The Salvation Army: 100 Years

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This cover is postmarked on 24 February 1983 in Cape Town. It marks a century since the Salvation Army first arrived in South Africa, landing at Cape Town docks (Table Bay) on the very same date in 1883. That original mission consisted of just three people, Major and Mrs Francis Simmonds and a young lieutenant named Alice Teager. From that small beginning the organisation spread rapidly through the Cape Colony and into Natal, eventually extending its work into Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and South West Africa. One detail worth noting is the Army's role during the Anglo Boer War. At Estcourt, Salvation Army workers ministered to both Boer and British soldiers alike on the battlefield, a rare example of humanitarian work crossing both sides of that conflict. By the time of this centenary the organisation ran 39 social, medical and educational centres and 250 places of worship across the country.

Description of the Cachet

The cachet is rendered entirely in warm sepia tones on a cream background. Three portraits sit at the base, drawn in soft line work. A bearded man in uniform stands beside two women in bonnets, their expressions calm and steady. Behind them the outline of southern Africa's coastline is traced in the same brown ink, grounding the figures in the region they came to serve. Above the portraits sits the Salvation Army crest, a shield reading Blood and Fire beneath a crown of stars, with The Salvation Army banner curved below it in gold foil. The years 1883 and 1983 anchor the top corner, marking a full century since the organisation's arrival. Bold gold lettering runs across the top of the cover in both English and Afrikaans, reading Centenary, 100 Years of Selfless Service in Southern Africa and Eeufees, 100 Jaar Onselfsugtige Diens in Suidelike Afrika. The whole design carries a quiet, dignified weight suited to an organisation built on humanitarian service.

Information Card

THE SALVATION ARMY THE SALVATION ARMY IN SOUTH AFRICA 1883-1983 As an international spiritual movement, The Salvation Army operates as an evangelical wing of the Church in 86 countries. This year the "Army of the Helping Hand" celebrates the arrival at the southern tip of Africa of a tiny task force, which sought by a combination of militant evangelism and practical compassion to fulfil the injunction of its founder, William Booth, to "win Africa for Christ". The intrepid "army of three" which landed at Cape Town docks on 24 February 1883, consisted of Major and Mrs Francis Simmonds and their lassie lieutenant, Alice Teager. After opening fire in the Cape Town Drill Hall, the Army spread through the Cape Colony like a wildfire, opening bridgeheads in the Eastern Cape and in Natal. Army "cavalry forts" trundled north by ox-wagon in true South African fashion, and salvationist blue-jackets even carried the message to St. Helena Island. Work amongst the indigenous races of Southern Africa began in 1887 and it was from this country that similar work in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mocambique and South-West Africa was opened up. Several "firsts" stand to the credit of South African salvationists, not least that of the commencement of spiritual work amongst prisoners in this country, as well as the setting up of relief work amongst troops on the field of battle, as was the case at Estcourt during the Anglo-Boer War, when the Army ministered to Boer and Brit alike. Today, in its Centenary Year, the "army without guns" carries on its fight through 39 social, medical and educative centres, and its soldiers, "saved to serve", exist for others through 250 places of worship, as the living embodiment of "Christianship with its sleeves rolled up". Entering its second century, the Salvation Army seeks the grace of God and the goodwill of the peoples of South Africa, that the statement "where there is need, there is The Salvation Army" may ring true indeed. DIE HEILSLEËR DIE HEILSLEËR IN SUID-AFRIKA 1883-1983 Die Heilsleër is 'n internasionale geestelike beweging wat as 'n evangeliese arm van die Kerk in 86 lande werksaam is. Vanjaar herdenk hierdie "weermag van die helpende hand" die aankoms van 'n klein taakmag aan die suidpunt van Afrika met die doel om deur militante evangelisering en praktiese hulpbetoon uitvoering te gee aan die opdrag van die stigter, William Booth, om Afrika vir Christus te wen. Die onverskrokke krygsmag van drie, bestaande uit majoor en mevrou Francis Simmonds en hul jong luitenantjie, Alice Teager, het op 24 Februarie 1883 in Kaapstad aan wal gestap. Na die openingsarsie in die drilsaal in Kaapstad het die Heilsleër soos 'n veldbrand deur die Kaapkolonie versprei en brughoofde in die Oosskaap en Natal gevestig. Dié leërmag het op eg Suid-Afrikaanse wyse te perd en per ossewa noordwaarts getrek en Heilsleërwerkers in hul blou uniforms het selfs die heilsboodskap tot op St. Helena-eiland uitgedra. Die werk onder die inheemse volkere van Suid-Afrika is in 1887 begin en soortgelyke werk is uit Suid-Afrika in Zimbabwe, Zambië, Mosambiek en Suidwes-Afrika aangevoer. Die Heilsleër het op verskillende terreine baanbrekerswerk in Suid-Afrika gedoen. Onder meer moet Heilsleërwerkers erkenning ontvang vir die feit dat hulle 'n begin gemaak het met die geestelike bearbeiding van gevangenes, en vir noodleningswerk onder die soldate op die slagveld, soos by Estcourt in die Anglo-Boereoorlog, toe die Heilsleër na beide Boer en Brit omgesien het. Tans, in sy Eeufeesjaar, sit die "krygsmag sonder gewere" die stryd voort deur middel van 39 maatskaplike, mediese en opvoedingsentra, en sy soldate, "tot diens gered", lewer voort van naastediens deur die lewende beliggaming van "Christenskap met opgerolde moue". Op sy koers na die tweede eeu soek die Heilsleër steeds die genade van God en die goedgesindheid van die mense van Suid-Afrika, sodat die stelling "waar daar nood is, daar is die Heilsleër," voortdurend bewaarheid mag word.

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