June 9, 2012. Artemas, Pa. The Salvation Army.

Doreen and Don, and Ken and I were born into Salvation Army families.  Our backgrounds and upbringings are similar,  but our parents original involvement with The Salvation Army were different.

Doreen's father was born in Newfoundland to Salvation Army officers.  He was an able student and became an officer himself, ending up the General of the Salvation Army.   Doreen's mother joined The Salvation Army as a child of ten.  Her Scottish family emigrated to Canada in 1914, settling in Toronto.  When she was walking home from school, she passed the Salvation Army citadel on Chester Street where she heard children laughing and having fun.  She was invited into Girl Guides and continued attending the corps.  She met Doreen's father at Training College and the rest is history.  Doreen was brought up by Salvation Army officers.

Don was also brought up by Salvation Army officers, his father was from Newfoundland but stationed in Ontario, where he met the American born single lady Salvation Army officer and married her.

My grandfather Houghton was walking past a street meeting held by William Booth, the founder of the Army,  in London, England.  He told his wife, my grandmother, that she should come and listen to this man, which she did.  They joined the organization in 1875 and stayed with it until they died.  My mother became a Salvation Army officer, and met my father there, so I was brought up by Salvation Army officers.

My father started to attend the Salvation Army in Calgary as a young boy because he wanted to play an instrument.  He became a good trombone player, became an officer, and married  after training college.

Ken's mother was an officer and single when she met his father.  At that time, it was essential for both husband and wife be officers so she left but was a life long member of the Parry Sound Corps of The Salvation Army.

We have been friends for 60 years, perhaps because Don and Doreen, Ken and I all have similar backgrounds and beliefs.