By Roscoe Barnes III
Author, F.F. Bosworth: The Man Behind Christ the Healer
Copyright (c) 2018
#BosworthMatters
A sampling of publications by F.F. Bosworth
Note: You can read this article in a different format on the Roscoe Reporting blog. See it here.
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In his excellent article, “Publications,” which appears in the Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, historian Wayne E. Warner discusses the importance of the printed page during the early days of the Pentecostal movement.
Bosworth experienced his own Pentecost with the evidence of speaking in tongues in 1906. Two years later, he wrote about Pentecostal experiences he witnessed in revival meetings in Plymouth, Ind. His report of the meetings appeared in the December 1908 issue of The Latter Rain Evangel.
Reporting from Texas
It was in Dallas, however, where his writings caught fire and swept throughout the United States and other countries. Bosworth and his family had moved to Dallas in 1909. He planted a church that would become the First Assembly of God Church. He began his work with prayer, evangelism, and revival meetings. The meetings would intensify in terms of crowd size and spiritual activity that included reports of dramatic healings and great numbers of people being saved. Thousands of people came to the meetings.
The white people urged the Col. Leaders to send for some white Pentecostal teacher to come and help them into the Baptism. And so to accommodate these white citizens, I was sent for and of course went to the campground and on Saturday night preached to two large audiences, one white and one black. God gave unusual liberty and blessing in teaching and explaining the truths for which this movement stands, both audiences receiving the truth with great enthusiasm.
Bosworth’s reporting of the incident spread far and wide as an important statement on Pentecostalism and race relations in the segregated south. The story later appeared in his official biography by Eunice M. Perkins, Joybringer Bosworth: His Life Story, and other publications.
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‘Pen of a ready writer’
F.F. Bosworth has been quoted profusely in scores of publications. His writings have appeared in many periodicals. Publications that featured his work include The Latter Rain, Triumphs of Faith, Word and Witness, The Christian Evangel, Confidence, Herald of His Coming, Herald of Faith, Moody Bible Institute Monthly, Healing Waters, The Voice of Healing, Bread of Life, The Weekly Evangel, Pentecostal Evangel, Alliance Weekly, Kenyon’s Herald of Life. His tracts have been published by Gospel Publishing House, Pilgrim Tract Society, and Osterhus Publishing Company. His writings also appear in Healing the Sick by T. L. Osborn, William Branham: A Man Sent From God by Gordon Lindsay, and Maria Woodworth-Etter’s autobiography, A Diary of Signs and Wonders.
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One of the calls [Woodworth-Etter] accepted came from Fred F. Bosworth, a young pastor in Dallas, who later became a well-known evangelist himself. Despite the fact that the 1912 meeting proved to be a key Pentecostal meeting, the Dallas newspapers practically ignored the thousands who were meeting daily and nightly for almost 5 months. Bosworth, however, kept the news flowing into Christian publications around the world.
Some of the biggest names in Pentecost
Pentecostal editors around the world picked up Bosworth’s Dallas reports, and then other writers relayed to their constituency the exciting happenings in Dallas. The list of influential Pentecostals who flocked to Dallas reads like a “Who’s Who” of early Pentecostalism.
The revival in Dallas would last nearly 10 years. While it may not have been the biggest event in Pentecostal church history in the United States, historians acknowledge it was certainly a high point for the movement. Historian P.G. Chappell suggested: "This revival became a key Pentecostal rendezvous."
... [I]n Pentecostal studies, what Bosworth has been most noted for is his departure from the cardinal doctrine of initial evidence, resulting in his separation from the Assemblies of God in 1918. This was the second major theological challenge that the AG faced within its first five years of organization.
Radio pioneer and advisor to post-WWII revivalists
The nature of his writings
Closing thoughts
References:
Alexander, Kimberly Ervin. "A Response to 'Experience as a Catalyst for Healing Ministry: Historical Evidence and Implications From the Life of F. F. Bosworth'" by Roscoe Barnes III. Presented at the 36th Annual Meeting of the Society for Pentecostal Studies, Cleveland, TN, March 1, 2007. (See ffbosworth.strikingly.com)
------. “Confirming the Word by Signs Following -- Jesus Saves, Heals and Baptizes. Some Hear in the Language Wherein They were Born: What God is Doing in Plymouth, Ind., U.S. A." The Latter Rain Evangel, December 1908. (See ifphc.org)
------. Do all speak with tongues?: An Open Letter to the Ministers and Saints of the Pentecostal Movement. Brooklyn, NY: The Christian Alliance Publishing Company, [1920s?] (See ifphc.org)
Chappell, P.G. "Healing Movements." In Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, edited by Stanley M. Burgess and Gary B. McGee. Waxahachie, TX: Regency Reference Library, 1988.
Harrell Jr., David Edwin. All Things are Possible: The Healing and Charismatic Revivals in Modern America. Bloomington and London: Indiana University Press, 1975.
McMullen, Josh. Under the Big Top: Big Tent Revivalism and American Culture, 1885-1925. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2015.
Warner, Wayne E. “Maria Woodworth-Etter: A Powerful Voice in the Pentecostal Vanguard.” Enrichment Journal . Accessed September 25, 2018. http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/199901/086_woodsworth_etter.cfm
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Visit the F.F. Bosworth page here. Questions about the research and commentary on F.F. Bosworth may be directed to Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., via email at doctorbarnes3@gmail.com or roscoebarnes3@yahoo.com. For updates on F.F. Bosworth history, simply follow this blog or @Roscoebarnes3 on Twitter. #ChristTheHealer