation Army has had no new success; we have only done an old thing in an old way.’ The American people disagreed, and subscribed an unprecedented $13 million to clear debts incurred by The Army, through its provision of canteens, hostels, rest rooms during the war, and afterwards on the provision of care and accommodation for the returning forces. For her work in support of the AEF, Booth was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by the U.S. Army. Booth was one of only a very few civilian women to be so honored for service during the First World War. In 1927, Evangeline visited her brother, General Bramwell Booth, with a memorandum which set to change the way in which The Salvation Army appointed its General. Bramwell was not convinced; he was adamant that he would appoint his successor as his father had done before him.[2] In January 1929, the first High Council of The Salvation Army decided otherwise, and since then the General has been elected by the High Council, in line with Evangeline Booth’s original proposal. Fourth General Evangeline Booth was elected General by the second High Council in 1934. She brought to the Generalship a wealth of experience in many areas of The Army’s work but never lost the zeal and enthusiasm of the early years. Dubbed ‘The Musician General’ by Army papers of the time, she took great interest in the soul-winning activities of the musical sections of The Salvation Army. Like her father, the Founder, Evangeline extensively travelled the world. After her election as General she toured Great Britain, and in 1935 India, Ceylon, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii and the United States; then, immediately upon her return, Norway and Sweden. By the end of 1935 she undertook a ‘motorcade’ - the entire East Coast of England up to Darlington, then several Western Counties and the Thames Valley. The following year she went on another motorcade from Land's End to John O’Groats, and visited Canada, the United States and France, though by this time she was over seventy years old.[2] The Salvation Army’s work greatly prospered during Evangeline Booth’s leadership, with Salvation Army activities being commenced in Singapore, Algeria, Egypt, French Equatorial Africa, the Philippines, Mexico, and Penang (Malaya). Later years Her term of office ended on October 31, 1939 when Commissioner George Lyndon Carpenter was elected as the Army’s fifth General. Towards the end of November, Evangeline left Britain for her home in up-state New York, and spent the remaining years of her life there.[2] The monument of Evangeline C. Booth She wrote several books, including Toward a Better World and Songs of the Evangel. The Salvation Army Evangeline Booth College in Atlanta, Georgia is named after her, as is 'The Evangeline Booth Lodge' in Chicago which is "a haven for families and individuals suddenly homeless because of eviction, disasters such as a fire or flood, loss of utilities, domestic violence, being stranded while traveling, or other crises."[4] General Evangeline Booth lived in Hartsdale, New York, until her death at the age of 84 from arteriosclerosis. She is interred in Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla, Mount Pleasant, New York near White Plains, New York. Her home, the Evangeline Booth House, now known as St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.[5] The Salvation Army (TSA) is a Christian church and an international charitable organisation. The organisation reports a worldwide membership of over 1.7 million,[3] consisting of soldiers, officers and adherents collectively known as Salvationists. Its founders sought to bring salvation to the poor, destitute, and hungry by meeting both their "physical and spiritual needs". It is present in 131 countries,[4] running charity shops, operating shelters for the homeless and disaster relief and humanitarian aid to developing countries. The theology of the Salvation Army is derived from that of Methodism, although it is distinctive in institution and practice. A peculiarity of the Army is that it gives its clergy titles of military ranks, such as "lieutenant" or "major". It does not celebrate the rites of Baptism and Holy Communion. However, the Army's doctrine is otherwise typical of holiness churches in the Wesleyan-Arminian tradition. The Army's purposes are "the advancement of the Christian religion ... of education, the relief of poverty, and other charitable objects beneficial to society or the community of mankind as a whole".[5] The Army was founded in 1865 in London by one-time Methodist circuit-preacher William Booth and his wife Catherine as the East London Christian Mission, and can trace its origins to the Blind Beggar tavern. In 1878 Booth reorganised the mission, becoming its first General and introducing the military structure which has been retained as a matter of tradition.[6] Its highest priority is its Christian principles. The current international leader of The Salvation Army and chief executive officer (CEO) is General Brian Peddle, who was elected by the High Council of The Salvation Army on 3 August 2018.[7] Contents 1 Ministers 2 Facilities 2.1 Churches 2.2 Thrift stores and charity shops 2.3 Adult Rehabilitation Centers 2.4 Hadleigh Farm Colony 2.5 Other 3 Beliefs 3.1 Worship services 3.2 Soldier's Covenant 3.3 Positional Statements 4 Community services 4.1 Disaster relief 4.2 Family Tracing Service 4.3 Youth groups 4.3.1 Alove UK 5 History 5.1 History of Doughnut Day 6 Organisational structure 7 Symbols 7.1 Flag 7.2 Crest 7.3 Red Shield 7.4 Uniform 7.5 Tartan 7.6 Salute 7.7 Red kettles 7.8 Red Shield Appeal and Self-Denial Appeal 7.9 Music playing 8 Publications 9 Honours 10 Controversy 10.1 Criticism by LGBT activists 10.1.1 The Salvation Army's response 10.2 Canadian charity work 10.3 Proselytising during government-funded social service in New York 10.4 Australian sex abuse cases 10.5 Unpaid labour in the UK 11 In films 11.1 Film studio 12 See also 13 References 14 Bibliography 15 External links Ministers Main article: Officer (The Salvation Army) The Salvation Army refers to its ministers as "officers". When acting in their official duties, they can often be recognized by the colour-coded epaulettes on their white uniform dress shirts. The epaulettes have the letter S embroidered on them in white. Officers ranks include Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, Commissioner, and General. Promotion in rank up to the rank from Lieutenant to Major depends primarily on years of service. The ordination of women is permitted in the Salvation Army. Salvation Army officers were previously allowed to marry only other officers (this rule varies in different countries); but this rule has been relaxed in recent years. Husbands and wives usually share the same rank and have the same or similar assignments. Such officer-couples are then assigned together to act as co-pastors and administer corps, Adult Rehabilitation Centers and such. As of 2017 the organisation will not appoint homosexual people to posts as ministers, preferring individuals "whose values are consistent with the church's philosophy".[8] (See also § Criticism by LGBT activists section.) See also LGBT clergy in Christianity. Facilities See also: Category:Salvation Army buildings. Churches The Army has churches located throughout the world. They are known as Salvation Army corps. They may be implemented as part of a larger community center. Traditionally, many corps buildings are alternatively called temples or citadels. Thrift stores and charity shops The Salvation Army Family Thrift Store, Santa Monica, CA The Salvation Army is well known for its network of thrift stores or charity shops, colloquially referred to as "the Sally Ann" in Canada, "Salvos Stores" in Australia, and "Sally's" in New Zealand, which raise money for its rehabilitation programs by selling donated used items such as clothing, housewares and toys. Clothing collected by Salvation Army stores that are not sold on location are often sold wholesale on the global second hand clothing market. The Salvation Army's fundraising shops in the United Kingdom participate in the UK government's Work Programme, a workfare programme where benefit claimants must work for no compensation for 20 to 40 hours per week over periods that can be as long as 6 months.[9][10][11][12] When items are bought at the Salvation Army thrift stores, part of the proceeds go towards The Salvation Army's emergency reliefs efforts and programs.[13] Textile items not sold are recycled and turned into other items such as carpet underlay.[13] The Salvation Army also helps their employees by hiring ex-felons depending on the circumstances because they believe in giving people second chances. There are many job opportunities available for them nationwide and are able to move their way up to become a manager or even work in one of their corporate offices.[14] Adult Rehabilitation Centers Some shops are associated with an Adult Rehabilitation Centers (ARC) where men and women make a 6-month rehabilitation commitment to live and work at the ARC residence. They are unpaid, but they are provided with comfortable room and board. Many ARCs are male-only. The program is primarily to combat addiction. They work at the warehouse, store or residence. This is referred to as "work therapy". They attend classes, twelve-step programs and chapel services as a part of their rehabilitation. The Army advertises these programs on their collection trucks with the slogan "Doing the Most Good".[15] The general design pattern is that an ARC is associated with a main store and warehouse. Donations are consolidated from other stores and donation sites and then sorted and priced and then distributed back out to the branch stores. Low-quality donated items are sold at the warehouse dock in a "dock sale". Hadleigh Farm Colony Farmland at Hadleigh in Essex was acquired in 1891 to provide training for men referred from Salvation Army shelters. It featured market gardens, orchards and two brickfields. It was mentioned in the Royal Commission report of 1909 appointed to consider Poor Laws. 7,000 trainees had passed through its doors by 1912 with more than 60% subsequently finding employment.[16] It is still operating today and has a  Other The Salvation Army operates summer camps for children, Silvercrest Residences, and adult day care centers. It has headquarter offices internationally, nationally and for each territory and division. Some of the other facilities include:[3] Homeless hostels Residential addiction dependency programs Children's homes Homes for elderly persons Mother and baby homes Women's and men's refuge centers General hospitals Schools Maternity hospitals After School Programs Food Pantries Overnight Warming Stations Cooling Stations Beliefs A Salvation Army citadel (Corps) with a charity shop attached, in Worthing, West Sussex. The official mission statement reads: The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. Early beliefs of the Salvation Army were influenced by a book Helps to Holiness,[18] which was to influence spiritual life of the Army for a generation.[19] The sacred text of the Salvation Army is the Bible[20] and the beliefs of the Salvation Army rest upon these eleven doctrines:[21] We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God; and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice. We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship. We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead – the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost – undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory. We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ, the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man. We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience they lost their purity and happiness; and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has, by His suffering and death, made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. We believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary to salvation. We believe that we are justified by grace, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself. We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ. We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked. The "Mercy Seat" in a Salvation Army citadel The denomination does not celebrate the Christian sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. The International Spiritual Life Commission opinion on Baptism is that enrolment as a Soldier by accepting the call to discipleship should be followed by a lifetime of continued obedient faith in Christ.[22] The Commissions considered option of Holy Communion is that God's grace is readily accessible in all places and at all times, although Salvationists may participate in Holy Communion if attending a service of worship in another Christian denomination if the host Church allows.[23] Although its officers conduct marriages, it holds a traditional Protestant belief that marriage was not instituted by Christ and therefore is not a sacrament. The mercy seat is a focal point in a Salvation Army Church, symbolising God's call to his people, and a place for commitment and communion, and is available for anyone to kneel at in prayer.[24] Worship services There is no requirement for anyone attending a service to be a member of the Salvation Army in any capacity (as a Soldier, Adherent or Officer) and services in Salvation Army churches feature a variety of activities:[25] The service often begins with a greeting from the Minister Hymns are sung, accompanied by backing music There is a scripture reading from the Bible Prayers are led by the Minister leading the service Depending on demand, a Sunday School may be run in another room A collection is held to receive a financial offering, either loose money or coins in a cartridge envelope.[26] This is sometimes referred to as "Tithes and Offerings". The congregation sings the doxology A sermon on the Bible reading is then given The service concludes with a benediction Local corps usually sing contemporary worship music songs in Sunday worship services, as well as traditional hymns and music accompanied by the brass band. These are usually from the official Songbook of the Salvation Army. They sometimes use Christian songs in the popular music genre. Many American corps have adopted a mainstream Christian format with video screens showing words to music so that the audience and sing along typical of modern megachurches. Worship services usually no longer have a traditional brass band. This is reflective for many social and cultural reasons.[citation needed] Some Salvation Army corps make use of smaller ensembles of musicians. Often this ensemble consists simply of a guitar, piano or a keyboard, drums and sometimes a bass guitar and other instruments, especially during "Youth Fellowships".[citation needed] The music played does tend to also take on a more contemporary style as is reflected in modern music today. The early Salvation Army bands were known for their excitement and public appeal, and the modern ensemble keeps to this ideology. Traditional hymns are still used in worship services and these are blended with other musical pieces from Christian Music Publishers such as Vineyard Music, Hillsong, and Planet Shakers to name but a few. Soldier's Covenant The Soldiers Covenant[27] is the creed of the Salvation Army. All members of the church and congregants are required to subscribe to this creed; every person has to sign the document before they can become enrolled as a Soldier.[28] Members have traditionally been referred to as "soldiers" of Christ.[29][30][31] These were formerly known as the Articles of War and include Having received with all my heart the salvation offered to me by the tender mercy of God, I do here and now acknowledge God the Father to be my King; God the Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, to be my Savior; and God the Holy Spirit to be my Guide, Comforter and Strength, and I will, by His help, love, serve, worship and obey this glorious God through time and in eternity.[32] Positional Statements Positional Statements[33] describe Salvation Army policy on various social and moral issues, are carefully considered and subject to review. They are derived from work by the International Moral and Social Issues Council. The Salvation Army opposes euthanasia and assisted suicide. Its official stance on abortion is that "The Salvation Army believes in the sanctity of all human life and considers each person to be of infinite value and each life a gift from God to be cherished, nurtured and redeemed. Human life is sacred because it is made in the image of God and has an eternal destiny. (Genesis 1:27) Sacredness is not conferred, nor can it be taken away by human agreement." The Salvation Army official stance admitted in 2010 exceptions in cases such as rape and incest: "In addition, rape and incest are brutal acts of dominance violating women physically and emotionally. This situation represents a special case for the consideration of termination as the violation may be compounded by the continuation of the pregnancy."[34] It is also against the death penalty: "The Salvation Army recognises that the opinions of Salvationists are divided on the moral acceptability of capital punishment and its effectiveness as a deterrent. However, to advocate in any way the continuance or restoration of capital punishment in any part of the world would be inconsistent with the Army's purposes and contrary to the Army's belief that all human life is sacred and that each human being, however wretched, can become a new person in Christ." In 2012, the Salvation Army published a "Positional Statement on Homosexuality" after receiving adverse publicity about their position on homosexuality.[35] The Bible teaches that God's intention for humankind is that society should be ordered on the basis of lifelong, legally sanctioned heterosexual unions. ... A disposition towards homosexuality is not in itself blameworthy nor is the disposition seen as rectifiable at will. ... Homosexual practice however, is, in the light of Scripture, clearly unacceptable. Such activity is chosen behaviour and is thus a matter of the will. It is therefore able to be directed or restrained in the same way heterosexual urges are controlled. Homosexual practice would render any person ineligible for full membership (soldiership) in the Army.[36] Community services Disaster relief In the United States, the Salvation Army's first major forays into disaster relief resulted from the tragedies of the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The Salvationists' nationwide appeals for financial and material donations yielded tremendous support, enabling the Army to provide assistance to thousands. General Evangeline Booth, when she offered the services of Salvationists to President Woodrow Wilson during the First World War, thrust Salvation Army social and relief work to newer heights. Today the Salvation Army is best known for its charitable efforts. The Salvation Army is a nongovernmental relief agency and is usually among the first to arrive with help after natural or man-made disasters. They have worked to alleviate suffering and help people rebuild their lives. After the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, they arrived immediately at some of the worst disaster sites to help retrieve and bury the dead. Since then they have helped rebuild homes and construct new boats for people to recover their livelihood. Members were prominent among relief organisations after Hurricane Hugo and Hurricane Andrew and other such natural disasters in the United States. In August 2005, they supplied drinking water to poor people affected by the heat wave in the United States. Later in 2005 they responded to hurricanes Katrina and Rita. They have helped the victims of an earthquake in Indonesia in May 2006. The William Booth Memorial Training College, Denmark Hill, London: The College for Officer Training of the Salvation Army in the UK Since Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, the Salvation Army has allocated donations of more than $365 million to serve more than 1.7 million people in nearly every state. The Army's immediate response to Hurricane Katrina included the mobilisation of more than 178 canteen feeding units and 11 field kitchens which together have served more than 5.7 million hot meals, 8.3 million sandwiches, snacks and drinks. Its SATERN (Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network)[37] network of amateur ham-radio operators picked up where modern communications left off to help locate more than 25,000 survivors. Salvation Army pastoral care counsellors were on hand to comfort the emotional and spiritual needs of 277,000 individuals. As part of the overall effort, Salvation Army officers, employees and volunteers have contributed more than 900,000 hours of service. The Salvation Army was one of the first relief agencies on the scene of the September 11 attacks in New York City in 2001. They also provided prayer support for families of missing people. The Salvation Army, along with the American National Red Cross, Southern Baptist Convention, and other disaster relief organisations, are national members of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD).