H. M. S. Richards

[Gregory Matthews]

H. M. S. Richards;   The following article will tell you much about the life and ministry of the founder of The Voice of Prophecy.

https://www.andrews.edu/library/car/cardigital/Periodicals/Spectrum/1982-1983_Vol_13/22253178.READER_043.pdf

 

[Hanseng]

I visited HMS Richards in his library a couple of times, once to buy a Bible and another time to sell him a book.  He told me about a  used bookstore in Long Beach, CA that he liked to visit. One time he asked the proprietor about the paucity of books on Reformation history The proprietor told him that they had books on the Reformation; however, every week two RC priests and a nun came into the store and bought every one they could find.

A distinguishing quality of Elder Richards was his humility. The only other person I met with that same aura was Des Ford.

[Joe Knapp]

Quote

....he read the entire chapter to me, emphasizing the last part, ‘for spiritual things are spiritually
discerned.’ Then he said, ‘If you’re going to be a minister, you’ve got to be a spiritual man.

No man has the right to be a minister if he isn’t spiritual.’ Then he died in my arms. 

This is from HMS autobiography.   He was a giant. 

He read the bible from cover to cover twice a year. Once in January and again more slowly the rest of the year. 

[Joe Knapp]

Quote

Ellen White was partly responsible for Richards’ decision to become a minister. In
Boulder in 1909, on her way back from Washington, D.C., to St. Helena after
attending her last General Conference session, Ellen White stopped at the Chatauqua
campground for a preaching service.

Young Harold was part of the “ platform boys” crew, helping to set up chairs. During White’s sermon, Richards sat on the edge of the platform. “ She was just a regular old grandmother when she preached,” he recalls, “ kind and clear voiced. But when she prayed, the entire mood changed. People in the audience were
weeping. It was during that prayer that I decided to be a minister, not a lawyer.

I had been attracted to law because there were several attorneys in my heritage.”

He talks more about that prayer in his autobiography.  He said he was afraid to look up, that God Himself might be there. 

[Joe Knapp]

Quote

His habit is to be in the library at five or six o’clock every morning and read for two or three hours before breakfast. Much of that time is spent with the Bible.
Richards has frequently stated his belief that reading the Bible from cover to cover is the best way to understand it.

 

[Kevin H]

From a child I've admired HMS. I got to meet him twice, and Jr. often enough to be recognized. I love hearing stories about his remarkable life. Among the most influential sermons I've ever heard is his "The Man that God Forgot."

I often mention about a paper I wish I had written when I was working on my masters; while looking up other topics, I kept coming across letters between Mrs. White and/or Willie White to the pastors who's thought has developed into the thread of Adventism called "Historic Adventism" and/or "Last Generation Adventism." As well as handbills from the early 1900s accusing Mrs. White of Heresy for becoming a trinitarian, for her slack views on inspiration and attacks on Fundamentalism, and her writing testimonies to our faithful pastors who she should be supporting and not criticizing (and these are those who's thoughts developed into "Historic Adventism" "LGP") among other changes. While these had a deep impact on my life and thoughts, I did not see them as relevant enough for a paper. I saw the problems being with say Des Ford and Walter Rea and thought the thought of these pastors was something that Adventism had moved beyond. 

One of these pastors became the only man that HMS hated. Whenever this pastor talked to HMS's mother, she would cry. As this pastor got old and widowed, he ended up in a nursing home. His strict understanding of perfection and trying to push these views burned a lot of bridges between his peers in the church. His children wanted little to nothing to do with him, but not only wanted nothing to do with the Seventh-day Adventist church they wanted nothing to do with religion or God at all. He evaluated his life and theology and came to a much more moderate understanding. This more moderate view ended up burning the bridges between him and those who liked his old theology. He was very much alone. HMS heard about his sad state, and started visiting him in the nursing home. HMS's hatred for the man changed into a close friendship and brotherly love, and a respect that this man was willing to evaluate his faith and grow. 

[Hanseng]

Another man with whom he had issues was one who borrowed one of his books and did not return it. Elder Richards retrieved it from his widow. He told me a story about a historical figure who had secured a firearm, something new at the time. When the king paraded through his town, he took aim and fired from a rooftop, knocking the king off his horse. HMS thought that was quite amusing. Not sure why he told me that story.

I enjoyed reading the VOP book[let] of the month. I retrieved a bag full of them from the VOP headquarters. One was called "The Occult Explosion." It had a purple and black cover with appropriate illustrations. We had some Hell's Angels in our town at that time. I offered the booklet to one of them. He not only accepted it but thanked me for giving it to him.