|| Indian Christianity ||

P.B.249,101,

Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4P 4EP.

Ph: 0171-2365222.

Central Office in India:

407, Ansal Chambers-II,

6 Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi-110 066.

Ph: 011-6184423. Fax: 011-6164410.

Literary and Editorial Office:

37, Lenin Sarani, Calcutta-13.

Ph: 033-2455210. Fax: 033-2511250.

Human Resources Development Office: -

156-D, Karunanithi Nagar, Ramanathapuram,

Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu-641 045.

Ph: 0423-22742. Fax: 0422-311058.

Women’s Advisory Council:

‘Surrenden’, Coonoor,

Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu-643 101.

Health Service Advisory Council:

P.B.6, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra-414001.

Ph: 0241-341448. Fax: 0241-341967.

Social Services Office:

37, Lenin Sarani, Calcutta-13,

Ph: 033-2455210. Fax: 033-2511250.

History: The Salvation Army is a Christian international movement founded in 1865, in London, by William Booth. Booth’s wife, Catherine, known as the Army Mother, their eldest son William Bramwell is considered the co-founders. The Salvation Army’s first meeting was held on July2, 1865. It was called ‘Christian Mission’. The title ‘Salvation Army’ was brought into use in 1878. William Booth was a priest in Methodist New Connection Church. He was greatly influenced by the ideals of Wesleyan Movement.

The Salvation Army was his medium to carry out his ambitions of life. Responding to a recurrent them in Christianity which sees the Church engaged in spiritual warfare, his movement uses the soldierly features such as uniforms, flags and ranks.

There are three colors in the Army’s flag-blue, red and yellow, symbolizing God the Father’s holiness, son’s salvation and Holy Spirit’s cleansing fire, respectively. The Salvation Army’s mission is mainly evangelization and social activities. Music is one of the important measures for the Army to reach out the gospel of Christ.

The Salvation Army is in a quasi-military command structure. Leadership in the Army is provided by Commissioned Officers who are recognised ministers of religion. Army members are keen in practicing high moral standards such as abstinence from alcohol and tobacco. They give equal importance to women. ‘General’ is the supreme authority. He is elected by the High Council. This is the body convened to adjudicate the fitness for office of a General or to fill the vacancy. It comprises the Chief of the Staff, all the Commissioners, except the spouse of the general, and all territorial command headquarters. The international headquarters is at London, England.

Paul A. Rader is the present General. He is the 13^th General and was elected in 1994.

The General of the Army were

1. William Booth (1878-1912),

2. William Bramwell Booth (1912-1929),

3. Edward J. Higgins (1929-1934),

4. Evangeline C.Booth (1934-1939),

5. George L.Carpenter (1939-1946),

6. Albert W.Orsborn (1946-1954),

7. Wilfred Kitching (1954-1963),

8. Frederick Coutts (1963-1969),

9. Erik Wickberg (1969-1974),

10. Calrence Wiseman (1974-1977),

11. Arnold Brown (1977-1981),

12. Jarl Wahlstrom (1981-1986),

13. Eva Evelyn Burrows (1986-1993),

14. Bramwell Harold Tillsley (1993-1994).

Today, the Army spreads over 90 countries. Frederick George de Latour Tucker, of the Indian Civil Service, took the Indian name of Fakir Singh and commenced Army work in Bombay on 19^th September 1882. The adoption of India lifestyle gave the pioneers ready access to the people. In addition to evangelistic work, efforts were made for the amelioration of people’s distress from famine, floods and epidemics. Educational facilities were provided for the depressed classes through elementary, secondary and industrial schools, and employment opportunities through cottage industries, settlements, etc.

Medical work started at Nagercoil in 1893 when Harry Andrews set up a dispensary there. Work among the then criminal tribes began in 1908 at Government invitation. The Salvation Army is registered as a Guarantee Company under the Indian Companies Act, 1913.

The Salvation Army, which was introduced into India in 1882 by Commissioner Tucker, came to Travancore in 1889. Three years later, under the teaching of some of its officers, a considerable number of people in the low caste villages of the Agastesvaram and Tovala taluqs professed Christianity and urged the Army to establish schools and permanently station officers in their midst, offering for this purpose in some instances the buildings and ground hitherto used for their Hindu worship. During the year 1892 the work rapidly spread and in some instances whole villages joined the army en masse. This change of religion on the part of the servants appeared at first to give great offence to their higher caste neighbours and masters. Difficulties and misunderstandings arose in consequence, often resulting in not a little suffering to the newly made converts. The marked improvement that has since taken place in the morals and conduct of the converts has largely removed any feeling of that sort. In 1894 large extensions were made in the Kulkulam and Kolasegaram districts and three years later an entirely new work was opened amongest the Puliyers of North Travancore, resulting in considerable accessions being received from amongst this down trodden community in the neighbourhood of Mavelikarai and Changanacheri.

In 1896 in answer to the petition of a large number of adherents, who found a difficulty in obtaining proper medical treatment in times of sickness, an out-door dispensary was opened at the Headquarters at Vadaseri. This experiment proved so successful and was so much appreciated, that in 1898 a small Hospital was erected and was placed in charge of a competent medical officer. This hospital has continued to grow in popularity and usefulness and is now freely resorted to by all classes of the community. At the commencement of 1901, Dr. Percy Turner arrived from England and took charge of this Department, together with the training of a number of young men for medical work. Considerable building extensions have been made and include a surgical ward and a laboratory.

In 1894 two boarding schools for the education of the children of officers of the Army were established. These have since been affiliated with two small orphanages opened for the accommodation of some thirty-six children received by the Army from the famine districts of Central India. In addition to the above, fifty Vernacular and one English primary school have been opened in needy village centres, with an attendance of about twelve hundred and fifty children.

In the early part of 1900 two experimental village Banks, each with a capital of one thousand rupees, were opened on the lines of the Banks opened by the Army in Western India.