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The Houston Photograph: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Pillar_of_Fire_smallpic.jpg|frame|Picture taken in Houston, TX by Douglas Studios on January 24, 1950]] | [[Image:Pillar_of_Fire_smallpic.jpg|frame|Picture taken in Houston, TX by Douglas Studios on January 24, 1950]] | ||
In Houston, Texas, on January 24, 1950, a strange photograph was taken by the Douglas Studios of a halo-like light above the head of Rev. [[William Branham]]. Gordon Lindsay took the negative to George J. Lacy, Examiner of Questioned Documents (who | In Houston, Texas, on January 24, 1950, a strange photograph was taken by the Douglas Studios of a halo-like light above the head of Rev. [[William Branham]]. Gordon Lindsay took the negative to George J. Lacy, Examiner of Questioned Documents (who was not an employee of the FBI). Lacy was asked to determine whether or not the light could have been the result of improper exposure, double exposure, tampering during the developing process or retouching. This investigation concluded that the unusual brightness was caused by light striking the negative. | ||
Message believers are under the impression that this photograph was verified by the FBI, hangs in the Hall of Religious Art in Washington, D.C. and was surrounded by a number of supernatural interventions that proved that the photograph was miraculous in origin. | |||
The question is: Do these claims hold up to scrutiny? | |||
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|''They lay on cots under the glare of the great lights of Sam Houston Coliseum Tuesday last night - the lame, the sick, the infirm, the ones whose hopes for physical health had almost gone. They lay there quietly, some of them uncomprehendingly, as the theological argument swirled about and above them.'' (The Houston Chronicle, January 25, 1950) | |''They lay on cots under the glare of the great lights of Sam Houston Coliseum Tuesday last night - the lame, the sick, the infirm, the ones whose hopes for physical health had almost gone. They lay there quietly, some of them uncomprehendingly, as the theological argument swirled about and above them.'' (The Houston Chronicle, January 25, 1950) | ||
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=What William Branham said about the evening= | |||
William Branham said that '''God would not allow a picture to be developed''' of Rev. Best pointing his finger at F.F. Bosworth | |||
[[Image:Debate.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Photograph of Rev. Best pointing his finger at F.F. Bosworth <br>[[Houston debate article|Click here to read a copy of the January 24th, 1950 issue of The Houston Press.]] ]] | |||
:''I seen him the night of the debate when this Angel of the Lord came down and had His picture taken that you see here now, they got of the meeting. It was Brother Bosworth who stood there that night, and this young fellow just out of the seminary, pointing his finger in that old saints face, and having him take his picture like this. And he shaking his fist in that old saintly man's face, and saying, "Now, take my picture. And now take my picture," like that. 'Cause he wanted six pictures taken; he could publish it in his paper in such positions as that. '''And Almighty God would not permit one of them to be developed.''' Every one of them was perfect negative. That's right.'' (Chicago, July 20, 1954) | |||
'''William Branham also said that it was George J. Lacy who first called it a supernatural light''' | |||
:''Mr. Lacy said it was the first time in all human history that a--a supernatural Being was ever photographed. They said it just a... that it's been said, a lot of times that those lights around the saints, and the unbelievers say that's some artist painted that picture. But said, "It surely must have been there, for that optical lens--mechanical lens of a camera won't take psychology. It was... It was there."'' (Minneapolis, July 14, 1950) | |||
=Facts surrounding the picture= | =Facts surrounding the picture= | ||
It was during the Houston campaign in 1950, that Rev. W. E. Best (representing the Houston Baptist Pastor's Conference) accused William Branham of racketeering and leading people astray. A public challenge was issued, and F.F. Bosworth accepted a challenge on the subject of "Divine Healing Through the Atonement." While Bro. Branham cautioned Brother Bosworth against being argumentative, the newspapers reported that the two ministers talked at once, and a fist-fight broke out in the audience. The meeting was given front-page publicity in the Houston newspapers. | It was during the Houston campaign in 1950, that Rev. W. E. Best (representing the Houston Baptist Pastor's Conference) accused William Branham of racketeering and leading people astray. A public challenge was issued, and F.F. Bosworth accepted a challenge on the subject of "Divine Healing Through the Atonement." While Bro. Branham cautioned Brother Bosworth against being argumentative, the newspapers reported that the two ministers talked at once, and a fist-fight broke out in the audience. The meeting was given front-page publicity in the Houston newspapers. | ||
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Rev. Best secured the services of Mr. James Ayers and Mr. Ted Kipperman, professional photographers from Douglas Studios in Houston, to document the evening. They were there in addition to the newpaper photographers. After taking several photos of Rev. Best, the photographer snapped a picture of William Branham, who spoke briefly just before the service closed. | Rev. Best secured the services of Mr. James Ayers and Mr. Ted Kipperman, professional photographers from Douglas Studios in Houston, to document the evening. They were there in addition to the newpaper photographers. After taking several photos of Rev. Best, the photographer snapped a picture of William Branham, who spoke briefly just before the service closed. | ||