[38] Also among the disaster relief capabilities is the Red Shield Defence Services, often called the SallyMan for short. The effort that they put in is similar to that of a chaplain, and reaches many more, offering cold drinks, hot drinks, and some biscuits for the soldiers of the military to have, though, if a SallyMan is on deployment, the locals are offered a share in the produce. Around the world the Salvation Army have Emergency Services Support Units throughout the country. These are mobile canteen vehicles[39] providing food and other welfare to members of the Emergency Services such as bushfires, floods, land search, and other both large- and small-scale emergency operations undertaken by Police, Fire, Ambulance and State Emergency Service members, and the general public affected by these events. Volunteers and officers run the canteen service and the response policy is to respond when emergency services have been on the scene for more than four hours or where four or more Fire vehicles are responding. Family Tracing Service The Family Tracing Service (sometimes known as the Missing Persons Service) was established in 1885, and the service is now available in most of the countries where The Salvation Army operates. The Tracing Service's objective is to restore (or to sustain) family relationships where contact has been lost, whether recently or in the distant past. Thousands of people are traced every year on behalf of their relatives. Youth groups Bell ringers standing on the streets in Lausanne. The Salvation Army includes many youth groups, which primarily consist of its Sunday schools and the Scout and Guide packs that are sometimes set up. The Scout and Guide packs are affiliated and sponsored by the Salvation Army but are open units allowing anyone to join, these units/pack observe Christian standards and encourage the young people to investigate and develop in their Christian faith. Some territories have Salvation Army Guards and Legions Association (SAGALA). In the United States these internal youth groups that are specifically for females are known as Girl Guards (older females) and Sunbeams (younger females). Adventure Corps serves boys who are enrolled in school for first through eighth grade, and is sometimes separated into Rangers (6th–8th Grade) and Explorers (5th Grade and younger). Alove UK In the 21st century, the Salvation Army in the United Kingdom created a branch for the youth, called Alove,[40] the Salvation Army for a new generation. Its purpose is to free the youth of the church and their communities to express themselves and their faith in their own ways. Its mission statement is "Calling a generation to dynamic faith, radical lifestyle, adventurous mission and a fight for justice", and it emphasises worship, discipleship, missions, and social action. Alove is a member of the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS).[41] History See also: List of Salvation Army corps in the United Kingdom in 1900 The Salvation Army founders, Catherine Booth and William Booth Women's dormitories operated by The Salvation Army, Washington, D.C. c. 1920 The Salvation Army was founded in London's East End in 1865 by one-time Methodist Reform Church minister William Booth and his wife Catherine Booth as the East London Christian Mission,[1] and this name was used until 1878.[42] The name "The Salvation Army" developed from an incident on 19 and 20 May. William Booth was dictating a letter to his secretary George Scott Railton and said, "We are a volunteer army." Bramwell Booth heard his father and said, "Volunteer! I'm no volunteer, I'm a regular!" Railton was instructed to cross out the word "volunteer" and substitute the word "salvation".[43] The Salvation Army was modelled after the military, with its own flag (or colours) and its own hymns, often with words set to popular and folkloric tunes sung in the pubs. Booth and the other soldiers in "God's Army" would wear the Army's own uniform, for meetings and ministry work. He became the "General" and his other ministers were given appropriate ranks as "officers". Other members became "soldiers".[44] When William Booth became known as the General, Catherine is known as the "Mother of The Salvation Army". William Booth's early motivation for The Salvation Army was to convert poor Londoners such as prostitutes, gamblers and alcoholics to Christianity,[45] while Catherine spoke to the wealthier people, gaining financial support for their work. She also acted as a religious minister, which was unusual at the time; the Foundation Deed of the Christian Mission states that women had the same rights to preach as men. William Booth described the organisation's approach: "The three 'S's' best expressed the way in which the Army administered to the 'down and outs': first, soup; second, soap; and finally, salvation."[46] In 1880, the Salvation Army started its work in three others countries: Australia, Ireland, and the United States. Salvationists set out for the United States in 1880, and when George Scott Railton and his team arrived they started work in Harry Hill's Variety Theatre on 14 March 1880. The first notable convert was Ashbarrel Jimmie who had so many convictions for drunkenness that the judge sentenced him to attend the Salvation Army.[47] The corps in New York were founded as a result of Jimmys' rehabilitation. It was not always an Officer of The Salvation Army who started the Salvation Army in a new country; sometimes Salvationists emigrated to countries and started operating as "the Salvation Army" on their own authority. When the first official officers arrived in Australia and the United States, they found groups of Salvationists already waiting for them and started working with each other. Australia was the place where the Army's organised social work began on 8 December 1883 with the establishment of a home for ex-convicts.[48] In 1891 Booth established a farm colony in Hadleigh, Essex. George Scott Railton – first Commissioner of the Salvation Army The Salvation Army's main converts were at first alcoholics, morphine addicts, prostitutes and other "undesirables" unwelcome in polite Christian society, which helped prompt the Booths to start their own church.[49] The Booths did not include the use of sacraments (mainly baptism and Holy Communion) in the Army's form of worship, believing that many Christians had come to rely on the outward signs of spiritual grace rather than on grace itself.[50] Other beliefs are that its members should completely refrain from drinking alcohol (Holy Communion is not practiced), smoking, taking illegal drugs and gambling.[51] Its soldiers wear a uniform tailored to the country in which they work; the uniform can be white, grey, navy, fawn and are even styled like a sari in some areas. Any member of the public is welcome to attend their meetings. As the Salvation Army grew rapidly in the late 19th century, it generated opposition in England. Opponents, grouped under the name of the Skeleton Army, disrupted Salvation Army meetings and gatherings, with tactics such as throwing rocks, bones, rats, and tar as well as physical assaults on members of the Salvation Army. Much of this was led by pub owners who were losing business because of the Army's opposition to alcohol and targeting of the frequenters of saloons and public houses.[52] The Salvation Army's reputation in the United States improved as a result of its disaster relief efforts following the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The familiar use of bell ringers to solicit donations from passers-by "helps complete the American portrait of Christmas."[according to whom?] In the U.S. alone, over 25,000 volunteers with red kettles are stationed near retail stores during the weeks preceding Christmas for fundraising.[49] The church remains a highly visible and sometimes controversial presence in many parts of the world. In 1994, the Chronicle of Philanthropy, an industry publication, released the results of the largest study of charitable and non-profit organisation popularity and credibility. The study showed that The Salvation Army was ranked as the 4th "most popular charity/non-profit in America" of over 100 charities researched, with 47% of Americans over the age of 12 choosing 'Love' and 'Like A Lot' for The Salvation Army.[53] Charity Watch rates the Salvation Army an "A-" to an "A",[54] indicating a high level of financial efficiency and organisational transparency. History of Doughnut Day In 1917, over 250 Salvation Army volunteers went overseas to France to provide supplies and baked goods, including doughnuts, to American soldiers. The women who served donuts to the troops fried them in soldiers' helmets. They were known as "Doughnut Lassies" and are credited with popularising doughnuts in the United States.[55] National Doughnut Day is now celebrated on the first Friday of June every year, starting in Chicago of 1938, to honour those who served doughnuts to soldiers during World War l.[56] Organisational structure The Salvation Army International Headquarters in London As of 23 October 2016 the Salvation Army operates in 128 countries[4] and provides services in 175 different languages. For administrative purposes, the Salvation Army divides itself geographically into 5 zones[57] and the zonal departments at International Headquarters[58] in London, United Kingdom are the main administrative link with territories and commands[59] Americas and Caribbean Europe South Asia South Pacific and East Asia Africa These are further divided into territories, which are then sub-divided into divisions. Some territories cover several countries (like Italy and Greece)[60] while some countries may have several territories (Australia Eastern and Australia Southern)[61] In larger areas, regional and area commands are also introduced as subdivisions of divisions. Each territory has an administrative hub known as territorial headquarters (THQ). Likewise, each division has a divisional headquarters (DHQ). Each of these territories is led by a territorial commander who receives orders from the Salvation Army's international headquarters in London. A territory is normally led by an officer holding the rank of colonel (for small territories) or commissioner for larger territories. In some countries, the work of The Salvation Army may be called a command, led by a command commander. A larger command is typically led by an officer holding the rank of colonel. There is a Women's Ministries[62] division devoted to supporting women in ministry which has 766,369 members,[63] founded as the Home League[64] in 1907. Red Shield Defence Services[65] work with the Armed Services in order to provide assistance such as refreshments, soap, chewing gum, toothpaste and sewing kits. "Waves of Transformation"[66] is a water resources project assisting deprived communities. The International Spiritual Life Commission, is convened by the General to examine and identify aspects essential to the spiritual growth of both the Church and individual Salvationists.[67] Reliance Bank is the financial services arm of the Salvation Army, offering bank accounts, loans and mortgages. It is registered with the UK banking regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority,[68] registration number 204537. SAGIC Insurance[69] is the insurance services arm of the Army, offering various types of policy, a nationwide removals service[70] and a conveyancing service for buying and selling houses. Heritage Centres are museums run by the Salvation Army which have exhibits and historical documents related to the history and work of the organisation. Heritage Centres collect, preserve, catalog, research and share material about the life and work of The Salvation Army. The International Heritage Centre in London can provide details of premises in any specific territory.[71] Much of what happens at the High Council is governed by British Law, as set out in the Salvation Army Acts (1931 to 1968). The 2013 High Council consists of 118 members (62 women and 56 men) made up of the Chief of Staff, all the active commissioners and territorial leaders (some territories are led by colonels), each of whom was summoned by the Chief of the Staff for the sole purpose of electing a new General.[72] The International Heritage Centre in London, England is located at the William Booth Memorial Training College and can provide details of premises in any specific territory[73] and runs the Another training college for officers is the Catherine Booth Bible College based at Winnipeg, Canada[74] which was authorised in August 1983 by the Manitoba Legislature to grant academic degrees. International Development Services team[75] work with some of the poorest communities around the world and run the official  National Salvation Army week was created by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on 24 November 1954, telling people to honor the Salvation Army during that week for its work in the United States in the past seventy-five years.[76] The Salvation Army was one of the original six organizations that made up the USO along with YMCA, YWCA, National Catholic Community Services, National Jewish Welfare Board, and National Travelers Aid Association.[77] An early precursor to the Salvation Army becoming involved in safeguarding work was Catherine Booth writing to Queen Victoria regarding a Parliamentary bill for the protection of girls.[78] Safeguarding legislation was strengthened by a new Act of Parliament, the "Public General Act, An Act to make further provision for the Protection of Women and Girls, the suppression of brothels, and other purposes, (otherwise known as the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885)", which received Royal Assent on 14 August 1885[79] The Salvation Army was involved in getting this Act passed.[80] Work included a petition (numbering 340,000 signatures deposited on the floor of the House of Commons by 8 uniformed Salvationists),[81] mass meetings and an investigation into child prostitution. W. T. Stead of the Pall Mall Gazette launched a campaign in 1885 by writing articles on The Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon to expose the extent of child prostitution[82] which involved procuring a girl, Eliza for £5. She was cared for by the Army, taken to France and subsequently testified as a key witness at the trial of Stead and Rebecca Jarrett (the prostitute who had arranged the "sale" of Eliza) at Bow Street. Both were sentenced to 6 months in prison. The newly founded Salvation Army in Japan also encountered child prostitution, derived from a system of Debt Bondage. While an imperial ordinance (written in classical Japanese which few could understand) declared the girls right to freedom, the pioneer Salvationist Gunpei Yamamuro rewrote it in colloquial speech.[83] His wife Kiye took charge of a girls home to provide secure accommodation for any girl wishing to give up prostitution. An imperial ordinance passed on 2 October 1900 stated that any woman who wished to give up prostitution only had to go to the nearest Police station and ask. The involvement of the Salvation Army in work to combat slavery and people trafficking can be traced back to William Booth publishing a letter in The War Cry in 1885.[84] The same year an escapee from a prostitution house turned up on the door of the Salvation Army headquarters and sought help from Bramwell Booth.[85] Work with people at risk of exploitation continues today, with a specialist team, and working in partnership with the UK service Modern Slavery Helpline (telephone 0800 0121 700). Work is also done assisting homeless people by running 461 hostels[86] and 20 Refugee programmes. Various Constituting Instruments apply to different aspects of the work of the Salvation Army. Legislation passed in the United Kingdom Parliament covered the following: The Salvation Army Act, 1931 contained several provisions,[87] firstly that the High Council be convened to elect a new General when the role became vacant, and reorganised custody of property held in Charitable Trust[88] by the foundation of the Salvation Army Trustee Company being formed to hold all property previously vested in the General. Section 4 relates to a servin General giving notice of their intention to retire.[89] The Salvation Army Act 1963[90] established a non-contributory pension fund for Officers of the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army Act 1968 relates to management of Salvation Army trusts.[91] The Salvation Army Act 1980 revised and consolidated the constitution of the Salvation Army to continue its work.[92] Schedule 1 covered the Religious Doctrines of the Army Schedule 2 related to Common Investment Schemes and the establishment of a Central Finance Council Part V covered the Election of the General The worldwide expansion of Salvation army The most recent statistics for membership[93] from the 2018 Year Book[94] are 111,859 employees, 17,168 Active Officers, 9,775 Retired Officers, 1,050 Cadets, 175,811 Adherents, 411,327 Junior Soldiers and 1,182,100 Senior Soldiers. Previous membership statistics (as quoted from 2010 year book) includes 16,938 active and 9,190 retired officers, 39,071 Corps Cadets and more than 4.5 million volunteers. Members of the Salvation Army also include "adherents"; these are people who do not make the commitment to be a soldier but who recognise the Salvation Army as their church. (According to the 2006 Salvation Army year book, in the United States there are 85,148 senior soldiers and 28,377 junior soldiers, 17,396 adherents and around 60,000 employees.) Further information is available from the Salvation Army International website.[95] General Brian Peddle has been the world leader of the Salvation Army since 3 August 2018. The monument to the Salvation Army in Kensico Cemetery The Salvation Army is one of the world's largest providers of social aid,[citation needed] with expenditures including operating costs of $2.6 billion in 2004, helping more than 32 million people in the U.S. alone. In addition to community centres and disaster relief, the organisation does work in refugee camps, especially among displaced people in Africa. The Salvation Army has received an A-rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy. In the United Kingdom, the Salvation Army is no longer the largest nongovernmental provider of social services; however, it still provides a significant service to people in need. The Salvation Army is the second largest charity in the United States, with private donations of almost $2 billion for the fiscal year ending 30 September 2007.[96] and is a member of the American organisation Christian Churches Together.[97] In 2004, the Army in the United States received a $1.6 billion donation in the will of Joan B. Kroc, the third wife of former McDonald's CEO Ray Kroc. This donation was among the larger individual philanthropic gifts ever given to a single organisation. The donation came with certain restrictions that caused some controversy.[98] The International Congress of the Salvation Army is normally held every 10 years[99] as a conference for all Salvationists from around the world to meet. The first such conference took place in London, UK, from 28 May to 4 June 1886, and subsequent Congressional meetings were held sporadically until 1904 and then 1990.[100] The seventh International Congress in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, from 28 June to 2 July 2000, was the first held outside of the UK.[101] The latest International Congress was held in London on 1–5 July 2015, in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Salvation Army's founding. Officers are given Marching Orders to change ministries within the Salvation Army. Usually, officers are given new marching orders every two to five years and reassigned to different posts, sometimes moving great distances. In Russia the Army was founded around 1917[102] and the Army struggled on until 1922 at which point the situation had become extremely challenging.[103] A Moscow court ruled that the Salvation Army was a paramilitary organisation subject to expulsion. In October 2006, the European Court of Human Rights ruled the decision illegal.[104] The Salvation Army International website[105] lists the Russian Federation, now part of the Territory of Eastern Europe.[106] William Booth's dying wish for the Salvation Army to be established in China[107] was fulfilled in a pledge made in 1912 Bramwell Booth to his father.[108] In 1915 the first officers were sent, and during the 1931 famine fed 100,000 people daily. Following political difficulties by 1952 the Army withdrew from the country but work still continues in the provinces of Macau and Hong Kong, as well as in Taiwan. In 1882 the Salvation Army was established in Asia with the first outpost in India.[109] The Army also established outposts in Australia in 1879, Japan in 1895 and China in 1915. Symbols Flag Standard of The Salvation Army (Anglophone version) The Salvation Army flag is a symbol of the Army's war against sin and social evils. The red on the flag symbolises the blood shed by Jesus Christ, the yellow for the fire of the Holy Spirit and the blue for the purity of God the Father. Crest of The Salvation Army (Anglophone version) Crest The oldest official emblem of The Salvation Army is the crest. In 1878 Captain W.H. Ebdon suggested a logo, and in 1879 it was to be found on the letterhead of the Salvation Army Headquarters. The captain's suggested design was changed only slightly and a crown was added. The Army's crest contains Biblical references though its symbolism: The sun with its rays represents the light and fire of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:11) The cross represents the cross of Jesus on which He died as a sacrifice for our sins. (Romans 3:25) The letter "S" represents the salvation which is available to all people through Jesus Christ. (John 3:16–17) The crossed swords represent God's Word (Hebrews 4:12). God's Word is the Christian's weapon in the salvation war (the war against Satan and evil). The Gospel shots (Psalm 119:160) represent the basic truths of the Gospel; there are 7 in all. 1 – The existence of a Holy God; 2 – The evil of sin are against God and man; 3 – There will be punishment for sin that is fair and everlasting; 4 – Jesus died on the cross for the human race; 5 – Salvation is for all mankind and is free to all who accept Jesus Christ; 6 – It is the responsibility of every Christian to do whatever they can do to spread the Gospel; 7 – God rewards those who are faithful with eternal life in Heaven with Him. The words "Blood and Fire" as the "war cry" of the Salvation Army. It is Jesus' blood that washes us clean from sin and it is the fire of the Holy Spirit that makes us pure and helps us live lives that are pleasing to God. The crown represents the "Crown of Life and Glory" which God will give to all those who have been faithful to Him (James 1:12). Red Shield The Red Shield has its origins in Salvation Army work during wartime. At the end of the 19th century, Staff-Captain Mary Murray was sent by William Booth to support British troops serving in the Boer War in South Africa. Then, in 1901, this same officer was given the task of establishing the Naval and Military League, the forerunner of the Red Shield Services. The Salvation Army red shield logo, displayed on the side of a night shelter in Geneva, Switzerland. Salvation Army officers serving in the Red Shield Services in wartime performed many functions. The Doughnut Girls of World War I are an early example, serving refreshments to troops in the trenches. They also provided first aid stations, ambulances, chaplaincy, social clubs, Christian worship and other front-line services.