Lessons from 1918: How IPHC Pentecostals Responded to the Last Global Pandemic
Image from 1918 Influenza Pandemic [1]
As the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread through America, there were competing opinions about how Pentecostals should respond. Fortunately, the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC/PHC) provided early guidance, education and support for pastors. As a denomination, we chose to err on the side of caution and cooperation. Churches moved forward with creative energy. Some might wonder how early Pentecostals, especially those in the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, would have responded to similar circumstances, though. It just so happens that history can help us answer that question.
Rev. Ricky Nelms (Archives Council Member, NC IPHC) and I reviewed Pentecostal Holiness Advocates (PHA) that were published from 1918- 1920. This was the official periodical of IPHC during that time period. I also searched autobiographies. Our research goal was to learn how our denomination responded to practical and theological issues related to the last global pandemic; the 1918 Influenza (also called the Spanish Flu). That strain of influenza claimed up to 50 million lives globally and spread across America just as World War I was coming to an end. Sadly, more lives were lost to the flu than to the war.
Our research quickly revealed three things. First, during the 1918 Influenza, no one worried about losing their civil liberties. Second, no one felt impeded from practicing their faith. Third, there was absolutely no printed discussion about whether or not churches should comply with social distancing or quarantine measures. However, popular evangelist R. B. Hayes traveled through Falcon and other towns in North Carolina and South Carolina just as the virus was peaking and reported, “I found some at all these places wanted to go ahead and hold services any way, but when I prayed over the matter, this scripture would come before me; Romans 13:1-3, Titus 3:1 and 1 Peter 2:13-14. I like to see people with a big good lot of salvation, but it is a good thing to have a lot of motherwit and common sense with it.”
We also learned that there were not uniform executive orders for quarantine in 1918-1919. Some areas of the country were hit harder by the virus than others. However, Rev. G. F. Taylor, editor of the PHA captured the general feeling by saying, “The Influenza seems to have set everything out of joint all over the country…. Many requests have poured into The Advocate office for prayer. We have been trying to take them all to God.” The South Carolina conference planned to reschedule annual meeting “on the account of sickness raging as it is, and all public gatherings forbidden by the State Board of Health.” In November, Taylor reported that during the month of October “this disease shut down all the meetings.” A few weeks later, he revealed that 500 subscriptions had been lost “on account of the flu.”
However, the December 19, 1918 edition of the paper records Bishop J. H. King thanking God for sparing him from the virus and confiding that he had not wanted to be a burden to anyone. At the time, he was single and didn’t own a home. So, he sheltered with a local pastor. That didn’t impede him from going to pray for the sick, though. He also admitted that he had been grateful for the much-needed rest.
Two waves of the virus had already swept over the country. However, the second wave of the virus was much more destructive than the first. “I had it on Thanksgiving day.” reported Taylor. “God touched my body that day and the fever left me that night, however, I have suffered from it a great deal until now. It has been extremely difficult for me to keep my work going. I have written my editorials for this paper under intense mental sufferings. My brain seems to be as a block of ice at times. I do not suffer so much in body as I do in mind. I ask the prayers of all my readers, that I may speedily recover.”
By Christmas, the general sense was that the virus had nearly run its course. Some of the quarantines were lifted and the South Carolina Conference felt safe to hold a meeting in late December. One pastor remarked, “We couldn’t have any services for about six weeks but praise God the quarantine has been lifted, and most of the saints are able to come to church again, and the power is falling in the old-time way.” There was also an impressive report from North Carolina boasting that “out of almost 1,300 members, there had only been 13 deaths” from the war and influenza. However, children may not have been included among deceased members. Also, they were unaware that a third wave of influenza was to come. Sadly, within days, a shocking report came from South Carolina. Their conference superintendent and his young daughter had both died of influenza.
