William and Catherine Booth

WILLIAM AND CATHERINE BOOTH – JOINT FOUNDERS OF THE SALVATION ARMY

“While women weep, as they do now, I’ll fight. While little children go hungry, as they do now, I’ll fight. While men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight. While there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight. I’ll fight to the very end!”

– William Booth

ARTICLES

WHO FOUNDED THE SALVATION ARMY?

Sounds like a silly question. Surely it was William Booth. Or was it William and Catherine Booth? Traditionally, Salvationists have regarded William Booth as “The Founder” of their Army and Catherine as its “Mother”. But traditions change and it is quite common today to regard this husband and wife team as The Salvation Army’s joint founders. Which is correct? Or are they both correct in different ways?

BOOTH, MUMFORD, & THE METHODISTS

The Methodist reform movement of the 1850s led to many defections from British Wesleyan Methodism in what is sometimes called “The Agitation”.1 Amongst these defectors were William Booth (1829-1912) and Catherine Mumford (Booth – 1829-90), of Salvation Army fame.

WHO WORE THE TROUSERS?

Sometimes the impression is given that Catherine Booth was a stronger and more forceful personality than her husband. Some hint or even argue that she usually got her way in any issue debated with William, whether it was the role of women, the use of alcohol or some other controversial matter.