Being the son of Salvation Army officers, he moved frequently from one home to another as his parents postings necessitated.

At the age of nineteen Clarence became a cadet at The Salvation Army Training College in Toronto, and was commissioned as an officer on July 4, 1927, with the rank of lieutenant.

After two years as chaplain, Clarence Wiseman received orders to resign his military commission, and was appointed as senior representative for The Salvation Army Canadian War Services, with headquarters in Cockspur Street, just off Trafalgar Square.

Three years later he was appointed chief secretary, second in command of The Salvation Army's forces in Canada and Bermuda.

He was duly elected to serve as the tenth general of The Salvation Army, taking command on July 6, 1974.

In 1976, he was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada "for his life-long dedication in the service of the Army and his inspiring leadership at home and abroad".