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

During the third year of his pastorate in Red Oak, the church occupied the basement of the new
building, which afforded much larger facilities than the old structure, although the audience room
was not yet completed. This year was also very blessed in the way of revival influences, and the
salvation of souls. In those days the revival meetings were held exclusively in the winter, as they had
not learned to expect salvation all the year round. Quite a number were converted, among them some
men that made good, substantial members of the church.
While at Red Oak, Dr. Bresee dedicated several other churches, and on each occasion he was
away over Sunday. His church was so strong and full of life, that it could push the work during the
absence of its pastor. Some local preacher would preach, and the meeting would go on with good
results.
On one of these occasions, Susan, the youngest child of Brother and Sister Bresee, was born.
Brother Bresee agreed to dedicate a church, but was compelled to wait at home until the birth of his
little daughter, after which he went and dedicated the church, arriving at his destination on Sunday
morning.
Among other things accomplished at Red Oak was the building of a good parsonage adjoining the
new church building, where the pastor and his family lived in comfort. The entire three years at Red
Oak was a time of great blessing and power. At the close of this period the Annual Conference was
held in the new church building. In those days Red Oak was the second church in importance in the
Conference. A large majority of the most influential people in the city were converted and added to
the church. Some of them are still alive.
The editor of one of the papers was saved during that great meeting. On the occasion of one of
Dr. Bresee's last visits to Denver, he called on this editor and his family. as they had taken up their
residence in that city. One of the editor's sons, who is an attorney there, and formerly held the
position of Prosecuting Attorney, heard that Dr. Bresee was in town. He, with their other boys, was
converted in the Red Oak revival, and he came clear across the city of Denver to see Dr. Bresee.
While in Denver Brother Bresee held the meeting at the Nazarene church, during which this young
man helped the church to raise some money. He announced a plate offering, and asked those who
would give a dollar apiece to hold up one finger, those who would give two dollars, to hold up two
fingers, and those who would give five dollars, to hold up all five fingers. The editor's son was there,
held up both hands, and gave ten dollars.
The leading merchants in Red Oak were converted. One had a very large store, and bought
considerable quantities of goods. As a result of his solicitation, all the merchants from whom he
bought goods in Chicago and New York, gave subscriptions to the Red Oak church. Red Oak has
been a first-class appointment ever since that great, historic revival.
Dr. Bresee in conversation with me, deplored the fact that at that time he did not know how to
preach holiness, and had not learned how to lead seekers into the experience. While a few of the
converts at Red Oak may have obtained full salvation, there was nothing definite along the line of
holiness. The work consisted of taking the people from all classes of worldly society and getting