Phineas F. Bresee - A Prince In Israel - Media Sabda Org

An Offering Taken
To again use Dr. Bresee's words: "It was then agreed that an offering should be made toward the
purchase of the lot. A time was fixed two or three weeks in advance, notice was given, much prayer
was made, and one Sabbath after the morning sermon, the people were requested to stand and sing
and praise God and bring their offerings and lay them on the altar. With great rejoicing and shouting,
they responded, and, when the offering was counted, it was found that they had brought $2,800.
"After about six months, it was determined to make a further offering. The people again poured
out their hearts to God, and again after the Sunday morning sermon, they stood, and with shouts of
praise, brought their offerings, and laid them on the altar as before. This offering aggregated $3,100,
which amount with some little further gathering, enabled the church to pay in full for the lots. It was
a question whether we should wait and recuperate from the exhaustion of the offerings which had
been made, or whether we should try to find some way to proceed at once to the erection of the much
needed building. It was thought that a building such as would be necessary, could be built for
$20,000."
The Thousand Golden Eagles
Dr. Bresee continued his narrative as follows: "I then suggested to the Board that we proceed to
build at once; that we borrow $10,000 on a mortgage covering the land and the building which
should be erected upon it; and that I should ask the people to give $10,000 more during the erection
of the building. This plan was carried out. The loan was made, and the enterprise entered upon. I
immediately advised the people of the necessity of raising the $10,000, and asked them to bring me
a thousand golden eagles. I told them that I would make my vest pocket an eagle's nest; that every
ten dollars should be an eagle, every five dollars a wing, every dollar a quill, and every fraction of
a dollar a feather, until the thousand eagles were gathered."
The Laying Of The Cornerstone
Dr. Bresee thus describes this important event: "In due season the building was begun, and on
Saturday afternoon, October 18, 1902, the foundation having been put in, and the basement walls
erected, the corner stone was laid. It was then suggested that eagles made their nests in the rocks, and
that the corner stone would make an appropriate nest. Appropriate addresses were given, an
opportunity was offered for homing the eagles, and the people came forward and laid $2,100 in the
corner stone.
"It was soon discovered, however, that on account of the fire limits, it would be impossible for
us to build of wood, and that to construct the building of bricks, stone and iron, would cost twice the
amount anticipated. This almost discouraged the brethren, but providential encouragement was
given, and it was resolved, that, notwithstanding the greater cost, we would go forward with the
enterprise. The house was completed, at least so far as the audience and Sunday school rooms were
concerned, and arrangements were made for its dedication."