The Salvation Army is a worldwide, charitable, religious organization that was founded in London in 1865. The services it provides are: neighborhood centers, homes
and hospitals for unmarried mothers, marriage guidance clinics, a missing persons bureau, family welfare agencies, day nurseries, clubs for boys and girls, summer camps for children and the elderly, administration of rehabilitation for adults with problems like alcoholism and drug addiction, counseling for prisoners, parolees and their families, plus social and recreational programs for the prisoner’s children, and disaster relief. Another important part of the Army is to spread the word of God and to offer comfort wherever it is needed around the world. The Salvation Army is so well known that the poor cities know they can come to it for help for any serious need. It has provided more than $100,000,000 in food and services to various countries. This money is collected from people’s donations and U.S. government grants. 

William Booth was the founder of the Salvation Army. He was born in 1829 in Sneinton, a suburb of Nottingham. He grew up in poverty. In 1852, he became an English preacher. His wife and eight children worked with him in the Salvation Army. Two of his children, William Bramwell Booth and Evangeline Cory Booth, became generals (directors) of the army. Until 1879, the organization was called the Christian Mission. William Booth worked very hard for the Salvation Army until he died in 1912.

Booth’s daughter, Evangeline Cory Booth, was born in 1865 and at 15 years old she joined the Salvation Army. At 17 years she began preaching to the poor. She was the first woman to serve as general of the Salvation Army. She served as general from 1934 to 1939. For her whole life she worked to make the programs for the poor more successful. In 1904, she was put in charge of the Salvation Army in the United States and became an U.S. citizen in 1923. 

The Salvation Army works to help people in more than 85 countries. It has around 25,000 people serving as officers. The officers are ordained ministers. There are more than 14,000 community centers around the world. The Salvation Army’s vision is to "Create a world where people live in safe and sustainable communities in which differences are celebrated, basic needs are met, and all enjoy opportunities to learn, work and worship freely."

Citations

Web Sites

Williams, Peter W. "Booth, William." World Book Online Reference Center. Feb. 2004. World Book, Inc.  <http://www.worldbookonline.com/ar?/na/ar/co/ar070150.htm> (February, 2004).

The Salvation Army. "The Salvation Army." 2004. at <http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/> (December, 2003).

Book

Fellows, Lawrence. A Gentle War, The Story of The Salvation Army. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc. 1979.

Images

Images of bible, helping someone, Santa, and praying  from "Microsoft Office Online" <http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx?cag=1  
Images free for non-profit and personal use. 
(October-February, 2003-2004). 

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