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Salvation Army Letters
Several of our members have programmes, letters and other papers written by, or related to, Salvationists. Programme collecting is a
specialist field in its own right as is the study of different styles of envelopes and letterheads. Some of these interests have previously been studied through the SAPHC and updates and new articles on all areas will appear in either Blood and Fire or later editions of Booth’s Drum.
Letters themselves however can show a variety of aspects related to the Army history in general or the lives of individuals in particular. Below is a superb example of both in one letter:
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Written by Maud Ballington Booth in November 1886, it says ‘My Dear Friend, I have received your letter forwarded to me from Plymouth. But unfortunately we had returned to London and had previously promised to hold services in London and Norwich and other towns.
So far as we are personally concerned we should much have liked to visit Torquay, especially as I had so glorious a time there. Furthermore we should have delighted to stand by our troops just at this trying crisis.
My expulsion from Geneva and my husband’s imprisonment might have been helpful.
We were so glad to see you on our wedding day and we use the little gift you gave us everyday; and I know a giver likes the gift to be useful. You see it appears at such an important time, viz: when my husband wants a cup of tea.
We shall remember you. Yours very truly and gratefully. Maud Ballington Booth’.
Maud was a prodigious letter writer. Born Maud Elizabeth Charlesworth in 1865, she was the daughter of a Church of England vicar. She joined the Salvation Army in 1882 and married General Booth’s son Ballington in 1886. Exactly ten years later, whilst in command of the U.S.A., she and her husband left the Army and founded the Volunteers of America. Maud became particularly known for her work in prison reform.
Letters from any of the Booth family tend to make interesting reading and later newsletters will look at other examples. If any readers would like to know more about the letter quoted or other correspondence, please email the Editor. We would also be very happy to feature any interesting correspondence you might have. |
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