Natchez is a great place to celebrate Juneteenth

This essay appeared on the op-ed page (4A) of The Natchez Democrat (June 2, 2023)

By Roscoe Barnes III

Natchez is a great place to celebrate Juneteenth

If you want to celebrate Juneteenth – and learn more about African American history, then Natchez is the perfect place to begin your journey.

Natchez is home to many sites related to Black History along the Mississippi River. The sites include historical structures, museums, markers, and tour guides that present the history of chattel slavery and the Civil War. Over 52 sites in Natchez played a role in the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Now you can tour these areas and learn about the city’s history that is a vital part of its cultural legacy.

Of course, you can also attend the special events held in recognition of Juneteenth. I’ll say more about these events, but first, a little background on this holiday.

Juneteenth is short for “June 19th.” It is one of the oldest known holidays commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. The date has been called “Freedom Day” and “Liberation Day.” The reason is that on June 19, 1865, U.S. General Gordon Granger and federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to ensure the freedom of all enslaved men, women, and children in that region.

President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, to free most, but not all of the enslaved people in the rebellious southern states.  However, in portions of Texas, it would be two-and-half years later – two months after Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered – before the enslaved people were actually released from forced servitude.

Freedom for the enslaved people in Natchez came on July 13, 1863, nine days after the U.S, victory at Vicksburg. When Union troops arrived by steamboat Under the Hill and occupied Natchez, it was a defining moment in the city’s history.

“For nearly 100 years the dominant narrative at Vicksburg was that the 4th of July was about Confederate suffering,” said Dr. David Slay, chief of interpretation at Natchez National Historical Park, in a recent interview. “The hardships endured by the Confederate defenders were almost Christological in the retelling. But the truth is, the 4th of July in Vicksburg and July 13th in Natchez were days of celebration for a large portion, if not the outright majority, of the population.”

People commemorate Juneteenth in many ways. Some celebrate with parades, music, and food, while others pay homage via art and history tours. For many, it’s about education and gratitude and strength for life’s journey.

This year, several exciting events will be held in Natchez in recognition of Juneteenth. They include:

* Juneteenth African American Tours offered Saturday through Wednesday, June 17-21. Rev’s Country Tours will provide special tours that focus on African American history.

* Legends Celebration 2023 Concert: A Musical Tribute for Juneteenth set for 6:30 p.m., Saturday, June 17, at the City Auditorium. The entertainers represent a wide range of Mississippi music including gospel, blues, R&B and jazz with performances by local and other well-known artists.

* Jazzin on the Vine: A Black Artist Art Exhibit will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, June 19, at Concord Quarters courtyard side. The exhibit will feature an array of visual art that includes drawings, paintings, photography, sculptures, and readings by two poets.

* Film “Women of the Struggle: Facing Fear in the Civil Rights Era” will be shown at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 22, at Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture. The film chronicles the lives of women in Mississippi who overcame their fears in the fight for freedom and justice.

In closing, I’m reminded of a comment by novelist Pearl S. Buck, who said, “If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday.” This is true and especially so when we think about Juneteenth.

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Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., is the cultural heritage tourism manager for Visit Natchez.

#Juneteenth #VisitNatchez #NatchezCulturalLegacy #Juneteenth2023 #CivilWar #Emancipation #FreedomDay #BlackHistory

Bosworth’s ‘Christ the Healer’ found in Maya Angelou’s personal library

By Roscoe Barnes III, PhD
Author, F.F. Bosworth: The Man Behind “Christ the Healer”
Copyright © 2023
 
#FFBosworth
#BosworthMatters 

Photo shared by Bishop Paul Francis Lanier

Like millions of people before her, Maya Angelou was probably a reader of F.F. Bosworth. According to a 2015 post on Facebook, his book, “Christ the Healer,” was found in her personal library following her death on May 28, 2014, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
 
Bishop Paul Francis Lanier of  Hope Community Church, Winston-Salem, shared this news on Sept. 9, 2015. He wrote:

“Following service a precious member of many years and dear friend presented me an amazing gift …. It was a copy of F.F. Bosworth’s “Christ the Healer.” Of course, I love this book. Even more special, when I opened it I discovered that it came from the personal library of Maya Angelou. Many of Dr. Angelou’s things were sold recently at an auction. I just think it is the coolest thing that she had Brother Bosworth’s book, and that someone thought of me when they saw it. So blessed. So very blessed.”

