“Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”—Jude 3
Vol. I. No. 7 Los Angeles, Cal., April, 1907 Subscription Free
Monrovia, Liberia, Mar. 26.—we opened a ten days’ meeting in a school house, and on the tenth night, the Lord came in mighty power. Two were baptized with the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues. Ten here have received sanctification, and five are filled with the Holy Ghost and speaking in tongues. A brother and his household have been baptized with the Holy Ghost. God has called him to the ministry and he will be baptized Sunday the 30th of March. Have been holding meetings going on three months. The Lord is sending a crowd of the African natives to the meeting and He is working wonderfully with them. The house is filled with the natives every service and they are being saved and sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost and healed of all manner of diseases. The Lord surely is working with the native Africans of this land. All the saints send love.
Allerman Road, Brixton, London, S.W., March 18.-Words fail to express our gratitude to God for pouring out so wonderfully His blessed Spirit. We can read nothing else now but our Bible and the accounts of His glorious doings in your midst and elsewhere. The reading of it has intensified the deep hunger of soul in the few waiting upon God and seeking our Personal Pentecost here. A dear sister here, a mother of three little ones yielded herself fully to God and sought the baptism with the Holy Ghost. One night she waited upon God and at midnight the Holy Ghost came down upon her and gave her the witness of tongues. The next day while at prayer, I being with her, she had a mighty anointing and has spoken in two or three tongues. This was on January 9. She could not give utterance to the raptures of her soul in praising the "Bleeding Lamb," and talked to God sometimes in a loud voice praising and adoring Him in a new tongue. Glory to His holy name.—J. Hinmers.
55 Creek Row—God is spreading Pentecost here in Calcutta, and thirteen
or fourteen missionaries and other workers have received it. The Spirit is
giving the interpretation, song and writing in tongues, and other wonderful
manifestations of His presence among us. O we do praise Him that the way ever
opened for us to come to India. I cannot tell you how the Word is opening.
Have never seen a meeting in my life where God has given more wonderful power
on his blessed Word. We are among Bible teachers, and they have the Word so
stored away; but now the Spirit is putting life and power into it, which is
wonderful to behold. Praise our precious Christ.
God has put quite a burden on my heart for India's hungry souls. The Spirit
has groaned through my soul for hungry ones until the pain was like travail.
Oh how grateful we are for His working with us in this needy field.
We enjoy the paper very much, in fact, much of it is read in the meetings, and all rejoice. The little paper was a forerunner for us. We came to find that its contents had made God's children hungry for the light to come to India, and when we arrived we found some waiting for their Pentecost. We found India ripe for this light, in fact the revival had already broken out among the natives, and some were speaking in tongues.
Miss Easton, the head of the American Women's Board of Missions, the oldest woman's missionary board in India, has been baptized and is a power for God.
We learn that the power has broken out in Russia, also in London.—Sister A.G. Garr.
Viby, April 2.—Peace be unto you! Glory to God and praise His Holy name for evermore. Glory to God for victory through the Blood of Christ! I am happy in Jesus Christ and glad for what He has been doing in Sweden. The Lord has wonderfully kept me every day. Praise the Lord! Glory! There are now about twelve preachers who have received the Holy Ghost with signs following, and a few hundred have been saved, many getting a clean heart. Some have been healed, and many of God's children have received the Holy Ghost. I am called to many places and the cry for help comes from all over Sweden. I am very busy every day going from place to place. There is strong opposition and talking about me, and writing in the papers even. Glory to God, my King, for that. Glory! Glory!
Tell the saints to love one another and keep united in love, and under the Blood every day, and humble. I am with you every day in the Spirit and praying for you all. Glory to my King for victory! God's people are going to be one soon. Glory!
Apr. 15th 48 Skofde, Sweden.—The Lord Jesus Christ has done wonderful things in the last days, saving hundreds, sanctifying many, and hundreds have received their Pentecost with signs following. Praise the Lord. Many have been healed. There is much to do every day. Many seekers after God. Over a hundred at the altar some meetings. A few interpret what they speak in tongues, and even myself. One day I interpreted these words, "Be ye separate from the world, that ye may be one," and "Abide in My love," and "For thy greatness and might does the earth tremble," and Matt. 28:19,20. The Lord has supplied all my needs. Glory to God.
Many churches have been stirred up here. I expect greater things yet. A few who can read the paper are very glad to read it and are getting blest by it. My love to all the saints. —Andrew G. Johnson.
April 19th.—The Lord is working here in Bellvernon. People are being healed, devils are being cast out in Jesus' name. People are being baptized with the Holy Ghost and speaking with other tongues.—J.F. Mitchell.
In Bellingham, Wash, the Pentecost has fallen, quite a number have received the baptism and they have a mission of their own. Fourteen converts have been baptized in the bay.
Davis and Anne street, April 28.—The Lord has been working wonderfully here the past two weeks. Souls have been justified, sanctified, and are receiving the baptism with the Holy Ghost. One who was a sinner was healed in our meeting and the next night got saved. Her mother got healed and received the Holy Ghost all at the same time. Praise the Lord for victory.—F.W. Williams.
Alvin, SC., April 19.—My Wife and I have been in six wonderful meetings of late in which quite a number of saints have received the baptism with the Holy Ghost, and all spoke with other tongues. Backsliders are being reclaimed and some honest souls being converted, quite a lot of sick ones being healed, and also many demon possessed persons are being delivered in Jesus’ name from the power of Satan. Glory to God! —F. M. Britton.
April 10.—God is having His way with many of His children in this part of the country. A great many, in the midst of much opposition, are being baptized with the Holly Spirit and speaking in tongues, among them a number of young people and children. The work is spreading in and about Pittsburg and Allegheny, in Homestead, Braddock, McKeesport, and other places in this vicinity.—J.T. Boddy, pastor Pentecost church.
425 N. Pine street, April 13.-We are in the midst of a glorious meeting in this city. Ten have received Pentecost with the Bible evidence of speaking in tongues, and a number have been saved and sanctified. God has enabled us to create a widespread interest throughout the city, and the opposition is forming in a very formidable way, we know that our God is able to deliver. We are going forward in simple faith in Him. —Daniel C. O. Opperman.
216 E. Stockton Ave., April 16—Join with us in praising Him for the outpouring of Gods' Spirit in Pentecostal power in the district of Pittsburg, Pa. We had heard of God's outpouring all over the world, so we began to seek for God's best for ourselves. I saw that power came only through heart purity, so I yielded myself up to God’s searching power and get a glimpse of "Calvary;" and then, praise God, the power fell with the signs following. Pentecost first fell in the third week of January and is still going on. Hallelujah. Almost every meeting there are some prostrated under the power and coming through. Almost every one that speaks in tongues gets the message that Jesus, is coming soon. He is just the same yesterday today and forever.—M.R.C.
March 18.—We are just holding up Jesus before this people, and God is doing the rest. We had quite a scene at the altar last night, when a demon possessed man who was kneeling at the altar was picked up by demon power, thrown over the altar rail on his head, and when we commanded them to come out of him they barked at us and said that they would not come out of him, but they were cast out in the Name of Jesus and the man was set free. A Salvation Army captain has received his Pentecost. He is a noble young man, and desires to labor with the Apostolic Faith Movement. We are believing for a great work in the Islands. Jesus is coming very soon. Hallelujah! —H. M. and A. E. Turney.
March 28.—"Some of the Lord's people here have received their
Pentecost and spoken in tongues. Glory! A red hot meeting is now going on.
