SALVATION ARMY: 150 Years of Blood and Fire

Many of us fondly recall the singing and wonderful brass bands of the Salvation Army and 2015 saw the celebration of their 150th anniversary of its birth in the poverty and squalor of London's East End. At nearly every disaster the Salvation Army were there to support workers and injured with food, comforting words and warm drinks and there will be many memories evoked through reading this unusual history book. You'll wish you had met William and Catherine Booth, people who really understood human nature and how best to help people. This is their warm and wonderful story. Many of us are unaware of the origins and subsequent development of the Salvation Army. At times Salvationists were imprisoned, beaten up in street riots, and ridiculed in the press for their religious beliefs. The Salvation Army is an iconic feature of countless cities throughout Britain, its uniform making members immediately identifiable, and they are woven into the fabric of our society. It was the creation of a Victorian married couple, and Willam became its first General, arguably one of the most powerful, influential and innovative social and religious thinkers of the 19th century who possessed both physical and moral courage, facing down his opponents with equanimity, whether they were from the Church of England, the Establishment or the brewery trade. William preached as many as an incredible 60,000 sermons all around the world and was frequently lampooned in the press, but this meant absolutely nothing to him. Catherine Booth took the lead and became its 'Mother', displaying a gift for public speaking and employing a keen intellect that was undoubtedly superior to her husband's. However she suffered from a chronic and painfully debilitating medical condition, notwithstanding bearing eight children in only 11 years, while often working to support the family when her husband could not. It was entirely because of their Christian faith that the Booths involved themselves with a far-reaching and ambitious programme of help for the poor, hungry and homeless, the many women working as prostitutes, the reform of prisoners, the support for frontline soldiers, and the provision of medical services for those who had none. The Victorians really did not know how to respond to an organisation that developed as perhaps the only authentic working class religious movement, gave women an equal right to authority and leadership, and used a battery of wildly innovative approaches to worship and mission. The Army was seldom out of the news - its good works widely reported but also allegations about financial irregularities, associations with criminals, and its complete lack of taste and decorum in all matters. The Army's historical records were lost at the height of the Blitz, and this body of work is rich in detail. The book makes extensive use of pictures never been previously published. 224pp.