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

ut gave way to others until he could hold in no longer. Then, in his intense and positive manner,
he testified to a week of the greatest trials of his life, but crowned with victory and perfect peace. He
declared that he was never more self-possessed, and that it was possible to have a heart on fire, and
a head as cool as an icebox. Brother J. F. Tanigochi, the Japanese preacher, gave an earnest
testimony, after which Brother Van Habson jumped to his feet and said that, while on a farm near
the Pullman camp last year he was told that the Polish people had been stealing things from his farm.
Hearing a noise in the woods one day, he went out, thinking that it might be a thief, and found
Brother Tanigochi praying. He s aid to himself, 'Aren't you ashamed of yourself to think you haven't
prayed for twelve years?' He got so under conviction that Tanigochi was enabled to lead him to
Christ. Brother Tanigochi was called upon in the evening to give his experience, which he did,
interspersed with the reading of several chapters in Romans, in his intense and inimitable way. It was
wonderful to hear how the Lord had dug him out of heathenism. He tried for years to get peace
through the teaching of Confucius, praying and fasting night and day for a week at a time. He would
spend long seasons in this way on the tops of high mountains, trying to find that for which his soul
for years had hungered. He finally was converted in Osaka, under the teaching of a native
missionary, and four years later, in Tokyo, during a great revival, he was filled with the Holy Spirit."
Another Trip To The Northwest
In June, 1905, Dr. Bresee again turned his face to the great Northwest. He spent some little time
at Ashland, Oregon. He thus describes the Nazarene work as he found it at that place: "This place,
like Jerusalem, is 'beautiful for situation,' with the mountains round about. In the midst of the spurs
of the great Siskiyou mountains, its scenery is unsurpassed--the mountain sides, clothed in verdure
and forests, green, bronze, golden, with snowcaps in the distance and streams of crystal beauty, fresh
and cool, and, to complete the picture, a city of nearly five thousand people, nestling like a jewel on
the bosom of beauty.
"Here the Church of the Nazarene has found its way, and hence this pilgrimage hitherto also. We
arrived Friday evening, June 9th. The pastor, Brother S. B. Rhoads, also Mrs. Stoner, met us at the
depot, giving us hearty welcome. We were soon in pleasant quarters, as the guests of Sister Stoner.
It was the planting here of this precious family of Nazarenes that has brought forth the harvest which
is being gathered. They have been faithful and definite in their faith and testimony, and the God of
holiness has been faithful to them. Not without difficulty and temptations, not without some of the
manifestations of the spirit of persecution have these heroic souls seen the victories which have
already been won. There are now more than fifty members in this young church, many of whom have
recently been brought into the kingdom. They have the real spirit--the enthusiasm, holy joy, and
heavenly triumph--which belongs to this Pentecostal work. A delightful Sabbath school filled the
hall on Sunday morning. We were with them at eight services--three on the Sabbath, three week-day
nights, and two week-day afternoons. There was good attendance and much blessing."
Dr. Bresee then speaks of the prejudice and opposition to the work of holiness in Ashland as
elsewhere, and continues: "In these few meetings there were some conversions, some souls were
sanctified, nine persons united with the church, and there are more to follow.