Bro. Fulford, who has the gift of tongues, is leading it under the direction
of the Holy Ghost. The saints are being baptized with the Spirit. I too have
received Him and have spoken in some kind of a language, I know not what.
It is glory here now. What we are now praying for is to have the nine gifts
of the Spirit here in full operation. This city has been mightily stirred
on account of the tongues. Nearly the whole of North Carolina is being stirred
among the Holiness people, white and colored.
—W. L. Fisher, Box 208.
April 26.—"God is meeting us here in some very marked ways. Many have gotten clear in their experience of sanctification, a backslider came back last evening, others are just on the eve of Pentecost, five have gotten through. The town is stirred. They say it is a work of the devil, and fight me, but, oh, what victory God gives in the midst. The preachers turn out well to these meetings. I don't know them until someone points them out to me afterward, so they get hit very often. The Free Methodist preacher confessed yesterday he was not sanctified. I think he will soon get somewhere. He said he was afraid to say anything about this movement. He knows God is in it. —Ivey Campbell.
April 6.-"oh, I praise God for the gift of the Spirit. There were some seeking it on the west side here, and when it came, some of them refused it and said it was of the devil, but I was simple enough to take God at His Word, and two of us received our Pentecost. I received it February 22. Bless the dear Lord. There was a little preacher that went to Akron, O., and received his Pentecost, returning to Dayton. There are about 25 have received Pentecost through God using him. God picked him up a drunken gambler and saved and sanctified him, and sent him out to preach, and when he got his Pentecost most of the church people rejected him. We are going through hard persecution and we are having a time to get a place to worship; but we are holding on to God. We need your prayers, we are only babies, but our God is able and we are trusting Him." —Delia Powell, 303 Spitler Ave.
Praise God! The fire still burns, sinners coming home to God, believers being sanctified and baptized with the Holy Ghost, speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives them utterance. We joined with you all of like precious faith on April 9th, and commemorated the anniversary of the Pentecostal outpouring in California. We had a most blessed and victorious day. Hallelujah! The streams of living water and salvation flowed, and glorious deliverance came to some precious souls. The tide is rising higher and higher, the conviction going deeper and deeper, and the way growing brighter day by day, Oh, Glory! Hallelujah! This little army is marching on to sure and glorious victory through the precious blood of the Lamb. —F.E. Hill.
736 14th street, April 6.—The dear Lord is wonderfully blessing the work here in San Diego. Last night we had a powerful meeting; two were slain under the power of God, three received their Pentecost with the Bible evidence. Sinners were crying to God for mercy, and the saints were wonderfully blessed. —G.H. Reilly.
The Pentecost has fallen in Homestead, Pa. The meeting began in the Christian and Missionary Alliance Hall, Jan. 11. The power of the Holy Ghost was felt from the first service and a deep digging up begun among the people who were willing to go with God at any cost. Restitution, apologies and repentance was the business of the meeting for the first six days and nights. In fact the state to which some were led seemed perilous at times, but with confidence in the leading of God and with hearts desirous of going all the way, there was scarcely a halt, till everything in the past life had been fully reviewed from a Pentecostal standpoint, and every crooked or questionable act adjusted. On the seventh day the walls began to fall, and people fell under the power of God. The baptism was first received by Sister Robinson, who laid under the power for some time, then came through speaking in tongues. The next night the husband received his Pentecost at his home, and spoke and sang in new tongues. From this on the work has been going forward with uninterrupted sway.
The hall soon became too small when we were compelled to secure a larger one in order to accommodate the increasing crowds.
Many have received their personal Pentecost and speak and sing in new tongues, and have power over demons to cast them out and to pray the prayer of faith for the healing of the sick.
For miles around people are coming in to investigate this work and to receive their Pentecost —"The Latter Rain."
1,005 Edward St., April 22.—We have a small band here. Have been meeting in private houses asking the Lord to open a door for us that no man could shut. We are praising the Lord this morning that we have a tent paid for and lights and seats secured. O, how happy I am at the prospect. Just as soon as the weather clears away, we want to begin meetings. We are expecting our God to do great things, for when I read of the wonderful work at Azusa, my heart rejoices so that I fall to my knees to thank God. We want the heavenly showers to fall on us too. We have four now waiting for the promise of the Father. A young man, a preacher, came to see me last Tuesday. He said that a little more than four months ago he was down waiting on God for an infilling of the Holy Spirit, when after waiting on God he began to pray in language unknown to him. This came on him in a few days. He told his presiding elder, who said that was foolishness. He said that once after that he felt like letting the Lord have His way with him, but on account of discouragements he did not do so. When he came here he hunted us up, and the power all came back to him. He never had anyone to help or tell him about this great movement. —Mrs.C.A. Roll.
The Lord is wonderfully blessing the work in 651 Queen Street, E. Toronto. For five months it has gone on without a break. Nearly 80 have received the Baptism with the Holy Ghost, speaking in tongues. Four workers have gone out from here to preach the full Gospel. Many are being healed. Last Sunday we had a glorious time all day, especially in the afternoon service, when the power of God prostrated two brothers and came upon many at the altar. The whole meeting place was used as an altar, everyone turning their seats and getting down before the Lord. One brother who began speaking in tongues staggered to his feet exclaiming: "This is glory, glory, glory!" and before he had got through a sister rose under the power of God and commenced saying: "This is glory, glory." A spirit of great rejoicing seized everyone. It was a time of magnifying God. Truly He has done great things. A band of workers from this mission went to a place just outside the city limits and held services, and the power of God came down upon the people. We are believing for a mighty outpouring upon the people in that district. —Sister Hebden.
2341 Fletcher Ave., April 20.—Praise God for ever and ever. It is wonderful how God is manifesting His power here in bringing dear souls through and healing the sick. This is stirring up the ministers and people, and the newspaper are lying and trying to put the people against us, but God is overruling, and people who never dreamt of coming under the influence of God's power have been stricken down and are getting salvation, their baptism and speaking in tongues.
Yesterday afternoon God took a young colored brother and a young sister, and in a most marvelous manner the Holy Spirit spoke through them in tongues, giving the interpretation, and with such power and force that the whole audience was stricken with awe. Weeping was seen all over the place, and they acknowledge it was God and the power of the Holy Ghost. There must have been a dozen ministers or more present, and one of them a leading minister of this city. He was advertised to preach against us next Sunday, April 21; but, thank God, he and his wife wept with the rest. When I asked: Is there a man or woman who dare stand up and say these children were hypocrites? this same minister said: "No, it is God."
One man who did not know anything about the meetings, but saw the sign as he was passing, came in out of curiosity. He is a doctor and medical nurse, has spent some time in India, and can talk in many of the Indian languages. He said he was surprised soon after he had taken his seat, then God struck him and he was brought under deep conviction. It kept increasing. He got desperate. God kept telling him to go to the penitent form. He did not want to for fear he would be laid out upon the floor. He got more desperate, until he bought some poison, and if he did not get through last Thursday afternoon he intended taking the poison. He had not slept any since last Sunday night. Praise God, he came and went through and got the whole thing. When he received his baptism he threw up his hands, gave a shout of Glory, and over he went backwards upon the floor. While there, Jesus came to him and told him He wanted him to return to India and preach the Gospel. He promised he would and take others with him, if it is His will. Glory to our Christ for ever and ever. He identified one of the tongues spoken by a young sister and told us it was the Marathi language. He also identified other languages in others. He had to give up all his business before God would receive him, and go to the medical staff and tell them what for. Our only desire and heart's cry is: Precious souls for Jesus and heaven. —T. Hezmalhalch.
