The Salvation Army
flag, like all flags, has significance
Blue
Red
Yellow
THE FOUNDER (July 2nd 1865) William Booth and his wife Catherine Booth
THE NEW WORLD SALVATION ARMY LEADERS (2004) General John Larsson & wife (Commisoner) Freda Larsson
Soldier (of 46 years) Joan Finley holds up The Midland Salvation Army sign...(smile)
Summer/Fall construction saw some wonderful additions. Office space, privacy, airconditiong, refurbishing and an elevator
With a smile as broad as the ribbon to be cut.. Major Archie Simmonds holds the scissors very tight..
Blessing the new addition is our busy Lt. Colonel Gilbert St.Onge. (Divisional Commander), (Soldier and Y/D Randy Crowe) holds the ribbon tightly.
From left to right we have: Soldier Randy Crowe (youth director) Major Archie Simmonds, Lt. Colonel Gilbert St.Onge, Major Marie Simmonds, Architect Mr. Keith Currie, Lt. Colonel Marilynn St.Onge.
Lt. Colonel St.Onge unveils the new plaque as Soldier Bill Norton and Sue Robbins about to take the maiden voyage on the elevator. Left, Lt.Colonel Marilynn St.Onge and our illustrious Pastor, Major Archie Simmonds
Very few leaves left on the October trees..the sun is shining and a guy on the step landing (Dave Contois) waves us a fond farewell with the renovation now done!!!!!
click on the PB ta` e-mail me :>)
The Salvation
Army
I hope that this will answer some of the
things, that you would wish to know about the Salvation
Army.
No
radio, no postage stamps, not even a railway engine, when William Booth
was born on April 10, 1829, in a small house in Nottingham, England! as
a young man he worked in a pawnbroker's shop. There people poorer even
than himself left their best clothes on Monday morning in exchange for a
few shillings, hoping to be able to buy them back again before
Sunday. William learned to love these people. He was converted at
fourteen in the Wesley Chapel,Nottingham,[at the age of fifteen he had
resolved:'God shall have all there is of William Booth'] and soon began
taking ragged boys with him to the services. Many of the lads learned to
pray for themselves. After he had become a Methodist minister and
married Catherine Mumford, one night he saw a group of men preaching
outside 'the Blind Beggar'public house in London's East End. He joined
them, and a few days later, on Sunday, July 2, 1865, in a tent not far
away on a disused Quaker burial ground in whitechapel, he conducted what
proved to be the first meeting of the many that led to the birth of the
Salvation Army. Converts were organized and gave their testimonies, and
helped William Booth to reach multitudes who had no contact with the
churches, for a that time only the rich, who could pay for their seat in
church were able to attend. [Those of the lower class who did go, had to
sit behind a tall barrier, so as not to be seen by the upper
class] After this beginning William Booth wrote books, traveled the
world, housed homeless men and women, preached thousands of sermons and
led crowds of people tp God. When he died, at hadley Woods, near London,
on August 20, 1912, he left behind him nearly sixteen thousand officers of
the Salvation Army to carry on the work he had established in many
lands.
During the first four years if its history the Army had at least
three different names. Then for nine years it was known as The Christian
Mission. Early one morning, in May, 1878, Bramwell Booth [son] and
George Railton, the Mission's secretary, were at William Booth's room at 3
Gore Road, Hackney, to receive their orders for the day. Proofs of the
1878 report had arrived from the printers. William Booth read the words
'The Christian Mission is a volunteer army.' 'NO,' he said, 'we are not
volunteers, for we feel we must do what we do, and we are always on
duty,' Then taking a pen, he crossed out 'volunteer' and wrote
'salvation'. His idea took on. At the War Congress in London in August
he fired his followers with a new spirit - The Salvation Army was
born. Before the end of the year Salvationists were singing their new
song:
Come join our Army, to battle we go.. The Salvation Army is
marching along.
There is a Penitent Form, also known as the Mercy Seat, in every
Army hall. It is the place where thousands of boys and girls, men and
women, have received God's pardon and strength to live right
lives. William Booth always believed that it was good to confess one's
surrender to God in public. Yet there is no special value in the wood;
nor is the Penitent Form merely a place in a hall.A drum has often been
placed in the center of an open air meeting ring to serve for the same
purpose. Wherever anyone feels they must live as God wants them to
live, that place can be their Penitent Form or Mercy Seat.
In
keeping with the idea of an 'Army', Salvationists call their prayer
meetings, a Knee Drill. There the Salvationists gather to ask for God's
guidance and to seek His blessing on their activities. Also there they ask
for God's healing power on those who are sick in body and or
mind.
Can
anyone imagine an Army without regulations? A few weeks after the
Christian Mission had become The Salvation Army, William Booth issued a
twopenny booklet, orders and Regulations for the Salvation Army. For
already corps were doing their own thing. regulations would ensure all
followed the methods which had been proved best. The years have proved
William Booth to be right.
'What is the matter, my dear?' said William Booth as he leaned over
the pulpit of the Bethesda Chapel, gateshead-on-Tyne, one Sunday morning,
in 1860. He was the minister and had just finished his sermon. Mrs.
