Prayer Lines
Former members who were alive during William Branham's "faith healing" campaigns remember some of the more unusual events during the meetings. Some remember select people being offered wheelchairs during the long "prayer lines", especially those with back trouble or difficulty standing. To viewers in the audience, those particular cases seemed more spectacular; when viewers watched the afflicted rise from a wheelchair, it was difficult to determine which visitors entered the "prayer line" in a wheelchair. In some cases, such as William D. Upshaw, who was very mobile for decades before he entered a "prayer line", William Branham used this to his advantage by claiming that the afflicted person on the platform had been restricted to a wheelchair.
Members of Branham's campaign team often approached the "healer", handing written notes or standing unusually close for a few moments at opportune times. Often this occurred during a prayer when most of the audience had their heads bowed (and usually eyes closed), which Branham frequently asked the audience to do. After the subtle communication, Branham appears to be using color association to "mark" his next "discernment", appearing to have "spiritual insight" about the sickness or affliction of the person marked. Colors that stood out among the crowd, such as purple, were more frequently used.
Strangely, members of Branham's campaign team sitting on the platform did not obey this command, and others moved about during the prayer — as if their urgent discussions could not wait for a few minutes for the "healer" to speak to God.
Though Branham had video equipment, no videos of the "prayer lines" are available to the public. Only the "Deep Calleth to the Deep" video, prepared by Joseph Mattsson-Boze, Paul Kopp and LeRoy Kopp has been made public.
And I looked down, and I found the man. He was setting back in the audience there in a wheelchair, but I didn't get it just right. I didn't see him healed. I didn't say nothing about it. Already while I was standing here, already seen two people healed right here in the meeting tonight (That's right.), standing right here now. Oh, I know they're healed right now. That's right. And it's… I noticed it. And then when I was leaving the platform, I told my manager, Mr. Baxter, about it and that was—which was managing the meetings at that time. And the… When I went out then I seen Mr. Upshaw healed and happy. And I told Mr… I seen there it was. And here he is. He's well.Researchers who have analyzed Branham's prayer lines have noticed memorization techniques and other devices used for the spectacular effects of the stage persona. This is a difficult analysis, considering the fact that most of the "[ Blank.Spot.On.Tape ]" edits to the recordings and transcripts occur during the "prayer line" of a recording. Prayer cards were used to collect names, addresses, diseases, and other personal information prior to the meetings. Many people who submitted prayer cards in one meeting were not called to the platform, and were called to the platform in subsequent meetings without having submitted a second prayer card. Branham "supernaturally discerned" the disease or affliction listed on the prayer card in the former meetings.
Branham, William. 1951, May 1. Exhortation Of Divine Healing
Members of Branham's campaign team often approached the "healer", handing written notes or standing unusually close for a few moments at opportune times. Often this occurred during a prayer when most of the audience had their heads bowed (and usually eyes closed), which Branham frequently asked the audience to do. After the subtle communication, Branham appears to be using color association to "mark" his next "discernment", appearing to have "spiritual insight" about the sickness or affliction of the person marked. Colors that stood out among the crowd, such as purple, were more frequently used.
Just a moment. I see a man standing before me now, coming this way, kind of a thin fellow, wearing a gray suit and a purple tie. There he sets right down there. Stand up just a minute, sir. Um-hum. The man there with the purple tie on, kind of thin looking man.Many people claimed their "healing" during William Branham's prayer lines. Branham often advertised that his "gift of healing" was 100% accurate, without a single person not healed. Organizers of the meetings such as Alfred Pohl, however, reported many inaccuracies and even deaths after the "healing" from the disease in which they were "healed". Newspapers report some visitors "claiming their healing" only to have their conditions worsen, and then re-enter the "prayer lines" to claim a second healing. Local Jeffersonville, IN newspapers researched some of the claims, such as a man Branham claimed to have "raised from the dead", and reported the inaccuracy of Branham's claim.
Branham, William. 1951, Sept 29. Our Hope Is In God.
Strangely, members of Branham's campaign team sitting on the platform did not obey this command, and others moved about during the prayer — as if their urgent discussions could not wait for a few minutes for the "healer" to speak to God.
Though Branham had video equipment, no videos of the "prayer lines" are available to the public. Only the "Deep Calleth to the Deep" video, prepared by Joseph Mattsson-Boze, Paul Kopp and LeRoy Kopp has been made public.