STANLEY
FRODSHAM 1882-1969

Stanley Frodsham
Writer, editor and teacher who ministered
in the Pentecostal movement for over 60 years. For 30 years
he was editor of the Pentecostal Evangel. He is mostly remembered
for the 15 books he wrote, the best known being a history
of the Pentecostal movement, ‘With Signs Following,’
(1926, enlarged in 1928, revised 1946) a collection of Smith
Wigglesworth’s sermons ‘Ever Increasing Faith’
(1924) and his biography of Smith Wigglesworth, ‘Apostle
of Faith’ (1948).
He was born in Bournemouth, England in 1882
into a godly home where he was encouraged to read the Bible
and pray. He attended a private school to learn proper grammar,
history and literature in preparation to achieve a career
in writing.
On reading the life of Hudson Taylor, founder
of the China Inland Mission, he was challenged by this man’s
walk with God by his life of faith. A fresh passion was born
in his heart to know God like God like Hudson Taylor had.
Soon afterwards he was powerfully converted and radically
transformed at the Young Men’s Christian Association
(YMCA) in London.
He spent a year in Johannesburg, S.A. as
secretary of the newly formed YMCA there and in 1906/7 he
visited Canada where his appetite was whetted as he began
to hear about the Pentecostal revival. Returning to England
in 1908 his thirst was quenched when he received the baptism
in the Holy Spirit at All Saint’s Church, Sunderland
– just one year after Smith Wigglesworth had received
the Spirit in the same place – in Pastor and Mrs. Boddy’s
home.
In 1909 he began his publishing ministry
when he introduced a Pentecostal paper called Victory, a monthly
paper that reported on the Pentecostal revival that was sweeping
the world. He joined the first Pentecostal church in Bournemouth
called the Apostolic Faith. During a visit to Canada in 1910
he met and married an English girl, Alice Rowlands. Smith
Wigglesworth performed the marriage ceremony in Britain and
then the newly-married couple emigrated to USA.
In 1916 he began his ministry with the AG,
soon becoming General Secretary and, in 1921 was elected as
editor of all AG publications which included the Pentecostal
Evangel.
Back in 1909 he had joined the first Pentecostal
church in Bournemouth which had a primary emphasis on prophecy
and the restoration of the ministries of Apostles and Prophets.
In the late 1940’s such emphases were again brought
to his attention when he became heavily involved in the Latter
Rain Movement.
The main teachings of this movement were:
1.) The Latter Rain, meaning an end-time church filled with
the power of the Holy Spirit, overcoming and victorious, attaining
to the "full stature" of Christ,as taught by Apostle
Paul.
2.) The Sacrifice of Praise, which was a major emphasis on
worship. Teaching on the Tabernacle of David and its restoration
was a major theme. Dancing, lifting of hands and spontaneous
praise were marks of this movement.
3.) Christian Unity. A major theme of the Latter Rain was
unity among believers, in the church service, in the geographic
region, and at large. They taught that God saw the church
organized not into denominational camps, but along geographical
lines as in the book of Acts. They expected that in the coming
last days, the various Christian denominations would dissolve,
and the true church would coalesce into city wide churches
under the leadership of the newly-restored apostles and prophets.
4.) Laying on of hands. Unlike Pentecostals who traditionally
held that the baptism of the Holy Spirit usually comes after
prolonged "tarrying" or waiting for the Spirit,
the Latter Rain movement taught that the baptism of the Holy
Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit can be imparted on
one believer by another through the laying on of hands.
5.)The fivefold ministry. The Latter Rain taught that there
would be a restoration of the five ministerial roles mentioned
in Ephesians 4:11 (apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher).
6.) Manifest(ed) Sons of God. Some leaders of the Latter Rain
movement taught that as the end of the age approached, that
the "overcomers" would arise within the Church.
These Manifest Sons of God, ones who have come into the full
stature of Jesus Christ would receive the spirit without measure.
They would be as Jesus was when He was on earth, they would
receive a number of divine gifts, including the ability to
change their physical location, to speak any language through
the Holy Spirit, and would be able to perform divine healings
and other miracles. They would complete the work of God restoring
man's rightful position as was originally mandated in Genesis,
and at last by coming into the full stature of Christ usher
in the millennial reign of Christ. Though this was not a widespread
view.
Some considered the Pentecostal denominations
a mere monument to Pentecost’s former glory, so this
new movement appeared a breath of fresh air. Singing in the
Spirit, the manifestation of spiritual gifts like tongues
interpretation and prophecy, people receiving the gift of
the Holy Spirit with the sign of tongues by the laying on
of hands, miraculous healing etc., brought the life of God
into their meetings. Such things had only been read about
in Pentecostal history books and records of the early days.
Now they had returned and Stanley, regardless of being in
his 60’s, embraced this new move with all his heart
and soul.
As the new movement gained more ground there
developed considerable controversy with the Assemblies of
God and they began a ‘vigorous defence’ against
‘The New Order of the Latter Rain,’ as they called
it. In November and December 1949 they published a series
aimed at exposing its erroneous beliefs and practices, without
direct reference to them by name.
Stanley’s involvement with the latter
rain folk caused him to be ‘pretty badly smeared before
all the presbyters’ and precipitated his retirement
at 67 years of age. A resolution was adopted reinforcing their
official disapproval which was then published as a statement
in The Pentecostal Evangel. Stanley continued to accept invitations
to Latter Rain assemblies to preach and with great sorrow
tendered his resignation from the General council ministerial
list. His reputation suffered loss but he maintained a clear
conscience and remained gracious and kind in his attitude
to the Assemblies of God. His abiding position was ‘Our
differences are temporal, our unity is eternal.’
He continued to minister in Latter rain circles,
teaching for a time at Elim Bible Institute, until his death
in 1969.
Bibliography: W. E. Warner
art. 'International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic
Movements' 2002, Richard M. Riss ‘Latter Rain’
1987.
Tony Cauchi
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