THE SALVATION NAVY?
Believe it or not, there was once a Salvation Navy in the United States. This is not a joke. During the 1920’s Aimee Semple McPherson managed to become the most popular radio and tent evangelist in the United States, eclipsing the popularity of Bill Sunday. Part of McPherson’s appeal was her ability at true showmanship. She even had some 1920’s automobiles converted over to boat/automobile hybrids, where McPherson would dress as a navy captain and her co-workers as sailors. McPherson was also the founder of the Foursquare Gospel Church as well. But, her showmanship may have been too much when she was later caught up in a scandal where she was charged with faking her own kidnapping as a publicity stunt, and some claim to take time away for an abortion carrying the baby of her lover. Evidence suggested she vacationed in a cottage, which was far from being kidnapped in Mexico as she had claimed. She was in remarkable good health after her claimed ordeal as well, further raising suspicion that she faked the entire incident. There were court hearings and other fallout, until a prosecutor eventually dropped charges, but McPherson never really recovered from the scandal, and the Foursquare Gospel Church sought to seek an identity outside of the controversial evangelist.
So, there is now conclusive
proof that a Salvation Navy once existed. So what about a Salvation Air Force? Well, that one doesn’t appear to have happened quite yet….