Pentecostal History Overturned - Bethel was a Sandford School
Newspaper archives have now been made available detailing the history of Charles Fox Parham's Bethel school, where it is believed that Pentecostal speaking in tongues originated. While this new information is still under analysis, the details suggest that cult leader Frank Sandford from Maine's "Holy Ghost and Us Society" helped Charles Fox Parham create a branch of the "Holy Ghost and Us Bible School" at Bethel. Parham, as you know, denied his work with Sandford after one "Lizzie Bell" was rendered insane after an attempt at "healing" through Sandford's cult practice.
Newspaper archives have now been made available detailing the history of Charles Fox Parham's Bethel school, where it is believed that Pentecostal speaking in tongues originated. While this new information is still under analysis, the details suggest that cult leader Frank Sandford from Maine's "Holy Ghost and Us Society" helped Charles Fox Parham create a branch of the "Holy Ghost and Us Bible School" at Bethel. Parham, as you know, denied his work with Sandford after one "Lizzie Bell" was rendered insane after an attempt at "healing" through Sandford's cult practice.
In June of 1900, "faith healing" cult leader Rev. Frank W. Sandford came to Topeka in an effort to recruit new converts to his sect at Shiloh Maine, taking them to what he called the "Mission Training School".[1] This was Sandford's first visit to Topeka, which was arranged after recruiting new members in Kansas City.[2] During his visit to Parham's commune, Sandford convinced Miss Lizzie Bell, daughter of Rev. J. M. Bell, Charles Fox Parham,[3] Ida and Cora Miller, Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Matchet, and others to follow him to the Holy Ghost Society in Maine.[4] Sixty converts in all traveled from Parham's Bethel commune after Sandford's recruiting meetings in Topeka.[5]
Charles Fox Parham attended the school in Shiloh, ME,[6] and then led Sandford's group on this trip from Kansas City to his commune in Topeka, and then finally to Sandford's sect in Maine.[7] After returning from Maine, Parham started his own splinter group in Topeka,[8] and started traveling to recruit other members to the "Holy Ghost and Us Society" for Frank Sandford. In fact, Parham worked both in Kansas City and in Topeka recruiting members into Sandford's sect.[9] Parham had a small congregation in Topeka, but it was not until working with Sandford that his ministry began to become recognized.[10]
I had heard a great deal of the wonderful work of Mr. Sandford and of his travels through the west to secure recruits for his Bible class in Shiloh. When he reached Kansas City I was told of it and wished to meet him, but had no money. Nevertheless, I went ahead with my preparations for the trip with perfect faith that the necessary money would be forthcoming. On Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock, I had just $5, but before train time a woman handed me $20. I bought a ticket to Kansas City, where, with the others of the company who were going to Shiloh, I bought a ticket to Chicago. We were $500 short of the amount needed to pay our fare to Maine when we reached that city. Several days were spent in prayer and one morning a telegram came with $250 and later another sum was received. We went to Boston and there took a steamer for Portland, Me. The rest of the journey was covered by rail. When I reached Shiloh I had less than $1., but shortly afterward $15 was wired to me, so that, although I had been away from home three weeks, I still had about $15.[11]
After leading a colony of converts to the school in Maine, Parham returned to Topeka and started his school at "Stone's Folly". Most of Parham's converts were from the recruiting efforts in Kansas City — not from Topeka.[12] It was during the time of Parham's allegiance to Sandford that he began claiming to be an "apostle from God", [13] and that members of his sect began speaking in tongues.[14] The first known instance of speaking in tongues came from one Miss Auswin, but it was not speaking per se. Instead, Miss Auswin allegedly "wrote in tongues." Members of Parham's sect believed that the writing, which was unintelligible, was inspired by God.[15] According to S. J. Riggins, who was a Parahm convert and went with Parham's group to Bethel, the unusual events taking place at Parham's Bethel — which included speaking in tongues — did not occur until after visiting Frank Sandford in Maine.[16]
Though the characters written and words spoken did not resemble other languages, converts to the sect believed them to be words in the Syrian, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and other languages.[17]
References
[1] Driven Insane. Topeka Young Woman's Sad Experience in Maine: Lizzie Bell Entered F. W. Sandford's "Rest. 1900, Sep, 11. Topeka State Journal. "1900/11/09 Driven Insane. Topeka Young Woman's Sad Experience in Maine: Lizzie Bell Entered F. W. Sandford's "Rest Rest". 1900, Sept 11. Topeka State Journal Rest". 1900, Sept 11. Topeka State Journal."
