E C W Boulton, teaching on divine healing.

The passage of time may have
marred this picture of
E C W Boulton at work, but it
has done nothing to cloud his
teaching on divine healing
Divine healing of ten stirs up controversy both inside and outside the
Church – and brings its exponents varied degrees of hostility.
But in the early days of Pentecostalism, before religious tolerance
was widely encouraged, Pastor E C W Boulton stepped out in public
with what he believed to be the full gospel.
we publish an extract from an article
he first wrote for the Elim Evangel of the time.
Jesus’ atonement brought
healing as well as salvation
Lay hold of the whole truth, put your life completely
in the Great Physician’s hands, and trust for a miracle
Sadly, where light on divine
healing has been given in some
quarters, it has been rejected or
suppressed – because such
truth is unpopular and would
incur persecution and opposition.
So now I call believers’
attention to the rich legacy that
the Lord has bequeathed to his
Church, and urge them to enter
into its possession immediately.
Firstly, for the encouragement of
faith, I will show the authority
for divine healing from the Word
of God. Secondly, the purpose
of divine healing. And thirdly, I
will point out briefly some of the
hindrances to divine healing.

1
The authority
for divine healing
The Scriptures clearly teach
divine healing:
Our first and final appeal must
be to the Word of God, and
whatever is not found in it should
immediately be rejected. Surely,
the testimony of God is more
trustworthy than that of man.
It is said of Abram that he
“believed God”, and this is
always the ground of victory. Do
not attempt to interpret the
Word of God by your experience
or the experience of those
around you, but bring your experience
to the light of his truth
and see whether it harmonises
with the revelation contained
therein. If not, seek the cause
and have it remedied without
delay.
As early as Genesis 20:7, we
are introduced to the healing
power of Jehovah, and careful
reading of Jewish history will give
us the picture of a whole nation
kept in divine health through
simple reliance upon the unfailing
and unchanging promises of
God.
Health was included in the
Old Covenant, and God guaranteed
– upon the fulfilment of
certain conditions – to be their
healer. And from Genesis to
Revelation, divine healing is
disclosed as the will of God.
Jesus preached divine healing
when he went to the cross:
The Lord’s precious blood
was the purchase price and his
atoning work was twofold – to
Jesus dealt with the
root of sickness and that
enabled him to deal so
effectively with it in every
form of its manifestation.

redeem from both sin and
sickness. The whole man was
involved in the fall and so, in the
atonement, there is perfect
provision made for spirit, soul,
and body. Divine healing is part
of the atonement and only
unbelief attempts to divorce
that which God has joined
together.
In Isaiah 53:5 we read, “But
he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for
our iniquities; the punishment
that brought us peace was upon
him, and by his wounds we are
healed.”
Here we have the twofold
triumph of the cross – salvation
and healing – obtained by the
outpoured blood of Jesus and
applied by the Holy Spirit, the
Administrator of the New
Covenant.
In Matthew 8:17, we find a
New Testament reference to
the Scripture, and in Isaiah 53
the wording is even more definite
and expressive – “He took
our infirmities and carried our
diseases.”
Now it is obvious that what
happened to sin also happened
to sickness. And there can be no
possible mistake here, because
the two manifestations of the
same power – both Satanic –
were dealt with in the same
way, at the same time, by the
same person, and with the same
result. Hallelujah!
But if Jesus bore my sickness
(and the Word distinctly
declares that he did) what has
become of it? Quite simply, it
has been carried to the grave
and left there, and so I bear it
no more. So why seek to cling
to that from which he will
deliver?
The Lord Jesus preached
divine healing:

