Theodore Kitching
Encyclopedia
Commissioner
Theodore Hopkins Kitching CBE
(29 December 1866 – 10 February 1930) was a prominent officer in The Salvation Army
, acting as Secretary and confidant to Generals
William Booth
and Bramwell Booth
, and was The Salvation Army's International Secretary for Europe from 1914 to 1916.
Born in Ackworth
in Yorkshire
, the third of eleven children born to school teachers William Kitching and his wife Louisa (née
Wilmot), Theodore Kitching was originally a school teacher and a Quaker. He joined The Salvation Army in 1882 aged 16 at a meeting in Bristol
, England
, and became a Salvation Army officer in 1888, serving in Britain, France, Switzerland, and Belgium. He was Secretary to William Booth
, the Founder and first General
of The Salvation Army
, from 1909 to 1912, Secretary to General Bramwell Booth
from 1912 to 1914, and was the Salvation Army's International Secretary for Europe from 1914 to 1916, Salvation Army Editor-in-Chief 1921 to 1929, and head of The Salvation Army Literary Department and Translations Bureau. In addition, Kitching was a close confidant of both William Booth and his son Bramwell.
Kitching accompanied General William Booth on his last tour of the United States in 1907, when they were both filmed working in an "office" - actually a set in an open-air studio. He wrote numerous hymn
s including How Wonderful It Is to Walk with God Kitching was appointed a Companion of the British Empire
(CBE) in 1920.
Commissioner Theodore Kitching married Jane Cranshaw and with her had four children, the oldest of whom was Wilfred Kitching
, who became the 7th General of The Salvation Army.
General
Edward Higgins
decided to send Kitching to Switzerland on a delicate mission which required a man with diplomatic skills. Therefore, early on 10 February 1930 Kitching left his Ealing
home for Paris
en route for Geneva
. In Paris he was met by an old Salvationist friend who took him to the restaurant at the Gare du Nord
. Kitching suddenly slumped forward, as if overcome by fatigue, his head resting on his friend's shoulder. He had died of a heart attack.
Theodore Kitching died (or was Promoted to Glory
) in Paris on 10 February 1930, and, like many prominent Salvation Army officers, was buried in Abney Park Cemetery
in Stoke Newington
.
Commissioner in The Salvation Army
The rank of Commissioner in The Salvation Army is the second highest rank attainable by Officers in the organisation, and the highest 'appointed' rank, as the rank of General is by election...
Theodore Hopkins Kitching CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(29 December 1866 – 10 February 1930) was a prominent officer in The Salvation Army
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....
, acting as Secretary and confidant to Generals
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...
and Bramwell Booth
Bramwell Booth
Bramwell Booth, CH was the first Chief of Staff and the second General of The Salvation Army , succeeding his father, William Booth.-Biography:...
, and was The Salvation Army's International Secretary for Europe from 1914 to 1916.
Born in Ackworth
Ackworth, West Yorkshire
Ackworth is a village and civil parish in the metropolitan borough of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England, situated between Pontefract, Barnsley and Doncaster on the small River Went. The village consists of four parts, High Ackworth, Low Ackworth, Ackworth Moortop, and Brackenhill...
in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, the third of eleven children born to school teachers William Kitching and his wife Louisa (née
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Wilmot), Theodore Kitching was originally a school teacher and a Quaker. He joined The Salvation Army in 1882 aged 16 at a meeting in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, 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...
, and became a Salvation Army officer in 1888, serving in Britain, France, Switzerland, and Belgium. He was Secretary to William Booth
William Booth
William Booth was a British Methodist preacher who founded The Salvation Army and became its first General...
, the Founder and first 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...
of The Salvation Army
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....
, from 1909 to 1912, Secretary to General Bramwell Booth
Bramwell Booth
Bramwell Booth, CH was the first Chief of Staff and the second General of The Salvation Army , succeeding his father, William Booth.-Biography:...
from 1912 to 1914, and was the Salvation Army's International Secretary for Europe from 1914 to 1916, Salvation Army Editor-in-Chief 1921 to 1929, and head of The Salvation Army Literary Department and Translations Bureau. In addition, Kitching was a close confidant of both William Booth and his son Bramwell.
Kitching accompanied General William Booth on his last tour of the United States in 1907, when they were both filmed working in an "office" - actually a set in an open-air studio. He wrote numerous hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
s including How Wonderful It Is to Walk with God Kitching was appointed a Companion of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(CBE) in 1920.
Commissioner Theodore Kitching married Jane Cranshaw and with her had four children, the oldest of whom was Wilfred Kitching
Wilfred Kitching
Wilfred Kitching, CBE was the 7th General of The Salvation Army .Born in Wood Green, London, United Kingdom to Theodore and Jane Kitching , and educated at the Friern Barnet Grammar School, he became a Salvation Army Officer at age 20 in 1914...
, who became the 7th General of The Salvation Army.
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...
Edward Higgins
Edward Higgins
Edward John Higgins was the third General of The Salvation Army .He was born in Highbridge, Somerset, England. His father became a much revered Commissioner in the Army's ranks, and travelled extensively in the interests of the organisation. His mother died when he was 8 years of age.He became an...
decided to send Kitching to Switzerland on a delicate mission which required a man with diplomatic skills. Therefore, early on 10 February 1930 Kitching left his Ealing
Ealing
Ealing is a suburban area of west London, England and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Ealing. It is located west of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically a rural village...
home for Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
en route for Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. In Paris he was met by an old Salvationist friend who took him to the restaurant at the Gare du Nord
Gare du Nord
Paris Nord is one of the six large terminus railway stations of the SNCF mainline network for Paris, France. It offers connections with several urban transportation lines, including Paris Métro and RER...
. Kitching suddenly slumped forward, as if overcome by fatigue, his head resting on his friend's shoulder. He had died of a heart attack.
Theodore Kitching died (or was Promoted to Glory
Promoted to Glory
Promoted to Glory is a term used by The Salvation Army to describe the death of a Salvationist.Earliest printed usage of the term seems to be in late 1882 in The War Cry, which included death announcements in the December 14 issue, with headlines such as 'Promotion of Sister Muxlow from Earth to...
) in Paris on 10 February 1930, and, like many prominent Salvation Army officers, was buried in Abney Park Cemetery
Abney Park Cemetery
Abney Park in Stoke Newington, in the London Borough of Hackney, is a historic parkland originally laid out in the early 18th century by Lady Mary Abney and Dr. Isaac Watts, and the neighbouring Hartopp family. In 1840 it became a non-denominational garden cemetery, semi-public park arboretum, and...
in Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington is a district in the London Borough of Hackney. It is north-east of Charing Cross.-Boundaries:In modern terms, Stoke Newington can be roughly defined by the N16 postcode area . Its southern boundary with Dalston is quite ill-defined too...
.
External links
- Kitching on 'The Salvation Army Collectables' website
- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B01EFDC1138E633A25757C1A96E9C946496D6CF'Colonel Kitching of The Salvation Army Gives His Impressions Gained in Many Cities' The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
14 August 1915]