Book Reviews

Major Mike Farrow

Title: Historical Dictionary Of The Salvation Army

Author. Major John G. Merritt

Publisher. Scarecrow Press Inc

ISBN No: 0-8108-5344-2

This volume has been long time in coming, and John Merritt is to be commended for his vision and his fortitude in bringing to the light of day. This is a truly fascinating book, and contains everything you ever wanted to know about The Salvation Army, it also contains everything you never wanted to know about The Salvation Army. Most of the contributing authors are all well known in Salvation Army Historical circles, and along with items from Year Books and other publications make for an interesting mix of styles and opinions. I feel though that most of the appendixes are unnecessary e.g. Why was it necessary to include a list of Commissioners from 1880-2005? There are some interesting omissions from the fist; and most of the other appendixes would have been better placed in the main body of the work. At just short of eight hundred pages it is good value for money at £72.00 in the United Kingdom; the only real problem I can see with this volume, is that it was out of date before it was published.

Title: Good Morning China - The Chronicle of The Salvation Army in China 1916-2000

Author.. Check-Hung Yee

Publisher. Crest Books

ISBN No: 0-9740940-5-6

Colonel Henry Gariepy writes in the foreword of this book, 'This stirring saga of The Salvation Army in China is destined to take a prominent place in the corpus of Salvation Army history' 1 agree whole heartedly with that sentiment. This is a marvellous book, it is an unknown chronicle of dedication and heroism, and is also a book that defines enduring faith and what the mission of The Salvation Army is all about. This is without doubt one of the best books I have ever read, and when I had to put it down, found myself eagerly waiting the opportunity to continue reading. Over and over again, 1 had to pause and think of the sacrifice, heroism and daring of those who are mentioned in its pages. 1 am sure that the full story of The Salvation Army in China would comprise many volumes, 1 sincerely hope that some day more of the remarkable story will be told.

Other books on The Salvation Army in China - Yin-The Mountain The Wind Blew Here - Arnold Brown; A Costly Death Bed Charge - William Cairns

Title: The Diary and Reminiscences of Catherine Booth

Author: David Malcolm Bennett - Editor

Publisher. Camp Hill Publications

ISBN No: 13:978-0-9577937-4 X and 10:0-9577937-4 X

Salvation Army historians all over the world, both now and in the future owe David Bennett a huge debt of gratitude. Following on from his 'Letters of William and Catherine Booth' and his two volume biography of William Booth comes this remarkable volume. This publication lets us into the mind of a remarkable woman, who is without doubt one of the great Victorians. The Diary written in her late teens and the Reminiscences at the end of her life make for absolutely fascinating reading, this book is a must for every serious student of Salvation Army History, whether amateur or otherwise; and is one that that I will refer to again and again. I am left wondering - what will be next from his 'pen'.

Other books by David Malcolm Bennett - The Letters of William and Catherine Booth; William Booth - The Evangelist; William Booth - The General.

Title: Soldiers Of The Cross: Susie Swift and David Lamb - Pioneers Of Social Change

Author Norman Murdoch

Publisher. Crest Books ISBN No: 13:978-0-9740940-7-6

Norman Murdoch has written a very interesting book on two perhaps of the lesser known characters from Salvation Army History. Again he perhaps somewhat controversial in what he has written, but to my mind that only serves to make the book that much more interesting. Susie Swift put the first draft of Darkest England, from Frank Smith's notes, later she became a Roman Catholic, and her contribution to the Army in many areas has been largely forgotten. I have to confess all of this was new to me. David Lamb on the other hand spent all of his officership in administration, never commanding a Corps, and was one of those responsible for implementing parts of Darkest England and also adjusting the Emigration Proposals to make them workable. Of particular interest in his role in the calling of the First High Council in 1929, and his proposals concerning the future leadership of the Army. Some of these ideas have come to fruition, but here 1 must take issue with the author, as some of the events he describes on this topic seem to be at variance with what actually happened. A very good read.

Other books by Norman Murdoch - Origins Of The Salvation Army; Frank Smith - Salvation Socialist.

Title: What Price The Poor? - William Booth, Kart Marx and the London Residuum 

Author. Ann M. Woodall

Publisher. Ashgate Publishing Ltd

ISBN No: 0-7546-4203-8

When I first heard of this book, my first reaction was 'Just what do William Booth and Karl Marx have in common?' More than I ever imagined; as I discovered in this unusual book. Though this is a difficult book to read, it is also fascinating book. It is a remarkable insight into the thinking of two great men, and their dealings with the poor in nineteenth century London. The book shows how both men had similar hopes for the redemption of the poor, and similar ideas on a more systematic programme of social transformation. It does not turn Marx into a Salvationist, or Booth into a Socialist but there are comparisons to be made between the thinking and the ideas of the two men.

Read also - War On Two Fronts-The Redemptive Theology of William Booth; Roger Green

Title: Turning Points - How The Salvation Army found a different path

Author. Aden Satterlee

Publisher Crest Books

ISBN No: 0-9740940-3-X

This is a fascinating volume. It deals with ten turning points in the history of The Salvation Army from The Role of Women, the First High Council, World War II and its aftermath to give some examples. It not only repeats the history but also interprets the turning points in the light of subsequent events and show how Salvationists continue to serve God and each generation faithfully. Whilst nothing new is offered, it does provide excellent insights into these events. Any serious student of Salvation Army History should want to possess and read this volume. I will certainly return to it in the future.

By the same author - Sweeping Through the Land - A History of The Salvation Army in the Southern United States.

Title: The Life & Ministry Of William Booth (Founder of The Salvation Army)

Author. Roger Green

Publisher: Abingdon

ISBN No: 0-687-05273-4

This is an interesting book; that is well written and extensively researched and will serve as a useful companion to the authors' biography of Catherine Booth. 1 had hoped that this book would be a useful introduction to William. Booth for those coming to him for the first time. However in my opinion the book fails to do this, as it at times difficult to read, and short on detail, which is probably to be expected in a volume of this size. It is though a useful addition to the canon of Booth biographies of which there is something in the region of twenty. Well worth having on your bookshelf.

By the same author - Catherine Booth War on Two Fronts - The Redemptive Theology of William Booth.

Title: Caught In The Crossfire

Author.. Mary Wemyss Aitchison

Publisher: Christian Focus Publications

ISBN No: 1-85792-149-6

This is an unusual little book and one that I am glad that 1 have read. It is a real page turner, and the story would make for a good Hollywood blockbuster. This is the story of Janina Pladek (Major Janina Neale) and her remarkable survival in the Second World War in Occupied Europe, of her abduction from her native Poland, time in forced labour camps, her escape from the advancing Russian forces and how she finally made it to England, and joining The Salvation Army and of her experiences in training, and how she eventually fulfilled her childhood calling to be a missionary. It is an account of the intervening and keeping power of God. Buy this book and read it, you won't regret it.

Title: The Bells of San Francisco - The Salvation Army With Its Sleeves Rolled Up

Author. Judy Vaughn

Publisher RDR Books

ISBN No: 1-57143-150-0

This is an interesting publication, and a fascinating read of The Salvation Army in San Francisco. It is though difficult to read as it is in columns. It deals with Salvation Army activity in the city from its beginnings to the present, though there are several errors in the historical details which could have been avoided with a little more research, and jumps from the past to the present, which makes things a little confusing. It would appear not to be a serious history, but rather a book that would find its place on the coffee table, and not the bookshelf. It does though contain numerous photographs that I had never seen before.