The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army began in 1865 when William Booth, a London minister, gave up the comfort of his pulpit and decided to take his message into the streets where it would reach the poor, the homeless, the hungry and the destitute.
His original aim was to send converts to established churches of the day, but soon he realised that the poor did not feel comfortable or welcome in the pews of most of the churches and chapels of Victorian England. Regular churchgoers were appalled when these shabbily dressed, unwashed people came to join them in worship. Booth decided to found a church especially for them - the East London Christian Mission.
His original aim was to send converts to established churches of the day, but soon he realised that the poor did not feel comfortable or welcome in the pews of most of the churches and chapels of Victorian England. Regular churchgoers were appalled when these shabbily dressed, unwashed people came to join them in worship. Booth decided to found a church especially for them - the East London Christian Mission.
The Army is born
In May 1878, Booth summoned his son, Bramwell, and his good friend George Railton to read a proof of the Christian Mission's annual report. At the top it read: 'The Christian Mission is a Volunteer Army'. Bramwell strongly objected to this wording. He was not a volunteer, but was compelled to do God's work. So, in a flash of inspiration, Booth crossed out 'Volunteer' and wrote 'Salvation'. The Salvation Army was born. The organisation has retained a military structure to this day.
John Roberts - The Children's Captain
John Roberts
John Roberts (1856-1935) was born in the Isle of Wight. He heard William Booth preach in Portsmouth in 1873 and soon joined the Army. He was known in early days as 'The Children's Captain' as it is believed he was the first Salvation Army officer to conduct meetings for children. He began these meetings in Blyth, Northumberland in 1880. A year later he published the first edition of 'The Little Soldier', a manual for junior cadets. John rose to the rank of Colonel in the organisation. His daughter, Ethel Roberts, married Henry Vincent Rohu following the death of Henry's first wife, Emma Hunter Rohu.
In 1952, Ethel wrote a biography of her father entitled ' John Roberts - Evangelist'. A cover of the book is reproduced below.
In 1952, Ethel wrote a biography of her father entitled ' John Roberts - Evangelist'. A cover of the book is reproduced below.