Emma Churchill
Encyclopedia
Captain Emma Churchill was the founder of The Salvation Army
in Newfoundland. She was born in Portugal Cove
, Newfoundland but moved to Ontario
with her parents in 1882. Churchill was in Toronto
when two converts from England
introduced General
William Booth
's ideas there. In 1883 she joined The Salvation Army, becoming the 11th of the first 25 Officer's to be commissioned in the Army's new Canadian territory. She was the founder of Guelph
Salvation Army Corps, having arrived there in 1884 by railway, accompanied by Staff Captain Lt. Ida Russell. When she married Captain Charles Dawson (1864–1942) in 1885, she changed her name to Emma Churchill Dawson.
In 1885, Emma and Charles went to Newfoundland on their honeymoon
. On September 3, 1885, at the Methodist
church in Portugal Cove, they held the first Salvation Army meeting ever to take place in Newfoundland. Because of the success of this meeting, the YMCA
in St. John's
asked the Dawsons to hold similar meetings there. This engagement extended their Newfoundland visit to five months. The Dawsons then contacted Canadian Headquarters in January 1886 requesting that officers be assigned to continue conducting the meetings. That same month, four female officers arrived in St. John's.
The Dawsons later returned to Ontario where they established a series of prison ministries through the Toronto's Prison Gate Home, which opened in 1890, and at the Guelph Reformatory.
She died on 16 May 1957 in Guelph, Ontario, and was buried on 18 May 1957 in Woodlawn Cemetery in Guelph.
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
in Newfoundland. She was born in Portugal Cove
Portugal Cove-St. Philip's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Portugal Cove – St. Philip's is a rural seashore community located on the eastern Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada. Portugal Cove – St. Philip’s was amalgamated in 1992, and is home to an estimated 6,000 people. Just 10 – 15 minutes from the...
, Newfoundland but moved to Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
with her parents in 1882. Churchill was in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
when two converts from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
introduced General
Generals of The Salvation Army
thumbnail|left|1st General, William BoothGeneral is the title of the international leader of The Salvation Army, a Christian denomination with extensive charitable social services that gives quasi-military rank to its ministers .Usage of the term General began with the Founder of The Salvation...
William Booth
William Booth
William Booth was a British Methodist preacher who founded The Salvation Army and became its first General...
's ideas there. In 1883 she joined The Salvation Army, becoming the 11th of the first 25 Officer's to be commissioned in the Army's new Canadian territory. She was the founder of Guelph
Guelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
Salvation Army Corps, having arrived there in 1884 by railway, accompanied by Staff Captain Lt. Ida Russell. When she married Captain Charles Dawson (1864–1942) in 1885, she changed her name to Emma Churchill Dawson.
In 1885, Emma and Charles went to Newfoundland on their honeymoon
Honeymoon
-History:One early reference to a honeymoon is in Deuteronomy 24:5 “When a man is newly wed, he need not go out on a military expedition, nor shall any public duty be imposed on him...
. On September 3, 1885, at the Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
church in Portugal Cove, they held the first Salvation Army meeting ever to take place in Newfoundland. Because of the success of this meeting, the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
in St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
asked the Dawsons to hold similar meetings there. This engagement extended their Newfoundland visit to five months. The Dawsons then contacted Canadian Headquarters in January 1886 requesting that officers be assigned to continue conducting the meetings. That same month, four female officers arrived in St. John's.
The Dawsons later returned to Ontario where they established a series of prison ministries through the Toronto's Prison Gate Home, which opened in 1890, and at the Guelph Reformatory.
She died on 16 May 1957 in Guelph, Ontario, and was buried on 18 May 1957 in Woodlawn Cemetery in Guelph.