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Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is an international Christian ministry and charitable organization operating in 126 countries, known for its distinctive military-inspired structure. Founded in 1865 by William and Catherine Booth in England, its mission began as a street-based outreach to the impoverished and homeless, rejecting traditional church settings that often alienated marginalized individuals. The organization adopted a military theme to better engage with urban communities, using language and uniforms reminiscent of military attire.

In the United States, the Salvation Army is particularly recognized for its holiday fundraising efforts, exemplified by the iconic red kettles and bells that symbolize their charitable work during Christmas. Over the years, the organization has expanded its services to include food, shelter, and relief for those in need, as well as advocacy on social issues like alcohol consumption and prostitution. Despite its extensive humanitarian efforts, the Salvation Army has faced criticism for its stances on LGBTQ+ rights and its handling of disaster relief funds. Nevertheless, it remains a significant provider of social services and support, including efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, where it contributed over 224 million meals to those in need.

Full Article

The Salvation Army is an international Christian-based ministry and charitable organization that was active in 134 nations by the mid-2020s. The Salvation Army is known for its military-themed structure, which includes its reference to its ordained ministers as "officers" and local branches as "corps." It also refers to converts as "soldiers," while its officers dress in outfits resembling those of formal military dress. The Salvation Army labels the death of its soldiers and officers as "promotion to glory," in reference to its theological convictions that the departed member has ascended into heaven.

In the United States, the Salvation Army is perhaps best known for its charitable work. The image of a Salvation Army volunteer standing alongside a red donation kettle while ringing a handheld bell in front of a shopping mall or department store has become an iconic symbol of the Christmas holiday season. Its official motto is "Doing the Most Good."

Brief History

The roots of the Salvation Army date to 1865 in England, when a Methodist minister, William Booth, dedicated himself to preaching his gospel to the masses on the street, rather than within the comfort and security of a typical church. Booth began preaching in the East End of London, historically one of the most impoverished, violent, and crime-ridden sections of the city. Booth was convinced that his direct, in-the-streets method of preaching would be more effective in spreading the gospel to the homeless and impoverished than attempting to recruit them to attend service in a regular church. He perceived that the more affluent churchgoers reacted negatively when the unkempt downtrodden worshiped alongside them. With the help of his wife, Catherine, Booth established the Christian Revival Association in 1865, which was eventually renamed the East London Christian Mission.

By the early 1870s, the Booths were dismayed by the relative lack of growth of their mission, so they adopted the now-famous military imagery that would eventually become the organization’s trademark. In addition to dressing in military uniforms and delivering Christian sermons using military language and references, the Booths also used concerts—both on the streets and in large concert halls—to promote religious messages through an unconventional and entertaining format. Residents of East London learned of these concerts through word on the street or signs and placards that announced the events in advance. As part of its novel military persona, William Booth adopted the title of "General Superintendent" for himself. However, the name "Salvation Army" was not adopted until 1878, when Bramwell Booth (William’s and Catherine’s son) passionately objected to a written description of the East London Christian Mission as a "volunteer army," out of frustration that such a description trivialized the religious nature of the organization. In response, William Booth changed the name to the Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army implemented its charity works in the mid-1880s. As church growth stalled, the Booths recognized that people in London living in poverty needed practical material goods such as food and shelter, in addition to spiritual growth. The Salvation Army began providing low-cost meals and lodging for men and women, and sought donations from the general public to fund their efforts. The Salvation Army also became politically active, speaking loudly against alcohol and prostitution. Its anti-alcohol message generated strong opposition from pubs and breweries, leading to the harassment of Salvation Army personnel throughout Britain. However, its fierce opposition to sex work ultimately led to the passage of Britain’s Criminal Law Amendment Act in 1885. This act increased the age of sexual consent from 13 to 16.

