THE SALVATION ARMY

"We're travelling home to heaven above,

Will you go?

To sing the Saviour's dying love,

Will you go?

Millions have reached that blissful shore,

Their trials and their labours o'er,

An yet there's room for millions more,

Will you go?”

Without officer, flag, drum, uniform or band, the work of The Salvation Army in Australia was commenced on Sunday afternoon, 5th September 1880, with the singing of that invitation. It was in the Botanic Gardens, Adelaide, South Australia, and the singing was accompanied by the little harmonium played by Edward Saunders, the platform being the tailboard of a greengrocer's cart. Those who testified mounted the vehicle in turn. John Gore, a sun-tanned railway ganger, commenced with "If there's a man here who hasn't had a square meal today, let him come home to tea with me..."

It is recorded that the first Salvation Army indoor meeting was held in the Labour League Hall in Hindley Street at 7 p.m. that evening. In that rough-boarded structure above a shop, five seekers were registered and the day closed with praise and rejoicing.

Just 15 years previously William Booth commenced the work in London's East End. He sent his converts back to their churches but because they were rejected there, The Salvation Army was born, with William Booth's slogan, "We go for souls,

and we go for the worst” being the catch-cry.

The first country to recognise the work of The Salvation Army was Holland who issued 4 stamps for the Nederland Indies to commemorate the work of The Salvation Army amongst the under-privileged in that region. That was in 1932 and in 1936 they issued another 5 stamps for the same purpose.

Twenty-two years later (1958) Switzerland issued a stamp featuring the Army bonnet, to commemorate 75 years work in that country. The week this stamp came to Australia I used it to tell the Children’s story at Thornbury and foolishly promised all the children a stamp at the conclusion of the service. They could hardly wait for the benediction before there was a stampede. I gave away about 30 of those bonnets on that occasion.

Of great importance were the stamps commemorating the Centenary of The Salvation Army. The two stamps of GREAT BRITAIN were designed by Farrer Bell and George Trenaman. The 1/6 stamp has appreciated quite well.

An interesting facet regarding the JAMAICAN stamps is that they were designed by Lieut-Colonel Ian Begley (then Captain), an Australian officer who was stationed in Jamaica in 1965. Ian Begley never had training in design, but has a flair for drawing. It is not generally known that the original drawings were stolen from a Postal official's car and never recovered. The Captain had no roughs so he had to redraw from memory. He admits the second were not exactly the same as the originals but to his credit, the postal authorities accepted his drawings without doing any alterations whatever. All the lettering is hand-drawn and you must agree that it is excellent.

An article was written entitled, "Amateur with Pen and Brush" and here is an excerpt: “When Captain Ian Begley was asked his art background he replied: 'I have to confess to being virtually untutored; my own lessons were the normal classes at Tsientsin Grammar School and Cathedral School for boys in Shanghai, China.

The white cap is worn by Salvationists in cities and villages throughout the island and was therefore an obvious choice. My own cap, placed on my desk as a model revealed how difficult it would be to show up the Crest on a white cap. Then added the red shield used by a Major and put some braid on the peak. Salvation Army colours are seen in the yellow lettering, red trimming on the cap and the blue background. The colour scheme of the 1/6d. stamp carries Jamaica's national colours, green, gold and black... Jamaica is the Territorial Centre for The Salvation Army in the Vest Indies - the drum-stick is striking the point that would mark the Island of Jamaica on the globe. The men in sillhoutte symbolise any race or colour as the International Army marches across the world.’”

The Captain continues: "For an amateur it is a thrill to receive mail through the post with his own work on the envelope, but the greater satisfaction is to know that The Salvation Army has been recognised in this way in the Caribbean, and that these stamps have reached all parts of the world, reminding many people of a century of faithfulness to the call of Jesus Christ."

The USA stamp is not very attractive, but the story behind that stamp is that never before had a particular religious body been featured on an American stamp, so some of the other denominations set up an outcry against The Salvation Army being so featured. To placate them the postal authorities issued a common design, thus you see this unattractive stamp. To coincide with the release of the stamp a ceremony was held in the New York Hilton at which the Assistant Postmaster-General, in his address said, "The commemorative postal stamp being issued today is our way of saying 'thank you' for a job well done, and keep up the good work." On the day of issue, 114 million stamps went on sale throughout the United States.

In October 1967 a special Charity Stamp was issued in DENMARK with 10 Ore being ear-marked for The Salvation Army's work in that country. A red rose was featured. The artist's inspiration and motif is drawn from a line in a Danish hymn: "I saw a red rose grow up..." His idea was that the rose is the flower of love and sympathy which grows in the hard and frozen soil of a sinful humanity, and this, he says, portrays The Salvation Army.

1978 saw 4 countries featuring The Salvation Army on their stamps. ST. CHRISTOPHER-NEVIS-AQUILLA commemorated International Women's Year with four stamps featuring outstanding women and Evangeline Booth, daughter of William Booth, the first woman to become General of The Salvation Army, was one of those featured.

