The Salvation Army story - Part I: Origin and pioneers

Men and women dressed in army-style outfits are some of the most recognisable Christians in Jamaica. They are especially seen soliciting funds and material things for the needy. They are members of the Salvation Army, a protestant Christian Church that has its origin in England.

The origin of the Salvation Army is widely credited to William Booth, a former member of the Reform Methodist Church, who began his career as a minister in 1852. He was not satisfied with preaching the gospel only from behind the pulpit in a church. He thought the clergy should take the word to the people on the streets, and that was what he did.

TAKING IT TO THE STREETS

Booth walked the streets of London, preaching to the poor and destitute, but his fellow clergymen were in total disagreement with this new approach. Along with his wife, Catherine, he withdrew from the Methodist Church and began training evangelists in all parts of England to attend to the spiritual needs of people on the streets.

In 1865, the Booths returned to London's East End, attracting hundreds of followers. The organisation they formed was known as The Christian Mission, consisting of volunteers and evangelists. The people they targeted were mainly those living on the fringes of society - drunkards, prostitutes, criminals, etc. The converted ones themselves eventually became evangelists.

While Booth was reading a proof of the 1878 Christian Mission annual report, he did not like the reference to the Christian Mission as a volunteer army. So he changed it to The Salvation Army, hence the current name. They were now known as soldiers of Christ or Salvationists.

A quasi-military structure of governance was developed as they were now engaged in a spiritual warfare. Certain soldierly features such as uniforms, flags, and ranks were used, adopted to inspire members and potential converts.

With this concept in mind, the Salvationists embarked upon a crusade for saving souls all over the British isles. They met upon fierce opposition, violence, and persecution, but the Army marched on, rescuing over 250,000 'lost souls' between 1881 and 1885. And across the seas, their message sailed to other parts of Europe, the United States of America, Southern Africa, and India.

General Booth died in 1912, but the 'army' that he led is alive and pressing on, marching in over 100 countries, including Jamaica. His wife, Catherine, the co-founder, was an evangelist, preacher, and theologian. Evangeline Eva Cory, the Booth's seventh child, was sent by her father to spread the Army's mission in North America, where she spent 30 years as national commander. In 1934, she became the Army's fourth general.

PIONEERS

Other pioneers include the colourful Joe the Turk, an outspoken crusader across America, where he defended persecuted 'soldiers'. The former drinker and smoker was "jailed for Jesus" many times. He was a passionate captain until 1925, and was regarded as "a spiritual father to thousands of formerly lost souls". But it was Eliza Shirley who pioneered the establishment of the Salvation Army in The United States.

George Scott Robinson was the Booth family secretary in London, before migrating to New York, USA. His work took him to France, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, China, and Japan. He created Army songbooks in Zulu and Dutch and established the Army and Navy League for Salvationist servicemen away from home. Samuel Logan Brengle was also known for ministering to the Salvation Army's officers and soldiers in the United States for over 30 years.