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=The Role of the FBI= | =The Role of the FBI= | ||
[[File:George J Lacy.jpg| | [[File:George J Lacy.jpg|right|George and Lucile Lacy]] | ||
William Branham stated many times that the FBI was somehow involved in authenticating the Houston photograph: | William Branham stated many times that the FBI was somehow involved in authenticating the Houston photograph: | ||
:''The next morning, they flew the picture away to Washington, DC for a copyright. Before it could be released, it had to go before the FBI examinations. <ref>50-0714 AT.THY.WORD MINNEAPOLIS.MN</ref> | :''The next morning, they flew the picture away to Washington, DC for a copyright. Before it could be released, '''it had to go before the FBI''' examinations. <ref>50-0714 AT.THY.WORD MINNEAPOLIS.MN</ref> | ||
:''And George J. Lacy, the best there is in United States, on research was brought from California to Houston, Texas, for to take the negative under consideration. He kept it for days. He looked through the lights; he looked at the camera. He took everything, and 'fore he could sign, because he's a FBI agent today, the best they got.<ref>52-0713A EARLY.SPIRITUAL.EXPERIENCES</ref> | :''And George J. Lacy, the best there is in United States, '''on research was brought from California to Houston, Texas''', for to take the negative under consideration. He kept it for days. He looked through the lights; he looked at the camera. He took everything, and 'fore he could sign, '''because he's a FBI agent today''', the best they got.<ref>52-0713A EARLY.SPIRITUAL.EXPERIENCES</ref> | ||
:''And now, this great Pillar of Fire that's absolutely identified even by scientific cameras, that's here on the earth today. There's the picture of It hanging there. I believe it's still there, isn't that right? Is it there? Scientifically proven by the best we got. George J. Lacy, the head of the FBI for fingerprint and documents, said, "I called it psychology myself, Reverend Branham, but," said, "the light struck the lens. I put it under ultra-ray lights and had an examination here for four or five days. And the light struck the lens. And this lens won't take psychology." Now, that's identified.''<ref>64-0823E QUESTIONS.AND.ANSWERS.2_ JEFFERSONVILLE.IN</ref> | :''And now, this great Pillar of Fire that's absolutely identified even by scientific cameras, that's here on the earth today. There's the picture of It hanging there. I believe it's still there, isn't that right? Is it there? Scientifically proven by the best we got. George J. Lacy, '''the head of the FBI for fingerprint and documents''', said, "I called it psychology myself, Reverend Branham, but," said, "the light struck the lens. I put it under ultra-ray lights and had an examination here for four or five days. And the light struck the lens. And this lens won't take psychology." Now, that's identified.''<ref>64-0823E QUESTIONS.AND.ANSWERS.2_ JEFFERSONVILLE.IN</ref> | ||
George Lacy was the fifth president of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners. He owned and operated an indepedent forensics lab in Houston, Texas. There are a number of things that William Branham was not honest about relating to Mr. Lacy's involvement with the picture: | George Lacy was the fifth president of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners, which he helped found in 1942. He owned and operated an indepedent forensics lab in Houston, Texas. There are a number of things that William Branham was not honest about relating to Mr. Lacy's involvement with the picture: | ||
#Mr. Lacy was not an employee of the FBI. He was '''NEVER''' the head of the FBI for fingerprint and documents. | #Mr. Lacy was not an employee of the FBI. He was '''NEVER''' the head of the FBI for fingerprint and documents. | ||
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:'''''And one of them is in Washington, DC, in the religious Hall of Art, with a note under it, "The only supernatural being was ever photographed in the history of the world."''' And now, then, if you're ever through there, drop in, see it.<ref>63-0606 SHOW.US.THE.FATHER TUCSON.AZ</ref> | :'''''And one of them is in Washington, DC, in the religious Hall of Art, with a note under it, "The only supernatural being was ever photographed in the history of the world."''' And now, then, if you're ever through there, drop in, see it.<ref>63-0606 SHOW.US.THE.FATHER TUCSON.AZ</ref> | ||
The problem with William Branham's statement is that there is no '''Hall of Religious Art''' in Washington, D.C. There is a copy of the picture that someone sent to the Library of Congress for | The problem with William Branham's statement is that there is no '''Hall of Religious Art''' in Washington, D.C. There is a copy of the picture that someone sent to the U.S. Library of Congress for preservation. But the photo does not hang on the wall and there is no caption underneath it. Rather, it sits in a filing cabinet.<ref>[http://catalog.loc.gov/]</ref> | ||
=Report by George J. Lacy= | =Report by George J. Lacy= | ||
After conferring with | After conferring with William Branham, Gordon Lindsay arranged for the negative to be turned over to George Lacy to examine the negative. | ||
After his examination, Mr. Lacy gave a certified statement indicating that it was his opinion that the negative was genuine, and had not been "doctored" or retouched or the result of a double exposure. | After his examination, Mr. Lacy gave a certified statement indicating that it was his opinion that the negative was genuine, and had not been "doctored" or retouched or the result of a double exposure. | ||
[[Image:George_Lacy_Doc2.jpg|left|center|Report by George J. Lacy]] | [[Image:George_Lacy_Doc2.jpg|left|center|Report by George J. Lacy]] | ||
=References= | |||
<References/> | |||
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