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

service. "The glory which thou hast given me, I have given them, that they may be one, that the
world may believe."
There are places of vision -- temporary surveying stations -- in the lives of men and institutions
-- crisis points, places of arrival and departure, which awaken reflection, and from which we look
back upon the way already trod, as well as toward the path of the future. This is such a place; and
our thought goes back, not only over the four years since our last General Assembly, but over the two
decades since this work began more especially to take form in different parts of the land. It is with
no little sadness that we mark the absence of so many of the heroes who went forth with us into this
work. And yet even this fact awakens our thanksgiving, that they wrought with such fidelity, and that
in holy triumph they have ascended to God.
It is with special gratitude that we recognize the large numbers of devoted and able men and
women whom God has called from the East and West, from the North and South, as well as those
whom He has raised up from the stones of this New Jerusalem, to lift the banners and carry on this
work. While our hearts are sad for the absence of so many regnant spirits, who have been called from
us, we lift our eyes to look upon the re-enforced army pressing on for greater victory. We weep: but
the wounded hand is wiping away the tears and cheering our hearts by the visions of the heavenly.
Not only is the battle the Lord's, but those who finish their course with fidelity are crowned among
the victors. So the conflicts here and the glories there come close together. Great and noble spirits
who have labored with us have gone on before, but their work abides. They wrought even better than
they knew. They laid foundations deeper, broader, stronger than their most sanguine hopes ever
conceived. We have inherited the sacred trust. It remains for us by holy zeal, devotion, and heroism,
by broad, manly statesmanship, by unswerving fidelity to Jesus Christ, to show ourselves worthy of
being their successors in carrying forward the work left to our hands, and to meet the demands which
are upon us in these times.
THE QUADRENNIUM PAST
We have reasons for rejoicing and for thanksgiving that the four years now closing since our last
General Assembly, has been a time of signal prosperity in all the various departments of our work
both at home and abroad, and that there have been so few regretful things.
The lives of your General Superintendents have been preserved, though serious illness has come
to both Doctors Walker and Reynolds. Yet in answer to the prayers of the church they have been
raised up. We have been able to present and perform the duties given us to do, at most of the District
Assemblies, and to go in and out among our churches in overseeing and evangelistic ministry. Doctor
Walker visited Scotland and England, doing some evangelistic work, and especially looking after
the prospective work of our church in those countries. Doctor Reynolds made a trip around the
world, especially visiting our missions, and inspecting as far as possible the mission fields.
Our District Superintendents have usually been preserved in health, and have generally wrought
with heroic devotion in their exacting, and often difficult, fields. Our pastors have usually been
untiring in their devotion and toil, and the membership has largely held up their hands by prayer and