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Roy Davis: Difference between revisions
→Roy Davis' Pentecostal Baptist Church
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Roy Davis wrote "'''''I am the minister who received Brother Branham into the first Pentecostal assembly he ever frequented. I baptized him, and was his pastor for some two years.'''''" Roy Davis was | Roy Davis wrote "'''''I am the minister who received Brother Branham into the first Pentecostal assembly he ever frequented. I baptized him, and was his pastor for some two years.'''''" Roy Davis was a convicted criminal and a leader in the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), a far-right white supremacist organization. | ||
<youtube>http://youtu.be/4qI8l0jTeeY</youtube> | <youtube>http://youtu.be/4qI8l0jTeeY</youtube> | ||
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Davis appointed associates to serve as leaders in the churches while he was away. In the Jeffersonville First Pentecostal Baptist Church, Hope Brumback was made worship leader, and William Branham and George De'Ark were made ministering elders. He appointed his brothers Dan and W.J. as leaders of other groups.<ref>Sunday Service in Local Churches, Jeffersonville Evening News, February 4, 1933</ref><ref>First Pentecostal Baptist, Jeffersonville Evening News, February 18, 1933</ref> | Davis appointed associates to serve as leaders in the churches while he was away. In the Jeffersonville First Pentecostal Baptist Church, Hope Brumback was made worship leader, and William Branham and George De'Ark were made ministering elders. He appointed his brothers Dan and W.J. as leaders of other groups.<ref>Sunday Service in Local Churches, Jeffersonville Evening News, February 4, 1933</ref><ref>First Pentecostal Baptist, Jeffersonville Evening News, February 18, 1933</ref> | ||
William Branham joined Davis's church in 1929 where he was baptized and ordained by Davis as a minister and began to serve as an elder the same year. | William Branham joined Davis's church in 1929 where he was baptized and ordained by Davis as a minister and began to serve as an elder the same year.<ref>Weaver, p.26, 33</ref> In his sermons, Branham indicated that Christian Identity Theology was being taught by elders in Roy Davis's church: | ||
:''The first time I ever met anyone in my life, after I had been converted…I was…met Brother George DeArk and them down there. And I was walked, and the Lord led me to a little place. And they was discussing where the colored man came from. And they were trying to say that the colored man…That Cain married an animal like an ape, and through there come forth the colored race. Now, that’s wrong! Absolutely, that’s wrong! And don’t never stand for that. Cause there was no colored or white, or any other different, it’s just one race of people unto the flood. Then after the flood and the tower of Babel, when they began to scatter out, that’s when they taken their colors and so forth. They’re all come from the same tree. That’s exactly right. Adam and Eve was the father and mother, earthly, of every living creature of human beings that’s ever been on the earth. That’s right.:''<ref>William Branham, 7-1006 - Questions And Answers On Hebrews #3 - October 6, 1957</ref> | :''The first time I ever met anyone in my life, after I had been converted…I was…met Brother George DeArk and them down there. And I was walked, and the Lord led me to a little place. And they was discussing where the colored man came from. And they were trying to say that the colored man…That Cain married an animal like an ape, and through there come forth the colored race. Now, that’s wrong! Absolutely, that’s wrong! And don’t never stand for that. Cause there was no colored or white, or any other different, it’s just one race of people unto the flood. Then after the flood and the tower of Babel, when they began to scatter out, that’s when they taken their colors and so forth. They’re all come from the same tree. That’s exactly right. Adam and Eve was the father and mother, earthly, of every living creature of human beings that’s ever been on the earth. That’s right.:''<ref>William Branham, 7-1006 - Questions And Answers On Hebrews #3 - October 6, 1957</ref> | ||
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:''I remember when Brother Roy Davis, down there, and his church burnt down. That bunch of people was just like scattered sheep without a shepherd, had no place to go. And Mr. Hibstenberg was Chief of Police then, and he called me down there. He said to me, “We're here to help you.” Said, “I'm Catholic, myself, but,” said, “them people,” said, “they don't probably have the clothes.” It was during the time of the depression. Said, “They go to other churches and they feel out of place, and they're good people. I know many of them.” He said, “Billy, if you want to start a church,” he said, “I want you to know that we're behind you in anything we can do to help you.” And I thanked him for it. We had a tag day. First, we prayed and asked the Lord. And people come to me and wanted to build a church, so could have a place to go. And we decided [on] this place.''