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

there, and went back to the stove, and tried to get somebody to the Lord. I did not find any one. I
turned toward the altar; in some way it seemed to me that this was my time, and I threw myself down
across the altar and began to pray for myself. I had come to the point where I seemingly could not
go on. My religion did not meet my needs. It seemed as though I could not continue to preach with
this awful question of doubt on me, and I prayed and cried to the Lord. I was ignorant of my own
condition. I did not understand in reference to carnality. I did not understand in reference to the
provisions of the atonement. I neither knew what was the matter with me, nor what would help me.
But, in my ignorance, the Lord helped me, drew me and impelled me, and, as I cried to Him that
night, He seemed to open heaven on me, and gave me, as I believe, the baptism with the Holy Ghost,
though I did not know either what I needed, or what I prayed for. But it not only took away my
tendencies to worldliness, anger and pride, but it also removed the doubt. For the first time, I
apprehended that the conditions of doubt were moral instead of intellectual, and that doubt was a part
of carnality that could only be removed as the other works of the flesh are removed."
Under the ministry of Brother Bresee, the work at Chariton was fairly prosperous. The Lord gave
him more grace, liberty and blessing in every way. He held a good revival meeting with some fruits.
It seemed, however, as if there was always a fuss in reference to something. The folks were stirred
up about tobacco, or worldliness, or something else. But many friends rallied around them. They met
with good success, and the church grew and prospered. As Dr. Bresee put it, "Nobody got sanctified
but myself, and I did not know anything about it." There was an uplift of spirituality, and one or two
seemed to enter into the experience of full salvation. But, as Brother Bresee preached a more
spiritual gospel, there was more antagonism.
Hardships
The two years pastorate at Chariton was a trying time. When the Bresees went there, they found
no proper conditions for a minister's family. As there was no parsonage, they moved into a part of
a house, where they had the use of one room and a little bedroom, which had been changed into a
kitchen. A young woman of the family, lived in the other room, taught music, and played the piano
to the point of distraction. The members of the family, however, were fine people and the mother,
Mrs. Mitchell, was a mother in Israel. Her son was a Methodist preacher, who in 1912, was still
living in Northwestern Iowa. His name was Bennett Mitchell, and he was then Presiding Elder of
the district in which Chariton was located. Often the mother and her daughters would take care of
the baby while Mrs. Bresee went to church at night. The room occupied by the Bresees was their
bedroom, study, dining room, parlor and everything but the kitchen. They were compelled to make
beds on the floor.
Bertha Is Born
Shortly before leaving Chariton, in the autumn of 1868, their daughter, Bertha, was born. At the
beginning of their second year in this place, they secured a cottage with four rooms, where they lived
very comfortably, so far as house room was concerned, but they were greatly tried financially, and
as Doctor Bresee expressed it: "There never was a time when we had as much difficulty in getting
along, and getting something to eat, as during our second year there. I do not know how or why it
was, but there was not anything; in the market, and we did not have money to get along with. We