A Visitor Who Has the Gift of Interpretation Reports Services in Shorthand.
The power of God came down in a marked manner on Monday, April 29, at Azusa Mission, beginning especially in the ministerial meeting held during the day and culminating in the evening service, while testimonies were being given by baptized witnesses. To a returned missionary from China upon whom the Pentecostal power is now resting, the message was given in tongues by one brother and interpreted by another, "Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it, wait not for the words to be formed in your mind, but give out just what the Spirit puts within and let Him control."
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A sister who had been attending the meetings some time, testified to having received liberty only recently, and said that on visiting a sick woman during the day the Lord had convinced an unbelieving girl. Upon this the husband of this witness arose and spoke in tongues very forcibly, but the interpretation was not given until the brother in charge of the meeting had told how this sister had received liberty by going and for the first time seeking to help the unsaved in a meeting, after which the message in tongues was translated with even more power as: "Oh how we praise the Lord for the way He works; when we go to do a work for Him He will work another by His Spirit through us. He wants to teach us that His ways are not our ways nor His thoughts our thoughts, but as the heaven is high above the earth so are His ways higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts."
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A little later in the evening, as a young colored brother was testifying, he began to sing in another language: "O Jesus, Thou wonderful Savior." After a few more words of praise to God in his own language he sang in another beautifully: "Oh, see how the King comes in triumph," upon which the power was so great that many baptized believers arose one after another and joined in a mighty chorus in the Spirit, while the young brother went on with his testimony and then sang: "Oh pour out your hearts before Him and bend yourselves in obedience." Whereat the leader of the meeting arose and, although he had not heard the interpretation of these messages, cried out: "Come to the altar! come to the altar!" And the young messenger continued in a tongue: "Oh seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near to you," and another brother spoke forcefully in another language to the hearts of the people: "Oh turn to Him while it is called today and seek Him while He may be found."
The interpretation of these messages was not given out at the time but recorded in shorthand. The effect of the manifestation of the Spirit's power was, however, immediate and very marked, for the people came forward to the altar and fell all around under the power of the Holy Spirit, demons being cast out in the name of Jesus, saints being quickened, and four receiving the baptism with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues.
To those who ask why we should speak in tongues and what use it is unless understood by those to whom the message is given, this report is sufficient evidence that it is not by the understanding of mind or by great intellect that God would speak to the children of men, but in the mighty power and demonstration of the Holy Ghost.
At the Pentecostal Assembly, 327 1/2 So. Spring St., in the Metropolitan Hall, an earnest band of Christians hold services every Tuesday and Friday afternoon and evening and all day Sunday of each week. These witness in the liberty of the Spirit, those who have received the baptism in the Holy Ghost often speaking in tongues, the interpretations edifying the church. On Tuesday evening, April 30, a drunken man was brought into the hall and before the meeting started the power of God had sobered him in readiness for the Gospel. More workers went out, and each brought in another poor victim of intoxication, one brother capturing three, two of whom tried to restrain their mate but followed in. The Word of God was read by the brother in charge, from the passage in Luke 19, centering in the words: "The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (v. 10), the exposition being to the point and given by the Spirit. With songs of victory interspersed, the saints got to their knees and dealt with each case separately as they manifested an earnest desire to be saved; and thus encouraged, these poor men themselves lifted their voices to God, some of them really crying to Him from their hearts for pardon and power. Before they received deliverance in some cases the demon of drink had to be cast out, and all had to be encouraged like children to pray to their Father in heaven, but we believe a work was done which will be seen through all eternity. The names and addresses of most of these men were taken by a brother in the Assembly, who will call upon them in the day and encourage them to look to God.
After some hearty singing and earnest prayer, a converted Jewish brother testified. Then a little boy mounted the altar and said plainly: "I thank the Lord for saving me, and now I am seeking the baptism. I want you to pray for me that I may get it. Tonight I had the toothache and I prayed for the Lord to take it away, and He took it away."
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A sister said: "Rejoice in the Lord. Rejoice always; and again I say rejoice. I am rejoicing in the Lord; I am rejoicing in His salvation, I am rejoicing in His life, I am rejoicing in His presence with me, I am rejoicing in His faithfulness, I am rejoicing in His unchangeableness, I am resting on His promises, and looking and expecting Him moment by moment. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise our God for ever."* * *
A colored brother arose and sang the verses of a hymn, the people joining in the chorus: "The Blood, the Blood, is all my plea; Hallelujah, it cleanseth me." He then said: "Hallelujah! I am so glad I can testify that the Blood cleanseth me. Oh, the sweetness! My heart is full of love for Jesus. I am so glad I can take up the cross and work with Him now and follow Him. Oh, I know I am leaning on the Almighty's arms."
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An old gentleman who has recently received the baptism said: "Just take the blessings that God sends down to us. Oh I thank God that He has found an old man, a sinner like me. I was not worthy of anything, but He gave Himself to me. O glory, O glory! (Then he spoke in another language, the interpretation being): "Glory to Thee my great Redeemer for Thy great love towards me. O how I praise Thee. (He continued in English:) Oh glory to God for the gift He has given me. Now if there is any sinner here tonight, seek Him. Now we all may have it without money."
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Another testified as follows: "I praise God tonight that I am under the Blood; Jesus' Blood covers me and cleanses me from all sin."
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Someone else said: "I know that the Blood of Jesus saves me and sanctifies me and keeps me from day to day. He is my Healer, I praise Him and thank Him for the way He is increasing my faith and instructing me today. The Lord gave me a verse since I have been standing here; 'Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart.' I am just standing on His promises. With His stripes I am healed. I praise Him and thank Him with all my heart. He saves me and sanctifies me and baptizes me with the Holy Ghost."
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A new song of much power was then sung through in the Spirit by all:
Jesus Christ is made to me
All I need, all I need;
He alone is all my plea,
He is all I need.
Chorus—
Wisdom, Righteousness and Power,
Holiness forever more,
My Redemption full and sure,
He is all I need.
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A brother testified: "There is power in my soul tonight because God put it in there; it is the power of the Spirit that came down from the throne of God, from the Everlasting Father, before whom we must one day stand and give an account of the deeds done in the body. Oh how careful we as professing Christians ought to walk before this ungodly generation. The Lord showed me a few years ago that out of California would come a movement that would startle the world, and here is this prophecy fulfilled. Praise God for this personal Pentecost." He then said in another tongue: "Jesus died that you might be saved. Oh be saved tonight and seek Him with all the heart, and let Him have His way."
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A young colored sister then said: "I want to praise God tonight. He is all in all to me. Glory to Jesus. Dear ones, you do not know how sweet it is to trust Jesus. Do not sit back laughing and scoffing—oh you are laughing at Jesus, not at us. (In tongues.) He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in derision. Oh why will ye not come unto Me that ye might have life? Oh why do you resist My pleadings with you at this time? Oh why do you not come to Me and turn to Me with thy heart? Dear ones, accept this blessed salvation. I do praise my blessed Redeemer for saving me from sin, for giving me a clean heart. When I was a sinner, I would go to church and look around laughing, but oh I did not know I was laughing at Jesus, but praise God, He is all in all to me now. He has taken all the laugh out of me, all criticism. He has given me a perfectly clean heart and filled me with love. Dear ones, oh it is precious to have a clean heart. He saved my soul and He has baptized me with the Holy Ghost. (In tongues:) O why do you resist the strivings of the Spirit? Why do you not turn to Him in repentance? Dear ones, it is so sweet to walk with Jesus. I take Him as my Healer. He heals all my diseases. O glory to God. (In tongues:) "Why do you not look to Him and live at this time?"
