Aimee Semple McPherson: Everybody's Sister (Library of Religious Biography) [Paperback]

Edith L. Blumhofer (Author)

Book Description

Series: Library of Religious Biography | Publication Date: January 1993

Based on previously unavailable documents, it accents her Canadian roots plus ties to the Salvation Army and Pentecostalism.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this vibrant biography of controversial, charismatic "Sister" McPherson (1890-1944), Blumhofer ( Restoring the Faith ) traces the influence of the celebrity preacher on 20th-century American protestantism. Seeking to separate the facts from the cloak of myth surrounding McPherson, the author chronicles the Ontario farm girl's religious formation by her mother, by the "flamboyant style" of the Canadian Salvation Army and by her Pentecostal first husband, Robert Semple, who died when Aimee was 19 and pregnant. As the center of her International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, Sister, who married Harold McPherson in 1912, built the Angelus Temple in Los Angeles, drew overflow crowds to her assemblies and broadcast from her own radio station. Blumhofer explores the inner loneliness of this divorced mother of a daughter and son (who served as sources for the study). While marital scandals and the shifting economic and societal tides of the 1930s dimmed McPherson's star, today a purported 1.5 million members worldwide follow her vision. Balanced and engrossing, this portrait also examines Sister's early application of modern promotional techniques to a religious endeavor. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

"Sister" was one of the best-known North American religious figures and media celebrities between the world wars. At long last, an objective and scholarly biography has been written about this controversial old-time religion revival evangelist. In this sensitive and engaging biography, Blumhofer, a historian (Wheaton Coll.) and editor ( The Christian Century ), depicts not only the woman who mixed piety and pageantry while crossing denominational lines but also the complex social scene of 1930s America. This volume outshines all other McPherson biographies, including Robert Bahr's Least of All Saints ( LJ 5/1/79), which is a speculative and dramatic re-creation, and the poet Mark Epstein's appreciative and noncritical Sister Aimee ( LJ 12/92). An excellent bibliographic essay is included. Appropriate for general readers as well as scholars, this is recommended to public and academic libraries of all sizes.
- Gary P. Gillum, Brigham Young Univ., Provo, Ut.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (January 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802801552
• ISBN-13: 978-0802801555
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #614,075 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SISTER AIMEE.........................FOR SUCH A TIME AS THEN, January 13, 2000

By 

Gary D. Harwood - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aimee Semple McPherson: Everybody's Sister (Library of Religious Biography) (Paperback)

Aimee Semple McPherson was a Pentecostal evangelist who achieved celebrity status in the 1920's. "Sister"(as she was affectionately called) also pastored Angelus Temple in Los Angeles and founded the Foursquare denomination. To begin to understand the complex McPherson one should read this definitive biography by Edith Blumhofer. Aimee, a Canadian farm girl was heavily influenced by her mother's Salvation Army activism, and to a lesser extent, her father's traditional Methodism. For example, McPherson's putting ministry ahead of family is parallel to her mother's doing the same and the Salvation Army marriage vow to not let marriage interfere with ministry. The Army background definitely influence her use of theatrics and pageantry in her ministry. Robert Semple, an evangelist, and her first husband, introduces Aimee to Pentecostalism. "Sister"'s Pentecostalism was not definitive enough for classical Pentecostalists(Some Assemblies of God ministers saying she did not insist on tongues always being the evidence of the "Baptism of the Spirit"; a view which seems to shift in agreement with classical Pentecostalists later in her ministry?). She referred to her message as "Bible Christianity" rather than Pentecostalism. One is struck by the acceptance of her by much of Protestantism, the transdenominational clergy cooperation, and her good sense of using much of Protestant hymnody to unify the different traditions attending her meetings. She seems more of a forerunner of the "Charismatic Movement"(pentecostal renewal within Protestant denominations) than a classical Pentecostalist. The most intriquing aspect of the book for me as an evangelical, is Aimee's methodology in presenting the gospel. Rather than "preaching the law" so as to convict of sin, Sister instead provides a potrait of the Beautiful Saviour, Jesus, "the same yesterday, today and forever". Perhaps McPherson finds that the prescence of God will so show the Saviour in his holiness and glory that the same goal is achieved more efficiently? Blumhofer shows Sister Aimee, as she was, warts and all. One flaming anti-Pentecostalist summarizes McPherson as "married three times, died of an overdose". To get the full story, read this book. Fundamentalists and Evangelicals tend to look over obvious faults of their heroes: Luther was foul-mouthed and anti-Semitic, William Carey and John Wesley were far from role-model husbands. Sister, like all of us is a mixture of mud and marble. For God has no perfect people to work with. Her willingnes to go into the dance hall, boxing ring or red-light district to love the unlovely reminds one of Wesley and Whitefield. Historians, Evangelicals and Pentecostals will enjoy this well-researched, sympathetic potrait of "Everybody's Sister."

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Book, April 22, 2007

By 

So. Calif book reader "readalot" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aimee Semple McPherson: Everybody's Sister (Library of Religious Biography) (Paperback)

This was a very fair biography of Aimee Semple McPherson. She told the story without being judgmental or accusatory. I liked that. It's as good as Epstein's book (which I want to read again), and is better in fact that she includes an index, where Epstein's does not, and books that don't have indexes are very difficult to reference at a later date. I liked this book very much.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a fair presentation of an evangelist., June 30, 2007

By 

James R. V. Matichuk (Atlanta) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aimee Semple McPherson: Everybody's Sister (Library of Religious Biography) (Hardcover)

I picked this book up off the bargin table at my local bookstore and found it a good read. It made me want to read other books in the series.

Blumhofer presents a balanced view of Mcpherson neither focusing on the more sensational aspects of her life story nor selectively ignoring difficulties. This is not the typical protestant hagiography, but its presentation is generally positive. Blumhofer does a good job of sketching Aimee's influences and development, her remarkable and gregarious personality and ability as a visionary and organizer of a movement. She also presents the scandals, (marriages, handling of funds, the "kidnapping," infighting at Temple Angelus, lawsuits, etc.) in a fair way. I do not think you could come away from reading this book and think Aimee Semple Mcpherson did not have her share of faults, and issues. But you couldn't demonize her either.

The biggest criticism I have of this book is a certain sloppiness in the editing. Dates contradict, grammar is strained in places. It is a shame that there was no revision with the reprinting of the book.