“Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”—Jude 3
Vol. I. No. 2 Los Angeles, Cal., October, 1906 Subscription Free
All along the ages men have been preaching a partial Gospel. A part of the Gospel remained when the world went into the dark ages. God has from time to time raised up men to bring back the truth to the church. He raised up Luther to bring back to the world the doctrine of justification by faith. He raised up another reformer in John Wesley to establish Bible holiness in the church. Then he raised up Dr. Cullis who brought back to the world the wonderful doctrine of divine healing. Now He is bringing back the Pentecostal Baptism to the church.
God laid His hand on a little crippled boy seven years of age and healed him of disease and made him whole except his ankles. He walked on the sides of his ankles. Then, when he was fourteen years of age, he had been sent to college and God had called him to preach. One day as he was sitting reading his Bible, a man came for him to go and hold a meeting. He began to say to the Lord: "Father, if I go to that place, it will be necessary for me to walk here and yonder, just put strength into these ankle joints of mine." And immediately he was made whole and leaped and praised God, like the man at the beautiful gate. He has since been in evangelistic work over the United States, seeing multitudes saved, sanctified and healed.
Five years ago, God put it into this man's heart (Bro. Charles Parham) to go over to Topeka, Kansas, to educate missionaries to carry the Gospel. It was a faith school and the Bible was the only textbook. The students had gathered there without tuition or board, God sending in the means to carry on the work. Most of the students had been religious workers and said they had received the baptism with the Holy Ghost a number of years ago. Bro. Parham became convinced that there was no religious school that tallied up with the second chapter of Acts. Just before the first of January 1901, the Bible School began to study the word on the Baptism with the Holy Ghost to discover the Bible evidence of this baptism that they might obtain it.
The students kept up continual prayer in the praying tower. A company would go up and stay three hours, and then another company would go up and wait on God, praying that all the promises of the Word might be wrought out in their lives.
On New Year's night, Miss Agnes N. Ozman, one who had had for years "the anointing that abideth," which she mistook for the baptism, was convinced of the need of a personal Pentecost. A few minutes before midnight, she desired hands laid on her that she might receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. During prayer and invocation of hands, she was filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke with other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance.
This made all hungry. Scarcely eating or sleeping, the school with one accord waited on God. On the 3rd of January, 1901, Bro. Parham being absent holding a meeting at the time, while they all waited on God to send the baptism of the Spirit, suddenly twelve students were filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, and when Bro. Parham returned and opened the door of the room where they were gathered; a wonderful sight met his eyes. The whole room was filled with a white sheen of light that could not be described, and twelve of the students were on their feet talking in different languages.
He said they seemed to pay no attention at all to him, and he knelt in one corner and said: "O, God, what does this mean?" The Lord said: "Are you able to stand for the experience in the face of persecution and howling mobs?" He said: "Yes, Lord, if you will give me the experience, for the laborer must first be partaker of the fruits." Instantly the Lord took his vocal organs, and he was preaching the Word in another language.
This man has preached in different languages over the United States, and men and women of that nationality have come to the altar and sought God. He was surely raised up of God to be an apostle of the doctrine of Pentecost.
This Pentecostal Gospel has been spreading ever since, but on the Pacific coast it has burst out in great power and is being carried from here over the world. We are expecting Bro. Parham to visit Los Angeles in a few days and for a mightier tide of salvation to break out.
The waves of Pentecostal salvation are still rolling in at Azusa Street Mission. From morning till late at night the meetings continue with about three altar services a day. We have made no record of souls saved, sanctified and baptized with the Holy Ghost, but a brother said last week he counted about fifty in all that had been baptized with the Holy Ghost during the week. Then at Eighth Street and Maple Avenue, the People's church, Monrovia, Whittier, Hermon, Sawtelle, Pasadena, Elysian Heights, and other places the work is going on and souls are coming through amid great rejoicing.
Four of the Holiness preachers have received the baptism with the Holy Ghost, one of them, Bro. Wm. Pendleton, with his congregation being turned out of the church, is holding meetings at Eighth Street and Maple Avenue. There is a heavenly atmosphere there. The altar is filled with seekers; people are slain under the power of God, and rising in a life baptized with the Holy Ghost.
The fire is spreading. People are writing from different points to know about this Pentecost, and are beginning to wait on God for their Pentecost. He is no respecter of persons and places. We expect to see a wave of salvation go over this world. While this work has been going on for five years, it has burst out in great power on this coast. There is power in the full Gospel. Nothing can quench it.
Missionaries for the foreign fields, equipped with several languages, are now on their way and others are only waiting for the way to open and for the Lord to say: "Go." We are on our faces before God. Let a volume of prayer go up from all the Lord's people. Awake! Awake! There is but time to dress and be ready, for the cry will soon go forth. "The Bridegroom cometh."
Eight missionaries have started to the foreign field since this movement began in Los Angeles a few months ago. About thirty workers have gone out into the field.
The brother at Elysian Heights who received his eyesight after being blind for a year and a half, is a living witness of the power of God. Since that he has been sanctified and anointed with the Holy Ghost and his wife has been saved.
In the City of Oakland, during the five weeks that the band from Los Angeles was there, Brother and Sister Evans and Sister Florence Crawford, sixty-five souls received the baptism with the Holy Ghost, thirty were sanctified and nineteen converted.
A man who was twice in the insane asylum, an infidel then had been going from place to place denying the name of Jesus Christ, is now saved, sanctified and baptized with the Holy Ghost, and working to win others.
Sometimes, among officers of the law, we find a keen judgment in regard to genuine or spurious religion. In Pasadena, where the Lord was working in power some months ago, the chief of police made the remark: "I would not give much for a meeting that did not have a shout in it.”
Sister Lizzie Frazer of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was one of those who received the gift of tongues when the Palestine Missionary band passed through there. She writes that she expects to go to India with a band of missionaries next month. The Lord has given her a wonderful equipment.
Mrs. J. Kring was healed of cancer of the lungs on August 8, after the doctor had given her up. One lung was entirely closed up. When she was prayed for, the Lord immediately touched her body and healed her. She shouted for an hour with strong lungs, and is the happiest woman you ever saw.
A mother brought her son to the Mission to be healed of epileptic fits. He is about twenty-one years old and has been suffering for years, like the boy that was brought to Jesus whom the devil had often caused to fall into the fire and into the water. The boy was so wrecked in mind and body that he was in a semi-conscious condition. Bro. Batman, who is called to Africa, prayed for him, asking the Lord to cast the demon power out of him and give complete healing. The boy rose up from the floor and witnessed that the work was done and went home rejoicing.
A brother living in the east had been down sick for quite a while and sent a handkerchief to be blessed as in Bible times. His sister brought it to the Mission, praying for the Lord to show her to whom she was to give it, and the Lord showed her to give it to Sister Sallie Trainor. She immediately took it upstairs and as she knelt before the Lord, the Spirit came upon her in great power and she prayed in tongues, and kissed the handkerchief three times, as the Spirit seemed to lead her. It was sent with a prayer and the brother was immediately healed.
Rev. Adolph Rosa, a Portuguese brother from Cape Verde Islands, was baptized with the Holy Ghost in Oakland and is now in Los Angeles preaching the full Gospel. He was a Catholic and his father had expected to have him educated as a Catholic priest; but God had His hand upon him. He came to America, was converted from the power of Romanism and captivity about six years ago in a Portuguese Methodist church in New Bedford, Mass., and entered the ministry of the Methodist church as a missionary to the Portuguese in the state of California. He was sanctified about four years ago, and is now conducting Pentecostal meetings in the People's church in Los Angeles.
