´óÏó´«Ã½

Good morning.

I’m not sure whether one defines the success of a fashion garment in terms of the celebrity who first endorses it or the number of years it survives but either way, the Salvation Army’s Hallelujah Bonnet with its large ribboned bow on one side must certainly come out near the top in every sense, because it was on this day in 1880 that the much respected Catherine Booth gave it its first airing as she and the general celebrated their silver wedding day and it went on being worn for over 100 years!

Now the purpose of fashion is to draw attention to oneself – the last thing one could say about the Salvation Army where the emphasis has never been on the individual but on the company, the band, the battalion or whatever. Nor do they boast of their corporate achievements: thus I was amazedÌý to learn recently that apart from the government they are in fact the largest supplier of social services in the UK. Again I know little of the homes they provide for the homeless the hope they give to trafficked women or their eventide homes for the elderly but I do know that the way they go about it is a bit like their presentation of faith in the marketplace - a pleasant background sound calling out to a troubled world and speaking to its needs. No wonder people give to them in the most unlikely places!

Like most of us who are part of human institutions, no doubt they must have their own imperfections but they certainly have one thing to teach me and my denomination and that’s their balance between faith and works something which keeps both earthed in reality and speaks eloquently to an otherwise cynical world.

Lord help us all to learn from one another.

Amen.

Ìý