[110] This symbol is still used in Blue Shield Services that serve the British Armed Forces but it is widely used as a simple, more readily identifiable symbol in many Salvation Army settings. It is common to see the Red Shield used on casual Salvation Army uniform. It is now official Salvation Army policy in the UK that the red shield should be used as the external symbol of the Salvation Army, with the Crest only being used internally. Therefore, any new Salvation Army building will now have the red shield on the outside rather than the crest which certainly would have been used on its Corps (church) buildings. This was "imposed" in the UK by the Senior Management with little or no consultation with members. Not all have welcomed this change.[111] In Australia, the Red Shield has become one of the country's most identified and trusted symbols, leading the Australian Salvation Army to prefer to use this symbol over the logo on its uniform, corps buildings and advertising materials. In the 5th volume of Australian Superbrands it was recorded that "Research reveals that the popular Salvation Army slogan 'Thank God for the Salvos' has almost total recognition amongst the Australian public, achieving 93 per cent aided awareness".[112] Uniform Salvation Army officers, cadets[113] (trainee officers) and soldiers often wear uniforms. The idea that they should do so originated with Elijah Cadman, who, at the Salvation Army's "War Congress" in August 1878, said, "I would like to wear a suit of clothes that would let everyone know I meant war to the teeth and salvation for the world". The uniform identifies the wearer as a Salvationist and a Christian. It also symbolises availability to those in need. The uniform takes many forms internationally but is characterised by the 'S' insignia for 'Salvation' and carries the meaning 'Saved to Serve', or 'Saved to Save'. Different colors and styles represent different ranks including soldiers, cadets, lieutenants, captains, majors, colonels, commissioner, and even the General. Characteristics of the uniform vary between ranks where accessories (the official term is "trimmings") comprise epaulettes and hexagonal lapel patches.[114][citation needed] The uniform varies with the position and rank: Soldier: plain black epaulettes (Corps name woven into base of epaulette) and black lapel patch with "S" Musician: plain blue or black epaulettes and lapel patch with "S" Cadet: black epaulette with 1 or 2 red bars corresponding to number of years of training and black lapel patch with "S" Officer ranks: Lieutenant: red epaulette with one silver star and red lapel patch with "S" Captain: red epaulette with two silver stars and red lapel patch with "S" Major: red epaulette with silver crest and red lapel patch with "S" Other letters are substituted to conform with local language. The words "The Salvation Army" are woven into the fabric of the uniform as a logo on shirts, blouses and jackets. Tartan The Salvation Army Dress Tartan Since 1983 there has been an official Salvation Army tartan. It was designed by Captain Harry Cooper, for the Perth Citadel Corps centenary commemoration in Scotland. It is based upon the colours of the Salvation Army flag, with which it shares the same symbolism. It is rarely seen outside Scotland.[115] Salute The Salvation Army has a unique form of salute which involves raising the right hand above shoulder-height with the index finger pointing upwards. It signifies recognition of a fellow citizen of heaven, and a pledge to do everything possible to get others to heaven also.[116] In the case of saluting in response to applause, in circumstances such as a musical festival or being applauded for a speech, it also signifies that the Salvationist wishes to give Glory to God and not themselves. In some instances, the salute is accompanied with a shout of 'hallelujah!' Red kettles Red kettle at supermarket entrance, Ypsilanti, Michigan In many countries, the Salvation Army is recognised during the Christmas season with its volunteers and employees who stand outside of businesses and play/sing Christmas carols, or ring bells to inspire passers-by to place donations of cash and cheques inside red kettles. A tradition has developed in the United States in which, in some places, gold coins or rings or bundles of large bills are anonymously inserted into the kettles. This was first recorded in 1982, in Crystal Lake, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.[117][118] The red kettles are not only used during the Christmas season though. They are used throughout the year at other fundraising events, such as on National Doughnut Day in the U.S. On this day, some doughnut shops that teamed up with the Salvation Army have a red kettle set up for donations. Each corps has a specific goal chosen for them by DHQ [Divisional Headquarters] which differs based on size and capability[119] Red Shield Appeal and Self-Denial Appeal The Red Shield Appeal and Self-Denial Appeal are annual fundraising campaigns in some territories, such as the UK and Australia. Each year, officers, soldiers, employees and volunteers take to the streets worldwide to participate in door-to-door or street collections. The money raised is specifically channelled towards The Salvation Army's social work in each respective territory. Within the territory defined by the United Kingdom and Ireland (UKIT) this collection is known as the Annual Appeal, and it often carries another name that the general public would more readily know – in 2012 becoming The Big Collection. Music playing A Salvation Army band parade in Oxford, United Kingdom As the popularity of the organisation grew and Salvationists worked their way through the streets of London attempting to convert individuals, they were sometimes confronted with unruly crowds. A family of musicians (the Frys, from Alderbury, Wiltshire) began working with the Army as their "bodyguards" and played music to distract the crowds.[120] In 1891 a Salvation Army band attempted to parade and play music in Eastbourne, Sussex, England. This was in contravention of local by-laws and resulted in the arrest of 9 Salvationists. Unperturbed the Army continued to parade in defiance of the law, with the aim of gathering support for a change in legislation. Over the next few months the situation in the town escalated to such an extent that there were riots, and mounted police had to be called in from surrounding areas to try and maintain order.[121][122] The tradition of having musicians available continued and eventually grew into standard brass bands. These are still seen in public at Army campaigns, as well as at other festivals, parades and at Christmas. Across the world the brass band has been an integral part of the Army's ministry and an immediately recognisable symbol to Salvationists and non-Salvationists alike. The Salvation Army also has choirs; these are known as Songster Brigades, normally comprising the traditional soprano, alto, tenor and bass singers. The premier Songster Brigade in the Salvation Army is the International Staff Songsters (ISS). The standard of playing is high and the Army operates bands at the international level, such as the International Staff Band (a brass band) which is the equal of professional ensembles although it does not participate in the brass band contest scene, and territorial levels such as the New York Staff Band. Some professional brass players and contesting brass band personnel have Salvation Army backgrounds. Many Salvation Army corps have brass bands that play at Salvation Army meetings, although not all. The Salvation Army also fielded large concertina bands. From the turn of the (20th) century to the Second World War between a third and a half of all SA officers in Britain played concertina. For an evangelist the concertina's portability, its ability to play both melody and chords, and most especially the fact that the player can sing or speak while playing, were all distinct advantages over brass instruments.[123][124][125] The Army tradition in music is to use the popular idiom of the day to reach people for Jesus. The Army's Joy Strings were a hit pop group in the 1960s and early 1970s in the UK and beyond, reaching the charts and being featured on national television. Another popular band is The Insyderz, an American ska-core group popular in the 1990s and early 2000s. Hundreds of bands carry on this Salvation Army tradition, such as New Zealand's Moped, Chamberlain, Vatic, Agent C, and The Lads; England's Electralyte; Australia's Soteria Music Ministries, Summer Carnival Band, Crown of Thorns and Escape; and America's transMission, The Singing Company, HAB, BurN, and CJD – Cookies, Juice, & Donuts. Saytunes is a website designed to encourage and promote these contemporary Salvation Army bands and artists. Another significant musical feature of the Salvation Army is its use of tambourines. With coloured ribbons representing the colours of the Salvation Army flag, timbrels play an integral facet of music in the Salvation army. They are mainly played by women. Publications In addition to books and magazines, the Salvation Army publishes sheet music[126] and Facebook groups run by Territories and Corps officers, and unofficial fan groups. Due to the way in which the Salvation Army is constituted, copyright of some Army publications is vested in the General of The Salvation Army, and not necessarily the original authors.[127] There are official social media accounts run by the Salvation Army on Twitter and Facebook. This is a list of books and magazines: New Frontier Chronicle, news and networking for the Salvation Army[128] Caring Magazine, curating conversation around issues of social concern[129] Edition of The War Cry, 6 August 1887 The War Cry newspaper, first published in 1879 in the United Kingdom[130] Faith and Friends magazine[131] Salvationist magazine[132] Word and Deed journal[133] KidZone magazine[134] Priority magazine[135] Pipeline, The Salvation Army's news, features and opinion magazine AUE (discontinued)[136] Onfire The Salvation Army's news, features and opinion magazine AUS (discontinued)[citation needed] Red magazine, aimed at youth and Corps Cadets in Aus South (discontinued)[citation needed] Others The Salvation Army's news, features and opinion magazine (under newly unified Australian Territory)[citation needed] Adult And Family Ministries Songbook[137] Kids Alive children's magazine Handbook of Doctrine[138] Salvation Story (revised Handbook of Doctrine)[139] The Salvation Army Yearbook 2018 (website page)[140] Christian Mission Magazine[141] Christian Mission Hymn Book[142] Revive[143] The Salvation Army Year Book 2018 (paperback)[144] (e-book)[145] Songbook of The Salvation Army (Standard Print)[146] (Large Print)[147] Honours General Bramwell Booth instituted the Order of the Founder on 20 August 1917[148] and the first awards were made in 1920 to one Soldier and 15 Officers. General George Carpenter founded the Order of Distinguished Auxiliary Service in 1941 to express the Salvation Army's gratitude for service given to the organisation by non-Salvationists.[149] Controversy Criticism by LGBT activists Because the Salvation Army is a church, Title VII of the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 allows it to inquire into people's religious beliefs in its hiring practices. The Salvation Army states that it does not "discriminate against hiring gays and lesbians for the majority of its roughly 55,000 jobs,"[150] but it has supported legislation which would allow it to deny employment and federally-funded services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals.[151][152] In 1986, The Salvation Army campaigned throughout New Zealand against the Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986, which decriminalized homosexuality.[153] In 2006, the Army released a statement regretting the ill feelings that persisted following this activity. It stated in part "We do understand though that The Salvation Army's official opposition to the Reform Bill was deeply hurtful to many, and are distressed that ill-feeling still troubles our relationship with segments of the gay community. We regret any hurt that may remain from that turbulent time and our present hope is to rebuild bridges of understanding and dialogue between our movement and the gay community."[154] In 1997 the city of San Francisco enacted a law requiring all companies doing business with the city government to extend domestic benefits to same-sex partners of employees. In refusing to do so, the Salvation Army declined a US$3.5 million contract.[155] In 2001, the Salvation Army pressed the Bush Administration to exempt it and other religious groups from anti-discrimination legislation which it felt infringed on the organization's religious freedoms. This request was denied, and was sharply rebuked by David Smith, then-spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign. "Gays and lesbians are taxpayers, too," said Smith. "Their money should not be used by religious groups to fund discriminatory practices against them."[150][156][157] In February 2000, the Salvation Army in the United Kingdom publicly opposed the repeal of Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988, which prevented local authorities from "intentionally promot[ing] homosexuality".[158] However, the organisation's UK website states that it offers "unconditional assistance and support regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation, respecting the identity and choices of all those referred to them. ... As well as having a right to be dealt with professionally, people can expect from us encouragement and a respect for their individual beliefs, ambitions and preferences".[159] The Salvation Army Western Territory approved a plan in October 2001 to start offering domestic partnership benefits to employees in same-sex relationships.[160] Members of various evangelical Christian interest groups protested the decision. Focus on the Family founder James Dobson excoriated the Salvation Army for abandoning its "moral integrity" and urged his radio listeners to bombard the organisation's offices with phone calls and letters. The American Family Association also accused the Salvation Army of a "monstrous ... appeasement of sin" that resulted in a "betrayal of the church". In November 2001 the Salvation Army US-wide rescinded the Western Territory's decision with an announcement that it would only provide benefits coverage for different-sex spouses and dependent children of its employees. In 2004, the Salvation Army said that it would close operations in New York City unless it was exempted from a municipal ordinance requiring them to offer benefits to gay employees' partners. The City Council refused to make the exemption. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's administration chose not to enforce the ordinance. The administration's right to decline to enforce the ordinance was upheld by the New York State Court of Appeals in 2006.[161] In 2008, a trans woman named Jennifer Gale died outside a Church in Austin, Texas. A city council member attributed her death to workers at a Salvation Army shelter refusing to house her in the women's quarters.[162][163] The city council member later partially retracted their statements, stating "So what I wrote the other day about trans-services may not have been entirely accurate. I have since spoken with people at both the ARCH and the Salvation Army here in town to learn what they do for homeless transfolks. It turns out the ARCH, while a men's only shelter, is actually pretty educated on the issues and accepts people as they present themselves. While this wouldn't have helped Jennifer Gale except for day-sleeping, it is certainly respectable. They will also provide for privacy in the restrooms/showers for transfolks. The Salvation Army on the other hand... they do apparently have a policy of non-discrimination and they do not turn trans people away, but I'm not fully sold on their ability to actually understand the issue. If they are not full they will give trans people privacy (maybe they have private quarters of some sort), but if full and they are in an overflow shelter situation, as they were Tuesday night, I am under the impression that they will assign people according to their anatomy."[164][165] Between 2010 and 2013, various individuals and organizations critically noted a "position statement" with regard to "same-sex" "sexual orientations" published on the Salvation Army's website:[166][167][168][169][170] Scripture forbids sexual intimacy between members of the same sex. The Salvation Army believes, therefore, that Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life. There is no scriptural support for same-sex unions as equal to, or as an alternative to, heterosexual marriage. Likewise, there is no scriptural support for demeaning or mistreating anyone for reason of his or her sexual orientation. The Salvation Army opposes any such abuse. In keeping with these convictions, the services of The Salvation Army are available to all who qualify, without regard to sexual orientation. […] According to a June 2012 article at The Atlantic, the position statement was subsequently "deleted".[169] An article published by CTV News noted in December of the same year that "The site currently states that the organization's position on homosexuality is 'under review.'"[171] A FAQ attributed to the Salvation Army's Indiana division continues to acknowledge the position statement, responding in part: "It's also important to note that our position statements are meant primarily as a theological guide for our church members and in no way impact our commitment to non‐discrimination."[172] On 15 December 2012, in Canada, Andrea Le Good noticed a Salvation Army bell-ringer carrying a sign reading "if you support gay rights: please do not donate". While the bell-ringer claimed he had permission from the charity to wear the sign, Salvation Army spokeswoman Kyla Ferns said that it had no part in the sign, and that the bell-ringer was pulled away immediately when the charity learned about it.[171] In November 2013 it was made known that the Salvation Army was referring LGBT individuals to one of several conversion therapy groups.[173] As a response, the Salvation Army removed links to the conversion groups from their website.[174] In 2016, The Salvation Army withdrew support for an Australian safe schools program that focused on LGBT students,[153] stating that "the provision of a government approved anti-bullying program needs to consider all high risk student groups."[175] In November 2019, according to The Dallas Morning News, "singer Ellie Goulding [...] threaten[ed] to cancel her performance at the Cowboys' Thanksgiving halftime show" out of concern for "the LGBTQ community" following negative responses to an Instagram post that she made promoting the organization:[176][177][178] "Upon researching this, I have reached out to The Salvation Army and said that I would have no choice but to pull out unless they very quickly make a solid, committed pledge or donation to the LGBTQ community," she wrote. "I am a committed philanthropist as you probably know, and my heart has always been in helping the homeless, but supporting an anti-LGBTQ charity is clearly not something I would ever intentionally do. Thank you for drawing my attention to this." The show "serves as the kickoff for the Salvation Army's yearly Red Kettle Campaign". Goulding later opted to perform.[177][179] Despite documented events of Salvation Army's volunteers and their views, the organisation has issued an LGBT Statement as a response. The statement does not address any documented news events of discrimination and claims to debunk these events as urban myth.[173] The Salvation Army's response A positional statement on the Salvation Army UK and Ireland site stated (but has since been taken down): The Salvation Army teaches that sexual acts should take place only in a monogamous heterosexual marriage, believing that this reflects God's intentions for sexual behaviour and provides the best environment for raising children.[180] The positional statement is, however, intended explicitly for members of the Salvation Army[181] and the Salvation Army mission statement as of 2013 states: The Salvation Army stands against homophobia, which victimises people and can reinforce feelings of alienation, loneliness and despair. We want to be an inclusive church community where members of the LGBT community find welcome and the encouragement to develop their relationship with God ... Our international mission statement is very clear on this point when it says we will "meet human needs in [Jesus'] name without discrimination". Anyone who comes through our doors will be welcomed with love and service, based on their need and our capacity to provide.