When Rev. Evans and his wife and Sister Florence Crawford went to the city of Oakland preaching the full Gospel, I went the first night, not to criticize but to investigate. Many preachers were there to criticize, but when I stepped in, I felt the power of God and could not say that it was the work of the devil, as most of the preachers declared, for I was practically convinced that it was the work of the Holy Ghost. I went home and began to study my Bible, and went to God in prayer to reveal to me if these people were really the people of God. He revealed to me in the attitude of my supplication that they were preaching exactly what the disciples of old preached. I was convinced that every minister of the Gospel should receive the same baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire that the disciples received on the day of Pentecost, before they are prepared to preach the Gospel. I was teaching that when we receive sanctification, we receive the Holy Ghost, as most of the preachers are teaching. But as I went to my Bible with the spirit of prayer, God revealed to me that the disciples were justified before Christ ascended; but they never were baptized with the Holy Ghost until the day of Pentecost.
The second day that I went to the meeting, the Lord put a real hunger in my soul to go forward, but I was too proud as a minister of the Gospel to humble myself in a lowly mission and let ladies pray over me for the gift of the Holy Ghost, and I had in my mind what people would think of me. But the third day, as I arose to testify in the audience, the only words I could say were: "What does God think of me?" Then I could only weep for some minutes and the power of God came upon me until I dropped to the floor. I was under the power of God for about an hour and a half, and it was there that all pride, and self, and conceit disappeared, and I was really dead to the world, for I had Christ within in His fullness. I was baptized with the Holy Ghost and spoke in a new tongue.
I praise God for the light, and now I am walking in it. The desire of my heart is to see every man and woman that preaches the Gospel of Christ, baptized with the Holy Ghost, for without the Holy Ghost it is almost impossible for us to convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and the judgment.
"It is an awful hard thing to get a holiness preacher that has been indoctrinated for years to see that he has not received his Pentecost. I have been preaching for twenty years and never preached anything but a full salvation. To get a fellow that has been preaching twenty years to see that he has not received the baptism, when he has been preaching all the time that he has it, and then to get him to turn seeker, is a hard job. I tell you it means for him to get pretty near the end of himself.
"The time has come, in the full blaze of Pentecost, that if you do not walk in the light, you will become a dry chip. I bless God. I humbled myself. On the 10th day of July the Lord gave me the evidence of the Pentecost. It took me three weeks, searching the Word, from Genesis to Revelations to see that these things were so. Any fellow that will get down on his knees and pray through and read through, will find that the Holy Ghost only falls on a clean temple. You must give over and let God have His way.
"So many folks remind me of the hog that was trying to get into a big cornfield. There was a big, hollow, crooked log in the fence, laid in such a way that both ends of the log were on the same side of the fence. The hog would go into one end of the log, expecting that he would get into the cornfield. He would go in and come out, and look all around to see how it was that he was not in the cornfield. There are a lot of folks today just in that place. They crawl through a hollow log of experience and never get anything. Bless God, I would hunt the way. Jesus said: 'I am the way.' Get into the cornfield. Hunt for the wicket gate and you will get in. Hallelujah! I am in the cornfield."
The above is the testimony of Bro. Hill, a Nazarene preacher. He and his wife have both received their personal Pentecost and Bible evidence.
A company of three missionaries left Los Angeles September 13, en route for the west coast of Africa. Sister Hutchins has been preaching the Gospel in the power of the Spirit. She has received the baptism with the Holy Ghost and the gift of the Uganda language, the language of the people to whom she is sent. A brother who has been in that country understands and has interpreted the language she speaks. Her husband is with her and her niece, who also has been given the African language.
I was justified on the 4th of July, 1901, and at that time, I felt that the Lord wanted me in Africa, but I was not then at all willing to go. But on the 28th of July, 1903, the Lord sanctified me. Before He sanctified me, He asked me if I would go to Africa. I promised Him I would. From that time on, I have felt the call to Africa, and have been willing to go at any moment, but not knowing just when the Lord would have me leave.
On the sixth of last month, while out in my back yard one afternoon, I heard a voice speaking to me these words: "On the 15th day of September, take your husband and baby and start out for Africa." And I looked around and about me to see if there was not someone speaking to me, but I did not see anyone, and I soon recognized that it was the voice of God. I looked up into the heavens and said: "Lord, I will obey." Since then I have had many tests and temptations from the devil. He has at times told me that I would not even live to see the 15th of September, but I never once doubted God. I knew that He was able to bring everything to pass that He told me to do.
After hearing the voice telling me to leave Los Angeles on the 15th, I went to one of my neighbors and testified to her that the Lord had told me to leave for Africa on the 15th of September. She looked at me with a smile. I asked her what she was smiling about. She said: "Because you have not got street car fare to go to Azusa Street Mission tonight, and talking about going to Africa." But I told her I was trusting in a God that could bring all things to pass that He wanted us to do. He has really supplied all my needs in every way, for the work where He has called me.
I want to testify also about my husband. He was a backslider, and how the devil did test me, saying: "You are going out to cast the devil out of others, and going to take a devil with you." My husband was not saved, but I held on to God and said: "Lord, I will obey."
I continued to testify and to make preparations to leave on the 15th. The Lord reclaimed my husband and sanctified him wholly and put the glory and shout in him. So now it is my time to laugh. The devil has oppressed and mocked me; but praise the Lord, now I can mock him. Glory to God!
It is now ten minutes to four o'clock in the afternoon on the 15th day of September. I am all ready and down to the Mission with my ticket and everything prepared, waiting to have hands laid on and the prayers of the saints, and expect to leave at eight o'clock from the Santa Fe station en route for Africa. We expect to go to Mt. Coffee, Monrovia, Liberia.
Feeling the need of a real companion in the Gospel that was out and out for God, I prayed to God that He might give me one to go with me. I had my eyes upon one that I wanted to go, but in prayer and humility before God, I found out it was not the one the Lord wanted to go. So I said: "Anyone, Lord, that you would have to go will be pleasing to me." And, to my surprise, He gave me my niece—a girl that I had raised from a child. Now she is nineteen years of age, is saved, sanctified and baptized with the Holy Ghost, and is going with me out into the work of the Lord. So instead of giving me one companion, He gave me two—my niece and my husband.
Our first stop will be Chattanooga, Tenn., Harge Row. I want the prayers of the saints that I may stay humble.
Mrs. J.W. Hutchins
Address: Mt. Coffee, Monrovia, Liberia, Africa.
I am saved, sanctified and baptized with the Holy Ghost and have the Bible evidence. The Lord showed me that the language I spoke was the language of Africa. My aunt who has been the same as a mother to me, was going to Africa. I asked the Lord if He wanted me to go, to open up a way for me, and the next morning He opened the way for me. I did not have the means and He gave me the fare and supplied all my needs. I am willing to trust Him through to Africa. I know the Lord wants me to go there. I want to testify to those people and teach the children about the blessed Lord, and to work for the Lord. I am willing to forsake all my loved ones for His sake. I want the saints to pray for me for I am young in the Lord. Leila McKinney.
The prodigal son had returned amid great rejoicing to his father's house. There was music and dancing, and perhaps the whole neighborhood was stirred up and came out to see what was happening. "Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth." And when heaven rejoices, if we are connected up properly, we will catch the refrain and join in.
