The History of the Salvation Army
“The authority it granted women, its emphasis on holiness theology and revivalist methods, its growing independence, and its strict hierarchical structure were all features that sharply distinguished it from its contemporaries.” – Pamela J. Walker
Started by William Booth in 1865, The Salvation Army was an evangelical and philanthropic organization preaching salvation from sins and purity of life for the poor people of the London’s East End. They aimed to continue this social commitment to evangelicalism started by the Methodism and American revivalism of John Wesley.
“Free salvation for all men and full salvation from all sin.” – John Wesley
This group started as the Christian Revival Association in 1865, which late was renamed the East London Christian Mission. Their first headquarters was the People’s Mission Hall (and old beer shop). They performed religious and social functions through all-night prayer vigils, Midnight Meetings, and selling food to the needy. Its special type of social work set it apart from 500 other Christian missions in the area, by spreading messages of salvation and feeding and sheltering the needy.
This mission was established with no money and property at the beginning, with some funding from the Evangelization Society and a few dedicated private donors. Though many councils and conferences were set up by Booth, the financial situation was looking bad and debts were high. To continue his ministry, they were dependent on funds donated by the general public and organizations. William Booth decided that each mission station was responsible for raising their own money.
Progress slowed due to lacking funds, a firm doctrine, and stable organization and devoted evangelist assistants. They then started to employ new methods involving militant language, uniforms, and popular music which are staples the Salvation Army is known for today. The idea for popular music came about in William’s strategy to combine serious preaching with popular entertainment, like the crowd pleasing theaters and music halls of the day. Many prayer meetings held in these closed entertainment venues on Sundays attracted thousands of lost souls.
Social Action included street preaching, home meeting, prayer groups, and Bible study. By 1900, the Salvation Army opened a labor exchange to help the poor of London find jobs. They promoted job creation by encouraging police to employ the unemployed in labor-heavy jobs like roadwork and tree-planting on public roads. They called factory jobs “Elevators”, because these jobs elevated the moral character and self-respect of the destitute people.
In the form of shelters, the cheapest was the penny sit-up. Inmates could sit all night, but couldn’t lied down or sleep on the bench. An extra penny provided a rope put across to hang over to sleep on, but was cut in the morning to wake the person up. A “coffin house” cost four-penny, based on its name homeless could sleep in wooden boxes resembling crates. This also included a hot breakfast come morning. Both William and his wife Catherine agreed that excessive drinking and prostitution as the root of all evil. They ran homes for people addicted to alcohol, morphine, and laudanum (opium).
Though faced with some criticism, overall the Salvation Army was greeted with praise from Britain. Winston Churchill sided with many of Booth’s ideas and practices. Even Queen Victoria sent a Catherine Booth this message in 1882. “Her Majesty learns with much satisfaction that you have, with other members of your Society, been successful in your efforts to win many thousands to the ways of temperance, virtue, and religion.”
“Five thousand extra policemen could not fill [the Salvation Army’s] place in the repression of crime and disorder.” - Charles Spurgeon, Baptist preacher
“The Salvation Army was a new instrument for social and moral reform.” – Robert William Dale, Congregationalist church leader
Started by William Booth in 1865, The Salvation Army was an evangelical and philanthropic organization preaching salvation from sins and purity of life for the poor people of the London’s East End. They aimed to continue this social commitment to evangelicalism started by the Methodism and American revivalism of John Wesley.
“Free salvation for all men and full salvation from all sin.” – John Wesley
This group started as the Christian Revival Association in 1865, which late was renamed the East London Christian Mission. Their first headquarters was the People’s Mission Hall (and old beer shop). They performed religious and social functions through all-night prayer vigils, Midnight Meetings, and selling food to the needy. Its special type of social work set it apart from 500 other Christian missions in the area, by spreading messages of salvation and feeding and sheltering the needy.
This mission was established with no money and property at the beginning, with some funding from the Evangelization Society and a few dedicated private donors. Though many councils and conferences were set up by Booth, the financial situation was looking bad and debts were high. To continue his ministry, they were dependent on funds donated by the general public and organizations. William Booth decided that each mission station was responsible for raising their own money.
Progress slowed due to lacking funds, a firm doctrine, and stable organization and devoted evangelist assistants. They then started to employ new methods involving militant language, uniforms, and popular music which are staples the Salvation Army is known for today. The idea for popular music came about in William’s strategy to combine serious preaching with popular entertainment, like the crowd pleasing theaters and music halls of the day. Many prayer meetings held in these closed entertainment venues on Sundays attracted thousands of lost souls.
Social Action included street preaching, home meeting, prayer groups, and Bible study. By 1900, the Salvation Army opened a labor exchange to help the poor of London find jobs. They promoted job creation by encouraging police to employ the unemployed in labor-heavy jobs like roadwork and tree-planting on public roads. They called factory jobs “Elevators”, because these jobs elevated the moral character and self-respect of the destitute people.
In the form of shelters, the cheapest was the penny sit-up. Inmates could sit all night, but couldn’t lied down or sleep on the bench. An extra penny provided a rope put across to hang over to sleep on, but was cut in the morning to wake the person up. A “coffin house” cost four-penny, based on its name homeless could sleep in wooden boxes resembling crates. This also included a hot breakfast come morning. Both William and his wife Catherine agreed that excessive drinking and prostitution as the root of all evil. They ran homes for people addicted to alcohol, morphine, and laudanum (opium).
Though faced with some criticism, overall the Salvation Army was greeted with praise from Britain. Winston Churchill sided with many of Booth’s ideas and practices. Even Queen Victoria sent a Catherine Booth this message in 1882. “Her Majesty learns with much satisfaction that you have, with other members of your Society, been successful in your efforts to win many thousands to the ways of temperance, virtue, and religion.”
“Five thousand extra policemen could not fill [the Salvation Army’s] place in the repression of crime and disorder.” - Charles Spurgeon, Baptist preacher
“The Salvation Army was a new instrument for social and moral reform.” – Robert William Dale, Congregationalist church leader
International Salvation Army (London, England): http://www.salvationarmy.org
Salvation Army (United States): http://www.salvationarmyusa.org
Salvation Army (Muncie-Delaware County): http://corps.salvationarmyindiana.org/muncie/
Contact Information: http://corps.salvationarmyindiana.org/muncie/contact-us/
For more information:
Diniejko, Andrzej. "The Origin and Early Development of the Salvation Army in Victorian England." The Victorian Web. Nagoya University, Japan, 11 Apr 2013. Web. 11 Nov 2013. <http://www.victorianweb.org/religion/sa1.html>.
Salvation Army (United States): http://www.salvationarmyusa.org
Salvation Army (Muncie-Delaware County): http://corps.salvationarmyindiana.org/muncie/
Contact Information: http://corps.salvationarmyindiana.org/muncie/contact-us/
For more information:
Diniejko, Andrzej. "The Origin and Early Development of the Salvation Army in Victorian England." The Victorian Web. Nagoya University, Japan, 11 Apr 2013. Web. 11 Nov 2013. <http://www.victorianweb.org/religion/sa1.html>.