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About Us
 A brief history of The Salvation Army (For more information visit The Salvation Army International Herritage Center)
.In 1865 William Booth, a young minister, left the "Methodist New Connection" in order to begin a mission in the poverty-ridden London East End. With his wife, Catherine, he "reached for the worst," rather than cultivate the comfortable middle class.
In 1878, by a fortunate inspiration, the name was changed from the "Christian Mission," to "The Salvation Army." Immediately, the movement captured the public imagination. Incorporating paramilitary ranks and uniforms, the movement spread throughout the British Isles. In 1880 the first missionary, George Scott Railton, was sent to New York. With the aid of seven untutored "lassies," The Salvation Army was soon on its way along the East Coast.
Work in the West begins
Conditions around San Francisco's Barbary Coast begged for a religious revival. Some sincere Christians, feeling that Booth's organization was needed, asked for officers to be sent there to form their group into the first corps in the West. Aided by reinforcements from England and new converts, Major Alfred Wells and Captain Merry Stillwell founded the vibrant, innovative Army that is today's Western Territory. In ten years there were 67 corps, (Churches), spreading north to Seattle, south to San Diego and east to Montana and Utah.
The west now encompasses the 13 western states as well as the Marshall Islands, Guam and Micronesia. Led by Territorial Commander, Commissioner Phillip Swayer, the territory enters the new millennium with more than 300 corps community centers and numerous social service units.
Social Services
William Booth's ministry recognized the inderdependence of material, emotional and spiritual needs. In addition to preaching the Gospel, Booth became involved in providing food and shelter for the hungry, homeless and alcohol rehabilitation for the addicted.
The basic social services developed by William Booth have remained an outward visible expression of the Army's strong religious principles. In addition, new programs that address contemporary needs have been established. Among these are disaster relief services, child care centers, summer camps, holiday assistance, services for seniors, hospitals and medical facilities, AIDS care and counseling facilities, shelters for battered wives and children, family and career counseling, vocational training, correctional services and drug rehabilitation.
Today, The Salvation Army ministers in more than 100 countries worldwide. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached by its officers in 114 languages.
It is our plessure to educate you on the history, and present ministries of The Salvation Army. You will also find on this page who we are, what we believe and why we believe it. If you have any question about anything you read, please don't hesitate to contact us and we would be happy to respond.
The symbolism of The Salvation Army Crest is:
--The round figure 'the sun' represents the light and fire of the Holy Spirit
--The cross in the center represents the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ
--The letter 'S' stands for Salvation
--The swords represent the warfare of salvation
--The shots represent the truths of the Gospel
--The crown represents the thorn of glory, which God will give to all his soldiers who are faithful to the end
Each colour of the flag reminds Christians of something different about God:
Red - the blood of Jesus. Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross
so that everyone can be forgiven for what they have done wrong.
Yellow - the fire of the Holy Spirit. Christians believe the Holy Spirit is God's spirit on Earth,
helping them in their lives. The fire shows Christians the power the Holy Spirit gives them.
Blue - the purity of God. Christians believe that God is perfect, and that there is no wrong in Him.
The Story of the Shield
Metal shields were worn as badges by Salvationists in the early 1880's. Every soldier in The Salvation Army was encouraged to wear a uniform 'even if it be but the wearing of a shield' (Orders and Regulations for Field Officers, 1886); so that they could be identified as Salvationists.
The Sign of the Shield
During World War I, a shield symbol came into use on Salvation Army huts for servicemen. A picture of a hut with a shield sign appeared in The War Cry*, December 25, 1915 and in an article on 'Homes and Huts for soldiers and Sailors', in The War Cry*, July 1, 1917. The article stated that the "Salvation Army Shield has become one of the best known and most prominent signs in the military training camps in this country and in the various Overseas Dominions, as well as among the troops in France." There was a description of the shield in a special Naval and Military Number of All the World*, July 1917. 'It is a large shield on enameled sheet iron with a blood red background'. All the pictorial evidence indicates that at that time the sign had red lettering on a white shield with a red surround. It is not clear when the design changed to white lettering on a red background. There are illustrations of several different shields in use towards the end of the First World War, or immediately after the War, but they are very difficult to date precisely.
