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Durham E-Theses Durham E-Theses Sacraments and symbols in the Salvation Army Lawson, Kenneth How to cite: Lawson, Kenneth (1996) Sacraments and symbols in the Salvation Army, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/5017/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk THE UNIVERSITY OF DURHAM SACRAMENTS AND SYMBOLS LN THE SALVATION ARMY BY KENNETH LAWSON A THESIS SUBMnTED TO THE FACULTY OF ARTS IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS DEPARTMENT OF THEOLOGY DURHAM JANTJ.^RY, 1996 The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published without his prior written consent and information derived from it should be .acknowledged. 2 JUL 1996 ABSTRACT Kenneth Lawson Sacraments and Symbols in The Salvation Army for Master of Arts Degree 1996 This vyork seeks to trace the attitude of The Salvation Army to sacraments and symbols from its early sacramental period (1865-1883) and then from 1883 to the present day, a longer time during which formal sacraments have not be« *\ used in Army worship. The thesis consists of seven main chapters, plus an introduction and conclusion. It contains a critical examination of the historical origins of the Army's non-sacramentalism and the debate which has arisen about eartier historical influences on the Army, including varioiis Reformers, the Quakers and the Methodists. Some of the Army's own published works defending its non-sacramentalism are also examined in detail. Chapters dealing with the developing spirituality within The Salvation Army; the introduction of its own symbols into its organisation and worship, and the emphasis which has been placed on holiness are all included. There is also a discussion of the present state of debate amongst Salvationist regarding the possible re- introduction of the sacraments into its worship. The aim of this thesis is to demonstrate that, though the Army formally abolished the sacraments in 1883, in actual practice through the extensive use of symbolism, sacramental ideas have continued to exercise a profound influence and it is therefore being inconsistent with itself in its unqualified opposition to the use of the sacraments in its worship. This viewpoint is richly illustrated by examples both from the literature of the Army and from accounts of personal experience (both of myself and others). Some of my informants have asked for their names not to be disclosed; otherwise fiiH documentation is provided. Careful consideration is also given to possible influences of sacrarnental spirituality on the Army; also on its own developing spirituality - pairticularly as it relates to the question of holiness teaching. It Copyright The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published without his prior consent and information derived from it should be acknowledged. Preface During the period in which I have been engaged in researching and preparing this thesis many people have contributed to it both directly and through infonnal conversations. They ai e too numerous to mention by name, and in any case I would not be able to recall all the names of those involved, but I record my grateful thanks to them. I am particularfy indebted to Lieutenant Colonel Jenty Fairbank, the Director of The Salvation Army Heritage Centre in London, and to the members of her staff who have given me excellent co-operation and attention in locating material relating to my subject and in making it available to me. In this connection the efforts of Mi- Gordon Taylor and Mrs Judith Walker are particularly appreciated. I owe my greatest debt to Professor David Brown, my tutor at Durham, who by his patience, invaluable comments and advice, has opened up many fruitful areas of study and research for me. He has also secured the interest of some of his other colleagues in the Theologj' Department who have put articles and other material at my disposal. I am gratefiil both to them and to him. Finally, thanks to my wife Vivienne, who, in the years of our supposed retirement, has spent many hours alone while I have been locked away with my books, papers, and computer. She desen-'es more than half the credit for the effort involved in writing this thesis. K.L. (1996) iV CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 6 CHAPTER 1 THE ARAiY'S NON-SACRAMENTALISM: ITS HISTORICAL ORIGINS 8 CHAPTER 2 HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS: THE DEBATE ABOUT INFLUENCES 33 CHAPTER 3 DEFENCES OF THE SALVATIONIST POSITION I. The Sacraments: the Salvationist's Viewpoint 47 CHAPTER 4. DEFENCES OF THE SALVATIONIST POSITION n. Community in Mission: A Salvationist Ecclesiologj'. 75 CHAPTER 5 THE INEVITABILITY OF SYl^/EBOLISM 100 CHAPTER 6. THE SACRAMENTALITY OF THE 'NON- SACRAMENTAL' , 146 CHAPTER 7 THE PRESENT STATE OF SALVATIONIST DEBATE 182 CONCLUSION 200 BIBLIOGRAPHY 203 APPENDIX A 210 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this research is to examine the influences and arguments which, in 1883, led The Salvation Armyi to abandon the use of the sacraments of baptism and holy communion, and to investigate the related issues of meaning and fimction of the symbols which were introduced into the movement The woik will involve research into a number of arcas of Salvation Army Ufe, some historical, some theological and some critical. Initially, we will concentrate on the arguments which were persuasive in leading William Booth to abandon the use of baptism and the Lord's supper in Salvationist worship. The material will be critically examined and evaluated and the questions asked will include: How objective were the arguments used? Were the pragmatic reasons which were advanced valid in the context of The Salvation Army and the use of sacraments in the Church in England in the late nineteenth century? Part of the investigation into the background of the Army's stance on the sacraments will include the discussion of claims that the sacramental theology of the Reformation, and particularly the ideas of Zwingh, were influential on the decision which was made. In this connectioa the attitude of the Quakers to the sacraments, and the influence of their arguments on William and Catherine Booth will be noted. In examination of the developments which have taken place in The Salvation Army since the decision was taken to abandon sacraments it will be necessary to appraise the literature which the Army has produced to explain that decision; to ask how far this literature is a balanced statement and how far it is a one-sided apologia. Other questions will include: What has taken the place of the sacraments in Salvationist worship? Is it the emphasis on personal holiness? What evidence is there of a continuing and developing spirituality in The Salvation Army? Has the non-sacramental stance had an impact on this? How far has the Army's attitude to the sacraments affected its standing in ecumenical circles? Was it a factor in the withdrawal of the Army from fiill membership of the World Council of Churches? An important part of this research will be to assess the present climate of opinion amongst Salvationists in various parts of the world. There is certainly some feeling that there should be a return to a form of sacramental worship. How widespread this feeling is has been assessed by a number of means, including personal interviews I write as a Salvationist. Though I hope I have succeeded in retaining objectivity and critical distance, I believe that my long commitment to the movement has also given me some inside knowledge and insight which I have applied to this work. NOTES 1. Throughout this thesis the term 'The Salvation Army' will be used with a capital'T' as in the olBcial title of the movement. V" CHAPTER 1 THE ARMY'S NON-SACRAMENTALISM: ITS HISTORICAL ORIGINS From its inception as The Christian Revival Association in 1865 (the name was later changed to The Christian Mission and then in 1878 to The Salvation Army) the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper were observed as part of the worship and practice of the movement. According to Bramwell Booth (eldest son of the Army's founders, William and Catherine) infant baptism was practised through those years but with declining interest in it. On the other hand, the Lord's Supper was administered monthly in all mission stations. As many as six or seven hundred are said to have participated on special occasions, 'with valuable spiritual results', i The decision to abandon the use of sacraments in The Salvation Anny was prompted by two convictions which were held by certain influential leaders of the Army at the time. One of these convictions was practical and the other theological. The practical consideration involved circumstances in which the Booths and other early Salvationist leaders were confronted by many people who claimed that because they had been baptised, confirmed, and had partaken of the sacrament their salvation was assured irrespective of whether there was any evidence of spiritual life or not.
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