The Social Work of the Salvation Army

In this concise study the author sets aside the Salvation Army’s evangelical thrust to examine how the organization tackles everyday material needs. Drawing on first‑hand visits to hospitals, industrial homes, farm colonies, and urban lodging houses across the United States, Britain, and Canada, he weaves personal observation with the limited published data of the day. The result is a clear portrait of a movement that blends military discipline with charitable pragmatism to reach the un‑churched masses.

Organized into chapters on industrial work, lodging, farm colonies, slum outreach, and rescue operations, the book maps the breadth of the Army’s social infrastructure. By tracing the origins of its militarized hierarchy and the pivotal role of figures like Mrs. Booth, it shows how early organizational choices shaped practical assistance for the poor. Listeners will come away with a nuanced understanding of a century‑old model of welfare that still echoes in modern service agencies.