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Blood and Fire: The Story of William and Catherine Booth and their Salvation Army
Blood and Fire is a brilliant biography of two great social and religious figures whose inheritance lives on to this day. William Booth (1829-1912) was one of the most extraordinary men of his age, a pawnbroker's clerk who would found the most successful religious movement of the nineteenth century--the Salvation Army. As a twenty-year-old, he developed the unshakable belief that God had ordained him to convert the world to Christianity. Convinced that both churches of Victorian England were ignoring the needs of the poor, he founded the East London Christian Mission. As the mission became the Salvation Army, it recruited thousands of members in battalions around the globe. Its membership is now in the hundreds of thousands in virtually every country.
Catherine, his wife, was in many ways even more exceptional. A chronic invalid and mother of eight children (within ten years), she inspired the social policy that was, and remains, an essential part of the Salvation Army's success. Catherine held ideas on social equality that were ahead of her time, and she encouraged the Army to accept "women's ministry" and give female officers authority over men. Her campaign against child prostitution resulted in the age of consent being raised from thirteen to sixteen. And it was Catherine who, even while dying of cancer, urged William to develop his plans for clearing the Victorian slums. Blood and Fire is a brilliant account of a fascinating period of social history.
Catherine, his wife, was in many ways even more exceptional. A chronic invalid and mother of eight children (within ten years), she inspired the social policy that was, and remains, an essential part of the Salvation Army's success. Catherine held ideas on social equality that were ahead of her time, and she encouraged the Army to accept "women's ministry" and give female officers authority over men. Her campaign against child prostitution resulted in the age of consent being raised from thirteen to sixteen. And it was Catherine who, even while dying of cancer, urged William to develop his plans for clearing the Victorian slums. Blood and Fire is a brilliant account of a fascinating period of social history.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published October 21, 1999
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About the author
Roy Hattersley
51 books12 followersRoy Sydney George Hattersley, British Politian and author.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 13, 2014
A fascinating read about a strong, dynamic couple. Well-researched and shows both their strong points and their imperfections. It's hard to tell how balanced it is, though, because it's clear that the author isn't a Christian and can't understand from within the motivations of Christians.
July 11, 2023
William Booth was an English Methodist preacher. Booth joined the Methodist Reform Church in 1851, becoming a preacher. During this time, he became engaged to Catherine. The two were married in London in 1853. He requested several times to be freed from pastoral duties so he could go off and be an evangelist, but those requests kept getting denied. He eventually separated himself from that to become an independent evangelist, though he preached basically the same things that the Methodist Reform Church did. He founded a Christian Mission to help spread his message of religion.
The Christian Mission that he founded became The Salvation Army in 1878. The Salvation Army was modeled after the military, having it's own flag and theme song. The premise was that members were "God's Army" and they were "putting on the armor of God" to do ministry work. The Salvation Army has expanded to many countries, and is a staple here in the United States. This group sought to provide homes, training, food, etc. for people in need. Of course, they wanted to preach at people and talk about how to stop vices, such as drinking and gambling. Opposition to the anti-alcohol position causes some really dramatic violence and ill words between the members and others. Booth was also called General Booth in this organization, which I found to be completely ridiculous.
I cannot deny that The Salvation Army has helped a lot of people. I know that the one in my city has a homeless shelter and food bank, which has helped a lot of people. The mission statement on their website says the mission is to preach the gospel and meet human needs in the name of God without discrimination. While not discriminating is great, it would be nice to be able to simply help other people by providing resources and education and not trying to indoctrinate them into any religious group. The history of The Salvation Army was something that I have never thought about. This book was a dollar at my local used bookstore, which is the sole reason that I picked it up. It was interesting to learn how this organization got started and see how much it has grown since then. The book wasn't boring to read, but it wasn't my favorite thing I have read so far this year. If you are interested in Christian missions or just how this organization began, this would be a great book for you to pick up.