Father has certainly opened up His house on Azusa Street for the return of the prodigals. And they are coming in from the north, south, east and west. The fatted calf is daily being killed, and the fine new garments of praise and salvation are being handed out to the poor prodigals who are so lean and weary, and covered with filth and rags. Praise His name!
This causes great rejoicing among Father's servants and such scenes as the weeping prodigal, the Father's kiss of peace, the loving welcome, the whole household welcoming the prodigal, arraying him in the best robe and ring of authority, killing the fatted calf, and sweet strains of heavenly music, are being repeated every day and often run far into the night. People that have been good, pious church members for years, and have been noted for their sobriety and level-headedness, are attracted by these things. If they are honest before God, they soon realize that Father is furnishing the music and singing, and supplying the wine of the feast. As the table is spread so freely, they take a small drink of the "new wine." Immediately their eyes begin to light up and heavenly illumination comes into their faces. The prodigal has entered into justification, and sanctification, and the baptism with the Holy Ghost. They have never seen it on this fashion before, but they find it all on the table and all from heaven, so they are soon "filled with the Spirit" and begin to speak and sing with new tongues, as the Spirit gives utterance. Business cares are forgotten, while they enjoy the feast.
There was one discordant voice in the parable, as told by Jesus. It was the elder brother's. He is here also. The father called him "son," and he was "in the field." We do not read, however, that he was doing any work. It simply states that he was in the field. He may have worn a long-tailed coat and white necktie and walked around and gave orders. If he had been hard at work all day plowing with a deep plow, with his father's interests at heart, would he not have rejoiced with the household at his brother's return?
Yes, the elder brother is angry and will not come in to the feast. He sits on the fence and finds fault, saying that the "new tongues" and other gifts that Father is handing out to His children are of the devil. He says, "It is spiritualism, hypnotism, and the rankest kind of fanaticism." Father has gone out to him several times, and continues to entreat him to come in. He says that he has not worn gold nor costly array, neither has a feather been seen in his hat, "lo, these many years," yet he has had no fatted calf killed for him. He does not drink tea, nor coffee, nor eat hog meat, neither does a necktie adorn his shirt front. He has done many wonderful works, but here are the drunkard and harlot entering into the kingdom before him. He does not understand it and has not recognized his brother as any kin to him. We are praying that he will soften his heart and come in before it is too late. But in the meantime, the rejoicing goes on. Father hands out the clean, white raiment, and spreads a feast of fat things. The new wine of the kingdom never runs out, and peace and joy and heavenly music are flowing like a river, till the sound is heard over the whole land.
[The following was written down from the lips of a sister, who is unlearned and works at washing and ironing for a living. She received the gift of prophecy ten years ago, and though she is not learned in books or affairs of the world, she has been foretelling great events, and her prophecies accord with the Scriptures.]—Ed.
Years ago there was a Jew holding meetings in Pasadena, and he invited them to come up and receive the Holy Ghost. I had a little baby in my arms and could not get to the altar, but knelt in the aisle. I did not get anything, but I went home and washed my baby and put him to bed, and got down on my knees and said: "Dear Lord, please give me the Holy Ghost, if there is such a thing as the Holy Ghost. Give me what you would like for me to have." So that night He called me and anointed me with the Holy Ghost. It was just like an outpouring rain from heaven, and the next day it seemed I was nothing but a feather walking around. He told me I should see, hear and know the wonderful things that should come to pass, before they did come to pass.
He told me the Japanese would win against the Russians, and showed me these things before a gun was fired. He said: "The Japanese will win, because the Russians started the war, and they shall die in their own blood and stampede one another." He said: "They wanted blood and they shall have blood to their heart's content."
The Lord says, "The time is coming when the poor will be oppressed and the Christians can neither buy nor sell, unless they have 'the mark of the beast.'" Then He says: "The time will come when the poor man will say that he has nothing to eat and work will be shut down. And the rich man will go and buy up all the sugar, tea, coffee, etc., and hold it in his store, and we cannot get it unless we have the mark of the beast."
"That is going to cause the poor man to go to these places and break in to get food. This will cause the rich man to come out with his gun to make war with the laboring man. They will cause blood to be spilt in the street as it never was before." I saw the blood ankle deep, and they were holding to the horse's bridles with the right hand and cutting and slashing right and left with their swords. And the Lord said the blood would be in the streets like an outpouring rain from heaven. He says all these unions are bringing the sword to their own head, to cut their own heads off. (I had never heard of unions before the Lord showed me this and I asked my husband what 'labor against capital' meant.)
Then He said to me again: "The time is coming when men are going to get desperate and will go into the banks even at noontime and hew men down, and take out the silver and gold and walk on with it. They will rob the banks in open daytime."
The Lord said the time was coming when men would not regard a man's life any more than that of a dog. Then He says again that there is going to be a war as there never was before. Four nations from the four corners of the earth are coming together for battle, and it is going to be one of the worst wars that ever was in history.
The Lord says: "The time will come when the rich man will bury his silver and gold and return to it no more, and he will floods and pestilences and earthquakes shall weep and howl and his misery shall be great."
The Lord says that earthquakes will come as they never have before and more often, because of the wickedness of the people. He wants His people to get ready. The only way He can get you ready is to bring disaster. If you do not repent, a great many of you will be lost. Not only is the earthquake coming, but death and destruction everywhere. Every day you hear of these things and you are walking into it with your eyes open, and death is overlooking you on the cars and railroads, and in floods and storms.
The Lord says there will be more destruction than there ever has been, because you will not serve God. You will not give God your hearts. He brings these things upon the earth, that you might repent and be drawn nearer to Him. He says wars and floods and pestilences and earthquakes shall come upon us. We must prepare ourselves for it.
The Lord showed me the earthquake in San Francisco just a year before the day it came to pass. He showed me an earthquake coming to Los Angeles. He showed me an eagle flying over Los Angeles and lighting on the highest building, and as it lit, the building began to crumble. I asked the Lord what it meant, and He said: "The eagle means death and the crumbling is an earthquake. There will be a violent shock in the morning and one at night. There will be mangling and tangling with wires, and the street car rails will bend and twist, and the telegraph poles will come down." He showed me the cars and people mangled up together and the live wires setting fire to the buildings. I asked Him if this was coming to pass, to show it to me again and He showed it to me again. And I saw a death angel flying over the city and fire falling on the city. The Lord showed me the land was going to sink and I saw water. Then five weeks after this earthquake, He said that Pasadena would be shaken, and many cities would be destroyed, and Chicago would be one of them.
I fasted two days and asked the Lord when it was coming, and He told me: "It will come on Sunday," but He did not tell me when it would be. He says: "Be ready and look for it." I believe He will either save us or come and catch us up to heaven. The Lord said to me ten years ago: "If you are faithful, you shall never see death." I said: "Lord, when are you coming?" He said: "Be ready when I come, saith the Lord."
Mrs. Mary Galmond.
1106 N. Marengo Avenue, Pasadena, Cal.
A preacher's wife, who at first opposed Pentecostal truth, went home and read the second chapter of Acts, and while she read, the Spirit fell upon her and she began to speak in tongues. She is a member of the Nazarene church in Vernon. As she was on the way to the church she met a brother whom she had been instrumental in leading to the Lord. He is a foreigner and as soon as she saw him, she began to pour out her soul in French. He was amazed and said: "When did you learn French?"
"What did I say?" she asked.
"You said: "Get ready! Get ready! Jesus is coming soon!"
She went on up to the church, and as they were giving out the Sunday school leaflets she began to speak in tongues again and spoke for some time. They could only listen to this manifestation of the power of God.
