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Table of Contents
High Council
The High Council is an international group of Salvation Army officers composed of active Commissioners and Territorial Commanders with the rank of full Colonel who have held the rank for at least two years, who elect the General.
It was established in 1904 by General William Booth as a safeguard to allow the removal from office of an incumbent General who had become, for whatever reason, unfit to continue to exercise oversight, direction and control of The Salvation Army. He intended that the normal method of succession would be for the General in office to select his successor. General Bramwell Booth was the only General ever selected this way in 1912.
By November 1928, Bramwell Booth had been absent from International Headquarters for seven months on account of illness, and a High Council was called. The 63 members, being all the commissioners on active service and certain territorial commanders, gathered at Sunbury Court near London on January 8, 1929 and eventually voted that the General, then aged 73, was 'unfit on the ground of ill-health' to continue in office. On February 13, 1929, the High Council elected Commissioner Edward J. Higgins as the Army's third General.
1929
The first High Council occurred from January 8 until February 13. The President was Commissioner James Hay and the Vice President was Lt. Commissioner William Haines. General-Elect Edward Higgins was announced.
Nominees
- Commissioner Catherine Booth
- Commander Evangeline Booth
- Commissioner James Hay
- Commissioner Edward Higgins
- Commissioner Samuel Hurren
- Commissioner Henry Mapp
- Lt. Commissioner Charles Rich
Candidates
- Commander Evangeline Booth
- Commissioner Edward Higgins
1934
The second High Council ran from August 28 until September 3. The President was Commissioner Karl Larsson and the Vice President was Lt. Commissioner George Carpenter. General-Elect Evangeline Booth was announced.
Nominees
- Commander Evangeline Booth
- Commissioner Catherine Booth
- Commissioner James Hay
- Commissioner Samuel Hurren
- Commissioner David Lamb
- Commissioner Henry Mapp
- Commissioner John McMillan
Candidates
- Commander Evangeline Booth
- Commissioner Catherine Booth
- Commissioner Samuel Hurren
- Commissioner David Lamb
- Commissioner Henry Mapp
1939
The third High Council ran from August 15 to August 24. The President was Commissioner Edward Parker and the Vice President was Commissioner Charles Baugh. General-Elect George Carpenter was announced.
Nominees
- Commissioner Charles Baugh
- Commissioner Catherine Booth
- Commissioner George Carpenter
- Commissioner Alfred Cunningham
- Lt. Commissioner William Dalziel
- Commissioner Alexander Damon
- Commissioner Samuel Hurren
- Commissioner John McMillan
- Commissioner Benjamin Orames
- Lt. Commissioner Albert Orsborn
Candidates
- Commissioner Catherine Booth
- Commissioner George Carpenter
- Lt. Commissioner William Dalziel
- Commissioner Alexander Damon
- Commissioner Benjamin Orames
- Lt. Commissioner Albert Orsborn
1946
The fourth High Council ran from April 25 to May 9. The President was Commissioner Frank Dyer and the Vice President was Lt. Commissioner Norman Marshall followed by Commissioner Ejner Thkjaer. General-Elect Albert Orsborn was announced.
Nominees
- Commissioner Frank Barrett
- Commissioner Charles Baugh
- Commissioner Catherine Booth
- Commissioner William Dalziel
- Lt. Commissioner Norman Marshall
- Commissioner William Maxwell
- Commissioner Donald McMillan
- Lt. Commissioner Tobias Ögrim
- Commissioner Benjamin Orames
- Commissioner Albert Orsborn
- Commissioner Ernest Pugmire
- Commissioner Phyllis Taylor
Candidates
- Commissioner Frank Barrett
- Commissioner Charles Baugh
- Commissioner Catherine Booth
- Commissioner William Dalziel
- Lt. Commissioner Norman Marshall
- Commissioner William Maxwell
- Commissioner Benjamin Orames
- Commissioner Albert Orsborn
1954
The fifth High Council ran from April 29 to May 11. The President was Commissioner William Dalziel and the Vice Presidents were Commissoner Emma Davies and Commissioner Ejner Thkjaer. General-Elect Wilfred Kitching was anounced.
