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Phoebe Palmer

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Phoebe Palmer was a significant Methodist evangelist and writer. She lived during the nineteenth century. She is widely recognized as a founder of the Holiness movement. This movement grew within Methodist Christianity. Palmer was born Phoebe Worrall on December 18, 1807, in New York City. Her father, Henry Worrall, was a devout Methodist. He had experienced a religious conversion during the Wesleyan Revival in England. He later immigrated to the United States.

Palmer focused her life on the doctrine of Christian perfection. This doctrine is the belief that a Christian can live a life free of sin. She studied the writings of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. Wesley had taught about a specific spiritual state. On July 26, 1837, Palmer experienced what Wesley called "entire sanctification." This is a process where a person is made holy. Soon after, other members of her family also experienced this sanctification.

She organized specific gatherings to teach these spiritual concepts. In 1835, her sister Sarah Lankford began weekly prayer meetings for Methodist women. In 1837, Phoebe Palmer took over leadership of these meetings. They were called the Tuesday Meeting for the Promotion of Holiness. Palmer insisted these meetings take place in a private home. Her own house had to be enlarged to fit the many people. By 1839, men were permitted to attend the meetings.

These meetings eventually drew many high-ranking church leaders. Among the men were Methodist bishops and theologians. Notable attendees included Edmund S. James and Leonidas Lent Hamline. Other bishops included Jesse T. Peck and Matthew Simpson. This interest helped spread Holiness concepts across the Methodist Church. Palmer and her husband, Walter Palmer, became itinerant preachers. An itinerant preacher is someone who travels to different places to preach. They traveled to churches, conferences, and camp meetings.

Palmer was a very prolific writer and editor. She wrote several foundational books for the Holiness movement. One important book was "The Way of Holiness," published in 1843. She also wrote "The Promise of the Father" in 1859. This book defended the idea of women serving in Christian ministry. In 1864, the Palmers purchased a magazine called "The Guide to Holiness." Timothy Merritt had originally started the publication. Palmer edited the magazine until her death in 1874.

Her influence reached far beyond her own immediate circle. She traveled to Canada in 1857 and the United Kingdom in 1859. She stayed in the United Kingdom for several years. Many famous leaders were influenced by her work. These included Frances Willard, a temperance leader. Catherine Booth, a co-founder of the Salvation Army, was also influenced. John Swanel Inskip was another person she impacted. He became the first president of the National Camp Meeting Association for the Promotion of Holiness.

Palmer also applied her beliefs to social work. She did not view holiness as just a theory. In 1850, she helped found the Five Points Mission. She did this through the Methodist Ladies' Home Missionary Society. The mission was located in a slum area of New York City. Her daughter, Phoebe Knapp, also contributed to religious life. She wrote several hymn tunes. One famous melody was for the hymn "Blessed Assurance." Palmer died of Bright's disease in 1874.

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