The question is asked: "Do you believe in hell?"
Brother, it makes no difference what you or I believe, that does not do away with God's word. Hell exists in its awful reality, whether you believe it or not, and multitudes are plunging headlong into it. "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." Ps.9:17.
Jesus believed in hell, and warned men to flee from it. Why are the pulpits so silent today? Because we are in the latter day apostasy. Read the words of Jesus:
"The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of fire, there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Matt. 13:41, 42.
"So shall it be in the end of the world, the angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Matt. 13:49, 50.
"But Abraham said: Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivest they good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted and thou art tormented." Luke 16:25
"But the fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death." (or separation from God.) Rev. 21:8.
"And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever." Rev. 20:10.
Beloved, these are the words of Jesus, and when He says "forever and ever" what could be more expressive of eternity?
Dear Saints in Los Angeles:--God be praised for His power and grace. We are making preparations to go to India as soon as possible. Three of us—with the baby, four in all—will go just as soon as possible, so as to be on the ocean in the right time.
When we came here from Los Angeles, we found the band to whom we had preached while here before, most of them backslidden and fussing among themselves. But when they saw that God had really done something wonderful for us, they all came in and began to seek the Lord. Most of them have been reclaimed and quite a number have been baptized with the Holy Ghost and have received the foreign tongue.
One young girl received the baptism Friday night and she spoke in German. God sent us a German to interpret. He said he could understand everything perfectly. Sister Jennie Eans has also received the German language, and speaks it very fluently.
Sister Garr improves every day in her Tibetan and Chinese. O, how I praise God that He ever gave us this wonderful experience of the baptism with the Holy Ghost.
The folks fall under the power of God, and a great time is on here. The church was packed twice yesterday and altar overflowing with seekers. One saved man was sanctified in the afternoon meeting and in the evening meeting received the baptism with the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues and magnified God.
A real revival has begun and three holiness preacher boys have fallen in line. Two of them have received the baptism and the tongues. The other one is seeking and says he will never stop till he receives it. A good many have received the tongues, we do not know how many.
The sick are being healed. Soon after we arrived, a lady sick with dropsy came to the meeting. She got out of bed to come; had been sick a long time. As she told us how glad she was to see us back in Danville and of her long sick spell, I said: "God will heal you," and took her hand. She immediately shouted that she was healed. I felt the healing power flow into her body. The next day she told us that her limbs were swollen, but that every bit of it was driven out at once. She walked down town and then told her neighbors about the wonderful things the Lord had done for her.
Several have been healed. But, best of all, many are getting the light, and as the Bible opens to us, they rejoice for the precious truths that have been hidden from us for so long by the "traditions of the elders." This is the greatest power I ever saw. Glory to God! I have wanted just this for years, but did not know how to get it. But, Hallelujah! After all, the great God opened my eyes and let me see the truth, and it liberated me from the bondage of ignorant teachings and the devil in general. I see the Bible now as never before.
Many are tied through fear. Some are afraid of their leaders, some of one another, some are so afraid of the third blessing that they are not quite sure of the second. So it goes. And the world speeds along its way to hell, while the so-called sanctified people are asleep or else arguing that they got it all when they were sanctified. The feebleness of the so-called sanctified is enough to convince any honest soul that they have not got the power. We rejoice daily that we are free from sectarianism. Hallelujah, that God ever showed us that there was a real witness to the baptism. Why did we not see it sooner?
May God open the eyes of the world, and show the people that He is willing to give them what He gave the disciples on the day of Pentecost.
We are expecting God to give us a good revival in India. Pray for us.
A.G. Garr and Wife.
The Lord makes His truth so plain that a wayfaring man, though a fool, shall not err therein. You have all seen a dirty dress washed. But you never saw a person take a dirty dress and iron it. And you never saw them take a dress and wash and iron it all at once. And you never saw a person put on a dress and iron it.
The dirty dress represents a person in sin. Your righteousness is filthy rags. "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." When you get the dress washed, that represents a justified experience. When the dress is washed and on the line, you rejoice because the washing is through.
But the clothes need something else before they are ready to wear. What do they need? Why, they need to be ironed. You would be ashamed to take the clothes off the line and wear them without ironing. Jesus would be ashamed to present you before the Father if you were not sanctified, but when you are sanctified He is not ashamed to call you brethren. Christ gave Himself for His church that He might wash it and present it without spot or wrinkle. So we must let Him iron out all the wrinkles.
What next? You take an ironed garment and there is something lacking yet. What is it? Why you need to put it on and wear it. But that is no work. The work was done when you washed and ironed it. So the Holy Ghost is a free gift. It is the promise of the Father to the soul that is sanctified. You do not have to repent to get the Holy Ghost, but you must be washed clean and whiter than snow. Now you have nothing to mourn over, but something to rejoice over. You can know you are baptized. The Holy Ghost will cut your tongue loose and let you praise Him in an unknown language. God will not iron a dirty piece. He will take out the spots and then the wrinkles, and after these two works, He will baptize you with His free gift—the Holy Ghost.
Ophelia Wiley.
Fanatics are marked by harshness towards those who do not fall in line with them, and Jesus is not held up. Sooner or later the fruits of the flesh appear in a lack of holy living.
We note these things because some honest souls have feared that this Pentecostal movement was fanaticism. So we mark some of the features of the meetings which are the opposite of fanaticism. Divine love to all, especially to the church, the body of Christ, of which every justified soul is a member. Humility: This is a humble work in a humble place and we are glad that it is. We humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and constantly search the scriptures to know His whole will and plan. Holy lives: these people are living holy lives, separate from the world, the flesh and the devil, and rescuing other souls to a life of purity and holiness. There is a Holy Ghost shine on the faces of the workers. Is this the work of the devil? Friends, if you profess to know the Spirit of God and do not recognize Him when He comes, there is cause for you to be anxious about your own spiritual condition.
Bro. H.M. Allen, 3081 E. 6th street, Los Angeles, who received the gift of tongues, says he wrote down the sounds phonetically and took the standard works on languages and found out what it meant. He says: "I find everything the Holy Ghost speaks to me in the unknown tongues is of profound report. He has not given me liberty to tell all. He has shown me in unknown tongues, but they are the most important things that can possibly take our attention, things that are speedily coming on the whole earth. God performed a miracle in speaking to me in unknown tongues. I have taken the dictionary of languages and found out that it was absolutely true. It may sound foolish to you to hear people speaking in unknown tongues, but if He speaks only two words they are well worth listening to."
If God for Christ's sake has forgiven you your sins, you know it. And if you do not know it better than you know anything in this world, you are still in your sins. When you go down in the atonement, in the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, you are accepted. And if you are accepted, and He has given you a clean heart and sanctified your soul, you know it. And if you do not know it, the work is not done.
If you are baptized with the Holy Ghost, you know it, and everybody else knows it. That is one thing you cannot hide. When you are sanctified, people have to take your testimony and watch your life, but when He comes and covers you over and around and about, people know it. Man may say, it is of the devil and they are drunk, but glory to God, He will shine out Himself, and there is a power back of you that men and women cannot gainsay. It will give you holy boldness to stand up before the world without fear.
Many of the dear holiness people are rejecting the last words of Jesus in the last chapter of Mark, beginning at the fifteenth verse:
"And He said unto them: Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover."
Why do they reject these verses? Because Dr. Godbey, in his commentary and translation, has left them out. Why did he leave them out? Because they were not in the Sinaitic manuscript from which he translated. It was a manuscript found in later years in a mission on Mount Sinai. The man who found the manuscript, a German by the name of Tischendorf, said that some sheets of it had already been thrown into a receptacle for kindling wood. In this or some other way, a part may have been lost from that manuscript.
