Why do Salvationists wear a uniform?
In 1878, when The Christian Mission became in reality, the newly-named Salvation Army, the familiar trappings of The Great Salvation War began to appear. Military terms became standard - church halls became corps; giving in the offering was called 'firing a cartridge'. Flags, badges, brass bands and uniforms were added together with a military style rank system for its staff. According to the years of service, position level of responsibility in the organisation, trimmings worn on the uniform indicated rank.
Even without religious motivation, the wearing of military ceremonial uniforms was widely popular among the working class men in the late 19th century in Britain.
At first these marching Salvationists were anything but uniform, dressed in an odd assortment of clothing and headgear. It took almost two years to standardise Salvation Army uniform, but by the beginning of 1880 a standard navy blue serge uniform was introduced for both men and women. Men wore a high neck tunic with a stiff collar over a scarlet jersey. Their headgear was a military cap with a red band, on which the words The Salvation Army had been worked in gold letters. Women wore long navy skirts, close-fitting high neck tunics with white lace-edge collar. The large black straw bonnet was Catherine Booth's idea. Cheap, durable, protective and solidly unworldly, the bonnet with its red, band and huge ribbon bow became a well known symbol of The Great Salvation War.
The men however, continued for much longer to display individual preferment in headgear. Pith helmets, toppers, derbies, sailor hat and discarded military band helmets proudly appeared adorned with a Salvation Army hatband until 1891, when Headquarters finally brought the troops under regulation caps - one hatband for officers, another for soldiers.
The great majority of pioneer Salvationists were proud of their uniforms because of the great crusade for which the uniform stood. Partly because of pride and because of economic necessity (officers and soldiers have always had to purchase their own uniforms and in 1890 a uniform would cost on average, three weeks' salary) many Salvationists wore their uniforms on any occasion where formal clothes would be expected. Weddings, funerals, family portraits, visiting relatives and town hall meetings would be some of the occasions one might expect to see the uniform.
In many countries where The Salvation Army commenced work, a specialised tailoring department was set up to ensure standardisation of uniforms at a reasonable cost.
Up until recently women continued to wear a smaller version of the Victorian bonnet, however most countries around the world are now adopting the less-expensive felt bowler-style hat. The high-collar tunics are also being replaced by an open-neck jacket using terylene as well as wool. (Today the cost of a uniform is an average weekly salary.)
According to culture and climate different uniforms may be worn in other countries. White, grey, beige, safari type with shorts or perhaps a sari with a Salvation Army sash. Not all Salvation Army members wear a uniform. It is a personal choice to do so, but the reason for wearing it remains unchanged.
It stands for:
- A commitment in the war against evil.
- As a personal testimony to the wearer's own Christian faith and practice.
- And signifies the availability of the Salvationist to anyone needing a helping hand and listening ear.
Why do members of The Salvation Army abstain from alcohol?
The Salvation Army is aware that anybody, from any social background, can develop a problem with alcohol, possibly losing in the process family, friends, home, job, health and self-respect.
These reasons alone are sufficient cause for The Salvation Army to decide that its members should not risk experiencing these devastating problems as a result of alcohol.
The policy of abstinence has been maintained for more than 100 years, and demonstrates beyond question that it is possible to live happily, lead a full social life and enjoy a successful career without the need to drink alcohol.
The Salvation Army operates more alcoholism rehabilitation centres than any other organisation worldwide, including more than 200 specialised units in English-speaking countries alone. Most of the thousands of men and women helped in these centres are addicted to alcohol in the same way that people are addicted to heroin. Their only safe goal is total abstinence. Yet many alcoholics fear, quite mistakenly, that they will be unable to live happily without drinking again. Salvationists prove, by personal example, that alcohol is not an essential part of a fulfilled life.
There is a great deal of pressure on individuals to conform by drinking alcohol. Some people find this kind of pressure difficult to cope with. In order to belong, or to fit in with a crowd, they drink alcohol - even when they don't want to.
The range of non-alcoholic drinks is growing all the time. Many taste good, are attractive to look at, cost less than and hold none of the risks associated with alcohol.
Of course, some people will always drink alcohol because they want to get drunk. But getting drunk isn't attractive, clever or sophisticated. It is expensive and can result in hangovers and regrets. It leads to weight gain and health problems which makes it the major cause of death in the UK after cancer and heart disease.
Like many people, Salvationists want to keep their minds and bodies healthy in order to enjoy life to the full. Alcohol is inconsistent with this aim.
Finally The Salvation Army is a Christian denomination and looks to the Bible for instruction and guidance. In the Bible, Paul says: 'If my drinking alcohol is likely to create problems for other people, I will not drink.'
The principle of considering the impact of our actions on other people is an important one. We know that if we exercise our right to drink alcohol, we condone the harm it causes to others.
Why doesn't The Salvation Army perform the sacraments?
A MAJOR difference between The Salvation Army and other religious denominations is that it does not include the use of sacraments (mainly Holy Communion, sometimes called the Lord's Supper, and baptism) in its form of worship.
The Salvation Army has never said it is wrong to use sacraments, nor does it deny that other Christians receive grace from God through using them. Rather, the Army believes that it is possible to live a holy life and receive the grace of God without the use of physical sacraments and that they should not be regarded as an essential part of becoming a Christian.