Bro. W.J. Seymour then started the congregation singing:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Thee,
How I've proved Thee o'er and o'er;
Jesus, Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Oh, for grace to trust Thee more,
He then said: "Glory! Beloved, I want to say 'Goodnight' to you all for a short while. It has now been over a year ago since I left Texas and came up in this portion of the country to labor and work for the Lord, and I am going back there through that old state where the Lord called me from a year ago. I am going to pass through there and see those precious children that prayed with me for Pentecost, and while I am gone I want you all to pray that God may use me to His own honor and glory.
"I want to read some of God's own precious Word in the first chapter of the book of Isaiah. (He read to verse 9 and then said:) I am so glad the Lord God has raised up a people right in Los Angeles, and Francisco, they seem like Sodom and Gomorrah, but out of these cities the Lord God has raised up a people for His holy name. He has cleansed them from sin, He has sanctified them, and has baptized them with the Holy Ghost and sealed them unto the day of Redemption. Glory to His holy name! I can go and rejoice with the people in Texas, telling them of the wonderful things that God has done in Los Angeles. They said I should be back in a month's time, and now this is the first chance I have had to get back.
(He then read to the end of verse 20). ‘But if ye refuse and rebel ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.' Every man, every church, every home, that rejects the full Gospel of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, shall be devoured. We are living in a time when the Holy Ghost is working—bless God—convincing men and women of sin and righteousness and judgment, and every man and every women that hardens their heart against the Word of God shall fall. If the men and women of this city will repent and turn from their sin and accept our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, 'ye shall eat the good of the land.’ Glory to His holy name! God has fat things to feed all His hungry people. Oh, He will fill you tonight. Oh, the music will be singing in your soul and, oh, the love of Christ that passes all understanding will be dwelling in your heart. Just read what He says: 'If ye be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the land.' Jesus says: 'Abide in me, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine, no more can ye except ye abide in Me.' Oh, beloved, if we abide in the words of the Lord Jesus Christ and feed off Christ, I'll tell you, we shall live off the good of the land,—bless His holy name. We will have the fat-bless God,—-we will have everything to cheer our heart, we shall have healing and health and salvation in our souls. Oh, glory to His holy name. Oh, do not refuse the Word of God; oh, accept it, accept all the doctrine of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and oh, beloved, it will fill your hearts with good things.
"But just listen to what He says: ‘If ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.' Beloved, if you reject Christ, if you reject His precious Blood, if you reject the Holy Ghost, ye shall be devoured with the sword; but if you accept Jesus Christ He will prepare a table before you, and the Lord God Himself will spread it and He will feed you Himself. When Jesus had gotten through feeding His disciples He told His disciples to feed His lambs and sheep. What are we going to feed them with? We are going to feed them with the precious Word of God; we are going to teach them to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and as their Sanctifier to destroy the root of sin, and then we are going to teach them to accept the Holy Ghost. He shall baptize them with the Holy Ghost and fire, and when He comes in He is going to speak through them, and He says 'In the last days I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh.' Glory to His holy name. I want to say 'Goodnight' to you."
"God be with you till we meet again" was then sung as Brother Seymour shook hands with as many as possible and left for the train. Brother Anderson spoke a few words of encouragement to the saints on the necessity of our continuing faithful in the pastor's absence."
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There is a Swedish Pentecostal Mission in Los Angeles at 8th and Wall streets. The power of God is falling there. The Swedish people have been among the foremost in accepting the doctrine of the baptism with the Holy Ghost and many are endued with power from on high.
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Russians and Armenians in Los Angeles are seeking the baptism. The Armenians have a Pentecostal cottage meeting on Victor street, between 4th and 5th. Some have been baptized with the Holy Ghost.
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At the Pentecostal Mission on Central avenue and 53rd street, in Los Angeles, meetings are going on in power. Conviction is on the sinners. Numbers are seeking Pentecost. Bro. Lyttle gave up half of his store for this mission and an unconverted man offered to do the work himself in putting up a partition. God is working there.
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About six months ago we began to hear of Christian believers in different places and countries receiving the gift of speaking in a new tongue, which they had never known before. Our hearts were much stirred by these accounts, some of them having come from those whom we had known for years as most humble, earnest and devoted servants of the Lord.
One week ago today, I visited the Mukti Mission at Kedgaon, 13 miles from here, which is under the superintendence of Pandita Ramabal. Miss Abrams asked me if I would not like to go in the room where about 20 girls were praying. After entering I knelt on one side, with closed eyes. Presently I heard some one near me, praying very distinctly in English. Among the petitions were.—"O Lord, open the mouth; O Lord open the mouth: O Lord open the heart; O Lord, open the heart; O Lord, open the eyes; O Lord open the eyes; O the Blood of Jesus, the Blood of Jesus; O, give complete victory! O, such a blessing! O, such a glory!" I was struck with astonishment, as I knew there was no one in the room who could speak English, besides Miss Abrams. I opened my eyes, and within three feet of me, on her knees, with closed eyes and raised hand, was ----- whom I had baptized in Kedgaon in 1899, nearly 8 years ago, and whom my wife and I had known intimately since, as a devoted Christian worker. Her mother tongue was Marathi, and she could speak a little Hindustani. But she was utterly unable to speak or understand English such as she was using.
When I heard her speaking English idiomatically, distinctly and fluently, I was impressed very much as I would have been, had I seen one whom I knew to be dead, raised to life. A few others, illiterate Marathi women and girls were speaking in English and some were speaking in other languages, which none of us at Kedgaon understood. This was not gibberish, but it closely resembled the speaking of foreign languages, to which I have listened but did not understand. Again I was at Mukti last Saturday and Lord's day, when some 24 different persons had received the gift of tongues. Quite a number had received the ability to speak in English, a language before unknown to them.
Just why God enabled these women and girls of India to speak in English, instead of Tamil, Telugu, Sengali or some other language of India, unknown to them, I cannot say. But I have an idea that it is in mercy to us poor missionaries from Europe and America, who as a class seem to be doubting Thomas’s in regard to the gifts and working of the Spirit, and are not receiving the power of the Holy Spirit, as we ought, and as we shall wish that we had done, when we are entered into the world to come.
On Saturday I was much impressed with the speaking of B--------, a Hindi woman, who was rescued in the famine of 1897. She was illiterate, but able to read the Bible in Marathi stumblingly. During the year of 1899 while my wife and I were living at Mukti, we saw much of B--------, and knew her as one capable and very faithful in attending to the secular duties entrusted to her. On Saturday she was praying in English. Among other things she was saying, "O, the love! the love! the love! the love! O, the love of Jesus! O, my precious Lord! my precious Lord! My precious child!" One not knowing her history would not see the force of the last sentence. She has an only child, from whom she has been separated for 10 years, and with whom she is not allowed to have communication. I was struck with the English which she used as being idiomatic, and the words which she spoke being of a class which she would not have used had she been learning by study. And I have no doubt from what I knew of her that she by her own powers could no more have spoken in English as she did then than she could have taken wings and flown. There was abundant evidence that God was working in a wonderful way. Those speaking in tongues gave evidence that their souls were flooded with blessing from God.
Those who are attributing the power of the Lord's servants, to speak in other tongues, to demons or evil spirits, seem to me to put themselves in the place of the Pharisees of old, who attributed Christ's supernatural power to the same source. See Matt. XII. 24-32; Mark III. 22-30.
