Fishers

Elmer & Margret Fisher

NB: I am seeking information on other early members. If you know anything and to assist with filling in the gaps in our history, please send to me.

Item	Comment
Mentioned in the Autobiography of Herbert W Armstrong (Vol. 1), 1973 edition	See pages 376, 379, 380, 386, 431, 434-36, 444, 446-47, 451, 454, 459, 460, 462, 470-71, 477, 487, 488, 498, 508.
Mentioned in the Good News magazine	"The History of the Beginning and Growth of the Worldwide Church of God, (chapter 4)", Good News, Aug 1980, pp. 3-4 here
Gravesite information on FindaGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76808690/elmer-emery-fisher
Gravesite of Margret Fisher (his wife)	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76799759/margret-kristina-fisher
Photographs etc
Bobby Fisher (not sure how or if she is related to Elmer)	She came to a HWA campaign in 1934 and to a GTA campaign 13-14 Dec 1974 (Good News, March 1975, p. 24) Photograph of her here. "That evening Mr. Armstrong spoke to another capacity crowd. Among those sitting in the audience was a veteran of many early campaigns, Mrs. Bobby Fisher. Forty years earlier, in December, 1934, Mrs. Fisher, then a teenager, sat in a country schoolhouse west of Eugene and heard Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong speak in one of the early evangelistic campaigns of his ministry. Convinced and convicted, she became one of the pioneer members of the Worldwide Church of God." I assume that this is the same as a Bobbie Fisher referred to in my paper on the fair chance doctrine (page 23) here
Bobby Fisher's letters	A number of letters written 1938-1942

NB: Mr Fisher was one of the first deacons for the Radio Church of God:

"Consequently in the church now meeting at Jeans school house, since I was the evangelist God used in raising up this church, I chose and appointed Mr. Elmer E. Fisher as deacon, remaining as Pastor myself." (Autobiography of Herbert W Armstrong (Vol 1), 1973 edition, p. 470)

Also:

“The six weeks' meetings in the one-room Firbutte schoolhouse came to a close on Sunday night, August 20, 1933. A total of more than 20 had come with us — but this apparently included the ten members of the Fisher and Ellis families, members of the Church before the meetings started. The October 1, 1933 Bulletin carries the report that "with the Fisher and Ellis families, more than 20 signified their desire to establish a new Sabbath-keeping Church of God in this district."” (Autobiography, p. 451)

And:

"The most solemn and sacred occasion of the year, the observance of the Lord's Supper, will take place on Tuesday night, April 16th. This is the eve, or beginning of Abib 14th of the sacred calendar, which is April 17th.

Jeans, Alvadore, and Eugene churches will combine for the occasion, meeting at the home of the editor in Eugene, at 560 Fourth Avenue, West. The editor will officiate, assisted by the deacons, E. E. Fisher, and W. M. Conn." (Herbert W Armstrong, The Bulletin of the Churches of God in Oregon, Vol. III, No. 1, March 1935)\

Here is something of interest regarding the Fair Chance doctrine (additional information here):

“The Conns and Bobbie Fisher cite a 1940s incident that they vividly recall. Mr. Armstrong had at first thought that all of the dead would be resurrected during the Millennium. A woman named Belle Rogers set Armstrong straight when she pointed out the scripture in Revelation 20 about the resurrection after the Millennium.” (Richard C Nickels, 'Appendix C. Herbert W. Armstrong: 1892-1986' in Early Writings of Herbert W. Armstrong, Giving & Sharing, 1996, p. 237) [emphasis mine]