Sources: William Booth, In Darkest England and the Way Out (1890); the Salvation Army Orders and Regulations; Harold Begbie, Life of William Booth.

The Salvation Army (~1865 AD) was founded by William Booth (~1829–1912 AD) and his wife Catherine Booth as an evangelical mission to the urban poor of Victorian London. Originally the “Christian Mission” in the East End, it adopted military terminology and structure in 1878. Distinctive features: (1) Military structure — ranks (soldiers, officers, generals), uniforms, brass bands, open-air evangelism; (2) No sacraments — the Salvation Army does not practice baptism or Eucharist, holding that inward spiritual reality is what matters; (3) Social mission integrated with evangelism — Booth’s “In Darkest England” (1890) proposed a comprehensive social welfare system: farm colonies, city colonies, overseas colonies to rescue the poor; (4) Women in ministry — Catherine Booth was co-founder and equal preacher; women have always held equal ministerial rank; (5) Holiness theology — Wesleyan entire sanctification as a second definite work of grace. The Salvation Army became one of the world’s largest social service organizations, operating in 130+ countries with food banks, disaster relief, rehabilitation programs, and homeless services. It demonstrates that evangelical piety and comprehensive social welfare are not merely compatible but theologically integrated in the Wesleyan tradition.