However this may be, we feel sure that these are the words of Jesus. The writer herself, being a great admirer of Bro. Godbey, was for some time influenced by his views in regard to the last words of our Lord as given above. But since being in these Holy Ghost meetings, and hearing these same words given again and again by the Spirit in unknown tongues and interpreted, all doubt has been swept away in regard to them. Besides they are proved true before our eyes. We have thrown all doubts to the winds and taken to our hearts the whole word of Jesus. Dear friends, do not let any man riddle your Bible for you or cut out any part of it. You need the whole. Hallelujah for the Word.
We are now hearing from individuals, and companies who are definitely waiting on God for their personal Pentecost. Some have been stimulated in seeking by hearing of God's visitation in Los Angeles. We join hands with all such hungry seekers and meet you at the throne. Some are expecting to come this way. We expect the Lord to speedily prepare such to go out into the field. Calls are coming from every direction for workers who are filled with the Spirit and have the Bible evidence. We are expecting the Lord to send out workers all over the country carrying this Gospel.
Before another issue of this paper, we look for Bro. Parham in Los Angeles, a brother who is full of divine love and whom the Lord raised up five years ago to spread this truth. He, with other workers, will hold union revival meetings in Los Angeles and then expects to go on to other towns and cities, and will appoint workers to fill the calls that shall come in. So begin to pray right away for a revival in your neighborhood or town or city. Perhaps you need one in your own closet or at your family altar first. But expect great things from God. Begin to prepare for a revival and a great and deep revival, too, and believe for it. It may cost you money and it may cost you humbling processes, but prepare for the Lord's coming.
Peace be unto you. I am, God willing, going to leave New York in a few days for Palestine and Jerusalem. I am going via Gibraltar, Spain. God is working mightily. I would like to say good-bye to you before I leave this land, it may be never to return in this life.
I have been working for my Master all the way along, and God's hand is with me. He has saved a few and many have been blest. Some have received the Holy Ghost. I give all glory to God for it. Please pray for me. I would like for God to send me a brother to help me in Palestine. I am still hungry for more of Jesus. He is so good to me. The Lord has been giving me more freedom and power than I ever had before. I now speak eleven or twelve languages.
Sweet peace and love is in my heart toward every man. Pray that God will keep me humble. I want to use the gifts to the glory of God. Tell Bro. Seymour that I am one with him and all the other saints in Los Angeles. I love my dear Bro. Seymour so much. He has been a good help to me. May God bless him in his work.
My love to all the saints. I want the whole assembly to pray for me that God may have His whole way with me in this life. My heart goes out for the Jews and every lost soul in this world. God is my refuge and He will never leave me nor forsake me.
Andrew Johnson.
Address Care of Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, Gibraltar, Spain.
Sister Florence Crawford says: "There is no spot on earth so dear to me as this place, but I must go out and tell this story. Souls are perishing far and near. The Lord told me yesterday to go into all the world and preach His Gospel. 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand,' and 'Behold, I come quickly. What He says to me, He says to every baptized soul. He wants us to go out into the highways and hedges and declare this Gospel. He has anointed me to tell the story of Jesus and I can go alone for Jesus is with me. O, glory to God!"
At Brunner, Texas, in August, a wonderful meeting was held by the Apostolic Faith people. Fifty, seventy-five, and one hundred seekers at a service crowded the altars for two whole weeks. The sixty-foot altar was doubled half way back, then trebled, until the whole front half of the Tabernacle was occupied with the great altar service. Think of one hundred seekers and twice as many faithful Christians assisting, all praying before God. Glory to His great name! Then see them rise with shining faces and Pentecostal power.
Some have come long distances to see the Pentecost in Los Angeles. An Armenian brother, who came three hundred miles, said, "I am like the queen of Sheba who went to see the wisdom of Solomon, only when I heard about these meetings, I did not come so far, I came only 300 miles to see if this was true. And now I am well satisfied that I see the wonderful works of God. If these people who have only a few drops from God are crazy, what will it be when the shower comes. The shower follows the drops."
Jesus says, "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me." The Lord showed me that this yoke was the covenant of the new testament in His blood, and we put this yoke on when we are baptized with the Holy Ghost. This covenant is a marriage covenant. We are married, not for one day or year or life, but eternally married. When I got married to my wife it was settled for this life. So when I got married to Jesus Christ, it was settled forever. Hallelujah! Jesus and I are united. He baptized me with love.
We had a glorious meeting last night. It was the sixth night and we have six speaking in tongues. It is wonderful to see how the Lord is working with His believing children, but there is much to be done here. There is a band of saints that do not read the Bible like saints. They say the Bible is for unbelievers so they do not read it at all. O for some one to help. Won't you come and help if you can, and as soon as you can?
God is making a short work in the earth today. He is soon coming to earth again. He said we should not get over the cities until the Son of Man should come, so we have not much time to lose. Remember me to all of the saints. Tell them to pray for me much. I can't write to all, so you remember me to all as one. Ask them to pray for the work in Virginia. It is much needed. I don't know how long the Lord is going to keep me here. There is so much to be done.
I did not come through Danville, but I am going there as soon as I can get off from this place. I came through New Orleans and changed cars there, and laid hands on two sick, and sowed seed on the way from Houston here— Lucy Farrow.
A later report is that twenty have received the baptism of the Holy Ghost in Portsmouth.
A number of children have been baptized with the Holy Ghost. A sister at Hermon has been holding a daily children's meeting and three children have been baptized with the Holy Ghost. One Sunday night also at Azusa Street Mission three little girls, sisters, were baptized with the Holy Ghost and each of them spoke in tongues, and different languages. It was touching to see how they went to praying for others at the altar. They had to leave with their mother for Canada and expect to cross the ocean from there, but before they left the Lord gave them their Pentecost. A number of children have been clearly saved and sanctified in the Sunday afternoon children's meeting, led by the boy preacher, Clayborn, on Sunday afternoon and some have received the gift of the Holy Ghost, and God is using their testimonies
Apostolic power will mean apostolic persecution. Hell with all its power will be turned loose. It behooves us to get a spiritual backbone, spiritual stamina and stick-to-it-iveness that will enable us to stand in these last days against all the forces of the enemy. Jesus came to destroy all the works of the devil, and He said He would give us power, the Holy Ghost coming upon us, the same power that He had.
Several years ago, when I was very hungry, seeking God in all His fullness, I shut myself away in my closet one day, and the Lord gave me a wonderful revelation. As I was kneeling before my Maker, beseeching Him to show me all He expected me to be, right before my eyes I saw this wonderful vision. There appeared a man with a large, long, knotty, but straight log. The man had an axe. Did you ever see anybody score timber? He was scoring the log, and it seemed to me the axe went clear to the bit. And every time he scored, it hurt me. He scored it on four sides and then took the broad axe and whacked off the knots. Then he took a line and with an adz he made it pretty smooth. Then he raised it in the air, and taking a great plane, turned to me and said: "This is the plane of the Holy Ghost," and he ran the plane up and down, till I could see the image of the man perfectly reflected in the face of the log, as in a mirror. He did this to all four sides. Then turning to me, he said: "Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee."
That is what God wants to do with us. He wants to take all the bumps, all the barnacles off. We have only begun to lay ourselves on the anvil of God's truth. The hammer is being applied to us. He may have to throw us back in the smelter several times. Let us stay in the fire till there is no more dross in us. Sometimes we think God has done all He needs to do; but something comes up that we do not like, and the old man can get up and hobble off on a pretty good shin.