Booth, who had been sitting with four year old Bramwell, was walking down
the aisle towards him. 'I want to say a word,' she replied. [women did not
usually speak in public in those days] But she had long felt it to be her
duty to begin. 'My dear wife wishes to speak,' William Booth announced,
and sat down while Mrs. Booth gave her testimony. She preached in the
evening service, and continued public speaking for twenty eight years
untill illness prevented her, becoming one of the most effective orators
in England. Early in Mission days William Booth placed women in charge
of 'stations', sometimes appointing men to assist them. The rules of 1870
allowed women not only to preach but to hold office and have a voice in
all official meetings. It was a women who started the Army's work in
Ireland, France, Sweden, Norway and Finland. 'One of the principles of
the Army', reads the regulations, 'is that women have the right to an
equal share with men in the great work of publishing salvation to the
world. A woman may hold any position of authority or power in the Army,
from that of local officer to that of
General.
One of the Commisioners of our time is a Canadian woman,
Comissioner Christine MacMillan.
[The Comissioner of
the Salvation Army is equivalent to the Cardinal of the Catholic faith.
Christine was born in Montrčal, Quebec and grew up in Toronto Ontario.
]
A
Junior Soldier is a young person, not under seven years of age and not a
member of any other place of worship. Who has signed the following
promise:
having asked God for forgiveness, I will trust Him to keep me
good. Because Jesus is my Saviour from sin, I will be His loving and
obedient child and will try to help others to follow Him. I promise to
pray, to read my Bible and, by His help to lead a life that is clean in
thought, word and deed.*
* note - This
includes abstaining from the use of intoxicating drink and unprescribed
drugs.
A member
of the Tribe [ formaly known as 'Corps Cadets'] is a young Salvationist
who undertakes a course of study and training at their own corps in order
to become qualified for efficient service in the Salvation Army. From
the start of 2000, the name has changed to 'The Tribe', the objective of
the group is still the same, but with a more relaxed outlook in achieving
that objective.
William Booth knew that unless a complete break was
made with the 'drink' many of his converts would easily return to their
old life of sin. Salvationists forgo taking intoxicating drink because
it quickly dulls the brain, thoughts become slower, many accidents and
quarrels are caused by strong drink. It lays drinkers open to many
temptations just when their powers of resistance are lowest and it often
results in poor homes and neglected children.
"Must we lower our
standard? Paul wrote, 'You are the temple of the living
God.'
Even while the Army was still a mission William Booth wrote, We are
thinking of getting a flag, and if so, of crimson ground and blue
border...the crimson signifying the atonement, and the blue
purity.' The first Salvation Army flag was presented to the Coventry
Corps by Mrs. Booth in September, 1878. Other corps were soon marching
behind their own banners of their own design, untill William Booth decided
on one flag for a united Army. Untill 1882 the centre of the flag was a
sun, but this was changed to the present star, because a party of
Salvationists were going to Bombay in July of that year and the sun is a
sacred symbol among the Parsees of India, and they did not wish to cause
offence. The Salvationist acknowledges belief in the Blood of Jesus to
save from sin [red], the possibility of living without sinning [blue], and
the Fire of the Holy Spirit [yellow] who 'destroys sin, purifies the heart
and gives power for service'.
What does it mean 'to fire a cartridge'? We have no rifle and no
intention of hurting anyone, Yet to fire a cartridge is the duty of every
Salvationist. In the first days of the Army, one day at headquarters,
george Ewens, who had been a rifleman, called out 'Soldiers fire
cartridges', he likened gifts of money to the Army to shots fired at the
devel, that is, making a real attack against evel. The idea quickly
caught on, and still today, soldiers in the Salvation Army place a small
envelope called a cartridge, in the offering plate.
Soon
after the War Congress of 1878, when the Salvation Army became official,
Captain William H Ebdon sent the design of a crest to Headquaters. The
'S' stood for salvation and the swords for its warfare; the cross
represented the Cross of Jesus and the shots the truths of the gospel. The
surround, the sun, was the Sun of Righteousness and also spoke of the fire
and the light of the Holy Spirit. And we still use the same crest
today, with the addition of the crown of glory which God will give to all
His soldiers who are faithful to the end'..
Hand clapping in Army meetings is the continuance of
a custom started at a time when most members of the congregation were more
familiar with the singing in music halls than in church. The rhythm of
the popular songs lent itself to hand clapping, and when the same melodies
were used in Army meetings it was natural to clap there as well.The Army
used popular music of the day, because William Booth said 'why should the
devel have all the good music'.
In 1878, in the afternoon meeting, captain Elijah Cadman, said that
'I would like to wear a suit of clothes that would let everybody know that
I meant war to the teeth and salvation to the world.' Soon uniforms began
to appear. The style of uniform changes a little as the years pass, and
may vary in different countries, but the purpose remains, Uniform stands
for WAR against sin and a WITNESS that God has saved the wearer.