The Christian Mission that he founded became The Salvation Army in 1878. The Salvation Army was modeled after the military, having it's own flag and theme song. The premise was that members were "God's Army" and they were "putting on the armor of God" to do ministry work. The Salvation Army has expanded to many countries, and is a staple here in the United States. This group sought to provide homes, training, food, etc. for people in need. Of course, they wanted to preach at people and talk about how to stop vices, such as drinking and gambling. Opposition to the anti-alcohol position causes some really dramatic violence and ill words between the members and others. Booth was also called General Booth in this organization, which I found to be completely ridiculous.
I cannot deny that The Salvation Army has helped a lot of people. I know that the one in my city has a homeless shelter and food bank, which has helped a lot of people. The mission statement on their website says the mission is to preach the gospel and meet human needs in the name of God without discrimination. While not discriminating is great, it would be nice to be able to simply help other people by providing resources and education and not trying to indoctrinate them into any religious group. The history of The Salvation Army was something that I have never thought about. This book was a dollar at my local used bookstore, which is the sole reason that I picked it up. It was interesting to learn how this organization got started and see how much it has grown since then. The book wasn't boring to read, but it wasn't my favorite thing I have read so far this year. If you are interested in Christian missions or just how this organization began, this would be a great book for you to pick up.
October 27, 2020
An engaging book that recounts the lives of the Booths and their considerable achievements.
Although Hattersley is unable to fully sympathise with their Christianity, or to offer detailed theological anaysis of what the Methodism of their day taught, and how they differed from it, he does succesfully outline the revivalist approach of the Booths, their need to have things done their way (how little changes in church life) and expectation of a second blessing. In this he is helped by Booth being more a man of action than a theologian.
The opposition faced by the Salvation Army, mainly from brewing interests, the impact they had on attitudes to the poor and their almost Ponzi-like financial success were notable.
The mess of their family life with many conflicts with their children and the setting up of parallel organisations was perhaps to be expected in an organisation that expected all that church officers, and their children, could give. (No, if your pet dog is put down (shot) overhastily, it will not comfort your children to have the hide preserved and given to them.)
No doubt certain elements of the Salvation Army have changed and I expect their theology has broadened, but this book does suggest it was always fairly shallow. Action was the impetus, and we are thankful for much of that, but deep change is always the aim.
Although Hattersley is unable to fully sympathise with their Christianity, or to offer detailed theological anaysis of what the Methodism of their day taught, and how they differed from it, he does succesfully outline the revivalist approach of the Booths, their need to have things done their way (how little changes in church life) and expectation of a second blessing. In this he is helped by Booth being more a man of action than a theologian.
The opposition faced by the Salvation Army, mainly from brewing interests, the impact they had on attitudes to the poor and their almost Ponzi-like financial success were notable.
The mess of their family life with many conflicts with their children and the setting up of parallel organisations was perhaps to be expected in an organisation that expected all that church officers, and their children, could give. (No, if your pet dog is put down (shot) overhastily, it will not comfort your children to have the hide preserved and given to them.)
No doubt certain elements of the Salvation Army have changed and I expect their theology has broadened, but this book does suggest it was always fairly shallow. Action was the impetus, and we are thankful for much of that, but deep change is always the aim.
April 28, 2020
Interesting account of conditions and attitudes in Victorian times. The Booths especially Catherine come across as rather unlovable characters and it's little wonder they attracted a lot of opposition. Their legacy remains however as a force for good to this day.
February 23, 2018
Not a very flattering book about the Booths. But that is people is it not. We are full of complexities and contradictions.
October 3, 2016
A detailed account of the Booths and their work in founding The Salvation Army. Their courage and vision comes over very clearly, although Hatterley cannot always contain his cynicism about their lifestyle choices.
October 31, 2013
Never so glad to finish a book, and yet disappointed for it nonetheless.
I am not familiar with The Salvation Army and found little on this book to help me. I now know the founders were the Booths and they'd it children continued their work. TSA was begun as a revival type venture and developed into a social organization unlike others.
Yet I still don't know their objective .
I am not familiar with The Salvation Army and found little on this book to help me. I now know the founders were the Booths and they'd it children continued their work. TSA was begun as a revival type venture and developed into a social organization unlike others.
Yet I still don't know their objective .
January 10, 2015
I feel I know no more about the Salvation Army at the end that I did at the start.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews