William Branham's Introduction to Jim Jones

Rev. Jim Jones of Peoples Temple was personally connected to Jim Jones.  As a ranking leader of Branham's "Message" sect, Jones had direct access to Branham by phone and instructions on how to quickly access Branham by mail.  The introduction came through two letters.

Letter from Joseph Mattsson-Boze to William Branham Introducing Jim Jones

William Branham was introduced to Jim Jones by Joseph Mattsson-Boze on May 2, 1955, a few weeks after the Indiana Assemblies of God District Superintendent Roy Wead defended William Branham in the Assemblies of God's battle against Branham's "Latter Rain Message" during a Voice of Healing Convention.[1] After the convention, Jones officially registered the "Wings of Deliverance" organization[2] which would soon transition to Peoples Temple.  Jones would later become a leader in William Branham's "Message" cult following and assist Joseph Mattsson-Boze in rebuilding Branham's declining popularity after Ern Baxter, Gordon Lindsay, and the other Voice of Healing Revivalists denounced William Branham for what they claimed to be "seriously wrong" teaching.[3]

In the introduction letter, Joseph Mattsson-Boze assures Branham that he would "love the spirit that is in Brother Jones and the church he pastors".

Full Text of the Letter:

May 2, 1955.

Rev. William Branham
Box 325
Jeffersonville, Ind.

Dear Brother Branham:  Greetings!

I herewith introduce. you to Rev. James Jones of Indianapolis, Indiana.  Brother Jones is a servant of God and a bosom friend of mine.  He has an excellent work, a young work in Indianapolis and I consider him and the church he pastors to have a great future in Indianapolis. 

You will love the spirit that is in Brother Jones and the church he pastors.  If it is at all possible for you give him a few days visit some time it will be a blessing in every way.

Very sincerely yours,
Rev. Joseph D. Mattsson Boze.
JDMB/mn

A copy of the letter can be found in the publications section below.

Letter from Joseph Mattsson-Boze to Jim Jones Granting Direct Access to William Branham

A second letter was sent by Joseph Mattsson-Boze to Jim Jones, granting Jones direct access to Branham.  In the letter, Boze tells Jones, "I have learned to love you", and that Jones represented the "kind of spirit that is the true Latter Rain".  This is significant because after the Latter Rain revivals shifted further and further away from William Branham and his Latter Rain version of the "Message", Branham sect leaders began claiming that the Latter Rain sect itself — which claimed that mainstream churches had become apostate due to Branham's theology —  had also become apostate.[4]

Jones was given direct access to William Branham by telephone.  Joseph Mattsson-Boze told Jones, "If you care to contact Rev. Branham his telephone is Jeffersonville, Indiana 2-1519".  Boze also instructed Jones to put a special marking on any mail sent to Branham, so that it was not bundled with the rest of Branham's "fan mail".  Boze told Jones that Branham's "mailing address is Box 325, Jeffersonville, Indiana.  Always mark it 'Personal'".  The marking of "Personal" would direct mail to William Branham, while the other letters sent to Branham by his faithful could be processed by Branham's assistants.[5]

Full Text of the Letter:

May 2, 1955.

Rev. James Jones
c/o People's Temple
15th Ave. No. & New Jersey
Indianapolis, Ind.

Dear Brother Jones:  Greetings!

Thank you so much for the lovely time we had together in Indianapolis.  Let us assure you that I learned to love you.  You represent that kind of spirit that is the true latter rain and that we so dearly love.

We had great farewell services here in Chicago yesterday before taking off for Africa.  Rev. Branham was with us and we were of course packed out.  Some nightly signs and miracles took place.  If you care to contact Rev. Branham, his telephone is Jeffersonville, Indiana 2-1519.  Always make it person to person.  His mailing address is Box 325, Jeffersonville, Indiana.  Always mark it "Personal".  I enclose a few lines of recommendation that you can send in his letter.