As the Salvation Army grew, it began to establish operations in other countries. The first Salvation Army meeting on US soil dates to 1879 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The following year, a chapter was established in New York City, and over the next few years, local branches were established in several other states as far west as California. The famous red kettle and bells used by the Salvation Army during the Christmas season were first used in San Francisco in 1891, when a Salvation Army officer placed a red kettle near the city’s dock to collect donations so he could provide a Christmas feast for residents experiencing poverty. However, World War I greatly raised the American public’s awareness and favorability towards the Salvation Army. During the war, the Salvation Army of the United States sent approximately five hundred officers and workers to France to provide relief to troops. Salvation Army personnel provided soldiers with pens, paper, and envelopes so they could write their families in the United States, repaired torn uniforms, and baked donuts for soldiers from sugar, lard, and flour. In the United States during the early twentieth century, the donut became a prominent symbol of the Salvation Army, and eventually, National Donut Day was established on the first Friday of June 1938.

Salvation Army Today

The Salvation Army’s highest-ranking officer, or its chief executive, goes by the title of general. By the 2020s, over 1.26 million Salvation Army soldiers served communities in 134 countries; the Salvation Army’s gospel and its members had established over 14,400 worshiping communities. In the US in the mid-2020s, 2,910 officers, 64,100 employees, and 1.55 million volunteers operated over 7,460 Salvation Army mission centers, which, in 2024, served 28 million people in need. This service included 183,111,494 total meals served, 10,075,059 nights of shelter provided, 1,575,098 disbursements from the eviction program, and 1,234 emergency disasters assisted.

The organization's 2025 annual report noted that eighty-three cents of every dollar donated went directly toward various support efforts across the US. In addition to financial contributions, the Salvation Army also accepts toy donations during the holidays. Throughout the US, local Salvation Army offices also accept donations of used clothing and household appliances, which are sold at low prices to help low-income families.

The Salvation Army red kettle campaign remained a critical funding source, raising $99,474,124 in 2024. In partnership with the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys, the Red Kettle season typically begins around Thanksgiving, often with a kickoff tied to the Dallas Cowboys’ game. Additionally, its Angel Tree program, in collaboration with corporations such as Walmart and Sheetz, provides new toys and clothes to around 1 million children from low-income families each year during the Christmas holiday.

Despite its long history of charitable work, the Salvation Army has faced criticism, particularly concerning its opposition to homosexuality during a time when American social attitudes towards the LGBTQ community became increasingly tolerant. In 1986, the Salvation Army of New Zealand opposed efforts to decriminalize sexual intercourse between men, while the US Salvation Army drew criticism for its opposition to city ordinances in New York and San Francisco requiring businesses and organizations to provide benefits to domestic partners/spouses of employees. Additionally, after Hurricane Sandy devastated New Jersey and New York in October 2011, the Salvation Army was criticized for allegedly being too slow to release the $30 million it had raised through public donations for victims of the natural disaster. Only $6 million of these funds had been released by December 2013, more than two years after the event.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Salvation Army served more than 224 million meals to people in need. Following Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, the Salvation Army provided support for those impacted, including emergency shelters, food and water, and emotional support.


Bibliography

Diniejko, Andrzej. "The Origin and Early Development of the Salvation Army in Victorian England." Victorian Web, Apr. 11, 2013, victorianweb.org/religion/sa1.html. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

Gariepy, Henry. Christianity in Action: The History of the International Salvation Army. Eerdmans, 2009.

"A Global Movement." Salvation Army, www.salvationarmy.org.au/international-development/about/the-salvation-army-a-global-movement. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

"Global Presence." The Salvation Army International, www.salvationarmy.org/global-presence. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

"History of the Salvation Army." SalvationArmyUSA.org, www.salvationarmyusa.org/about-us/our-history. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

Jeffreys, Mary Anne. "Christmas Kettles." Christian History, Apr. 1, 1990, christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/christmas-kettles. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

Jones, Zinnia. "The Salvation Army’s History of Anti-LGBT Discrimination." Huffington Post, 2 Feb. 2016, www.huffpost.com/entry/the-salvation-armys-histo_b_4422938. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

Lee, Jolie. "National Doughnut Day Has Patriotic Roots." USA Today, 5 June 2015, www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/06/05/national-doughnut-day-salvation-army/9966619. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

"More than $100M Raised - the American Public's Commitment to Love beyond the Holidays." Salvation Army, 12 Apr. 2023, www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/news/more-than-100m-raisedthe-american-publics-commitment-to-love-beyond-the-holidays. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

Murdoch, Norman H. Christian Warfare in Rhodesia-Zimbabwe: The Salvation Army and African Liberation, 1891-1991. Pickwick, 2015.