When a new baby has been welcomed into the family, Salvationists,
like other Christians, take the baby as soon as possible to God's house
and seek God's help to train the child to be good and godfearing. In
the Army babies are dedicated to God under the flag which speaks of
salvation, purity, and the power of the Holy Spirit. This is a simple
ceremony in which the parents promise to set a Christian example and to
train the child 'to be a faithful soldier, giving all the time, strength,
ability, and money possible to help on the War'.
In the
Bible in 1st Corinthians,13:4,5a. We read that Love is patient; Love
is kind; Love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. This sums up
the people who do the Lords work in Community Care Ministry. They go to
the hospitals, nursing homes & private homes, where ever they are
needed and give of their time, in sitting with & helping the sick
& the lonely who may have been forgotten by others in the mad rush of
this time, and those who havent been forgotten, but are still
lonely. They put on shows & sing-a-longs at time to time for the
people who are in these places and bring a little cheer to them, These are
our Community Care Ministry volunteers.
To a Salvationist death is not a misfortune or even 'passing away'.
It is a call to meet their Great Commander. In reporting the death of a
Salvationist The War Cry of December 14th, 1882, coined a new expression,
and ever since when a comrade dies he is spoken of as having been
'promoted to Glory'.
[1] The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by
inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the divine rule of
Christian faith and practice.
[2] There is only one God, who is
infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver and Governor of all things, and
who is the only proper object of religious worship.
[3] There are
three persons in the Godhead - the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost,
undivided in essence and coequal in power and glory.
[4] In the
person of Jesus Christ the divine and human natures are united so that He
is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.
[5] Our first
parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience
they lost their purity and happiness; and that in consequence of their
fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly
exposed to the wrath of God.
[6] The Lord Jesus Christ has by His
suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that
whosoever will may be saved.
[7] Repentance toward God, faith in
our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit, are necessary
to salvation.
[8] We are justified by grace, through faith in our
Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in
himself.
[9] Continuance in a state of salvation depends upon
continued obedient faith in Christ.
[10] It is the privilege of all
believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul
and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
[11] In the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of
the body; in the general judgement at the end of the world; in the eternal
happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the
wicked.
Having accepted Jesus Christ as my
Saviour and Lord and desiring to fulfill my membership of His Church on
earth as a soldier of The Salvation Army, I now by God's grace enter into
a sacred covenant. I believe and will live by the truths of the word of
God expressed in The Salvation Army's eleven articles of faith.
[1]
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of
God, and that they only constitute the divine rule of Christian faith and
practice.
[2] There is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the
Creator, Preserver and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper
object of religious worship.
[3] There are three persons in the
Godhead - the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence and
coequal in power and glory.
[4] In the person of Jesus Christ the
divine and human natures are united so that He is truly and properly God
and truly and properly man.
[5] Our first parents were created in a
state of innocency, but by their disobedience they lost their purity and
happiness; and that in consequence of their fall all men have become
sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of
God.
[6] The Lord Jesus Christ has by His suffering and death made
an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be
saved.
[7] Repentance toward God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ,
and regeneration by the Holy Spirit, are necessary to
salvation.
[8] We are justified by grace, through faith in our Lord
Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in
himself.
[9] Continuance in a state of salvation depends upon
continued obedient faith in Christ.
[10] It is the privilege of all
believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul
and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
[11] In the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of
the body; in the general judgement at the end of the world; in the eternal
happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the
wicked.
THEREFORE I will be responsive to the Holy Spirit's work
and obedient to His leading in my life, growing in grace through worship,
prayer, service and the reading of the Bible. I will make the values of
the Kingdom of God and not the values of the world standard for my
life. I will uphold Christian integrite in every area of my life,
allowing nothing in thought, word or deed that is unworthy or unclean,
untrue or profane, dishonest or immoral. I will maintain Christian
ideals in all my relationships with others, my family and neighbors, my
colleagues and fellow Salvationists, those to whom and for whom I am
responsible, and the wider community. I will be a faithful steward of
my time and gifts, my money and possessions; my body, my mind and my
spirit, knowing that I am accountable to God. I will uphold the
sanctity of marriage and of family life. I will abstain from alcoholic
drink, tobacco, the non-medical use of addictive drugs, gambling,
pornography, the occult, and all else that could enslave the body or
spirit. I will be faithful to the purpose for which God raised up The
Salvation Army, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, endeavoring to win
others to Him, and in His name caring for the needy and the
disadvantaged I will be actively involved, as I am able, in the life
and work, worship and witness of the corps, giving as large a proportion
of my income as possible to support its ministries and the worldwide work
of the Army. I will be true to the principles and practices of The
Salvation Army, loyal to its leaders, and I will show the spirit of
salvationism whether in times of popularity or persecution.
This is
what a Salvationist signs, In the sight of, but not for man, but for
their Lord.
The Salvation Army is led by the General who
can be a Man or Woman officer who has attained the rank of Commissioner,
They are voted into the position by their fellow Commissioners for a four
year term.
The General who has led us into the new Century is the renown Army
composer, General John Gowans.
