William Branham has long been one of the most controversial figures in the Pentecostal movement. One of the leading figures in the Healing Revival of the 40s and 50s, he was also regarded as a man with outstanding prophetic accuracy. Though some of his later beliefs were regarded as unorthodox, indeed heretical, he is still revered by a great many within the Pentecostal and charismatic world.

A journey of revelation

Indeed, a cult gathered around this mystical figure even during his lifetime – a cult that still exists today in the form of 'The Message', a collection of sub-groups that originated in the Branham Tabernacle. This 'church' is devoted to the teaching and memory of ‘the Prophet’ even more than it is to the teaching and person of Jesus Christ.

This book was written by a man who grew up in the ‘Tabernacle’; his grandfather being one of its founding members and a close friend of Branham. Having left the movement, John Collins began some serious research into the life of ‘the Prophet’. The result of his decade-long painstaking research is this remarkable study – a shocking, pioneering eye-opener that blows the lid off the hagiographic ‘life-story’ that has been blindly accepted by countless thousands of Branham followers through the decades.

Uncovering Branham’s early life

Collins moves through Branham’s life chronologically, exposing myth after outrageous myth. The entire book reads like a detective novel – except that this is for real. Branham made much of his dirt-poor childhood, growing up in a ramshackle log-cabin in rural Kentucky. What he didn’t tell us was that his family moved to the thriving port-city of Jeffersonville, Indiana when he was just two!

A shocking, pioneering eye-opener that blows the lid off the hagiographic ‘life-story’ that has been blindly accepted by countless thousands of Branham followers through the decades.

We’ve been told of the bright light that circled that log-cabin at the moment of Branham’s birth, of the angel that would appear to him as a lad, and the shining star that shone on him as he baptised converts in the Ohio River, accompanied by a heavenly ‘voice’ that confirmed his ministry – biblical-type stories that parallel the life of Jesus, but which fail to carry the ring of truth, and which only developed years or decades after the events described.

Collins moves on to examine some of Branham’s early prophecies – revealing their mythical nature. Exaggerations are exposed – such as his claim of hundreds being converted in one of his early tent missions (a local newspaper spoke of just 14), or of baptising 1,000 converts in a single service (no confirmation exists anywhere of such remarkable events).

Hypocrisy and false healings

Then come the double-standards. Branham condemned musical instruments, but often played guitar. He condemned church choirs, yet his first church had a stringed band, a choir and an orchestra! He performed his brother’s third wedding, knowing he had been divorced twice before. And another brother remained active in brewing, promoting and selling liquor, while yet working as an evangelist at many meetings alongside Branham, who all the while was teaching teetotalism.

Many other fantastical untruths are uncovered; Branham was never a boxing champion as he proudly boasted (though his brother, Henry was). He falsely claimed to have raised a man from the dead in Canada – until a newspaper put the record straight. One of his most publicised healings was of maverick Congressman W. D. Upshaw, who had apparently been confined to a wheelchair (or bed) for 66 years. In reality, Upshaw was able-bodied and used his wheelchair merely as a prop! Journalists attending Branham’s meetings found that not a single person who was interviewed afterwards testified to being healed. Those who came in ambulances left in ambulances.

Knowing the hearts of men?

Now to that which Branham is probably most famous for – the phenomenal accuracy of his words of knowledge in regard to the ailments of the sick who flocked to his meetings for prayer. Those joining his ‘healing lines’ were asked to write down personal information on a ‘prayer card’ in advance. Miraculously, what people wrote down was precisely what Branham’s ‘angel’ helped him discern!

Journalists attending Branham’s meetings found that not a single person who was interviewed afterwards testified to being healed. Those who came in ambulances left in ambulances.

Collins is convinced these practices were common to most faith healers of the day, and he gives reason to believe that the Voice of Healing organisation, which acted as an umbrella for the ‘Healing Revival’ evangelists of the ‘40s & ‘50s, was used as a pyramid scheme for evangelists to share information. Scandals and malpractices abound in the lives and ministries of faith healers of that era, not least A. A. Allen and Jack Coe. Men of real integrity appear to have been the exception rather than the rule.

Connections of the worst type

Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of Branham’s life was his connections to white supremacy groups. His first pastor and life-long mentor – Roy E. Davis – was a convicted bank fraudster and a notorious womaniser, with later links to auto theft and even murder. More shockingly still, Davis was the official spokesman of the Ku Klux Klan, and claimed to have written their constitution.

Throughout his entire ministry, Branham kept close connections to KKK members – giving the title for this book – including E. Howard Cadle, Clem Davies, his first wife’s father and members of the Kardashian family. In one of his best-known sermons – ‘Serpent’s seed’ – he taught that the biblical serpent had sexual relations with Eve, which resulted in two bloodlines, one good (the ‘white’ race) and one evil (blacks). Branham spoke against education generally, but especially the education of blacks. Africans had “no business” for reading, writing and arithmetic, he insisted.

Branham spoke against education generally, but especially the education of blacks. Africans had “no business” for reading, writing and arithmetic, he insisted.

And he regularly condemned men like Martin Luther King and John F Kennedy, who supported Civil Rights. Branham even claimed Kennedy was the antichrist. Following the latter’s assassination, the US Secret Service opened up an investigation into white supremacists, whom they suspected may have been behind the killing. Hearings began two days after Branham was killed in a car crash in December 1965. Shortly before his death, Branham had apparently threatened to "turn the State's evidence", and expose those who had done wrong.

The questions continue

The book ends on this note of high suspense. While many questions remain unanswered in regard to Branham’s thoroughly shady life, Collins uncovers scores of illuminating, and at times almost unbelievable truths in these absorbing pages. As the author says, almost every event in his life had two sides; the public appearance and what went on behind the scenes.

Other questions are raised by this exposé. What about the ministry of protégés of Branham, such as Paul Cain? Cain had close links to Branham and called him “the greatest prophet in the 20th Century”. What about other individuals connected to the Kansas City Prophets, and those who follow in their steps, operating along similar lines today?

Collins has left no stone unturned in his quest to uncover the truth in this meticulously researched study. It deserves to be widely read; apart from its historical value, it has much to say to the present-day Church about the use of discernment.

‘Preacher Behind the White Hoods’ (413 pp) is published by Dark Mystery Publications, and is available from Amazon for £12.14 inc p&p (£7.22 for kindle)