MONACO commemorated 100 years service in that country by issuing a stamp with William and Catherine Booth the dominant feature and a Salvation Army open-air and soup bowl in the background.

SWEDEN joined in with a Stamp Booklet showing 5 Christian denominations, one being a Baptist Society Baptism Service and another of The Salivation Army band marching.

JAMAICA, flushed with the success of their 1965 stamps, issued four Christmas stamps featuring a Salvation Army open-air meeting, a trumpeter blowing a fan-fare, the Flag, and finally a portrait of General William Booth.

In 1979 CHILE issued a stamp commemorating 70 years of Salvation Army service in that country. Their stamp was designed like the Army Crest, but in place of the crown they have featured the National Flag of Chile and The Salvation Army Flag.

KENYA, too, brought out four stamps commemorating 50 years of Social Service there. These featured 4 aspects of Salvation Army work in Kenya - a Blind Telephone Operator, care for the Aged, Village-Polytechnic and Vocational Training.

In 1980 ZAIRE commemorated the 100th anniversary of The Salvation Army in the united States of America. There were 3 stamps produced plus a miniature sheet showing a portrait of General and Mrs. Arnold Brown. Scott's Catalogue produced special sheets on which to mount the stamps with an elaborate write-up to explain what they were all about. With the issue of these stamps President Dwight Eisenhower said" "Among Americans The Salvation army has been a symbol of wholehearted dedication to the cause of human brotherhood."

The final commemorative Salvation Army Centenary stamp for 1980 was produced in AUSTRALIA and was part of a set of four stamps featuring four community Welfare organisations in Australia. The Salvation Army officers shown on this stamp are of Captain Wendy Oliver and Captain Russell Adams, both of whom were working in the prisons in Melbourne at that time. An interesting story about this stamp is that a Philatelic Society in Holland wrote to me asking for 5 full sheets of The Salvation Army stamp. I went to Melbourne Post Office and found that they had only one sheet left but the supervisor scouted around and managed to get for me the last full sheets they had. He said, "Why don't you ask for sheets of the other Services, everyone is asking for The Salvation Army sheets. I have buckets of the others." In a report from the "Australian Stamp Bulletin" the last paragraph says the following: "The catch-phrase, 'Thank God for the Salvos', reminds all Australians of the important role The Army has played, and will continue to play, in social work in Australia." Our own prayer, as Salvationists, is that we will remain worthy.

In September 1983 a block of 30 imperforate 22 cent Australian 1980 Salvation Army Centenary stamps was offered at auction with a reserve of $4500 or if sold as singles, at $150 each.

On 25th June 1982, CANADA issued a 30-cent stamp to mark 100 years there. The Salvation Army gained a foothold in Canada in 1882 and spread very quickly. By 1900 it was operating Rescue Houses, Men's and Women's Hostels, a Children's Home, a Maternity Home, and various other ventures. The Army's colonisation program which began about this time attracted approximately 250,000 emigrants to Canada. The designer of the stamp, Theo Dimson, depicts Salvationists in period costume set against an 1880 suburban street background.

Following the very popular 1958 Bonnet stamp, SWITZERLAND commemorated 100 years with a 40-cent stamp issued on 23rd September 1982 with this comment: "A revival movement founded in London by William Booth reached Switzerland in 1882. The organisation, so well-known today as The Salvation Army, not only has the aim of encouraging people to accept Christian salvation, but it also battles continuously against hunger, ignorance, loneliness, poverty, and not least, against disease in the third world." 

Captain George Pollard and Lieutenant Edward Wright arrived in NEW ZEALAND on 1st April 1883. Despite strong opposition from. the Prime Minister, Mr. Richard John Seddon, and other sections of the public, growth was very rapid. At that time the Otago Daily Times, in an editorial reported as follows: "Bringing the Salvationists to New Zealand will be another of the many mistakes of acclimatisation. It is the thistles, the sparrows, the rabbits, all over again. The Army will prove to be a nuisance as troublesome as these pests and as ineradicable." Ivan Preston of the Wellington Citadel Corps designed the logo on the stamp.

In 1983 THE ISLE OF MAN issued four stamps celebrating a century of Salvation Army service. One of those stamps featured Bandmaster Gordon Cowley, a sub-Postmaster, and another featured Secretary T. H. Cannell who was presented with the Order of the Founder in 1932.

SINGAPORE issued a stamp showing the "House of Tan Yeok Nee", a prosperous merchant's house built in 1885. Our interest in this stamp is that today the House of Tan Yeok Nee is now The Salvation Army headquarters in Singapore. A postcard was also released at that time featuring this house and proceeds from the sale of the postcard was donated to Salvation Army Social work.

ST. HELENA issued 4 stamps in 1984 marking a century of service there. It is recorded that in 1884, when Captain & Mrs. George Harris stepped ashore at 6 o'clock in the morning they were immediately marched off to an open-air meeting. I wonder how officers would react to that situation in these days!!!

In 1932 and again in 1936 Holland issued sets of Charity Stamps to support the work of The salvation Army in the Netherlands. Fifty-one years later (1987) they issued two more stamps to commemorate 100 years of service in that country.

