Jim Jones and the Herald of Faith Fellowship
Special thanks to our researchers who are still digging through the archives to identify the significant connection between Rev. Jim Jones of Peoples Temple in Indianapolis, Rev. Joseph Mattsson-Boze of the Philadelphia Church in Chicago, and Rev. William Branham. The picture that is being painted by the research data surfacing in the archives is starting to become more clear, and it is very easy to understand why this history has been "re-written" by all parties involved. Jim Jones was a significant part of the "Message" cult following of William Branham, and Branham was the leader of the Post WWII Healing Revival. Every single minister connected to Branham who spread Branham's extra- and anti-biblical doctrines stood much to lose.
Special thanks to our researchers who are still digging through the archives to identify the significant connection between Rev. Jim Jones of Peoples Temple in Indianapolis, Rev. Joseph Mattsson-Boze of the Philadelphia Church in Chicago, and Rev. William Branham. The picture that is being painted by the research data surfacing in the archives is starting to become more clear, and it is very easy to understand why this history has been "re-written" by all parties involved. Jim Jones was a significant part of the "Message" cult following of William Branham, and Branham was the leader of the Post WWII Healing Revival. Every single minister connected to Branham who spread Branham's extra- and anti-biblical doctrines stood much to lose.
New Jim Jones and Peoples Temple History Page Added and Documents Uploaded!
https://william-branham.org/social/topics/1953_voice_of_healing_convention
In 1953, many members of William Branham's campaign team and partners in the revival discovered serious issues with Branham, his teaching, and presumably the fictional elements of his stage persona. During a Baxter-Branham event advertised in Connorsville, IN,[1] partner, campaign manager,[2] and long-time supporter Ern Baxter refused to show at the event.[3] Branham described it as a difference of opinion,[4] while Baxter described it as false teaching that bore rotten fruit.[5]
This abandonment of Branham continued until the Voice of Healing Convention held on December 11, 1953, in Chicago. Branham had been advertised as the featured speaker at the event,[6] and Joseph Mattsson-Boze heavily advertised Branham's revival among the Latter Rain sect. When Branham arrived, however, he was quickly led into a private room and given an ultimatum: correct the doctrine or be denied permission to speak at the convention:
Rev. Branham arrived early for the service and was met by some of The Voice of Healing men in the vestibule, taken into another room in the back of the auditorium and given an ultimatum. He did not bow to the ultimatum, as he wanted to preserve his God-given freedom, and continue as a voice of God instead of being an echo of other men. He was told that he would not be permitted to speak to the Convention. He was asked to leave, which he did.[7]
Joseph Mattson-Boze was furious. William Branham was scheduled to hold a revival at Boze's church, and The Voice of Healing revivalists and leaders gave Branham a choice: either he refuse to speak at Joseph Mattsson-Boze's church or they would refuse to let him speak at the Convention.[8] Joseph Mattsson-Boze was a recognized leader in the Latter Rain movement, which was causing a massive split in Pentecostalism. After being rejected by The Voice of Healing revivalists, Branham spoke to Boze's congregation on December 12 and 13, 1953.[9]
In the January 1954 issue of his The Herald of Faith newsletter, Boze published An Open Letter to the Voice of Healing demanding that Branham's campaign team, partners, and other revivalists responsible for Branham's rejection give an explanation.[10]
When Gordon Lindsay and the editors of The Voice of Healing did not respond by March, Joseph Mattsson Boze wrote another open letter demanding a response.[11] Boze threatened to tell the world what happened, from William Branham's perspective, in the April issue if a response was not given.[12] Again, no explanation was given by Gordon Lindsay and The Voice of Healing. True to his word, Boze printed an editorial giving readers the full explanation as to how and why Branham was rejected, interviewing William Branham for the article.[13] Branham himself described how it happened:
I got in the car and went over to the Convention, and just as I walked into the front door, Brother ______ got me by the arm and rushed me into a side room and said, 'Come here just a minute, Brother Branham.' I didn't get to see the audience. Then in came Brother ______, one of the others of The Voice of Healing, and he said, 'Brother Branham'. They put the same thing to me and said, 'now you make your choice.' I said, 'I'm going to stick with Brother Mattsson Boze on my promise. I said, 'That's definite.' Then some ministers came in and said, 'I don't think this is right.' I said, 'Well, don't think about it, brother, it'll be all right.' So then they discussed it a little while, and then I started to go into the audience. I didn't have a chance to even meet the audience. I was at the meeting forty-five minutes before the preacher got on the platform to preach, sitting in the room waiting to be called."[14]
Branham's rejection from The Voice of Healing Conventions continued well into 1955. Branham was notably absent from the 1954 lineup of evangelists at The Voice of Healing convention in Philadelphia.[15] Joseph Mattsson-Boze, recognizing Branham's importance to the Latter Rain sect, began to promote William Branham heavily.[16] Branham's sermons were featured as articles in the Herald of Faith.[17] Branham was no longer a "Voice of Healing Revivalist," he was a "Herald of Faith" revivalist in the Herald of Faith Fellowship.
