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

Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene, and the presentation of his portrait, and the adjournment of the
General Assembly with great joy, on Wednesday night, October 16th.
"Among those present were seven fraternal delegates from the Holiness Church of Christ,
representing more than one hundred churches, and 3,000 members, in Texas, Arkansas, Indian
Territory, and Oklahoma, and two fraternal delegates from the Holiness Christian Church, having
a membership of 1,800 in Pennsylvania and Indiana. These brethren left the Assembly with the
determination of doing their utmost to effect a union of their bodies with our church.
"Thirty states and territories were represented, many leading holiness evangelists were there, and
the gathering was essentially a national one.
"The government of our church is a mean between extremes, thus avoiding the vices and
weaknesses of Episcopacy on the one hand, and Congregationalism on the other. Its doctrinal
statement is one which ought to receive the approval of every man and woman who enjoys the
experience of holiness. That the first General Assembly succeeded in bringing about this condition
of things, is proof positive, to my mind, of the special leadership and direction of the Holy Spirit.
"The missionary work of the united church was put upon a new basis by the adoption of the
envelope system, and the creation of a great central missionary board, with auxiliaries in the various
Assembly Districts and local churches. Rev. H. F. Reynolds, who was elected one of the General
Superintendents of the church, was also chosen as General Missionary Secretary. He has had years
of experience in this work, and is better qualified to carry it on successfully than any other man in
our church.
"As a result of this General Assembly, the eyes of lovers of holiness all over the American
continent are fixed upon the Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene."
The Breath of God
The following is Dr. Bresee's summary and characterization of this historic gathering:
"The great General Assembly of the Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene for 1907, has gone into
history. Not to be laid away upon the shelf, and dry up like a mummy, and be forgotten, for, though
past, it lives, and will live for ever. We expected a great meeting. The coming together of the two
churches in their representative capacity; the perfecting of the government for the new church; the
arranging and adjusting of the various interests and agencies for the carrying on of the work; the
drawing together of many people deeply interested in this movement; and, above all, the deep,
earnest, widespread spirit of prayer which was upon the holy people--really the breath of God upon
the hearts of men, as a mighty inspiration to ask largely of the Lord-- had assured us in advance of
great things.