Gaston B. Cashwell
Encyclopedia
Gaston Barnibus Cashwell (1860–1916) was an early Pentecostal leader in the southern United States
. He was born in Sampson County, North Carolina
. His importance lies in bringing several Holiness movement
s into the Pentecostal camp.
G. B. Cashwell first became a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and later joined the Holiness Church
of North Carolina
in 1903. In November 1906, he traveled to Los Angeles
to visit the Pentecostal revival at the Azusa Street mission. In early December, he had an experience that he believed to be the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the evidence of speaking in tongues. Upon returning to Dunn, North Carolina
, on December 31, 1906, Cashwell preached the Pentecostal experience in the local Holiness church. Interest in the Pentecostal experience was so great that he rented a local tobacco warehouse and began a month-long crusade. A revival broke out in North Carolina, especially in the holiness movement
. Most of the ministers of the Pentecostal Holiness Church, the Fire-Baptized Holiness Church
and the Holiness Free Will Baptist Churches
were swept into Pentecostalism by this revival. Over the next six months, he toured the south preaching "Pentecost". His zeal and influence in spreading Pentecostalism through the south has earned him the title of the Apostle of Pentecost to the South.
In the summer of 1907, Cashwell brought the message of Pentecost to evangelists H. G. Rodgers and M. M. Pinson, who carried the message to Alabama
, Florida
, Georgia
, and Mississippi
. Later they would lead these churches into the Assemblies of God
. Through Rodgers and Pinson, A. J. Tomlinson of the Church of God
in Cleveland, Tennessee
heard of Cashwell's message and invited him to Cleveland. On January 12, 1908, following a sermon by Cashwell, Tomlinson fell to the floor. He professed to receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost and speaking in at least ten different languages.
In October 1907, Cashwell started a publication in Atlanta, Georgia
called The Bridegroom's Messenger. The periodical was created to spread the Pentecostal message over the country through a combination of sermons, articles, editorials, and testimonies. He edited it for a year before returning fully to his evangelistic efforts. The magazine was later taken over by Paul and Hattie Barth, who organized the International Pentecostal Assemblies (now International Pentecostal Church of Christ
).
Although the influence of Cashwell was strong, his time of association with the Pentecostal movement was for a brief period of three years - from his "conversion" in 1906 until his departure from the Pentecostal Holiness Church in 1909. In 1910 and afterward, his name no longer appeared in the roster of ministers belonging to the Pentecostal Holiness Church. Cashwell distanced himself from "Pentecostalism", rejoined the Methodist church, and died from a heart-attack in 1916.
Cashwell's apostleship of Pentecostalism in the south influenced many denominations. About a dozen existing Pentecostal bodies can trace their Pentecostal heritage directly or at least in part to Gaston B. Cashwell, including:
The name is Gaston Barnabas Cashwell and he was born on April 5, 1862. While it is commonly held that he belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church South, there are no records to support that claim or that he joined that movement, or any movement, when he was dropped from the membership of the Pentecostal Holiness Church of North Carolina in 1910.
In the 1890s he was a tobacco demonstrator in South Georgia and the Atlanta Constitution for October 27, 1893, contains an article about his tobacco growth in south Georgia.
The source for this information is the book, Azusa East: The Life and Times of G.B. Cashwell by Doug Beacham (Franklin Springs, GA: LSR Publications, 2006).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was born in Sampson County, North Carolina
Sampson County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 63,431 people, 22,624 households, and 16,214 families residing in the county. The population density was 67.1 people per square mile . There were 26,476 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile...
. His importance lies in bringing several Holiness movement
Holiness movement
The holiness movement refers to a set of beliefs and practices emerging from the Methodist Christian church in the mid 19th century. The movement is distinguished by its emphasis on John Wesley's doctrine of "Christian perfection" - the belief that it is possible to live free of voluntary sin - and...
s into the Pentecostal camp.
G. B. Cashwell first became a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and later joined the Holiness Church
International Pentecostal Holiness Church
The International Pentecostal Holiness Church or simply Pentecostal Holiness Church is a Pentecostal Christian denomination founded in 1911 with the merger of two older denominations. Traditionally centered in the Southeastern United States, particularly the Carolinas and Georgia, the Pentecostal...
of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in 1903. In November 1906, he traveled to Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
to visit the Pentecostal revival at the Azusa Street mission. In early December, he had an experience that he believed to be the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the evidence of speaking in tongues. Upon returning to Dunn, North Carolina
Dunn, North Carolina
Dunn is a city in Harnett County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 9,196 at the 2000 census.It is the birthplace of early an rock and roll guitar player, Link Wray, and General William C. Lee, father of the American Army Airborne. The city's slogan is "It's all right here." The...
, on December 31, 1906, Cashwell preached the Pentecostal experience in the local Holiness church. Interest in the Pentecostal experience was so great that he rented a local tobacco warehouse and began a month-long crusade. A revival broke out in North Carolina, especially in the holiness movement
Holiness movement
The holiness movement refers to a set of beliefs and practices emerging from the Methodist Christian church in the mid 19th century. The movement is distinguished by its emphasis on John Wesley's doctrine of "Christian perfection" - the belief that it is possible to live free of voluntary sin - and...
