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 Book sheds new light on Stone’s Folly

Historians say Stone’s Folly was the birthplace of the modern-day Pentecostal movement when it housed the Rev. Charles Fox Parham’s Bethel Bible College for a few months, from October 1900 to July 1901.

About 40 students in the college had been praying for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Then, on Jan. 1, 1901, in a “prayer tower” at Stone’s Folly, the students and Parham began speaking in tongues.

Historians say Parham was the first to draw the theological connection of speaking in tongues as being the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Parham and his followers — who gained much attention from the press — were unceremoniously booted out of Stone’s Folly a few months later. The mansion burned to the ground in December 1901, after it had been turned into a brothel.

But Parham’s message went forward. From its humble origins in Topeka 115 years ago, the Pentecostal movement has spread around the world and today has up to 1 billion adherents. It is considered the fastest-growing segment of the Christian Church.

Defendorf will discuss the history of Stone’s Folly and its role in the Pentecostal movement at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, when he will give a talk in the basement of the Most Pure Heart of Mary church rectory.

Why the basement? Defendorf said his research has convinced him that it is the same foundation that once anchored Stone’s Folly before the mansion burned to the ground.

Copies of Defendorf’s book will be available at the talk, which will last about 30 minutes, with additional time allowed for questions.

Defendorf, who came to Topeka in 1980 as a radio DJ known on air as “Lee O’Day,” said he first learned about Stone’s Folly in the early 1980s, a few years after he started attending Most Pure Heart of Mary church.

A few years ago, Defendorf said, he finally put into action his long-held desire to write a book on Stone’s Folly, if for no other reason than to preserve its legacy.

“I’ve always said, ‘I’ve got to do more,’?” Defendorf said. “There’s so much more to do.”

For his book, Defendorf did research on site — finding old artifacts he believes came from Stone’s Folly in the rectory basement — and pored over microfilm records at the Shawnee County Register of Deeds office.

In his book, Defendorf also weaves in other aspects related to the charismatic Catholic movement.

Though the Stone’s Folly foundation sits on what today are the grounds of a Catholic church, Defendorf said he hopes people from various backgrounds will come to his talk, as the Pentecostal movement encompasses a wide range of denominations.