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The Booth boys |
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Far horizons
The colony over-sea principle was spurned by many when Booth first published his book. He was convinced that popular thinking held that the more discontented people there were on the streets in Britain, the more likely it would be that they would cause trouble for Salisbury’s unpopular Conservative government. But Booth’s plan was more far-sighted.
The training was thorough but fair
© The Salvation Army |
He was firmly of the opinion that if a trained man (in agriculture or trades) was sent to the colonies, his presence would not only benefit the man concerned, but also the farm or institution taking him on. So his plans continued. He had three principles to address:
1] The preparation of the colony for the people
2] Preparation of the people for the colony
3] The transportation of the people to the colony
The Salvation Army planned colonies in South Africa, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Australia and Canada. Tracts of land were identified for the settlements, and staff were made ready, but not employed, to receive the colonists. However this was where they met insurmountable difficulties, largely associated with money. 
The farm was a sanctury for the deprived
© The Salvation Army |
The scheme relied on charitable donations from the British public, which were few and far between. In addition there were political problems with the Australian and South African governments’ displeasure with large numbers of colonists being “offloaded” into their economy.
Those who did go abroad spoke highly of the Army and the scheme. Letters often found their way back to the Salvation Army too. One young lad of 16 wrote:
“I’ve got a porthole, so I’m in luck, we’ve been out five days now and there’s a bit of a role on, several of our chaps are sick, but yours truly is A1, though not so daring at meal times.
“We saw an iceberg. We shall see land tomorrow. There are about 150 in our party and this afternoon our Conductor gave us all a new Bible each. An Army present from the General(God bless him). The other passengers looked on while we got them”.
The onward travel arrangements were always made while the colonists were sailing to their destination, so on arrival, at the respective ports, their new employers, invariably members of The Salvation Army, would be waiting. Letters published by the Salvation Army were naturally complimentary, but they revealed some realities of some of the conditions. A letter sent home to a Father read:
”It’s rough and hard, and, occasionally, a bit dangerous, but it offers a chance to a man
to get his foot on a bit of land of his own, to own his house, and be his own master. A man who owns a farm is his own master in every way, and his comfort and happiness depend to a great extent on himself”.
William Booth’s scheme continued until just after World War II; it only stopped through the two world wars. During that time, the Salvation Army helped over 250,000 men, women and children to what was for most, a better life.
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