SALVATION ARMY. - An organization of a military type, ordered for religious and social purposes. It was founded in 1878 by William Booth (1829-1912), a former minister of the English Methodist church, to replace the "Christian Mission" founded by Booth himself in 1865. Booth, with the title of "general," directed his work until 1912. At his death he was succeeded in the generalship by his son William Bramwell Booth until 1929, when he was replaced by E. J. Higgins, who in 1934 was succeeded by the founder's daughter Evangeline Booth; since 1939 the general has been G. Lyndon Carpenter.
The great development that the Salvation Army has had, its propagation in more than 80 nations, with its social and philanthropic institutions for every sort of outcast and needy person, with its schools, with its newspapers almost all bearing the name of "The War Cry," demonstrate the solid organization and the spirit of philanthropy and sacrifice with which many of its members are animated. It should be noted, however, that the greatest increase occurred in Protestant countries and in mission lands, where there was a great need for the works it promoted. In Catholic countries, the charitable institutions supported by religious of both sexes or by laypeople, under the direction of the Church, have rendered and still render useless, or nearly so, all the efforts of the Salvationists, who are moreover opposed by the Catholic spirit, which does not understand those kinds of religious philanthropy without Sacraments and without priests. As for doctrine, the Salvationists profess some of the fundamental truths of Christianity, such as the Trinity, the divinity of Jesus Christ, original sin, the immortality of the soul, etc.; and they agree with Protestants in recognizing the Bible as the sole rule of faith. They insist especially on conversion manifested through public confession of being sinners. To this end they have introduced a custom that can be considered the characteristic of their public meetings, the "penitent bench" or "mercy seat" (Mercy Seat). At these meetings the front benches, called the penitents' benches, are left empty; after a little singing and music, an officer tells from the platform the story of his conversion, showing repentance for past faults and praising the mercy of God, and invites the hearers to repent of their sins. If someone feels moved to do the same and to speak, he is invited to the platform, where he makes his confession, which is then commented on by the officer. Meanwhile other officers scattered among the audience watch to see whether anyone shows signs of emotion, and then kneel beside him, and if they see him willing they invite him to go to the penitent bench, as a public sign of acknowledging himself a sinner. They then take care to visit him frequently and to help him in his resolutions. On justification they share the Methodist doctrine, which Booth had professed from the beginning. Among other things they admit that man can avoid all sins, and this is the 7th of the "articles of war." As regards the Sacraments, in their manual of doctrine, after saying that the word Sacrament is not found in Holy Scripture, and that Roman Catholics have seven, Protestants two, and Quakers or Friends none, they add: "The Salvation Army admits none, and professes with the majority of other Christians that the Sacraments are not necessary for salvation." The organization or discipline of the Salvationists is military, and ecclesiastical names are replaced by terms taken from the militia. The supreme and absolute head is the general. Only in 1929 was his power tempered, among other things by taking from him the direct administration of all the goods and properties of the Army. Under the general there is a chief of staff, on whom depend the lieutenant commissioners, who ordinarily have jurisdiction over various nations, the lieutenant colonels, who are at the head of a single nation, and so on, always with lesser jurisdiction, the brigadiers, the majors, captains and soldiers. Even outside the hierarchy they use military terms: converts are "prisoners," death is "promotion to glory," envelopes with some offering are "cartridges," saying amen all together is "firing a volley" (to fire a volley). The whole government is in the hands of laypeople, men and women indiscriminately: the supreme authority is that of the general. The Salvationists have made themselves famous for preaching in squares and in the streets to the sound of drum and trumpets and without human respect. In Italy they established themselves in 1887, but they have not been able to make great progress.