[182] As of late 2013, activists were still calling on the Salvation Army to change its stance on LGBT issues, citing ongoing discrimination.[183][184] As of April 2018, the "Inclusion" page on the official UK website states that the Salvation Army stands against homophobia and does not permit discrimination in its employment practices or delivery of care.[185] On its USA Central Territory website, it explicitly claims that it serves and welcomes the LGBT community.[186] On the website of its USA division, the organization currently maintains an informative and promotional document titled "The LGBTQ Community and The Salvation Army" in which it states (among other things) that it is "committed to serving the LGBTQ community"; "[w]hen a transgender person seeks help from us, we serve them in the same manner as any other person seeking assistance"; it "is an Equal Opportunity Employer" with regard to "sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression" (et al.); and that it "provide[s] benefits to the spouses of employees in same‐sex marriages".[187] Canadian charity work During the 2010 Christmas season, the Salvation Army in Calgary, Alberta, refused to accept toys based on the Harry Potter and Twilight franchises because of a perceived conflict with the organisation's religious principles. One volunteer claimed that the toys were destroyed instead of being given to other agencies. The volunteer also criticised the Salvation Army for accepting violence-themed toys such as plastic rifles while not accepting Harry Potter or Twilight toys. A Salvation Army captain said that the toys were given to other organisations, not disposed of.[188] This policy is however, not universal, as the Wetaskiwin corps of the Salvation Army has accepted Harry Potter toys. One captain called the series "a classic story of good winning over evil".[189] Also during the 2010 Christmas season, the Salvation Army in Vancouver, BC, came under fire from advocacy group Families Against Crime & Trauma (FACT) for a program that provided goodie bags to federal inmates for Christmas by playing Santa to incarcerated criminals. The advocacy group called on the public to cease donations to the Salvation Army. Families Against Crime & Trauma takes a hardline position against criminal rehabilitation and objected to the gifts, however small, as undeserved rewards that should instead go to the victims of crime and their families. The Salvation Army responded that their prisoner visitation program was established over a century ago and that they provided these particular services as contractors to the federal and provincial government, as such no charitable donations were spent on the program.[190] Proselytising during government-funded social service in New York In 2004, the Salvation Army's New York division was named in a lawsuit filed by 18 current and former employees of its social service arm, claiming that the organisation asked about the religious and sexual habits of employees in programs funded by local and state government. One member claimed the organisation forced them to agree "to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ".[191] Proselytising or otherwise pursuing religious motives in a government-funded program is generally considered a violation of the Establishment Clause of the US Constitution. While the employment-discrimination portion of the lawsuit was dismissed in 2005, government agencies agreed in a 2010 settlement to set up monitoring systems to ensure that the Army did not violate church-state separation in its publicly funded projects. The organisation did not dispute allegations that nine-year-olds in a city-funded foster care program were put through a "confirmation-like" ceremony, where they were given Bibles and prayed over.[192] Australian sex abuse cases See also: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse § The Salvation Army From the 1940s to the 1980s the Salvation Army in Australia sheltered approximately 30,000 children. In 2006 the Australian division of the Salvation Army acknowledged that sexual abuse may have occurred during this time and issued an apology. In it, the Army explicitly rejected a claim, made by a party unnamed in the apology, that there were as many as 500 potential claimants.[193] In 2013 it was reported that private settlements totalling A$15.5 million had been made in Victoria relating to 474 abuse cases; a Salvation Army spokesman said that "This should not have happened and this was a breach of the trust placed in us" and that they were "deeply sorry" whilst claiming that the abuse was "the result of individuals and not a culture within the organization".[194][195][196] On 28 January 2014, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, a royal commission of inquiry initiated in 2013 by the Australian Government and supported by all of its state governments,[197] began an investigation into abuse cases at the Alkira Salvation Army Home for Boys at Indooroopilly; the Riverview Training Farm (also known as Endeavour Training Farm) at Riverview – both in Queensland; the Bexley Boys' Home at Bexley; and the Gill Memorial Home at Goulburn – both in New South Wales. The investigation also examined the Salvation Army's processes in investigating, disciplining, removing and transferring anyone accused of or found to have engaged in child sexual abuse in these homes.[198][199][200][201] On 27 March 2014, the Royal Commission began an investigation into the handling by the Salvation Army (Eastern Territory) of claims of child sexual abuse between 1993 and 2014.[202][203][204] The Royal Commission published a case study report on the findings and recommendations for one of the above-mentioned case studies.[205] Unpaid labour in the UK The Salvation Army has been criticized for making use of the UK Government's workfare schemes across Britain.[206] The UK campaign group Boycott Workfare lists them as a participant in Workfare.[207] In films The Salvation Army is featured in many popular movies such as Seabiscuit and Major Barbara. The Salvation Army is only briefly shown or discussed in these movies such as a bell ringer on the corner in the movie Maid in Manhattan and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and briefly mentioned in Batman Begins.[208] The Salvation Army began producing silent films in the 1900s when they created Australia's first film studio. Film studio The Salvation Army started their own film studio called The Limelight Department in Australia beginning in 1892.[209] The original studio still stands today and is being preserved by the Salvation Army. One of the films included was a documentary called Inauguration of the Australian Commonwealth.[209] In the years between 1892 and 1909, The Limelight Department produced over 300 films and documented Australia's Federation Ceremonies in 1909.[209] See also icon London portal icon Christianity portal The Salvation Army, Canada Booth University College Chalk Farm Salvation Army Band Chief of the Staff of The Salvation Army "Follow On" (hymn) Generals of The Salvation Army The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Centers Maidenhead Citadel Band Melbourne Staff Band Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network Salvation Army Waiʻoli Tea Room Soldier in The Salvation Army The Salvation Army in Manchester The Salvation Army in Namibia The Salvation Army, Parramatta The Salvation Army U.S.A. Central Territory The Salvation Army U.S.A. Western Territory World Vision Church Army Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 Salvation Army Boys Adventure Corps
A Salvation Army corps is a local church organization[1] and physical place of worship in The Salvation Army. Like the Christian term "church" a corps includes both the physical building and the body of members who attend at the building.[2] In keeping with Salvationist convention in using military terminology, corps are sometimes casually known as barracks. Traditionally many corps buildings are alternatively called temples or citadels, such as Openshaw Citadel .[3] The Salvation Army also uses the more traditional term "church" for some local congregations and their buildings. Corps are usually led by an officer or married officer couple, who fulfil the role of a pastor[4] in other denominations. Officers in these positions are known as "Corps Officers" or COs,[5] and are generally Lieutenants, Captains or Majors. Terms for Officers vary in each country and often serve a term from as little as six months to 10 years. Appointments are decided on by the countries Territorial or Regional Headquarters with much prayer and planning. The Salvation Army (TSA) is a Protestant Christian church and an international charitable organization headquartered in London, England. It is aligned with the Wesleyan-Holiness movement. The organisation reports a worldwide membership of over 1.7 million,[3] comprising soldiers, officers, and adherents who are collectively known as Salvationists. Its founders sought to bring salvation to the poor, destitute, and hungry by meeting both their "physical and spiritual needs". It is present in 133 countries,[4] running charity shops, operating shelters for the homeless, and disaster relief and humanitarian aid to developing countries. The theology of the Salvation Army derives from Methodism, although it differs in institution and practice. A distinctive characteristic of the Salvation Army is its use of titles derived from military ranks, such as "lieutenant" or "major". It does not celebrate the rites of Baptism and Holy Communion. The Army's doctrine is aligned with the Wesleyan–Arminian tradition, particularly the holiness movement. The Army's purposes are "the advancement of the Christian religion... of education, the relief of poverty, and other charitable objects beneficial to society or the community of mankind as a whole".[5] The Army was founded in 1865 as the "East London Christian Mission" in London by one-time Methodist preacher William Booth and his wife Catherine. It can trace its origins to the Blind Beggar tavern. In 1878, Booth reorganised the mission, becoming its first general and introducing the military structure which it has retained as a matter of tradition.[6] Its highest priority is its Christian principles. As of 2023 the international leader of The Salvation Army and chief executive officer (CEO) is General Lyndon Buckingham. The Salvation Army is the largest non-government provider of social services in the United States and one of the largest in the world,[7] with expenditures including operating costs of US$3.6 billion in 2022, assisting more than 32 million people in the U.S. alone.[8] In addition to funding feeding centers, homeless shelters, rehabilitation and community centres, and disaster relief, the organisation establishes refugee camps, especially among displaced people in Africa. In the United Kingdom, the Salvation Army is no longer the largest non-governmental provider of social services; however, it still provides a significant service to people in need. The Salvation Army is the fourth largest charity in the United States, with private donations in excess of US$2 billion in 2022.[9] It is a member of the American organisation Christian Churches Together.[10] Ministers Main article: Officer (The Salvation Army) The Salvation Army refers to its ministers as "officers". When they are acting in their official capacities, they can often be recognised by the colour-coded epaulettes on their white uniform dress shirts. The epaulettes have the letter "S" embroidered on them in white. Officer ranks include Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, Commissioner, and General. Promotion in rank from Lieutenant to Major depends primarily on years of service. Officers are given Marching Orders to change ministries within the Salvation Army. Usually, officers are given new marching orders every two to five years and reassigned to different posts, sometimes moving great distances. The Salvation Army permits the ordination of women. Salvation Army officers were previously allowed to marry only other officers (this rule varied in different countries); but this rule has been relaxed in recent years. Husbands and wives usually share the same rank and have the same or similar assignments. Such officer-couples are assigned together to act as co-pastors and to administer corps, Adult Rehabilitation Centres, and such. Facilities See also: Category:Salvation Army buildings Churches The Army has churches throughout the world, known as Salvation Army corps, that serve as churches and community centers. Traditionally, many corps buildings are also called temples or citadels. Thrift stores and charity shops The Salvation Army Family Thrift Store, Santa Monica, California The Salvation Army Thrift Store, Richmond Hill, ON The Salvation Army, Eastfield, South Lanarkshire, Scotland The Salvation Army is well known for its network of thrift stores or charity shops—colloquially referred to as "the Sally Ann" in Canada and the United States, "Salvos Stores" in Australia, and "Sally's" in New Zealand—which raise money for its rehabilitation programs by selling donated used items such as clothing, housewares, and toys. Clothing collected by Salvation Army stores that is not sold on location is often sold wholesale on the global secondhand clothing market. Salvation Army store in Victoria, Australia The Salvation Army's fundraising shops in the United Kingdom participated in the UK government's Work Programme, a workfare programme in which benefit claimants had to work for no compensation for 20 to 40 hours per week over periods as long as six months.[11][12] When people buy items at Salvation Army thrift stores, part of the proceeds go toward The Salvation Army's emergency relief efforts and programs.[13] Textile items not sold are recycled and turned into other items such as carpet underlay.[13] The Salvation Army also helps their employees by hiring ex-felons, depending on the circumstances, because they believe in giving people second chances.[14] Adult Rehabilitation Centres Some Salvation Army locations are associated with an Adult Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) in which men and women make a six-month rehabilitation commitment to live and work at the ARC residence. They are unpaid, but provided with room and board. Many ARCs are male-only. The program is primarily to combat addiction. Residents work at the warehouse, store, or residence. This is referred to as "work therapy". They attend classes, twelve-step programs, and chapel services as a part of their rehabilitation. The Army advertises these programs on their collection trucks with the slogan "Doing the Most Good".[15] An ARC is typically associated with a main store and warehouse. Donations are consolidated from other stores and donation sites, sorted and priced, and then distributed back out to the branch stores. Low-quality donated items are sold at the warehouse dock in a "dock sale". Hadleigh Farm Colony Farmland at Hadleigh in Essex featured market gardens, orchards, and two brickfields. It was mentioned in the Royal Commission report of 1909, which was appointed to consider Poor Laws. 7,000 trainees had passed through its doors by 1912 with more than 60% subsequently finding employment.[16] Other "Stuff-a-Bus" toy collection at Christmas time The Salvation Army operates children's summer camps and adult day care centres. It has headquarter offices internationally, nationally, and for each territory and division. Some of its other facilities include:[3] Homeless hostels Residential addiction dependency programs Children's homes Homes for elderly persons Mother and baby homes Women's and men's refuge centres General hospitals Schools Maternity hospitals After School Programs Food Pantries Overnight Warming Stations Cooling Stations Beliefs A Salvation Army citadel (Corps) with a charity shop attached, in Worthing, West Sussex. The official mission statement reads: The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.[17] Early beliefs of the Salvation Army were influenced by the book Helps to Holiness,[18] which influenced spiritual life in the Army for a generation.[1]: 57  The sacred text of the Salvation Army is the Bible,[19] and the beliefs of the Salvation Army rest upon these eleven doctrines:[20] We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God; and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice. We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship. We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead – the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost – undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory. We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ, the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man. We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience, they lost their purity and happiness; and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has, by His suffering and death, made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. We believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary to salvation. We believe that we are justified by grace, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself. We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ. We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked. The "Mercy Seat" in a Salvation Army citadel. The denomination does not celebrate the Christian sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. The International Spiritual Life Commission's, which is convened by the general to examine and identify aspects of the Army’s life which are essential or integral to the spiritual growth, opinion on Baptism is that enrollment as a Soldier by accepting the call to discipleship should be followed by a lifetime of continued obedient faith in Christ.[21]: 298  The Commission's considered opinion of Holy Communion is that God's grace is readily accessible in all places and at all times, although Salvationists may participate in Holy Communion if attending a service of worship in another Christian denomination if the host Church allows.[21]: 300  Although its officers conduct marriages, it holds a traditional Protestant belief that marriage was not instituted by Christ and therefore is not a sacrament. The mercy seat is a focal point in a Salvation Army Church, symbolising God's call to his people, and a place for commitment and communion, and is available for anyone to kneel at in prayer.[21]: 304  Worship services The Salvation Army does not require anyone attending a service to be a member of the Salvation Army in any capacity (as a Soldier, Adherent, or Officer). Services in Salvation Army churches feature a variety of activities:[22] The service often begins with a greeting from the Minister. Hymns are sung, accompanied by backing music. There is a scripture reading from the Bible. Prayers are led by the Minister leading the service. Depending on demand, a Sunday School may be run in another room. A collection is held to receive a financial offering, either loose money or coins in a cartridge envelope.[23] This is sometimes referred to as "Tithes and Offerings". The congregation sings the doxology. A sermon on the Bible reading is then given. The service concludes with a benediction. Local corps usually sing contemporary worship music songs in Sunday worship services as well as traditional hymns from the official Songbook of the Salvation Army. Music is often accompanied by a brass band. Many American corps adopted a mainstream Christian format with video screens showing words to music so that the audience can sing along. The early Salvation Army bands were known for their excitement and public appeal, and the modern ensemble keeps to this ideology. Traditional hymns are blended with other musical pieces from Christian Music Publishers such as Vineyard Music, Hillsong, and Planet Shakers to name but a few.[citation needed] Soldier's Covenant Wikisource has original text related to this article: Articles of War The Soldier's Covenant[24] is the creed of the Salvation Army. All members of the church are allowed to subscribe to this creed; every person has to sign the document before they can become enrolled as a Soldier.[25] Members have traditionally been referred to as "soldiers" of Christ.[26][27][28] These were formerly known as the "Articles of War", and include "Having received with all my heart the salvation offered to me by the tender mercy of God, I do here and now acknowledge God the Father to be my King; God the Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, to be my Savior; and God the Holy Spirit to be my Guide, Comforter and Strength, and I will, by His help, love, serve, worship and obey this glorious God through time and in eternity."[1]: 4  Positional Statements Positional Statements[29] describe Salvation Army policy on various social and moral issues. They are carefully considered by the International Headquarters of The Salvation Army. They are derived from work by the International Moral and Social Issues Council. The Salvation Army opposes euthanasia and assisted suicide. Its official stance on abortion is that "The Salvation Army believes in the sanctity of all human life and considers each person to be of infinite value and each life a gift from God to be cherished, nurtured and redeemed. Human life is sacred because it is made in the image of God and has an eternal destiny. (Genesis 1:27) Sacredness is not conferred, nor can it be taken away by human agreement." The Salvation Army official stance admitted in 2010 exceptions in cases such as rape and incest: "In addition, rape and incest are brutal acts of dominance violating women physically and emotionally. This situation represents a special case for the consideration of termination as the violation may be compounded by the continuation of the pregnancy."