Lanier graciously shared images of the book, including one with a yellow sticker attached (inside the front cover) with the words: “This Book is from the Library of Maya Angelou.”

Friends of Lanier quickly responded with congratulatory comments. “Wow .. doubly cool,” replied Donna Schambach. One friend shared, “What a treasure to your heart.” Another wrote: “My copy stays on my desk. I refer to it often. No words can explain the Power of God that was present with F.F. Bosworth as it was written!”

“I have that great book!,” posted one friend. “Surprised that Maya Angelou also had it!”

While we don’t know if Angelou actually read the book, we are certain that it was inside her home. Given her love of books and her voracious appetite for reading, there’s a good chance that she did indeed read Bosworth’s book. Even so, it would be interesting to know how she acquired the book and what she thought of it.

Just over a year after her death, Laster’s Fine Art & Antiques hosted an estate sale at her house in Winston-Salem. Through that sale, people acquired her furniture, artworks, and books, among other things.

Angelou’s faith

Angelou was an iconic figure, especially in the areas of writing and social justice. She was a famous poet, dancer, scholar, actor, popular speaker, and civil rights activist. One of her most well-known books was her autobiography, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” (1969). She was also a mentor to Oprah Winfrey.

In 1992, Susan King, staff writer for the LA Times, inquired about Angelou’s faith in an interview about the PBS special, “Maya Angelou: Rainbow in the Clouds.” At the time, Angelou was 64, and she acknowledged the importance of faith. In fact, she attended a Methodist church and a Baptist church.

King asked, “Have you always had strong religious beliefs?”

 Angelou replied as follows:

Yes. I have always tried to find myself a church. I have studied everything. I spent some time with Zen Buddhism and Judaism, and I spent some time with Islam. I am a religious person. It is my spirit, but I found that I really want to be a Christian. That is what my spirit seems to be built on.

I just know that I find the teachings of Christ so accessible. I really believe that Christ made a sacrifice and for those reasons I want to be a Christian. But what kind, I don’t know. I don’t know what time of day I am at.

Bosworth’s living classic
 
“Christ the Healer” is a collection of Bosworth’s sermons on divine healing. He first published the book in 1924. Earlier versions included detailed testimonies from people who were reportedly healed through Bosworth’s ministry and after reading his book. To enhance their credibility, the stories of healing included the actual names and home addresses of the people featured in the book.
 
During his salvation-healing campaigns, Bosworth often invited doctors and other medical professionals to attend his services and verify the claims of healing. Although many reported being healed in the meetings, Bosworth believed that far more were healed through the teachings in his book.
 
“When in the year 1924 we wrote the messages for the first edition of this book, little did we dream that the truths presented were to bless such vast numbers in so many parts of the world,” Bosworth wrote in the Author’s Preface to his book. He later wrote: “In this book we have tried to use the vocabulary common people understand, and a continual stream of testimonies comes to us from those soundly converted and miraculously healed through their own faith which came to them while reading and meditating on the truths of the Bible which we have tried to make plain.”
 
During the post-World War II healing revival, evangelists used his book as a how-to guide – a practical textbook -- for the divine healing ministry. Gordon Lindsay promoted the book in the pages of The Voice of Healing magazine. The book also was a favorite of Kenneth E. Hagin, who made it a required text at Rhema Bible Training Center. According to T.L. Osborn, “Christ the Healer” was “one of the most outstanding books ever to be published on the subject of divine healing.”
 
Now, nearly 100 years since its publication, “Christ the Healer” is in the public domain. It is being published by Chosen Books, Baker Publishing Group, Whitaker House, and other companies. If Bosworth was surprised by the public response to his book in the 1920s, one can only imagine how he would feel today. Even though he died in 1958, the impact of his ministry is still being felt through his writings. Thanks to the longevity of this single book, “Christ the Healer,” his ministry continues to have a global impact, reaching Pentecostals and non-Pentecostals alike.

