The Pillar Hotel in Hendon occupies the buildings of the former Pillar of Fire mission on Brent Street, which were previously used for bible study and a hostel for the rehabilitation of "fallen women".
The Pillar of Fire Society, founded by Alma White (1862-1946) in Colorado in 1901, is a Protestant Christian sect describing itself as Wesleyan-Arminian: doctrinally it is close to Methodism but was founded out of a belief that Methodism had fallen away from its former ideals. In its early years it was characterised by displays of quasi-Pentecostalist fervour, adherents being referred to as "Holy rollers" or "Holy jumpers". In this early period it was expansionist and set up many missions within the USA and abroad, Hendon (1902) being the first. Its numerous missions have now mostly closed.
The Pillar of Fire Society was notable for its support for racist, anti-semitic and nativist trends in American life, supporting the Ku Klux Klan until the 1940s. Alma White stated in 1920 and again in 1943 that there was no room in the Society for racial prejudice and that the Society had no connection with the KKK, but simultaneously endorsed the "principles" of the KKK – anti-Catholicism, anti-Semitism, nativism, and a belief that white supremacy was "in accordance with holy writ".
More about the Pillar of Fire Society can be found at
Link or its own website at
Link . A selection of images published by the Society over the years and displaying intolerance has been collated at
Link .
In a rather pleasing irony, the Pillar Hotel that now occupies the site of its mission in Hendon (
Link ) is a Kosher establishment recommended by Jewish travel networks.
See other images of Pillar Hotel, Hendon, and Pillar of Fire Society