Salvation Army
Preserved but no longer current.
A religious organization founded by William Booth, a Methodist minister. Its origin was the East End Revival Society, which became the Christian Mission in 1865. Booth selected the name Salvation Army in 1877 and organized it on semi- military lines, himself being called "General" having under him "Colonels," "Adjutants," "Corporals," etc.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Salvation Army” mean?
A religious organization founded by William Booth, a Methodist minister. Its origin was the East End Revival Society, which became the Christian Mission in 1865. Booth selected the name Salvation Army in 1877 and organized it on semi- military lines, himself being called "General" having under him "Colonels," "Adjutants," "Corporals," etc.
Is “Salvation Army” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.