Most anyone who regularly listens to Brother Branham knows who Brother Bosworth is. What many don’t know is that Brother Bosworth was one of the most prominent figures in the Asuza Street Revival and later helped to establish the Assemblies of God denomination. He was a man who stood strong on his convictions, and despite his prominent role in the church, publicly separated when the denomination adopted speaking in tongues as the initial evidence of the Holy Spirit. Neither was he afraid of persecution because of his willingness to preach to any soul that was in need, including the poor and other races.

He almost lost his life one day when he would not back down to the intimidation of those who forbade a white man to preach to blacks. The following is a letter from Brother Bosworth to his mother describing a brutal beating he suffered at the hand of a mob of cruel men. The letter was transcribed from a hand-written letter that he sent to his mother in 1911. He was 34 years old at the time.

Dallas, Texas August 21st 1911

Dear Mother and All,

We were so glad to get yours, Bert's & Bertha's letters this morning and will answer at once to save you the unnecessary worry about me. When I wrote you from Calvert on my way home from Hearne, Texas, I started a letter telling you about the mobbing and then thinking how it might worry you, I tore up the first letter and wrote you the other one not mentioning the pounding I got. I did this only to save you from worrying. I have never seen any caper with the account of this mobbing as I don't know what the paper said. Wish you would send me the paper. I heard day before yesterday it was in one of the papers here and went and looked over the files but failed to find it.

At the annual state encampment (Pentecostal) of the colored people at Heame, the colored people built a brush arbor (continuing from the end of their tent) to accommodate the white people of Hearne, who wanted to attend the camp meeting. This full Gospel had never been preached to the white people at Hearne and besides filling this brush arbor: Automobiles, Carriages and many white people standing, surrounded the tent to listen to the preaching testimonies of the colored people. Many of the white citizens became deeply interested in the teaching and not wanting to seek the Baptism at a colored alter, the white people urged the colored leaders to send for some white Pentecostal teacher to come and help them in the Baptism. And so to accommodate these white citizens, I was sent for and of course went to the camp ground and on Saturday night, preached to two large audiences, one white and one black. God gave me unusual liberty and blessing in teaching and explaining the truths for which this movement stands. Both audiences receiving the truth with great enthusiasm.

I was tired and thought I wouldn't preach that night but the people wanted me to and then God anointed me for it. As I was on my way to spend the night with another white preacher who had also come that day, we were attacked by several roughs one of whom had a revolver with which (as he and the others cursed us for coming there, as they said, to put them on a level with them (racial expletive)). They seemed determined to shoot us both at once. God was wonderfully with me and with perfect coolness, I told them that I was doing God's will the very best I knew how, was ready to die and would offer no resistance to anything God permitted them to do, (these are not the exact words) but if they had no objections I would like to speak a few words of explanation before they shot us. At first they refused me this privilege but finally said I could say what I wanted to. I then told them that I came with no thought or desire of putting them on a level with anyone but it was the white people that wanted me to come to help them, that I had done the very best I knew and was willing to take anything God permitted. With this explanation they decided not to kill, but insisted that we should take the next train and so we went to the depot and I bought my ticket to Dallas and the other brother went to his room for his suitcase and while he was gone and I was waiting for my train, a larger mob of about 25 took me from the depot and knocked me down and pounded me with heavy hardwood clubs with all their power cursing and declaring that I would never preach again when they were through with me. As they pounded me with these heavy clubs (made from the oar of a boat) I offered no resistance but committed my self to God and asked him not to let the blows break my spine. God stood wonderfully by and no bones were broken except for a slight fracture in my left wrist. When they left off pounding me with the clubs as I got up, others of the mob knocked me down and started hitting me in the head with their fists. I was then knocked down several times but was not for a moment unconscious which was a miracle of God's care. I was then not allowed to take my train but had to walk 9 miles to Calvert where I got a train Sunday at 2 PM for home.

The suffering during the pounding was terrible but as soon as it was over looked away from wounds and bruises to God and He took away all suffering and put His power and strength upon me and so that I carried a heavy suit case with my right arm over nine miles and never had the slightest anger or ill feeling towards these men who beat me so badly and the walk to Calvert in the dark with moon-light was the heavenly experience of my life and the Lord gave me wonderful intercession for those that beat me that He should forgive them and prepare them for His coming. My flesh was mashed to the bone on my back down nearly to my knees but since the beating I have been free from all suffering. Others been made nervous and have broke down and wept as they were shown the wounds on my body but have been absolutely free from nervousness, no fear and not even tired. He has been so precious to me since that I have thanked Him many times for being privileged to know something of the "Fellowship of His Sufferings". If this mobbing was the result of some unwise thing I had done or for speaking anything but His Own sweet message, I would be very sorry, but since it came for plain obedience in preaching His Gospel to every creature, it has given me great joy to experience this which was as common among the early Christians in the first centuries of the Church. I feel like I am several notches brighter in the Christian Life.

Already this experience God has used and made it a blessing to others and I have received some of the sweetest letters from God's people.

You need not worry one bit for we are not now preaching to colored people and will not unless God clearly leads as He did when He led us to Queen City and other parts of Dallas. He put His seal upon this by saving many, healing many and baptizing over 225 with the Holy Ghost. The deepest and quickest work I have know of. We do not lay our own plans but wait for Him. We have just moved our tent from the County of Keaskill to the County of East Side and Washington and last night which was our first night in the new location, the tent was nearly full and the attention was fine. Pray that God will give us a great meeting there. We may move into some house near the tent in a few days.

Vivien is well and so sweet. God gives her at times the real burden for souls at which times the Spirit makes intercession through her in tongues. Bro Graves is with us. Miss Harriet Wasson is here today. God continues to give her beautiful hymns. We had no meetings last week and Estella, Vivien and I spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Miss Wasson's home. We enjoyed the change so much.

The paper just came from Z.C. telling about my beating. Not much like the facts. My face was not scratched but my head was bruised in several places. No marks are left on my face.

Would love to see you all at home. We are all happy in the will of God. I would much prefer to be faithful and have some little tribulation now than to fail to overcome and have to pass through the great tribulation soon to come. Praise God I am determined to have God's plan for my life carried out.

With much love to you all, I am your devoted son.

Frank

Thirty-seven years later, Brother Bosworth would again show his character when he began to follow a young minister named William Branham. He traveled the world with Brother Branham and went to be with the Lord in January, 1958.