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Note: My book, F.F. Bosworth: The Man Behind "Christ the Healer," can be purchased here with a 25% discount. Use the discount code (all caps): BOSWORTH25.

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Want to know more

about F.F. Bosworth?

Follow the Bosworth Matters blog!

Start here:

ffbosworth.strikingly.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more information:
Visit the F.F. Bosworth page here. Questions about the research and commentary on F.F. Bosworth may be directed to Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., via email at doctorbarnes3@gmail.com or roscoebarnes3@yahoo.com. For updates on F.F. Bosworth history, simply follow this blog or @bosworth_fred and @Roscoebarnes3 on Twitter. #ChristTheHealer #BosworthMention #BosworthMatters

Jessica Fleming Crawford to discuss ‘Natchez Massacre’ and ‘Ground Zero for Slavery’ at May 23 meeting of Natchez Historical Society

Jessica Fleming Crawford

NATCHEZ, Miss. -- Jessica Fleming Crawford, southeast regional director for The Archaeological Conservancy, will talk about an archeological site related to the “Natchez Massacre” and chattel slavery at the meeting of the Natchez Historical Society on Tuesday, May 23, at Historic Natchez Foundation, 108 S. Commerce St.

Crawford’s presentation is titled, “Ground Zero for Slavery: The Importance of the Terre Blanche Concession at Natchez, Mississippi.” The social will begin at 5:30 p.m., and Crawford’s presentation will start at 6 p.m. The meeting is free and open to the public.

Crawford will discuss the 1729 massacre, or as some call it, the uprising, in which the Natchez Indians attacked and killed most of the French who were here. She will also talk about the “1719 Terre Blanche Concession, a plantation that had 300 acres in cultivation and at least 86 enslaved people who were taken directly from their homes in Africa or were of the first generation to be born the Province of Louisiana.”

Archaeologists with the Lower Mississippi Survey discovered the Terre Blanche Concession in 1971 on property owned by the International Paper Company. The site is located on Lower Woodville Road on the south side of St. Catherine Creek.
 

The Terre Blanche site, said Crawford, “is one of two that are arguably ‘ground zero’ for chattel slavery in the Natchez District, and archaeologically, very little of it remains.” Crawford noted her presentation will focus on the importance of this site.
 

Crawford is no stranger to Natchez. In fact, she has made many visits to the city. Over the years, she has worked with Concord Quarters and served as a guest speaker for the NHS and the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians. She is also involved with ongoing research projects in Natchez.
 

“Ms. Crawford is an expert on the history surrounding the Terre Blanche Conservancy and what its archeology tells us about Natchez’s early history,” said Alan Wolf, a director of NHS and its program chair. “She’s not to be missed by anyone interested in our native and colonial past.”

Crawford is a graduate of the University of Mississippi, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English. She holds a master’s degree in Anthropology with an emphasis in Archaeology.
 
Crawford’s organization, The Archaeological Conservancy, is considered “the only national non-profit organization dedicated to acquiring and preserving America's most important cultural sites,” according to the agency’s website. In addition to identifying and acquiring “the most significant archaeological sites in the United States,” the Conservancy helps to preserve these sites.
 
As regional director, Crawford manages Conservancy properties in eight southeastern states from her office in Marks. She oversees research and works to acquire additional properties, which is made possible by purchase, donation or by holding easements, Crawford said.
 
Additionally, Crawford plans and guides a week-long educational tour of Southeastern archaeological sites.
 
For more information, call 601-492-3000 or send email to info@natchezhistoricalsociety.org
 

Full text is now available: 'Bringing Her Home: Commemorating Anne Moody in Southern Public Culture'

This is my paper on #AnneMoody that I presented at the 2023 meeting of the Mississippi Historical Society. It’s an overview of our efforts to promote her legacy. I'm happy to report that the entire paper is now available for your review.

#ComingOfAgeinMississippi #CivilRights #BlackHistory #MississippiHistory #PublicHistory

See the full text by following this link:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370628178_Bringing_Her_Home_Commemorating_Anne_Moody_in_Southern_Public_Culture

Inking the Deal

Washington D.C. museum director visits Natchez in support of U.S. Colored Troops monument project

Note: This story appeared on page 3A  in the Sunday, May 7, 2023, issue of The Natchez Democrat. It was published on Friday, May 5, 2023, by Magnolia State Live.

