What is The Salvation Army?
From the editor’s desk
The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity providing services in the community, particularly to those who are vulnerable and marginalised. Motivated by our Christian faith, we offer practical support and services in more than 700 centres throughout the UK to all who need them, regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation. To find your nearest centre visit salvationarmy.org.uk/find-a-church
THIS issue of the War Cry is significantly different from those you may be used to reading. Normally we turn our attention to the latest TV programme, film release, awareness day or whatever else is in the public eye. For this week only, we have turned our attention to the War Cry itself. Next week marks the 140th anniversary of this publication. The first issue was dated 27 December 1879, and 17,000 copies were printed and distributed by train across the country. Since that first issue, the War Cry has hit the streets come rain, shine, world wars or general strikes. This issue celebrates that achievement, looking back to the time when the War Cry began through to how it is still sold, read and enjoyed by people. Sometimes people today question the name of the magazine, wondering why it is called the War Cry. That is not a new question. It was posed in the very first issue 140 years ago. The founder of The Salvation Army, William Booth, answered with these words: ‘Because The Salvation Army means more war.’ He went on to describe how the cry of ‘millions rises up louder and louder to Heaven, crying to our inmost souls … to arise and fight more furiously than ever for the salvation of our fellows from the forces of evil’. Although his explanation is steeped in the language of Victorian England, the message that The Salvation Army ‘wars’ against evil forces and influences in the world and raises a ‘war cry’ in opposition to anything that crushes the human spirit remains true today. From its first issue through to this 7,454th, the War Cry has continued to promote fairness, justice and equality in society and the positive impact that the Christian faith can have in our communities and individual lives. And we intend to go on doing that for many, many more years to come.
What is the War Cry? The Salvation Army first published a newspaper called the War Cry in London in December 1879, and we have continued to appear every week since then. Our name refers to our battle for people’s hearts and souls as we promote the positive impact of the Christian faith and The Salvation Army’s fight for greater social justice.
SINCE 1879
140 YEARS
OF THE WAR CRY Issue No 7454
Editor: Andrew Stone, Major Deputy Editor: Philip Halcrow Production Editor: Ivan Radford Assistant Editor: Sarah Olowofoyeku Staff Writer: Emily Bright Staff Writer: Claire Brine Editorial Assistant: Linda McTurk Graphic Designer: Rodney Kingston Graphic Designer: Mark Knight War Cry office: 020 7367 4900 Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk The Salvation Army UK Territory with the Republic of Ireland 101 Newington Causeway London SE1 6BN
Contents
Tel: 0845 634 0101 Helpline: 020 7367 4888 Subscriptions: 01933 445445 (option 1, option 1) or email: subscriptions@satcol.org Founder: William Booth General: Brian Peddle Territorial Commander: Commissioner Anthony Cotterill Secretary for Communications: Lieut-Colonel Dean Pallant
Published weekly by The Salvation Army ©The Salvation Army United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland ISSN 0043-0226 The Salvation Army Trust is a registered charity. The charity number in England and Wales is 214779, in Scotland SC009359 and in the Republic of Ireland CHY6399. Printed by Walstead Roche Ltd, St Austell, on sustainably sourced paper
Your local Salvation Army centre
FEATURES 3
Read all about it! War Cry seller tells his stories
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Pressing matters The early days of the War Cry
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We’ve got it covered A look at some previous front pages
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It was no tea party Recalling The Salvation Army’s early struggles in Boston
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Losing the exclusive How the War Cry became a good read for everyone
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REGULARS 12
Browsing the Bible
14 Puzzles 15 War Cry Kitchen Front-page artwork: RODNEY KINGSTON
2 • WAR CRY • 21 December 2019
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