[30] It is also against the death penalty: "The Salvation Army recognises that the opinions of Salvationists are divided on the moral acceptability of capital punishment and its effectiveness as a deterrent. However, to advocate in any way the continuance or restoration of capital punishment in any part of the world would be inconsistent with the Army's purposes and contrary to the Army's belief that all human life is sacred and that each human being, however wretched, can become a new person in Christ." In 2012, the Salvation Army, Australian Territories published a "Positional Statement on Homosexuality" after receiving adverse publicity about their position on homosexuality.[31] The Bible teaches that God's intention for humankind is that society should be ordered on the basis of lifelong, legally sanctioned heterosexual unions.... A disposition towards homosexuality is not in itself blameworthy nor is the disposition seen as rectifiable at will.... Homosexual practice however, is, in the light of Scripture, clearly unacceptable. Such activity is chosen behaviour and is thus a matter of the will. It is therefore able to be directed or restrained in the same way heterosexual urges are controlled. Homosexual practice would render any person ineligible for full membership (soldiership) in the Army.[32] On 8 December 2017, the Salvation Army released an International Positional Statement on racism which says that racism is "fundamentally incompatible with the Christian conviction that all people are made in the image of God and are equal in value. The Salvation Army believes that the world is enriched by a diversity of cultures and ethnicities."[33] Community services This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) Disaster relief Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Trailer In the United States, the Salvation Army's first major forays into disaster relief resulted from the tragedies of the Galveston Hurricane of 1900[34] and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The Salvationists' nationwide appeals for financial and material donations yielded tremendous support, enabling the Army to provide assistance to thousands. General Evangeline Booth, when she offered the services of Salvationists to President Woodrow Wilson during the First World War,[34] thrust Salvation Army social and relief work to newer heights. Today the Salvation Army is best known for its charitable efforts. The Salvation Army is a nongovernmental relief agency. It is usually among the first to arrive after natural or man-made disasters to alleviate suffering and help people rebuild their lives. After the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, they arrived immediately[dubious – discuss] at some of the worst disaster sites to help retrieve and bury the dead. Since then they have helped rebuild homes and construct new boats for people to recover their livelihood. Members were prominent among relief organisations after Hurricane Hugo and Hurricane Andrew and other such natural disasters in the United States. In August 2005, they supplied drinking water to poor people affected by the heat wave in the United States. Later in 2005 they responded to hurricanes Katrina and Rita. They helped the victims of an earthquake in Indonesia in May 2006. The William Booth Memorial Training College, Denmark Hill, London: The College for Officer Training of the Salvation Army in the UK Since Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, the Salvation Army has allocated donations of more than $365 million to serve more than 1.7 million people in nearly every American state. The Army's immediate response to Hurricane Katrina included the mobilisation of more than 178 canteen feeding units and 11 field kitchens which together served more than 5.7 million hot meals, 8.3 million sandwiches, snacks, and drinks. Its SATERN (Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network)[35][36] network of amateur ham-radio operators picked up where modern communications left off to help locate more than 25,000 survivors. Salvation Army pastoral care counsellors were on hand to comfort the emotional and spiritual needs of 277,000 individuals. As part of the effort, Salvation Army officers, employees, and volunteers contributed more than 900,000 hours of service. The Salvation Army was one of the first relief agencies on the scene of the September 11 attacks in New York City in 2001. They also provided prayer support for families of missing people. The Salvation Army, along with the American National Red Cross, Southern Baptist Convention, and other disaster relief organisations, are members of the National Voluntary Organisations Active in Disaster (NVOAD).[37] Among Salvation Army disaster relief capabilities is the Red Shield Defence Services, often called the SallyMan for short. Their efforts are similar to that of a chaplain offering cold drinks, hot drinks, and biscuits for the soldiers of the military. If a SallyMan is on deployment, locals are offered a share in the produce.[needs copy edit] Around the world, the Salvation Army have emergency services support emergency disaster services in the United States.[38] These are mobile canteen vehicles[39] that provide food and other welfare to members of the Emergency Services at bushfires, floods, land search, and other large- and small-scale emergency operations undertaken by Police, Fire, Ambulance, and State Emergency Service members, and to the general public affected by such events. Volunteers and officers run the canteen service. They respond when emergency services have been on the scene for more than four hours or where four or more Fire vehicles are responding. Family Tracing Service The Family Tracing Service (sometimes known as the Missing Persons Service) was established in 1885, and the service is now available in most of the countries where The Salvation Army operates. The Tracing Service's objective is to restore (or to sustain) family relationships where contact has been lost, whether recently or in the distant past. Thousands of people are traced every year on behalf of their relatives.[citation needed] Youth groups Bell ringers standing on the streets in Lausanne. Salvation Army gym The Salvation Army includes many youth groups, which primarily consist of its Sunday schools and the Scout and Guide packs. The Scout and Guide packs are affiliated with and sponsored by the Salvation Army but are open units that allow anyone to join. These units/packs observe Christian standards and encourage young people to investigate and develop in their Christian faith. Some territories have a Salvation Army Guards and Legions Association (SAGALA). In the United States youth groups that are specifically for girls are known as Girl Guards (older girls) and Sunbeams (younger girls). Adventure Corps serves boys who are enrolled in school for first through eighth grades, and is sometimes separated into Rangers (6th–8th Grade) and Explorers (5th Grade and younger). Alove UK In the 21st century, the Salvation Army in the United Kingdom created a branch for the youth, called Alove:[40] the Salvation Army for a new generation. Its purpose is to free the youth of the church and their communities to express themselves and their faith in their own ways. Its mission statement is "Calling a generation to dynamic faith, radical lifestyle, adventurous mission and a fight for justice". It emphasises worship, discipleship, missions, and social action. Alove is a member of the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS).[41] Work Against Exploitation The Salvation Army works with a specialist team in partnership with the UK service Modern Slavery Helpline (telephone 0800 0121 700) to help people who have been exploited for labor or profits. The organisation also assists homeless people by running 461 hostels[42] and 20 refugee programmes. COVID-19 relief In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Salvation Army donated 224,603,024 meals and 1,822,412 personal protective equipment supply kits in the United States.[43][44] History See also: List of Salvation Army corps in the United Kingdom in 1900 The Salvation Army founders, Catherine Booth and William Booth The Salvation Army was founded in London's East End in 1865 by one-time Methodist Reform Church minister William Booth and his wife Catherine Booth as the East London Christian Mission,[1]: 21  and this name was used until 1878.[1]: 5  The name "The Salvation Army" developed from an incident on 19 and 20 May 1878. William Booth was dictating a letter to his secretary George Scott Railton and said, "We are a volunteer army." Bramwell Booth heard his father and said, "Volunteer! I'm no volunteer, I'm a regular!" Railton was instructed to cross out the word "volunteer" and substitute the word "salvation".[45] The Salvation Army was modelled after the military, with its own flag (or colours) and its own hymns, often with words set to popular and folkloric tunes sung in the pubs. Booth and the other soldiers in "God's Army" would wear the Army's own uniform for meetings and ministry work. He became the "General" and his other ministers were given appropriate ranks as "officers". Other members became "soldiers".[46] George Scott Railton – first Commissioner of the Salvation Army When William Booth became known as the General, Catherine was known as the "Mother of The Salvation Army". William was motivated to convert poor Londoners such as prostitutes, gamblers, and alcoholics to Christianity,[47] while Catherine spoke to wealthier people, gaining financial support for their work. She also acted as a religious minister, which was unusual at the time. The Foundation Deed of the Christian Mission states that women had the same rights to preach as men. William Booth described the organisation's approach: "The three 'S's' best expressed the way in which the Army administered to the 'down and outs': first, soup; second, soap; and finally, salvation."[48] In 1880, the Salvation Army started work in three other countries: Australia, Ireland, and the United States. Salvationists set out for the U.S. in 1880. George Scott Railton and his team started work in Harry Hill's Variety Theatre on 14 March 1880. The first notable convert was Ashbarrel Jimmie who had so many convictions for drunkenness that the judge sentenced him to attend the Salvation Army.[1]: 113  The corps in New York were founded as a result of Jimmys' rehabilitation. It was not always an Officer of The Salvation Army who started the Salvation Army in a new country; sometimes Salvationists emigrated to countries and started operating as "the Salvation Army" on their own authority. When the first official officers arrived in Australia and the United States, they found groups of Salvationists already waiting for them and started working with each other. The Army's organised social work began in Australia on 8 December 1883 with the establishment of a home for ex-convicts.[1]: 82  In 1891, William Booth established a farm colony in Hadleigh, Essex, which allowed people to escape the overcrowded slums in London's East End. A fully working farm with its own market-gardens, orchards, and milk production, it provided training in basic building trades and household work.[49] The Salvation Army's main converts were at first alcoholics, morphine addicts, prostitutes, and other "undesirables" unwelcome in polite Christian society, which helped prompt the Booths to start their own church.[50] The Booths did not include the use of sacraments (mainly baptism and Holy Communion) in the Army's form of worship, believing that many Christians had come to rely on the outward signs of spiritual grace rather than on grace itself.[51] Other beliefs are that its members should completely refrain from drinking alcohol[52] (Holy Communion is not practised), smoking, taking illegal drugs, and gambling.[53] Its soldiers wear a uniform tailored to the country in which they work; the uniform can be white, grey, navy, or fawn and are even styled like a sari in some areas. Any member of the public is welcome to attend their meetings. As the Salvation Army grew rapidly in the late 19th century, it generated opposition in England. Opponents, grouped under the name of the Skeleton Army, disrupted Salvation Army meetings and gatherings with tactics such as throwing rocks, bones, rats, and tar as well as physical assaults on members of the Salvation Army. Much of this was led by pub owners who were losing business because of the Army's opposition to alcohol and its targeting of the frequenters of saloons and public houses.[54] Gunpei Yamamuro, the first Japanese officer in the Salvation Army In 1882 the Salvation Army was established in Asia with the first outpost in India.[55] The Army also established outposts in Australia in 1879, Japan in 1895, and China in 1915. Hotel and cafeteria for coloured men operated by The Salvation Army, Washington, D.C. circa 1917 The Salvation Army's reputation in the United States improved as a result of its disaster relief efforts following the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Today, in the U.S. alone, over 25,000 volunteer bell ringers with red kettles are stationed near retail stores during the weeks preceding Christmas for fundraising.[50] The church remains a highly visible and sometimes controversial presence in many parts of the world. The Salvation Army was one of the original six organisations that made up the USO, along with the YMCA, YWCA, National Catholic Community Services, National Jewish Welfare Board, and National Travelers Aid Association.[56] National Salvation Army week was created by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on 24 November 1954, encouraging people to honour the Salvation Army for its work in the United States throughout the past seventy-five years.[57] History of Doughnut Day In 1917, over 250 Salvation Army volunteers went to soldiers' camps in France during World War I to provide supplies and baked goods, including doughnuts, to soldiers. The women who served doughnuts to the troops fried them in soldiers' helmets. They were known as "Doughnut Lassies" and are credited with popularising doughnuts in the United States.[58] National Doughnut Day is now celebrated in the United States on the first Friday of June every year, a tradition that started in Chicago in 1938, to honour those who served doughnuts to soldiers during World War I.[59] Salvation Navy In 1911, New York City architect Bradford Gilbert donated a yacht, The Jerry McAuley, to the Salvation Army.[60] Jerry McAuley was a reformed criminal who founded the McAuley Water Street Mission (now the New York City Rescue Mission) in Lower Manhattan; he was also Mrs. Gilbert's first husband.[61] This 35-foot powerboat with two cabins was the first vessel in the Salvation Navy in America; there were already two or three such vessels in Scandinavia.[60] Its purpose is "to cruise the Atlantic coast, north in the summer and south in the winter, doing missionary work among the seamen of the ports."[60] There was a six person crew; the captain was evangelist Major Nils Erikson.[60][62] Safeguarding Work The involvement of the Salvation Army in work to combat slavery and human trafficking can be traced back to William Booth publishing a letter in The War Cry in 1885.[63] The same year an escapee from a prostitution house arrived at the door of the Salvation Army headquarters and sought help from Bramwell Booth.[64] An early precursor to the Salvation Army becoming involved in safeguarding work was Catherine Booth writing to Queen Victoria regarding a Parliamentary bill for the protection of girls.[65] Safeguarding legislation was strengthened by a new Act of Parliament, the "Public General Act, an Act to make further provision for the protection of women and girls, the suppression of brothels, and other purposes, (otherwise known as the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885)", which received Royal Assent on 14 August 1885[66] The Salvation Army was involved in getting this Act passed.[67] Its work included a petition (numbering 340,000 signatures, deposited on the floor of the House of Commons by eight uniformed Salvationists),[68] mass meetings, and an investigation into child prostitution. W.T. Stead of the Pall Mall Gazette launched a campaign in 1885 by writing articles on The Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon to expose the extent of child prostitution,[1]: 84  which involved procuring a girl, Eliza, for £5. She was cared for by the Army, taken to France, and subsequently testified as a key witness at the trial of Stead and Rebecca Jarrett (the prostitute who had arranged the "sale" of Eliza) at Bow Street. Both were sentenced to six months in prison. The newly founded Salvation Army in Japan also encountered child prostitution, derived from a system of Debt Bondage. An imperial ordinance (written in classical Japanese which few could understand) declared the girls' right to freedom; the pioneer Salvationist Gunpei Yamamuro rewrote it in colloquial speech.[1]: 86  His wife Kiye took charge of a girls home to provide accommodation for any girl wishing to give up prostitution. An imperial ordinance passed on 2 October 1900 stated that any woman who wished to give up prostitution only had to go to the nearest Police station and ask. Organisational structure See also: International Headquarters of The Salvation Army The Salvation Army International Headquarters in London The Salvation Army operates in 133 countries.[4] The General is the head of the Salvation Army. The organisation divides itself geographically into five zones: Americas and Caribbean, Europe, South Asia, South Pacific and East Asia, and Africa.[69] The "zonal departments" at International Headquarters[70] in London, United Kingdom, are the head of global territories and commands.[71] Each territory is further divided into territories, which are then sub-divided into divisions. Some territories cover several countries (like Italy and Greece)[72] while some countries may have several territories (e.g. Australia Eastern and Australia Southern)[72] In larger areas, regional and area commands exist as subdivisions of divisions. Each territory has an administrative hub known as territorial headquarters (THQ). Each division has a divisional headquarters (DHQ). Each of these territories is led by a territorial commander who receives orders from the Salvation Army's international headquarters in London. High Councils Main article: High Council of The Salvation Army Much of what happens at the High Council is governed by British Law, as set out in the Salvation Army Acts (1931, 1963, 1968, 1980). The 2013 High Council consisted of 118 members (62 women and 56 men) made up of the Chief of Staff, all the active commissioners and territorial leaders (some territories are led by colonels), each of whom was summoned by the Chief of the Staff for the sole purpose of electing a new General.[73] Heritage Centres Heritage Centres are museums run by the Salvation Army which have exhibits and historical documents related to the history and work of the organisation. Heritage Centres collect, preserve, catalogue, research, and share material about the life and work of The Salvation Army. The International Heritage Centre in London can provide details of premises in any specific territory.[74] It also manages the Salvation Army's archival Twitter feed. Relevant Legislation Various Constituting Instruments apply to different aspects of the work of the Salvation Army. Legislation passed in the United Kingdom Parliament covered the following: The Salvation Army Act of 1931 contained several provisions,[1]: 26  firstly that the High Council be convened to elect a new General when the role became vacant, and reorganised custody of property held in charitable trust[75] by the foundation of the Salvation Army Trustee Company being formed to hold all property previously vested in the general. Section 4 relates to a serving General giving notice of their intention to retire.[76] The Salvation Army Act 1963[77] established a non-contributory pension fund for Officers of the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army Act 1968 relates to management of Salvation Army trusts.[78] The Salvation Army Act of 1980 revised and consolidated the constitution of the Salvation Army to continue its work.[79] Schedule 1 covered the Religious Doctrines of the Army Schedule 2 related to Common Investment Schemes and the establishment of a Central Finance Council Part V covered the Election of the General Membership The worldwide expansion of Salvation army Statistics for membership[80] from the 2018 year book,[81] are: 111,859 employees, 17,168 Active Officers, 9,775 Retired Officers, 1,050 Cadets, 175,811 Adherents, 411,327 Junior Soldiers and 1,182,100 Senior Soldiers. Previous membership statistics (as quoted from 2010 year book) include 16,938 active and 9,190 retired officers, 39,071 Corps Cadets and more than 4.5 million volunteers. Members of the Salvation Army also include "adherents"; these are people who do not make the commitment to be a soldier but who recognise the Salvation Army as their church. (According to the 2006 Salvation Army year book, in the United States there are 85,148 senior soldiers and 28,377 junior soldiers, 17,396 adherents and around 60,000 employees.) Leadership General Lyndon Buckingham has been the world leader of the Salvation Army since 3 August 2023. The monument to the Salvation Army in Kensico Cemetery International Congress of the Salvation Army The International Congress of the Salvation Army is normally held every ten years[82] as a conference for all Salvationists from around the world to meet. The first such conference took place in London, U.K., from 28 May to 4 June 1886, and subsequent Congressional meetings were held sporadically until 1904 and then 1990.[83] The seventh International Congress in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, from 28 June to 2 July 2000, was the first held outside of the U.K.