Luke 4:18 reads: “The Spirit
of the Lord is upon me, because
he has anointed me to preach
good news to the poor. He has
sent me to proclaim freedom for
the prisoners, and recovery of
sight for the blind, to release the
oppressed, to proclaim the year
of the Lord’s favour.”
And Jesus not only preached
a gospel of divine health himself,
but also made it part of the apostolic
commission (Luke 9:1-6). It
was an offer of health for the
body as well as life for the soul.
The Lord Jesus practised
divine healing:
No one should be so foolish
as to dispute this because it
is an established fact. His was a
minister of healing and it is
unnecessary to list Scriptures to
substantiate this because the
four gospels abound with examples
of his life-giving power. But
one may suffice – just to remove
any lingering doubts.
From Mark 5:26, we gather
that our Lord did not exert his
healing power owing to the lack
of medical men. Where their
skill failed, his ministry was sufficient.
He dealt with the root of
sickness and that enabled him to
deal so effectively with it in every
form of its manifestation. And
having obtained complete victory
over the author of sickness,
he is therefore able to conquer
his works.

The Holy Spirit demonstrates
divine healing:
Acts 10:38 and Romans
8:11 show us that it is the work
of the Holy Ghost to make
actual in the believer’s experience
all that the Lord Jesus
purchased on Calvary. Just as he
makes salvation and sanctification
experiential by faith, so he
works out the healing aspect of
the cross.

In John 14:26 Jesus said:
“But the Counsellor… whom
the Father will send in my name,
will teach you all things and will
remind you of everything I have
said to you.”
Divine healing is one of the
“all” things that the Holy Ghost
teaches and demonstrates in
those who are willing to believe.
So James 5:14-16 is the Lord’s
recipe for all his people who
are attacked by Satan in their
bodies.

Jesus not only preached
a gospel of divine health
himself, but also
made it part of the
apostolic commission.

2
The purpose
of divine healing
That God might be glorified:
However, some may ask the
question, “Is God always glorified
in those who are healed?”
Personally, I have never
known a case of healing which
has not been the means of magnifying
the name of the Lord,
and God is glorified both in
those healed and in those who
witness the healing (Acts 4:21,
Matthew 9:8, Mark 2:12 and
Luke 5:26). Who can behold
the miraculous manifestation of
divine power without being
stirred to magnify the Lord and
give him the glory? So if more
of the supernatural were to
be displayed in the Church
today there would be far less
infidelity.
Still, others may ask, “Does
not sickness patiently borne
glorify God?” Yes, undoubtedly
it does. But how much more
does the deliverance of the
sufferer by the power of God
glorify him?
That the Word of God may
be fulfilled:
In Matthew 8:17 we read:
“This was to fulfil what was
spoken through the prophet
Isaiah.”
Surely, the realised Word of
God should become one of the
greatest of Christian evidences
– proving the validity of the claim
of the Word of God to be
inspired.
That the presence of a living
Christ may be demonstrated
in the midst of a believing
people.
That the works of the devil
may be destroyed:
“The reason the Son of God
appeared was to destroy the
devil’s work” (1 John 3:8).
Here we see Satan and his
Conqueror. Wherever Satan’s
power abounds, the divine
power abounds much more.
Bless the Lord! In John 10:10,
we find the character of the devil
given – that of the destroyer. But
praise God for the One who has
broken the destroyer’s power,
and that is Jesus in whom all
power in heaven and earth is
entrusted, the Son of God in
whom dwells all God’s fullness.
Hallelujah!

3
Hindrances
to divine healing

Sin in the heart:
See Psalm 66:18. There
must be heart-purity, and without
it the Lord will not deliver
from sickness.

Idols in the heart:
See Ezekiel 14:3.
Unbelief:
See Mark 11:23.

Any impurity of motive:
See James 4:3.
Any of these hindrances will
prevent the flow of divine life
and render faith impossible. So
place yourself in the hands of the
Great Physician and quickly you
shall discover that he is able to
do exceedingly abundantly
above all that you have asked
or thought.

Reproduced from an early edition
of Direction’s predecessor,
the Elim Evangel
I have never known
a case of healing
which has not been
the means of magnifying
the name of the Lord.


