As a teenager, he began preaching at Salvation Army open-air meetings, where he would often end by singing and playing his concertina.

[2] In 1891, during a great depression, Ballington Booth instituted men's shelters similar to one begun in San Francisco.

Although Ballington and Maud Booth played a great part in organizing and structuring The Salvation Army in the United States, the couple left The Salvation Army when the organization reassigned them to positions outside the United States.

[3] In addition, Ballington Booth began to be in open conflict with his brother Bramwell, who served as Chief of the Staff of The Salvation Army.

At the same time The Salvation Army was allowed to send its personnel with the American Expeditionary Force.