"2025 Annual Report." The Salvation Army, 8hxvw8tw.media.zestyio.com/NationalAnnual_2025_8x10_FinalWebOCT9.pdf. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

Full Article

The Salvation Army is an international Christian-based ministry and charitable organization that was active in 134 nations by the mid-2020s. The Salvation Army is known for its military-themed structure, which includes its reference to its ordained ministers as "officers" and local branches as "corps." It also refers to converts as "soldiers," while its officers dress in outfits resembling those of formal military dress. The Salvation Army labels the death of its soldiers and officers as "promotion to glory," in reference to its theological convictions that the departed member has ascended into heaven.

In the United States, the Salvation Army is perhaps best known for its charitable work. The image of a Salvation Army volunteer standing alongside a red donation kettle while ringing a handheld bell in front of a shopping mall or department store has become an iconic symbol of the Christmas holiday season. Its official motto is "Doing the Most Good."

Brief History

The roots of the Salvation Army date to 1865 in England, when a Methodist minister, William Booth, dedicated himself to preaching his gospel to the masses on the street, rather than within the comfort and security of a typical church. Booth began preaching in the East End of London, historically one of the most impoverished, violent, and crime-ridden sections of the city. Booth was convinced that his direct, in-the-streets method of preaching would be more effective in spreading the gospel to the homeless and impoverished than attempting to recruit them to attend service in a regular church. He perceived that the more affluent churchgoers reacted negatively when the unkempt downtrodden worshiped alongside them. With the help of his wife, Catherine, Booth established the Christian Revival Association in 1865, which was eventually renamed the East London Christian Mission.

By the early 1870s, the Booths were dismayed by the relative lack of growth of their mission, so they adopted the now-famous military imagery that would eventually become the organization’s trademark. In addition to dressing in military uniforms and delivering Christian sermons using military language and references, the Booths also used concerts—both on the streets and in large concert halls—to promote religious messages through an unconventional and entertaining format. Residents of East London learned of these concerts through word on the street or signs and placards that announced the events in advance. As part of its novel military persona, William Booth adopted the title of "General Superintendent" for himself. However, the name "Salvation Army" was not adopted until 1878, when Bramwell Booth (William’s and Catherine’s son) passionately objected to a written description of the East London Christian Mission as a "volunteer army," out of frustration that such a description trivialized the religious nature of the organization. In response, William Booth changed the name to the Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army implemented its charity works in the mid-1880s. As church growth stalled, the Booths recognized that people in London living in poverty needed practical material goods such as food and shelter, in addition to spiritual growth. The Salvation Army began providing low-cost meals and lodging for men and women, and sought donations from the general public to fund their efforts. The Salvation Army also became politically active, speaking loudly against alcohol and prostitution. Its anti-alcohol message generated strong opposition from pubs and breweries, leading to the harassment of Salvation Army personnel throughout Britain. However, its fierce opposition to sex work ultimately led to the passage of Britain’s Criminal Law Amendment Act in 1885. This act increased the age of sexual consent from 13 to 16.

As the Salvation Army grew, it began to establish operations in other countries. The first Salvation Army meeting on US soil dates to 1879 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The following year, a chapter was established in New York City, and over the next few years, local branches were established in several other states as far west as California. The famous red kettle and bells used by the Salvation Army during the Christmas season were first used in San Francisco in 1891, when a Salvation Army officer placed a red kettle near the city’s dock to collect donations so he could provide a Christmas feast for residents experiencing poverty. However, World War I greatly raised the American public’s awareness and favorability towards the Salvation Army. During the war, the Salvation Army of the United States sent approximately five hundred officers and workers to France to provide relief to troops. Salvation Army personnel provided soldiers with pens, paper, and envelopes so they could write their families in the United States, repaired torn uniforms, and baked donuts for soldiers from sugar, lard, and flour. In the United States during the early twentieth century, the donut became a prominent symbol of the Salvation Army, and eventually, National Donut Day was established on the first Friday of June 1938.

