WELCOME HIST 172 C History of Canadian Pentecostals

Pentecostal Beginnings – Notable Early Canadian Leaders Hebden Mission, Toronto, Canada James and Ellen Hebden (The East End Mission or The Church of God) Rooted in “Higher Life” teaching In 1906 Ellen spoke in tongues A visiting minister stopped in at the mission and recounted his observations which were published in a Methodist publication, “The Way of Faith” and then republished in the Azusa Street newsletter, “The Apostolic Faith.”

Pentecostal Beginnings – Notable Early Canadian Leaders In 1907 Charles Parham visited Toronto invited by an associate of Dowie’s from Zion near Chicago who was now running a mission in Toronto (in cooperation with 6 other missions) Herbert Randall, a Holiness church leader became a prolific messenger Christian and Missionary Alliance leaders George and Annie Murray influenced Alliance pastor John Salmon who was in turn influential with other Alliance leaders and churches

Pentecostal Beginnings – Notable Early Canadian Leaders Easy travel between Toronto and the US, particularly Rochester NY and Chicago IL made connections between Canadian and American Pentecostals relatively frequent

Pentecostal Beginnings – Notable Early Canadian Leaders Aimee Semple McPherson – born in Salford, Ontario, her family had Salvation Army and Methodist roots At a Pentecostal revival meeting in Ingersol, Ontario, she was converted and Baptized in the Spirit She married the evangelist Robert Semple and they pastored in Stratford and London, Ontario They moved to Chicago and ministered with William Durham and then travelled to China as faith missionaries

Pentecostal Beginnings – Notable Early Canadian Leaders While in China they both contracted malaria and Robert contracted dysentery Robert died and Aimee returned to New York as a 19 year old widow. Her and her mother worked for the Salvation Army She returned to evangelistic work with her new husband Harold McPherson and ministered extensively in Canada She eventually established her base in Los Angeles found Angelus Temple.

Pentecostal Beginnings – Notable Early Canadian Leaders The Foursquare Gospel: Jesus Christ Saviour, Healer, Baptizer and coming King Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever – Hebrews 13:8 Established “The Foursquare Gospel” and eventually the Pentecostal denomination The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel

Pentecostal Beginnings – Notable Early Canadian Leaders Evangelist R. E. McAlister received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit at Azusa Street Returned to Ottawa, Ontario in 1906 to hold meetings (he had Holiness Movement connections in the area) Established what became Bethel Pentecostal Church in Ottawa (PAOC)

Pentecostal Beginnings – Notable Early Canadian Leaders Invited in 1913 to speak at World-Wide Apostolic Faith Camp Claimed in his sermon that pastors should stop baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and only baptize in Jesus’ name because that was what the primitive church did. Launched the “Jesus Only” or “Oneness” movement

Pentecostal Beginnings – Notable Early Canadian Leaders Lobbied the Assemblies of God to change position on the Trinity along with others. When the Assemblies refuted the teaching he left the Oneness movement and returned to the Assemblies. A founding member of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada and the first General Secretary Treasurer.

Pentecostal Beginnings – Notable Early Canadian Leaders George A. Chambers Mennonite background Mennonite Pastor Pastored a Mennonite church in Toronto during the Hebden Mission days (rejected the message-”fanatical” Was at the Kitchener convention of the Mennonite Brethren when A. G. Ward spoke and the Spirit fell

Pentecostal Beginnings – Notable Early Canadian Leaders Forced to leave Mennonite Brethren over his teaching about the Baptism Pastored in many places throughout Ontario and spoke across the country First General Superintendent of the PAOC

Pentecostal Beginnings – Religious Climate of 19th to early 20th Centuries “The Social Gospel” - a movement led by a group of liberal Protestant progressives in response to the social problems raised by the rapid industrialization, urbanization, and increasing immigration of the Gilded Age Liberalism - an attempt to incorporate modern thinking and developments, especially in the sciences, into the Christian faith. Liberalism tends to emphasize ethics over doctrine and experience over Scriptural authority

Pentecostal Beginnings – Religious Climate of 19th to early 20th Centuries Higher Criticism - takes a secular approach to the Bible, asking questions regarding the origin and composition of the text, including when and where it originated, how, why, by whom, for whom, and in what circumstances it was produced. The principles of higher criticism are based on reason rather than revelation and are also speculative by nature.

Pentecostal Beginnings – Religious Climate of 19th to early 20th Centuries Spiritual malaise within Evangelicalism – a “church as usual” approach which asks little of congregants Fascination with science to solve problems – The early 20th Century saw the arrival of many modern marvels which were seen by many as the solution to many of life’s problems – some were valid scientific and medicinal discoveries and others were scientific and medicinal frauds

Pentecostal Beginnings – Doctrines and Ideas “Early Rain” and “Latter Rain” – The Pentecostal outpouring upon the Apostles in Acts 2 is the “Early Rain” and the Pentecostal outpouring in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries is the “Latter Rain” – Joel 2:23 “Tarrying” and “Tarrying Meetings” – meetings where the main emphasis and activity was waiting on God for the outpouring of His Spirit

Pentecostal Beginnings – Doctrines and Ideas “The Full Gospel” – includes salvation, consecration, healing, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with signs following and Jesus proclaimed as coming King Wesleyan Holiness (the Baptism as a Sanctifying, perfecting work) vs Keswickian Finished Work (the Baptism of the Spirit as an empowering work)

Pentecostal Beginnings – Doctrines and Ideas The immanent return of Christ – the idea that Jesus is returning at any moment provided motivation for the urgent preaching of the Gospel The “Oneness” Controversy – Jesus only, starting with Baptismal formula, but then extending to a full rejection of the Trinity as a medieval Roman Catholic theological construct

Pentecostal Beginnings – Local History Dr. Charles S. Price – English, Oxford educated (Law) Methodist preacher Initially interested in what he heard about the Azusa Street meetings he was convinced by a another minister to stay away Became a Liberal and Modernist – popular speaker and pastor – most messages were on psychology and current issues

Pentecostal Beginnings – Local History Went to San Jose, California revival meetings held by Aimee Semple McPherson Went to “explain it all away” Rededicated his life to Christ at the crusade and subsequently received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit Became a powerful Pentecostal evangelist – particularly good at challenging modernism and liberalism

Pentecostal Beginnings – Local History When to San Jose, California revival meetings held by Aimee Semple McPherson Went to “explain it all away” Rededicated his life to Christ at the crusade and subsequently received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit Became a powerful Pentecostal evangelist – particularly good at challenging modernism and liberalism

Pentecostal Beginnings – Local History April 1923 invited to Vancouver and Victoria by a mixed group of church leaders (liberals and conservatives) Chosen because he was English, Oxford educated First night he preached a devastating message against liberalism and modernism Liberal churches withdrew from sponsorship

Pentecostal Beginnings – Local History Meetings continued for weeks with many notable healings and many conversions and baptisms in the Spirit Much opposition in Vancouver – followed daily in the newspapers Victoria was more friendly – powerful meetings Chinese community particularly impacted

FOR NEXT CLASS (December 3) MID-COURSE EXAM after lunch December 3 Read chapters 4-7 in Canadian Pentecostals Answer the questions in the Guide for the chapters and sections above (to be submitted for grading) Write your Book Report on When the Spirit Came Upon Them, - DUE next class Review all material in Canadian Pentecostals and your Study Guide in preparation for writing your Mid-Course Exam.