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

a man of peculiar faith, devotion, and fidelity to God, beautiful in his life and experience, and always
foremost in his testimony to the power of the sanctifying blood of Jesus Christ. He was a great
sufferer from internal cancer for a number of years. He longed to depart, and sent for me at one time
to pray for him that the Lord would take him home. After talking with him, when I began to pray,
I was led to ask the Lord to spare him, and Brother Howland thought that I did not fulfill the mission
for which he sent for me. He was somewhat restored, however, and lived a number of years after that
incident. He was a man of marked personal appearance, and great religious power.
"One of the men that came into the Nazarene work at the very beginning, was Dr. Whistler. He
was a remarkable man, a physician. He lived at El Monte at the time of the Civil War, and was
among the first earnest Union men in that section. It is said that many efforts were made to kill him,
and but for the fidelity of an old dog which belonged to him, he would probably have been killed.
Soon after that he came to Los Angeles, and was an earnest apostle of holiness here all through the
years. Although a man of some peculiarities, he had great intensity of spirit, and was well known as
a real advocate and witness of full salvation. His funeral was a very marked occasion. It seemed
almost impossible to have a formal service. The Spirit of the Lord was so poured out that the people
arose and testified to the power of God's grace and salvation. The sweeps of victory and glory that
came down were so wonderful that many said, among them Rev. Dr. Cantine, who was present, that
they never saw anything like it.
"Another of those who entered heartily into the movement from the beginning, was C. E. McKee,
who had been sanctified in the very incipiency of the holiness movement in Southern California,
about 1880. Because of his attendance at holiness meetings, he, with several others, had their letters
of dismissal sent to them by the church of which he was a member. He threw himself with all his
vigor into the Nazarene movement, and was for many years a leader of the Young People's Society.
He bore the brunt of the battle. He is very gifted as a leader of devotional meetings, and as a worker
at the altar.
"Among the firm, devoted and unyielding laborers in this work from the beginning, were Brother
and Sister Ely, of Pasadena. Brother Ely was wonderfully converted at the Methodist church in
Pasadena, early in my pastorate. He soon after came into the experience of entire sanctification. He
and Sister Ely became connected with the Nazarene work at the very beginning, and brought into it
all the devotion, intensity and fidelity which it is possible for anybody to bring to a cause. Brother
Ely got under conviction, while out of doors, listening to my sermon, and had a very peculiar
experience in his conversion. When he came forward to the altar for sanctification, he fell over on
his back, and as he lay there, almost shouted himself to death. He has been shouting, and shouting
loud, ever since. Sister Ely has been matron of the young ladies ever since the organization of the
Nazarene University.
"Mrs. Baldwin and Mrs. Knott, two sisters, were Kentucky women of distinguished ability. Their
early life was given to society and worldliness. Although members of the Methodist church for many
years, they were not converted. As a result of the holiness movement in Southern California, they
were brought under conviction and marvelously saved. Soon afterward they were very clearly and
definitely sanctified, and at any sacrifice, they threw themselves into the Nazarene movement. Mrs.
Baldwin became one of the founders and teachers of the Bible College, and wrote quite extensively