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

of the Nazarene' written all over it, and that he felt so peculiarly moved by it that he had come to
hunt up the meeting. He proved to be a most valuable helper, without whom it would have seemed
almost impossible to have held the services. Brother Girvin, on account of his official duties, was
compelled to be absent from the day meetings, and there was no one residing in Berkeley, who was
available to assist in the singing and services, but Brother Egleston supplied this want, led in song,
was gifted in prayer, and assisted in every department of the service. He was of inestimable value
in the work, and was in constant attendance until the close of the meeting, becoming one of the
charter members of the young church, and being for a time its associate pastor. Not long afterward
he was called to his heavenly home, and several years later, his daughter, Miss Marjorie, was married
to Mr. W. H. Girvin, the eldest son of Brother E. A. Girvin."
Extension Of The Work
The narrative of Dr. Bresee continues as follows: "In April, 1897, I held a meeting in Oakland,
as a number of persons in that city desired the organization of a Church of the Nazarene. The
meetings, which were held in a large hall, were well attended, and there was considerable power and
blessing. Quite a number of persons were converted and sanctified, and a church was organized with
fifty members. The Rev. W. E. Shepard, who with his wife enrolled among the charter members, was
elected pastor. A permanent hall was rented and furnished, and regular church services were
instituted, with a promising outlook.
"Classes were soon organized at Mateo street and Elysia Heights, in Los Angeles, and also at
South Pasadena, at each of which a church was built.
"In January, 1904, the Church of the Nazarene had extended its labors to the following additional
places: Vernon, a suburb of Los Angeles, Pasadena, Cal., Ocean Park Cal., Cucamonga, Cal.,
Schiller, Texas, Spokane, Wash., Boise, Idaho, Salt Lake City, Utah, Garfield, Wash., Omaha Neb.,
and Maples Mills, Ill."
Rapid Growth Of The Movement
The First Church of Chicago, Ill., was organized by Dr. Bresee personally, in August, 1904, and
the circumstances connected with this memorable epoch in the religious life of that city will be set
forth somewhat fully in a subsequent chapter. Speaking of the rapid progress of the church, Dr.
Bresee said: "Churches were organized in different parts of the West, until in 1906 there were about
forty-five distinct local churches. Districts had been organized in Southern California, San Francisco,
the Northwest and in the region of which Chicago is the center. During this time I traveled through
the western part of the nation, and visited various cities organizing churches and supervising the
work, at the same time retaining my position as pastor of the First church, in Los Angeles, having
as previously stated, associate pastors
"After the union of the churches, my field of labor rapidly extended, and I spent several months
of every year in organizing and holding District Assemblies. In this capacity I have held Assemblies
in the Washington, New York, New England and Pittsburgh Districts. I have presided over
Assemblies on the Pacific Coast and in the middle state several times, and also in the South. On one