How the Gold is Become Dim! Series 1 of 7: Foreword, Preface and Synopsis

 

SYNOPSIS

This work examines the Cherubim and Seraphim Society in the first 70 years of its existence (1925 – 1995).  It notes the vast differences in practices, norms, beliefs, and doctrines; and attempts to trace the evolution of these.  In the beginning, the Society was conceived as a charismatic evangelistic group, fully ecumenical, and indeed well-integrated into the various Church denominations then on ground.  However, after only four years of its existence, schisms reared its head and since then the Society has assumed its infamous “fissiparous” nature.  Not long after the first schisms, the Society, through the various emerging factions, decided to change her mission and focus as an evangelical quickening factor within the Church denominations, to become another denomination (albeit an ill-defined one), itself. These major events occurring between 1929 and 1936 are critical to the state the C&S Society has found herself today.  

The major factors identified as responsible for the new face of the C&S Churches are classified as 1) normal evolution in space-time common to all young (religious) organizations, 2) factors peculiar to the C&S, and 3) spiritual factors. The trajectory of these changes has remained the same till the present day.  It is hoped that this brief exposition will help current members of the fold who have ears to hear, to remember how they “received and heard”; and in repentance, make appropriate adjustments so as to “hold fast and strengthen the things which remain” - at least within their own spheres of influence (Rev 3:2-3). 

The book holds that the lump remains holy whose firstfruit is holy (Rom 11:16).  It concludes that Churches, Ministries, and Ministers that originated from the 1925 revival that formally became the C&S Society, should be recognized as part of the present-day legacy of Moses Orimolade Tunolashe, even though they are now operating outside the C&S denomination. The book was part of a thesis submitted to the Zion Missions Theological College, Lagos for the award of a Diploma in Theology, thirty years ago, in 1995.  Now updated, it is being released in 2025 to commemorate the centennial of the C&S Society.

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Dedication

 

 “Thou hast a few names

even in Sardis

which have not defiled their garments;

and they shall walk with me in white:

for they are worthy”

Rev 3:4 

 

This book is humbly dedicated to the people

in the above group mentioned by the Lord,

as found in the C&S Society.

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FOREWORD

 

 

I am impressed to write the Foreword to this book. As already noted by the author who is a Professor of Physics, he was born into the Cherubim and Seraphim Church just as I was also born therein. By the time I was at the then Ife University now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, God used me to start the Students’ wing of the Church which was the first of its kind in the world in the year 1980 when I was about to graduate. While I was doing my post graduate studies in the same university I met the author. We both had the same sympathy I will say for the Church. We did all we needed to do explaining things and researching into others. After about fourteen years of leading the group God told me to leave same and that was the division the author referred to in this book.

 For twenty six years I was outside same thinking I would have nothing to do with same again. But God is not man. He does whatsoever He wants to do at His own time and place. He is sovereign and that is why I have found myself back into the fold right now doing all I can to return same to the true path of righteousness.

 This year we are celebrating our centenary existence and my greatest wonder is that the Professor is still heart to heart interested in the tenets and doctrines of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church. This gladdens my mind beyond description and confirms my earlier suspicion that deep within him, he still loves the Church and although physically out of same now, he is nonetheless interested in its good and is as committed as any true born Seraph in establishing the righteousness of Christ in the Church.

 Sometimes ago, the Pastor of my Church in London who is Ghanaian by birth wondered why I am in the Church; for according to him members of the Church have no good reputation in Ghana. I asked what the population was, conservatively, and he said about five million. Then I said “if you were God would you sit back and see five million of your creation go to hell fire?”  He said “No”. Then I told him that we (and I mean my Church) have a divine responsibility to teach Christ righteousness into the Cherubim and Seraphim Church. And that is our own mission. Anything and all things that is unrighteousness, whether doctrine or liturgy, we have the responsibility to come against. 

 I am not saying we are the only lot chosen for this by God, no I am not saying that. All I am saying is that I know we are chosen for this great task. Now I also know and acknowledge that the author is also chosen. Why not join us in bringing back to the Church the righteousness of Christ Jesus? This is the point where this book is of primary importance to us all.

 God blesses us all, Amen.

 

Prophet Moses Olusegun Rufai

Baba Aladura

Zion Missions of MORWorld Outreach Aladura Cherubim and Seraphim

Lagos, 27^th March, 2025

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Preface

  This work is extracted from an original thesis presented to the Zion Missions Theological College (ZMTC), Ipaja, Lagos, in September 1995.  The significant contributions from sundry friends and associates were duly acknowledged in that thesis write-up.  I also wish to acknowledge here, the significant editorial support from my son, Fisola Taiwo, without which this book might not have been written. Likewise, I gratefully appreciate the large-heartedness of Baba Aladura, Prophet Moses Olusegun Rufai, for kindly agreeing to write the Foreword to the book.