In August of 1955, Rev. Jim Jones of Peoples temple joined the Herald of Faith Fellowship, officially becoming a prominent member of William Branham's new campaign team. In the August, 1955 issue of Herald of Faith, Joseph Mattsson-Boze began printing articles written by Jim Jones and advertising conventions held by William Branham with Jim Jones.[18]
Introduction: Rev. James W. Jones, pastor of the Peoples Temple at Indianapolis, Ind., is already well known throughout the U.S.A. He is especially well known in Indiana and Ohio where he has ministered frequently. Brother Jones has built up a flourishing church in Indianapolis in a very short time. The Lord has given this fine young man an outstanding gift of healing as well as discernment. At times when Brother Jones prays with the sick of cancer the cancers come right out immediately on his command in Jesus name. Mrs. Jones, who is a registered nurse, ministers with Brother Jones. The Peoples Temple in Indianapolis is located at 15th and North New Jersey Streets, and Mrs. Jones as well as the People's Temple in the Herald of Faith fellowship.[19]
References
[1] Plan Old Fashioned Revival. 1953, Mar, 5. Palladium Item. "1953/05/03 Plan Old Fashioned Revival Palladium Item Palladium Item."
[2] Branham, William. The Beginning Of Jesus' Fame. 1953, Jun, 5. The Beginning Of Jesus' Fame (53-0605). "1953/05/06 The Beginning Of Jesus' Fame William Branham One time, it happened to be one of my managers, not Brother Baxter, but it was a man who was with us,"
[3] Branham, William. The Angel Of The Lord. 1953, Jun, 4. The Angel Of The Lord (53-0604). "1953/04/06 The Angel Of The Lord I miss Brother Baxter. We've been together so long, Brother Baxter and I, till he just seems like he's just become a part of me. I miss him when I go to at the platform. I've had some services recently by myself, and I look around for him. He's been my—not only my co-worker, but my pal William Branham I miss Brother Baxter. We've been together so long, Brother Baxter and I, till he just seems like he's just become a part of me. I miss him when I go to at the platform. I've had some services recently by myself, and I look around for him. He's been my—not only my co-worker, but my pal."
[4] Branham, William. Demonology, Physical Realm. 1953, Jun, 8. Demonology, Physical Realm (53-0608A). "1953/08/06 Demonology, Physical Realm I love my management. I have some lovely brethren, Bosworth, Baxter, Lindsay, Moore, all, has got five of them, Baron von Blomberg. They're just very fine men. But there's just something about, when you get a group of men together, one has one thing, one has another. Sometime that's contrary to what I think myself. So I—I—I feel like I'm just free now. We can just have a big time, just roll up our sleeves, and just dive in and eat. I think about rolling up your sleeves and having a—a big time William Branham I love my management. I have some lovely brethren, Bosworth, Baxter, Lindsay, Moore, all, has got five of them, Baron von Blomberg. They're just very fine men. But there's just something about, when you get a group of men together, one has one thing, one has another. Sometime that's contrary to what I think myself. So I—I—I feel like I'm just free now. We can just have a big time, just roll up our sleeves, and just dive in and eat. I think about rolling up your sleeves and having a—a big time."
[5] Baxter, Ern. New Wine Magazine, "New Wine Interviews Ern Baxter", Christian Growth Ministries, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, pp. 4-7, 22-24. "I think there can be a lesson in this. Branham, as a miracle worker, had a real place. Branham as a teacher was outside of his calling. The fruits of his teaching ministry are not good.". "Baxter, Ern. New Wine Magazine, "New Wine Interviews Ern Baxter", Christian Growth Ministries, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, pp. 4-7, 22-24. "I think there can be a lesson in this. Branham, as a miracle worker, had a real place. Branham as a teacher was outside of his calling. The fruits of his teaching ministry are not good."
[6] Mattsson-Boze, Joseph. An Open Letter to the Voice of Healing. 1954, Jan. Herald of Faith. "1954/01 Mattsson-Boze, Joseph. An Open Letter to the Voice of Healing Rev. William Branham was invited to address The Voice of Healing Convention in Chicago on Friday evening, Dec. 11. He was announced, and people were gathered to hear him. Rev. Branham arrived on time for his address Rev. William Branham was invited to address The Voice of Healing Convention in Chicago on Friday evening, Dec. 11. He was announced, and people were gathered to hear him. Rev. Branham arrived on time for his address."