In her autobiography, Florence Goff, a minister and Falcon, NC resident, said that there were a hundred cases of influenza in Falcon but only two died. Goff named both a man and a child that had died. Other reports only mention the man’s death, though. Two deaths out of one-hundred certainly seems miraculous and that’s how Goff interpreted it. However, we now know that one-third of the earth’s population was infected with the virus and approximately 2% of infections resulted in death. So, the 2% death rate in Falcon was right in line with global statistics. The number of people who became infected in the tiny one square mile community may have been higher than average, though. Falcon was an intentional Pentecostal community centered around a holiness school, an orphanage, and a publishing house. So, the spread could have been caused by dormitory life. However, it’s also possible that ministers unknowingly spread it as they prayed for the sick. Florence Goff reported that she and her husband constantly answered calls to go pray for others. Yet, five of their children were also sick.
Revereds H. H. & Florence Goff with their family.[2]
The general consensus was that the influenza should be viewed as a test. Both G. F. Taylor and Bishop J. H. King affirmed this belief in the December 19, 1918 Advocate. King used his monthly editorial to explain, “When He is our habitation we can rest in the assurance that He will suffer no plague to come nigh our dwelling. But this requires an extra degree of faith or a claiming the protection of the covenant. Holy people have sickness. It may be they do not enter fully into their privileges in Christ. However, it is wise to conclude that God may allow those that abide in Christ to be sorely tested through sickness.” Taylor gave a similar response in the question and answer section of the paper but also referenced Psalm 91. In addition to that, he often remarked that he felt the influenza and the war could indicate a coming apocalypse.
Most everyone embraced the idea that the influenza was a test of faith. Soon, obituaries were printed detailing how a person proved their faithfulness to God by refusing to see a doctor when they became sick. Instead, they gracefully accepted death as God’s will. There were also testimonies about the test. One woman asked God not to test her with the influenza but by some other way. A few days later, she fell and believed that she broke a rib. Then, she felt that her rib was mended through prayer. The woman then testified that God broke her rib to test her faith instead of making her prove her faith through the test of influenza. Others reported that God had divinely healed them of the flu. Some testimonies described instantaneous, complete healing, but most described a recovery of several weeks or months.
As a result of the 1918 flu, many people wrestled with their beliefs about divine healing. Conflicting opinions began to emerge that would eventually lead to change in beliefs about the use of medicine. As a result, IPHC now accepts medical science as a method through which God does provide healing.
As a result of the 1918 flu, many people wrestled with their beliefs about divine healing. Conflicting opinions began to emerge that would eventually lead to change in beliefs about the use of medicine. As a result, IPHC now accepts medical science as a method through which God does provide healing.
Perhaps there are lessons that we can learn from the way our Pentecostal ancestors responded to their own pandemic.
(1) We can follow their example by setting worry about our rights aside and focus on the greater good, instead.
(2) Like evangelist, R. B. Hayes, we can also favor common sense.
(3) Like Bishop King, we can rest and be thankful for it, but not neglect praying for the sick.
(4) Like Florence Goff and others, we can serve diligently and without fear. Yet, now that we know better, we can do so more safely.
(5) We can find peace by believing that God answers prayer according to His divine purposes.
(6) We can choose not to be contentious about non-essential points of doctrine and things that we can't be certain about. Instead, we can be open to the idea that during this time, God may choose to bring about his purposes in new or unexpected ways.
(7) We can give thanks that whether by a great miracle or daily sustaining grace, God is always with us and at work.
Note: An edited version of this article titled, "Remember 1918: This Is Not Our First Pandemic - How Pentecostals in the IPHC Responded to the Spanish Flu Crisis," was first published by Encourage Magazine, a publishing arm of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, on May 11, 2020. You can access that version of the article and the full edition of the magazine here. It features articles from Doug Beacham, Lee Grady, Denise Gedda and Chilumba Crispin Zulu.
1. This photo is from an article by the Center for Disease Control. It can be referenced here. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/basics/past-pandemics.html
2. The photo of the H. H. and Florence Goff family comes from the inside cover of Florence Goff's 1924 book, "Tests and Triumphs." No information on the publishing company is available.
2. The photo of the H. H. and Florence Goff family comes from the inside cover of Florence Goff's 1924 book, "Tests and Triumphs." No information on the publishing company is available.
