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

The Work In Berkley
Dr. Bresee gives the following interesting account of this trip: "Thursday, June 23, 1898, when
the train pulled out of the Arcade depot, Los Angeles, I had found my seat in a Pullman sleeper. My
first feeling was rest and prayer. I had been so constantly at work day and night for so many weeks
that to sit down my full weight, and lay my head back on the cushions and rest, seemed sweet and
restful. The next morning at eight o'clock, I was in the office of our dear Brother Girvin, at the
supreme court. He reports for that court, as Paul made tents, so that he may preach the blessed gospel
of Jesus. That night I preached at Oakland. Sabbath was a day, not only full of labors, but of
blessings as well. I began the day at Berkeley, attending and addressing the Sabbath school, then
preaching at eleven o'clock to a good congregation. Our church at Berkeley is doing excellently well
under the able, enthusiastic and judicious leadership of Brother Girvin. The church and congregation
are steadily growing. It is a perennial fountain of spiritual life and power. A goodly number of
efficient men and women are now gathered within its folds. Full salvation is clearly taught and
testified to, and people are pressed into the experience. The services, like those of the church in Los
Angeles, are full of enthusiasm and power. The red hot amens and shouts of victory come from
triumphant hearts. They make much of street meetings, and in every way crowd the battle. It has been
nearly a year and a half since this work was begun under what seemed the most unpromising
conditions. The one great fact was that God had here raised up a man, and anointed him to preach
the gospel in its fulness and power. A little band of heroes answered to the call. Some have not been
faithful, and some have gone hence. Mostly they have been true to the divine call; and others have
been raised up, and the work has steadily advanced. This little church is an oasis in a desert. Here
is the State University, with its higher criticism. Here are churches peculiarly dead, and without
salvation. But here is a place where the waters of life flow. Brother Girvin and his fellow workers
are as happy and triumphant a band as can be found. I especially enjoyed the showers of blessing
Sabbath morning. Seven persons united with the church."
Dr. Bresee In Oakland
On the evening of Sunday, June 26, 1898, Dr. Bresee preached at the Oakland church one of the
greatest and most forceful sermons that I had ever heard from his lips up to that time. His theme was:
"I am sure that when I come, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ." The
burning, earnest message was graciously owned by the Lord, and it came with great power and glory
to the hearts of all present. In its presentation of mighty truths, heretofore unrecognized by the people
of God, its grasp of the great underlying principles of this dispensation its exposition of the gospel
of full salvation, or the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire as the great distinguishing characteristic
of this age, and its vivid picture of Paul as a man who had the "blessing" in all its glorious fulness,
the sermon which Dr. Bresee preached that night took high rank in homiletical literature.
A Trip To Illinois
In August, 1899, Dr. Bresee made a short trip to Springfield, Illinois, where he took a leading part
in the annual campmeeting of the Illinois Holiness Association. In his account of this meeting, he
speaks of several brethren whom he met, most of whom afterward united with the Church of the
Nazarene. Among these were Rev. L. B. Kent, the president of the Association; Rev. J. B. Creighton,