Who was Harry Morse ?

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Scott Pitta

But I don't think all the Azusa Street participants were part of the free Pentecost movement.

I need to find out when that began, the primary leaders, etc.

It remind me of another early group of Pentecostals who were more gypsie like than Christian. They were called Holy Rollers. They were in San Francisco from around 1906-1920 or so. The Azusa Street participants did not like being associated with them. They had a criminal charlatan element to them.

In contrast, the Azusa Street participants who came to San Francisco were described as very similar to Peniel Mission workers. Pious and devoted to public service to the poor. But still Pentecostal.

I'm not sure, but I think the demeaning term "Holy Roller" lasted longer than the actual group it described.

If I am wrong in these assessments, feel free to provide correction.

Have you heard where the term “holy roller” came from on the west coast?

[Scott Pitta]

It was commonly used in San Francisco newspapers from 1906 on. There were a group of Holy Rollers up in Washington or Oregon who were notorious. I think their leader murdered a member. They were also called Holy Rollers. But the papers seemed to stop using it around 1920.

I'll dig around and provide some hard data and post it here.


John Creffield was a leader in Seattle in 1906. He was murdered. The news was broadcast in several west coast papers. Inaccurate descriptions of worshippers also made for colorful reporting. Seances, child sacrifices and improper relations between the sexes was reported.

Looks like the term continued to be used by the press from 1906 on.

[Esaias]

I thought the "holy roller" term was originally used for a group that literally would roll around on the floor? The term later got erroneously applied to anyone in the holiness and pentecostal movements.

Reminds me of the "fire baptized" folks (who are still around, I think).

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Esaias

I thought the "holy roller" term was originally used for a group that literally would roll around on the floor? The term later got erroneously applied to anyone in the holiness and pentecostal movements.

Reminds me of the "fire baptized" folks (who are still around, I think).

At California it was said the house the met on Bonnie Bray St. was on a slight hill it was said folks would get shouting and roll down the hill. Thus holy rollers.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

At California it was said the house the met on Bonnie Bray St. was on a slight hill it was said folks would get shouting and roll down the hill. Thus holy rollers.

Ah, I see. Was there a connection with the infamous West Coast "Holy Rollers" and the Fire-Baptised folks? I think that was old Mother Alma White's group?

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Ah, I see. Was there a connection with the infamous West Coast "Holy Rollers" and the Fire-Baptised folks? I think that was old Mother Alma White's group?

Correction: Alma White's group was the Pillar of Fire movement, NOT the Fire-Baptised movement. My bad.

[Esaias]

The Pillar of Fire folks were called "Holy Jumpers".

[Scott Pitta]

It was said members actually rolled on the floor as an act of worship. Hence the name.

[houston]

Originally Posted by Scott Pitta

It was said members actually rolled on the floor as an act of worship. Hence the name.

Were you not a holy roller? At one point.

[Scott Pitta]

I never saw anyone roll of the floor.