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The Salvation Army
Background Christianity Protestantism Pietism Arminianism Methodism Holiness Movement Evangelicalism
Organization General Chief of the Staff International Headquarters High Council Commissioners Officer Soldier Corps
Prominent Salvationists William Booth Catherine Booth Bramwell Booth Florence Booth Evangeline Booth Ballington Booth Catherine Bramwell-Booth Frederick Booth-Tucker Arthur Booth-Clibborn Elijah Cadman George Carpenter James Dowdle John Lawley George Scott Railton T. Henry Howard Charles Jeffries Theodore Kitching Darkie Hutton William Ridsdel Ray Steadman-Allen Harry Read Eva Burrows Henry Mapp John McMillan Stephen Bulla Earle Maxwell
Other topics Brass bands Promoted to Glory Order of the Founder Limelight Department Christmas Kettle The War Cry Soldier's Covenant Reliance Bank The Blind Beggar Kroc Centers Sunbury Court
Legislation Salvation Army Act 1931 Salvation Army Act 1963 Salvation Army Act 1980
Related organizations American Rescue Workers Volunteers of America Skeleton Army
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Promoted to Glory is a term used by The Salvation Army to describe the death of a born again Christian.^[1]

Terminology and background

The phrase is used as TSA believe that, for a Christian, the end of life on this earth is a promotion into the presence of God.^[2]

The earliest printed usage of the term seems to be in the December 14, 1882 issue of The War Cry, which included death announcements with headlines such as 'Promotion of Sister Muxlow from Earth to Heaven' and 'Private Rudd goes to Glory from the Open-air.' Another report two days later was headed 'Promotion from Cheltenham to Glory'.

Some Salvation Army corps have a Promoted to Glory Board or ledger on which all members (soldiers or Adherents) of that corps, who have died, are listed along with the year of their death. The Salvation Army flag may be draped over the coffin.^[3]

The term Promoted to Glory was coined by Herbert Booth, son of the Founder William Booth, following the death of Catherine Booth, the Mother of the Salvation Army. He wrote the song "Promoted to Glory" which is still used at funerals today.

Words & Music: Herbert H. Booth, in Songs of Peace and War, 1890 (MIDI, score). Booth wrote this song while preparing for his mother's funeral.^[4]

Song

Summoned home, the call has sounded,

Bidding a soldier his warfare cease;

And the song of angels resounded,

Welcomes a warrior to eternal peace.

Praise the Lord! from earthly struggles

A comrade has found release.

Death has lost its sting, the grave its victory;

Conflicts and dangers are over;

See him honored in the throne of glory,

Crowned by the hand of Jehovah!

Strife and sorrow over,

The Lord's true faithful soldier

Has been called to go from the ranks below,

To the conq’ring host above.

Once the sword, but now the scepter,

Once the fight, now the rest and fame,

Broken every earthly fetter,

Now the glory for the cross and shame;

Once the loss of all for Jesus,

But now the eternal gain.

Trials and sorrow here have found their meaning

Mysteries their explanation;

Safe, forever in the sunlight gleaming

Of His eternal salvation.

Salvation Army funerals are typically upbeat and are a celebration of the words "Servant of Christ, well done!"