You may recall earlier stamps showing JAMAICA'S deep interest in The Salvation Army. In 1965 they issued 2 stamps commemorating The Salvation Army centenary. Then in 1978 they issued 4 Christmas stamps to mark the naming of The Salvation Army. It is interesting to note that The Salvation Army was the first religious church to be featured on a Christmas Stamp.

In 1887 when Colonel & Mrs. Davey arrived in JAMAICA, such was the interest that an impromptu crowd of several thousand people gathered, so the Colonel seized the opportunity to launch into a meeting with them. At the first official meeting, five thousand people attended. These stamps celebrate 100 years in Jamaica.

SURINAME'S recognition of The Salvation Army's 100 years in Suriname was a lovely stamp featuring our founders, William and Catherine Booth, with a specially designed centenary logo.

In NORWAY an editorial said, "The Salvation Army has operated in Norway since 1888 and celebrated their centenary with 44,000 members. Over the years it has built up a reputation in all parts of Norwegian society as a social relief organisation with a Christian view of life." When The Salvation Army "opened fire", Staff-Captain and Mrs. Albert Orsborn assisted at the opening.

A departure from centenary issues was a stamp issued in 1987 to celebrate 50 Years in the PHILIPPINES. Printed on the stamp is the slogan, “Heart to God - Hand to Man”. The design certainly reminds us of the song, "I'm in His hands."

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA issued 8 stamps and a miniature sheet in 1988. A set of the same stamps planned for ANTIGUA only was to be produced by the World Services Committee with the revenue to be donated to The Salvation Army World Services. However, they were never produced. Eight different countries are represented on these stamps, featuring eight different activities. A delightful picture of General Eva Burrows is shown on the miniature sheet.

Whilst The Salvation Army celebrated its centenary in DENMARK in 1987, it was not until February 1989 that Denmark issued a commemorative stamp to mark the occasion. The stamp shows a typical Salvation Army scene - pub booming, distributing the War Cry and singing. A percentage of each stamp sold will be given to The Salvation Army.

The work in FINLAND commenced in November 1889, however the postal authorities issued a stamp in February 1989 to celebrate the 100 years. The stamp depicts a typical Christmas scene, the Christmas kettle. The first tripod and pot was set up in 1906 and now it is used universally throughout Finland. The text attached to the tripod reads: "For the Christmas of the Poor".

BELGIUM issued a single stamp on 29^th November 1989 showing a familiar street scene in many cities throughout the world – a four member Salvation Army Band raising money for the needy.

In 1990 the REPUBLIC OF ARGENTINA issued two stamps to celebrate 100 years in Argentina. Of the same value, one shows The Salvation Army headquarters and the other a hand reaching out to raise a fallen person.

STICKERS

In 1891 The Salvation Army Bank, later changed to Reliance Bank limited, sold large quantities of Savings Stamps. ld.,1/- £1, £5, £10. They are now unobtainable.

In 1917 The Salvation Army produced its own Stamp Album, known as "The Young People's Cartridge Album". It contained spaces for 36 stamps. To qualify for a stamp children had to put no less than ½d. per week in their collection and at the end of the month they would receive a stamp. There were two albums produced, the first was plain inside except for spaces marked for the various stamps which were not numbered. The second album was more elaborate with descriptive matter around the stamps which were now numbered. I have 40 stamps but they are mixed. There are only 4 known complete albums in the world. Of course, the first stamps in each album are of the Founder and Mrs Booth, others illustrate the Founder receiving the Freedom of the City of London, the Founder and his motor campaign, International Headquarters in London, Bramwell Booth, George Scott Railton, who, with seven lassie officers commenced the work in America in 1880, in fact a whole history of The Salvation Army is contained in those stamps.

More modern are the stickers brought out by the Batley Castle Corps in England, first in 1978 and subsequently they have produced Christmas stickers, the proceeds of this venture being ear-marked for a rebuilding scheme. Another sticker, produced in 1980 by The Salvation Army in America depicts the landing of Commissioner George Scott Railton and seven lassie officers who launched the movement in that country. "The Salvation Army Storms America" was their battle-cry, and some of their hymns were set to American tunes such as "Way down upon the Swannee River" and "My old Kentucky Home".

I should mention the stickers produced in Australia to mark the Centenary of our work here which was commenced in Adelaide in 1880.A special cover to house them was also produced. Pre-stamped envelopes with special over-prints depicting various aspects of our work were also put on sale in Adelaide during the Centenary celebrations.

Together with stamps and stickers, there are other items of postal stationery with some expression of Salvation Army activity. Labels, postcards, post marks, and even a Post Office in South Africa which was called "Salvation" because it was located in a settlement run by The Salvation Army.

We have a very interesting organisation and I trust that my talk will stimulate your interest to a greater extent than ever before, but before closing I would point out to you that despite the various activities The Salvation Army becomes involved in, our greatest and most important role, from the beginning of our movement to the present day, is to bring men and women, boys and girls, to a knowledge of God and an understanding of His love and mercy.

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