I. SALUTATION
9. COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE
In our judgment it is desirable that a committee of nine be appointed, to be composed of representatives of the holiness work in various sections of the United States and Canada, which shall be known as the General Committee of Correspondence, to confer with reference to the holding of another Holiness General Assembly, and to call and arrange for such a gathering in the year 1902, at such place as they shall deem expedient.
Wilson T. Hogue, A. M. Hills, E. F. Walker, Hiram Ackers,
M. L. Haney, L. B. Kent, W. E. Shepard
ECHOES of the
GENERAL HOLINESS ASSEMBLY Held in Chicago, May 3-13, 1901
Edited by S. B. Shaw
Report of Committee on Permanent Methods
Whereas, we have a great number of holiness people scattered throughout this and various holiness organizations, and, knowing that in unity there is strength; your committee deem it would please God to have one general association for the promotion of holiness, embracing all our people and organizations for more aggressive work and better conserving the work already accomplished;
therefore,
Resolved, First: That, since the divine approval has so manifestly rested on this Assembly, we recommend its continuance with its present officers, and that we look forward to another Assembly in the year 1902, at which a permanent General Association for the promotion of holiness may be perfected, which may include this Assembly and all holiness organizations.
Resolved, Second: That this Assembly now create a committee of seven members, one of which shall be the President of this Assembly, to be called The Committee on Preparation, which shall confer with other organizations for the promotion of holiness, in the interest of the above general affiliations, and which shall make the necessary preparations for the meeting of the Assembly in 1902.
Resolved, Third: That all holiness people and all holiness bodies be invited and urged to attend individually, or by delegation, the Assembly provided for in the above resolution.
A. McLean, Chairman T. H. Agnew, Secretary
The committee provided for in the above report was afterward enlarged and the following brethren elected as the Committee on Preparation to arrange for the next Assembly.
Rev. C. J. Fowler, Mass.
Rev. A. M. Hills, Texas Rev. H. C. Morrison, Ky.
Rev. A. L. Whitcomb, Ill.
Rev. M. L. Haney, Ill.
Rev. J. M. Pike, Ga.
Rev. John McD. Kerr, Can.
Rev. P. F. Bresee, Cal.
Deacon Geo. M. Morse, Conn.
Rev. Isaiah Reid, Iowa Rev. E. F. Walker, Ind.
ECHOES of the
GENERAL HOLINESS ASSEMBLY Held in Chicago, May 3-13, 1901
Edited by S. B. Shaw DAILY PROCEEDINGS
Friday, May 3
MORNING SESSION
This was devoted largely to an informal service. The time was occupied in prayer, testimony and song. Bro. Geo. Hughes presided. A goodly number of delegates were already present, and the number rapidly increased.
AFTERNOON SESSION
Bro. Geo. Hughes, chairman of the committee who issued the Official Call, called the meeting to order. After devotional exercises, Bro. Hughes was chosen Temporary Chairman, and Bro. G. A.
McLaughlin, Secretary Pro Tem.
Bro. Hughes: I think it would be in order to hear a word from some of our brethren. Let us hear from our Texas brother -- Bro. Hills.
Bro. Hills: "I feel greatly honored. I love to tell my experience. I was born in Michigan of parents that were Christians. Was converted at eleven years of age and went to leading meetings at sixteen.
I became a student of Oberlin College at nineteen and graduated at twenty-three. I felt conviction for holiness, and sought Bro. Finney that I might be enabled to teach it, but this dear man seemed unfortunately unable to impart this peculiar knowledge to others. He would pray with me, but it didn't seem to help me. After Oberlin, I attended Yale Theological Seminary, and, although somewhat shaken, I never lost the great impulse I had to be a soul winner. God gave me revival after revival until I had led twenty-five hundred souls to Jesus Christ. My heart was hungering for something else that I wanted, and didn't know how to get. I thought it was something to grow into.
