ARMY ROOTS
Anchors Aweigh!
Out at sea, The Salvation Navy sought to evangelize sailors and fishermen By Lt-Colonel Maxwell Ryan to what was known as “the converting ship.” De Febe, a motor-vessel launched in 1930, carried a tent for meetings, chairs, instruments and song sheets—all necessary for campaigns, which continued until the outbreak of the Second World War. In 1900, the Catherine Booth, commissioned as a lifeboat in Norway, provided vital service for 30 years. Norway also had a “salvation Viking fleet” that took the gospel to isolated villages. William Booth’s vision of a The SS Iole was the first ship of The Salvation Navy dedicated to the service of God by General William Booth Salvation Navy also took root in the Canadian Territory, for in 1894 the Glad Tidings rom the earliest days of The Salvation aboard the SS Iole, presented Army colours was already ploughing the Atlantic off Army, Salvationist sailors were dilito the crews of the Salvation Navy fleet, Labrador, its crew of Salvationists holding gent in preaching to their shipmates. which consisted of about a dozen vessels. meetings with Newfoundland fishermen In The War Cry of July 29, 1885, a report This was the first attempt to recognize at every opportunity. Later the same year, headed “North Sea Corps” told of 13 vesformally the many Salvationist sailors and the 32-ton Salvationist put out from St. sels in England flying the Army flag, lashed fishermen. John’s, N.L., to carry out a similar work. together so their crews could take part In the north of England, the Founder A year earlier, the SS William Booth was in meetings in which eight people were had already met the owners of the War launched for ministry on the Great Lakes. converted. Cry, a “salvation fishing smack” purchased For three months the crew visited ports In May of the same year, Bramwell with money saved by her owners since with a “naval band” before the ship caught Booth wrote to his father, General William they had stopped smoking and drinking. fire and sank near the Lake Erie communBooth, with the information that John All along the coast were such men, so ity of Port Dover, Ont. Cory, a wealthy Welshman, wished to give the Army proposed to organize them in Natural disasters have often necessia steam yacht, 100 feet long, to the Army. Salvation Navy brigades. tated a temporary transformation from a Said Bramwell: “I told him I had been In June 1886, the SS Iole broke her Salvation Army to its naval counterpart. considering what to do for the sailors … back on a sandbank, the crew barely escapBangladesh knows what it means to see and there was very little doubt but that ing with their lives. Despite this setback, the Army afloat. During a cyclone disaster, we would accept his offer. At the last May the work of naval brigades continued Salvationists chartered a steam launch and meeting you proposed a navy.” under regulations stating that the work put up the familiar Red Shield as they Three months later, the SS Iole became of The Salvation Navy was “to do for those travelled the treacherous waters. the flagship of the fledgling Salvation Navy. who go to sea what the Army does for those Even though The Salvation Navy is now The mission of the crew included boardattending no place of worship on land.” an intriguing part of the Army’s colouring vessels to distribute Bibles and other By 1887 in Holland, Salvationist barge ful history, during the summer Canadian religious books and to preach Christ. owners were using their crafts as centres Salvationist boating enthusiasts continue to From the ship’s masts floated the colours of Army activity. The Dezorg was a trainuse their water craft for community hymn of The Salvation Army; one flag bore in ing garrison for eight male cadets by day, sings and gospel messages. bold letters the words, “Are you saved?” and in the evening, people descended into while on the sails was the monogram “SN” the hold for a meeting. The work of the Lt-Colonel Maxwell Ryan is retired in (Salvation Navy). 120-ton Army-owned barge Hoop Voor Burlington, Ont., where he serves as a Early in 1886, a sensation was caused at Allen (Hope for All) was so successful part-time hospital chaplain and amateur Plymouth, England, when William Booth, that ministers sent their young people Army historian.
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16 I January 2011 I Salvationist