Salem’s Salvation Army Corps

“The Oregon Statesman newspaper’s December 24, 1886 issue, it was reported that, “The Salvation Army commenced holding services after the 28th of December” so it would appear that the work was officially started before January of 1887. This early presence makes the Salem Salvation Army Corps one of the earliest chapters in U.S. history.”

The history of The Salvation Army in Salem, Oregon, began in London’s dark East End when William Booth hurried home to tell his wife, “Catherine, I have found my destiny!” Realizing the urgent need to reach many of the unchurched, heavily-burdened, and poverty-stricken residents of that area, William and Catherine Booth, first formed the Christian Mission, which in 1865 became known as The Salvation Army.

Governor Doug McKay; ex-Gov. Charles A. Sprague and unknown person at Salvation Army Christmas Kettle at the Lipman-Wolfe Building. 285 N. Liberty, Salem, Oregon., WHC Collections 1998.024.0002

It took just 15 short, but very busy, years for The Salvation Army to cross the Atlantic and reach New York when, officially, Commissioner George Railton and his seven “Hallelujah Lassies” arrived and began the work in New York City. Six years later, the work taken up by Captains Henry and Mary Stillwell, began in Portland and moved southward to Salem.

The Oregon Statesman dated January 7, 1887, gives a review of the year of 1886 in which it was stated, “December 20, 1886 Vanguard of the Salvation Army ‘strike the town.'” On page 8 of the Oregon Statesman newspaper’s De-cember 24, 1886 issue, it was reported that, “The Salvation Army commenced holding services after the 28th of December” so it would appear that the work was officially started before January of 1887. This early presence makes the Salem Salvation Army Corps one of the earliest chapters in U.S. history.

A record of the early Salvation Army outdoor meetings, known as Open-Air meetings, is implanted in the sidewalk in the northeast corner of Liberty and Ferry Streets. Since those early days, The Salvation Army in Salem has been active in trying to develop its ministry of worship and service throughout Marion County.

Over the intervening years–117 of them–The Salvation Army has been seen in many different forms and in many places throughout the area.

The Salvation Army Corps has contributed much to the Salem community in its 117 year history.

For more articles about Salem’s Salvation Army, continue reading.

Salvation Army Building Locations

This articles is a compilation of the many past locations of the Salvation Army in Salem. Learn More

Salvation Army Doughnut Sales

It was undoubtedly The Salvation Army’s involvement with doughnuts during the First and Second World Wars that suggested to the officers and soldiers of the Salem Corps that coffee and doughnuts might be a natural at a Salvation Army Booth for the State Fair. Before we discuss the significance of the Salem doughnuts, however, perhaps we should review the story of the first Salvation Army doughnuts which became legend during the First World War. Learn More

Salvation Army Social Services

This article contains short descriptions of the many social services the Salvation Army have created and run over the years in Salem. Learn More 

Salvation Army Timeline

This article shows the timeline of the Salvation Army here in Salem. Learn More

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Bibliography:

Barnes, Cyril. God’s Army, David C. Cook Publishing Co., Elgin, IL, 1978. (ISBN 0-89191-156-1)

Bennett, David. William Booth, Bethany House Publishers (Men of Faith Series), Minn., MN, 1986. Available in paperback.

Booth, General William. In Darkest England and the Way Out, The Salvation Army, London, 1890. This book has become a classic for social service studies.

Chesham, Sallie. Born to Battle: The Salvation Army in America, The Salva-tion Army, New York, 1976.

Coutts, Frederick. The History of The Salvation Army, Vol. VI, 1914-1946. Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1973.

Ervine, St. John. God’s Soldier, General William Booth, Macmillan, New York, 1935.

Green, Roger J. Catherine Booth: A Biography of the Cofounder of The Salvation Army, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI, 1996. (ISBN 0-8010-5706-X (pbk.)

McKinley, Edward H. Marching to Glory: The History of The Salvation Army in the United States (1880-1980), Harper & Row, Publishers, San Francisco, 1980. (ISBN 0-06-65538-0)

Sandall, Robert. The History of The Salvation Army, Vol. I, 1865-1878, Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd., 1947.

Sandall, Robert. The History of The Salvation Army, Vol. II, 1878-1886, Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd., 1950.

The Salvation Army 2004 Year Book, The Salvation Army International Headquarters, London, England, 2004. Statistics for the year ending December 2002.

Watson, Bernard. Soldier Saint: George Scott Railton, William Booth’s first lieutenant, Hodder and Stoughton Limited, London, 1970. (ISBN 0 340 10814 2)

Wiggins, Arch R. The History of The Salvation Army, Vol. V, 1904-1914. Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd., London, 1968.

Wilson, P. W. General Evangeline Booth of The Salvation Army, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1948.

Wisbey, Herbert A. Soldiers Without Swords, A History of The Salvation Army in the United States, The Macmillan Company, New York, 1955.

This article originally appeared on the original Salem Online History site and has not been updated since 2006.