The Salvation Army beneficial to society or the community of mankind as a whole". The Army was founded in 1865 in London by one-time Methodist circuit-preacher William Booth and his wife Catherine as the East London Christian Mission, and can trace its origins to the Blind Beggar tavern. In 1878 Booth reorganised the mission, becoming its first General and introducing the military structure which has been retained as a matter of tradition. Its highest priority is its Christian principles. The current international leader of The Salvation Army and chief executive officer (CEO) is General Brian Peddle, who was elected by the High Council
Salvation Army camps in Canada as The Big Island (Weston Island) and The Small Island (Brownsea Island). Camp Madawaska was owned by Edward Curtis Smith's family. Edward kept a 4-inch Clark portable telescope at the camp. Soon after World War II, the Smiths sold the camp, along with the telescope, to Garfield Weston, owner of the Canadian company, George Weston Limited. When Weston died, he bequeathed the camp to the Salvation Army. For the following years, it was used as a camp for inner-city kids for most of the summer and was also rented for various retreats. Salvation Army Scout and Guide groups made frequent