Several weeks ago, I thought surely the last stroke is put in, and now I am dead to the world. But it was not very long till I found out there was a little self there. I was holding a meeting in a little village. We had to move a kitchen stove, and there was no way but for me to get on top of that cook stove and ride behind an old mule team, and I found Sister Hall had a little life in her yet. Thank God, I am dead to that thing now.
Let us stay on the anvil of God, till we reflect the image of the Master. There is a place where we can get, that God Almighty will say: "Thou art all fair, my love, there is no spot in thee."—Mrs. Anna Hall.
A young sister, Miss Lillian Keyes, daughter of Dr. Keyes, of this city, speaks and sings in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. She also interprets, and the following interpretation was also corroborated by Sister S.K. Mead, twenty years a missionary in Africa. Sister Mead arose and said that the language spoken was their dialect in Africa, a beautiful language, but one that is very difficult for English-speaking people to acquire, but the Holy Ghost, through the young lady, had given the perfect accent. The message interpreted was as follows:
"Jesus is coming again,
Coming again so soon,
And we shall meet Him then.
"Prepare your hearts now, for the Lord is coming soon, and ye know not the hour. If you are not prepared, you will not go with Jesus. He sees each heart, and wants to prepare them for His coming. Seek Him now, for some day it will be too late.
"The Lord says: 'I will bless all those that seek me with all their hearts, for God is no respecter of persons. The Love of God is so great.' He says. 'Come unto me; come unto me, and I will give you rest. I will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire, and all those that seek me diligently.’
"O, Jesus is such a wonderful Savior. He is coming soon and all must have their hearts ready. O, Jesus is so sweet. He says: 'Watch and be ready when I come.' O, He is coming so soon.”
Our sister also speaks two Chinese dialects. She speaks to the Chinese as she passes them on the street, or as they come to the house, and they listen in astonishment and say she is telling them about God.
At a recent church trial, a brother made the remark that he little thought when he was seeking more of God it would mean for him to be turned out of the Holiness church. This brings to mind the old lady who was turned out of the church, and as she walked down the hill, she said: "Yonder is the meeting house, here goes the church."
They may turn you out of church houses and organizations of men, but not out of the one church. Thank God, that church book is kept in heaven. Jesus said: "Rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
One of the Holiness leaders said that the church had always taught sanctification as the baptism with the Holy Ghost, and they could not afford to give it up. Besides he would have to burn his books and sermons. Brother, on that great day of judgment, how much will those books and sermons weigh as compared to God's word?
At first the Holiness leaders approved of the work at the Mission, but at their camp meeting, they decided against the Pentecostal baptism as distinct from sanctification, and also the speaking in tongues. These were ruled out and not to be mentioned on the camp ground. What might not that meeting have been, if they had let the Holy Ghost have right of way? Eternity alone will reveal the great loss to souls through leaders who would not let the hungry sheep enter into this blessed life of power and the Holy Ghost.
When the Holy Ghost fell on the one hundred and twenty it was in the morning of the dispensation of the Holy Ghost. Today we are living down in the evening of the dispensation of the Holy Ghost. And as it was in the morning, so it shall be in the evening. This is the last evangelistic call of the day. As John the Baptist was the voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare ye the way of the Lord," so the voice of warning is going out through the land today to prepare the world for the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The angels said to His disciples as He was received up into Heaven, and they stood steadfastly gazing upward: "This same Jesus that was taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven." This same Jesus is coming back again to sit in the kingdom of His Father. This same Jesus that wore the crown of thorns and was lifted up between heaven and earth. This same Jesus that hung over yonder on Calvary, and now sits at the right hand of God the Father, is coming back to earth. Is not that enough to ravish your souls, dear ones?
What mean these salaried preachers over the land that will not preach unless they get so much salary? People have wandered from the old landmarks. The priests had no land of their own. They were to live on the tithes and offerings. The ministers of today have wandered from the old landmarks, therefore they are seeking salary over the land. Get back. You have no time to lose. We must all be up and doing something for perishing souls around us. Do you want to be blest? Do you want the approbation of God? Be a servant to humanity. The loaves and fishes did not multiply in the hands of our blessed Redeemer till He began to give out to the hungry.
God does not need a great theological preacher that can give nothing but theological chips and shavings to people. He can pick up a worm and thrash a mountain. He takes the weak things to confound the mighty. He is picking up pebble stones from the street and polishing them for His work. He is using even the children to preach His Gospel. A young sister, fourteen years old, was saved, sanctified and baptized with the Holy Ghost and went out, taking a band of workers with her, and led a revival in which one hundred and ninety souls were saved. Salaried ministers that are rejecting the Gospel will have to go out of business. He is sending out those who will go without money and without price. Glory to God for this Apostolic day.
Thank God for the means with which to get out this second number of the Apostolic Faith. This large issue is paid for in answer to prayer. The last issue of 5,000 was sent all over the United States and the world and was soon exhausted, so that we had to refuse a good many requests for papers. This time we publish 10,000. We could have used several thousand more last time, to good advantage. We do not find it at all necessary to advertise the paper, because the news of the work has gone far and wide already. The people are rejoicing to hear of this wonderful outpouring of old time Gospel salvation. And no wonder, they are starving on theological shavings. Never mind what the preachers say or anyone else, go in for Pentecostal salvation.
Sister M. Ella Judy, a teacher in the Blind School of Columbus, Ohio, came to Los Angeles for her summer vacation. She dropped in the Azusa Street Mission soon after her arrival, and felt that God was there. She had been a great sufferer from insomnia and other troubles and was a very hungry soul. In the past she had felt that the Lord gave her the promise that she should be one of His bride. He had said to her, "Ask what ye will," and she had answered: "Thy will be done." Then what joy it was for Him to choose so great a gift for her. Afterward her faith failed, but God was true.
About an hour before the train left Los Angeles on which she was to go, the Lord, in the little upper room at the mission, graciously baptized her with the Holy Ghost and gave her the Bible evidence. She could not speak the English language for some time. It was taken away and she spoke the language of the Spirit, pointing those about her to Jesus. It was a heavenly spot. Our sister was sealed as one of the bride and she was very happy. We expect to see her back in Los Angeles. The Lord has called her to His work. He has used her in winning souls in the past, and now that she has the Pentecostal enduement, we expect her to be much more used of the Lord.
The Lord put His seal of approval upon the departing of the missionaries for Africa, September 15. For about two hours at the depot, the saints sang, while some wept and rejoiced in the Spirit, and some danced before the Lord. While Sister Wiley was preaching the Gospel to the crowd, one of the officials, being angry, tried to break up the meeting, but the saints began to pray, and were allowed to continue undisturbed for some time, till a brother began to speak in tongues. This seemed to stir the devil and Bro. Lee was put out into the street, which resulted in a meeting there. God has wonderfully supplied the means to send the missionaries.
Address all communications to the Apostolic Faith, 312 Azusa Street.
As we have no paid subscription list we are not entitled to second-class postage
rates. Papers will be sent to any address in quantities needed, as the Lord
furnishes the means.
We are not fighting men or churches, but seeking to displace dead forms and creeds and wild fanaticisms with living, practical Christianity. "Love, Faith, Unity” are our watchwords, and "Victory through the Atoning Blood" our battle cry. God's promises are true. He said: "Be thou faithful over a few things, and I will make thee ruler over many." From the little handful of Christians who stood by the cross when the testings and discouragements came, God has raised a mighty host.