Nominees
- Commissioner John Allan
- Lt. Commissioner Wycliffe Booth
- Commissioner Edgar Dibden
- Commissioner Wilfred Kitching
- Commissioner Herbert Lord
- Commissioner Norman Marshall
- General Albert Orsborn
Candidates
- Lt. Commissioner Wycliffe Booth
- Commissioner Wilfred Kitching
- Commissioner Herbert Lord
- Commissioner Norman Marshall
1963
The sixth High Council ran from September 19 until October 1. The President was Commissioner Norman Marshall and the Vice President was Commissioner Owen Culshaw. General-Elect Frederick Coutts was announced.
Nominees
- Commissioner Wycliffe Booth
- Commissioner Frederick Coutts
- Commissioner Edgar Grinsted
- Commissioner Glenn Ryan
- Commissioner Erik Wickberg
- Lt. Commissioner Clarence Wiseman
Candidates
- Commissioner Wycliffe Booth
- Commissioner Frederick Coutts
- Commissioner Edgar Grinsted
- Commissioner Glenn Ryan
- Commissioner Erik Wickberg
- Lt. Commissioner Clarence Wiseman
1969
The seventh High Council ran from July 17 to July 23. The President was Commissioner Hubert Scotney and the Vice President was Commissioner Samuel Hepburn. General-Elect Erik Wickberg was announced.
Nominees
- Commissioner Edward Carey
- Commissioner Francis Evans
- Commissioner Albert Mingay
- Commissioner Hubert Scotney
- Commissioner Kaare Westergaard
- Commissioner Erik Wickberg
- Commissioner Clarence Wiseman
Candidates
- Commissioner Kaare Westergaard
- Commissioner Erik Wickberg
1974
The eighth High Council ran from May 4 to May 13. The President was Commissioner Clarence Wiseman followed by Commissioner Francis Evans. The Vice President was Commissioner Francis Evans followed by Commissioner Paul Carlson. General-Elect Clarence Wiseman was announced.
Nominees
- Commissioner Arnold Brown
- Commissioner Geoffrey Dalziel
- Commissioner Paul Kaiser
- Commissioner Leslie Pindred
- Commissioner Bramwell Tripp
- Commissioner Clarence Wiseman
Candidates
- Commissioner Arnold Brown
- Commissioner Geoffrey Dalziel
- Commissioner Paul Kaiser
- Commissioner Clarence Wiseman
1977
The ninth High Council ran from April 29 to May 5. The President was Commissioner Bramwell Tripp and the Vice President was Commissioner Leslie Pindred. General-Elect Arnold Brown was announced.
Nominees
- Commissioner Arnold Brown
- Commissioner Stanley Cottrill
- Commissioner Geoffrey Dalziel
- Commissioner Harry Williams
Candidates
- Commissioner Arnold Brown
- Commissioner Harry Williams
1981
The tenth High Council ran from October 16 to October 23. The President was Commissioner William Goodier and the Vice President was Commissioner Eva Burrows. General-Elect Jarl Wahlström was announced.
Nominees
- Commissioner Caughey Gauntlett
- Commissioner Arthur Holland
- Commissioner Denis Hunter
- Commissioner Norman Marshall
- Commissioner John D Needham
- Commissioner George Nelting
- Commissioner Howard Orsborn
- Commissioner Arthur Pitcher
- Commissioner Jarl Wahlström
Candidates
- Commissioner Caughey Gauntlett
- Commissioner Denis Hunter
- Commissioner Norman Marshall
- Commissioner Howard Orsborn
- Commissioner Arthur Pitcher
- Commissioner Jarl Wahlström
1986
The eleventh High Council ran from April 25 to May 2. The President was Commissioner Norman Marshall and the Vice President was Commissioner Anna Hannevik. General-Elect Eva Burrows was announced.
