Army Terminology - Woodroffe Community Church

Army Terminology

The Salvation Army - Woodroffe Community Church

A Glossary Of Salvation Army Terms

ACSAL		The Advisory Council of Salvation Army Laymen.

Adherent		Someone who considers the Salvation Army his church home, but who has not been enrolled as a soldier.

Advisory Boards		Groups of private citizens, primarily non-Salvationist businessmen, which advise the Army on matters of finance (specifically financial campaigns) and promote its social work.

Articles of War		A statement of commitment to Salvation Army beliefs, doctrines and regulations which every soldier signs prior to enrolment.

Auxiliary Captain		A person engaged in full-time service with the Army, either in social or corps work, and who, usually because of advanced age, is excused the normal formal training for officership.

Auxiliary League		A term once used to designate "friends of the Army," non-Salvationists who supported, through time and influence, Army projects. No League now exists, but Ladies' Auxiliaries perform a similar service to Grace hospitals, Harbour Light centres and other institutions.

Backslider		A term, also common to Methodism, denoting someone who has relapsed into sin.

Band of Love		A now-defunct children's group which stressed kindness to animals.

Barracks		An obsolete term to designate Army places of worship, now called Citadels and Temples.

Brigadier		See Ranks.

Cadet		Officer in training.

Candidate		Designation given to someone who has applied or has been accepted for officership prior to his/her entering training college.

Captain		See Ranks.

Cartridges		Money (tithes) given regularly by Salvationists to support their corps.

Census Board		Group of local officers, one from each corps, whose function it is to review the membership rolls of the corps.

Chief Secretary		Second in command to the Territorial Commander; responsible for the administration of the Territory.

Choruses		Short songs, with simple lyrics, frequently sung during testimony and prayer meeting periods.

Colours		Colloquial for Salvation Army flag: the red, yellow and blue.

Commandant		See Ranks.

Congress		A meeting of Salvationists from many corps, divisions, or even territories for spiritual renewal.

Corps		An individual Salvation Army congregation.

Corps Cadets		Young Salvationists (aged 12-17) who meet regularly to study Salvation Army doctrine and the Bible.

Corps Council		An advisory group within the corps, composed of the Census Board and selected laymen, designed to promote the spiritual life and conduct the business of the corps

Corps Sergeant Major		The chief local officer of the corps. He is usually required to administer the corps in the officer's absence.

Cradle Roll		A list of children who have been christened in the Salvation Army, the purpose of which is to maintain contact with the parents. Kept by a Cradle Roll Sergeant.

Directory Meeting		A meeting of young children in which the doctrines of the Army are explained and learned.

Division		A number of corps within the territory grouped for administrative purposes under the supervision of a Divisional Commander, e.g., the Alberta Division.

Enrolment		The acceptance by the Census Board of a soldier of the Salvation Army; the term is also used for the "swearing in" ceremony.

Envoy		A rank given to a Salvationist performing duties in corps or social work normally undertaken by an officer. This may be full-time or part-time, carry a salary or an allowance, or be undertaken without remuneration.

Field Officer		Another term for corps officer, as opposed to a social officer, or one who is an administrative officer.

Field Secretary		The chief administrative officer of the territory responsible for the appointment of officers and administration of the filed (corps) work.

Finance Secretary		Similar position to that of Field Secretary; responsible for administering the territory's finances.

Fire a volley		In old-fashioned, uninhibited meetings the phrase "fire a volley" would be answered by such shouts as "Hallelujah!" or "Amen!".

Fishing		Another little-used term applied to the custom of personal pleading with sinners at Salvation meetings, meaning actively seeking them out in their seats.

High Council		A Council, composed of all Territorial Commanders and active Commissioners, which meets to elect new generals and debate Army policy at an international level.

Holiness Meeting		The Sunday morning meeting in which holiness and the spiritual growth of the converted was emphasized; the salvation (evening) meeting would be aimed at the conversion of sinners.

Holiness Table		A place of prayer (a table) used during holiness meetings for those seeking sanctification. Only rarely used today.

Home League		A ladies' fellowship group within the corps designed to promote Christian ideals in home life.

Infant Dedication		A term denoting the christening ceremony; children are not baptized in the Salvation Army.

Junior Soldier		The first enrolment as a soldier in the Salvation Army; the child thus enrolled is called a "junior soldier," must not be under seven years of age and may become a "senior soldier" at age fourteen.

Kettle		A colloquial term for the Christmas kettle used by the Army to collect money for its Christmas Cheer programme.

Knee Drill		An early Sunday morning prayer meeting.

League of Mercy		Salvationsts within a corps who undertake to visit shut-ins, visit hospitals and other institutions and otherwise serve others in a practical way.

Lieutenant		See Ranks.

Marching Orders		Document informing corps officers of their change of appointment and announcing succeeding officers.

Major		See Ranks.

Mercy Seat		A prominent feature of the Salvation Army hall, a low seat at the front at which those seeking salvation or making public profession my kneel. Interchangeably used with "penitent form."

Open Air		Street meetings held to preach the gospel to those who may not hear it otherwise.

Order of the Founder		An award given by the Salvation Army in recognition of outstanding service to the organization by both Salvationsts and non-Salvationists.

Penitent Form		See Mercy Seat.

Ranks		The Salvation Army officer after training advances in seniority through a series of ranks, similar to those of the military. The following are the ranks that have been used by the Salvation Army (in ascending order). Those no longer in use are noted with an asterisk: Probationary Lieutenant, 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant, Lieutenant, Captain, Ensign, Senior Captain, Adjutant, Commandant, Major, Senior Major, Brigadier, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, Lieutenant Commissioner, Commissioner.

Praise Meetings		Afternoon meetings featuring testimonies and a great deal of singing.

Prayer Meetings		An adjunct of the "salvation meeting," during which sinners are fervently prayed for, often for long periods.

Promoted to Glory		Euphemism for the death of a soldier or officer.

Self-Denial		A time set aside (several weeks) during which Salvationists concentrate on giving to missionary efforts, ostensibly by denying themselves certain luxuries.

Singing Company		A junior choir.

Songster Brigade		A senior choir.

Sword Drill		Spending time finding specific verses in the Bible.

Trade Secretary		Administrative officer responsible for organizing and distributing Army material: songs books, uniforms and so forth.

War Cry		An Army periodicle magazine first published November 1st, 1884. On that date, 18,850 copies were printed.

War Cry Boomers		Salvationsts who volunteer to distribute (or sell) the War Cry, usually in beverage rooms.

YPSM		Young Peoples Sergeant Major. Person in charge of activities for children in the Citadel/Temple.