Here at Dhond some of us are waiting on God for the bestowment of all the Spirit's gifts, which He has for us. And we have been already blessed by this spirit of waiting and prayer. We ask the prayers of our friends that we may know by blessed experience the uttermost of all God has for us, through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. —Albert Norton.
The end draws near, the time is on,
The coming of the Son of Man,
And signs appear and all around,
On every hand we hear the sound.Upon the skies the sign appears,
The Son of Man seems very near
And heavens change with lightning speed;
Oh, quickly turn, the warning heed.The earth is trembling far and near
With quaking sound,—fills all with fear,
The rocks are rent with awful power,
Which causes strongest men to cower.A sickening feeling fills the air,
And nations tremble yet unaware
That soon will come the awful woe,
When to their dreadful doom they'll go.All nations feel a crisis near,
Men's hearts are failing them for fear;
Distress of nations now has come,
Soon Christ shall call His people home.The earth is groaning with its sin,
Which louder grows with awful din,
Until the great triumphant blast,
Shall free from Satan's rule at last.The times are on us, look around
And catch a note, the solemn sound,
That fills with awe and deep dismay,
Which foretells soon the Judgment Day.On earth and sea, on mountain high,
In caves, in atmosphere and sky,
Portends the change, 'tis very close,
The coming of the Lord of hosts.But those that know His power to save,
And have the victory o'er the grave,
Will hail the day with great delight,
And shout the victory in that night."The Blood," they cry, "is all our need."
His are the merits that they plead;
The Son of God, and Him alone,
Will set them down beside His throne.But, oh, what awful cries we hear,
The sinner and the selfish seer,
The moral man and they that kill,
Receive their measure to its fill.-Bro. C.E. Kent.
A beautiful picture of Pentecost is seen in the precious Word of God in II Chronicles.
"All the work that Solomon made for the house of the Lord was finished; and Solomon brought in all things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver and the gold, and all the instruments put he among the treasures of the house of God. Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion. Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which was in the seventh month."
That feast was typical of Pentecost. And all the men of Israel came and they brought up the ark of the tabernacle of the congregation and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle. All of this was typical of our consecration and sanctification unto the Lord.
“And it came to pass when the priests were come out of the holy place (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course; also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Hemen, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them a hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets.) It came to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord saying, For He is good; for His mercy endureth forever; that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord. So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord had filled the house."
We read here that all the priests that were present were sanctified. This is typical of Christ's people being sanctified before they receive the baptism with the Holy Ghost. Dear beloved, we must get sanctified to receive it. Sanctification takes out the disobedience, rebellion and resistance out of our hearts and gives us a pure, clean heart that our Christ may come and dwell in. Amen. Sanctification is the second work of grace that deals with our original sin. Sanctification destroys the root and breed of sin and makes us holy. We know these priests were sanctified, for the Word of God says so. Also the Levites which were the singers, were arrayed in white linen. Linen is a type of the robes of righteousness that we read of in Rev. 7:13, "And one of the elders answered and said unto me, What are these which are arrayed in linen. Whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said unto me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb." So the white linen is typical of the precious robes which Jesus gives to us through the sanctifying Blood of the Lamb.
We find that with these singers in white linen were 120 priests sounding with trumpets, typical of the 120 disciples that were sanctified and in the upper room waiting for Jesus to baptize them with the Holy Ghost and fire.
"And it came to pass as the trumpeters and singers were as one—" This is prophetical of the "one accord" which we find at Pentecost. O, beloved, I pray that you may wait in one accord for the promise of the Father upon the sanctified and cleansed life.
And when they praised the Lord in unison, the house was filled with the glory of the Lord. He will fill the room and you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire, and God will give you a new tongue as a trumpet in singing or speaking as He did the 120 on the day of Pentecost.
It is the Blood of Jesus that brings fellowship among the Christian family. The Blood of Jesus Christ is the strongest in the world. It makes all races and nations into one common family in the Lord and makes them all satisfied to be one. The Holy Ghost is the leader and He makes all one as Jesus prayed, "that they all may be one."
"Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world, and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith." I Jno. 5:4. Praise our God. Hallelujah! We read also in I Jno. 3:9. "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God. The Word of God is the seed that remains in us, Christ sanctified in our souls. He is the seed.
Some that do not believe we can live without sin, tell us that Paul's thorn in the flesh was sin, that the Lord kept in him to humble him. May God help us not to be deceived in such teaching, for we read, "Matt. 1:21, "Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins." We read again in John 6, 31, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." So since the Lord has freed us from sin, we are servants of righteousness. If we sin, we are the servants of sin, that is of the devil, for he that committeth sin is of the devil.
Praise God for the Blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses and sanctifies from all sin. Sin is but sin. There are no white sins, no little sins, but all are black before God, and it takes the blood of Jesus Christ to wash us and make us clean. God never saves anyone in sin, but He saves from sin. Bless His holy name! We can live a life free from sin, if we will only believe God and obey His precious Word. All provision is made for us to live a life free from sin.
Paul's thorn was neither sin nor sickness. Read II Cor. 12:7. Compare also with Num. 33:55 and Josh 23:13. We find in II Cor. 12:10, and 11, 21-30 also Acts 22:22, 23, what some of these infirmities were that Paul counted his thorn. So God did not put sin in Paul's flesh to humble him, but he allowed him to be beaten and shipwrecked three times and many other afflictions to come on him, and he could praise God and boast in the cross of Christ, for the persecution that he received for this blessed Gospel.
First we come to the Lord Jesus as a sinner. We fall at His feet and confess our sins and accept His precious blood that washes away all guilt and pollution, and brings life to our souls which were dead in trespasses and sins.
Then God turns light upon His precious Word and shows us it is the will of God even our sanctification. We see how David prayed for cleansing, "Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow." The Lord prayed for our sanctification, and how sweet the words come to every Blood washed heart, "I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth," John 17:15, 17. Then in John 15:3, we read, "Now ye are clean, through the Word which I have spoken unto you." So through the Gospel we are cleansed by obedience to Him. May the Lord bless us and help us to stand in His precious Word.
Before you can receive the baptism with the Holy Ghost, you must have a thorough, definite experience of justification and sanctification, which are through the Blood of Jesus, and they are two distinct acts of grace. First, what God has done for you, second, what God has wrought within you. Then and only then are you prepared to receive your baptism from the Father, by Jesus Christ His Son. And when you have received your baptism, He, the Holy Ghost, will speak through you in tongues, and not before.
The Lord knocked Paul down and he got up trembling and saying, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" The Lord knocked all the wordly wisdom out of Paul. That is the reason He knocks so many people down here, to take the worldly wisdom out of them. Paul was a man full of the wisdom and knowledge of this world, but when he got the baptism with the Holy Ghost, he was able to tell us about the true wisdom and true knowledge.
"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke."—Joel 2: 28, 29.
"For with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people. To whom He said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing; yet they would not hear."—Isa. 28: 11.
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And He shall send Jesus which before was preached unto you." Acts 3:19.
In Mark 16:17, we read, "They shall speak with new tongues." And what other construction can any fair exegete put upon Acts 2:4, than this, not only that every one of the 120 was filled with the Holy Ghost, but that everyone who was filled began to speak with a new, or another tongue than his own native one. "They were all filled and began to speak." The "all" who were filled spoke with other tongues. Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans. And how hear we every man in our own tongue wherein we were born."
Doubtless everyone in the audience heard one or more of that large number speaking in his own native language; but who will be bold enough to declare and try to prove that there were not at least some of the 120 who spoke in languages which were not native to some one there, and could not therefore be understood by anyone present?
