Home » Uncategorized » Hannah W. Smith, Spiritualism, Universalism, and the Rise of Keswick: part 7 of 21 in Hannah W. Smith: Keswick Founder, Higher Life Preacher, Quaker Quietist and Universalist Heretic
Hannah W. Smith, Spiritualism, Universalism, and the Rise of Keswick: part 7 of 21 in Hannah W. Smith: Keswick Founder, Higher Life Preacher, Quaker Quietist and Universalist Heretic
“As already noted, Mrs. Smith declared that her universalist heresy and other heresies were key to her work as a Higher Life preacher and Keswick founder.”
to read the section that was in the blog post below.
I hope that the fact that Mrs. Smith was involved with demons in conjunction with the Broadlands Conference that originated the Keswick movement would make people seriously think about whether it is wise to recommend Mrs. Smith's writings or Keswick theology in general.
I have been saved for 25 years and in good churches all of that time. Also went to a Bible college and have traveled a bit visiting many other churches around the US. Prior to reading your articles, I have never heard the name Hannah Smith.
Is this a "thing" for believers? Is she influential and broadly accepted? I wonder if that is regional? Just curious as I have never come across her. Thanks for the informative articles.
Thanks for the question. Keswick/Higher Life theology, which is largely a product of Mrs. Smith, has been extremely influential. A quote on this:
In modern times, Keswick Conventions are held in many cities throughout countries such as England, the United States, Australia, Canada, Romania, New Zealand, India, Jamaica, South Africa, Japan, Kenya, and “other parts of Africa, Asia, and South America”—there are “numerous conventions around the world on every continent which are modelled on Keswick.”[115] Keswick theology appears in devotional compositions by men such as Andrew Murray,[116] F. B. Meyer,[117] J. Oswald Sanders,[118] and Hudson Taylor,[119] and has “impact[ed] . . . the Welsh revival,[120] the German holiness movement, Foreign Missions, Conventions Abroad, the American holiness movement, the American Pentecostal movement . . . the Christian and Missionary Alliance . . . American fundamentalism . . . [and] English fundamentalism or conservative evangelicalism,”[121] as well as offshoots of Pentecostalism like the Health and Wealth or Word-Faith movement which “arose out of the classic Higher Life, Keswick, and Pentecostal movements.”[122] Keswick became extremely influential:
Keswick-like views of sanctification [were] promoted by A. B. Simpson, Moody Bible Institute[123] (D. L. Moody, R. A. Torrey, James M. Gray), Pentecostalism, and Dallas Theological Seminary (Lewis S. Chafer, John F. Walvoord, Charles C. Ryrie). Simpson founded the Christian and Missionary Alliance, Moody founded Moody Bible Institute, and Chafer cofounded Dallas Theological Seminary. Pentecostalism, which subsequently dwarfed Keswick in size and evangelical influence, is the product of Wesleyan perfectionism, the holiness movement, the early Keswick movement, Simpson, Moody, and Torrey. Dallas Theological Seminary, the bastion of the Chaferian view of sanctification, is probably the most influential factor for the [strong influence] of a Keswick-like view of sanctification in modern fundamentalism and conservative evangelicalism.[124]
The tremendous influence of Hannah W. and Robert P. Smith continues to this day. Not only are their teachings being spread worldwide through the continuing widespread propogation of Keswick theology, but their message is the root of other forms of error and apostasy in Christendom, such as, most notably, the Pentecostal, charismatic, and Word of Faith movements.
(from: Exegetical and Historical Excursus #12: An Analysis and Critique of Keswick Theology as Set Forth Particularly In So Great Salvation: The History and Message of the Keswick Convention, by Steven Barabas, http:// faithsaves.net/soteriology)
I hope that the fact that Mrs. Smith was involved with demons in conjunction with the Broadlands Conference that originated the Keswick movement would make people seriously think about whether it is wise to recommend Mrs. Smith's writings or Keswick theology in general.
I have greatly appreciated these articles on Hannah Smith. Thank you!
Dear Bro Ketchum,
Thanks.
I have been saved for 25 years and in good churches all of that time. Also went to a Bible college and have traveled a bit visiting many other churches around the US. Prior to reading your articles, I have never heard the name Hannah Smith.
Is this a "thing" for believers? Is she influential and broadly accepted? I wonder if that is regional? Just curious as I have never come across her. Thanks for the informative articles.
Dear Farmer Brown,
Thanks for the question. Keswick/Higher Life theology, which is largely a product of Mrs. Smith, has been extremely influential. A quote on this:
In modern times, Keswick Conventions are held in many cities throughout countries such as England, the United States, Australia, Canada, Romania, New Zealand, India, Jamaica, South Africa, Japan, Kenya, and “other parts of Africa, Asia, and South America”—there are “numerous conventions around the world on every continent which are modelled on Keswick.”[115] Keswick theology appears in devotional compositions by men such as Andrew Murray,[116] F. B. Meyer,[117] J. Oswald Sanders,[118] and Hudson Taylor,[119] and has “impact[ed] . . . the Welsh revival,[120] the German holiness movement, Foreign Missions, Conventions Abroad, the American holiness movement, the American Pentecostal movement . . . the Christian and Missionary Alliance . . . American fundamentalism . . . [and] English fundamentalism or conservative evangelicalism,”[121] as well as offshoots of Pentecostalism like the Health and Wealth or Word-Faith movement which “arose out of the classic Higher Life, Keswick, and Pentecostal movements.”[122] Keswick became extremely influential:
Keswick-like views of sanctification [were] promoted by A. B. Simpson, Moody Bible Institute[123] (D. L. Moody, R. A. Torrey, James M. Gray), Pentecostalism, and Dallas Theological Seminary (Lewis S. Chafer, John F. Walvoord, Charles C. Ryrie). Simpson founded the Christian and Missionary Alliance, Moody founded Moody Bible Institute, and Chafer cofounded Dallas Theological Seminary. Pentecostalism, which subsequently dwarfed Keswick in size and evangelical influence, is the product of Wesleyan perfectionism, the holiness movement, the early Keswick movement, Simpson, Moody, and Torrey. Dallas Theological Seminary, the bastion of the Chaferian view of sanctification, is probably the most influential factor for the [strong influence] of a Keswick-like view of sanctification in modern fundamentalism and conservative evangelicalism.[124]
The tremendous influence of Hannah W. and Robert P. Smith continues to this day. Not only are their teachings being spread worldwide through the continuing widespread propogation of Keswick theology, but their message is the root of other forms of error and apostasy in Christendom, such as, most notably, the Pentecostal, charismatic, and Word of Faith movements.
(from: Exegetical and Historical Excursus #12: An Analysis and Critique of Keswick Theology as Set Forth Particularly In So Great Salvation: The History and Message of the Keswick Convention, by Steven Barabas, http:// faithsaves.net/soteriology)