. Most of the ministers of the Pentecostal Holiness Church, the Fire-Baptized Holiness Church
Fire-Baptized Holiness Church
The Fire-Baptized Holiness Church was a radical holiness Christian denomination in North America and was involved in the early formation of Pentecostalism. Founded in 1895, it merged with the Pentecostal Holiness Church in 1911, forming a new denomination now known as the International Pentecostal...
and the Holiness Free Will Baptist Churches
Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church
The Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church is a church group in the southern United States, best thought of as Pentecostal rather than Baptist...
were swept into Pentecostalism by this revival. Over the next six months, he toured the south preaching "Pentecost". His zeal and influence in spreading Pentecostalism through the south has earned him the title of the Apostle of Pentecost to the South.
In the summer of 1907, Cashwell brought the message of Pentecost to evangelists H. G. Rodgers and M. M. Pinson, who carried the message to Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, and Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. Later they would lead these churches into the Assemblies of God
Assemblies of God
The Assemblies of God , officially the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, is a group of over 140 autonomous but loosely-associated national groupings of churches which together form the world's largest Pentecostal denomination...
. Through Rodgers and Pinson, A. J. Tomlinson of the Church of God
Church of God of Prophecy
The Church of God of Prophecy is a Christian denomination with beliefs and principles similar to Pentecostal Holiness Christian faith. It is one of five Church of God bodies headquartered in Cleveland, Tennessee that descended from a small meeting of believers who gathered at the Barney Creek...
in Cleveland, Tennessee
Cleveland, Tennessee
Cleveland is a city in Bradley County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 41,285 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Bradley County...
heard of Cashwell's message and invited him to Cleveland. On January 12, 1908, following a sermon by Cashwell, Tomlinson fell to the floor. He professed to receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost and speaking in at least ten different languages.
In October 1907, Cashwell started a publication in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
called The Bridegroom's Messenger. The periodical was created to spread the Pentecostal message over the country through a combination of sermons, articles, editorials, and testimonies. He edited it for a year before returning fully to his evangelistic efforts. The magazine was later taken over by Paul and Hattie Barth, who organized the International Pentecostal Assemblies (now International Pentecostal Church of Christ
International Pentecostal Church of Christ
The International Pentecostal Church of Christ is a Pentecostal denomination formed in 1976 by the merger of two Pentecostal organizations....
).
Although the influence of Cashwell was strong, his time of association with the Pentecostal movement was for a brief period of three years - from his "conversion" in 1906 until his departure from the Pentecostal Holiness Church in 1909. In 1910 and afterward, his name no longer appeared in the roster of ministers belonging to the Pentecostal Holiness Church. Cashwell distanced himself from "Pentecostalism", rejoined the Methodist church, and died from a heart-attack in 1916.
Cashwell's apostleship of Pentecostalism in the south influenced many denominations. About a dozen existing Pentecostal bodies can trace their Pentecostal heritage directly or at least in part to Gaston B. Cashwell, including:
- Assemblies of God USA
- Church of God (Cleveland)
- Church of God of ProphecyChurch of God of ProphecyThe Church of God of Prophecy is a Christian denomination with beliefs and principles similar to Pentecostal Holiness Christian faith. It is one of five Church of God bodies headquartered in Cleveland, Tennessee that descended from a small meeting of believers who gathered at the Barney Creek...
- Congregational Holiness ChurchCongregational Holiness ChurchThe Congregational Holiness Church is a Pentecostal Church that was formed in 1921.-History:The Congregational Holiness Church shares the early history of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, from which it withdrew. In 1920 a schism came into the Pentecostal Holiness Church over the...
- International Pentecostal Church of ChristInternational Pentecostal Church of ChristThe International Pentecostal Church of Christ is a Pentecostal denomination formed in 1976 by the merger of two Pentecostal organizations....
- International Pentecostal Holiness ChurchInternational Pentecostal Holiness ChurchThe International Pentecostal Holiness Church or simply Pentecostal Holiness Church is a Pentecostal Christian denomination founded in 1911 with the merger of two older denominations. Traditionally centered in the Southeastern United States, particularly the Carolinas and Georgia, the Pentecostal...
- Pentecostal Free Will Baptist ChurchPentecostal Free Will Baptist ChurchThe Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church is a church group in the southern United States, best thought of as Pentecostal rather than Baptist...
External links
The name is Gaston Barnabas Cashwell and he was born on April 5, 1862. While it is commonly held that he belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church South, there are no records to support that claim or that he joined that movement, or any movement, when he was dropped from the membership of the Pentecostal Holiness Church of North Carolina in 1910.
In the 1890s he was a tobacco demonstrator in South Georgia and the Atlanta Constitution for October 27, 1893, contains an article about his tobacco growth in south Georgia.
The source for this information is the book, Azusa East: The Life and Times of G.B. Cashwell by Doug Beacham (Franklin Springs, GA: LSR Publications, 2006).