Our Heritage

Session VI

The Generals

William Booth• Founder and first General of The Salvation Army

• Founded Christian Mission in 1865

• Term of Office: 1878-1912

• Born in Nottingham, England on April 10, 1829

• Promoted to Glory on August 20, 1912

• Established the work of the Army in 58 countries

• Traveled all over the world

• Was received in later years by emperors, kings, and presidents

• Married Catherine Mumford in 1855

• Wrote many books, most notably, In Darkest England and the Way Out

Bramwell Booth• Second General of The Salvation Army

• Term of Office: 1912-1929

• Eldest son of the Founder

• Chief of Staff: 1880-1912

• Born in Halifax, England on March 8, 1856

• Promoted to Glory on June 16, 1929

• Was largely responsible for the bureaucratic development of the Army

• Started Youth Councils in 1887 when he was Chief of the Staff

• During his Generalship, much growth in missionary work

• Married Florence Soper in 1882

• Wrote Echoes and Memories and These Fifty Years

Edward John Higgins• Third General of The Salvation Army

• Term of Office: 1929-1934

• Chief of Staff: 1919-1929

• First elected General who was not a member of the Booth family

• Born November 26, 1864 in England

• Promoted to Glory on December 14, 1947

• Married Catherine Price in 1888

• Wrote Stewards of God and Personal Holiness

Evangeline Cory Booth• Fourth General of The Salvation Army

• Term of Office: 1934-1939

• Seventh child of the Founder

• Born in England on December 25, 1865

• Promoted to Glory on July 17, 1950

• Became General after being National Commander of The

Salvation Army in the United States for 30 years

• Wrote Toward a Better World and Songs of the Evangel

George L. Carpenter• Fifth General of The Salvation Army

• Term of Office: 1939-1946

• Born in Sydney, Australia on June 20, 1872

• Promoted to Glory on April 9, 1948

• Worked for many years with General William Booth as Literary

Secretary

• Married Minnie Rowell in 1899

• Wrote Keep the Trumpets Sounding, Banners and Adventures, and

Women of the Flag

Albert W.T. Orsborn• Sixth General of The Salvation Army

• Term of Office: 1946-1954

• Born in Maidstone, England on September 4, 1886

• Promoted to Glory on February 4, 1967

• Wrote many songs contained in The Salvation Army Song Book

• Married Phyllis Tayler in 1947

• Wrote The House of My Pilgrimage

Wilfred Kitching• Seventh General of The Salvation Army

• Term of Office: 1954-1963

• Born in Wood Green, England on August 22, 1893

• Promoted to Glory on December 15, 1977

• Was an accomplished musician and composer

• Wrote Soldier of Salvation and A Goodly Heritage

Frederick Coutts• Eighth General of The Salvation Army

• Term of Office: 1963-1969

• Born in Scotland on September 21, 1899

• Promoted to Glory on February 6, 1986

• Married Olive Gatrall in 1970

• Wrote many books including No Discharge in This War, Bread

For My Neighbor, and The History of The Salvation Army, volumes

6 and 7.

Erik Wickberg• Ninth General of The Salvation Army

• Term of Office: 1969-1974

• Born in Sweden on July 6, 1904

• Promoted to Glory on April 26, 1996

• Married Captain Margarete Dietrich and, after her death, Major

Elivor Lindberg

• Wrote God’s Conscript and The Charge: My Way to Preaching

Clarence Wiseman• Tenth General of The Salvation Army

• Term of Office: 1974-1977

• Born in Newfoundland, Canada on June 19, 1907

• Promoted to Glory on May 4, 1986

• First General elected from North America (Canada)

• Married Janet Kelly in 1932

• Wrote A Burning in My Bones and The Desert Road to Glory

Arnold Brown• Eleventh General of The Salvation Army

• Term of Office: 1977-1981

• Born in England on December 13, 1913

• Married Jean Barclay in 1939

• Lives in retirement with his wife in Toronto, Canada

• Wrote What Hath God Wrought? The Gate and the Light, Yin -

The Mountain the Wind Blew Here, Christ at the Table, and

Occupied Manager - Unoccupied Tomb

Jarl Wahlström• Twelfth General of The Salvation Army

• Term of Office: 1981-1986

• Born in Finland on July 9, 1918

• A musician who has written numerous songs and musical scores

• Served as Military Chaplain in WWII

• Married Marie Nyberg in 1944

• Now live with his wife in retirement

• Wrote A Traveler's Song and A Pilgrim’s Song

Eva Burrows• Thirteenth General of The Salvation Army

• Term of Office: 1986-1993

• Born in Australia on September 15, 1929

• Many years of service in third world developing countries

• Received four honorary degrees

• Lives in retirement in Australia

Bramwell Tillsley• Fourteenth General of The Salvation Army

• Term of Office: 1993-1994

• Retired from Officership (as General) for health concerns

• Born in Canada on August 18, 1932

• Married Maude Pitcher in 1956

• Lives with his wife in retirement in Canada.

• Wrote Life in the Spirit, This Min in You, Life More Abundant, and

Manpower for the Master.

Paul Rader• Fifteenth General of The Salvation Army

• Term of Office: 1994-1999

• Born in Cincinnati, Ohio on March 14, 1934

• Married Frances Kay Fuller in 1961

• Served twenty-two (22) years in Korea

• First American General

John Gowans• Sixteenth General of The Salvation Army

• Term of Office: 1999-present

• Born in Grangetown, UK on November 13, 1934

• Married Gisèle Bonhotal in 1957

• Served as Program Secretary in the USA Western Territory from

1981-1985

• Songwriter and poet. Author of three books of poetry entitled O

Lord!

• Co-writer with Commissioner John Larsson of 10 stage musicals

End of Session VI