Volume Two   . . . .
Salvation Army Books - Major Mike Farrow

Reviews

Title Blood And Fire, Tsar and Commissar
(The Salvation Army in Russia 1907-1923)

Author Tom Aitken

Publisher Paternoster

ISBN No 978-1-84277-511-5

If I were to be asked the question 'What would be my book of the year on the subject of the History of The Salvation Army?' This book would be the one. It is a compelling read, though difficult at times, as the account is woven skillfully into the background of events in Russia at the time. The story of The Salvation Army first ventures into Russia in the early quarter of the twentieth century is truly gripping. It is a story that has immense courage, and at times foolhardiness. It does not shy away from the mistakes that were made by the top Salvation Army leadership at the time. I found that I kept wanting to know what happened next. If you buy only one book on Salvation Army History this year, then buy this one, you will not regret it.

Title The Shining Image Of The Southern Cross
(History Of The Salvation Army In Brazil — English Translation)

Author Carl S. Eliasen

Publisher The Salvation Army — Brazil Territory

ISBN No 85-86411-10-8 (Portuguese Edition)

This book came as a total surprise, I arrived home one day to find it on my doormat. I confess that I knew almost nothing about The Salvation Army in Brazil before reading this. The book is highly informative, and well written, it also gives a surprising amount of detail in what is really a small volume. The author is highly qualified to produce this work, as he has served most of his Officership in Brazil and is the son of Pioneer Officers in the country. This English translation has been made possible by the generosity of the authors family. If you can get hold of a copy do so, I believe it is available from Salvation Army Territorial Headquarters in Brazil.

Title Salvation Assault

Author Allan Satterlee

Publisher The Salvation Army, Papua New Guinea Territory

ISBN No 9980-86-080-4

What a read. I could not put it down. I am always fascinated by the beginnings of Salvation Army work in any country; and this book published for the 50th Anniversary of the Army commencing work in Papua New Guinea lived up to all the expectations. It is a truly thrilling story, contained in less than a hundred and fifty pages, I hope that one day a more complete account will be published. At least a start has been made. I urge you to buy this book and read it. The Salvationists of the 1880's sand The Salvation Army is marching along. It certainly is in Papua New Guinea.

Title The Salvation Army In Estonia 1927-1940 & 1995-2005

Author Anon

Publisher The Salvation Army — Finland and Estonia Territory

ISBN No None

This is a very short book just ninety two pages, but a fantastic read. I knew nothing about The Salvation Army in Estonia, and this little book is full of facts. It is a fantastic story of heroism, courage survival under persecution, faith in the power of God and the determination of His people. Published in Finnish, Estonian and English this is a must read book. Available from Finland and Estonia Territorial
Headquarters, buy it and read it you will be glad you did.

Title Smokey Mountain High
( The Consuming Passion of Cecil Brown)

Author Frank Duracher

Publisher Crest Books

ISBN No 10:0-9792266-1-9

I have to confess that Salvationist Publishing and Supplies do sometimes surprise me. I wandered in one lunch time and found this volume on the shelf. The story of Major Cecil Brown and her work and ministry in the Smokey Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee is more than worthy of being a Hollywood blockbuster. It is a twenty year ministry to her own people. It is a story of holy daring and determination, of struggle and hardship, and a story of overcoming all the odds. As you read places like Shelton Laurel, Big Bend, Little Creek capture the imagination along with the colourful inhabitants. Once you pick this volume up, you will not want to put it down, until you have read the full story.

Title Maiden Tribute
(A Life Of W.T. Stead)

Author Grace Eckley

Publisher Xlibris Corporation

ISBN No 978-1-4257-2708-6

A truly fascinating biography. All who are involved with Salvation Army history will know of W.T. Stead's part in the Maiden Tribute Campaign, and the subsequent trial of Stead and Bramwell Booth at the Old Bailey. The book takes its title from that campaign, but that takes up a very small part of the book, only eighteen pages, though there are other references to The Salvation Army throughout i.e. His involvement with the writing of Darkest England. This is a very detailed account of Stead's life and will repay the reading. This is a very worthy account of a very remarkable though at times eccentric man. One wonders what would have happened if Stead had not given his life to journalism and joined The Salvation Army

Title Leadership In The Salvation Army
(A Case Study In Clericalisation)

