and so they have started their own. In 1978 Zambia reported 40 corps and 38 outposts23 with a senior soldiers’ roll of around 3000. The Salvation Army Year Book 2016 records 143 corps, 253 outposts and a senior soldiers’ roll of 28,000 in Zambia.24 Korea provides two other examples of soldier-led initiative. Corps Secretary Park Ne-Uk, a silk scarf businessman built and opened ten new corps while Recruiting Sergeant Kim Ki-Chul, a school teacher, would start a new corps if there was no Army presence where he was appointed. As a result he planted five new corps and two centres of prayer.25 Point Six – Our history shows the innovative use of technology to spread the gospel One example would be the use of the Limelight and Cinematograph in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The role of Joseph Perry and The Salvation Army’s Biorama is well documented in Australia’s film history. A recent publication outlines the Army’s use of the cinematograph in Britain and India.26 A further example would be William Booth’s motor tours of the United Kingdom in the early twentieth century. Point Seven – Our history contains the sacrificial service of many ordinary but dedicated soldiers and local officers Every corps and centre has them – the everyday Salvationist who has dedicated time, energy and talent to spread the gospel through musical sections, works of mercy and service, teaching and training of children, pub booming and so on. A New Zealand example would be Envoy Olive Lord who was corps cadet guardian at Linwood, Christchurch for more than 20 years. An Australian example would be Envoy James Stewart Crocker of Broken Hill, who was a hospital visitor for over 40 years and became known as the Chaplain to the Barrier. These stories illustrate some of the positives in our history as we have sought to save souls, grow saints and serve suffering humanity. Negatives In a recent accountability movement pamphlet, General André Cox wrote: “We must be keen to learn from our successes but also our failures.”27 We now address some of these. Point One - Our history provides us with warnings about ill-conceived plans and ill-thought out activities
23
Anon, The Salvation Army Year Book 1978, (London, UK: The Salvation Army, 1977). Maxwell, The Salvation Army Year Book 2016. 25 Chang, The Salvation Army in Korea, 134-136. 26 Tony Fletcher, The Salvation Army and the Cinematograph 1897-1929: a religious tapestry in Britain and India, (London, UK: Local History Publications, 2015). 27 André Cox in, Accountable to God and Each Other: a brief guide to The Salvation Army’s Accountability Movement. (No publication details), 2. 24
The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 1, Issue 2, 2016. Page 24