What are people's views on.....

[Bbbananas]

The Salvation Army.
Does it have a place in modern society?
Does it's image need updating?
Do the women still have to wear silly hats?
When does Lent end so I can stop being so serious?

[cazzz1975]

they are very good at tracing people

[Bbbananas]

Oh wow! I haven't done any tracing since I worked for the playschool. We used to have to use greaseproof paper though, to keep costs down.

[cazzz1975]

we used to use greaseproof paper as toilet roll at school

[mrs_overall]

I'm biased against them.
I had an auntie who had a baby when she was 17 back in the late 1950's. She had to go into a Salvation Army run mother and baby home.
They were absolutely wicked to her, and were verbally AND physically abusive.
She still cries when she talks about her time there.

I guess it's coloured my opinion somewhat.

[Bbbananas]

I wasn't trying to be facetious zac. I actually know a sally army member - she's my age (mid-forties!!!), has been a member since a little girl. I've always admired her dedication &, unlike some religious groups, never tries to push her beliefs or morals down anyone else's throats. She's a good lass - full of fun.
We have a sally army bloke that stands in our market place twice every week, in whatever the weather, collecting & selling the war cry. He must be nearing 100. He goes into the roughest of pubs collecting - and he gets total absolute respect, even from the chavs & the loudmouths.
They do need an overhaul though - image-wise!

[sqad617]

salla...when I was a med. student in London, they came into the pub selling War Cries. I invited one of them to a mess party and she told me that she was a Chorister.................and be could she "sing".LOL LOl

That actually was not a joke and although I am an atheist I have a good deal of respect for Booth and his Army.

[Bbbananas]

I certainly have respect for the old geezer described in my earlier post. He's half-deaf, half-blind, but stands there week after week come what may. He goes into some pubs that no 'decent' person dare tread in. He's a bit of a local celebrity.

[dot.hawkes]

They have a very healthy property portfolio in Wigan actually, owning the bulk of the town centre buildings and taking rent off national companies, and so they are able to fund their charitable outlets I suppose, I guess they own other property around the UK as well

[theonlyone]

There is an old Sally lady out in all weather
collecting money ..my father used to bring
the War Cry home on Saturday night and
as children we read it ...but they do wonderful
work , as some one posted earlier even the
chavs have respect for them ...you never know
you might need there services one da y..

[Schutzengel]

Perhaps it might not be a good thing to try to update the image of the Salvation Army, as it is so recognisable, and as an earlier poster said, those members seen out on the streets and in the pubs are respected. I wonder if they would get the same respect if they changed to a more modern uniform.