The multitude heard these Galileans speaking in a new tongue "the wonderful works of God," and yet a part of that amazed and wondering multitude that had come together, became mockers, and had the effrontery to say, "These men are full of new wine." The only answer which needs to be made to the same kind of doubters and cavilers, and to all others today, is the same which Peter made to them:
"It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh," etc.
"This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear." And this is one great purpose in this outpouring, in the fulfillment of prophecy, to fit us to be fearless and effectual witnesses today, unto the uttermost parts of the earth.
Now turn to Acts 19:6, "And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied." (Just what is occurring today as the result of the same baptism.) Can the "they" in the last sentence of this text mean any less number than the "them" in the preceding sentences? "And all the men were about twelve."
Now let us turn to Acts 8:17. "Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost." But it is not recorded that they, or any of them "spake with tongues." How shall we interpret this text? We know full well what inference is usually drawn from it, and which is the same as the writer, till lately, has always drawn from it; and which it was so necessary for him to do, as a preacher of holiness, in order to evade the conclusion that he and others had not received the baptism of Pentecost, for the Spirit had not spoken through us in a new tongue. But will the teaching of the Scripture permit such an interpretation, consistently with Mark 16:17, and the other recorded instances of the outpouring of the Holy Ghost?
In reading the Apostolic Faith, we have read concerning the work in Los Angeles, or in reports or letters which they had received that such a person or persons had received their Pentecost; but not always was the statement made, "with the Bible evidence." If we had read it in some other papers, we would not have known whether this was implied or not, but we knew the Apostolic Faith expected it would be so understood, whether it was stated or not, that it was with the Bible evidence.
In the days of early Methodism, it was understood that all reported conversions were genuine cases, attended with the witness of the Spirit to that fact, either immediately or soon after, even if it was not mentioned that they had received the witness. Rom. 8:16; I John 5:10.
How then can we regard New Testament reports of the bestowment of the baptism, or the gift of the Holy Ghost, in any other light than this, that it was accompanied with certain well understood signs or evidences or manifestations of it, even if such are not recorded.
It is not said in connection with the bestowment of the baptism at Samaria that they did anything as a result of it, not even that they praised or magnified God, and yet are we to assume that there was nothing of the kind because it is not mentioned?
In Acts 11:15 we read, "And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning." And yet it is not here stated what it was that proved to Peter, and those with him, that the Holy Ghost had fallen on the Gentiles at Caesarea, as on them at the beginning.
If this were all the record we had, I suppose most all of us would have assumed and declared that this was another instance of the bestowment of the baptism without the Spirit speaking through them in another tongue. But fortunately we have another record of this in the preceding chapter and in the 46th verse, what it was that so convinced these astonished Jews, that "on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God." (Just what a large number have already had the privilege of hearing in these last days.)
And are we not shut up to the conclusion that it was these same signs and manifestations in Samaria, that so impressed Simon Magus, and proved to Peter and John that those on whom they had laid their hands, had received the gift of the Holy Ghost. And it seems quite clear to us now that no one can consistently with these other passages mentioned, come to any other conclusion than that, though doubtless many for the reason previously referred to, will feel compelled to cling to their former method of interpretation.
"For some two years there was a hungering in my soul for the Holy Ghost. I was fully given up to God, I know I was sanctified, but there was the lack of power and signs were not following. I was converted five years ago the 19th of this coming October. The following year I went to the Salvation Army training home. Whilst there God wonderfully blessed me. During the last few weeks at the training home the Lord gave me an outpouring of His Spirit, a number were saved and sanctified, and in the meetings people fell under the power of God. Afterwards the work was fought so hard that God withdrew His Spirit.
"While stationed as a captain in Salinas, Calif, I received one of the Apostolic Faith papers. This was in September 1906. I here saw what was lacking, the baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire, I felt right along I had the Spirit, but I had never received the baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire. While stationed in the Army work here I became sick, was doctoring and taking medicines. I became so bad I was compelled to go home. While on furlough in Santa Cruz at my home I had plenty of time for waiting on God. My father and mother also were hungering for the Holy Ghost, we had half nights of prayer in which we received great anointings and blessing.
"After a stay of nearly two months in Santa Cruz the Lord led me give up the doctor and medicines, which I did and accepted Him as my Healer. It was on the 3rd of November, 2 p.m., when God healed me. From that hour I began to get better, and today I am well and have not taken a drop of medicine since that time. To God be all the Glory. Bless His name.
"After a few more weeks rest I left for San Francisco, where I helped at one of the corps. Here I had a hard struggle in my soul, at times I did not know which way to turn. The struggle in my soul was terrible, it was hard for me to get a hold on God. I felt God calling me out on faith lines and to trust Him for all and let the Holy Ghost lead.
“At that time I received orders from headquarters to go to the Hawaiian Islands. I felt I ought to wait and receive the Holy Ghost, so I put God to the test and told Him if He wanted me in the Islands He would have to send the fare along, as I would not collect for my fare. The money came and I took passage on the "Alameda." On this ship I met Brother Turney and his wife, and found them to be of the Apostolic Faith. Well, I felt better and saw God's hand. I was going on the steamer that left a week before the "Alameda" from San Francisco, but I happened to be on a train that was late in getting to the city, so that I missed the first steamer. The Lord wanted me to meet Brother Turney. If I had left on the first steamer I would have been out of Honolulu and on another Island.
"I told Brother Turney my spiritual condition. Thereupon they began
to pray for me. During my voyage to the Island, the Lord was speaking to me
and getting me ready for the coming Comforter. Glory to Jesus. I said to Brother
Turney, ‘I am not going to leave Honolulu until I receive my Pentecost.'
Well, glory! after one day in the islands I received the baptism of the Holy
Ghost and fire and spoke in tongues. It cost me my position as an Army officer.
The Lord told me I would have to leave the Army, as I could not glorify God
and be under men—I would have to be led by the Spirit. The Lord has
become so precious to me. I feel but a child. At present I am helping Brother
Turney in the Mission. I am in God's hand to go wherever he leads me. The
Bible is a new book. To keep humble and filled with the Holy Ghost we must
prevail in prayer and study the Word."
—Elmer B. Hammond, Honolulu, Hawaii.
There was a time when we were fed upon theological chips, shavings and wind, but now the long, long night is past. We are feeding upon the Word which is revealed by the Holy Ghost—the whole Word and nothing but the Word.
To the Saints in Cal., and all the West: Greetings in Jesus.
Pentecost has come to the South. The power is falling from the Atlantic to the Mississippi river. The cities and country are filled with the gory of God, healing, working of miracles, divers kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues. O, how I praise God. The Falcon school near Dunn, N.C., has received Pentecost in full. Some of the students speak in tongues. Some interpret and write several languages and interpret it. The principal, Rev. J.F. Taylor, speaks in tongues, interprets, sings and plays in the power of the Spirit.
Our meeting at Taccoa, Ga., was a complete victory, at Royston, Ga., was the same, and there were miracles of healing I never saw before. Bro. King and myself anointed and prayed for a 72 year old sister that had not walked a step in eighteen months. She rose up and shouted in every room of the house, and went to the service on Sunday and exhorted and preached, and warned the people to make ready for Jesus was coming. She was of the Primitive faith, but now filled with the Holy Ghost. The power is falling at this place and people are receiving their Pentecost and speaking in tongues, for they all speak in tongues that receive the baptism as they did on the day of Pentecost.
I ask an interest in the prayers of all the saints that I may have physical strength to hold up in the work. Brethren, move on in the name of Jesus our King. He is coming soon, and the bride must be dressed and ready. She is to be without spot and wrinkle. Praise our God.
