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

Two Pictures
Two pictures, however, still present themselves vividly to my memory. I can see him yet driving
his old white horse, not only to and from church, but all over the city of Los Angeles, as he diligently
visited his people, accompanied generally on these occasions by Mrs. Bresee.
The picture of him still lingers in my mind's eye, as he stood in front of the tabernacle and
cordially greeted the people. During the many years that he was able to devote himself to the
pastorate of the First Church, he made it a practice to come to the church a little after 9 o'clock every
Sunday morning, take his post at the front door, and shake hands with every man, woman, and child
who entered the building. He would welcome the folks so heartily, and show so keen an interest in
their welfare, that his very greeting was a benediction. He shook hands with from 500 to 1,000
persons every Sunday morning, and, although this involved a considerable expenditure of energy on
his part, he was able immediately afterward to go to the platform and begin the morning service. This
practice was one of the things that so greatly endeared him to his people.
He thus records a Sabbath in June, 1900: "Sabbath was another day of triumph. It would gladden
the heart of an angel to stand at the door of the First Church, and welcome the pilgrims, as they
gather on Sabbath mornings; the aged expressing their thanksgiving that once more they are
permitted to come to the house of the Lord; and the same joy and gladness in the hearts, and on the
faces of the young that it is theirs to be fully given up to God and His service, and to have a place
in His house; and the strangers often telling how far they have come to be with us this morning, or
that this is their first opportunity to be with us, etc. I count it one of the richest privileges to stand
and take them by the hand as they come; and I often pray that I may be permitted to welcome all of
them at the Eastern Gate of the New Jerusalem. 'Oh, what a gathering that will be."'
Emphasized Unity
He, had well learned the lesson of emphasizing the things essential to holiness, and minifying
those which were not essential. He realized the fundamental importance of oneness among the
disciples of Christ, and knew that, in order to secure and maintain such unity, it was absolutely
necessary to accentuate in every possible way our primary and vital points of agreement, and to just
as sedulously ignore and overlook our little differences.
Strong Faith
He was a man of strong faith. He simply took God at His word, and waited restfully for the
answers to his prayers. His definition of faith was "heartfelt, trustful loyalty to God." He believed
that the Lord had in hand everything that pertained to the welfare of His kingdom; that He would
care for and shape the destinies of His saints; and that in some way, He would bring things to pass.
One of the passages of Scripture which was especially impressed upon his heart in the last two years
of his life, and which he often repeated, was the sixth verse of the sixth chapter of the Gospel of
John: "And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do." The last six words,
"he himself knew what he would do," were the portion of the text which he most emphasized. In the
midst of the most trying difficulties, and when the responsibilities connected with the various great