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

led into the experience, and which so largely prevented the advancement of the work. He said that
for some time he had been led to think that the Church of the Nazarene was such a home and such
an advantageous place for pushing the work; that he had become so thoroughly convinced of this
fact, together with his fellow workers, who like himself had been brought to this meeting through
a series of special providences, that, after much prayer and many tears before the Lord, they and he
had fully made up their minds--believing that they were led of the Holy Ghost--to unite with this
church; and that they would do what was possible for them in the way of opening its doors of
privilege to others, and reinforcing the great work of establishing, as well as spreading, scriptural
holiness over these lands. Having thus spoken, he with the Misses Reeves and Barnes, took their
place with quite a number of others--eighteen in all--and were received into the church amid the
joyous welcome of many hearts.
"At night Brother Golden preached, an altar service was held, a season of precious thanksgiving
had, and amid handshaking and praises to our risen Lord, with songs of expectant hope that when
the mists are rolled away, there would be reunions at the Eastern Gate, the campmeeting closed."
Peoria
After leaving Maple Mills, Dr. Bresee spent a little time at Peoria, where there was a small
Nazarene mission conducted by Brother and Sister Southey, at 705 Main street. He held four services
for them, three at night and one in the afternoon. The hall was full at each service, there were hungry
hearts, and several were clearly sanctified. At the last meeting five united with the church. Rev. J.
W. Gibbs, who had assisted him at Maple Mills, helped also at Peoria. Dr. Bresee concludes his
account of this meeting as follows:
"One of the pleasantest things of my trip occurred here in the coming of Sister Funk from
Bloomington, to meet me and enjoy another real Nazarene service. She is greatly anointed of the
Lord, and spoke with much unction and power. She is a real Nazarene, and is praying for the coming
of our church to Bloomington. I said to her: 'I see that you wear the Nazarene badge.' She replied:
'O yes. our dear Sister Baldwin pinned that on the day that I united with the church in Los Angeles,
and it has been the sweetest gift, and the fountain of the most blessings of any present I ever
received.' Thank the Lord for such representatives of the work scattered over the land.
"Another very happy occurrence in connection with the meeting here, was the providential
stopping of Sister Coffin, who was on her way home from the campmeeting at Maple Mills, where
she had been gloriously sanctified. Having to change cars here, she was wrongly directed by a
railroad man, and took the wrong train. So the best they could do was to send her back, and when
our company arrived-- waiting a little for a street car--she came in. As the railroad company proposed
to give her an extended ticket, she concluded to stay to the meetings, to which she was a great
blessing. How true it is that all things work together for good to those who love God."