Agreement signed for 8,000 names of US Colored Troops
to be placed on Mississippi monument dedicated to
Civil War African Americans

 
By Magnolia State Live   

Published 3:35 pm Friday, May 5, 2023 

Mayor Dan Gibson, left, and Dr. Frank Smith, founding director of the African American Civil War Museum, sign agreement for the 8,000 names the Museum provided of the U.S. Colored Troops based at Fort McPherson in Natchez. These names will be listed on the proposed monument. (submitted photo) 

Dr. Frank Smith, founding director of the African American Civil War Museum, recently visited Natchez to show his support for the Natchez U.S. Colored Troops (USCT) monument, which will be called, the Natchez African American Civil War Memorial. 

On Tuesday, May 2, Smith and Mayor Dan Gibson signed an agreement for the 8,000 names the Museum provided of the USCT based at Fort McPherson. These names will be listed on the proposed monument. 

On Wednesday, May 3, Smith and his team from Washington, D.C., met with representatives of the Natchez National Historical Park to discuss a grant approved for the creation of a virtual USCT trail. “Inspired by the freedom trail, the USCT trail would be a series of virtual markers across the country at National Park Service sites,” according to Dr. Dawn Chitty, the Museum’s director of education.  

“We were very much impressed with all of the work that the city has done to organize and care for this great new memorial,” said Smith. “We are happy to play a role in supplying you with the names in the six regiments that were based at Fort McPherson. These soldiers helped to save the nation.” 

Gibson welcomed Smith and his team with warm greetings. He said it was a privilege to meet with them. 

“We were so very honored to have Dr. Smith and his delegation In Natchez,” Gibson said. “His life story, from civil rights activist to four-term DC Councilman is historic in and of itself. And the fact that he is the founding director of the National African American Civil War Museum and creator of the National U.S. Colored Troops Monument speaks volumes of his commitment to telling ‘all of the story’ of American history.”  

Smith’s two-day visit began on Tuesday with a tour of Natchez that was led by Gibson, and Robert Pernell, who chairs the Natchez U.S. Colored Troops Monument Committee. This was followed by a 4 p.m. meeting in the Council Chambers, where members of the USCT Committee gave presentations on the proposed monument. Committee members included Lance Harris, who chairs the Monument Design Subcommittee; Devin Heath, who chairs the Site Design Subcommittee; Deborah Fountain, who chairs the History and Research Subcommittee; and Carter Burns, co-chairman of the USCT Committee. 

On Wednesday, Smith and his team joined Ser Seshsh Ab Heter-Clifford M. Boxley for a tour of the Forks of the Road, according to Chitty. This was followed by a meeting with Park Historian Jeff Mansell, and Chief of Interpretation, Dr. David Slay at Natchez National Historical Park. The day ended with a tour of the Natchez National Cemetery to view the grave of Buck Murphy, a USCT soldier. 

In addition to Chitty, Smith’s delegation included Edwin Gasaway, operations manager; Nia Crawford, intern – community volunteer advocate for the National Park Service; Marquett Milton, historical interpreter; and Robert Walker, former mayor of Vicksburg.  

Gibson said the City of Natchez is proud to “partner with Dr. Smith and his team.” He noted that “having access to the over 8000 names of those who served our country in Natchez will be an added bonus to our soon-to-be developed monument on the northern Bluff.” 

The agreement signed by Gibson and Smith was officially announced by Fountain in November 2021. 

Pernell said the visit by Smith was both timely and important. “Right now we’re working on the design of the monument, and we’re engaged in fundraising,” he said. “The partnership with Dr. Smith is significant in that it provides us with an ally in D.C. who has the knowledge and many important resources related to our work.” 

Pernell said the USCT Committee urgently needs donations from individuals, institutions, and businesses in order to move forward to the next phase of the project. “I sincerely believe that when this monument is completed, people will be astounded, grateful, and deeply moved. Some, I’m sure, will be pleasantly surprised by its impact and how it will inspire people for generations to come.”

