Jack Wayne Johnson, Jr., age 10, of Wichita, Kansas, for his question:
How did the Salvation Army come into being?
We love to hear stories about people and the things they do. But sometimes we get tired of those backward characters who like to shoot guns and punch everybody in the nose. It's a nice change to hear about someone who grew up and lived a more sensible life. The Salvation Army can tell us many such true stories about the pleasant side of human nature.
Sometimes we think that human nature is all bad. Actually it is a blend of all sorts of things and every person has a helping of the same mixture. We inherit a set of ideas from the dim past, when our ancestors had to solve most of their problems with fierce fights. We also inherit civilized brains to help us solve our problems in more sensible ways. In addition, every person can plan and work for a better world. All these things are part of everybody's human nature.
The Salvation Army is a true story of people who decided to go forward to build a better world. No doubt about it. Those people marched proudly forward, even when certain other people laughed and said they were wasting their time.
It began in the 1860's, when a methodist minister named William Booth looked around the sorry slums in the East End of London. The misery he saw touched his heart. But he was much too smart to fill the poor people with self pity. He knew that this would make them sink deeper into anger and despair. Instead he tried to lift their hearts with hope and he did much more than preach about it. In 1876, he opened his Christian Mission, right where the needy could get practical help. He also coaxed the richer folk to donate clothes, food and money.
This wise man knew a lot about changing misery to hope. He knew that cheerful singing and rousing bands make downhearted people feel better. Proud marching helps them to look forward to better times. This is why he organized his growing project as a Christian Army. In 1878, he changed the name of his mission to the Salvation Army. He became General Booth and his helpers wore those neat uniforms that we know so well.
General William Booth died in 1912, but his armies marched faithfully on to greater victories. Today, the Salvation Army is at home in 86 countries, It has about 8,000 centers in our country. If you are in desperate need, you can go to one of them for help. But no doubt you would much rather give something to help this good work on its way.
The gifts from countless people have been put to very good use. The Salvation Army has nurseries to tend babies while their mothers work, homes to help destitute men get back into useful work and hospitals for unwed mothers. It also has stores that sell used furniture and other gifts. And everything is planned to give hope to the men, women and children who need our help the most.