Salvationists see the sacraments as an outward sign of an inward experience, and it is the inward experience that is the most important thing.
It should be noted that The Salvation Army did not cease to use the sacraments because of any prejudices it had against them or from any desire to be 'different'. The decision to discontinue their use was a gradual process in the minds of the Army's Founders.
The reasons for The Salvation Army's cessation of the sacraments may be summarised as follows:
1. The Army's Founders felt that many Christians had come to rely on the outward signs of spiritual grace rather than on grace itself. William and Catherine Booth believed, with the apostle Paul, that salvation came solely from the grace of God personally received by faith. They felt that much of what passed for Christianity in their day was primarily an observance of outward ritual.
2. Some Bible scholars had pointed out that there was no scriptural basis for regarding the sacraments as essential to salvation or Christian living. Many Christians assumed that Jesus commanded the use of baptism and holy communion. But there very few New Testament references to these practices and it was argued that none of them showed any intention by Jesus that they (or any other practice) should have become fixed ceremonies.
3. The sacraments had been a divisive influence in the Church throughout Christian history and at times the cause of bitter controversy and abuse.
4. Some churches would not allow women to administer the sacraments. The Army, however, believed that women may take an equal part in its ministry, and did not want to compromise this stance.
5. The Society of Friends (the Quakers) had managed to live holy lives without the use of sacraments.
6. Many early-day converts to the Army had previously been alcoholics. It was considered unwise to tempt them with the wine used in holy communion.
To a large extent this is still the Salvationist's standpoint. However, it should be stressed that Salvationists have never been in opposition to the sacraments. Indeed, when they take part in gatherings with Christians from other churches, Salvationists will often share in using the symbols of the Lord's Supper as a sign of fellowship.
Furthermore, Salvationists are not prevented from being baptised in other churches should they so desire.
Who started The Salvation Army?
William Booth - Founder of The Salvation Army
William Booth was born in Nottingham in 1829. At the age of 13 he was sent to work as an apprentice in a pawnbroker's shop to help support his mother and sisters. He did not enjoy his job but it made him only too aware of the poverty in which people lived and how they suffered humiliation and degradation because of it. During his teenage years he became a Christian and spent much of his spare time trying to persuade other people to become Christians too.
When his apprenticeship was completed he moved to London, again to work in the pawnbroking trade. He joined up with the local Methodist Church and later decided to become a minister.
After his marriage to Catherine Mumford in 1855 he spent several years as a Methodist minister, travelling all around the country, preaching and sharing God's word to all who would listen. Yet he felt that God wanted more from him, that he should be doing more to reach ordinary people. He returned to London with his family, having resigned his position as a Methodist minister.
One day in 1865 he found himself in the East End of London, preaching to crowds of people in the streets. Outside the Blind Beggar pub some missioners heard him speaking and were so impressed by his powerful preaching that they asked him to lead a series of meetings they were holding in a large tent.
The tent was situated on an old Quaker burial ground on Mile End waste in Whitechapel. The date for the first meeting was set for 2 July, 1865. To the poor and wretched of London's East End, Booth brought the good news of Jesus Christ and his love for all men. Booth soon realised he had found his destiny. He formed his own movement which he called 'The Christian Mission'.
Slowly the mission began to grow but the work was hard and Booth would 'stumble home night after night haggard with fatigue, often his clothes were torn and bloody bandages swathed his head where a stone had struck', wrote his wife. Evening meetings were held in an old warehouse where urchins threw stones and fireworks through the window. Outposts were eventually established and in time attracted converts, yet the results remained discouraging-this was just another of the 500 charitable and religious groups trying to help in the East End. It was not until 18 78 when The Christian Mission changed its name to The Salvation Army that things began to happen. The impetus changed. The idea of an Army fighting sin caught the imagination of the people and the Army began to grow rapidly. Booth's fiery sermons and sharp imagery drove the message home and more and more people found themselves willing to leave their past behind and start a new life as a soldier in The Salvation Army.
Inevitably, the military spirit of the movement meant that The Salvation Army soon spread abroad. By the time Booth was 'promoted to Glory' in 1912 the Army was at work in 58 countries.
While it might appear to have militaristic tendencies, the Crest, like the Flag sums up the message not only of the Salvation Army, but of the Church universal, Christ, through His death on the cross, has conquered sin and death for all people and through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit we may all become more like Him.
The first flag was presented to Coventry Corps by Catherine Booth in September 1878. Until 1882 the central shape was a sun, but when a plan to open the Army's work in India was put into action it was found that the Parsees, an Indian religious sect regarded the sun as sacred and so it was changed to a star. The flag itself is not sacred, but is a symbol of what Salvationists believe.
The blue border represents the HOLINESS of God
The yellow star represents the FIRE of the Holy Spirit
The red represents the BLOOD of Jesus Christ
The motto 'Blood and Fire', written on the star, stands for the blood of Jesus and the fire of the Holy Spirit. The flag is carried at the head of marches of witness and is given a prominent place in Salvation Army halls. It is also held aloft at special ceremonies such as the dedication of babies.