Category: Free Methodist Women

Free Methodism, Free Methodist Women, Pentecost Bands, Social Purity1 Comment

Pentecost Bands as Advocates for Social Purity

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Historically, Free Methodism was tied to numerous social causes (and still is to this day). Its founding principles emphasized care and inclusion for everyone, strong abolitionist ties, and an emphasis on returning to the “old time Methodist” principles, such as entire sanctification. However, like any social movement, as Free Methodism transitioned from a movement to a denomination, the interpretation of those founding principles began to vary widely. As my research on women’s ordination and the Free Methodist Deaconess order has illustrated, there wasn’t universal agreement about what radical Holiness living and social action looked like. The Pentecost Bands are just … Continue reading Pentecost Bands as Advocates for Social Purity

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Michigan Pentecost Bands Cause Local Uproar in 1886

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Because the Pentecost Bands were essentially traveling revivalists, their members had the opportunity to influence countless individuals, It wasn’t unusual for a young adult to attend a band meeting, become saved, and then feel called to become a band member. However, the religious enthusiasm the bands fueled wasn’t without controversy. In this blog post, I’ll share some accounts of controversies surrounding their ministry in St. Joseph and Lawrence, Michigan in 1886. The Influence of the Bands When young adults felt called to join the bands, it didn’t always go over well in their local communities, particularly when young women felt … Continue reading Michigan Pentecost Bands Cause Local Uproar in 1886

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Shifting Narratives on Gender Part Three: The 1907 Free Methodist General Conference

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When the resolution to approve a deaconess order came to the floor at the 1907 General Conference, the idea was met with enthusiastic support, passing through committee with thirty-five in favor and only seven opposed before coming to the floor for a conference vote.[i] Very few concerns were raised, but among the topics discussed were governance, mission, and uniforms for the order. Speaking in favor of the order, Free Methodist editor Charles Ebey reminded delegates there were already churches with such orders, and the need for a Free Methodist order was great. Reflecting on his personal experiences with deaconesses, Ebey … Continue reading Shifting Narratives on Gender Part Three: The 1907 Free Methodist General Conference

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Blanche and Christopher Stamp: Superstar Free Methodist Evangelists

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Christopher Stamp was an early convert to Free Methodism. About ten years after the denomination was founded in 1860, he heard Free Methodists preach in Seattle. As a teenager, he was greatly influenced by two Free Methodists, Rev. Peter Griggs and Hiram Pease, who were actively preaching in the Northwest United States. According to his 1930 obituary in The Free Methodist, he first converted to Free Methodism, and shortly after, during the same revival, he experienced sanctification. Since Seattle lacked an established Free Methodist Church, Christopher traveled to San Francisco to join there. By the early 1880s, he was ordained … Continue reading Blanche and Christopher Stamp: Superstar Free Methodist Evangelists

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Discovering the Life and Ministry of Blanche Stamp

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]Last year, while researching Progressive Era women evangelists in The Free Methodist, I frequently encountered accounts of Blanche Stamp. Like many women from this period, I initially knew little about her, prompting further exploration into her life and contributions. Early … Continue reading Discovering the Life and Ministry of Blanche Stamp

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Eliza Witherspoon: Early 20th Century Evangelist in Southern Missouri

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In the July 8, 1895, issue of The Free Methodist, an Eliza Witherspoon sends a ministry report from Virginia, Missouri noting that she, her mother, and sister had been “advocating the principles of Free Methodism” in that part of the country for the past seventeen years. Eliza tells readers her family is the lone Free Methodist family in the area and had spent the past three weeks holding meetings where “God sent us help and souls were converted to God– more than twenty souls.” Far from being a single report, Eliza Witherspoon begins appearing regularly in The Free Methodist over … Continue reading Eliza Witherspoon: Early 20th Century Evangelist in Southern Missouri

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The Impact of Eliza Witherspoon: Pioneering Female Evangelist

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In the July 8, 1895, issue of The Free Methodist, Eliza Witherspoon submitted a ministry report from Virginia, Missouri, noting that she, her mother, and sister had been “advocating the principles of Free Methodism” in the region for the past seventeen years. Eliza shared that her family was the only Free Methodist family in the area and that they had spent the previous three weeks holding meetings where “God sent us help and souls were converted to God—more than twenty souls.” A Legacy of Ministry Reports Eliza Witherspoon’s contributions extend beyond this initial report, as she continued to appear regularly … Continue reading The Impact of Eliza Witherspoon: Pioneering Female Evangelist

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Anna Grant Pastor of San Diego Free Methodist 1912-1913

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Dr. Sarah Anne Grant was an influential evangelist in Northern Indiana, Iowa, and Oklahoma, serving the Free Methodist Church. While officially licensed as an evangelist for the Northern Indiana Conference in 1890 and 1891, her ministry in Iowa and Oklahoma seemed more informal, possibly due to incomplete annual conference records. Despite this, she regularly submitted ministry reports during her time in these regions, actively assisting Free Methodist elders in holding revivals. In 1911, Dr. Grant moved to Southern California for health reasons, but instead of retiring, she took up active ministry again. She was appointed as the pastor of the … Continue reading Anna Grant Pastor of San Diego Free Methodist 1912-1913

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Tracing the Life of Dr. Anna Grant: Female Evangelist and Delegate to the 1890 Free Methodist General Conference

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In March 1903, W.G. Hammer visited the Grant family in Granite and sent an update to The Free Methodist. At that time, Granite had 1500 residents, several large mercantile, four churches, and according to Hammer, the largest public school building in the state. Hammer noted the Grant family’s philosophy was to take evangelistic work with them wherever they moved. Continue reading Tracing the Life of Dr. Anna Grant: Female Evangelist and Delegate to the 1890 Free Methodist General Conference