[7] Mattsson-Boze, Joseph. An Open Letter to the Voice of Healing. 1954, Jan. Herald of Faith. "1954/01 Mattsson-Boze, Joseph. An Open Letter to the Voice of Healing"
[8] Mattsson-Boze, Joseph. The Voice of Healing and Rev. Wm. Branham. 1954, Apr. Herald of Faith. "1954/04 Mattsson-Boze, Joseph. The Voice of Healing and Rev. Wm. Branham He said, 'Well, they just made a decision, some of the churches here in the city and the Voice of Healing together; if you were going to preach for Brother Mattsson-Boze at the church, that they wouldn't have you to be their speaker.' 'Well,' he said, 'Now you'll have to make your decision, and if you'll cancel your meeting with Brother Boze you can speak tonight at the Convention, but otherwise they won't let you do it.'"
[9] Mattsson-Boze, Joseph. William Branham in Philadelphia Church. 1954, Jan. Herald of Faith. "1954/01 Mattsson-Boze, Joseph. William Branham in Philadelphia Church"
[10] Mattsson-Boze, Joseph. An Open Letter to the Voice of Healing. 1954, Jan. Herald of Faith. "1954/01 Mattsson-Boze, Joseph. An Open Letter to the Voice of Healing If these questions can be answered without being wrapped in religious politics, we will gladly close the subject. The truth was misrepresented to 2500 people, and The Voice of Healing owes us an answer If these questions can be answered without being wrapped in religious politics, we will gladly close the subject. The truth was misrepresented to 2500 people, and The Voice of Healing owes us an answer."
[11] Mattsson-Boze, Joseph. A Continuation of An Open Letter to the Voice of Healing. 1954, Mar. Herald of Faith. "1954/03 Mattsson-Boze, Joseph. A Continuation of An Open Letter to the Voice of Healing In the January issue of the Herald of Faith we printed an Editorial, 'An Open Letter to the Voice of Healing.' Thus far, we have not received an answer to our letter In the January issue of the Herald of Faith we printed an Editorial, 'An Open Letter to the Voice of Healing.' Thus far, we have not received an answer to our letter."
[12] Mattsson-Boze, Joseph. A Continuation of An Open Letter to the Voice of Healing. 1954, Mar. Herald of Faith. "1954/03 Mattsson-Boze, Joseph. A Continuation of An Open Letter to the Voice of Healing If, however, it is the desire of The Voice of Healing not to answer our letter, we may avail ourselves of the opportunity in our April issue to give our readers a detailed explanation of what happened at The Voice of Healing Convention in Chicago If, however, it is the desire of The Voice of Healing not to answer our letter, we may avail ourselves of the opportunity in our April issue to give our readers a detailed explanation of what happened at The Voice of Healing Convention in Chicago."
[13] Mattsson-Boze, Joseph. The Voice of Healing and Rev. Wm. Branham. 1954, Apr. Herald of Faith. "1954/04 Mattsson-Boze, Joseph. The Voice of Healing and Rev. Wm. Branham This explanation from Brother Branham was given in a meek and humble spirit, in the love of God, and free from animosity This explanation from Brother Branham was given in a meek and humble spirit, in the love of God, and free from animosity."
[14] Mattsson-Boze, Joseph. The Voice of Healing and Rev. Wm. Branham. 1954, Apr. Herald of Faith. "1954/04 Mattsson-Boze, Joseph. The Voice of Healing and Rev. Wm. Branham"
[15] Hear the World's Greatest evangelists. 1954, Oct. the Voice of Healing. "1954/10 Hear the World's Greatest evangelists"
[16] ex: "Blind See, Deaf Hear, Lame Walk!" William Branham Ministers in Germany and Switzerland. 1955, Oct. Herald of Faith. "1955/10 ex: "Blind See, Deaf Hear, Lame Walk!" William Branham Ministers in Germany and Switzerland Blind See, Deaf Hear, Lame Walk Blind See, Deaf Hear, Lame Walk!"
[17] ex: A Positive Sound. Sermon by William Branham. 1955, Oct. Herald of Faith. "1955/10 ex: A Positive Sound. Sermon by William Branham"
[18] The Annual Convention in the Philadelphia Church - Oct 2 thru 9. 1955, Sep. Herald of Faith. "1955/09 The Annual Convention in the Philadelphia Church - Oct 2 thru 9 This is a Great Convention to Create More and Wider Fellowship Among Christians and Ministers Especially William Branham {...} James Jones, Peoples Temple Indianapolis, Ind This is a Great Convention to Create More and Wider Fellowship Among Christians and Ministers Especially William Branham {...} James Jones, Peoples Temple Indianapolis, Ind."
[19] Jones, James W. The Church a Miracle and Miracles in the Church. 1955, Aug. Herald of Faith. "1955/08 Jones, James W. The Church a Miracle and Miracles in the Church"