 I was born and bred in the C&S Society and I had the priviledge of seeing great men like Prophet Gabriel Fakeye and Baba Elijah Akinrele (who could literally quote the entire Bible from memory) hosted in our home Church. I joined the C&S Unification Ministries on enrolment at University in 1981/82 and grew steadily as I partook of various ministry opportunities, including as member of the Omo-Ogun Band, Secretary to the Aaron band, and Financial Secretary to the Steering Committee of our local Chapter.  Later, I had the privilege of serving on the Central Working Committee (CENWORCOM), and was appointed as Zonal Supervisor, first of Kwara Zone, and later of the Ondo-Ekiti Zone of the Ministries. Each of these Zones comprised about a dozen Chapters set in Institutions of higher learning.

 I was about traveling to the United States on a postdoc fellowship late 1994 when the “New Dispensation” moves broke out within the Unification Ministries.  The terminology referred to proposals, initiated from the highest leadership level, for radical changes to norms, doctrines, and practices within the Ministries. While these proposals were celebrated by some, others felt they went too far, and could strip the Organization of its C&S-ness.  Due to my unavailability, physically, I chose to put down my contribution to the ensuing hot debate in writing as a Memorandum.  This is what I later expanded for my PGD thesis at the ZMTC, and is now reproduced in a revised form, in this book.  On my return to Nigeria after 6 months, I met two thoroughly polarized groups, and it is not surprising that I could not fit in with either for too long.  I was however pleasantly surprised to learn later, that the Church I was led to join (in 1997), the Redeemed Christian Church of God, actually had her roots in the C&S Society.  In fact, at least in my candid opinion, she represents the vision of the founding fathers of the C&S, which the Unification ministries sought to re-create.

 It is gratifying to note that today, thirty years after, most of the key players in the then Unification Ministries are now closer to this original vision - embracing the values of holiness, righteousness, purity, and power - even if doing so in different Christian traditions. That is exactly how it was in the beginning of the C&S Society.  That is how it was meant to be.

 

                             Ipile ti Jesu fi lele l’eyi,

ti Baba Aladura nto,

k’eda mase ro pe, o ye kuro n’ibe,

O duro l’ori Krist’ Apata!

 

 Joshua Ojo

Ile-Ife, 24^th March, 2025

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Foreword

 Preface

 Chapter 1: Introduction    

 Chapter 2: A Brief History of the C&S Society                                                                                            

 2.1       Moses Orimolade                                                                                                                              

2.2       Captain Abiodun Emmanuel                                                                                                           

2.3       Role of African Church members

Chapter 3: General Change Factors

3.0       General Introduction                                                                                                        

3.1       Normal Evolution in Space-Time                                                                                           

 

3.1.1    Development of self-awareness and unique identity                                                          

3.1.2    Development of superiority complex                                                                                 

3.1.3    Others                                                                                                                               

 

3.2       Economic and Social Factors                                            

 

3.2.1.   Relating to Candles, Incense, etc.                                                                                                      

3.2.2    Relating to Clothings

3.2.3    Relating to Caps                                                      

3.2.4    Commercialization of religion 

 

Chapter 4: Change Factors Peculiar to the C&S Church

 

4.1.      Internal Pressure and base human factors

4.1.1    The Prayer Gown as an example                                                                              

4.1.2    Origin of the Cap                                                                       

4.1.3.   The initial schisms                                                                                 

 

 

4.2.      Lack of Formal Theology                                                         

4.2.1    Example of Hymns and Songs                                                                               

4.4.2.   Liturgy set over Doctrines

 

4.3       Illiteracy and Adopted Ignorance                                                                                                    

4.3.1.   Theological illiterate and unprepared Leadership                                                       

4.3.2.   Ignorance-reveling Followership 

4.3.2. a. Deliberate mis-interpretation of Scriptures 

4.3.2. b. Extravagant claims                                  

 

4.4.      Copying, Confusion and Syncretism 

 

Chapter 5: Spiritual Change Factors

 

5.1       Negative Spiritual Factors                                                                           

5.2       Positive Spiritual Factors                                                               

 

Chapter 6: Concluding Remarks

 

 

Bibliography

APPENDICES

 

Appendix 1 (i – iv). Some Historical Documents on the C&S Society from the National Archive:

i. Agreement to be signed before issue of Identification Card

ii. Translation of Baba Aladura’s Letter from Yoruba to English.  To the Bale Efire Adeniyi  (4^th January, 1931).

iii. Security Report from District Officer, Ife Division, to The Senior Resident, Oyo Province. (26^th May, 1931)

iv. The Faith Healer and the Cherubim and Seraphim Society. (Correspondence from Senior Resident, Oyo Province (Sgt W.A. Ross). To The District Officer, Ife.  14^th August, 1931)

 

Appendix II: Memorandum on the New Dispensation, J.O. Ojo

 

Appendix III. What Shall be at the Earth’s End? Cherubim and Seraphim.

First In-House Lecture, Cherubim and Seraphim Church Unification Ministry, England.

Appendix IV: Greater than all Orishas – a Personal testimony of Salvation Experience