Gone But Not Forgotten VI: George W. Hensley
George Went "Little George" Hensley(1880-1955)* is best remembered as the founder of modern day snake handling.
After a sermon in 1910 at his small church in Tennessee, the former bootlegger removed a poisonous snake from a box and handled it freely for a while and then ordered the men in the congregation to handle it or they would be "doomed to hell". Thus was born the pentacostal tradition of snake handling. The earliest roots of the snake-handlers can be traced further back to strict Calvinists, who were among the early English and Scotch-Irish settlers colonizing the Appalachian area.
Little George based his belief upon Mark 16:17 - 18 — “And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
Sadly, George Hensley died from a snake bite in 1955. His followers continue on today in churches in Florida, West Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky and elsewhere.
*I couldn't find any pictures of George, but these come as close possible based on the descriptions I read of him. The guys in the photos are unidentified.
After a sermon in 1910 at his small church in Tennessee, the former bootlegger removed a poisonous snake from a box and handled it freely for a while and then ordered the men in the congregation to handle it or they would be "doomed to hell". Thus was born the pentacostal tradition of snake handling. The earliest roots of the snake-handlers can be traced further back to strict Calvinists, who were among the early English and Scotch-Irish settlers colonizing the Appalachian area. Little George based his belief upon Mark 16:17 - 18 — “And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”Sadly, George Hensley died from a snake bite in 1955. His followers continue on today in churches in Florida, West Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky and elsewhere.
*I couldn't find any pictures of George, but these come as close possible based on the descriptions I read of him. The guys in the photos are unidentified.
posted by marc at 12/13/2005 08:00:00 PM
14 Pleas:
And these signs shall follow them that believe...
Sadly, George Hensley died from a snake bite in 1955. His followers continue on today...
His followers aren't very good at math, are they?
Anyone else notice that in both pictures there is someone playing the guitar in the background?
What is the connection?
Actually, you don't hear much about the cults that drink poison... they never seem to get off the ground (literally).
Justin,
Clearly rock music is of the devil.
It's very interesting that Mr. Hensley based this belief on the ending of Mark, an ending which doesn't have the best attestation in the earliest extant manuscripts. I guess it reflects his theological and, especially, his dogmatic presuppositions. Well, of course, many believe in the ending's authenticity (I'm more of a v. 8 ending person myself--in keeping with Mark's masterful narrative). While many use this passage for that practice, others use it to pound in baptism (many of whom have no clue about the ending's background and have a superficial view of baptism, which incredibly needs a richer theological understanding of baptism).
You sin that one time and think that no one will find out, then...BOOM!! You're bitten by a snake.
My his own theology, he is doomed. Sad.
Have you read Salvation on Sand Mountain? A book about Snake Handling? It's interesting how obscure (and questionable) text become major tenets for some groups.
Handling snakes in worship? Kinda funny. Is that before or after the sermon?
Ha, ha, ha, man Daniel, you got me in stiches over here :)
I wonder why these guys just didn't resurrect him with prayer if they were true disciples of Christ and would conduct, "greater signs than these"???
Unfortunately they couldn't do the SAME signs. Personally I like snakes. Just not in Church. Oh, and not poisonous ones.
Word verification: WEAQS Less than two until Christmas.
I don't think it proves anything if they don't bite. They might just be "seeker-friendly" snakes.
Yeah. They mus be wimps if the snakes don't bite. Paul got bitten...
i feel that no on sould make any comments of snake handling, i go to a snake handling church myself and i know that it is real. i have seen hundreds of serpents took up and just about took one up my self so dont make fun of it because it is real you all should go to one and see for yourself rather than saying things you all not even knor anything about.
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