What's in a name?

The Salvation Army has long been known as the “Salvos” – a term of endearment given to it by the Australians it serves. But in the early days it seems that each local expression of The Salvation Army had its own nickname. Goulburn Salvos called themselves the “Goulburn Gideons” – a reference to the unlikely hero of the old testament. At Crookwell, they called themselves the “Crusaders” – perhaps because of their pioneering spirit: the Army was started there not by officers but by Salvationist families who had settled in the area. The outpost eventually became a fully fledged corps (church) of The Salvation Army on 10 May 1884.