<ref>William Branham, Taking Sides With Jesus - June 1, 1962</ref> | :''I remember when Brother Roy Davis, down there, and his church burnt down. That bunch of people was just like scattered sheep without a shepherd, had no place to go. And Mr. Hibstenberg was Chief of Police then, and he called me down there. He said to me, “We're here to help you.” Said, “I'm Catholic, myself, but,” said, “them people,” said, “they don't probably have the clothes.” It was during the time of the depression. Said, “They go to other churches and they feel out of place, and they're good people. I know many of them.” He said, “Billy, if you want to start a church,” he said, “I want you to know that we're behind you in anything we can do to help you.” And I thanked him for it. We had a tag day. First, we prayed and asked the Lord. And people come to me and wanted to build a church, so could have a place to go. And we decided [on] this place.''<ref>William Branham, Taking Sides With Jesus - June 1, 1962</ref> | ||
Davis was proud of Branham and referred to Branham as Saint Timothy to his Saint Paul.<ref name = "voh"/> Branham similarly spoke highly of Davis who would later participate in some Branham Campaign meetings.<ref | Davis was proud of Branham and referred to Branham as Saint Timothy to his Saint Paul.<ref name = "voh"/> Branham similarly spoke highly of Davis who would later participate in some Branham Campaign meetings.<ref>William Branham, April 7, 1957, Then Came Jesus</ref> Branham and Davis maintained a lifelong relationship, and Branham continued to support Davis after he became national leader of the KKK.<ref name = pwh/> | ||
==Roy Davis' Pentecostal Baptist Church== | ==Roy Davis' Pentecostal Baptist Church== | ||
William Branham stated that, prior to ministering on his own, he was the assistant pastor at the Missionary Baptist Church in Jeffersonville, Indiana and that he served under the direction of Dr. Roy E. Davis, the pastor, who also ordained him. | William Branham stated that, prior to ministering on his own, he was the assistant pastor at the Missionary Baptist Church in Jeffersonville, Indiana and that he served under the direction of Dr. Roy E. Davis, the pastor, who also ordained him. But this is not true as the actual name of the Davis' church was the "First Pentecostal Baptist Church." | ||
It appears that sometime in 1933 or 1934, the First Pentecostal Baptist Church burned down. At around the same time, Roy Davis was extradited from Indiana to Arkansas to stand trial for grand theft.<ref>https://issuu.com/charismata/docs/apostolic_faith_and_pentecostal_tim_f1466ac0c35c77 (retrieved December 30, 2023)</ref> | |||
This also puts into serious question William Branham's assertion that he left his position as assistant pastor and started holding meetings on his own in 1933, because of a disagreement with Roy Davis over the ordination of women. | |||
According to Douglas Weaver in his book, ''The Healer-Prophet'', '''Roy E. Davis''' was the pastor of the '''First Baptist Pentecostal Church''' in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Roy Davis' church was '''not''' a Missionary Baptist Church as indicated by William Branham but was a "''Holy Ghost church where they worship God in Spirit and not in fleshly denominations''" (See ''Jeffersonville Evening News'', 10 June 1933, 4:7). | According to Douglas Weaver in his book, ''The Healer-Prophet'', '''Roy E. Davis''' was the pastor of the '''First Baptist Pentecostal Church''' in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Roy Davis' church was '''not''' a Missionary Baptist Church as indicated by William Branham but was a "''Holy Ghost church where they worship God in Spirit and not in fleshly denominations''" (See ''Jeffersonville Evening News'', 10 June 1933, 4:7). | ||
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After leaving prison in November 1942, Davis and fellow KKK member, former [[Congressman Upshaw]], began working together in California.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=The San Bernardino County Sun|date=February 20, 1944|title=Orphanage Benefactor Questioned}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Orphange School At Upload Slated To Open Sept. 15|publisher=The San Bernardino County Sub|date=August 8, 1943}}</ref> They set up an organization to collect money to open an orphanage. Davis was accused to stealing money from the charity in 1944 when they failed to use the collections for their stated purpose. He was arrested on three charges of grand theft, petty theft, illegal possession of firearms, and impersonating an FBI agent.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=The San Bernardino County|title=Accused Pastor Demands Writ|date=April 27, 1944}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Minister Charged|publisher=Nevada State Journal|date=March 15, 1944}}</ref> The charges were dropped after Davis had his associates returned funds to several donors.<ref>{{cite news|title=Two Counts Are Dropped After Court Hearing|date=May 6, 1944|publisher=The San Bernardino County}}</ref> Escaping charges yet again, Davis returned to holding revival meetings and KKK recruiting. | After leaving prison in November 1942, Davis and fellow KKK member, former [[Congressman Upshaw]], began working together in California.