Promoted to Glory

The Salvation Army is a conservative Protestant church with a quasi-military hierarchy. It is widely known for its charitable work. Members are known as Salvationists.

The Salvation Army was founded in 1865 by William and Catherine Booth as a religious mission in the East End of London. Booth, who had been a Methodist minister, resigned to became an evangelist bringing the gospel to the poorest members of society, including alcoholics, criminals and prostitutes.

The church is organized as though an army. For its members, it is in fact God’s Army. It has a hierarchy of officers who follow a command structure. It also has its own form of salute, uniforms and flag.

In 1880, the Salvation Army started its work in three other countries: Australia, Ireland, and the United States. Thereafter, it grew rapidly.

Objective

This project includes those who have served as officers in the Salvation Army.

Key Figures

• William Booth (1829-1912), Founder & 1st General
• Catherine Booth (1829-1890), Mother of the Salvation Army
• Bramwell Booth (1856-1929), 1st Chief of Staff & 2nd General
• Edward Higgins (1864-1947), 3rd General
• Evangeline Booth (1865-1950), 4th General
• George Carpenter (1872-1948), 5th General
• Albert Orsborn (1886-1967), 6th General
• Wilfred Kitching (1893-1977), 7th General
• Frederick Coutts (1899-1986), 8th General
• Erik Wickberg (1904-1996), 9th General
• Clarence Wiseman (1907-1985), 10th General
• Arnold Brown (1913-2002), 11th General
• Jarl Wahlström (1918-1999), 12th General
• Eva Burrows (1929- ), 13th General
• Bramwell Tillsley (1931- ), 14th General
• Paul Rader (1934- ), 15th General
• John Gowans (1934- ), 16th General
• John Larsson (1938- ), 17th General
• Shaw Clifton (1945- ), 18th General
• Linda Bond (1946- ), 19th General

Resources

• Salvation Army International Heritage Centre