[84] The latest International Congress was held in London on 1–5 July 2015, in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Salvation Army's founding. Presence in Russia In Russia the Army was founded around 1917[1]: 99  and it struggled until 1922 at which point the situation had become extremely challenging.[1]: 100  A Moscow court ruled that the Salvation Army was a paramilitary organisation subject to expulsion. In October 2006, the European Court of Human Rights ruled the decision illegal.[85] The Salvation Army International website[86] lists the Russian Federation as part of the Territory of Eastern Europe.[87] Presence in China William Booth's dying wish for the Salvation Army to be established in China[88] was taken up in a pledge made in 1912 by Bramwell Booth to his father.[89] In 1915 the first officers were sent, and during the 1931 famine fed 100,000 people daily. Following political difficulties by 1952 the Army withdrew from the country but work still continues in the provinces of Macau and Hong Kong, as well as in Taiwan. Symbols Flag Standard of The Salvation Army (Anglophone version) The Salvation Army flag is a symbol of the Army's war against sin and social evils. The red on the flag symbolises the blood shed by Jesus Christ, the yellow for the fire of the Holy Spirit, and the blue for the purity of God the Father.[90] Crest Crest of The Salvation Army (Anglophone version) The oldest official emblem of The Salvation Army is the crest. In 1878 Captain W.H. Ebdon suggested a logo, and in 1879 it was to be found on the letterhead of the Salvation Army Headquarters. The captain's suggested design was changed only slightly and a crown was added.[91][92] The Army's crest contains Biblical references though its symbolism: The sun with its rays represents the light and fire of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:11) The cross represents the cross of Jesus on which He died as a sacrifice for our sins. (Romans 3:25) The letter "S" represents the salvation which is available to all people through Jesus Christ. (John 3:16–17) The crossed swords represent God's Word (Hebrews 4:12). God's Word is the Christian's weapon in the salvation war (the war against Satan and evil). The Gospel shots (Psalm 119:160) represent the basic truths of the Gospel; there are 7 in all. The existence of a Holy God; The evils of sin are against God and man; There will be punishment for sin that is fair and everlasting; Jesus died on the cross for the human race; Salvation is for all mankind and is free to all who accept Jesus Christ; It is the responsibility of every Christian to do whatever they can do to spread the Gospel; God rewards those who are faithful with eternal life in Heaven with Him. The words "Blood and Fire" as the "war cry" of the Salvation Army. It is Jesus' blood that washes us clean from sin and it is the fire of the Holy Spirit that makes us pure and helps us live lives that are pleasing to God. The crown represents the "Crown of Life and Glory" which God will give to all those who have been faithful to Him (James 1:12). Red Shield The Red Shield has its origins in Salvation Army work during wartime. At the end of the 19th century, Staff-Captain Mary Murray was sent by William Booth to support British troops serving in the Boer War in South Africa. Then, in 1901, this same officer was given the task of establishing the Naval and Military League, the forerunner of the Red Shield Services.[92] The Salvation Army red shield logo, displayed on the side of a night shelter in Geneva, Switzerland. Salvation Army officers serving in the Red Shield Services in wartime performed many functions. The Doughnut Girls of World War I are an early example, who served refreshments to troops in the trenches. They also provided first aid stations, ambulances, chaplaincy, social clubs, Christian worship, and other front-line services.[93] This symbol is still used in Blue Shield Services that serve the British Armed Forces but it is widely used as a simple, more readily identifiable symbol in many Salvation Army settings. It is common to see the Red Shield used on a casual Salvation Army uniform. It is now official Salvation Army policy in the U.K. that the red shield should be used as the external symbol of the Salvation Army, with the Crest only being used internally. Therefore, any new Salvation Army building will now have the red shield on the outside rather than the crest which certainly would have been used on its Corps (church) buildings. This was "imposed" in the U.K. by the Senior Management with little or no consultation with members. Not all have welcomed this change.[94] Uniform See also: Officer (The Salvation Army) § The rank structure and uniform Salvation Army officers, cadets[95] (trainee officers) and soldiers often wear uniforms. The idea that they should do so originated with Elijah Cadman, who, at the Salvation Army's "War Congress" in August 1878, said, "I would like to wear a suit of clothes that would let everyone know I meant war to the teeth and salvation for the world". The uniform identifies the wearer as a Salvationist and a Christian. It also symbolises availability to those in need. The uniform takes many forms internationally but is characterised by the "S" insignia for "Salvation" and carries the meaning "Saved to Serve", or "Saved to Save". Different colours and styles represent different ranks including soldiers, cadets, lieutenants, captains, majors, colonels, commissioner, and General. Characteristics of the uniform vary between ranks where accessories (the official term is "trimmings") comprise epaulettes and hexagonal lapel patches.[96] The uniform varies with the position and rank: Soldier: plain black epaulettes (Corps name woven into base of epaulette) and black lapel patch with "S" Musician: plain blue or black epaulettes and lapel patch with "S" Cadet: black epaulette with 1 or 2 red bars corresponding to number of years of training and black lapel patch with "S" Officer ranks: Lieutenant: red epaulette with one silver star and red lapel patch with "S" Captain: red epaulette with two silver stars and red lapel patch with "S" Major: red epaulette with silver crest and red lapel patch with "S" Other letters are substituted to conform with local language. The words "The Salvation Army" are woven into the fabric of the uniform as a logo on shirts, blouses, and jackets. Tartan The Salvation Army Dress Tartan Since 1983 there has been an official Salvation Army tartan. It was designed by Captain Harry Cooper, for the Perth Citadel Corps centenary commemoration in Scotland. It is based upon the colours of the Salvation Army flag, with which it shares the same symbolism. It is rarely seen outside Scotland.[97] Salute The Salvation Army has a unique form of salute which involves raising the right hand above shoulder-height with the index finger pointing upwards. It signifies recognition of a fellow citizen of heaven, and a pledge to do everything possible to get others to heaven also.[98] A Salvationist who salutes in this manner in response to applause, signifies that he or she wishes to give Glory to God and not themselves. In some instances, the salute is accompanied with a shout of "hallelujah!" Red kettles Red kettle at supermarket entrance, Ypsilanti, Michigan In many countries, the Salvation Army is recognised during the Christmas season as its volunteers and employees stand outside of businesses and play/sing Christmas carols, or ring bells to inspire passers-by to place donations of cash and cheques inside red kettles. A tradition has developed in the United States in which, in some places, gold coins or rings or bundles of large bills are anonymously inserted into the kettles. This was first recorded in 1982, in Crystal Lake, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.[99][100] Red kettles are not only used during the Christmas season, but throughout the year at other fundraising events, such as on National Doughnut Day in the U.S. On this day, some doughnut shops that teamed up with the Salvation Army have a red kettle set up for donations. Each corps has a monetary goal chosen for them by Divisional Headquarters, which differs based on size and capability.[101] Red Shield Appeal and Self-Denial Appeal The Red Shield Appeal and Self-Denial Appeal are annual fundraising campaigns in some territories, such as the U.K. and Australia. Each year, officers, soldiers, employees, and volunteers take to the streets worldwide to participate in door-to-door or street collections. The money raised is channelled towards The Salvation Army's social work in each respective territory. Within the territory defined by the United Kingdom and Ireland (UKIT) this collection is known as the Annual Appeal, and it often carries another name that the general public would more readily know – in 2012 it became The Big Collection. Music playing A Salvation Army band parade in Oxford, United Kingdom The USA Southern Territory Youth Choir singing in Atlanta, Georgia. As the popularity of the organisation grew and Salvationists worked the streets of London attempting to convert individuals, they were sometimes confronted with unruly crowds. A family of musicians (the Frys, from Alderbury, Wiltshire) began working with the Army as their "bodyguards" and played music to distract the crowds.[102] In 1891 a Salvation Army band attempted to parade and play music in Eastbourne, Sussex, England. This was in contravention of local by-laws and resulted in the arrest of nine Salvationists. Unperturbed the Army continued to parade in defiance of the law, with the aim of gathering support for a change in legislation. Over the next few months the situation in the town escalated to such an extent that there were riots, and mounted police had to be called in from surrounding areas to try to maintain order.[103] The tradition of having musicians available continued and eventually grew into standard brass bands. These are still seen in public at Army campaigns, as well as at other festivals, parades, and at Christmas. Across the world the brass band has been part of the Army's ministry and an immediately recognisable symbol to Salvationists and non-Salvationists alike. The Salvation Army also has choirs; these are known as Songster Brigades, normally comprising the traditional soprano, alto, tenor, and bass singers. The premier Songster Brigade in the Salvation Army is the International Staff Songsters (ISS). The standard of playing is high and the Army operates bands at the international level—such as the International Staff Band (a brass band) which is the equal of professional ensembles although it does not participate in the brass band contest scene—and territorial levels such as the New York Staff Band. Some professional brass players and contesting brass band personnel have Salvation Army backgrounds. Many Salvation Army corps have brass bands that play at Salvation Army meetings, although not all. The Salvation Army also fielded large concertina bands. From the turn of the (20th) century to the Second World War between a third and a half of all SA officers in Britain played concertina. For an evangelist, the concertina's portability, its ability to play both melody and chords, and most especially the fact that the player can sing or speak while playing, were all distinct advantages over brass instruments.[104] The Army tradition in music is to use the popular idiom of the day to reach people for Jesus. The Army's Joy Strings were a hit pop group in the 1960s and early 1970s in the U.K. and beyond, reaching the charts and being featured on national television. Another popular band is The Insyderz, an American ska-core group popular in the 1990s and early 2000s. Hundreds of bands carry on this Salvation Army tradition, such as New Zealand's Moped, Chamberlain, Vatic, Agent C, and The Lads; England's Electralyte; Australia's Soteria Music Ministries, Summer Carnival Band, Crown of Thorns and Escape; and America's transMission, The Singing Company, HAB, BurN, and CJD – Cookies, Juice, & Donuts. Saytunes is a website designed to encourage and promote these contemporary Salvation Army bands and artists. Another significant musical feature of the Salvation Army is its use of tambourines with colourised ribbons representing the colours of the Salvation Army flag. They are mainly played by women. Publications The Salvation Army publishes books, magazines, and sheet music.[105] Due to the way in which the Salvation Army is constituted, copyright of some Army publications is vested in the General of The Salvation Army, and not necessarily the original authors.[106] There are official social media accounts run by the Salvation Army on Twitter, Facebook groups run by Territories and Corps officers, and unofficial fan groups. Edition of The War Cry, 6 August 1887 Books and magazines New Frontier Chronicle, news and networking for the Salvation Army[107] Caring Magazine, curating conversation around issues of social concern[108] The War Cry newspaper, first published in 1879 in the United Kingdom[109] Faith and Friends magazine[110] Salvationist magazine[111] Word and Deed journal[112] KidZone magazine[113] Priority magazine[114] Pipeline, The Salvation Army's news, features and opinion magazine AUE (discontinued)[115] Onfire The Salvation Army's news, features and opinion magazine AUS (discontinued)[116] Others The Salvation Army's news, features and opinion magazine (under newly unified Australian Territory)[116] Adult And Family Ministries Songbook[117] Kids Alive children's magazine Handbook of Doctrine[118] Salvation Story (revised Handbook of Doctrine)[119] The Salvation Army Yearbook 2018 (website page)[120] Christian Mission Magazine[121] Christian Mission Hymn Book[122] Revive[123] The Salvation Army Year Book 2018[124] Songbook of The Salvation Army[125] Public views In 1994, the Chronicle of Philanthropy, an industry publication, released the results of the largest study of charitable and non-profit organisation popularity and credibility. The study showed that The Salvation Army was ranked as the 4th "most popular charity/non-profit in America" of over 100 charities researched, with 47% of Americans over the age of 12 choosing 'Love' and 'Like A Lot' for The Salvation Army.[126] Honours Main article: Order of the Founder General Bramwell Booth instituted the Order of the Founder on 20 August 1917.[127] The first awards were made in 1920 to one Soldier and 15 Officers. General George Carpenter founded the Order of Distinguished Auxiliary Service in 1941 to express the Salvation Army's gratitude for service given to the organisation by non-Salvationists.[128] Controversies Stance on LGBT issues Because the Salvation Army is a church, Title VII of the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 allows it to inquire into people's religious beliefs in its hiring practices. The Salvation Army states that it does not "discriminate against hiring gays and lesbians for the majority of its roughly 55,000 jobs,"[129] but historically it has supported legislation which would allow it to deny employment and federally-funded services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals.[130][131] In 1986, The Salvation Army campaigned throughout New Zealand against the Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986, which decriminalised homosexuality.[132] In 2006, the Army released a statement regretting the ill feelings that persisted following its activity. It stated in part "We do understand though that The Salvation Army's official opposition to the Reform Bill was deeply hurtful to many, and are distressed that ill-feeling still troubles our relationship with segments of the gay community. We regret any hurt that may remain from that turbulent time and our present hope is to rebuild bridges of understanding and dialogue between our movement and the gay community."[133] In 1997, the city of San Francisco enacted a law requiring all companies doing business with the city government to extend domestic benefits to same-sex partners of employees. In refusing to do so, the Salvation Army declined a US$3,500,000 contract.[134] In 2001, the Salvation Army pressed the Bush Administration to exempt it and other religious groups from anti-discrimination legislation which it felt infringed on the organisation's religious freedoms. This request was denied, and was sharply rebuked by David Smith, then-spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign. "Gays and lesbians are taxpayers, too," said Smith. "Their money should not be used by religious groups to fund discriminatory practices against them."[129][135][136] In February 2000, the Salvation Army in the United Kingdom publicly opposed the repeal of Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988, which prevented local authorities from "intentionally promot[ing] homosexuality".[137] The Salvation Army Western Territory approved a plan in October 2001 to start offering domestic partnership benefits to employees in same-sex relationships.[138] Members of various evangelical Christian interest groups protested the decision. Focus on the Family founder James Dobson excoriated the Salvation Army for abandoning its "moral integrity" and urged his radio listeners to bombard the organisation's offices with phone calls and letters. The American Family Association also accused the Salvation Army of a "monstrous... appeasement of sin" that resulted in a "betrayal of the church". In November 2001 the Salvation Army US-wide rescinded the Western Territory's decision with an announcement that it would only provide benefits coverage for different-sex spouses and dependent children of its employees. In 2004, the Salvation Army said that it would close operations in New York City unless it was exempted from a municipal ordinance requiring them to offer benefits to gay employees' partners. The City Council refused to make the exemption. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's administration chose not to enforce the ordinance. The administration's right to decline to enforce the ordinance was upheld by the New York State Court of Appeals in 2006.[139] In 2008, a trans woman named Jennifer Gale died outside a church in Austin, Texas. A city council member attributed her death to workers at a Salvation Army shelter refusing to house her in the women's quarters.[140] The city council member later partially retracted their statements, stating "The Salvation Army... do apparently have a policy of non-discrimination and they do not turn trans people away, but I'm not fully sold on their ability to actually understand the issue. If they are not full they will give trans people privacy (maybe they have private quarters of some sort), but if full and they are in an overflow shelter situation, as they were Tuesday night, I am under the impression that they will assign people according to their anatomy."[141] Between 2010 and 2013, a "position statement" with regard to "same-sex" "sexual orientations" was published on the Salvation Army's website:[142][143] Scripture forbids sexual intimacy between members of the same sex. The Salvation Army believes, therefore, that Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life. There is no scriptural support for same-sex unions as equal to, or as an alternative to, heterosexual marriage. Likewise, there is no scriptural support for demeaning or mistreating anyone for reason of his or her sexual orientation. The Salvation Army opposes any such abuse. In keeping with these convictions, the services of The Salvation Army are available to all who qualify, without regard to sexual orientation. According to a June 2012 article in The Atlantic, the position statement was subsequently "deleted".[143] An article published by CTV News noted in December of the same year that "The site currently states that the organisation's position on homosexuality is 'under review.'"[144] On 15 December 2012, in Canada, Andrea Le Good noticed a Salvation Army bell-ringer carrying a sign reading "if you support gay rights: please do not donate". While the bell-ringer claimed he had permission from the charity to wear the sign, Salvation Army spokeswoman Kyla Ferns said that it had no part in the sign, and that the bell-ringer was pulled away immediately when the charity learned about it.[144] In November 2013 it was made known that the Salvation Army was referring LGBT individuals to one of several conversion therapy groups.[145] As a response, the Salvation Army removed links to the conversion groups from their website.[146] In 2016, The Salvation Army withdrew support for an Australian safe schools program that focused on LGBT students,[132] stating that "the provision of a government approved anti-bullying program needs to consider all high risk student groups."[147] In November 2019, according to The Dallas Morning News, "singer Ellie Goulding... threaten[ed] to cancel her performance at the Cowboys' Thanksgiving halftime show" out of concern for "the LGBTQ community" following negative responses to an Instagram post that she made promoting the organisation:[148][149] "Upon researching this, I have reached out to The Salvation Army and said that I would have no choice but to pull out unless they very quickly make a solid, committed pledge or donation to the LGBTQ community," she wrote. "I am a committed philanthropist as you probably know, and my heart has always been in helping the homeless, but supporting an anti-LGBTQ charity is clearly not something I would ever intentionally do. Thank you for drawing my attention to this." The show "serves as the kickoff for the Salvation Army's yearly Red Kettle Campaign". Goulding later opted to perform.[149][150] The Salvation Army's response A positional statement on the Salvation Army U.K. and Ireland site stated (but has since been taken down): The Salvation Army teaches that sexual acts should take place only in a monogamous heterosexual marriage, believing that this reflects God's intentions for sexual behaviour and provides the best environment for raising children.