Salvation Army Origins: 6 Events that Led to Founding of Christian Organization

Salvation Army Christians work tirelessly in a worldwide charity that raises money and provides meals for people and families in need. Its beginnings were simple with an evangelical minister who wanted to improve the lives of the poor and convert sinners to Christianity.

These six events show how the Salvation Army developed:

1. William Booth decided to withdraw from the church in 1852 following a disagreement with leaders on how to attract people to Christ, preferring to go to them instead of having them come to the church. He preached to the poor, the hungry and the homeless on the streets of London, then expanded his message by traveling in other areas of England. He would hold evangelistic meetings and slowly gathered a following. His wife Catherine was by his side to help him found what would be called the Salvation Army.

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2. Booth spread his message further in 1865 when he was invited to hold a series of meetings in the East End of London. These meetings attracted a variety of people from thieves and prostitutes to drunkards and gamblers. Many of them would become converts to Christianity. He continued to preach hope and salvation to the poor and destitute.

3. Churches wouldn't accept many of the followers he had converted from the streets because of their illicit backgrounds. So Booth came up with a different technique of involving his followers in saving others with similar pasts. The idea helped Booth's Christian Mission grow from 10 workers in 1867 to some 1,000 volunteers and 42 evangelists by 1874.

4. The name and the focus of Booth's mission changed in 1878 to build its unique foundation. Booth had viewed his Christian Mission as a volunteer army. His son Bramwell said he didn't consider himself a volunteer but a "regular," as in professional soldier. Booth crossed out the term "volunteer army" on the annual report and rewrote it so it read, "The Christian Mission is a Salvation Army," which became its new name.

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5. The first meeting of Salvation Army Christians in America was held in Philadelphia in 1879. It was organized by Eliza Shirley, a lieutenant in Booth's Salvation Army, as the mission used ranks to identify its leaders. Shirley had left England to join her parents in America. Her recruiting was so successful in Philadelphia that she asked for and received a group of officials from General Booth's army in London to help her continue her work.

6. The Salvation Army began to expand rapidly through the U.S. and then form associations in Canada, Australia, Switzerland, France, India and South Africa. The movement would eventually expand to all areas throughout the world.

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