[2] Driven Insane. 1900, Sep, 11. Topeka State Journal. "1900/11/09 Driven Insane Sandford was never heard of in Topeka until his visit here. He came to Kansas City from Tacoma, Wash., with a company of converts in a special car. Arrangements had been made to keep this car for the rest of the trip to Shiloh, but through some misunderstanding, this plan was abolished. While in Kansas City a number of young women converts to the new faith joined the company with the intention of going to Sandford's school in Maine Sandford was never heard of in Topeka until his visit here. He came to Kansas City from Tacoma, Wash., with a company of converts in a special car. Arrangements had been made to keep this car for the rest of the trip to Shiloh, but through some misunderstanding, this plan was abolished. While in Kansas City a number of young women converts to the new faith joined the company with the intention of going to Sandford's school in Maine."
[3] A Queer Faith: Strange Actions of the Apostolic Believers. 1901, Jan, 6. Topeka Daily Capital. "1901/06/01 A Queer Faith: Strange Actions of the Apostolic Believers Mr. Parham, it will be remembered, was a student at the Apostolic school at Shiloh, Me., which gained so much prominence lately when Lizzie Bell, the young Topeka girl wandered away from the school in a temporary fit of insanity"
[4] Driven Insane. 1900, Sep, 11. Topeka State Journal. "1900/11/09 Driven Insane From Kansas City he came to Topeka with eight of his workers. They were in Topeka about three days. During that time they persuaded Miss Bell, Misses Ida and Cora Miller, who lived on Van Buren street, and Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Matchet to join the company From Kansas City he came to Topeka with eight of his workers. They were in Topeka about three days. During that time they persuaded Miss Bell, Misses Ida and Cora Miller, who lived on Van Buren street, and Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Matchet to join the company."
[5] Her Pitiful Story. Lizzie Bell Tells Why She Left Shiloh Church. 1900, Sep, 16. The Topeka Daily Capital. "1900/16/09 Her Pitiful Story. Lizzie Bell Tells Why She Left Shiloh Church 'I came east with Mr. Sandford's sixty converts,' she said. 'He preached at Topeka and evinced much sincerity and held out so many inducements regarding the spiritual attractions of his work that I felt drawn to him and to Shiloh"
[6] A Queer Faith: Strange Actions of the Apostolic Believers. 1901, Jan, 6. Topeka Daily Capital. "1901/06/01 A Queer Faith: Strange Actions of the Apostolic Believers Mr. Parham, it will be remembered, was a student at the Apostolic school at Shiloh, Me., which gained so much prominence lately when Lizzie Bell, the young Topeka girl wandered away from the school in a temporary fit of insanity"
[7] A Queer Faith: Strange Actions of the Apostolic Believers. 1901, Jan, 6. Topeka Daily Capital. "1901/06/01 A Queer Faith: Strange Actions of the Apostolic Believers Parham led a colony to this Maine school from Kansas City and Topeka traveling overland to the New England town and holding gospel meetings on the way. Miss Bell went with this colony of religious enthusiasts Parham led a colony to this Maine school from Kansas City and Topeka traveling overland to the New England town and holding gospel meetings on the way. Miss Bell went with this colony of religious enthusiasts."
[8] A Queer Faith: Strange Actions of the Apostolic Believers. 1901, Jan, 6. Topeka Daily Capital. "1901/06/01 A Queer Faith: Strange Actions of the Apostolic Believers Parham afterwards returned to Topeka and started a 'school' or 'congregation' at the old Stone mansion in the southwestern part of this city, near Seabrook Parham afterwards returned to Topeka and started a 'school' or 'congregation' at the old Stone mansion in the southwestern part of this city, near Seabrook."