Ernest Boulton (1884-1959) came to faith
on 10 August 1901, and settled at first
under the ministry of E J Poole-Connor.
Ernest was later befriended by Smith
Wigglesworth who found a place for him in
a mission in Hull where he settled with
his wife and two daughters. He helped
with the Elim Evangel, becoming Editor for
several years, although he is mainly
remembered as a devotional writer, and
his best works are preserved in his hymns.
Ernest retired in 1952 and died peacefully
on 23 December 1959.

George Jeffreys’ remarkable account of how Elim started

we re-publish Elim founder George Jeffreys’ remarkable account
of how the Movement started out in Ireland. Here Jeffreys testifies
to God’s faithfulness as a prophecy is fulfilled
after the prayerful and
determined efforts of just a few committed believers bore fruit.
How Elim ministry in Ireland
began with fulfilled prophecy

Pentecostal trailblazer George Jeffreys visits Ireland
where faith and vision puts Elim on the map
I regard the county town of
Monaghan which is situated
some 50 miles from the city of
Belfast, and which has a mixed
population of Roman Catholics
and Protestants, as being the
birthplace of this work.
In January 1915 I crossed
over from England for the
purpose of conducting a mission
in Monaghan and, during my
stay, a meeting was held in a
Temperance Hotel. There a
number of young businessmen
discussed the question of how
to reach their country with the
full gospel – for spirit, soul, and
body – and to spread the news
of the Pentecostal outpouring of
the Holy Ghost.
They were seekers after
God, and had been convinced
that the baptism of the Holy
Ghost with signs following was
for each of them and for all Christians
who would believe. At this
time, not one in the town had
received the experience, but
they had seen the truth in the
Word, and could well afford to
trust the Author of the Word to
come in his fullness to them.
At this meeting I definitely decided
to accept their invitation to
commence operations for a permanent
work in the country, and
a movement was set in motion
to secure a gospel tent for this
purpose. In June of the same
year, a tent was pitched in the
town and the Lord smiled upon
our effort as we began to walk in
the path we knew God had
mapped out for us. About this
time a dear brother in Belfast had
also been touched by the Lord
regarding a work in Ireland and,
at his invitation, a centre was
opened in the city. The first
meeting was held in his home in
August of the same year, when
the Elim Assembly was formed.
This assembly has since been the
headquarters of the work.
Efforts were put forth by the
brethren concerned to secure
a hall, and one was procured in
a most needy district. It was
opened in the month of October,
when a special mission was
held, in which numbers came to
the foot of the cross and found
that salvation which Christ alone
can give.

I must at this juncture
mention the vision given to the
sister at the commencement –
a sister who up to the present
time has been a most consistent
The vision consisted
of a large, golden ring
out of which came
a dazzling brightness.
follower of the Master, and who
has been most faithful to the
Elim work. At the time this vision
was given she knew nothing of
the plans proposed in Monaghan.
The vision consisted of a
large, golden ring out of which
came a dazzling brightness –
brighter than the sun at noonday
– and out of the ring ran
many other rings in all directions.
She prayed to God for the
interpretation, and it was given:
“The large ring is the first Elim
Assembly, and out of it shall
come many other assemblies.”
To her it was no idle dream
in which a vagary or phantom
had passed over the mind,
leaving but little impression. It
was a vision given by God, one
that was stamped indelibly upon
her heart, and which was meant
to be actually fulfilled.
As I write these words my
heart flows out in praise and
thanksgiving to God, for he has
caused it to come to pass! Out
of a mere handful of Christians
– devoted followers of Christ,
who knew something about
praying and thirsting for souls –
have come workers who have
gone forth with the sword of the
Spirit, and with the shield of
faith, who have walked in the
train of his triumph, and who
have reaped the fruit of that
corn of wheat that fell into the
ground and died.
Lives and homes have been
transformed on all hands. The
garment of praise from the
wardrobe of heaven has been
given to many who previously
were garbed in the robe of
sadness and gloom. The oil of
gladness has been poured into
mourners’ hearts, and they have
been filled with joy unspeakable
and full of glory.
At the time of writing, there
are 15 permanent assemblies
and 21 workers who have
Workers have
gone forth with
the sword of
the Spirit, and
with the shield
of faith, and
have walked
in the train
of his triumph.
entered the regular work of the
ministry since the commencement.
Three of the young men
who met at that first meeting in
Monaghan are now in this work
of the Lord. To God be all the
praise! The glorious gospel has
and is being proclaimed, and the
signs follow.
Such blessed results have not
been given without the willingness
to suffer, without the determination
to stand firm against all
opposition, and without being
called upon to pass through testing
times – financial and otherwise.
Yet in all tests and trials our
God has proved himself to be all sufficient.
No salary is paid to any
pastor or evangelist. Each one
has to trust God individually. The
only tie that binds is the one of
love and unity in the gospel of
Jesus Christ.