Salvation Army Today

The Salvation Army’s highest-ranking officer, or its chief executive, goes by the title of general. By the 2020s, over 1.26 million Salvation Army soldiers served communities in 134 countries; the Salvation Army’s gospel and its members had established over 14,400 worshiping communities. In the US in the mid-2020s, 2,910 officers, 64,100 employees, and 1.55 million volunteers operated over 7,460 Salvation Army mission centers, which, in 2024, served 28 million people in need. This service included 183,111,494 total meals served, 10,075,059 nights of shelter provided, 1,575,098 disbursements from the eviction program, and 1,234 emergency disasters assisted.

The organization's 2025 annual report noted that eighty-three cents of every dollar donated went directly toward various support efforts across the US. In addition to financial contributions, the Salvation Army also accepts toy donations during the holidays. Throughout the US, local Salvation Army offices also accept donations of used clothing and household appliances, which are sold at low prices to help low-income families.

The Salvation Army red kettle campaign remained a critical funding source, raising $99,474,124 in 2024. In partnership with the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys, the Red Kettle season typically begins around Thanksgiving, often with a kickoff tied to the Dallas Cowboys’ game. Additionally, its Angel Tree program, in collaboration with corporations such as Walmart and Sheetz, provides new toys and clothes to around 1 million children from low-income families each year during the Christmas holiday.

Despite its long history of charitable work, the Salvation Army has faced criticism, particularly concerning its opposition to homosexuality during a time when American social attitudes towards the LGBTQ community became increasingly tolerant. In 1986, the Salvation Army of New Zealand opposed efforts to decriminalize sexual intercourse between men, while the US Salvation Army drew criticism for its opposition to city ordinances in New York and San Francisco requiring businesses and organizations to provide benefits to domestic partners/spouses of employees. Additionally, after Hurricane Sandy devastated New Jersey and New York in October 2011, the Salvation Army was criticized for allegedly being too slow to release the $30 million it had raised through public donations for victims of the natural disaster. Only $6 million of these funds had been released by December 2013, more than two years after the event.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Salvation Army served more than 224 million meals to people in need. Following Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, the Salvation Army provided support for those impacted, including emergency shelters, food and water, and emotional support.


Bibliography

Diniejko, Andrzej. "The Origin and Early Development of the Salvation Army in Victorian England." Victorian Web, Apr. 11, 2013, victorianweb.org/religion/sa1.html. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

Gariepy, Henry. Christianity in Action: The History of the International Salvation Army. Eerdmans, 2009.

"A Global Movement." Salvation Army, www.salvationarmy.org.au/international-development/about/the-salvation-army-a-global-movement. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

"Global Presence." The Salvation Army International, www.salvationarmy.org/global-presence. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

"History of the Salvation Army." SalvationArmyUSA.org, www.salvationarmyusa.org/about-us/our-history. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

Jeffreys, Mary Anne. "Christmas Kettles." Christian History, Apr. 1, 1990, christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/christmas-kettles. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

Jones, Zinnia. "The Salvation Army’s History of Anti-LGBT Discrimination." Huffington Post, 2 Feb. 2016, www.huffpost.com/entry/the-salvation-armys-histo_b_4422938. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

Lee, Jolie. "National Doughnut Day Has Patriotic Roots." USA Today, 5 June 2015, www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/06/05/national-doughnut-day-salvation-army/9966619. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

"More than $100M Raised - the American Public's Commitment to Love beyond the Holidays." Salvation Army, 12 Apr. 2023, www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/news/more-than-100m-raisedthe-american-publics-commitment-to-love-beyond-the-holidays. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

Murdoch, Norman H. Christian Warfare in Rhodesia-Zimbabwe: The Salvation Army and African Liberation, 1891-1991. Pickwick, 2015.

"2025 Annual Report." The Salvation Army, 8hxvw8tw.media.zestyio.com/NationalAnnual_2025_8x10_FinalWebOCT9.pdf. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

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