People are praying here in their homes and in the woods, and come to the service weeping and asking for help. O, Lord God, have mercy on this poor lost world.
Heaven seems nearer every day. I hear the music. I see the city. Glory be to God, praise Him.
A brother went up on a hill to pray near this place the other day and an angel came to him and told him these words: "It will not be long." He said that the angel had long hair with streaks of gold in it and his face shone so brightly and was glorious. He could see the sparks of white light fly from the angel's face. O, praise God. This man seemed to be overflowing with the power and glory of God when he told it in a testimony service at this place last Saturday. He is well known in this country and believed. We remember Cornelius and have no right to doubt it. Your brother in Christ and servant of God, -G.B. Cashwell.
In San Francisco, there have been some striking cases both of conversion and sanctification; and some remarkably clear cases of the divine baptism. Five were converted one night. On another night a Hawaiian brother was gloriously converted, and the next night a Filipino lady was beautifully saved. She said: "Me no speak English much, but me know God—Jesus he got my heart." The Hawaiian could not speak for some minutes after he arose to his feet, the power of God was upon him to such an extent.
In another service a Catholic was clearly saved. He went to his seat, and turning to a companion, exhorted him to come to God and get saved, testifying definitely that God had saved him from his sins.
One Baptist preacher came to the meeting, confessed his backslidings, and cried mightily to God for forgiveness. He gave up his tobacco, and seemed wonderfully happy in the Lord.
One poor crippled German lady was brought to the meetings by kind friends, and received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire in a remarkable way.
Another sister about forty years of age, and who had never made a profession of religion, came to the meetings, and evidently was much interested. On Thursday afternoon, she came to the meeting and was clearly converted. The power of God shook her so mightily that an elderly lady friend, who had accompanied her to the meetings, was greatly agitated and excited about it; she declared the sister was having a fit, and said something ought to be done to relieve her. When told that it was the power of God, and that the sister would come out all right, she looked incredulous, and flew around in great excitement. Evidently she had not seen it on this wise before. The sister did not return to the meetings until Saturday night. In the meantime she had been sanctified wholly, without the help of preachers or any one of the saints. God had sanctified. She came Saturday night for the baptism of the Holy Ghost. The writer preached that night on the "Ten Virgins." The sister was again shaken by the mighty power of God. Her husband was sitting by her side, and was evidently amazed; yet he recognized it as the power of God, though not saved himself, he did not resist the power of God, nor try to hinder his wife. When his wife went to the altar, still shaking under the mighty power of God, he sat quietly in his seat, deeply moved by what was going on. She prayed with awful earnestness for the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire. We instructed her not to pray for the "tongues," but for the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire. God baptized her with the Holy Ghost and fire, and she began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave her utterance." She spoke in three languages very distinctly I have not seen a clearer case. When she arose to her feet her husband came up to where she was, evidently deeply moved. She grasped his hand and began to speak (pray) in an unknown tongue. It was wonderful. Everyone present was convinced that it was the work of the living God. All opposition was confounded and put to silence. It was the old-time Pentecostal power.
Brother Seymour came in unexpectedly and preached one blessed sermon for us. All were greatly pleased with the simplicity and power of his discourse. It was all inspiration to me to see his beaming face and to hear him open up the scriptures to our hungry hearts. .-B.H. Irwin.
At last God has given me time to write home. I would love to see your dear faces again, but I feel your prayers and rejoice to know you remember me at the throne of grace. O, how I praise my Jesus this morning. Words fail me when I try to write what God is doing for this lost world and us unprofitable servants.
The work at San Francisco is just grand. Sinners saved, sanctified and three a day got Pentecost and most wonderful cases of Pentecost. The jails, hospitals and the soldiers' camps were thrown open to us, and now we have carried this precious gospel to those places and hold regular meetings there. The chaplain of the soldiers got his Pentecost the other night and since he received it another soldier received the baptism.
O my beloved, in the Gospel, what God will do for us if we keep clean and under the Blood. Two German girls received the African tongue which was interpreted. The Hebrew brother from Seattle you all know of, got his Pentecost in our meeting the other night. An Italian heard a little girl speak in his own tongue, he was a professor and wondered at it. O, God is working here. The Lord laid me out one night and gave me prophecy, and while I was in the hands of God, three got Pentecost, one sanctified, and two saved.
We came to Oakland last Wednesday. We had some saints' meetings, and on Saturday night, we appointed deacons according to the Word. O, such a sweet time we had. And yesterday God came in mighty power. The hall was packed, the aisles full standing, the floor was covered with souls laid out under the power. Three sinners saved and three got Pentecost. O, it was a grand meeting. We are just trying to praise Him for what He has done here and in San Francisco, and to keep humble at His precious feet so the work will go on.
We sent another brother to Santa Rosa. He came back saying that work had got beyond him. Four got Pentecost, many saved. O, I am so glad sinners are being saved in our meetings. I am going to San Jose and Woodland. They are calling me all over. Do pray the Lord of the harvest to raise up more teachers.
I started this letter yesterday, but was going to Precidio to preach to the soldiers. Thought you would like to know of the meeting. We had a grand time. The Lord preached a sermon that stirred all the place, a woman told us afterward. The officers are getting under conviction, the chaplain told me. The boys are coming in crowds to the mission seeking salvation and Pentecost. O there's the greatest outlook here for Pentecost. Pray much for us. Love to all the saints. —Florence Crawford.
19th and Welton Sts.—The writer visited the Christian Assembly here on his way to California and enjoyed blessed fellowship with the saints at this place, the liberty of the Spirit being especially manifest and the Pentecostal work going forward steadily. It has been a surprise to the overseer of the work, Bro. G.F. Fink, to have the fire of the Holy Ghost descend in his assemblies in this way, and for a time he watched the manifestations of the Spirit with caution, only to be completely convinced that this is of God. Even as the Divine healing work which has characterized the Christian Assembly started in Colorado Springs, where Brother Fink had been a pastor, so the Holy Ghost baptism first fell at that place, when Los Angles workers passed through. The fire spread to the Denver and other assemblies, and the headquarters is at Denver, where a large hall is used every day for the assembling of the people of God, some of whom have come long distances seeking God.
One sister recently came from New Mexico seeking healing, was converted to God and received sanctification, healing and the baptism with the Holy Ghost all in one day; whilst there are many other manifestations of the power of God constantly occurring here. The children, especially the school girls, have been speaking in tongues under the power of the Spirit, and the writer had the blessed experience of seeing one of these preach from the altar for some 15 minutes on three occasions, the whole appeal, including singing, being in a tongue. The interpretations of these messages and of many others given in different languages through several, was the work of the Holy Spirit through chosen instruments, and was uplifted towards God for all the saints assembled.
Many of the members of the Assembly at Denver have received their Pentecost, and although some, as in other places, have been hindered in their witness by those who failed to understand the workings of the Holy Spirit, some have continued to overcome through the Blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, and all are now being built up in God. A few of the best workers have gone out to witness in other parts of the United States, a process which is constantly going on in every assembly where Pentecost has come, but which in the end is a mighty blessing to the saints who lose them, for they thereafter launch out into the work themselves. Only eternity will reveal the extent of the work that is done by those who go out to witness "in Samaria and to the uttermost part of the earth," according to the Lord's command.