[151] The positional statement is, however, intended explicitly for members of the Salvation Army[152] and the Salvation Army mission statement as of 2013 states: The Salvation Army stands against homophobia, which victimises people and can reinforce feelings of alienation, loneliness and despair. We want to be an inclusive church community where members of the LGBT community find welcome and the encouragement to develop their relationship with God... Our international mission statement is very clear on this point when it says we will "meet human needs in [Jesus'] name without discrimination". Anyone who comes through our doors will be welcomed with love and service, based on their need and our capacity to provide.[153] As of November 2013, activists were still calling on the Salvation Army to change its stance on LGBT issues, citing ongoing discrimination.[154][155] As of April 2018, the "Inclusion" page on the official U.K. website stated that the Salvation Army stands against homophobia and does not permit discrimination in its employment practices or delivery of care.[156] As of 2018, the U.S.A. Central Territory website explicitly states that it serves and welcomes the LGBT community.[157] On the website of its U.S.A. division, the organisation currently maintains an informative/promotional document titled "The LGBTQ Community and The Salvation Army" which states (among other things) that it is "committed to serving the LGBTQ community"; "[w]hen a transgender person seeks help from us, we serve them in the same manner as any other person seeking assistance"; it "is an Equal Opportunity Employer" with regard to "sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression" (et al.); and that it "provide[s] benefits to the spouses of employees in same-sex marriages".[158] Continuing criticism In 2019, 2020, and 2021, The Salvation Army continued to be criticized in publications like Vox, Forbes, and Out, for homophobic and transphobic views and practices expressed by its leaders and policies, such as in public statements and lobbying.[159] Canadian charity work During the 2010 Christmas season, the Salvation Army in Calgary, Alberta, refused to accept toys based on the Harry Potter and Twilight franchises because of a perceived conflict with the organisation's religious principles. One volunteer claimed that such toys were destroyed instead of being given to other agencies. The volunteer also criticised the Salvation Army for accepting violence-themed toys such as plastic rifles while not accepting Harry Potter or Twilight toys. A Salvation Army captain said that the toys were given to other organisations, not disposed of.[160] This policy is not universal; the Wetaskiwin corps of the Salvation Army has accepted Harry Potter toys. One captain called the series "a classic story of good winning over evil".[161] Also during the 2010 Christmas season, the Salvation Army in Vancouver, B.C., came under fire from advocacy group Families Against Crime & Trauma (FACT) for a program that provided goodie bags to federal inmates for Christmas by playing Santa to incarcerated criminals. The advocacy group called on the public to cease donations to the Salvation Army. Families Against Crime & Trauma, which takes a hardline position against criminal rehabilitation, claimed the gifts were undeserved rewards that should instead go to the victims of crime and their families. The Salvation Army responded that their prisoner visitation program was established over a century ago and that they provided these particular services as contractors to the federal and provincial government, and as such no charitable donations were spent on the program.[162] Proselytising during government-funded social service in New York In 2004, the Salvation Army's New York division was named in a lawsuit filed by 18 current and former employees of its social service arm, claiming that the organisation asked about the religious and sexual habits of employees in programs funded by local and state government. One member claimed the organisation forced them to agree "to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ".[163] Proselytising or otherwise pursuing religious motives in a government-funded program is generally considered a violation of the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. While the employment-discrimination portion of the lawsuit was dismissed in 2005, government agencies agreed in a 2010 settlement to set up monitoring systems to ensure that the Army did not violate church–state separation in its publicly funded projects. The organisation did not dispute allegations that nine-year-olds in a city-funded foster care program were put through a "confirmation-like" ceremony, where they were given Bibles and prayed over.[164] Australian sex abuse cases See also: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse § Salvation Army From the 1940s to the 1980s the Salvation Army in Australia sheltered approximately 30,000 children. In 2006 the Australian division of the Salvation Army acknowledged that sexual abuse may have occurred during this time and issued an apology. In it, the Army explicitly rejected a claim, made by a party unnamed in the apology, that there were as many as 500 potential claimants.[165] In 2013 it was reported that private settlements totalling A$15.5 million had been made in Victoria relating to 474 abuse cases; a Salvation Army spokesman said that "This should not have happened and this was a breach of the trust placed in us" and that they were "deeply sorry" whilst claiming that the abuse was "the result of individuals and not a culture within the organisation".[166] In 2014, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, a royal commission of inquiry initiated in 2013 by the Australian Government and supported by all of its state governments,[167] began investigating abuse cases at the Alkira Salvation Army Home for Boys at Indooroopilly; the Riverview Training Farm (also known as Endeavour Training Farm) at Riverview – both in Queensland; the Bexley Boys' Home at Bexley; and the Gill Memorial Home at Goulburn – both in New South Wales. The investigation also examined the Salvation Army's processes in investigating, disciplining, removing, and transferring anyone accused of or found to have engaged in child sexual abuse in these homes.[168][169][170] On 27 March 2014, the Royal Commission began investigating the handling by the Salvation Army (Eastern Territory) of claims of child sexual abuse between 1993 and 2014.[171][172][173] Racism guide In November 2021, The Salvation Army released a guidance pamphlet titled "Let's Talk About Racism" which encouraged its members to "lament, repent and apologize for biases or racist ideologies held and actions committed."[174] According to Fox News, this was interpreted by critics as an endorsement of critical race theory, during a time of broader public controversy around CRT in the United States.[175][unreliable source] In response, The Salvation Army called the accusations "sensationalist" and "simply not true", and that they had never told people to "apologize for the color of their skin" or "abandoned its Biblical beliefs".[176] After the continued backlash they retracted the document and again stated that they do not endorse any ideology or belief system other than Christianity and reject the idea that "America is an inherently racist society".[177] The anti-CRT group Color Us United promised to "continue its battle" with The Salvation Army despite these statements.[178][better source needed] Rogue landlord allegations In April 2022 an investigation by The Guardian and ITV news found serious problems at properties owned and rented out by the Salvation Army in Hadleigh, Essex. They found that tenants had been exposed to "serious" hazards for at least seven years and that many of the properties were not in line with fire regulations. A 2014 survey, commissioned by the Salvation Army, found damp and breaches of fire regulations. Residents of one property reported a hole in their roof to Salvation Army's agent six years prior to the newspaper's investigation. A resident of one house said, "There's the damp problem, obviously the roof, because we need to keep the heat in the house not having it blowing up out the house. The windows and doors don't fit properly...(I) have to have the heating on 24 hours a day to keep the house warm (in the winter)." The managing director of the environmental health consultancy Building Forensics, Jeff Charlton, found mould on a wall next to the bed of an asthmatic child in another home. Alan Read, the Salvation Army's managing director, met with residents in 2018 and issued an apology for neglecting them. Many of the 40 residents at the meeting were left with the impression they could be evicted if the Salvation Army could not afford to carry out repairs. The local authority, Castle Point Borough Council, wrote to the Salvation Army in March 2019 warning it would take legal action over the condition of the properties. In 2022 The Guardian and ITV News found conditions within the homes had not improved since the Castle Point Borough Council's warning in 2019. The behaviour of the Salvation Army was described as a "sordid mess" by an environmental officer at the Council. Category one and category two hazards were found by the Council's environmental department. Category one hazards include risks of "death, permanent paralysis, permanent loss of consciousness, loss of a limb or serious fracture". In April 2022 the local authority issued improvement notices to the Salvation Army, which was criticised for not carrying out repairs at the same time it was spending an estimated £32 million on a new territorial headquarters building in Southwark, London. The Salvation Army said the new territorial headquarters was funded by the sale of its old headquarters, not by donations or rental income from tenants. The Salvation Army released a statement saying, "It is clear that we let down the tenants of Seaview Terrace and Mount Zion and we are deeply sorry. Considerable refurbishment and improvement work is already underway. We have employed a contractor as a Project Manager dedicated to Hadleigh and will be employing a Building Surveyor on a permanent basis to focus on Hadleigh going forward". The MP for Castle Point, Rebecca Harris said she had repeated meetings with the Salvation Army over a number of years to try and get the church to improve living conditions. She said, "They kept making promises that failed to materialise."[179] Kroc Centers Main article: Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Centers In 2004, the Army in the United States received a US$1,600,000,000 donation in the will of Joan B. Kroc, the third wife of former McDonald's CEO Ray Kroc. This donation was among the larger individual philanthropic gifts ever given to a single organisation. The donation came with certain restrictions that caused some controversy.[180] In films Main article: List of films featuring the Salvation Army The Salvation Army is featured in many popular movies such as Guys and Dolls and Major Barbara.[181] A book detailing over 500 films in which the Salvation Army appears or is mentioned was published in 2020 entitled The Salvation Army at the Movies.[182] The Salvation Army began producing silent films when they started their own film studio called The Limelight Department in 1892,[183] which was the first in Australia. The original studio still stands today and is being preserved by the Salvation Army. One of the films was a documentary called Inauguration of the Australian Commonwealth.[183] In the years between 1898 and 1909, The Limelight Department produced over 300 films and documented Australia's Federation Ceremonies in 1909.[183] In music The hit song "Seven Nation Army" was inspired by Jack White's childhood mispronunciation of the Salvation Army.[184] The song "Sally" by Sade is about the Salvation Army. In the song, the Army is personified as Sally, a woman who helps men through hard times. The song appears on their debut album Diamond Life, released in 1984. The song "The Preacher and the Slave" was written by labor activist Joe Hill as a parody about the Salvation Army. It has also been performed by Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Utah Phillips. The 1985 song “Life in a Northern Town” by British New Wave band “The Dream Academy” contains a reference to the “Salvation Army Band”. The 1964 song "Understand Your Man" by American Country singer Johnny Cash contains the lyrics "Give my other suit to the Salvation Army, and everything else I leave behind." The 1966 song “A Hazy Shade of Winter” by American duo Simon & Garfunkel contains a reference to "hear the Salvation Army Band”. The 1968 song "Suzanne" by Canadian poet and musician Leonard Cohen contains the lyrics "She is wearing rags and feathers from Salvation Army counters."[185] The 2011 song "happy news for sadness" [sic] by American indie rock band Car Seat Headrest contains the lyrics "Pack all your stuff in these boxes, and send them to the Salvation Army, 'cause they're the only one." See also icon London portal icon Christianity portal The Salvation Army in Australia Limelight Department The Salvation Army, Australia Eastern Territory The Salvation Army, Australia Southern Territory The Salvation Army, Canada Booth University College Chalk Farm Salvation Army Band Chief of the Staff of The Salvation Army "Follow On" (hymn) Generals of The Salvation Army The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Centers Maidenhead Citadel Band Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network Soldier in The Salvation Army The Salvation Army in Namibia The Salvation Army USA Salvation Army Waiʻoli Tea Room World Vision Church Army Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 Salvation Army Boys Adventure Corps Catherine Booth (née Mumford, 17 January 1829 – 4 October 1890) was co-founder of The Salvation Army, along with her husband William Booth. Because of her influence in the formation of The Salvation Army she was known as the 'Mother of The Salvation Army'. Life She was born as Catherine Mumford in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, England, in 1829 to Methodist parents, John Mumford and Sarah Milward. Her father was an occasional lay preacher and carriage maker. Her family later moved to Boston, Lincolnshire, and later lived in Brixton, London. From an early age, Catherine was a serious and sensitive girl. She had a strong Christian upbringing and was said to have read the Bible through eight times before the age of 12.[1] During Catherine's adolescence a spinal curvature led to years of enforced idleness.[2] She kept herself busy, however, and was especially concerned about the problems of alcoholism. Even as a young girl she had served as secretary of a Juvenile Temperance Society writing articles for a temperance magazine. Catherine was a member of the local Band of Hope and a supporter of the national Temperance Society. When Catherine refused to condemn Methodist Reformers in 1850, the Wesleyan Methodists expelled her. For the Reformers she led a girls' Sunday school class in Clapham. At the home of Edward Rabbits, in 1851, she met William Booth, who also had been expelled by the Wesleyans for reform sympathies. William was reciting a temperance poem, "The Grog-seller’s Dream", which appealed to Catherine, who had embraced the new Methodist passion for abstinence.[3] They soon fell in love and became engaged. During their three-year engagement, Catherine constantly wrote letters of encouragement to William as he performed the tiring work of a preacher. They were married on 16 June 1855[4] at Stockwell Green Congregational Church in London. Their wedding was very simple, as they wanted to use their time and money for his ministry. Even on their honeymoon, William was asked to speak at meetings. The Booths had eight children: Bramwell Booth, Ballington Booth, Kate Booth, Emma Booth, Herbert Booth, Marie Booth, Evangeline Booth and Lucy Booth, and were dedicated to giving them a firm Christian knowledge. Two of their offspring, Bramwell and Evangeline, later became Generals of The Salvation Army. Ministry Catherine and William Booth Catherine began to be more active in the work of the church at Brighouse. Though she was extremely nervous, she enjoyed working with young people and found the courage to speak in children's meetings. During this period she discovered a model, American Wesleyan revivalist Phoebe Palmer. With William's encouragement, Catherine wrote a pamphlet, Female Ministry: Woman’s Right to Preach the Gospel (1859), in defense of American preacher Mrs. Phoebe Palmer's preaching, whose preaching had caused a great stir in the area where the Booths lived. Female Ministry was a short, powerful apology for women's rights to preach the gospel. The pamphlet identifies three major principles on which her convictions rested. First, Catherine saw that women are neither naturally nor morally inferior to men. Second, she believed there was no scriptural reason to deny them a public ministry. Third, she maintained that what the Bible urged, the Holy Spirit had ordained and blessed and so must be justified.[2] She complained that the "unjustifiable application" of Paul's advice, “ 'Let your women keep silence in the Churches' (1 Corinthians 14:34), has resulted in more loss to the Church, evil to the world, and dishonor to God, than any of [its] errors".[3] At that time, it was unheard of for women to speak in adult meetings. She was convinced that women had an equal right to speak. In January 1860, following the birth of their fourth child, at Gateshead, during William's sermon, she asked to "say a word". She witnessed to her timidity about claiming her calling, yet William announced that she would speak that night.[3] It was the beginning of a tremendous ministry, as people were greatly challenged by her preaching. She became a partner in her husband's work and soon found her own sphere as a powerful preacher. She also spoke to people in their homes, especially to alcoholics, whom she helped to make a new start in life. Often she held cottage meetings for converts. She eventually began to hold her own campaigns. Many agree that no man of her era, including her husband, exceeded her in popularity or spiritual results. Her first written article, the pamphlet Female Teaching[5] was published in December 1859. Catherine Booth was eloquent and compelling in speech, articulate and devastatingly logical in writing, she had for over twenty years defended the right of women to preach the gospel on the same terms as men. At first, Catherine and her husband had shared a ministry as traveling evangelists, but then she came into great demand as a preacher in her own right, especially among the well-to-do. A woman preacher was a rare phenomenon in a world where women had few civil rights, and no place in the professions. Catherine Booth was both a woman and a fine preacher, a magnetic combination that attracted large numbers to hear her and made its own statement about the validity of women's ministry.[2] Amongst other activities, Catherine lobbied Queen Victoria to seek legislation for safeguarding females, in the form of the "Parliamentary Bill for the protection of girls"[6] The Christian Mission They began the work of The Christian Mission in 1865 in London's East End. William preached to the poor and ragged and Catherine spoke to the wealthy, gaining support for their financially demanding ministry. The textile industry employed as many women as men and contributed a substantial number of female officers. In addition, domestic indoor servants flocked to the Army, and many became officers.[7] William and Catherine and their son Bramwell and daughter-in-law Florence were all vegetarian. Bramwell wrote a list of reasons he had maintained the diet.[8] The "Appointments of Officers, 1883" lists 127 married men. This number is important, because wives were expected to help run the corps. Since wives were not compelled to attend the officers' course at the Training Home, they were not given a commission and, therefore, did not appear in the list. General Booth had an active policy of encouraging officers to intermarry. The "Appointments of Officers, 1883" lists thirty-six couples who had done so, the women resigning their own rights of officership to become joint officers with their husbands. The loss of the women officers' rights when marrying contradicts the constant statement regarding equality. The Army leaders were clearly not so radical as to lose the concept of man's conjugal superiority. This social policy carried into pay; the husband, as head of the household, received the pay for the couple. The idea that single female officers could manage on less money than their male counterparts was abolished before the Second World War. Until that time, male officers received a third more pay than their female counterparts.[7] Catherine Booth organized Food for the Million shops where the poor could buy a cheap meal and at Christmas, hundreds of meals were distributed to the needy.[9] When the name was changed in 1878 to The Salvation Army and William Booth became known as the General, Catherine became known as the 'Mother of The Salvation Army.' She was behind many of the changes in the new organization, designing the flag and bonnets for the ladies, and contributed to the Army's ideas on many important issues and matters of belief. The Booths rented a small villa, Crossley House, in Clacton-on-Sea, which had a sea view that she loved. Catherine Booth died of breast cancer at age 61 at Crossley House. She is interred with her husband in Abney Park Cemetery, London. Subsequently, Crossley House was donated to people with learning disabilities and provided many summer holidays until it was sold to property developers in 2005. Works Practical Religion (1878) Godliness (1881) Aggressive Christianity (1883) Life and Death (1883) Highway of our God (1886) Popular Christianity (1887) Life of Catherine Booth: The Mother of the Salvation Army (1892) Female Teaching[10] Legacy Statue of Catherine Booth in the Mile End Road, London, close to the site of the first Salvation Army meeting. The statue was donated by the women of the Salvation Army in the United States in 2015 to mark the Army's 150th anniversary. Catherine Booth Hospital (CBH) is a hospital and nursing school run by the Salvation Army in Nagercoil, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India. Catherine Booth House is a confidentially located domestic violence shelter in the Seattle/King County area. Operated by The Salvation Army, CBH has been serving battered women and their children since 1976. Catherine Booth Child Development Center is a preschool located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Statues of each of the Booths by George Edward Wade were erected on Champion Hill, next to the Salvation Army's training college in London in 1929.