The Salvation Army is well known throughout the world as a charity that helps people living in poverty. Less known about the Salvation Army is that its original purpose was to become a form of religion. William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, did not want the purpose of the Salvation Army to stray too far from the idea that all people are free to worship Christ. This is because Booth believed that the most effective way to reach people living in poverty was to offer them food, clothing, and shelter while preaching to them. Booth was a very religious person from an early age, especially after his family lost money and William had to work to get money for his family. Booth's understanding of life in poverty and his love for God would be reflected in his life after he became a preacher. Shortly after getting his first full-time preaching job, Booth met the love of his life and his partner in building a faith, Catherine Mumford, who was also a very religious person. He would also meet George S. Railton, who believed that God was more important than any worldly possessions. Railton would later become Booth's first lieutenant and a major factor in how the Salvation Army was run during its early years. --- William Booth believed that every person deserved to know Jesus regardless of their social class and that he should save everyone from atheism. William Booth had always been a religious person, he began to question religion at a young age. During his early youth he attended St Stephan's Anglican Church, however in 1840 his teacher took him to Broad Street Chapel Methodist Church. Booth immediately fell in love with that different form of worship, he loved the fact that members of the congregation shouted throughout the... middle of paper... g.Booth, Bramwell. 1925. Orders and regulations for officers of the Salvation Army. London: International Headquarters. Collier, Richard. 1965. The General Next to God: The Story of William Booth and the Salvation Army. London: Collins Clear-Type Press.nd "History". Salvation Army International. Accessed December 18, 2013. http://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/history.Railton, George S. 1913. General Booth. London: Hodder and Stoughton.Railton, George S. and John D. Waldron.GSR 1981. selections from the published and unpublished writings of George Scott Railton. Oakville, Canada: The Salvation Army.Waldron, John D. 1990. Seven Dark Rivers and the Salvation Army: An Anthology of Salvationist Writings. New York, NY: Salvation Army Literary Department Watson, Bernard. 1970. Holy Soldier: George Scott Railton's first lieutenant William Booth. London: Hoddor and Stoughton.