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William Booth Society

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History

William Booth, Founder of The Salvation Army, embarked upon his ministerial career in 1852 as an itinerant evangelist, with no idea of a conventional pulpit. Booth was a crusader who longed to win the lost multitudes to Christ.

The Christian Mission

In 1865, Booth and his wife Catherine opened The Christian Revival Society in the East End of London, where they held meetings every evening and on Sundays, to offer repentance, salvation and Christian ethics to the poorest and most needy, including alcoholics, criminals and prostitutes. The Christian Revival Society was later renamed The Christian Mission.

Booth and his followers practiced what they preached and performed self-sacrificing Christian and social work, such as opening “Food for the Million” shops (soup kitchens), not caring if they were scoffed at or derided for their Christian ministry work.

Driven by a missionary vision for lost people, The Army marched around the world. As The Salvation Army took its distinctive place within the Body of Christ, it was not only characterized by evangelism, but also by compassionate social service. The Army took an aggressive stand challenging social evils, but always within its framework and priority of evangelism.

Booth proclaimed the focused priority of The Army when he said, "We are a Salvation People -- this is our specialty -- getting saved and keeping saved, and then getting somebody else saved." (William Booth, Salvation Soldiery, c. 1890)

The Salvation Army

In 1878 the name of the organization was changed to The Salvation Army, modelling it in some ways after the military, with its own flag and its own music, often with Christian words to popular and folkloric tunes sung in the pubs. He and the other soldiers in God's Army would wear the Army's own uniform, 'putting on the armour,' for meetings and ministry work. He became the "General" and his other ministers were given appropriate ranks as "officers".

Though the early years were lean ones, with the need of money to help the needy an ever growing issue, Booth and The Salvation Army persevered. In the early 1880s, operations were extended to other countries, notably the United States, France, Switzerland, Sweden, and others, and to most of the countries of the British Empire: Australia, Canada, India, South Africa, New Zealand, Jamaica, et.al.

Often the beginnings in other countries occurred through "Salvationist" activities by non-officers who had emigrated. With some initial success they would contact London to 'send officers.' In other cases, like Argentina, a non-Salvationist told Booth that there were thousands of British people there who needed salvation. The 4 officers sent in 1890 found that those British were scattered all over the pampas. But the missionaries started ministry in Spanish and the work spread throughout the country - initially following the railroad development, since the British in charge of building the railroads were usually sympathetic to the movement.

During his lifetime, William Booth established Army work in 58 countries and colonies, travelling extensively and holding "salvation meetings."

Booth regularly published a magazine and was the author of a number of books; he also composed several songs. His book In Darkest England and the Way Out not only became a bestseller after its 1890 release, it set the foundation for the Army's modern social welfare schemes. It compared what was considered "civilized" England with "Darkest Africa" - a land then considered poor and backward. What Booth suggested was that much of London and greater England after the Industrial Revolution was not better off in the quality of life than those in the underdeveloped world. And he proposed a strategy to apply the Christian Gospel and work ethic to the problems. The book speaks of abolishing vice and poverty by establishing homes for the homeless, farm communities where the urban poor can be trained in agriculture, training centres for prospective emigrants, homes for fallen women and released prisoners, aid for the poor, and help for alcoholics. He also lays down schemes for poor men’s lawyers, banks, clinics, industrial schools and even a seaside resort. He says that if the state fails to meet its social obligations it will be the task of each Christian to step into the breach. However, Booth was not departing from his spiritual convictions; the ultimate aim of getting people saved.

"Others"

It was late in the Christmas season and if it got much later General William Booth would not be in time to send a Christmas greeting to his various command posts throughout the world. As the chief commanding officer of a very frugal organization, Booth, searched endlessly for the shortest message that could be sent by telegraph that would still bear tribute to the Army's creed and at the same time convey the spirit of the season.

What was the message Booth finally chose to send to his officers in the field? A one word message that over a hundred years later still best epitomizes the work of The Salvation Army. The greeting simply read "Others".

Today's Army

Today, The Salvation Army carries out its ministries in 109 countries and dependent territories as disparate in geography and culture as Canada and Pakistan.

Whether a local or major disaster, Salvation Army staff and volunteers are often the first on the scene and the last to depart, honoring a century-old commitment to serve those in need, at the same time of need, and at a place of need.

The red shield continues to be a beacon of compassion, of immediate aid, psychological support and spiritual counsel to individuals and families whose lives have been disrupted or shattered by forces beyond their control.

While each disaster or civil disorder is unique and devastating in its own violent impact on the lives of individuals and communities, there are certain basic needs to which The Salvation Army responds. Response and recovery services include: spiritual ministry, counseling, identification and registration, mobile feeding, congregate feeding, financial assistance, shelter, donated materials, basic commodities, reconstruction, support programs, services to volunteers, and advocacy.

The Salvation Army’s response to the 2005 Hurricane disasters provides a great example of this kind of dedication. The Salvation Army immediately responded to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, serving the needs of survivors by providing shelter, food, water, ice, cleaning supplies, and other personal hygiene products. To date, The Salvation Army has received $336 million in donations nationally. One hundred percent of the funds collected were used toward disaster relief to help those directly affected. And, we will stay on the job as long as we are needed to help OTHERS.

The Salvation Army serves people in need without discrimination. By putting money to maximum use, The Army provides services, programs and ministries that produce measurable, life-enhancing results.

William Booth