Not long after the work
started it became necessary to
form a council, and in this again
most loyal and practical friends
consented to take responsibility.
Please pray that the good news
may spread still further, and that
those who carry the message
may be kept walking in the light.
To God be all the glory, and to
God be all the praise!
Blessed results have not
been given without the
determination to stand
firm against all opposition.
Reproduced from an early edition
of the Elim Evangel

A woman healed in 1927 at one of George Jeffreys’ campaigns

Elim historian Des Cartwright recounts the fascinating event of
a woman healed in 1927 at one of George Jeffreys’ campaigns

To God be the Glory!

In June 1958 I bought a secondhand
copy of a book that had
been published 30 years earlier.
Written by ECW Boulton
(1884–1959), it was entitled
‘George Jeffreys: A Ministry of
the Miraculous’ and told the history
of the founding and growth
of what became known as the
Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance.
The main focus of the book was
the ministry of George Jeffreys
(1889–1963), founder and leader
of the Movement, told in words,
pictures and press cuttings.
In the following years, I tried
to obtain the autographs of those
people whose photographs
adorned the book’s pages.

In addition to those of numerous
ministers, there were also many
photos of people who had been
healed of various illnesses and
diseases during some of the
mighty meetings that were held
during this period.
Among them were two of a
lady called Chrissie Jardine. The
first picture bears the caption,
‘Crippled’; the second, ‘Healed’.
In 1969 I met this lady at the Elim
Conference, and she signed
the book, adding the words,
‘Before and after healed by the
[power] of God. To God be the
Glory. 1927–1969.’
Miss Jardine lived in Southsea.
Prior to attending one of
George Jeffreys’ meetings, she
had been ill for many years.
Specifically, she suffered from
‘sleeping sickness’ (encephalitis),
which caused her to lose the
sight in her left eye and develop
a twisted spine. The medical authorities
were unable to give her
any further help.

When George
Jeffreys held meetings in Southsea
and Portsmouth in September
1927, she was taken there
in a wheelchair. After prayer
she was touched by the power
of God and instantly healed.
The two pictures published
in the book bear testimony to
this. Another book, Robert E
Darragh’s ‘In Defence of His
Word’, published in 1932, also
records this testimony. Recently,
another testimony to this came
in a most unexpected way.
One of our retired ministers
sent me a copy of Miss Jardine’s
testimony on a recording, made
years later when she was an
elderly lady. It transpired that
when she was very ill, her doctor
was exceptionally kind to
her and did all he could to help
her – not only as her physician
but also as a friend. After she
was healed, he came to see her
and offered her a job as nanny
to his children.

On the day that the recording
was made she was waiting
for the doctor’s son to come
and collect her to take her to a
special family occasion. She said
that as a result of her healing,
the doctor had made his own
commitment to Christ. She
had remained in close contact
with the children to the end of
her days.

