1953 Voice of Healing Convention

In 1953, many members of William Branham's campaign team and partners in the revival discovered serious issues with Branham, his teaching, and presumably the fictional elements of his stage persona.  During a Baxter-Branham event advertised in Connorsville, IN,[1] partner, campaign manager,[2] and long-time supporter Ern Baxter refused to show at the event.[3] Branham described it as a difference of opinion,[4] while Baxter described it as false teaching that bore rotten fruit.[5]

This abandonment of Branham continued until the Voice of Healing Convention held on December 11, 1953, in Chicago.  Branham had been advertised as the featured speaker at the event,[6] and Joseph Mattsson-Boze heavily advertised Branham's revival among the Latter Rain sect.  When Branham arrived, however, he was quickly led into a private room and given an ultimatum: correct the doctrine or be denied permission to speak at the convention:

Rev. Branham arrived early for the service and was met by some of The Voice of Healing men in the vestibule, taken into another room in the back of the auditorium and given an ultimatum.  He did not bow to the ultimatum, as he wanted to preserve his God-given freedom, and continue as a voice of God instead of being an echo of other men.  He was told that he would not be permitted to speak to the Convention.  He was asked to leave, which he did.[7]

 Joseph Mattson-Boze was furious.  William Branham was scheduled to hold a revival at Boze's church, and The Voice of Healing revivalists and leaders gave Branham a choice: either he refuse to speak at Joseph Mattsson-Boze's church or they would refuse to let him speak at the Convention.[8]   Joseph Mattsson-Boze was a recognized leader in the Latter Rain movement, which was causing a massive split in Pentecostalism.  After being rejected by The Voice of Healing revivalists, Branham spoke to Boze's congregation on December 12 and 13, 1953.[9]  

In the January 1954 issue of his The Herald of Faith newsletter, Boze published An Open Letter to the Voice of Healing demanding that Branham's campaign team, partners, and other revivalists responsible for Branham's rejection give an explanation.[10]  

When Gordon Lindsay and the editors of The Voice of Healing did not respond by March, Joseph Mattsson Boze wrote another open letter demanding a response.[11]  Boze threatened to tell the world what happened, from William Branham's perspective, in the April issue if a response was not given.[12]  Again, no explanation was given by Gordon Lindsay and The Voice of Healing.  True to his word, Boze printed an editorial giving readers the full explanation as to how and why Branham was rejected, interviewing William Branham for the article.[13] Branham himself described how it happened:

I got in the car and went over to the Convention, and just as I walked into the front door, Brother ______ got me by the arm and rushed me into a side room and said, 'Come here just a minute, Brother Branham.'  I didn't get to see the audience.  Then in came Brother ______, one of the others of The Voice of Healing, and he said, 'Brother Branham'.  They put the same thing to me and said, 'now you make your choice.'  I said, 'I'm going to stick with Brother Mattsson Boze on my promise.  I said, 'That's definite.'  Then some ministers came in and said, 'I don't think this is right.'  I said, 'Well, don't think about it, brother, it'll be all right.'  So then they discussed it a little while, and then I started to go into the audience.  I didn't have a chance to even meet the audience.  I was at the meeting forty-five minutes before the preacher got on the platform to preach, sitting in the room waiting to be called."[14]

Branham's rejection from The Voice of Healing Conventions continued well into 1955.  Branham was notably absent from the 1954 lineup of evangelists at The Voice of Healing convention in Philadelphia.[15]  Joseph Mattsson-Boze, recognizing Branham's importance to the Latter Rain sect, began to promote William Branham heavily.[16]  Branham's sermons were featured as articles in the Herald of Faith.[17]  Branham was no longer a "Voice of Healing Revivalist," he was a "Herald of Faith" revivalist in the Herald of Faith Fellowship.

In August of 1955, Rev. Jim Jones of Peoples temple joined the Herald of Faith Fellowship, officially becoming a prominent member of William Branham's new campaign team.  In the August, 1955 issue of Herald of Faith, Joseph Mattsson-Boze began printing articles written by Jim Jones and advertising conventions held by William Branham with Jim Jones.[18]

Introduction: Rev. James W. Jones, pastor of the Peoples Temple at Indianapolis, Ind., is already well known throughout the U.S.A.  He is especially well known in Indiana and Ohio where he has ministered frequently.  Brother Jones has built up a flourishing church in Indianapolis in a very short time.  The Lord has given this fine young man an outstanding gift of healing as well as discernment.  At times when Brother Jones prays with the sick of cancer the cancers come right out immediately on his command in Jesus name.  Mrs. Jones, who is a registered nurse, ministers with Brother Jones.  The Peoples Temple in Indianapolis is located at 15th and North New Jersey Streets, and Mrs. Jones as well as the People's Temple in the Herald of Faith fellowship.[19]