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GREAT GRANDSON of A.J. Tomlinson Responds to ACTS Article

Acts-celerate Owner Posts: 6957 **2/24/20 5:03 pm**

The article on ACTS about COG financial problems as a result of the 1918 General Assembly being cancelled by the government because of the flu pandemic of that year, has brought additional information.

"Mat," a long-time poster on Actcelerate, shares that he is A.J. Tomlinson's Great Grandson (something I was not aware of). In a response to the article, "COG Closes General Assembly Due To Pandemic," Mat shares other historical information.

http://www.actscelerate.com/viewtopic.php?t=89793
Mat's post is the third one down in the thread

During that incredibly difficult year, a crushing low point, Tomlinson started a Bible School with 18 students, the beginnings of what is now Lee University. Mat shares that to make it easier for the students to attend, Brother and Sister Tomlinson kept some of them in their small home.

A STUDENT DIED FROM THE FLU
He says that one of the 18 students, a young woman, died of the flu while staying with the Tomlinsons. Brother and Sister Tomlinson cared for her as best as possible...did not forsake her and did not ask her to leave.

Is there a historical record of who that precious student, a young woman who loved the Lord and was seeking to improve her knowledge of the Bible, was?

LATER BEGAN THE CHURCH OF GOD ORPHANAGE IN HIS HOME
It could also be noted, that the Tomlinsons started the Church of God Orphanage in their home at a later time. Not sure of the date the Orphanage began.

Doyle
404-933-1373
writedoyle@gmail.com
_________________
The largest room in the world is the room for improvement.

Bonnie Terrill

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1994 **2/25/20 9:22 am**

Doyle,

According to AJT's Diary entry for November 27, 1918, the Bible School student who died in the Tomlinson House was "Mrs. Bennie (sic) Terrill". I did not see any information as to where she was from or buried.

AJT reports two other students are in the home were sick as well - Blanche Koon and Mary Rowell, but it seems they recovered, as did AJT and others who were effected.

The assembly that was canceled by the government was scheduled for October 30 - November 5, in Harriman, TN.

Much of AJT's November 27 entry in his diary shares various expansions of the church work and printing ministry, plus news about the government shutting down churches services (four Sundays). He also records his concern about Homer, who had enlisted in the Army, being in France for sometime.

He ends with entry with, "My dear wife has never taken the influenza although she has had the care of fourteen or more cases. God has sustained and held her up. Thanks to His name. He is so good to us."

Note: I think there were both male and female students who stayed in the Tomlinson House in the beginning years of the Bible School.

Mat