*The War Cry and All the World are publications of The Salvation Army.
The Origin of Christmas Kettles
The Salvation Army Captain in San Francisco had resolved, in December of 1891, to provide a free Christmas dinner to the area's poor persons. But how would he pay for the food?As he went about his daily tasks, the question stayed in his mind. Suddenly, his thoughts went back to his days as a sailor in Liverpool, England. On the Stage Landing he saw a large pot, called "Simpson's pot" into which charitable donations were thrown by passers-by.
On the next morning, he secured permission from the authorities to place a similar pot at the Oakland ferry landing, at the foot of Market Street. No time was lost in securing the pot and placing it in a conspicuous spot, so that it could be seen by all those going to and from the ferry boats. In addition, a brass urn was placed on a stand in the waiting room for the same purpose.
Thus, Captain Joseph McFee launched a tradition that has spread not only throughout the United States, but also around the world.
By Christmas, 1895, the kettle was used in 30 Salvation Army Corps in various sections of the West Coast area. The Sacramento Bee in that year carried a description of the Army's Christmas activities and mentioned the contributions to street corner kettles. Shortly afterward, two young Salvation Army officers who had been instrumental in the original use of the kettle, William A. McIntyre and N.J. Lewis, were transferred to the East. They took with them the idea of the Christmas Kettle.
In 1897, McIntyre prepared his Christmas plans for Boston around the kettle, but his fellow officers refused to cooperate for fear of "making spectacles of themselves." So McIntyre, his wife and his sister set up three kettles at the Washington Street thoroughfare in the heart of the city. That year the kettle effort in Boston and other locations nationwide resulted in 150,000 Christmas dinners for the needy.
In 1898, the New York World hailed The Salvation Army kettles as "the newest and most novel device for collecting money." The newspaper also observed, "There is a man in charge to see that contributions are not stolen."
In 1901, kettle contributions in New York City provided funds for the first mammoth sit-down dinner in Madison Square Garden, a custom that continued for many years. Today, however, families are given grocery checks or vouchers so that they can buy and prepare their own dinners at home. The homeless poor are still invited to share holiday dinners and festivities at hundreds of Salvation Army Centers.
Kettles now are used in such distant lands as Korea, Japan, Chile and in many European countries. Everywhere, public contributions to the kettles enable The Salvation Army to bring the spirit of Christmas to those who would otherwise be forgotten - to the aged and lonely, the ill, the inmates of jails and other institutions, the poor and unfortunate in the Untied States. The Salvation Army annually aids more than 3,000,000 persons at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Kettles have changed since the first utilitarian cauldron set up in San Francisco. Some of the new kettles have such devices as a self-ringing bell and a booth complete with public address system over which traditional Christmas carols are broadcast.
Behind it all, though, is the same Salvation Army message, "Sharing Is Caring" and that "Need Knows No Season."
 Articles of War
Though the Army's soldiers (members) are drawn from various cultures, traditions and races, as well as from all levels of society, they have all signed their name to the document called 'Articles of War' (re-named 'Soldier's Covenant' from 2004).
Articles of War c.1920
This was introduced in early 1882 for new recruits to sign before enrolling as a soldier. Some recruits did not fully share the spirit of the Army and were reluctant to commit themselves. Eventually however, the signing of the articles was generally accepted as a reasonable and helpful provision and in 1890 it was stated as a regulation that 'every salvation soldier must consider, accept and then sign this document'. This requirement is still in force today, as are its reasons, which are reproduced here:
a. That he may understand beforehand the doctrines, principles and practices to which he will have to conform.
b. Thinking and praying over these Articles will help him to find out whether he really has the faith and spirit of a salvation soldier or not.
c. The pledge involved in signing these articles will help him to be faithful to the Army in the future.
d. They prevent many joining who are not in heart and head with us, and who consequently would be likely afterwards to create dissatisfaction and division.
The Articles of War were revised in 1989, and were renamed the Soldier's Covenant. Although some changes were made to the language and content, the spirit and primary aims of the original articles have been retained.
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