A History of Christian Doctrine #3 - Online Christian Library

The Jesus Name Controversy
assistant pastor in Winnipeg to A. H. Argue, who had
received the Holy Spirit under Durham.
In Los Angeles, Ewart merged his work with that of
Elmer Fisher and continued working with Fisher and his
associate, A. G. Garr. (Garr was the first white pastor to
receive the Holy Ghost at Azusa Street and the first
Pentecostal missionary to India and Hong Kong.) Ewart
occasionally preached on the power of the name of Jesus
and was astonished by the tremendous results in healings
and Spirit baptisms. Fisher and Garr urged Ewart to continue
preaching on the name of Jesus, but they were
opposed to baptizing in Jesus’ name.
In November 1913, at the eighth annual Pentecostal
convention in Winnipeg, McAlister preached the first sermon
on the exclusive use of the name of Jesus in water
baptism. Frank Small was asked to take charge of the
baptismal service, and he baptized thirty new converts in
the name of Jesus Christ. These were the first Jesus Name
baptisms to result from the Arroyo Seco camp meeting.
Ewart eventually decided that he needed to take a
clear stand for water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.
He concluded that the essential name to use in baptism
was Jesus and that the titles of Lord and Christ could be
added. 68 Moreover, he concluded that this practice had
great significance regarding the doctrine of God. The
apostles baptized in Jesus’ name because the Father, Son,
and Holy Ghost are not three distinct persons but three
manifestations of one God, and Jesus is the revelation of
the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The reason why there is
such power when believers preach, pray, and baptize in
Jesus’ name, is that the fullness of the Godhead dwells in
Jesus.
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