The Salvation Army Name

1978 – Monaco – Commemorating the SA Name

The Christian Mission began in 1865 when William Booth, a London minister, gave up the comfort of his pulpit and decided to take his message into the streets where it would reach the poor, the homeless, the hungry and the destitute. In May 1878, Booth summoned his son, Bramwell, and his good friend George Railton to read a proof of the Mission’s annual report. At the top it read: THE CHRISTIAN MISSION is A VOLUNTEER ARMY.

1978 Jamaica – Commemorating the SA Name

Bramwell strongly objected to this wording. He was not a volunteer: he was compelled to do God’s work. So, in a flash of inspiration, Booth crossed out ‘Volunteer’ and wrote ‘Salvation’. The Salvation Army was born. Two stamp issues commemorate the SA name; the Monaco & Jamaica 1978 issues  [Source: Our History].