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The Salvation Army was founded as the Christian Mission in London, England on July 5, 1865 by William Booth, who at that time was a Methodist minister. The name was later changed to The Salvation Army in 1878 to match its recently adopted quasi- military style and outlook. On March 10, 1880 members of the Salvation Army landed in the United States and began operations there. The Salvation Army is led by a General, currently John Larsson.
The Salvation Army's main converts were at first alcoholics, drug addicts, prostitutes and other "undesirables" of society which the church at that time refused to have anything to do with. As a prophetic reminder to the rest of the Body of ChristThe Body of Christ is a metaphor used by the local churches to describe the synchronicity between different localities and God. In this, God is the head and the people who make up the Church in each locality are termed "members of the body. The "members o, the Salvation Army decided not to practice baptismIn certain religions such as Christianity, Mandaeanism, Sikhism, and some historic sects of Judaism, baptism is a water purification ritual. The word baptize derives from the Greek word (the infinitive; also listed as the 1st person singular present activ or to celebrate the Lord's Supper in any form. Among the other long-established beliefs of the Salvation Army are that its members should refrain from drinking alcoholIn general usage, alcohol (from Arabic al-khwl , or al-ghawl ) refers almost always to ethanol, also known as grain alcohol and often to any beverage that contains ethanol (see alcoholic beverage . This sense underlies the term alcoholism ( addiction to a, smokingTobacco smoking is the act of smoking tobacco products, especially cigarettes and cigars. Tobacco smoking is considered a significant cause of human health problems, especially cancer and other disorders affecting the lungs. The practice of smoking tobacc, taking illicit (illegal) drugsRecreational drug use is the use of psychoactive drugs for recreational rather than medical or spiritual purposes, although the distinction is not always clear. Regardless of medical supervision, this label does not apply to the use of drugs for utilitari and gamblingGambling (or betting is any behaviour involving the risk of money or valuables on the outcome of a game, contest, or other event in which the outcome of that activity is partially or totally dependent upon chance. Though for many it is a form of recreatio. The Salvation Army grew rapidly, and as it did it also created friction among certain people within the society at that time. These people hired thugs to disrupt, any way they could, Salvation Army meetings and gatherings. These people grouped under the name of the Skeleton ArmyThe Skeleton Army was a group that opposed the open-air marches of the anti- alcohol Salvation Army in the 19th century. The Salvation Army's enemies hired thugs to disrupt, any way they could, Salvation Army meetings and gatherings. Usual tactics used by. Usual tactics used by this army were throwing rocks, rats, and tar, and physically assaulting members of the Salvation Army at these meetings.
The mission of The Salvation Army is to win the world for Jesus. General Booth, Army founder, explained, " Salvationism means simply the overcoming and banishing from the earth of wickedness." The Salvation Army has from its founding been uncompromisingly opposed to what it sees as sin. Their idea of wickedness is based on their belief in the inerrancy of the Christian Bible. This can put them into conflict with people who see themselves as moral but base their morality on different interpretations of the Bible or on different moral systems, for example secular humanism.
At the turn of the 21st Century the Salvation Army had grown to operate in over 100 countries world wide. This was through its focus on the needs of humankind. The phrase of "Heart to God and Hand to Man" was its focus and its driving goal which made the Salvation Army, in the United Kingdom especially, the largest provider of social welfare (eventide homes, homeless hostels, rehab centres) second only to the government.