[9] How Parham Rode: He and Lizzie Bell Traveled by Prayer: Topeka Apostle Has Returned as Far as Kansas City From Maine. 1900, Nov, 3. "1900/03/11 How Parham Rode: He and Lizzie Bell Traveled by Prayer: Topeka Apostle Has Returned as Far as Kansas City From Maine Mr. Parham is now helping in some meetings which are being held in the Shiloh Mission in Kansas City. He says that he has made the entire trip to Shiloh and return through the efficacious power of prayer Mr. Parham is now helping in some meetings which are being held in the Shiloh Mission in Kansas City. He says that he has made the entire trip to Shiloh and return through the efficacious power of prayer."
[10] Row At Bethel. 1901, Jan, 7. Topeka State Journal. "1901/07/01 Row At Bethel The Bible school was started at Stone's Folly some months ago by Mr. Parham, who for several years has been the pastor of the Apostolic congregation in this city. He was brought into some prominence last fall through being connected for a time with Rev. Sandborn, [sig] who took a class of about sixty to his Bible school at Shiloh, Me The Bible school was started at Stone's Folly some months ago by Mr. Parham, who for several years has been the pastor of the Apostolic congregation in this city. He was brought into some prominence last fall through being connected for a time with Rev. Sandborn, [sig] who took a class of about sixty to his Bible school at Shiloh, Me."
[11] How Parham Rode. 1900, Nov, 3. "1900/03/11 How Parham Rode"
[12] A Queer Faith. 1901, Jan, 6. Topeka Daily Capital. "1901/06/01 A Queer Faith Topeka Daily Capital. "Most of the thirty-five members are from Kansas City -- coming here with Mr. Parham -- but few are from Topeka Topeka Daily Capital. "Most of the thirty-five members are from Kansas City -- coming here with Mr. Parham -- but few are from Topeka."
[13] A Queer Faith. 1901, Jan, 6. Topeka Daily Capital. "1901/06/01 A Queer Faith The leader, Parham, claims to be an apostle from God and there are several members who claim to be endowed with power from on high The leader, Parham, claims to be an apostle from God and there are several members who claim to be endowed with power from on high."
[14] A Queer Faith. 1901, Jan, 6. Topeka Daily Capital. "1901/06/01 A Queer Faith But the really strange feature of the faith is the so-called "gift of tongue from heaven". When this is received after long-continued prayer, the members who succeed in getting it talk to each other in a sort of senseless gibberish and write a strange system of shorthand or hieroglyphics, which they say is conveyed from God personally But the really strange feature of the faith is the so-called "gift of tongue from heaven". When this is received after long-continued prayer, the members who succeed in getting it talk to each other in a sort of senseless gibberish and write a strange system of shorthand or hieroglyphics, which they say is conveyed from God personally."
[15] A Queer Faith. 1901, Jan, 6. Topeka Daily Capital. "1901/06/01 A Queer Faith Miss Auswin's Handwriting Which The Apostolic Brethren Claim, Is Inspired by God Himself Miss Auswin's Handwriting Which The Apostolic Brethren Claim, Is Inspired by God Himself."
[16] Row At Bethel. 1901, Jan, 7. Topeka State Journal. "1901/07/01 Row At Bethel After staying at the school the last time things came to a pretty pass. They began to claim the gift of tongues and the gift of discernment, and each talked a different kind of gibberish, claiming to be inspired by God, and that they talked one of the foreign languages After staying at the school the last time things came to a pretty pass. They began to claim the gift of tongues and the gift of discernment, and each talked a different kind of gibberish, claiming to be inspired by God, and that they talked one of the foreign languages."
[17] Row At Bethel. 1901, Jan, 7. Topeka State Journal. "1901/07/01 Row At Bethel It is a peculiar sight to see a whole room full of the men and women of the school sitting around, occasionally breaking out with brief outbursts of talk in one of the many languages which they claim to speak, and writing the quaint and indistinguishable hieroglyphics which they believe to be the characters for words in the Syrian, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and other languages It is a peculiar sight to see a whole room full of the men and women of the school sitting around, occasionally breaking out with brief outbursts of talk in one of the many languages which they claim to speak, and writing the quaint and indistinguishable hieroglyphics which they believe to be the characters for words in the Syrian, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and other languages."