William and Catherine Booth

Book Review.
Yaxley, Trevor. Vanderwal, Carolyn. William and Catherine Booth. The life and legacy of the Booths, founders of the Salvation Army. Bethany House 2003.

Comment. Henry.
The Salvation Army is a very unique organization that is ministering all over the world. A major reason for this uniqueness is the uniqueness of its founders William and Catherine Booth. Their biography reveals two people with a tremendous passion for the lost and an approach how the gospel was brought to these people, first in England and then spreading around the world.

Catherine Mumford was a very compassionate caring person from her childhood on. She cared for the needy and was very sensitive about injustice. Even as a child she developed very strong biblical convictions. She was of delicate health. In 1850 she became part of the Methodist Reform Union, a break-away group of the Methodists.
William Booth became a Christian at age 15. A year later his father died and William became an apprentice to a pawn broker to help support the family. During this time he became a ‘boy-preacher’ on the streets of the Bottoms the slum district of Nottingham. At age 21 he moved to London. The Methodist church that he was member of did not accept his street preaching. Through the support of Edward Rabbits, William was able to go into full-time ministry. “William’s mission was clear; ‘Go for souls! Go for the worst!’” (63)
William and Catherine had a short courtship of several months followed by a three year engagement. “This was to become a union of thoughtful biblical conviction and evangelistic charisma, fervor, and boldness.” (77) William had a brief association with the Congregationalists. He took on the responsibility of some Reform churches north of London. Later he became part of the New Connexion Conference. William and Catherine were married June 16, 1855.
For the next two years William carried on evangelistic meetings and crusades. In 1857 he was assigned to a pastoral position in Brighouse. The Booths moved to Gateshead. Catherine began her ‘public’ ministry teaching women but soon became involved in preaching sharing that ministry with William. Holiness became an important part of their preaching.
In 1861 the Booths began a ministry of faith with no denominational connections. They had crusades and revival campaigns first in Cornwall and then in Wales. Eventually East London became their area of focus. An unconvential aspect of their crusades was the use of testimonies by converts. Their motto was; “Every man (woman) saved and every man at work saving others.” (130) Along with the spiritual needs efforts were always made to look after physical needs. The result was the birth of the Salvation Army.
William developed the organization along military lines. He was the general with officers under him. The uniforms and the music became features of the Army. The Booth children all became involved in their parents mission. Wherever the Army went they experienced opposition. It was both physical, attacks on their parades, and spiritual with disruptions during meetings and criticisms from leaders of other churches and unbelievers. When the Army had their first international congress in 1886 there were sixteen nations represented. A new dimension was added to the Army’s ministry, “a Holy Spirit-inspired welfare strategy”. (219) It was introduced in three phases, “The city colony, the farm colony and the colony across the sea”. (222)
It was discovered that Catherine had terminal cancer and on October 4, 1890 she passed away. Catherine’s death was devastating for William but he finished strong in his leadership of the Army. He passed away on August 20, 1912. Bramwell, the oldest son received the mantle of leadership of the Army. Some of his siblings were not able to work with him and they started their own ministries.
The Salvation Army is still a very effective organization committed to serving mankind worldwide and operating in its military style. Their uniforms make them easy to recognize and gives them access to many ares of need in our society