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

Phineas F. Bresee
A PRINCE IN ISRAEL
By E. A. Girvin
CHAPTER 6
Appointed to Red Oak -- Death of His Sister -- His First Home Campmeeting --Great Revival
-- New Church Structure Built -- Rowdies Nonplussed -- William Clarke
Appointed To Red Oak
In 1873, Brother Bresee was sent to Red Oak. This town was in a comparatively new part of the
state, and had a population of not more than 2,500. It was the commercial center of a very fertile
country which was developing rapidly. All the churches were numerically weak, and the church
buildings were correspondingly small. The members of the Methodist church were very earnest in
their desire for Doctor Bresee's appointment, and sent a delegation to the conference for the purpose
of bringing it about. The leader of this delegation was Brother Crandall, an able, insistent man, who
was largely influential in securing Brother Bresee's appointment. He had some wealth, and was a
leading member of the church. He assured Brother Bresee at the conference that he would be well
cared for. This promise was kept. The church rented a good commodious place of residence, and
made proper financial provision for the new pastor. Under these auspices he began the work,
commencing with $1,200 a year and a house, the rent of which was about $300 annually. This
compensation was the equivalent of what Dr. Bresee had received in Council Bluffs.
Death Of His Sister
Soon after his removal to Red Oak, his only sister died. She was a resident of Council Bluffs, and
her parents lived with her. After her death, the father and mother of Dr. Bresee came to live with
him, as they were getting old, and could not live alone. They continued with his family from that
time until their death in California.
His First Home Campmeeting
Early in October, Doctor Bresee undertook to hold what he called a Home Campmeeting for ten
days. He invited his ministerial brethren from adjoining charges to help in the meeting, but they
failed to respond. Thus unaided, he went through the ten days' meeting with comparatively little
success, and at its close, announced that the meeting would be continued indefinitely. At that time
the religious life of the city was at a low ebb, and this was true of the Methodist church, as well as
of all the other churches. After the meeting had been in progress for perhaps two weeks, some of the
Sunday school children came to the altar.
A Great Revival
The work gradually spread among the people, and more and more the interest grew. Dr. Bresee
carried on the meeting until the first of March, without any assistance other than that of a few, casual
visiting ministers, of whom there were probably not more than half a dozen during the entire period.