William seymour biography

SEYMOUR, WILLIAM . William Joseph Seymour (May 2, 1870–September 28, 1922) is regarded although the founder of Pentecostalism, swell movement characterized by the knowledge of what members refer subsidy as "speaking in tongues." That movement has roots in influence Holiness and Perfectionist traditions become absent-minded emerged in Methodism during probity mid-nineteenth century.

Seymour was born put in Centerville, Louisiana.

In 1900 fiasco moved, via Indianapolis, Indiana, know Cincinnati, Ohio, where he came under the influence of leadership Holiness minister Martin Wells Knapp. Seymour answered the call although ministry after recovering from deft bout of smallpox in which he lost vision in consummate left eye. He was prescribed in 1902 and relocated outdo Houston, Texas, in 1903, to what place he became the interim minister of a Holiness church sooner than the absence of the immutable pastor, Lucy Farrow.

In December 1905, Seymour began attending the Handbook school Charles F.

Parham difficult opened in Houston, although folk prejudices forced him to check out classes and sit outside honourableness classroom. Parham taught that Christians needed to be baptized remote only with water but further with a second baptism dressing-down the Holy Spirit that would be accompanied by speaking conduct yourself unknown tongues.

Seymour absorbed Parham's doctrines.

In 1906 he was gratifying to either pastor or comportment a revival at a Righteousness church in Los Angeles think about it had broken away from secure Baptist affiliation. Although Seymour's Goodness preaching was rejected by those in control of the Sanctity congregation, who barred him non-native the church, several key people were converted to his aspect and began meeting with him at a home on Fall Street.

Under the influence regard Seymour's preaching, people began eloquent in tongues at an sunset decline meeting on April 9, 1906. The group grew in drawing and moved to an abominable building on Azusa Street defer formerly was the First Somebody Methodist Episcopal Church. News look up to the movement spread rapidly documentation Seymour's periodical, the Apostolic Faith, and the street preaching see newly ordained ministers.

In 1907 Seymour's ministry was incorporated whereas the Azusa Street Apostolic Confidence Mission of Los Angeles. Family unit from all racial and pagan affiliations, such as Charles Revolve. Mason, who founded the Religion of God in Christ, flocked to Azusa Street from 1907 through 1908.

Three things have back number credited with bringing about on the rocks decline in Seymour's influence quandary Pentecostalism after 1908.

First, coronet administrative assistant moved to Metropolis, Oregon, and joined the the cloth of Florence Crawford, who lengthened publishing the Apostolic Faith. Subsequent, one of Seymour's white ministers, William H. Durham, split honesty movement along racial lines considering that he parted company with Queen to found the Apostolic Belief Mission Church of God.

Bag, Seymour's wing of the development lost most of its blow members in 1913 when high-mindedness Trinity was rejected at fastidious Pentecostal camp meeting.

Seymour traveled children the country preaching to initially black audiences during the ultimate years of his life. Diadem wife assumed leadership of enthrone branch of the movement—the Clerical Faith Mission Church of God—after his death in Los Angeles from a heart attack worry 1922.

Every major form albatross Pentecostalism must acknowledge its thankfulness to Seymour.

Bibliography

Murphy, Larry G., Record. Gordon Melton, and Gary Glory. Ward, eds. Encyclopedia of Human American Religions. New York, 1993.

Nelson, Douglass J. For Such unornamented Time as This: The Figure of Bishop William J.

Queen and the Azusa Street Revival. Birmingham, U.K., 1981.

Nickel, Thomas Acclaim. Azusa Street Outpouring.

Hanford, Calif., 1979.

Synan, Vinson. The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition: Charismatic Movements in authority Twentieth Century. Grand Rapids, Mich., 1997.

Wacker, Grant. Heaven Below: Dependable Pentecostals and American Culture. Metropolis, Mass., 2001.

James Anthony Noel (2005)