As noted on its website, “The Salvation Army is a worldwide church”.  Members of the church are Salvationists.

In other denominations, you’ll hear of priests (as in Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches), ministers (as in many Protestant denominations), rabbis (as in Judaism), imams (as in Sunni and Shia sects of Islam), or bishops (as in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) as local leaders of churches, synagogues, mosques, or wards.

Among titles used for members of the clergy within The Salvation Army are “Lieutenant”, “Captain”, and “Major”, among other titles.  While the terms used for member of its clergy are different, the religious aspects of those leaders of The Salvation Army are no different from other Christian denominations.

In the Freedom Valley, The Salvation Army has a Corps Center (a church) on Swede Street in Norristown.  Worship services and Sunday school are held each Sunday at this location.  Bible study is held on Thursday evenings.

In addition to its religious services, The Salvation Army provides a variety of social services to people in the Freedom Valley from its location in Norristown.  During the recent cold snap, for example, an emergency shelter was established to help house up to 15 women at The Salvation Army in Norristown.

Shelters, rehabilitation centers, thrift stores, and other programs of The Salvation Army are administered from Philadelphia and are located throughout the Greater Philadelphia Area, Eastern Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

In addition to these more well-known aspects of The Salvation Army, the church also owns thirteen single-family houses in Plymouth and Whitemarsh Townships.  These houses are used as residences for members of The Salvation Army clergy and their families.

The mission statement of the church is as follows:

“The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.”

The beliefs of The Salvation Army are detailed on its website:

The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice

There is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship

There are three persons in the Godhead – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory

In the person of Jesus Christ, the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man

Our first parents were created in a state of innocence, but by their disobedience, they lost their purity and happiness, and that in consequence of their fall, all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God

The Lord Jesus Christ has, by His suffering and death, made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever believes in Him may be saved

Repentance toward God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary to salvation

We are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself

Continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ

It is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

In the immortality of the soul, in the resurrection of the body, in the general judgment at the end of the world, in the eternal happiness of the righteous, and in the endless punishment of the wicked

In Part Three of this news article, we’ll discuss the reasons why The Salvation Army purchased the thirteen houses in Plymouth and Whitemarsh Townships.

(The Salvation Army holds the copyright to its logo.  The Mission Statement and List of Beliefs of The Salvation Army are quoted from the website of The Salvation Army.)

Do you have questions about local history?  A street name?  A building?

Your questions may be used in a future news article.

Contact Richard McDonough at freedomvalleychronicles@gmail.com.

© 2017 Richard McDonough