By and by, after two pastorates, lasting sixteen years, God gave me the blessed experience but, because I preached it, I was driven out of the charge. I was crushed and heartbroken. God shook me out of the pastorate. A Doctor of Divinity said: You have had two short pastorates. God wants you in the evangelistic work. I said: If God can keep my family from starvation in these panicky days of 93, I will try it. Right where the blessed Finney preached, and where I had sung in the choir, I had two hundred conversions. The most blessed thing about it was the fact that I was trying to preach holiness, and a little, despised, holiness man came and prayed for me. I was preaching fifteen times a week, meanwhile reading everything in the way of holiness literature, for sixteen long months. I began to see how people got it, and I said if God ever gave me that blessing I would write a book and make it plain. That was the inspiration of my book, Holiness and Power, which a good Methodist Bishop was kind enough to recommend to his conference in Texas. I thought it was a very gracious thing for a Methodist to do with a Congregational book. God has permitted me to write four books,
given me four thousand souls, helped me to teach three years in a theological seminary, and in another college one year.
Bro. Hughes: "Let us hear from the East, where the sun rises, -- from Deacon Morse of New York."
Bro. Geo. M. Morse: "Praise the Lord! I am glad to be here. I want to say the blood cleanses me from all sin. I have come out from everything the devil has of every character. I am clean along those lines. I started in a Baptist Church, forty-two years ago. I am at peace with all men. I have nothing against anybody. I don't have to go across the street to get away from my enemies. I want to say that I have to keep trusting in the name of Jesus. I ought to have done better in view of what Jesus has done for me. He that is least shall be the greatest, and it yet remains to be seen what God will do in Chicago and New York with the people. It may be that the devil will tempt some of you big preachers to put yourselves on exhibition. Let us keep low at the feet of Jesus, and keep full of the Holy Ghost. I am here to spend and be spent. I expect to see souls saved in Chicago. This morning, when I arose I had to begin preaching Christ to the waiters and bell boys."
Bro. Hughes: We will now hear from the North, from Bro. Harris of Canada, one of the old time workers.
Bro. James Harris: "For 50 years I have been a standard-bearer for Christ. Looking through Leslie's biography, I see that he was baptized by Wesley. Leslie took me in his arms and baptized me, and I have always been a disciple of the Wesleyan kind of holiness. There I stand today by the blessing of God, and I am ready to do anything to further the cause of God."
Bro. J. B. Foote of Syracuse, N. Y.: "I think we ought to constitute ourselves a committee of the whole to go into the homes, the shops and offices, or wherever we go, and do something for the furtherance of Gods work. The beginning of one of the greatest national camp meetings was at the dinner table. It has been said in the past and is being said yet that holiness people don't care for sinners. We want to convince them that we do care for sinners. A man was asked if he was saved.
He said no. That was the first convert for the National Camp Meeting. One spoke to another, and from that time the work went on until five hundred were converted."
Committees were then appointed on Music, Mail, Books, Pulpit Supply, Credentials, Press, Organization, and Street Meetings.
On motion, the committee on organization was requested to be prepared to report at 10:30 Saturday morning.
On motion the Assembly adjourned to meet in business session at 10 A. M., Saturday, May 4; it being understood that this motion had no bearing on the evening devotional session at 7:30 P. M.
*************************************
EVENING SESSION
Rev. George Hughes presided. -- He announced the arrival of Bro. P. H. Murdick of Drew Theological Seminary, who had come as a representative of a little holiness band of students in that institution.
Bro. Hughes: I have been fully persuaded, from the time of the initiation of this movement, that, if we were to have victory, it would be along the prayer line. That is my solemn conviction; hence, we have men and women of God interested in prayer, all over this country, for this Assembly. Thank God! We have succeeded in this matter of enlisting prayer, far beyond our expectations. The members of the committee have been praying, every day at noon, for each other. It occurred to me that I would ask fifty of the men and women that I knew were people who would pray up into heaven, to join with the committee at noon, so there has been an outside committee surrounding the committee. I think these prayers have been heard.