Author Harold Hill

Publisher Paternoster

ISBN No 10 1-84227-429-5

This is a review and a detailed analysis of the history of The Salvation Army focused on the process of clericalisation, in a movement with a strong anti-clerical mindset. It clearly shows how The Salvation Army has viewed its Officer Corps since the beginning to the present day. It also details with how equality of women whilst always being an ideal, has not for the most party been the reality. The book is very detailed, and I found myself rereading sections to be certain I understood what being said. The book is very readable, and I have no doubt will be of tremendous interest to anyone with an interest in Salvation Army History. The book does have once serious flaw in that whilst very detailed it fails to draw any conclusions.

Title For Such A Time As This
(The story of the young Florence Booth)

Author Jenty Fairbank

Publisher Salvation Books, Salvation Army International Headquarters

ISBN No 978-0-85412-759-7

This book was published to commemorate the Centenary of the Home League. Whilst the intention appears to have been to focus on the early life of Florence Booth, I feel that an invaluable opportunity has been missed. Surely this would have been a good time to publish a full biography of this remarkable woman. The book draws heavily on diaries and memoirs from her early years, and covers in some detail her pioneering in Paris, and her early efforts at rescue work. The book is very readable, and does throw some light on the early days of The Salvation Army.

Title In The Firing Line
(Colonel Bramwell Coles)

Author W.L. Court

Publisher Credo Press

ISBN No None

It's true you can't tell a book by its cover. At first glance at this book my head told me that it would be dull and boring full of minutia that no one would want to know, on the various musical compositions of the subject. This volume is fascinating and reveals a very remarkable man of whom I knew very little. It is extremely easy to read with very short chapters most no more than two or three pages. It is reveals a very remarkable unassuming man and his work whose impact on the life of The Salvation Army will never truly be measured. A free sampler C.D. is included and this has recordings of some of the great Salvation Army Bands of yesteryear.

Title Israel L. Gaither — Man With A Mission

Author Henry Gariepy

Publisher Crest Books

ISBN No 13:978-0-9740940-8-3

This is a book that you need to read. A fascinating account of the life and mission of Commissioner Israel Gaither — former Salvation Army Chief Of The Staff. It is without doubt the best biography of a Salvation Army leader that I have read in a long time. It is an exciting story of how God can work in an extra ordinary way. Whilst most of the contents deal with more recent days, I am sure that this is a history book of the future, and future researchers will be delighted that this book was ever written, and it is for this reason that I have included it here.

Title I Knew William Booth

Author R.G. Moyles (Editor)

Publisher Crest Books, U.S.A. National Headquarters

ISBN No 13:978-0-974940-9-0

This book is an album of remembrances, a series of articles of personal memories written by some of those who worked with William Booth at close quarters, or who came in contact with him at various times, including journalists, family and clergy. This publication gives some remarkable insights into the real man as well as the strong willed tireless leader. I found this book to be an extremely interesting read and will no doubt return to it again.

Title William Booth in Canada

Author R.G. Moyles

Publisher AGM Publications

ISBN No 0-9686898-3-3

I always enjoy reading the authors work and this book was no exception. It is a very descriptive account of William Booth's since visits to Canada between 1886-1907. The book deals with the reasons for the visits, the setting of the stage for the visits themselves. It also captures some of the essence of his sermons, as well as revealing some of his personal sometimes eccentric personal habits, and also shows what the Canadian public thought of William Booth and The Salvation Army. It is to say the least a fascinating book, and a very interesting journey.

Title Brass Bands of The Salvation Army, Their Mission and Music Volume 1

Author Ronald W. Holz

Publisher Streets Publishers

ISBN No 978-0-9551988-4-7

If you are a brass band fanatic then this book is for you. I however found it in the main to be extremely boring. In fact the only section I found of interest was 'A Short History of Salvation Army Bands and their Music' which serves as a very useful introduction to the history of Salvation Army Music. Now I am not knocking bands, thirty years service as a Corps Officer has more than shown me their value as a means of evangelism and for use in worship. However the bulk of this book seems to me to be nothing more than a deification of bands and bandsmen. The bulk of this is extremely boring and is of little or no interest to the general reading. A second volume is being prepared, I will be leaving it in the bookshop.