It has been 110 years since the Salvation Army first started reaching out to the Bermudian community and to celebrate, the church is planning a long weekend full of meetings and marches.

According to Major Doug Lewis, commanding officer of the Salvation Army in Bermuda: ?The Salvation Army came initially with the ships that were coming from England to the colonies and specifically to Canada.?

Followers of William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, who were travelling to the colonies would hold meetings and rallies while their ships stopped at the Royal Naval Dockyard for supplies.

The Salvation Army?s first officer on the island was Lieutenant David Smith, who arrived in 1891 and stayed for a year. His work was continued by a young local woman, Adjutant DesBrisay, who, according to Major Lewis, ?really pioneered the work?.

The first congregation was formed in 1895 with three British sailors. Since then, it has gone from strength to strength and now has 847 members in ?citadels from Somerset to St. George?s.

Apart from worship and the Army?s famous band, the church?s community service is legendary, ranging from soup runs, homeless shelters to treatment for addiction.

Festivities commenced last night with a march from the Salvation Army Bermuda Divisional Headquarters, down Court and Front Streets to the Hamilton Princess, led by the Salvation Army Band. It was followed by a public meeting at 7 p.m. and a youth event at 9.30 p.m.

This morning, they will be hosting the Celebrating Recovery breakfast, featuring testimonies from those who have successfully moved on from the Harbour Light programme, beginning at 8 a.m.

A Junior Youth Council, sort of like a Sunday School programme, will be held at 10.30 a.m. for children aged seven to twelve years, and that will be followed by separate men?s? and women?s rallies at 11am. The theme for the men?s rally is ?Playing for Keeps,? while the women will focus on ?Past, Present and Future.? Both are expected to be upbeat.

Today?s events will be concluded with a Celebration of Talents, a variety entertainment show, featuring the talents of members at all the different Salvation Army congregations across the island.

The final events for the weekend will be held tomorrow, with Prayer Cells at 9 a.m., a worship service at 10.30 a.m. and a praise service at 4 p.m.

All events will be held at the Hamilton Princess. Special guest for the event is Commissioner M. Christine MacMillian, Territorial Commander and Territorial President of Women?s Ministries.

For more information on the Salvation Army in Bermuda, visit their websites at or or call 292-0601.