Marica King, age 11, of Hamilton, Ohio, for her question:

WHEN WAS THE SALVATION ARMY FOUNDED?

The Salvation Army is a world wide Christian religious body that is built in a semi military structure. It was started by General William Booth, a former Methodist minister, as he conducted meetings to bring the Gospel to the poor of London's East End slums in 1865.

Booth's work was well received and he organized the Christian Mission. In 1878, the mission changed its name to the Salvation Army, designed uniforms for both men and women officers, and adopted a semi military system of leadership.

The cause spread quickly. The army now operates in 86 countries and colonies. It was established in the United States in 1880, and today there are more than 9,000 centers from coast to coast.

A distinctive feature of the army is its street corner musicians, who play, sing and preach the glory of God. Indoor religious meetings usually follow. In country after country, this method of spreading the Gospel has succeeded in winning coverts.

The Salvation Army maintains hospitals for unwed mothers, industrial homes where men rebuild their characters, low cost lodging houses and nurseries for babies of working mothers. It also has fresh air camps, boys' clubs, family welfare work programs and provides aid to prisoners.