E. L. Holley - A Reminisce

[timlan2057]

This is not a comprehensive biography ... just reminisces about aspects of this man's life I remember here this morning before I drink my coffee.


E. L. Holley

I think of him as the last of the "Great Populists" in the UPC. I mean that he rose from the ranks of the "little preachers", having pastored in such tiny places as Electra, Texas. He followed the pattern here of another longtime Texas District Superintendent, V. A. Guidroz.

The Texas District of the late sixties through the mid eighties was chock full of powerful preachers and personalities of all stripes and spectrums - not an easy district to lead. Holley's strength, as one pastor told me was: "he's for the little preacher." And the little preachers were his strength. The Texas District in its prime always had a bit of class warfare. The aristocratic preachers and churches - those in the big cities like Houston - were not really big Holley fans.

I remember O. R. Fauss preaching Louisiana Campmeeting around 1982. Governor Edwin Edwards spoke that night and Fauss said: "I wish the governor of Texas would come to MY campmeeting" - no doubt a direct shot at Holley, who as DS forbade politicians from speaking at Lufkin.

But those pastors of small churches in the piney woods and on the central plains kept Holley in office. One writer said of Richard Nixon's enduring prominence despite his faults and fobiles: "He was one of us."

The "little preachers" in the vast Texas District felt the same way about Holley.

I found Holley fascinating in the same sense I found Murray Burr fascinating; he was a poetic soul trapped in a country preacher's personna and he was quite scholarly. Though he was not the literary master that Burr was, he had a poet's soul trapped in a close-minded "ole time preacher's" persona.

I mean, how much more literary can you get by proposing to your wife thus: "Will you marry me, and live under my wings so happily?"

Campmeeting Bible Teaching was an art in itself. It was not easy to hold attention for two hours in a morning session. Holley was a master at it and considered the best. I thought him far superior as a "Bible Teacher" to C. L. Dees, another considered a great one.

In my opinion, Dees was pretentious with his "big words" and full-blown rhetoric. It impressed the masses of pentecostals lacking formal higher education who considered him a genius. But really, a lot of Dees's teaching to me was just a man in love with the sound of his own voice.

Holley at least came across as more literary and for that I give him credit.

Yes, Holley was a petty man, like many UPC leaders of the time. He was a supporter of the Affirmation Resolution in 1992, primarily because he wanted to "get" John Kershaw. Class Warfare may have entered the picture as Kershaw was the epitome of the aristocratic, silver-spoon preacher that was anathema to Holley's turnip-greens, down-home, populist persona.

And of course, Holley and Westberg became the leaders of the "Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight" with the 1992 resolution that, in my opinion, forever tore the heart and soul from the UPC and changed it for good and forever for the worst.

Holley was aiming at "liberals" like Kershaw just as Westberg had it in for Marrell Cornwell.

Kershaw and Cornwell, along with Richard Gazowsky, came through the bloodbath with their fellowship cards in their pockets. Yet the resolution cost the UPC many of its best and brightest. This will forever be part of Holley's legacy.

His leadership style was pretty much: "My way or the highway." In that sense, he only followed the pattern set by Weeks and Guidroz, other strong superintendents of Louisiana and Texas, the UPC's strongest districts.

But just as Earl Long was the last of the great populists in Louisiana politics, so Holley probably was in UPC politics. He made no pretense to being liberal and was not a master politician like T. F. Tenney. (As Tenney's close friend, George Glass Jr. said to me about him: "Tom Fred could talk to a radical conservative or an ultra-liberal and make that man think he believed just like him.")

That wasn't Holley's style. He alternated superintendencies with O. W. Williams - another of the "aristocrats."

Kevin Cox, present day Louisiana District Superintendent, could learn from Holley.

I was in a campmeeting service last year where Cox did not speak at all but let Anthony Mangun emcee.

Cox is already perceived as just a figurehead and a compromise candidate - hopelessly mired in the long and imposing shadow of T. F. Tenney.

Cox should rally the troops in the churches under 100 and use his likeable, "aw shucks" personality to be the champion of the "little preacher."

It worked for Holley.

E. L. Holley was another fascinating man like Murray Burr. A genius in some respects - a "self-made" man without a lot of formal higher education. But like many of his contemporaries, that lack of higher education left him bereft of an ability to think critically or be a long-term visionary.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by timlan2057

Campmeeting Bible Teaching was an art in itself. It was not easy to hold attention for two hours in a morning session. Holley was a master at it and considered the best.

Thanks, Tim. This was the only side of E.L. Holley that I knew. He helped our church through a horrendous church split and was the most gentle and anointed man! I was so proud of how God used him to settle things down and see us through it all.

[freeatlast]

Thanks for the history lesson Tim. Very interesting reading.

[Whole Hearted]

E. L. Holley was a great, great man.

I found many of the things said here about him to be belittling and insulting.

Thank God for good men for the country, who know the truth and are not going to sell out.

Brother Holley early morning bible studies where the best. I have been going to camp meeting for over32 years and no one even compared to him. His wisdom and ability to teach were great.


Some one said he was a velvet covered brick.


If the UPC had more like him it wouldn't be in the mess it is.

[mizpeh]

Tim, I don't know the people you mention but I found your insights interesting.

You ended with this statement: But like many of his contemporaries, that lack of higher education left him bereft of an ability to think critically or be a long-term visionary.

Why do you think a higher education necessarily gives one an ability to think critical and prepares one to be a long-term visionary? Are leaders born or made? What is your assessment of Peter and Paul. One was considered unlearned and ignorant and the other sat at the feet of Gameliel. Acts 22:3

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Whole Hearted

E. L. Holley was a great, great man.

I found many of the things said here about him to be belittling and insulting.

Thank God for good men for the country, who know the truth and are not going to sell out.

Brother Holley early morning bible studies where the best. I have been going to camp meeting for over32 years and no one even compared to him. His wisdom and ability to teach were great.


Some one said he was a velvet covered brick.


If the UPC had more like him it wouldn't be in the mess it is.

Some one said he was a velvet covered brick.

I just had to highlight that. Love the analogy. I thought of him as such!

I heard grumblings about him, but never saw what I heard!

[Whole Hearted]

I guess many of the disciples could not be a critical thinker or a long term visionary, they were uneducated.






Some today have educated themselves right out of the truth and into false doctrine.

[Jehoram]

The "lack of education" comment is true, but smacks of elitism.

[freeatlast]

Originally Posted by Whole Hearted

I guess many of the disciples could be a critical thinker or a long term visionary, they were uneducated.






Some today have educated themselves right out of the truth and into false doctrine.

And many have done just the oposite. Out of darkness into the light.

[SDG]

Paul had an education ... an had the most impact, IMO.