Read more at: https://www.magnoliastatelive.com/2023/05/05/agreement-signed-for-8000-names-of-us-colored-troops-to-be-placed-on-mississippi-monument-dedicated-to-civil-war-african-americans/

 

OPINION: Freedom Trail, Civil Rights Trail designations are reasons to celebrate

This essay was published on the op-ed page of The Natchez Democrat (Natchez, Miss.) on Friday, May 5, 2023.

“As we reflect on the marker, we should not forget the unprecedented achievements of the movement. According to historians, the movement in Natchez resulted in sweeping concessions, making it the most successful civil rights movement in the state of Mississippi.”

F.F. Bosworth featured in Dean Merrill’s book, ‘50 Pentecostal and Charismatic Leaders Every Christian Should Know’

By Roscoe Barnes III, PhD
Author, F.F. Bosworth: The Man Behind “Christ the Healer”
Copyright © 2023
 
#FFBosworth
#BosworthMatters 

F.F. Bosworth is one of many Pentecostal leaders featured in Dean Merrill’s book, “50 Pentecostal and Charismatic Leaders Every Christian Should Know” (Chosen Books, 2021). The book, which is similar to Lester Sumrall’s “Pioneers of Faith” (Harrison House, 1995), is a collection of profiles that provides a brief overview of Pentecostal and charismatic leaders who played important roles in revival movements and church history. As for Bosworth, Merrill describes him as “a man who wanted to hear from God equally as much as to speak for God and be the conduit of His healing power.”

The book features a long list of names that are well known. In addition to Bosworth, the list includes such luminaries as Maria Woodworth-Etter, Smith Wigglesworth, Charles Mason, William J. Seymour, John G. Lake, Aimee Semple McPherson, Donald Gee, Agnes Sanford, David du Plessis, Gordon and Freda Lindsay, Wonsuk and July Ma, Dennis and Rita Bennett, John and Elizabeth Sherrill, Francis and Judith MacNutt, Jack Hayford, Oral Roberts, William Branham, Harald Bredesen, Jane Hansen Hoyt, and John Wimber.

 

Dr. Craig S. Keener, who wrote the Foreword, describes the book as “a handy primer on most of the leading figures --- a valuable refresher for those schooled in Pentecostalism and a crucial survey to initiate beginners.” As such, the book is sure to answer questions, fill in gaps, inspire, and perhaps invigorate a new generation in the study of Pentecostal church history.

 

As the author, Merrill continues to add to an already impressive career. He is the former editor of Campus Life and Leadership Journal. He also served as editorial director for David C. Cook and Focus on the Family. He has written 10 books and co-authored 39 others, according to his bio. Some of his titles have been ranked on New York Times bestseller lists.

 

Note: John Lathrop wrote an excellent review of this book for The Pneuma Review. It can be read here.

 

Key moments in Bosworth’s life

 

Merrill’s 282-page volume gives readers a quick overview of the key moments in Bosworth’s life history. He opens the chapter with Bosworth’s dilemma in Lima, Ohio. Bosworth had been asked to preach on the subject of divine healing. He believed in healing, but he wrestled with the fact that all were not healed in answer to prayer. After some reflection and prayer, he concluded it was his job to preach and pray for the sick, and to leave the results to God. He’d asked, “Lord, suppose I preach on healing, and the people come and don’t get healed?” The Lord reportedly replied, “If people didn’t get saved, you wouldn’t stop preaching the Gospel.” From that point, Bosworth began preaching the message of salvation and healing with unrelenting boldness.

 

Merrill follows this section with two widely known cases of healing in Bosworth’s ministry. The first case is about the school for the deaf in Chicago in the 1920s where multiple students were reportedly healed through Bosworth’s ministry. David J. du Plessis mentioned the healings in the April 1958 issue of World-Wide Revival. He wrote:

 

Fred Bosworth received a lot of publicity in the Chicago Daily News and other metropolitan newspapers when a large number of students who were attending a school for the death were miraculously healed, their healings causing the school to close.