Before leaving I am sending you some addresses.  I wrote Rev. Alan Banks, the fine gentleman I talked to you about that I believe would be so helpful to you in your ministry.  He is: Rev. Alan Banks, 1125 E. 9th Ave., Albany, Oregon.

I also highly recommend Rev. Clair Hutchins, c/o Marantha Temple, 6th Ave & 2nd St., Brooklyn, N. Y.

Rev. Arthur Cornelius, 3819 France Ave. So., Minneapolis 10, Minn. 
Dr. Russell Meade, c/o Philadelphia Church, 5412 N. Clark St. Chicago 40, Ill.
Rev. A. W. Rasmussen, 912 So. 11th St., Tacoma, Wash.
Rev. Morris Flotts, 732 Ford, Lake Charles, Louisiana.

I believe this will probably help you for a while.  I will be leaving from New York on Wednesday staying at Hotel McAlpin, 34th & Broadway through Tuesday.  The little check is a token of love to you personally.  Please give my warmest greetings to Mrs. Jones as well as your lovely congregation.

Very sincerely yours,

P.S. I hope that you can be with me in Chicago this summer.
JDMB/mm

Rev. Joseph D. Mattsson Boze.

A copy of the letter can be found in the publications section below.

Letter from Joseph Mattsson-Boze to Jim Jones Describing Plans To Boost Popularity and Launch Career

In 1955, almost three hundred ministers met under the name "free fellowship" at a convention held by Joseph Mattsson-Boze.  It was unanimously agreed with “100% unity” that the organization would help to boost Jim Jones’ work in Indianapolis.  William Branham was present.  The resulting decision was that the ministers would have Jim Jones and Peoples Temple host the 1956 convention of "free fellowship" in Indianapolis.  

William Branham, who had been recently silenced by Gordon Lindsay and the Voice of Healing revivalists, was not eager to speak before the convention of Mattsson-Boze’s Herald of Faith revivalists.  Boze took a stand in favor of Jones, however, and William Branham eventually agreed to help with the efforts to give Jones a boost into fame in the Post WWII Healing Revival.[6]  The outcome of this boost was a tragedy that has been the focal point for many religious and social studies, presented in countless textbooks and documentaries.

Full Text of the Letter:

Rev. James W. Jones
Peoples Temple Parsonage
15th & N. New Jersey Sts.
Indianapolis, Ind.

Dear Brother Jones: Greetings!

Just a few lines to tell you that I was so sorry that you could not come to our convention.  The Lord granted us a most outstanding convention.  This glorious free fellowship is being born.  There was such unity among the brethren.  In three open sessions Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday we settled all our business with 100% unity.  The rest of the meeting was just a steady praise to God.

We had between 2-300 ministers present, many of them having great works and great experiences.  The East and the South were powerfully represented, something that never happened before. 

The Philadelphia Church was often filled in the daytime and in the evening we had the Lane Tech.  It is such a beautiful auditorium able to seat approximately 3,000 people.  Rev. Branham as well as Rev. Tommy Hicks ministered under great annointing and we saw many wonderful things happen.  There is a tremendous inspiration among the brethren at the present time.

On my recommendation it was decided to have the next convention June 11-15 in Indianapolis with you as the host pastor.  We will all build up towards this meeting and I am doing all I can to get Rev. Branham to minister in the evening services.  I took this stand that your work in Indianapolis will get a boost also.  It is a wonderful thing to have a convention.

Of course I have carried the financial responsibilities for our convention here but you would not need to worry about that as the convention naturally would operate independently.  I say again that I really regret you could not be with us.  You surely missed something.  There was something in this convention that cannot be told by words.

Would you have time to write an article for our Christmas issue of the Herald of Faith?  I would need to have it within a week or two.  I shall appreciate it so much.  Please greet Mrs. Jones and all the friends so much from me.

JDMB/mn
Very sincerely yours,

A copy of the letter can be found in the publications section below.