Phoebe Palmer
Encyclopedia
Phoebe Palmer was an evangelist and writer who promoted the doctrine of Christian perfection
. She is considered one of the founders of the Holiness movement
in the United States of America
and the Higher Life movement
in the United Kingdom
.
named Henry Worrall. He had experienced a religious conversion during the Wesleyan Revival in England before immigrating to the United States. Phoebe’s mother was Dorothea Wade Worrall.
. They developed a particular interest in Wesley’s doctrine of Christian perfection
, which is the belief that a Christian can live a life free of serious sin. At some point in the 1830’s the Palmers experienced what they called “entire sanctification
.” They felt that they should teach others about that experience and teach them how to have it for themselves.
, Jesse T. Peck and Matthew Simpson
. This renewed interest in Holiness eventually influenced the Methodist Church nationwide.
Phoebe Palmer, and her husband Walter became itinerant preachers as they received more and more invitations from churches, conferences, and camp meetings. Although Walter Palmer spoke at these meetings, it was Phoebe who was better known.
Palmer played a significant role in spreading the concept of Christian holiness throughout the United States and the rest of the world. She wrote several books, including The Way of Holiness, which was a foundational book in the Holiness movement. From the northeastern United States the movement spread. She and her husband visited other regions, then Canada
in 1857, and then the United Kingdom in 1859. They stayed in the United Kingdom for several years.
The Palmers bought a monthly magazine
entitled The Guide to Holiness in 1864. It had been started by Timothy Merritt to promote the doctrine of Christian perfection. Phoebe Palmer edited the magazine from that time until her death.
Some of the people that Palmer influenced through her speaking and writing were the temperance leader, Frances Willard
; the co-founder of the Salvation Army
, Catherine Booth
; and the first president of the National Camp Meeting Association for the Promotion of Holiness (later the Christian Holiness Partnership
), John Iskip.
In her book, The Promise of the Father, Palmer defended the idea of women in Christian ministry.
Palmer’s belief in holiness was not merely theoretical. She led the Methodist Ladies’ Home Missionary Society in founding the Five Points Mission in 1850. This mission was in a slum area in New York City.
Phoebe Palmer’s daughter, Phoebe Knapp
, wrote several hymn tune
s, including the melody for Fanny Crosby
’s “Blessed Assurance.”
Christian perfection
Christian perfection, also known as perfect love; heart purity; the baptism of the Holy Spirit; the fullness of the blessing; Christian holiness; the second blessing; and entire sanctification, is a Christian doctrine which holds that the heart of the regenerant Christian may attain a state of...
. She is considered one of the founders of 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...
in the United States of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the Higher Life movement
Higher Life movement
The Higher Life movement was a movement devoted to Christian holiness in England. Its name comes from a book by William Boardman, entitled The Higher Christian Life, which was published in 1858...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Early life
Palmer was born Phoebe Worrall in New York City. Her father was a devout MethodistMethodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
named Henry Worrall. He had experienced a religious conversion during the Wesleyan Revival in England before immigrating to the United States. Phoebe’s mother was Dorothea Wade Worrall.
Spiritual development
In 1827 Phoebe Worall married Walter Palmer, a homeopathic physician, who was also a devout Methodist. As Methodists the couple became interested in the writings of the founder of Methodism, John WesleyJohn Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
. They developed a particular interest in Wesley’s doctrine of Christian perfection
Christian perfection
Christian perfection, also known as perfect love; heart purity; the baptism of the Holy Spirit; the fullness of the blessing; Christian holiness; the second blessing; and entire sanctification, is a Christian doctrine which holds that the heart of the regenerant Christian may attain a state of...
, which is the belief that a Christian can live a life free of serious sin. At some point in the 1830’s the Palmers experienced what they called “entire sanctification
Sanctification
Sanctity is an ancient concept widespread among religions, a property of a thing or person sacred or set apart within the religion, from totem poles through temple vessels to days of the week, to a human believer who achieves this state. Sanctification is the act or process of acquiring sanctity,...
.” They felt that they should teach others about that experience and teach them how to have it for themselves.