 

The second case is the story of John Sproul, a war veteran, whose healing testimony appeared in the Oct. 19, 1921, issue of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Sproul had lost his voice about three years earlier following a gas attack on the battlefields of France. Sproul testified to being healed in a revival meeting that was held by F.F. Bosworth and his brother, B.B. Bosworth.

 

Other topics in Bosworth’s story

 

In telling Bosworth’s story, Merrill also writes about:

 

* The publication of Bosworth’s book, “Christ the Healer,” in 1924.

 

The book is a compilation of Bosworth’s sermons on divine healing. Today, in 2023, the book is still in print. Over the years, its individual chapters have appeared as articles in magazines. Audio recordings have been made of the entire book.

 

* Bosworth’s famous debate on divine healing with the Rev. W.E. Best in 1950 in Houston.

 

At the time, Bosworth was holding revival meetings with William Branham. During the debate, Rev. W.E. Best, a Baptist pastor, argued for cessationism. However, Bosworth argued using the promises of God in the Scriptures and the testimonies of those who professed they had been healed. Merrill writes:

 

“Eventually Bosworth asked everyone who had been cured by faith to stand. Hundreds arose. After they sat down again, followed up with “How many of you are Baptists?” According to one news paper report, ‘At least 100 stood up.’”

 

* Bosworth’s Pentecostal experience.

 

Here, Merrill makes a remarkable claim that is questionable. He writes: “Bosworth spoke in tongues himself (following the 1906 laying on of hands by Pentecostal pioneer Charles Parham), and so did many in his meetings.” Merrill does not cite a source for this claim.

 

Merrill correctly notes that Bosworth, a founding father of the Assemblies of God, left the denomination over the issue of evidential tongues. Bosworth opposed the view that speaking in tongues was the only initial evidence of Spirit baptism.

 

* Bosworth’s persecution in Hearne, Texas.

 

Bosworth suffered a severe beating by a mob of white men after he preached to a black audience at a camp meeting in 1909. The racist mob threatened him, beat him with boat oars and a baseball bat, and literally ran him out of town.

 

*Bosworth’s embrace of British-Israelism.

 

Merrill writes, “It must be admitted that his theological compass wasn’t perfect. In the mid-1930s, he began to espouse an error called British-Israelism, the notion that the people of the British Isles (and their American cousins) were the direct descendants of the ‘Ten Lost Tribes’ of Israel, and therefore preferred by God.”

 

* Bosworth’s influence on the post-World War II healing revival.

 

Bosworth served as a mentor to the revivalists in the healing revival of the 1940s and 1950s. His book, “Christ the Healer,” became a veritable textbook for pastors and evangelists during this time. He also served as an active member of The Voice of Healing, where he worked with Gordon Lindsay and other healing evangelists.

 

Conclusion

 

Merrill ends his chapter with a story about Bosworth visiting the home of a young T. L. Osborn, who was living in a parsonage. When Bosworth entered the home, he learned that Osborn was upstairs praying, making “loud and impassioned pleas for God to bless and meet all kinds of needs.” When Osborn was finally done, Bosworth said, “You know, Tommy, the Lord’s an awfully good gentleman. He won’t ever butt in as long as you’re doing all the talking!”

 

Most of the people featured in Merrill’s book are probably well known to the readers of such books as “All Things Are Possible” by David Edwin Harrell Jr. and the “Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements” by Stanley M. Burgess. If you haven’t read these books, but you want a general knowledge about the important pioneers and leaders in Pentecostal church history, then Merrill’s book will be a good place to start.

 

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Note: My book, F.F. Bosworth: The Man Behind "Christ the Healer," can be purchased here with a 25% discount. Use the discount code (all caps): BOSWORTH25.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Want to know more

about F.F. Bosworth?

 

Follow the Bosworth Matters blog!

Start here:

ffbosworth.strikingly.com

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

For more information:

Visit the F.F. Bosworth page here. Questions about the research and commentary on F.F. Bosworth may be directed to Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., via email at doctorbarnes3@gmail.com or roscoebarnes3@yahoo.com. For updates on F.F. Bosworth history, simply follow this blog or @bosworth_fred and @Roscoebarnes3 on Twitter. #ChristTheHealer #BosworthMention #BosworthMatters