[11][12] Replicas of the statues by Wade stand in the Mile End Road, London, close to the site of the first Salvation Army meeting. That of William was unveiled in 1979; and that of Catherine in 2015. Catherine Booth House is a residential and support unit for vulnerable families and mothers in Portsmouth, England.[13] Catherine Booth Hospital in the Notre Dame de Grace sector of Montreal has been a rehabilitation center since 1973; it had been a maternity hospital since 1925, upon its move to its present location, and before that a rescue home for women (founded in 1890).[14] Catherine is remembered (with William) in the Church of England with a commemoration on 20 August.[15] See also Catherine Bramwell-Booth, her granddaughter Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 Evangeline Cory Booth, OF (December 25, 1865 – July 17, 1950) was a British evangelist and the 4th General of The Salvation Army from 1934 to 1939. She was the first woman to hold the post. Early life She was born in South Hackney, London, England, the seventh of eight children born to William Booth and Catherine Mumford, who had earlier in the year founded The Christian Mission, which became The Salvation Army in 1878. Catherine Booth had recently read Uncle Tom's Cabin and wanted to name her baby 'Evangeline', but William Booth did not like the name and wrote 'Evelyne' on the birth certificate. Years later, while in the United States, Evelyne would be persuaded by Frances Willard, founder of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, to adopt the name 'Evangeline' as being more dignified and more befitting the commander of The Salvation Army in America.[1] At 15 she was a Sergeant selling the Army's paper The War Cry in the slums of east London.[1] In 1887, at 21 years of age, she became the officer of the corps in Marylebone, where there was very strong opposition to The Salvation Army. Wherever trouble threatened, General Booth's solution was invariably the same, 'Send Eva!'.[2] The Salvation Army She was appointed as Field Commissioner throughout Great Britain from 1888 to 1891, courageously facing riotous crowds. From 1891 until 1896 she was in charge of Officer Training. When in 1896 an American break-away group led by her brother Ballington Booth and his wife Maud Ballington Booth attempted to tempt American Salvationists away from The Salvation Army and into a rival group called Volunteers of America, General Booth sent Evangeline to New York. When she arrived the doors to Army headquarters on 14th Street had been locked against her. However, "she mounted the fire escape and climbed through a rear window. The dissidents hissed and booed until she literally wrapped herself in an available American flag and challenged: "Hiss that, if you dare." In the stunned silence she played her concertina and sang "Over Jordan without Fearing." Ballington's rebellion was quelled."[1][3] She was appointed temporary Territorial Commander of the United States, then Territorial Commander of Canada. In 1904 she returned as Commander of the United States, and held this position until 1934. In the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, she led a mass meeting in Union Square, New York, and raised over $12,000 for Salvation Army relief work among the victims of the disaster. During this period she became a US citizen.[2] In August 1917, despite the differences between Commander Evangeline Booth and US General Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), the first of 250 Salvationists left New York for the front line of the Great War in France. They soon won the confidence of the troops with their cheerful brand of 'seven-days-a-week' Christianity. As tributes poured in, Evangeline protested: 'The Salvation Army has had no new success; we have only done an old thing in an old way.' The American people disagreed, and subscribed an unprecedented $13 million to clear debts incurred by The Army, through its provision of canteens, hostels, rest rooms during the war, and afterwards on the provision of care and accommodation for the returning forces. For her work in support of the AEF, Booth was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by the U.S. Army. Booth was one of only a very few civilian women to be so honored for service during the First World War. In 1927, Evangeline visited her brother, General Bramwell Booth, with a memorandum which set to change the way in which The Salvation Army appointed its General. At first Bramwell refused to speak with Evangeline and forced communication through his speech writer, Commissioner Cornelius Obadiah Phelps. After finally agreeing to meet, Bramwell was not convinced; he was adamant that he would appoint his successor as his father had done before him.[2] In January 1929, the first High Council of The Salvation Army decided otherwise, and since then the General has been elected by the High Council, in line with Evangeline Booth's original proposal. Fourth General Evangeline Booth was elected General by the second High Council in 1934. She brought to the Generalship a wealth of experience in many areas of The Army's work but never lost the zeal and enthusiasm of the early years. Dubbed 'The Musician General' by Army papers of the time, she took great interest in the soul-winning activities of the musical sections of The Salvation Army. Like her father, the Founder, Evangeline extensively travelled the world. After her election as General she toured Great Britain, and in 1935 India, Ceylon, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii and the United States; then, immediately upon her return, Norway and Sweden. By the end of 1935 she undertook a 'motorcade' - the entire East Coast of England up to Darlington, then several Western Counties and the Thames Valley. The following year she went on another motorcade from Land's End to John o' Groats, and visited Canada, the United States and France, though by this time she was over seventy years old.[2] The Salvation Army's work greatly prospered during Evangeline Booth's leadership, with Salvation Army activities being commenced in Singapore, Algeria, Egypt, French Equatorial Africa, the Philippines, Mexico, and Penang (Malaya). Later years Her term of office ended on October 31, 1939 when Commissioner George Lyndon Carpenter was elected as the Army's fifth General. Towards the end of November, Evangeline left Britain for her home in up-state New York, and spent the remaining years of her life there.[2] She wrote several books, including Toward a Better World and Songs of the Evangel. The Salvation Army Evangeline Booth College in Atlanta, Georgia is named after her, as is 'The Evangeline Booth Lodge' in Chicago which is "a haven for families and individuals suddenly homeless because of eviction, disasters such as a fire or flood, loss of utilities, domestic violence, being stranded while traveling, or other crises."[4] General Evangeline Booth lived in Hartsdale, New York, until her death at the age of 84 from arteriosclerosis. She is interred in Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla, Mount Pleasant, New York near White Plains, New York. Her home, the Evangeline Booth House, now known as St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.[5] General is the title of the international leader and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Salvation Army, a Christian denomination with extensive charitable social services that gives quasi-military rank to its ministers (who are therefore known as officers). The General is elected by the High Council of The Salvation Army and serves a term of five years, which may be extended to seven years. According to the organisation, the General is purported to be appointed by God, and the council identifies that person.[1] Lyndon Buckingham is the current general, who assumed office on 3 August 2023 upon the retirement of Brian Peddle. The organisation's founder, William Booth, was the first and longest-serving general. There have been 22 generals as of 2023. History and procedures for election Usage of the title "General" within the context of The Salvation Army, began with the founder of The Salvation Army, William Booth. His wife, Catherine Booth, the organisation's co-founder, became known as the "Mother" of The Salvation Army. General Booth served as General until his death in 1912; Booth selected his son, Bramwell Booth as his successor. It was William Booth's intention to have each General dictate their successor, but the Salvation Army Act of 1931 passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom requires that each General is selected by the High Council of The Salvation Army. Every General after Bramwell Booth has been selected by the High Council.[2] In accordance with the Salvation Army Act of 1931, a General must retire at age 68 and may serve as long as seven years.[3] The General is elected by the High Council when their predecessor retires or dies (known within the Salvation Army as being promoted to Glory). William Booth was the only general to die in office. The High Council is composed of the Chief of the Staff, all active commissioners, except the spouse of the incumbent General, and all territorial commanders. The High Council may also remove a General from office for violations of their "covenant to God", disability, or the inability to fulfill their duties, though this has never happened. The officer of the Salvation Army who is elected general is the worldwide spiritual leader of the Salvation Army and the Chief Executive Officer of the organization. The General has a role that is similar to the Pope's role within the Catholic Church. Since The Salvation Army maintains a hierarchical, quasi-military structure, all appointments and regulations are issued under the General's authority. Three women have been elected General of the Salvation Army: Evangeline Booth, William Booths's daughter, in 1934, Eva Burrows in 1986, and Linda Bond in 2011. On January 31, 2011, after 10 days of meetings which began on January 21, 2011, the 17th High Council elected Linda Bond as the 19th General of The Salvation Army. Bond was the third woman to hold the post and the fourth Canadian. This election was handled by the largest High Council in history and was especially significant due to the number of women delegates (57) outnumbering the number of men delegates (52).[4] On 3 August 2013 the then-Commissioner André Cox was elected by the High Council of 2013 as the 20th General of The Salvation Army.[5] The High Council of 2018 selected Brian Peddle as Cox's successor in May 2018; he took office in August 2018. On 26 May 2023 the High Council of 2023 elected Lyndon Buckingham as Peddle's successor. Vacancy In the event of vacancy, either by death or resignation, the Salvation Army Act of 1980 requires that the Chief of the Staff of The Salvation Army serve as acting general if a successor had not already been elected.[6] The most recent instance of vacancy was in 2013 when Linda Bond retired unexpectedly; Andre Cox served as acting general. List of living retired Generals There are four retired generals living. The most recent general to die was Shaw Clifton on 29 May 2023. Paul Rader Linda Bond André Cox Brian Peddle Leadership The General serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Salvation Army at the international level, but the organization is divided into many subunits controlled by other individuals. For instance, Commissioner David Hudson, appointed by Cox, serves as the CEO of The Salvation Army of the United States. Generals of The Salvation Army No. Portrait Name (birth–death) Term of office Nationality Chief of the Staff Took office Left office Time in office 1 William Booth OBE (1829–1912) 2 July 1865 20 August 1912 † 47 years, 49 days United Kingdom Bramwell Booth 2 Bramwell Booth CH (1856–1929) 21 August 1912 13 February 1929 16 years, 176 days United Kingdom T. Henry Howard Edward Higgins 3 Edward Higgins (1864–1947) 14 February 1929 11 November 1934 5 years, 270 days United Kingdom Henry Mapp 4 Evangeline Booth OF (1865–1950) 11 November 1934 1 November 1939 4 years, 355 days United Kingdom United States John McMillan Alfred G. Cunningham 5 George Carpenter (1872–1948) 1 November 1939 21 June 1946 6 years, 232 days Australia Charles Baugh 6 Albert Orsborn (1886–1967) 21 June 1946 1 July 1954 8 years, 10 days United Kingdom John Allan Edgar Dibden 7 Wilfred Kitching CBE (1893–1977) 1 July 1954 23 November 1963 9 years, 145 days United Kingdom William J. Dray Norman F. Duggins Erik Wickberg 8 Leger des Heils 80 jaar. Wethouder Jan Tabak van Amsterdam begroet Generaal Fre…, Bestanddeelnr 920-3452.jpg Frederick Coutts CBE (1899–1986) 23 November 1963 21 September 1969 5 years, 302 days United Kingdom 9 Erik Wickberg (1904–1996) 21 September 1969 6 July 1974 4 years, 288 days Sweden Arnold Brown 10 Clarence Wiseman OC (1907–1985) 6 July 1974 5 July 1977 2 years, 364 days Canada Arthur E. Carr 11 Arnold Brown OC (1913–2002) 5 July 1977 14 December 1981 4 years, 162 days Canada W. Stanley Cottrill 12 Jarl Wahlström (1918–1999) 14 December 1981 9 July 1986 4 years, 207 days Finland Caughey Gauntlett 13 Eva Burrows AC (1929–2015) 9 July 1986 9 July 1993 7 years, 0 days Australia Ron Cox Bramwell Tillsley 14 Bramwell Tillsley (1931–2019) 9 July 1993 18 May 1994 313 days Canada Earle Maxwell 15 Paul Rader (born 1934) 23 July 1994 23 July 1999 5 years, 0 days United States 16 John Gowans (1934–2012) 23 July 1999 13 November 2002 3 years, 113 days United Kingdom John Larsson 17 John Larsson (1938-2022) 13 November 2002 2 April 2006 3 years, 140 days Sweden Israel Gaither 18 Shaw Clifton (1945-2023) 2 April 2006 2 April 2011 5 years, 0 days United Kingdom Robin Dunster Barry Swanson 19 Linda Bond (born 1946) 2 April 2011 13 June 2013 2 years, 72 days Canada Andre Cox 20 André Cox (born 1954) 3 August 2013 3 August 2018 5 years, 0 days United Kingdom Switzerland William A. Roberts Brian Peddle 21 Brian Peddle (born 1957) 3 August 2018 3 August 2023 5 years, 0 days Canada Lyndon Buckingham 22 Lyndon Buckingham (born 1962) 3 August 2023 Incumbent 55 days New Zealand Edward Hill Timeline Below is a timeline of Salvation Army Generals' terms in office. General Evangeline Booth Born on Christmas Day, 1865, Evangeline was the fourth daughter (and seventh child) of the Founders, William and Catherine Booth. Early in her Salvation Army career, she was appointed Captain of the Great Western Hall, Marylebone, where there was very strong opposition to the Salvation Army. Wherever trouble threatened, William's solution was invariably the same, "Send Eva!" As Field Commissioner, Eva traveled throughout Great Britain, courageously facing riotous crowds. Following a period in charge of Officer Training, she was appointed temporary Territorial Commander of the United States, then Territorial Commander of Canada. In 1904 she returned as Commander of the United States, and held this position until 1934. In the aftermath of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, she led a mass meeting in Union Square, New York, and raised over $12,000 for S.A. relief work amongst the victims of the disaster. In August 1917, despite differences between Commander Eva and U.S. General George Pershing, the first of 250 Salvationists left New York for the front line of the Great War in France. They soon won the confidence of the troops, with their cheerful brand of "seven-days-a-week" Christianity. As tributes poured in, Eva protested: "The Salvation Army has had no new success; we have only done an old thing in an old way." The American people disagreed, and subscribed an unprecedented $13 million to clear debts incurred by the Army, through its provision of canteens, hostels, rest rooms during the war, and afterwards on the provision of care and accommodation for the returning forces. In 1927 Eva visited her brother, General Bramwell Booth, with a memorandum which sought to change the way in which the salvation Army appointed its General. Bramwell was not convinced; he was adamant that he would appoint its successor, as his father had done before him. In January 1929 the first High Council decided otherwise, and since then the General has been elected by the High Council, in line with Eva's original proposal. Evangeline Booth was elected General by the second High Council in 1934. She brought to the Generalship a wealth of experience in many areas of the Army's work, but never lost the zeal and enthusiasm of the early years. Dubbed "The Musician General' by Army papers of the time, she took a great interest in the soul-winning activities of the musical sections of the Salvation Army. Like her father, the Founder, Eva extensively traveled the world. After her election as General she toured Great Britain, and in 1935 India, Ceylon, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii and the United States; then, immediately upon her return, Norway and Sweden. By the end of 1935 she undertook a "motorcade" - the entire East Coast of England up to Darlington then several Western Counties and the Thames Valley. The following year, she went on another motorcade, from Land's End to John O'Groats, and visited Canada, United States and France, though by this time she was over seventy years old. The Salvation Army's work greatly prospered during Evangeline Booth's leadership, with S.A. activities being commenced in Singapore, Egypt, French Equatorial Africa, the Philippines, Mexico, and Penang (Malaya). Her term of office ended on October 31 1939, when commissioner George Lyndon Carpenter was elected as the Army's fifth General. Towards the end of November, Evangeline left Britain for New York, and spent the remaining years of her life in the land which she had served for so very many years. On July 17, 1950, she was Promoted to Glory at the age of 84. EVANGELINE BOOTH (1865-1950) Even in her 80s, Evangeline Booth still had the spunk and energy of the young English beauty who made her father's London-based Salvation Army an American institution. Today the Army claims 27,000 officers and cadets in 91 different countries. Its charitable works for the poor, the derelict, and the spiritually lost are world-famous. The Salvation Army is more than street-corner bands and Christmas bell ringers. It is a multimillion-dollar organization operating a far-flung network of hospitals, welfare missions, home for unwed mothers, employment agencies, and family-counseling clinics. But on Christmas morning, 1865, it was no more than an idea forming in the mind of an unconventional Methodist minister named William Booth. That same morning his wife gave birth to the couple's 8th child, a girl. Catherine Booth had just read Uncle Tom's Cabin and wanted to name her baby Little Eva. Booth demurred and wrote Evelyne on the birth certificate. Years later, in the U.S., Evelyne would be persuaded by Frances Willard, founder of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, to adopt the name Evangeline as more dignified, befitting the commander of Salvationist forces in America. Though all the Booth children accepted their father's vision of a paramilitary Christian movement, Evangeline threw herself into the cause at an early age with characteristic gusto. The Booths preferred street corners to indoor churches, and popular musical instruments like banjos, tambourines, and drums to organs, in their drive to reach the lower depths of London society. The Salvation Army was a controversial late arrival in Victorian England. Violence and abuse dogged the steps of its "soldiers." Like her colleagues, Evangeline weathered harassment from street toughs, bullying saloonkeepers, and unsympathetic civil authorities. At 15 she was a sergeant selling the Army paper War Cry in the slums of East London. In her early 20s she was a captain and a compelling skid-row evangelist. But she feared she was still not reaching deep enough into the city's underworld. So Evangeline Booth dressed in rags and became a flower girl on the steps in Piccadilly Circus, ministering incognito to alcoholics, beggars, and prostitutes. She became commander of the London detachment and her father's favorite troubleshooter. Once a splinter group in the U.S., led by her brother Ballington Booth, sought to lure American Salvationists away from their London affiliate and into a rival group called Volunteers of America. When Evangeline arrived in New York, the doors to Army headquarters on 14th Street had been locked against her. Undaunted, she mounted the fire escape and climbed through a rear window. The dissidents hissed and booed until she literally wrapped herself in an available American flag and challenged: "His that, if you dare." In the stunned silence she played her concertina and sang "Over Jordan without Fearing." Ballington's rebellion was quelled.
  • Condition: Used
  • Unit of Sale: Single Piece
  • Type: Photograph
  • Size: 6.5X8.5
  • Image Color: Black & White
  • Featured Person/Artist: evangeline booth
  • Time Period Manufactured: 1925-1949
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
  • Original/Licensed Reprint: Original

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