Albion Fox Ballenger (1861-1921)
Click for information on GG Rupert and AT Jones, associates of Ballenger
Various Information and history |
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Information |
Comment |
Books and booklets | A range of booklets by Ballenger and his associates |
Gathering Call periodical | A number of copies have been located to date (some have missing pages). There would be scores published from the early 1900s to the 1960s |
Miscellaneous information | This information includes SDA criticsim of Ballenger and his associate, Greenberry G Rupert. |
Photographs | |
Albion Ballenger's grave site | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147173223/albion-fox-ballenger |
Historical Dictionary of the Seventh-day Adventists (pp. 31-32):
"BALLENGER, ALBION FOX (1861-1921). Seventh-day Adventist
minister and later critic of the denomination. Born in Illinois, Ballenger began
working in the Adventist ministry in 1885 and was ordained in 1893. He worked
primarily in religious liberty affairs from 1889 to 1897. Attracted to Holiness
themes, from late 1897 through 1899 he traveled throughout the
United States on behalf of the General Conference preaching "Receive Ye the Holy
Ghost." His book Power for Witnessing (1900) drew from his sermons. In
1901 he went to Great Britain, serving as an evangelist and church
administrator until he expressed doubts about the sanctuary doctrine. He
returned to the United States in 1905 and lost his ministerial credentials in
that year. During the next few years he worked as a farmer in Virginia until
moving to California in 1908. He published his criticisms of the sanctuary
doctrine in Cast Out for the Cross of Christ (c. 1909) and, although
for a time continuing to farm and do odd jobs, gradually developed a preaching
and writing career. Between 1911 and 1919 he made six extended cross-country
trips, speaking primarily to disaffected Adventists. He became editor of The
Gathering Call, a magazine begun by a Church of God minister in 1915, and
published two books, Forty Fatal Errors Regarding the Atonement (c.
1913) and The Proclamation of Liberty and the Unpardonable Sin (1915),
in addition to various tracts.
The Bible Advocate and Herald of the Coming Kingdom advertisement, 16 March 1915, p. 254; 10 Aug 1915, p. 590 and other editions:
“Brother Ballenger’s New Book.
This book contains the great central truths of salvation by grace that stirred
the heart of the apostle Paul and made him the most enthusiastic, untiring and
successful preacher of the gospel since our Savior returned to his Father’s
throne.
The
book presents salvation as the absolute gift of God’s grace, and commandment
keeping as the result of the overflowing of a heart that is filled with love to
God for the unspeakable gifts of his grace.
The
author has found the secret that reveals the harmony of all the apparent
contradictions of the apostle in his teaching on the law and grace, The book
contains about 280 pages,45 chapters, and is illustrated by many full page
drawing’ made especially for this work and is attractively bound in cloth. Price
$1. Address, The Church of God Publishing House, Stanberry, Mo.”
“Report of College View Campmeeting,”
The Bible Advocate and Herald of the Coming
Kingdom,
4 Aug 1914, p. 590:
The
College View, Nebraska, Campmeeting opened June 25th, 1914, for a two week’s
meeting which closed July 7. The meetings were well attended. There were three
services each day, consisting of prayer and praise service ten A. M., preaching
at three P. M., and again t eight.
The
people of College View, and Lincoln, also those who came from a distance were
favored with the presence of the well known speakers, Alonzo T. Jones, G. G.
Rupert, and A. F. Ballenger. These men are known to most of the readers of the
ADVOCATE as able expounders of the sacred word. Bro. Jones spoke mainly on
Religious Liberty, viewing it from almost every standpoint possible, also
bringing out the texts which portray the true and only church, the body of
Christ, of which ‘‘Christ is the head’’ and Christians members. Eph. 4. The main
trend of the lesson was ‘Behold your God.’’
Bro. Rupert brought out many good lessons largely brought out many good lessons largely two witnesses showing that God’s law is an eternal one…”
This was followed by a report on Ballenger’s presentation.
The Bible Advocate and Herald of the Coming Kingdom, 19 Oct 1915, p. 736:
“Bro. A. F. Ballenger of Riverside, California, is now at Stanberry conducting a series of lectures on prophecy; the attendance so far has been good and we hope it will increase and that much good will be accomplished through his efforts.”
Report by Ballenger re his meetings: “From Bro. A. F.
Ballenger,” Bible Advocate,
1 Dec 1914, p. 4