Aspects of the history of the Salvation Army in New Zealand 1929-1963: a study in adjustment

Abstract

The Salvation Army began in London in the 1860's as an offshoot of the Methodist Church, for William Booth, the Army's founder, was first a Wesleyan local preacher, then a minister in the Methodist New Connection. For the background and early history of the Salvation Army, see Sandall: History of the Salvation Army, Vol. I, London, 1947; St. John Ervine: God's Soldier: General William Booth, London, 1934, Vol. I. However he found it impossible to reconcile his passion for preaching to the poor with the requirements of the circuits to which he was appointed, and resigned from the ministry in 1861 to take up evangelical work in the east end of London with his wife Catherine. This work attracted others and in 1865 the East London Christian Mission was formally organised, and in 1872 this was renamed the Salvation Army. These developments were unplanned and took place as circumstances appeared to dictate. Certainly there was no intention of creating a separate religious body, but the hostility of the existing churches combined with Booth's independence of will to produce that result. Organisation along military lines with Booth as General also evolved spontaneously over a period of time.