George Canty reflects

Writer and apologist George Canty has
been a member of Elim for an amazing nine decades, joining
in 1923, when the Movement comprised just four churches
in England. Despite massive changes over the years, George
says the very same passions that shaped the Movement at its
birth still guide our churches today.
George Jeffreys’ campaigns
rocked cities. They
were not church rallies,
but thousands of nonchurch
people drawn by
the signs-attested Gospel.

one year old, the fourth
Elim church in England, met in a
fire-trap of a shabby hall above
a bicycle shop.
Called ‘Elim Hall’ – it was
locally rephrased as ‘eal ’em all’ –
Stephen Jeffreys had introduced
healing to the city in 1922. This
glory-hole was warmed by a
combustion stove and lit by onebulb
electric lights hanging on
long flexes. They would swing
in the rising warm air generated
by the packed congregation – to
us the sign of power generated
by our worship.

We knew so little and were
isolated as a ‘tongues’ cult. But
we were galvanised by tremendous
Bible assurance and pride
of proprietorship: our church,
our Elim, our Gospel.
Tom Barrett had brought
Pentecost to England, invited by
Anglican clergyman Alexander
Boddy. His Sunderland conventions,
held until 1914, sowed
the seed, and small Pentecostal
groups grew up around the
country. I had a mighty Acts 2
experience in 1926, and was
young among those 1,000 or so
first active Pentecostals – maybe
I am the only one left!
Elim’s birth was extraordinary.
With no plan to start a
Movement, George Jeffreys’
Pentecostal converts were not
welcome in churches. Pentecostal
identity rested on Spirit
baptism, attested by speaking
in tongues. George planted assemblies
to care for them, first
in Monaghan in 1915.

A little later, in 1924, men
like Nelson Parr and the Carter
brothers met in Birmingham to
gather existing groups together
in the fellowship of the Assemblies
of God. I sometimes
ministered with them and other
leaders such as Donald Gee, Albert
Missen, Willie Burton, and
James Salter. All now in glory, we
owe them so much!
My mother, just converted
and enthusiastic, press-ganged
me to play the portable Elim
organ in the city slums – Gospel
outreach, the typical first mark of
Pentecostals. Since then, I have
witnessed (and continue to be
part of) Elim’s exciting expansion;
the great campaigns, building
programmes, its Bible college
and its mission fields – including
martyrdom – growth achieved
not by sheep-stealing but as
fruits of evangelism. Today, that
same evangelism and charity
sees Elim in every continent.
We used to say ‘Elim is a
Movement, not a monument’. It
ranks today as a force nationally
and far afield.

I have found it assumed that
Elim’s beginnings were carried
on a wave of general religious
upsurge – that is not so. On
the contrary, evangelical waters
had then never run so low. The
engine of Elim was fired by the
baptism in the Spirit. Campaigns
of the Jeffreys family rocked cities.
Their audiences were not
church rallies, but thousands of
non-church people drawn by
the signs-attested Gospel.
Revival theories then saw
God’s action a three-day-a-week
operation from behind a closed
heaven to be opened only by
our strenuous spiritual effort.
They talk of showers; God talks
of floods. The first intrepid Pentecostal
venturers demonstrated
rains were falling from God’s
wide-open heavens. Christ’s
coming and the Spirit had torn
open the heavens, and they
needed no re-opening.

Pentecost is the greatest
revelation since the Reformation,
the re-discovery of the
Spirit and the Gospel for both
body and soul. Bitterly opposed,
for years, churches were driven
into back streets, mostly small
and under-staffed. But we knew
God was doing a new thing, the
prophesied end-time outpouring
of the Spirit, though then we
seemed poor representatives.
The Second World War was
an enormous second setback
to Elim. Years after hostilities
ceased, Britain lived on rations,
even for bread. Churches that
badly needed repairs could
buy few materials. I spent years
re-establishing churches, their
congregations scattered and
buildings flattened.
But we knew the Word was
true. Evidence is all around us
today. From nothing, Elim had
to begin everything; our printing
press, our Bible college, our
churches.

At my first Elim Conference
in 1937, pastors and
wives met in the minor haIl
of the Clapham church. The
Jeffreys’ campaigns planted
many churches, which had
to be pastored by campaign
converts, often very young.
In Hull, we had a series of
teenage pastors.