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

the pastor awaiting them in the study, where he had given Brother Sigler directions to bring them.
Hurriedly ushering him into the pulpit, the pastor stated that Dr. Bresee was to preach, which he did,
and in a manner that was highly acceptable to the members of the church, as events later showed.
The remainder of that week was spent resting and looking about the city and its surroundings. The
next Sunday morning Dr. Bresee preached for the Rev. A. M. Hough, pastor of the recently
organized University Methodist Episcopal church, which held its services in the second story of the
small building where the University of Southern California had just begun its work. Brother Hough
had been the pastor of Dr. Bresee in his childhood.
Appointed To Old Fort Street Methodist Episcopal Church
That week the Southern California Conference convened in the First church, Bishop Warren
presiding. Dr. Bresee's transfer from Bishop Simpson was presented, and he was placed on the list
of Conference preachers, which was a very small body. When the Conference was over, and the
appointments read, Dr. Bresee's name appeared as pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church.
Los Angeles at that time only claimed a population of about twenty thousand, and the First church
for a city of that size, was a very strong organization, having between three and four hundred
members. It was distinguished for the character of its personnel and family and social life, and
contained within its membership much deep and earnest piety. There were those in it who were
determined to put it on a basis of fashionable church life, and there were also those who were
intensely spiritual.
In due time the Bresee family found themselves ensconced in the parsonage, which was a cottage
on Broadway, between Fourth and Fifth. They remained in this church three years, with steady and
growing success throughout that period.
Dr. Bresee here found for the first time in his ministry, a class of fully sanctified people. They
were clear, sound, substantial, evangelical, and were earnestly and intelligently, although rather
quietly, pushing the work of full salvation. Dr. Bresee says of these people: "I instinctively in spirit
allied myself with them, and, while they must have known that I was not in the clear enjoyment of
the blessing, they seemed to appreciate whatever efforts I could and did make, in assisting them in
the work of holiness. They were very kind and gentle. They doubtless prayed much for me, but they
did not pray at me, and they stood close by me, and sustained me in every way throughout my
ministry. The spiritual life of the church continually increased, and there was a good degree of
blessing on my ministry, the church rapidly growing in every way."
The Mac Donald And Watson Meeting
In the second year of this pastorate, through the instrumentality of the leading holiness members
of the First church, and other holiness people in Los Angeles, arrangements were made for Doctors
Mac Donald and Watson to come to the Pacific coast, and hold a few meetings. They held services
in the First church for a period of three weeks. Dr. Bresee stated to me that, while the meeting was
a good one, it did not seem to him as at all remarkable. A number of persons were sanctified, and