Philadelphia Pioneer

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Philadelphia Pioneer

"Over 120 Years of Service to God and the Community"

Territory: USA Eastern Territory

Division: Eastern Pennsylvania & Delaware

Opened: Oct. 5, 1879

Corps Number: 1

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Current Officers: Majors Phil & Susan Wittenberg

The Salvation Army Philadelphia Pioneer Corps was founded on Oct. 5, 1879 by 16 year old Captain Eliza Shirley. The original location was at 4th and Oxford Sts., Philadelphia, PA 19122, in the area of Philadelphia now known as North Kensington. The current location is 1920 E. Allegheny Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19134. This location is less than 3 miles from the original location.

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Eliza Shirley

The first successful work in the United States rested on the shoulders of a 17-year-old girl. In the spring of 1879, the newly named Salvation Army in London was so small that all the workers knew each other personally. Eliza Shirley, then 16, joined the Christian Mission and was appointed an evangelist at one of the "stations."

At first her parents, Amos and Annie Shirley, were not sure they approved. Shortly thereafter, Amos, an experienced silk weaver, left for America, and readily found a position in Philadelphia.

When he sent for his wife and daughter, Eliza did not want to leave the Army behind. Her father's description of the ungodliness he found there convinced her that the Army was needed and she wrote to the General to asked his permission to start the work in America. By this time she had been commissioned a lieutenant and was doing well in her home corps of Coventry.

William Booth was not sure the country was ready for opening and in his reply he reminded her of her call to officership and the possibilities of service before her where she was, but added: "...If you must go and if you should start the work, start it on the principles of The Salvation Army, and if it is a success, we may see our way to take it over" Captain Elijah Cadman, her superior officer, presented 100 penny song books to take with her.

By the time they reached Philadelphia, her mother shared her desire to begin Army work. They walked the streets looking for an affordable meeting place, finally settling on an abandoned chair factory. The family worked together to clean it up and get it ready for the opening meeting. Posters announced the appearance of "Two Hallelujah Females." Though they had no standard uniform, no drums, none of the glitter which later served to attract a crowd, people flocked out of curiosity to their open air meetings, until the police told them they couldn't gather on the street any more. They found a vacant lot several blocks away, but afterwards no one followed their march to the hall.

Providence arrived in the form of a tar barrel fire set by some boys on their lot. When the Shirleys saw the lot at last filled with people watching the firemen, they proceeded with a meeting. Their trophy was Reddy, the worst drunk in the area. When the people saw Reddy march to the hall, they followed to see what they would do with him. News of Reddy's conversion reached not only the local papers, but up and down the coast, and a friend sent Booth a copy of the paper.

Shortly after this the Shirleys opened up another hall in West Philadelphia. When Amos's employer told him he had to choose between his job and the Army, he chose the Army.

The reply of General Booth to the news of American success was the promotion of the Shirleys to Captain and the promise to send George Scott Railton to the country to take charge.

Amos was drowned in 1884, but Annie and Eliza continued in the work. Eliza returned from a rest trip to England with a new husband, Captain Philip Symmonds, had four children, and lived well into her eighties. Retiring in Chicago, she became an ardent fan of the Chicago Cubs. As Eliza was on her deathbed, the Cubs were in the final games of the World Series. She drifted in and out of consciousness, alternately praying and asking how the Cubs were doing. When word came that Eliza Symmonds had been promoted to Glory, there was a moment of silence in the stadium in honour of this gallant lady.

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