Seeking Healing—He must believe that God is able to heal.—Ex. 15:26: "I am the Lord that healeth thee." James 5:14; Psa. 103:3; 2 Kings 20:5; Matt. 8:16, 17; Mark 16:16, 17, 18.
He must believe God is able to heal. "Behold I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is there any thing too hard for Me?"—Jer. 32:27.
The Lord sends us to preach the Gospel, but not to beg. Anyone soliciting money does not represent the Apostolic Faith, as it is carried on by free-will offerings. Jesus commanded them to give the Gospel freely. "Freely ye have received, freely give."
Nothing less than the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ will suffice in these last days.
We are not divine healers any more than we are divine saviors. Healing is done through the Almighty God.
A woman in San Pedro was very sick, suffering such great agony that she was almost unconscious and her body rigid. She was almost insane. The saints were called to pray for her, and as one laid her hand upon her she was immediately healed and arose and cooked dinner that day.
Sister E. Thomas came for the healing of her wrist which had been sprained and the bones so out of place that it was stiff and very painful. As prayer was offered, you could see the Lord working in the wrist, arranging the bones, etc., that were out of place, and He did a perfect work, putting the wrist into shape so that she could bend it without pain.
Two dear sisters that we have known years ago, Mrs. May J. Sharps and Mrs. Roba Schoepf, hearing of these meetings through reading the Apostolic Faith, came from Orange county, and before they returned they both received the Holy Ghost and Bible evidence. The Lord is certainly blessing this little paper to many hungry souls.
Sister Lucy M. Leatherman writes from 692 Eighth Avenue, New York city: "Praise God for the gift of the Holy Ghost, the third person in the trinity." We have been receiving letters from those who have been much blest and have been led into the Pentecost through our sister and the rest of the Palestine Missionary band.
Jesus said: "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered." Now, if you cut off a withered branch, you will find, perhaps, a worm has killed it. When a Christian goes into sin, he is withered and is no longer a branch of Christ. Then the first thing you know, he is bearing the fruits of the flesh. As soon as the fruits of the flesh appear, everybody knows you are a sinner.
Bro. G.W. Batman and wife are saved, sanctified and baptized with the Holy Ghost and have the gift of languages. They are all packed up for Monrovia, Liberia, Africa. They have three little children, but are willing to trust the Lord. Have had a call to that land for years. Bro. Batman said God gave him a vision of a town on the west coast of Africa, and said he should go there. Bro. Meade, a missionary who has been there, said it was a perfect description.
Praise God for a salvation that brings a witness. God gives us a witness that we are justified, the Spirit witnesses that we are sanctified and when we receive the Holy Ghost, He witnesses through us, as recorded in Acts 2:4, the speaking in other tongues. Jesus had a witness for everything. When He was born, the angels sang on Bethlehem's plain, when He was baptized with the Holy Ghost, He had the witness of the heavenly dove and the voice from Heaven, when He arose from the dead, the angels witnessed at the tomb, and when He ascended, the angels witnessed that He would come again. Why not have the Bible witness, a supernatural witness that people will not have to take your word for?
Evangelist Daniel Awrey heard of this Pentecostal revival while in Dudleyville, Arizona, and was led of the Lord to come. He says that about fifteen years ago, when he received the baptism with the Holy Ghost, he saw a flame of fire come down on his head and the Lord took control of his tongue, making him pray in another language. He did not realize the significance of the new tongue at that time. He is now looking for God to restore it, as He sends him back to hungry souls.
A man who had been using tobacco for twenty-five years was seeking at the altar to have the appetite taken away. He had a plug of tobacco in his pocket. He took it out and gave it to one of the altar workers. And immediately the Lord began to bless his soul, and he got victory over his old enemy. He could get no help till he cleaned up his pockets. Many seekers have some hidden shelf behind the door that needs cleaning out of its idols.
A man said to me: "I would be afraid to get down at the altar and seek the wonderful power that you tell about, the devil might give me something." What! Do you think when I get down covered with the blood of Jesus, and seek Him to baptize me with the Holy Ghost that He is going to give me a serpent? "If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone, or if he ask a fish will he for a fish give him a serpent? How much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him."—Luke 11:11.
Christians are sleeping in their pews in the churches and hireling preachers are sleeping in their pulpits. We have got to have something to wake people up. The tongues are like a bell, ringing the people up. They are waking up to the fact that God is in the land. The priest used to wear bells in the temple, so that the people could know he was alive. If they ceased to ring, they knew he was dead. As long as the Holy Ghost is in us, He will continue to ring out Jesus.
A sinner comes to the Lord all wrapped up in sin and darkness. He cannot make any consecration because he is dead. The life has to be put into us before we can present any life to the Lord. He must get justified by faith. There is a Lamb without spot and blemish slain before God for him, and when he repents toward God for his sins, the Lord has mercy on him for Christ's sake, and puts eternal life in his soul, pardoning him of his sins, washing away his guilty pollution, and he stands before God justified as if he had never sinned.
Then there remains that old original sin in him for which he is not responsible till he has the light. He hears that "Jesus, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate," and he comes to be sanctified. There is Jesus, the Lamb without blemish, on the altar. Jesus takes that soul that has eternal life in it and presents it to God for thorough purging and cleansing from all original and Adamic sin. And Jesus, the Son of God, cleanses him from all sin, and he is made every whit whole, sanctified and holy.
Now he is on the altar ready for the fire of God to fall, which is the baptism with the Holy Ghost. It is a free gift upon the sanctified, cleansed heart. The fire remains there continually burning in the holiness of God. Why? Because he is sanctified and holy and on the altar continually. He stays there and the great Shekina of glory is continually burning and filling with heavenly light.
W.J. Seymour.
When Bro. Wm. Pendleton and thirty-five of his members were turned out of the Holiness church and their church doors closed on them, they were invited by Bro. Bartleman and other workers to occupy the church at Eighth Street and Maple Avenue that had just been opened up for Pentecostal work, and God has been using them as never before. And when some of the saints were rejected from the Nazarene church at Elysian Heights on account of the baptism with the Holy Ghost and evidence of tongues, they opened cottage prayer meetings where hungry souls flocked, and in both of the above named places meetings sometimes go on all night and souls are coming through into Bible experiences. We can do nothing against the truth but for the truth.
"Truth crushed to earth will rise again.
The eternal years of God are her's;
But error wounded writhes in pain,
And dies among its worshipers."
In California, where there has been no unity among churches, they are becoming one against this Pentecostal movement. But, thank God, the source is from the skies and cannot be cut off from below. The dear church people know not what they do. Many of them are hungry and coming and saying: "This is just what I have been longing for, for years." God is drawing His people together and making them one. No new church or division of the body of Christ is being formed. Christ never had but one church. We may be turned out of the big wood and brick structures, but "By one Spirit are ye all baptized into one body."
When my place of worship was taken away from me, I said: "Lord, I trusted you once and you gave me a better place," and, praise God, He gave me the best place I ever had in my life and gave me more people to listen to the Gospel than I ever had before. God will never allow things taken from us but He will give us better than ever before. There is not a vail or shadow between heaven and my soul today. I am getting more from God than ever in my life. My prospects of heaven are getting stronger and stronger. There is no life that gives a man such an assurance of heaven as the life in the baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, can use these members to His own glory.
[There are a good many Spanish-speaking people in Los Angeles. The Lord has been giving the language, and now a Spanish preacher, who, with his wife, are preaching the Gospel in open air meetings on the Plaza have received their Pentecost. They are very happy, and God is using them. The following is their testimony and the translation.]—Ed.