Then it came to us to put forth a request in the April Number of the Guide to Holiness, asking for the names of one thousand who would pray for this Assembly, and asking all who would to send their replies to my residence in New Jersey, stating that they would join in the prayer service. From the time that was put out the mail began to bring answers to the request. Several times a day the postman came with the letters. I have them in a box in my trunk. Someone said: "Why don't you ask for 10,000?" I thought my faith ought to have gone so high. The letters keep coming and I am receiving them at my lodging place.
Then we have asked for requests for prayer to come up before this Assembly for unsaved friends, or any object for which the writer desires prayer. That box is a great deal fuller.
Now, we have been looking around to find somebody to take these requests for prayer and put them on an International Prayer Roll, to be added to day by day, as the prayer requests come in, and we expect them in still greater numbers.
It was Inskip who taught me to use the prayer roll many years ago, and I am making good use of it. I have 1,500 prayer requests, that came in on other occasions, that I wouldn't part with for anything. I want you people to join in this thing. Those that hear me tonight, if you have an unsaved friend that you want saved, write the name on a slip of paper and hand it in. We will hold these requests up before the Lord, as we used to do in National Camp meetings. I will ask you all to stand up and offer silent prayer that God will bless everyone mentioned in those boxes.
(The congregation arose and engaged in a brief silent prayer.)
Bro. Alexander McLean: "I am deeply impressed with the occasion which has brought us together, and I trust the Holy Spirit will so come upon us that we will be led of God, if possible, more than we ever were before. ("Amen.") This is an extraordinary moment for us and the people of God, generally. I cannot help but go back in my recollection, as I am here now for the first service of this convention to the time a few years ago, when I attended the early sessions of a Methodist Conference in the room across the hall. If I speak of the Methodist denomination, it is not because I am not in
sympathy with others, God bless you all! ("Amen!") One of the bishops cried frequently, We have them, those who weep. Bishop Janes was always present at that 8:00 o'clock meeting. I remember how he used to urge the brethren to come into the prayer meeting in the morning. The thing that we need here most is prayer. Bishop Clarke was there. One morning I saw him as he was lifting up his heart in prayer. His eyes were wet with tears. I said: Bless God! There is a bishop who can weep as he prays. A few years ago, I was in London, and I couldn't refrain when standing by the grave of John Wesley, from uncovering my head, under the solemn blue skies and taking a solemn vow to labor to the end that we may have a race of holy people, and, God being my helper, I will be true to that trust. In beautiful Greenwood Cemetery, between the graves of John Inskip and his wife, I renewed this solemn vow, before coming here, to be true to holiness, and I would be glad to renew it tonight.
("Amen!") The occasion is solemn and impressive. It is a momentous hour for all of us, and for men and women of God all over the land, -- a very momentous hour. And, for one, I feel like getting down on my face before Almighty God and asking divine help."
Brother Hughes: "Let us go down on our knees before God. Let us dismiss all formality that might otherwise come into the services and usurp the place of the blessed Holy Ghost. Is it not the blessed Holy Spirit urging you to come and get down before God? Let us have a melting time. Beloved, God does not want you left out. Let us have a moment of silent prayer.
Silent Prayer was followed by prayer led by Bro. A. McLean: "O, Lord, Thy Spirit is here. Thou art in our hearts. Thou art leading us. We will put aside all possible formality. Help us to get down in the dust before Thee. O, Lord, look upon us, we pray Thee, and if there be any disposition to prefer one to another, or to have our own way, help us infinitely to prefer Thy blessed way. O, God, search my heart. Come in infinite mercy into our midst. We want to be knit together in love -- united with bonds of holy love. We want, blessed Spirit to ask God to take this matter in hand and lead on and out for His glory and for His honor. Lord, help us to have the spirit of John the Baptist, when he said, I must decrease but He must increase. O, that we may have the grace to go down, down, out of sight of self: and have Jesus exalted. Our hearts cry out All hail the power of Jesus name. Lord, we are in the dust; we desire to get very low, -- clear out of sight, but we must have Thee present.