Spread of Holiness concepts
In 1835 Palmer’s sister, Sarah Lankford, began having weekly prayer meetings with Methodist women. Two years later, Phoebe Palmer became the leader of the meetings, which were referred to as the Tuesday Meeting for the Promotion of Holiness. The meetings were held in the Palmer’s home. Beginning in 1839, men were allowed to attend the meetings. Among the men were Methodist bishops, theologians, and ministers. Some of the bishops who attended were Edmund S. James, Leonidas Lent HamlineLeonidas Lent Hamline
Leonidas Lent Hamline was an American Methodist Episcopal bishop and a lawyer. He is the eponym of Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and also of Hamline Avenue and Hamline United Methodist Church, also in St. Paul.Hamline studied for the ministry, but afterward studied law, and practiced...
, Jesse T. Peck and Matthew Simpson
Matthew Simpson
Matthew Simpson , was an American bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, elected in 1852.-Early life and family:...
. This renewed interest in Holiness eventually influenced the Methodist Church nationwide.
Phoebe Palmer, and her husband Walter became itinerant preachers as they received more and more invitations from churches, conferences, and camp meetings. Although Walter Palmer spoke at these meetings, it was Phoebe who was better known.
Palmer played a significant role in spreading the concept of Christian holiness throughout the United States and the rest of the world. She wrote several books, including The Way of Holiness, which was a foundational book in the Holiness movement. From the northeastern United States the movement spread. She and her husband visited other regions, then Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1857, and then the United Kingdom in 1859. They stayed in the United Kingdom for several years.
The Palmers bought a monthly magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
entitled The Guide to Holiness in 1864. It had been started by Timothy Merritt to promote the doctrine of Christian perfection. Phoebe Palmer edited the magazine from that time until her death.
Some of the people that Palmer influenced through her speaking and writing were the temperance leader, Frances Willard
Frances Willard (suffragist)
Frances Elizabeth Caroline Willard was an American educator, temperance reformer, and women's suffragist. Her influence was instrumental in the passage of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution...
; the co-founder of the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
, Catherine Booth
Catherine Booth
Catherine Booth was the wife of the founder of The Salvation Army, William Booth. Because of her influence in the formation of The Salvation Army she was known as the 'Army Mother'....
; and the first president of the National Camp Meeting Association for the Promotion of Holiness (later the Christian Holiness Partnership
Christian Holiness Partnership
The Christian Holiness Partnership is an international organization of individuals, organizational and denominational affiliates within the holiness movement. It was founded in 1867 as the National Camp Meeting Association for Christian Holiness, later changing its name to the National Holiness...
), John Iskip.
In her book, The Promise of the Father, Palmer defended the idea of women in Christian ministry.
Palmer’s belief in holiness was not merely theoretical. She led the Methodist Ladies’ Home Missionary Society in founding the Five Points Mission in 1850. This mission was in a slum area in New York City.
Phoebe Palmer’s daughter, Phoebe Knapp
Phoebe Knapp
Phoebe Knapp was a composer of music for hymns and an organist.Knapp was born in New York City. Her parents were Walter C. Palmer and Phoebe Worrall Palmer...
, wrote several hymn tune
Hymn tune
A hymn tune is the melody of a musical composition to which a hymn text is sung. Musically speaking, a hymn is generally understood to have four-part harmony, a fast harmonic rhythm , and no refrain or chorus....
s, including the melody for Fanny Crosby
Fanny Crosby
Frances Jane Crosby , usually known as Fanny Crosby in the United States and by her married name, Frances van Alstyne, in the United Kingdom, was an American Methodist rescue mission worker, poet, lyricist, and composer. During her lifetime, she was well-known throughout the United States...
’s “Blessed Assurance.”
Writings
- The Way of Holiness (1843)
- Entire Devotion to God (1845)
- Faith and its Effects (1848)
- The Promise of the Father (1859)
Sources
- Raser, Harold E., "Phoebe Palmer, Her Life and Thought", Studies in Women and Religion, Volume 22, The Edwin Mellen Press, Lewiston/Queenston, 1947, p. 103.
- Reuther, Rosemary Radford and Rosemary Skinner Keller, Women and Religion in America: The Nineteenth Century. San Francisco, Harper and Row, 1981.
- White, Charles Edward. The Beauty of Holiness: Phoebe Palmer as Theologian, Revivalist, Feminist, and Humanitarian (Zondervan/Francis Asbury Press, 1986). (ISBN 0-310-46250-9)
External links
- http://www.answers.com/topic/phoebe-palmer
- http://are.as.wvu.edu/phebe.htm
- http://www.messiah.edu/whwc/Articles/article26.htm
- http://wesley.nnu.edu/wesleyan_theology/theojrnl/21-25/23-13.htm