Kathleen Merrell White
Encyclopedia
Kathleen Merell White was a minister, author and senior leader in the Pillar of Fire Church
Pillar of Fire Church
The Pillar of Fire International is a Christian organization founded in Denver, Colorado in 1901 by Alma White, with headquarters in Zarephath, New Jersey. The Pillar of Fire was originally incorporated as the Pentecostal Union, but changed its name to distance itself from Pentecostalism in 1915...

, a Protestant denomination founded in 1901 by Bishop Alma White, Kathleen's mother-in-law. At its peak, the Pillar of Fire had several dozen congregations while operating three radio stations, two colleges, a dozen elementary and secondary schools and a significant printing operation. The church published at least 10 periodicals and nearly 100 different book titles.

Biography

She was born as Kathleen Merrell Staats on November 25, 1889 to Anna F. and William Staats. Over the course of her career with the Pillar of Fire Church
Pillar of Fire Church
The Pillar of Fire International is a Christian organization founded in Denver, Colorado in 1901 by Alma White, with headquarters in Zarephath, New Jersey. The Pillar of Fire was originally incorporated as the Pentecostal Union, but changed its name to distance itself from Pentecostalism in 1915...

 she held numerous titles including Financial Agent, Superintendent of Schools, Vice President, and Assistant Superintendent. She was the wife of Bishop Arthur Kent White
Arthur Kent White
Arthur Kent White was a bishop, and the general superintendent of the Pillar of Fire Church in Zarephath, New Jersey and the President of Belleview College...

, the Church's second general superintendent, and together they jointly ran the Pillar of Fire Church
Pillar of Fire Church
The Pillar of Fire International is a Christian organization founded in Denver, Colorado in 1901 by Alma White, with headquarters in Zarephath, New Jersey. The Pillar of Fire was originally incorporated as the Pentecostal Union, but changed its name to distance itself from Pentecostalism in 1915...

 from 1946 until her death in the 1973.

Kathleen White was also the granddaughter of Caroline Van Neste Field Garretson, the widow who donated her farm in Somerset County, New Jersey to Bishop Alma White, the founder of the Pillar of Fire Church
Pillar of Fire Church
The Pillar of Fire International is a Christian organization founded in Denver, Colorado in 1901 by Alma White, with headquarters in Zarephath, New Jersey. The Pillar of Fire was originally incorporated as the Pentecostal Union, but changed its name to distance itself from Pentecostalism in 1915...

. Bishop White gave the farm and ensuing community the name of Zarephath
Zarephath, New Jersey
Zarephath is an unincorporated area of Franklin Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. It was the communal home to the Pillar of Fire Church, and was the worldwide headquarters of Pillar of Fire International and housed the church's college, Somerset Christian College, and radio...

, after the Widow of Zarephath from the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...

. Zarephath would eventually become the communal headquarters for the Pillar of Fire Church
Pillar of Fire Church
The Pillar of Fire International is a Christian organization founded in Denver, Colorado in 1901 by Alma White, with headquarters in Zarephath, New Jersey. The Pillar of Fire was originally incorporated as the Pentecostal Union, but changed its name to distance itself from Pentecostalism in 1915...

.

Kathleen and Arthur were married in 1914, six years after Kathleen's grandmother Caroline made the donation of the large farm to Arthur's mother Bishop White in 1908. Kathleen died on April 1, 1973 in Zarephath, New Jersey
Zarephath, New Jersey
Zarephath is an unincorporated area of Franklin Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. It was the communal home to the Pillar of Fire Church, and was the worldwide headquarters of Pillar of Fire International and housed the church's college, Somerset Christian College, and radio...

.

Politics

Like her mother-in-law, Kathleen was a strong advocate for women's equality, especially within the structure of the Church. According to Susie Stanley, "While many clergy sanctioned a narrow understanding of women's sphere, Kathleen White of the Pillar of Fire Church
Pillar of Fire Church
The Pillar of Fire International is a Christian organization founded in Denver, Colorado in 1901 by Alma White, with headquarters in Zarephath, New Jersey. The Pillar of Fire was originally incorporated as the Pentecostal Union, but changed its name to distance itself from Pentecostalism in 1915...

 found no evidence of divine approval for woman's sphere." Stanley quotes Kathleen White as writing: "Jesus had nothing to say about woman's place: Never so far as we know, did He utter a single sentence in abridgement of the domestic, social, or religious privileges of women; and never by His actions or words did He show any discrimination against them."


Kathleen was also a fervent advocate for temperance. She wrote and lectured extensively on the subject and eventually published a book titled Drunk Stuff. In the preface she wrote:
My personal abhorrence of intoxicants dates back to my childhood. Not that liquor was ever a personal or family problem, but as a child the dread of an intoxicated man possessed me. The opportunity to fight this evil came when I dedicated my life to missionary endeavor and preaching in the Pillar of Fire Church
Pillar of Fire Church
The Pillar of Fire International is a Christian organization founded in Denver, Colorado in 1901 by Alma White, with headquarters in Zarephath, New Jersey. The Pillar of Fire was originally incorporated as the Pentecostal Union, but changed its name to distance itself from Pentecostalism in 1915...

. I am indebted to Alma White, my husband's mother, for much of my inspiration, and am convinced that unrestrained liquor indulgence must cease to be a part of the American way of life if our civilization is saved.

Publications

Rev. White wrote one book, Drunk Stuff, wrote numerous articles for the periodicals The Dry Legion and Woman's Chains, and published four hymns in the Cross and Crown Hymnal. The hymns were titled Tell It All to Jesus, Spring Days, Tiny Sunbeams and Happy Children. She is also credited for writing the arrangement for Bishop Alma White's hymn Teach the Children.




Happy Children

1925

Happy children, blithe and gay,

Laughing all the live-long day;

Who will guide them in the truth

While they're in the boom of youth?



Tender lives like little flow'rs,

Blighted soon, by Satan's pow'rs

Shall we let them droop and die

With no hope as time rolls by?



Satan wants to wreck their lives,

Mar the good that in them lies,

Wound their little minds and hearts,

Slyly with his cruel darts.



Guard them from life's chilling blast,

Watch till danger all is past;

Guide their little feet aright,

Lead them on to heav'nly light.



Chorus

O, go out and bring them in,

From the snares of vice and sin,

They are waiting for your hand,

Guide them to the promised land.
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