Los Angeles, Cal., September 14.
Soy testigo de el poder del Espiritu Santo, en perdon, en sanctificacion, y baptismo en fuego. Acts 1:8; Mark 16:17, 18. Doy gracias a Dios por esta combicsion y poder. Recibibo de Dios comforme a sus promesas el os giara. John 16:13-14. Gracias a Dios por la ordenacion de ir a la Calle de Azusa a la Mission Apostolic Faith. Old time religion, Yo y mi Ezpoza el dia, 29th of May, 1906.
Por sanctificacion en verdad y gracias a Dios por la dadiba del baptismo del Eptu Santo en fuego, 5th de June. 1906. No podemos expresar en nuestros corazones dia tras dia y momento tras momento usandonos el Sr como instrumentos para la salvacion y sanidad de almas y de cuerpos y de cuerpos tomos tes tizo de estas permosas marabillas y miligros, en el Espiritu Santo y son promesas para cada uno de los que a Dios, se lleguen por medio del Sr. J. Cristo, San John 7:37:39; Rev. 22:17; Acts 2:37:39; James 1:5-7. Due Dios os Vendiga a todos. Acts 10:34, 35; 1 John 1:1-3; Rev. 1:6, 7.
Abundio L. Lopez and Wife, Rosa de Lopez.
The translation of the above into English is as follows:
We testify to the power of the Holy Spirit in forgiveness, sanctification,
and the baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire. We give thanks to God for this
wonderful gift which we have received from Him, according to the promise.
Thanks be to God for the Spirit which brought us to the Azusa Street Mission,
the Apostolic Faith, old-time religion, I and my wife, on the 29th of last
May. I came for sanctification, and thank God also for the baptism with the
Holy Ghost and fire which I received on the 5th of June, 1906. We cannot express
the gratitude and thanksgiving which we feel moment by moment for what He
has done for us, so we want to be used for the salvation and healing of both
soul and body. I am a witness of His wonderful promise and marvelous miracles
by the Holy Ghost, by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. May God bless you all.
New York City.
"Grace, mercy and peace be multiplied to you." How wonderfully God has blest us all the way. Praise His dear name! Hungry souls have flocked to the altar at every service and many have spoken in the tongues. Bless God. How I praise God for leading me to Azusa Street mission and the baptism with the Holy Ghost and a new tongue He gave me. What a blessed privilege to lift up Jesus to a lost world.
Mrs. Bushnell, an old friend about sixty years old, is with me, and is going to Jerusalem with me. We shall sail, God willing, September 15. I praise God we can meet every day at the throne of grace.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray for the dear Jews, and ask all of the dear saints there to pray also.
Asking God to bless and use you more and more for His glory.
Till Jesus comes,
Louisa M. Condit.
Address Jerusalem, Austrian Post, Palestine.
We have been holding our street meetings in front of a saloon at the corner of San Pedro and Second streets. The devil tried at first to drive us away by throwing a lot of water there and sweeping it about to make the ground muddy. But the workers went on, mud or no mud, and got a wonderful blessing, standing and kneeling in the mud. The Lord has been in the meetings in great power. Street meetings in Pasadena and Whittier have been held also with victory.
What do such congregations as this mean here and there over the world? Jesus is coming back to take His bride. How long is it going to take? The way this wonderful power is spreading over the world today, not very long. We are looking for God to separate a company of men and women from Los Angeles that will carry this Gospel over the whole world, people that are willing to forsake all and carry the Gospel. We are only in the A.B.C. of this wonderful power of God that is to sweep over the world. We have only gotten the soles of our feet wet in the power of God that is to be manifest in these last days.
We thank you, dear brothers and sisters, for your letters of appreciation of the paper, showing that God has made it a blessing. They more than pay us for all the labor of publishing the paper. We thank you for the lists of names you have sent and the offerings which enable us to send the papers to other hungry souls.
Your requests for prayer for healing and salvation and the baptism with the Holy Ghost are presented before the assembly of God's children. We cannot set dates for prayers, so look up and expect the blessing from heaven at any time. Requests are presented as soon as possible. We shall be glad to hear what the Lord is doing for you. If you do not get the answer right away, perhaps there is something on your part that needs to be gotten out of the way. Let the Spirit search your heart and life.
Send in your lists of addresses for the paper. If there are some who want the paper sent regularly, please state it and we will put your names on the permanent list. To the others we will simply send one or two copies till we hear from them.
We have not time to write to all, so we will let the paper do for a letter. It will be issued as often as the Lord provides the means and will always be paid for before it comes out.
We thank the Lord for this blessed way of publishing the paper, trusting Him for the means. It is a restful way and saves much time. It also enables us to send it far and wide. We pray for God to bless its messages to the readers. Most of these messages have been taken down in shorthand in meetings of great power, messages that are inspired by the Holy Ghost. To God be all the glory.
Let me warn you, dear ones, as a mother in Israel, Don't try to prune one another, Jesus says: "I am the vine and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he purgeth it." Let Him do the pruning and purging. If you see a brother or sister doing anything you do not approve of, instead of blazing it abroad, get down on your knees and say: "My Father, I honor you to bring them out of this fault." Multitudes and great bodies of Christians have gone to the wall for that very same thing. They tried to prune one another, tried to make others believe just as they believed and think just as they thought. If this movement stands for anything, it stands for unity of mind. It was raised up to answer the prayer of Jesus: "That they might be one, as thou Father art in me and I in thee." What is the matter with the world today? Here is a little selfish sect and there a denomination by itself. They do not love one another as God would have them. Let us honor every bit of God there is in one another. Let us honor the Holy Ghost to teach men to get them out of their error. Dear ones, watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation. Watch that something does not come in to grieve the Holy Spirit. "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."
Mrs. Anna Hall.
A sister who has had hemorrhages of the lungs for years was brought very low lately, having seven hard hemorrhages one after another. She was nearing the river and heard her name called three times by a heavenly messenger, but she answered that she did not feel she could say she had fought a good fight and kept the faith. Then the drawing to the other shore ceased. The saints prayed for her, and she arose, and dressed, being perfectly healed. She went to the table and ate her dinner and afterwards played and sang several hymns. She has received the baptism with the Holy Ghost and God has raised her up to preach the whole Gospel.
A wonderful day was spent at the Terminal Island beach September 11. Four cars packed with people went down from the mission, and singing, praise, prayer and rejoicing, as well as preaching the Gospel, made it a continual meeting all the way. Eighty-five were baptized in the ocean. This was the second service. It is a beautiful place for this service as there is a pavilion seating several hundred people and we were given free use of the bath house and all its rooms. Two services were held in the pavilion. The power of God rested on the baptismal service. Heaven and earth certainly came together.
Jesus is searching for a people that will believe the gospel. He has never changed the gospel in any way since He commissioned it. Many take sanctification to be the power. They stop when they have original sin taken out, and Christ enthroned in the heart; but God wants us to go on and get filled with the Holy Ghost; that we may be witnesses unto Him to the uttermost parts of the earth. The times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth men everywhere to repent. The Lord is restoring all the gifts to His church. He wants a people who have faith in His word and in the Holy Spirit.
Jesus was not only nailed to the cross, but hung there till He died. He did not come down from the cross as they told Him to do, though He had the power to do so. So with us, when we are crucified with Christ, we should not come down and live for self again, but stay on the cross. A constant death to self is the way to follow our Master.