Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is an international Christian ministry and charitable organization operating in 126 countries, known for its distinctive military-inspired structure. Founded in 1865 by William and Catherine Booth in England, its mission began as a street-based outreach to the impoverished and homeless, rejecting traditional church settings that often alienated marginalized individuals. The organization adopted a military theme to better engage with urban communities, using language and uniforms reminiscent of military attire.
In the United States, the Salvation Army is particularly recognized for its holiday fundraising efforts, exemplified by the iconic red kettles and bells that symbolize their charitable work during Christmas. Over the years, the organization has expanded its services to include food, shelter, and relief for those in need, as well as advocacy on social issues like alcohol consumption and prostitution. Despite its extensive humanitarian efforts, the Salvation Army has faced criticism for its stances on LGBTQ+ rights and its handling of disaster relief funds. Nevertheless, it remains a significant provider of social services and support, including efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, where it contributed over 224 million meals to those in need.
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Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is an international Christian-based ministry and charitable organization, which is active in 126 nations. The Salvation Army is known for its military-themed structure, which includes its reference to its ordained ministers as "officers" and local branches as "corps." It also refers to converts as "soldiers," while its officers dress in outfits resembling that of formal military dress. The Salvation Army labels the death of its soldiers and officers as "promotion to glory," in reference to its theological convictions that the departed member has ascended into heaven. In the United States, the Salvation Army is perhaps best known for its charitable work. The image of a Salvation Army volunteer standing alongside a red donation kettle while ringing a handheld bell in front of a shopping mall or department store has become an iconic symbol of the Christmas holiday season. Its official motto is "Doing the Most Good."
Brief History
The roots of the Salvation Army date to 1865 in England, when a Methodist minister, William Booth, dedicated himself to preaching his gospel to the masses on the street, rather than within the comfort and security of a typical church. Booth began preaching in the East End of London, historically one of the most impoverished, violent, and crime-ridden sections of the city. Booth was convinced that his direct, in-the-streets method of preaching would be more effective in spreading the gospel to the homeless and impoverished than attempting to recruit them to attend service in a regular church. He perceived that the more affluent churchgoers reacted negatively when the unkempt downtrodden worshiped alongside them. With the help of his wife Catherine, Booth established the Christian Revival Association in 1865, which was eventually renamed the East London Christian Mission.
By the early 1870s, the Booths were dismayed by the relative lack of growth of their mission, so they adopted the now-famous military imagery that would eventually become the organization’s trademark. In addition to dressing in military uniforms and delivering Christian sermons using military language and references, the Booths also used concerts—both on the streets and in large concert halls—to promote religious messages through an unconventional and entertaining format. Residents of East London learned of these concerts through word on the street or signs and placards that announced the events in advance. As part of its novel military persona, William Booth adopted the title of "General Superintendent" for himself. However, the name "Salvation Army" was not adopted until 1878, when Bramwell Booth (William’s and Catherine’s son) passionately objected to a written description of the East London Christian Mission as a "volunteer army," out of frustration that such a description trivialized the religious nature of the organization. In response, William Booth changed the name to the Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army implemented its charity works in the mid-1880s. As church growth stalled, the Booths recognized that the poor and destitute of London needed practical material goods such as food and shelter, in addition to spiritual growth. The Salvation Army began providing low-cost meals and lodging for men and women, and sought donations from the general public in order to fund their efforts. The Salvation Army also became politically active, speaking loudly against alcohol and prostitution. Its anti-alcohol message generated strong opposition from pubs and breweries, leading to the harassment of Salvation Army personnel throughout Britain. However, its fierce opposition to prostitution ultimately led to passage of Britain’s Criminal Law Amendment Act in 1885. This act increased the age of sexual consent from 13 to 16.
As the Salvation Army grew, it began to establish operations in other countries. The first Salvation Army meeting on US soil dates to 1879 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The following year, a chapter was established in New York City, and over the next few years, local branches were established in several other states as far west as California. The famous red kettle and bells used by the Salvation Army during the Christmas season were first used in San Francisco in 1891, when a Salvation Army officer placed a red kettle near the city’s dock to collect donations so he could provide a Christmas feast for poor residents. However, World War I greatly raised the American public’s awareness and favorability towards the Salvation Army. During the war, the Salvation Army of the United States sent approximately five hundred officers and workers to France to provide relief to troops. Salvation Army personnel provided soldiers with pens, papers, and envelopes so they could write their families in the United States, repaired torn uniforms, and baked donuts for soldiers from sugar, lard, and flour. In the United States during the early twentieth century, the donut became a prominent symbol of the Salvation Army, and eventually National Donut Day was established on the first Friday of June in 1938.
Salvation Army Today
The Salvation Army’s highest-ranking officer, or its chief executive, goes by the title of general. Lyndon Buckhingham became general in 2023. By 2020, the Salvation Army consisted of more than 14,500 corps, roughly 27,423 officers, and more than 12,000 paid employees worldwide. Additionally, 1.22 million individuals across the world have accepted the Salvation Army’s gospel and are members of its church, thus serving as its "soldiers." In addition to financial contributions, the Salvation Army also accepts donations in the form of toys during the holidays. Throughout the country, local Salvation Army offices also accept donations in the form of used clothing and household appliances, which are in turn sold at low prices with the intent of providing assistance to low-income families. The Salvation Army also raises funds to provide relief to families affected by natural disasters.
Despite its long history of charitable work, the Salvation Army has faced criticism in recent years. One area of criticism has been its opposition to homosexuality during a time in which American social attitudes towards gays and lesbians have become increasingly tolerant. In 1986, the Salvation Army of New Zealand opposed efforts to decriminalize sexual intercourse between men, while the Salvation Army of the United States has drawn criticism for its opposition to city ordinances in New York and San Francisco that required businesses and organizations to provide benefits to domestic partners/spouses of employees. After the devastation of Hurricane Sandy ravaged New Jersey and New York in October 2011, the Salvation Army was also criticized for allegedly being too slow to release the $30 million dollars it had raised in public donations for the victims impacted by the natural disaster. Only $6 million of these funds were released to victims as of December 2013, more than two years after the event. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Salvation Army donated more than 224 million meals to people in need.
Bibliography
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Diniejko, Andrzej. "The Origin and Early Development of the Salvation Army in Victorian England." VictorianWeb.org, April 11, 2013. Web. 2 July 2015.
Gariepy, Henry. Christianity in Action: The History of the International Salvation Army. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009. Print.
"History of the Salvation Army." SalvationArmyUSA.org, 2015. Web. 2 July 2015.
Jeffreys, Mary Anne. "Christmas Kettles." Christian History, April 1, 1990. Print.
Jones, Zinnia. "The Salvation Army’s History of Anti-LGBT Discrimination." Huffington Post, 10 February 2014. Web. 2 July 2015.
Lee, Jolie. "National Doughnut Day Has Patriotic Roots." USA Today, 5 June 2015. Web. 2 July 2015.
"More than $100M Raised - The American Public's Commitment to Love Beyond the Holidays." Salvation Army, 12 Apr. 2023, www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/news/more-than-100m-raisedthe-american-publics-commitment-to-love-beyond-the-holidays/. Accessed 29 Oct. 2024.
Mullen, Shannon. "Salvation Army Holds Millions in Sandy Relief." USA Today, 16 December 2013. Web. 2 July 2015.
Murdoch, Norman H. Christian Warfare in Rhodesia-Zimbabwe: The Salvation Army and African Liberation, 1891-1991. Eugene: Pickwick, 2015.
"The Salvation Army International." SalvationArmy.org, 2015. Web. 2 July 2015.