Charles Fox Parham (4 June 1873 - c. 29 January 1929¹) was a controversial preacher who is considered by many to be the "founder of modern Pentecostalism."² However, several allegations of sodomy^[1] and racism have diminished his reputation. June 4 is the 155th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (156th in leap years), with 210 days remaining. ... 1873 (MDCCCLXXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... January 29 is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Pentecostal movement within Protestant Christianity places special emphasis on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, as shown in the Biblical account of the Day of Pentecost. ... An African-American man drinks out of the colored only water cooler at a racially segregated street car terminal in the United States in 1939. ...

Bio

Life and Career

Born in Muscatine, Iowa, on 4 June 1873, Parham began coordinating independent services at the age of 15, and in his early adult life had already made a name for himself. He was affiliated with the Methodist and Holiness movements. Parham disagreeed with the hierarchy of the Methodist church, and later, would alienate his followers, too, by declaring their worship style invalid. In 1895, he broke with the mainstream Methodist denomination and established his own ministry. In 1898, he moved his ministry to Topeka, Kansas. Muscatine is a city located in Muscatine County, Iowa. ... June 4 is the 155th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (156th in leap years), with 210 days remaining. ... 1873 (MDCCCLXXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Holiness movement is composed of people who believe and propagate the belief that the carnal nature of man can be cleansed through faith and by the power of the Holy Spirit if one has had his sins forgiven through faith in Jesus. ... The Methodist movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity. ... The Methodist movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity. ... Motto: Reductio ad absurdium Coordinates: Country State County United States Kansas Shawnee Founded Incorporated December 5, 1854 February 14, 1857 Mayor Bill Bunten (R) Area    - City 147. ...

He married the daughter of a Quaker, Sarah Thistlewaite. Numerous dates for the marriage exist, including, 1886, 1896, and 1891. The Assemblies of God gives it at 1886, while other less authoritative sources give it at the latter dates. The Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as Quakers, or Friends, is a religious community founded in England in the 17th century. ... The Assemblies of God is the worlds largest Pentecostal denomination. ...

While preaching at a New Years Eve service (1901) at Bethel Bible College in Topeka, Agnes Ozman began to speak in tongues, the first reported person to do so since the event of Pentecost in the New Testament book of the Acts of the Apostles. aka, Bethel Gospel School. ... This article is about the state capital of Kansas. ... Lotsofissues 07:07, 7 May 2005 (UTC) Evangelist Agnes Ozman was assured a place in Pente­costal history when she became the first to speak in tongues at Charles Parhams Bethel Bible College in Topeka, Kansas. ... Glossolalia (from the Greek, γλώσσα (glossa), tongue and λαλώ (lalô), to speak) comprises the utterance of semantically meaningless syllables. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... John 21:1 Jesus Appears to His Disciples--Alessandro Mantovani: the Vatican, Rome. ... The Acts of the Apostles (Greek Praxeis Apostolon) is a book of the Bible, which now stands fifth in the New Testament. ...

Death

As a boy, Parham had contracted a severe rheumatic fever which damaged his heart and contributed to his poor health. At one time he almost died. In his mid-50s, it seems, Parham's health was fast crumbling. He collapsed while on a trip to Temple, Texas. Charles Fox Parham died on 29 January 1929 in the confines of his home in Baxter Springs, Kansas^[2]. Temple is a city located in Bell County, Texas. ... January 29 is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Baxter Springs is a city located in Cherokee County, Kansas. ...

Controversy

Racism

William Seymour, also influential in the movement and a colleague of Parham's then took the doctrine of tongues to Los Angeles, where the crucial Azusa Street Revival would take place in 1906. When Parham visited Seymour there, he denounced the revival as a "darky camp meeting," saying, "God is sick at His stomach!" and "what good can come from a self-appointed Negro prophet?".^[3] William Joseph Seymour (May 2, 1870 - September 28, 1922) was an African American minister, and an initiator of the Pentecostal religious movement. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... The Azusa Street Revival (1906–1909) took place in Los Angeles, California, and was led by William Seymour (1870–1922), an African American preacher. ...

Another widespread belief relating to Parham's racial attitudes is that he was a Klansman. According to written records, Parham became a full member of the Ku Klux Klan during 1910^[4], although this is hotly debated by supporters of Parham, who contend the KKK didn't exist at this time. Members of the second Ku Klux Klan at a rally during the 1920s. ... 1910 (MCMX) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ...

Freemasonry

Parham was almost certainly a member of the Freemasons^[5]. Because many in the Pentecostal movement oppose the Freemasons so bitterly, some have said that he left the organization when he started his "Full Gospel" ministry, although there is evidence that he was still a member in 1928, when he appeared to still have Masonic tendencies. American Square & Compasses Freemasonry is a worldwide fraternal organization. ... The Full Gospel movement within Protestant Christianity places special emphasis on the gifts of the Holy Spirit and in that God wills for his children to be prosperous in all areas of their lives: Spiritual - John 3:3,11; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 10:9-10. ...

Sodomy

In 1907, Parham was charged with sodomy with two young males in San Antonio, Texas. The charges were later dropped, reportedly because nobody was willing to come forward and testify. Still, his reputation had been scarred and his religious influence was lowered by this event.^[6] François Elluin, Sodomites provoking the wrath of God, from Le pot pourri de Loth (1781). ... San Antonio (the Spanish name of Saint Anthony) is a common toponym in parts of the world where the Spanish language is or was spoken: Argentina San Antonio, Jujuy province Belize San Antonio, Cayo District Chile San Antonio Mexico San Antonio, San Luis Potosí Philippines San Antonio, Quezon San Antonio... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

Legacy

The Charles F. Parham Center for Pentecostal-Charismatic Studies is an "independent research facility" on the campus of South Texas Bible Institute in Houston, Texas. It is one of several organizations to consider Parham a founding leader of the Pentecostal movement.^[7]

References

Notes

Works

• A Voice Crying in the Wilderness (Baxter Springs, KS: Apostolic Faith Bible College, 1902)
• The Everlasting Gospel (Baxter Springs, KS: Apostolic Faith Bible College, 1911)

External links

• The Assemblies of God
• Apostolic Faith Church