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

Phineas F. Bresee
A PRINCE IN ISRAEL
By E. A. Girvin
CHAPTER 10
The Holiness Movement in Southern California -- Spiritual Prosperity of the First M. E.
Church in Los Angeles -- Appointed to Pasadena -- Aggressive Evangelism -- The Tabernacle
at Pasadena -- Special Meetings -- Constant Revival -- The Prohibition Campaign -- Reasons
for Leaving Pasadena
The Holiness Movement In Southern California
When Dr. Bresee began his ministry in Los Angeles, he found a great deal of conflict in reference
to the holiness question. There had recently been somewhat of a holiness work in the church and city,
which had resulted in the organization of a holiness mission not far from the First church, which was
the beginning of the so-called holiness churches in Southern California.
A few members of the First church had gone to this mission, and considerable opposition had
been aroused. To again quote from Dr. Bresee: "This had been soothed away, and my ministry here
did not arouse any conflict on the subject of holiness, my preaching probably not being sufficiently
definite in its doctrinal aspects to especially arouse opposition, it being given more to a deeper
spirituality through the incoming of the Holy Spirit. At that time I did not preach the second work
of grace very definitely. I preached it, but did not give it such emphasis as called out opposition, or
as led so many people into the experience as otherwise would probably have been the case. While
I had not a very wide popularity in the city at the end of the three years, I did have a popularity and
love in the First church and among the people generally, which was almost, if not altogether,
universal. At the end of my third year, there would have been but one voice in reference to the
desirability of my ministry, if I could have remained longer. At that time there seemed to be a
unanimous acclaim of devotion to me. During the next four years this condition changed radically.
"During my pastorate in the First church, my ministry was in the transition state. The reason for
this was that my preaching had not the definite element to arouse opposition, and I had a strong hold
on the people on account of my personality. I carried them with me generally, with much prayer and
deep piety. If I had known more when I came to this coast, and had had experience and sense. I could
have swept the whole of Methodism into holiness. It was not set against it enough to prevent me
from putting my hands on everything in Methodism in Southern California, and drawing it into
holiness; but I did not know enough. I neither had the experience nor the general ministerial wisdom
to do it. I am very sorry.
"What leading men there were, had been aroused more or less by this holiness work and
movement, and, coming to the First church as I did, with the influence that the position gave, these
men came to me to talk about this subject more or less, or in conversation opened their hearts to me,
to a greater or less extent. Here I saw M. M. Bovard, the president of the University of Southern
California, and he talked over the matter very earnestly with me. If I had been in the experience, and