Nominees
- Commissioner Eva Burrows
- Commissioner Francy Cachelin
- Commissioner William Cairns
- Commissioner Ron Cox
- Commissioner Stanley Ditmer
- Commissioner Caughey Gauntlett
- Colonel Wesley Harris
- Commissioner Norman Marshall
- Commissioner Andrew Miller
- Commissioner William Pratt
- Commissioner Harry Read
- Commissioner Robert Rightmire
- Commissioner Mannam Samuel
Candidates
- Commissioner Eva Burrows
- Commissioner Francy Cachelin
- Commissioner William Cairns
- Colonel Wesley Harris
- Commissioner Andrew Miller
- Commissioner Harry Read
- Commissioner Mannam Samuel
1993
The twelfth High Council ran from April 22 to April 28. The President was Commissioner James Osborne and the Vice President was Commissioner Wesley Harris. General-Elect Bramwell Tillsley was announced.
Nominees
- Commissioner Peter Chang
- Commissioner John Gowans
- Commissioner Kenneth Hodder
- Commissioner Earle Maxwell
- Commissioner James Osborne
- Commissioner Dinsdale Pender
- Commissioner Paul Rader
- Commissioner Bramwell Tillsley
Candidates
- Commissioner John Gowans
- Commissioner Kenneth Hodder
- Commissioner Earle Maxwell
- Commissioner Dinsdale Pender
- Commissioner Paul Rader
- Commissioner Bramwell Tillsley
1994
The 13th High Council ran from July 19 to July 23. The President was Commissioner Kenneth Hodder and the Vice President was Commissioner John Clinch. General-Elect Paul Rader was announced.
Nominees
- Commissioner John Gowans
- Commissioner Kenneth Hodder
- Commissioner Ronald Irwin
- Commissioner Ah Ang Lim
- Commissioner Earle Maxwell
- Commissioner Paul Rader
Candidates
- Commissioner John Gowans
- Commissioner Earle Maxwell
- Commissioner Paul Rader
1999
The 14th High Council ran from May 6 to May 15. The President was Commissioner Robert Watson and the Vice President was Commissioner Verna Skinner. General-Elect John Gowans was announced.
Nominees
- Colonel Shaw Clifton
- Commissioner Douglas Davis
- Commissioner David Edwards
- Colonel Israel Gaither
- Commissioner John Gowans
- Commissioner John Larsson
- Commissioner Earle Maxwell
- Commissioner Robert Watson
Candidates
- Colonel Shaw Clifton
- Colonel Israel Gaither
- Commissioner John Gowans
- Commissioner John Larsson
- Commissioner Earle Maxwell
2002
General-Elect John Larsson was elected on September 6.
Candidates
2006
General-Elect Shaw Clifton was elected on January 28.
Candidates
2011
The 17th High Council convened on Friday, January 21, 2011, at Sunbury Court, United Kingdom. On January 31, General-Elect Linda Bond was announced.
Candidates
- Commissioner Linda Bond
- Commissioner Max Feener
- Commissioner William Francis
- Commissioner Dick Krommenhoek
- Commissioner M. Christine MacMillan
- Commissioner John Matear
- Commissioner William Roberts
- Commissioner Robert Street
- Commissioner Barry Swanson
2013
The 18th High Council convened on Monday, July 29, 2013, at the Renaissance Hotel, London Heathrow, United Kingdom. On August 3, General-Elect André Cox was announced with immediate effect.
Candidates
- Commissioner André Cox
- Commissioner Kenneth G Hodder
- Commissioner James Knaggs
- Commissioner Dick Krommenhoek
- Commissioner Barry Swanson
2018
The 19th High Council convened on May 17, 2018. On May 24, General-Elect Brian Peddle was announced.
Candidates
- Commissioner Brad Bailey
- Commissioner William Cochrane
- Commissioner Kenneth G Hodder
- Commissioner E. Jane Paone
- Commissioner Brian Peddle
- Commissioner Dick Krommenhoek (Nominated but declined)
- Commissioner Benjamin Mnyampi (Nominated but declined)
- Commissioner Floyd Tidd (Nominated but declined)
- Commissioner Mark Tillsley (Nominated but declined)
2023
The 20th High Council was convened on May 24, 2023. General-Elect Lyndon Buckingham was announced.
Candidates
- Commissioner Lyndon Buckingham
- Commissioner Merle Heatwole
- Commissioner Kenneth G Hodder
- Colonel Diana MacDonald
- Commissioner Keith Conrad (Nominated but declined)