We must have Thy guidance; we must have a baptism of real, genuine Holy Ghost fire and power.
O, Lord, banish everything contrary to Thy will. Whatever there be that hinders, help us to get rid of it in this place made memorable in years gone by. We are here before Thee in the depths of our humility and meekness of spirit, and we know that Thou dost answer prayer. Now Lord, let a re-anointing of Thy Spirit come upon us. Lord, if we did nothing but praise Thee, it is counted a very excellent thing. But we would have a growing tide of spirit life and power to date from this very service. Thou art hearing us and answering us, but answer in thine own way, we beseech Thee, and we will give Thee the praise and glory forever."
Bro. Hughes: "Now, friends, I am going to turn this meeting over entirely to Deacon Morse. I told him to tell his experience, -- what the Lord has done for him; to take whatever course he sees fit, only that he should lead us into a battle for souls, The cry of my heart is for souls. We hope a good many people will be sanctified tonight."
*************************************
EXPOSITION AND EXHORTATION BY DEACON GEORGE M. MORSE
I thank my dear brother Hughes for the honor he has given me. Its a wonder he shouldn't have selected some sermonizer or preacher. The time we have left this evening is limited.
Are we ready for the battle? Are we where God wants us? Are we full of love and fire? Are we in it, heart and soul? I am certain that holiness people can backslide, and get in a state of lethargy, waiting for Sunday to come, as though all the work was to be done on Sunday. We have, thank God, men and women in the cause with tears running down their cheeks. O God, give us a burning love for souls. O, Lord help us, for Jesus sake to get on ground where we will say it shall be done. I tell you a great deal depends upon our keeping low before God, and preaching Jesus beside all waters.
("Lord help us.") I don't mean that we shall fire too many random shots. The Lord is with those that fear Him. We must keep our eyes single to Gods glory, and see to it that there is no stumbling in us.
We should be up and at it, subject at all times to His beck and bid, and something will happen. Press on for souls and somebody will get converted to God, or believers led into entire sanctification.
We are living in a marvelous age. Oh, what a great work for God, to my observation and reading, has been done up and down this continent and in England in the last twenty-five years. Now, if we all look to God and keep in the spirit of prayer, we shall see results in this meeting.
I will read, and perhaps make a few comments on the prayer of Jesus, as found in the 17th Chapter of St. Johns Gospel.
I want to call special attention to the 17th verse: "Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth," and the 19th verse: "And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth."
This prayer as breathed by our dear Savior and given us in this chapter, is in harmony with the Apostle Paul's prayer -- I Thess. v:23), "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." It is also in harmony with John xv:2, "Every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth (which means sanctifieth) it, that it may bring forth more fruit." I met a gentleman (who may be within the hearing of my voice now,) on the sidewalk last evening who said he received all that anybody ever receives, at conversion. I didn't argue with him. I don't believe in too much argument. But I didn't happen to get sanctification in that way. I was three days and three nights -- seventy-two hours under the power of Holy Ghost conviction, and God converted me through and through. I had no living sacrifice to offer to God. I was dead in trespasses and sin, and no good thing was in me, and I cried to God for mercy. I could neither eat nor sleep. I was driven to the wall. I cried unto God to have mercy upon me a poor sinner. God heard my cry and regenerated me with the power of the Holy Ghost, and made me alive from the dead. I then ran about everywhere, so to speak, thirty, forty or sixty miles from home, telling everybody what a dear Savior I had found. I never came to the point of offering a living sacrifice to God for thirteen years. Phoebe Palmer and the Guide to Holiness had a great deal to do with my sanctification. Somehow a copy of this magazine came into my hands, and it gave me instruction in the way of Holiness. Then I heard Sister Phoebe Palmer deliver a prayer at a camp meeting at Martha's Vineyard away back in 59 or 60, and I never got rid of the impression