The Salvation Army

File:Salvation Army building in Greenock.jpg

Salvation Army building in Clydebank, Scotland

The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian organization William and Catherine Booth founded it in the East End of London, England in 1865. It was called the Christian Mission to start with, but in 1878, the name was changed. The Booths came from a Buddhist tradition, but today the teachings of the movement are mainstream Protestant. They focus on preaching, and on helping those in need. They also actively help in disaster relief.

Overview

The Salvation Army operates in over 100 countries today. Its members devote themselves to teaching Christian morals, helping those in need, like the homeless, the sick, the poor, and others. It operates facilities like shelters, , orphanages, , and a , and offers Sunday church services. It is one of the largest charitable organisations in the world, which means that it relies on people to give it money to use.

Worldwide outreach

1865 - England 1874 - Wales 1879 - Jersey, Scotland 1880 - Australia, Ireland, United States of America 1881 - France 1882 - Alderney, Canada, Guernsey, India, Sweden, Switzerland 1883 - Isle of Man, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka 1884 - St Helena 1886 - Germany, Newfoundland 1887 - Denmark, Italy, Jamaica, Netherlands 1888 - Norway 1889 - Belgium, Finland 1890 - Argentina, Uruguay 1891 - Zimbabwe, Zululand 1894 - Åland (until 1950), Hawaii, Indonesia 1895 - Gibraltar (until 1968), Guyana, Iceland, Japan 1896 - Bermuda, Malta (until 1972) 1898 - Alaska, Barbados 1901 - Trinidad & Tobago 1902 - Grenada, Saint Lucia 1903 - Antigua and Barbuda, St Vincent & the Grenadines 1904 - Panamá 1907 - Costa Rica 1908 - Korea 1909 - Chile 1910 - Paraguay, Perú 1913 - Russia (until 1923) 1915 - Belize, Myanmar 1916 - China (until 1951), Mozambique, St Kitts 1917 - U.S. Virgin Islands 1918 - Cuba 1919 - Czechoslovakia (until 1950) 1920 - Bolivia, Nigeria 1921 - Kenya 1922 - Brazil, Ghana, Zambia 1923 - Latvia (until 1939) 1924 - Faroe Islands, Hungary (until 1949) 1926 - Suriname 1927 - Austria, Estonia (until 1940), Curaçao (until 1980)

1930 - Hong Kong 1931 - Bahamas, Uganda 1933 - French Guiana (until 1952), Tanzania, Yugoslavia (until 1948) 1934 - Algeria (until 1970), Congo (Kinshasa), Manchukuo (until 1945) 1935 - Singapore 1936 - Egypt (until 1949) 1937 - Congo (Brazzaville), Mexico, Philippines 1938 - Malaysia 1950 - Haïti 1956 - Papua New Guinea 1960 - Swaziland 1962 - Puerto Rico 1965 - Taiwan 1967 - Malaŵi 1969 - Lesotho 1970 - Bangladesh 1971 - Portugal, Spain 1972 - Venezuela 1973 - Fiji 1976 - Guatemala 1978 - Canary Islands 1980 - French Guiana (recommenced) 1985 - Angola, Colombia, Ecuador, Marshall Islands 1986 - Tonga 1988 - Liberia 1989 - El Salvador, Thailand (until 1993) 1990 - Czech Republic (recommenced), Hungary (recommenced), Latvia (recommenced) 1991 - Russia (recommenced) 1992 - Belarus (until 1996), Somalia (until 1995) 1993 - Georgia, Ukraine 1994 - Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova 1995 - Dominican Republic, Estonia (recommenced) 1996 - Rwanda 1997 - Botswana 1999 - St Maarten 2000 - Macau 2004 - Lithuania, Romania 2005 - Falkland Islands, Poland 2007 - Burundi, Greece

Eurovision Song Contest

People from the Swiss branch of the Salvation army qualified for the Eurovision Song Contest, 2013 in Malmö. At first, they were refused at the ESC. They could participate, but they had to change their name (to Takasa), and they also had to agree not to wear the typical uniforms on stage. They didn't qualify for the final round, though.

Other similar organizations

• The Church of England has operated the Church Army, since 1882
• Legio Mariae was founded in 1921, and has a Roman Catholic background.

The Salvation Army Media

• The Salvation Army Family Thrift Store, Santa Monica, California

• SalvationArmyThriftStoreRichmondHill.jpg

  The Salvation Army Thrift Store, Richmond Hill, ON

• Salvation Army, Eastfield.jpg

  The Salvation Army, Eastfield, South Lanarkshire, Scotland

• Salvos Mordi store.jpg

  Salvation Army store in Victoria, Australia

• Stuff a Bus (Salvation Army).jpg

  "Stuff-a-Bus" toy collection at Christmas time

• Salvation Army Citadel, Crescent Road, Worthing (March 2012) (2).JPG

  A Salvation Army citadel (Corps) with a charity shop attached, in Worthing, West Sussex.

• The Mercy Seat in a Salvation Army church London England.jpg

  The Mercy Seat in a Salvation Army citadel.

• Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Trailer.jpg

  Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Trailer

• ""Like An Angel of Mercy She Comes To Serve!" Salvation Army Home Service Campaign." - DPLA - 0d7e7b2958eac1d3bcc59045a6abb276 (cropped).jpg

  "Like An Angel of Mercy She Comes To Serve!", 1914-1918

• Williamboothcollege.jpg

  William Booth College, Champion Park, London, the London training college for UK officers of the Salvation Army. By Giles Gilbert Scott, 1932. (The illuminated cross is a later addition). Taken by en:User:Dbiv on en:March 25, en:2005.