On Good Friday and Easter Sunday the power of God was especially manifest in Denver, reminding one of the word which says that "in that day the slain of the Lord shall be many" for those convicted fell under the power of the Holy Spirit as people used to do in Wesley's days and were lying on the floor. In this position they seem to commune with the Father, unconscious of their immediate surroundings, some are all broken up and cry to God with intense earnestness, many receiving the blessing they need at His hands and rising full of the joy of His presence and the assurance of their acceptance.
We visited the ranch which is connected with the Assembly, and here, in a pool formed by the creek which runs alongside, some eighteen received the ordinance of baptism by immersion, all rejoicing in the Lord and praising Him from the depths of their hearts in the beautiful sunshine. We find here, as in all the assemblies of the saints who have Pentecost, a spirit which connects us and makes us to realize that we are all one in Christ Jesus and are bound together with that blessed tie which binds our hearts in Christian love, the fellowship of the general assembly of the first born.
Spokane is a beautiful city of about 90,000 population. Prayer had been going up to God for weeks and months there for a mighty revival. Certain dear saints had appointed hours, vigils, so that intercessory prayer was being made night and day every hour, the Lord helping each one to keep his or her appointed hour. The time came when a band of people from the Christian Alliance held a ten days' fast and prayer. They decided to send for no workers, but prayed that God would send the one He wanted. At about this time, Bro. Ryan in Portland, felt led to go there. He arrived there the day following the ten days of prayer. They regarded this as an answer to their prayer and rejoiced greatly.
God began to work in Pentecostal power. Souls were saved and sanctified and baptized with the Holy Ghost, and healed in body. Some of the most remarkable cases of speaking in tongues occurred.
In the first place the meeting was in a house in the suburbs. It soon spread to the city mission, of which Mrs. Florence Wood is proprietor. She was convinced this work was of God, and began to seek the experience. People flocked to the altar. Crowds came to the mission and were amazed at the signs and wonders done by God. The meetings still went on at North Center suburb.
Little children received their baptism and spoke in different languages. One Methodist minister and one Advent minister received the baptism, and before they spoke in tongues shook for some hours under the power of God. It seems that all earthiness is to be shaken out. About thirty members of the Christian Alliance have endorsed the movement and many of them have received their Pentecost. Also several prominent business men have endorsed the movement and one real estate man, J.B. Moody, has received the experience and has spoken in Holland-Dutch, Chinese and other languages.
Such confessions, restitution and going down in utter self abasement have never before been known here. Old scores are being settled, and the harmony among the workers is perfect. The newspapers have printed some good things about the work and some very misleading and bitter things, also.—"Apostolic Light."
Over one hundred souls have been saved, cleansed, and baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire, and the work has passed beyond all bounds or keeping track of same. Some of the most wonderful manifestations of the power of God have occurred here in connection with this work. Into my own life God has poured great blessing, unspeakably precious. The work of publishing has been opened up here of the Lord, an office, large and commodious, having been provided; also a larger hall for Gospel services,—the first hall having proved too small for some of the meetings. Prominent business and Christian men are drawn to our meetings. Ministers of the Gospel from outlying and country places come in seeking their baptism. Others, who come incredulously, to look on or to investigate, fall under the power. God has given the Heavenly choir a number of times. The work is moving on to greater and greater proportions of victory in His name. Pray for all the saints here, that we may stand together in the unity of the faith. Amen. —M.L. Ryan, 9 Browne St.
"Last November in the Azusa Mission, one of the saints laid hands on me and prayed for my healing, and the Lord has healed me of that awful disease eczema. O, hallelujah! It pays to believe the whole Gospel. Then the signs shall follow. Luke 16:17, 18." —Mrs. A.L. Tritt, Dillon, Mont.
Up to the time of my first visit to the Azusa Street Mission, I had heard many conflicting stories of the place, and as I was at the time hungering for the deeper things of God, yet in my simplicity knew not how to attain to the standard of the early day Christians, for it seemed as though no one had risen higher or could tell me how to do so. I knew that my experience fell short of the Pentecostal life, somehow every one seemed so void of power. As far as myself was concerned, up to this time I had lived up to the limit and understanding which I had received. Three times I had been miraculously healed by the Lord, my testimony being sent by others into every state of the union as well as abroad. My family had received the same blessings and all were serving the Lord, so I had much to thank and praise God for.
There came a time in my experience after close study of the Word of God that I realized that there were deeper things for me, but how, and where I was to receive that work of grace I did not know.
After hearing of the work at the Mission I thought, "If it is true as I have been told, of the workings of the Spirit and how the Holy Ghost fell on those who believed and how the recipient was endued with power from on high, which caused them to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance," then that is the place for me and I concluded that on the following Lord's day, June 10, I would attend and see for myself.
From the first time I entered I was struck by the blessed spirit that prevailed in the meeting, such a feeling of unity and humility among the children of God. And before the meeting was over, I was fully satisfied and convinced that it was the mighty power of God that was working. From that time on I hungered more and more and felt that I could not be fully satisfied until the blessings of the Pentecostal life were mine.
While waiting upon God, it was revealed to me that I could not get it through my past experience and as it were, had to commence over again. I tell you if ever I was in earnest, I was so now. I gave all to God without any reserve whatever. Needless to say I received a witness to my sanctification soon after. Although the agony of soul had been so great at times that I could hardly bear up, yet God gave me grace to go through. From that time I knew I was ready for my Pentecost, and at every opportunity presented myself at the altar in public as well as in private, often receiving anointings after so doing.
Tuesday, March 5, was at the meeting and seeking for several hours but did not get through, and it seemed as far away as ever before. When I returned home I enjoyed a time of fellowship with some of my family, which refreshed me somewhat. After this, in the evening I decided to visit my neighbors for a few moments, brethren in Christ, who had received their Pentecost. I was told that Brother H. Smith was there also. After visiting for a short time, we agreed to have a season of prayer before we left. Before this was decided upon, Bro. Smith remarked that probably the Lord would send me my Pentecost. I was like a man grasping at straws and immediately a ray of hope entered my soul and I said within myself, "Yes, Lord, send Thy Spirit now." Little by little I felt the power fall. To make a long story short, I was soon speaking in other tongues, and the blessed experience gained then I cannot tell in words, for they would fail to express the divine meaning which it has to my soul. I spoke in tongues for nearly three hours and glorified God in them. During this time, God revealed much to me which I will not at this time relate. I did not think it possible for a human being to be so filled with God's glory as since then. I now begin to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. —Louis Osterberg.
"Praise God for a full and a free salvation. In April, 1906, I came to the Azusa Street Mission, came to the meeting time after time, but did not go to the altar until my aunt was getting her Pentecost and it made me hungry; so I went to digging and the Lord sanctified me, and kept me sanctified. I went on for three months and then went for my Pentecost. I did not get it when I first knelt, but I went away and came back, and when I came back my little sister had hers, and when I saw her, I got sick of self and got on my knees and did not get up till I received mine. Hallelujah—Our family is all saved and baptized with the Holy Ghost and ready for God to send us wherever He will." —F. Cummings, 312 Azusa Street, Los Angeles.
God made your body out of the dust of the earth. It belongs to Him. When the devil stole it from Him, Jesus bought it back with His Blood. He ought to have your body. Give it back to Him. Praise Him, Praise Him! We deliver up everything to Thee. We turn over to Thee this tenement of clay.
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There are 50,000 languages in the world. Some of them sound like jabber. The Eskimo can hardly be distinguished from a dog bark. The Lord lets smart people talk in these jabber-like languages. Then He has some child talk in the most beautiful Latin and Greek, just to confound professors and learned people. —Banner of Truth.
Whatever we see in the doctrines of God's Word, we should receive, if we are God's people.