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=The San Bernardino County Sun|date=February 20, 1944|title=Orphanage Benefactor Questioned}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Orphange School At Upload Slated To Open Sept. 15|publisher=The San Bernardino County Sub|date=August 8, 1943}}</ref> They set up an organization to collect money to open an orphanage. Davis was accused to stealing money from the charity in 1944 when they failed to use the collections for their stated purpose. He was arrested on three charges of grand theft, petty theft, illegal possession of firearms, and impersonating an FBI agent.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=The San Bernardino County|title=Accused Pastor Demands Writ|date=April 27, 1944}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Minister Charged|publisher=Nevada State Journal|date=March 15, 1944}}</ref> The charges were dropped after Davis had his associates returned funds to several donors.<ref>{{cite news|title=Two Counts Are Dropped After Court Hearing|date=May 6, 1944|publisher=The San Bernardino County}}</ref> Escaping charges yet again, Davis returned to holding revival meetings and KKK recruiting. | ||
By 1950, Davis was part of the executive committee of Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce in Texas. Davis also remained active as a revivalist during the 1950s. He was working with multiple churches to hold revivals, including the Pentecostal Assemblies of God. Davis reported that he had a large tent he traveled with to preach from. The William Branham Campaign team published an article publicizing Davis and his revivals in ''Voice of Healing'' in October 1950.<ref name = "voh">{{cite book|title=Wm Branham's First Pastor|date=October 1950|publisher=Voice Of Healing|page=14}}</ref> Davis was also present and participated in Branham Campaign events during the 1950s and was publicly endorsed by Branham. Davis continued to visit Branham campaign meetings, and be endorsed by Branham multiple times through the early 1960s.<ref | By 1950, Davis was part of the executive committee of Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce in Texas. Davis also remained active as a revivalist during the 1950s. He was working with multiple churches to hold revivals, including the Pentecostal Assemblies of God. Davis reported that he had a large tent he traveled with to preach from. The William Branham Campaign team published an article publicizing Davis and his revivals in ''Voice of Healing'' in October 1950.<ref name = "voh">{{cite book|title=Wm Branham's First Pastor|date=October 1950|publisher=Voice Of Healing|page=14}}</ref> Davis was also present and participated in Branham Campaign events during the 1950s and was publicly endorsed by Branham. Davis continued to visit Branham campaign meetings, and be endorsed by Branham multiple times through the early 1960s.<ref>William Branham, April 7, 1957, Then Came Jesus</ref> | ||
Davis became president of the Oak Cliff White Citizens Council in Dallas Texas during the 1950s which he used as a platform to oppose racial integration.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pro, Con Put Before Board Meetings|date=June 26, 1958|publisher=Dallas Morning News}}</ref> In 1958, Davis was known by law authorities to be Imperial Wizard of the Knights of the Flaming Sword in Texas, a position he had been holding for some time. Internal friction in the Klan led to issues between Davis and others KKK organizations.<ref name = "kkkmvs"/> According to police investigation, during 1958 Davis had angered other klan members "over handling of Klan funds."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=123128|title=Record Number 124-90123-10054" JFX Assassination|publisher=Mary Ferrell Foundation|date=March 5, 1962|author=FBI}}</ref> Opponents burned a cross in Davis's yard prompting Davis to call the police. During questioning by police, Davis said he had been a KKK member for 45 years. He told the authorities that he was second in command of the national KKK organization at the time.<ref name = "kkkmvs">{{cite news|title=KKK's Membership Very Small In Texas| publisher=Dallas Morning News| date=February 11, 1961|page=5}}</ref> | Davis became president of the Oak Cliff White Citizens Council in Dallas Texas during the 1950s which he used as a platform to oppose racial integration.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pro, Con Put Before Board Meetings|date=June 26, 1958|publisher=Dallas Morning News}}</ref> In 1958, Davis was known by law authorities to be Imperial Wizard of the Knights of the Flaming Sword in Texas, a position he had been holding for some time. Internal friction in the Klan led to issues between Davis and others KKK organizations.<ref name = "kkkmvs"/> According to police investigation, during 1958 Davis had angered other klan members "over handling of Klan funds."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=123128|title=Record Number 124-90123-10054" JFX Assassination|publisher=Mary Ferrell Foundation|date=March 5, 1962|author=FBI}}</ref> Opponents burned a cross in Davis's yard prompting Davis to call the police. During questioning by police, Davis said he had been a KKK member for 45 years. He told the authorities that he was second in command of the national KKK organization at the time.<ref name = "kkkmvs">{{cite news|title=KKK's Membership Very Small In Texas| publisher=Dallas Morning News| date=February 11, 1961|page=5}}</ref> | ||