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

to its personnel. Among its members were a number of brilliant and cultured families, and some men
of considerable wealth.
William P. Hepburn
William P. Hepburn, a member of the United States house of representatives for so many years,
belonged to this church, and William McPherrin, a brilliant lawyer, was a member. Bro. McPherrin
died of tuberculosis many years afterward, at the residence of Dr. Bresee in Los Angeles, leaving a
wife and several children, who were still living in that city in 1912.
Brother and Sister Bresee remained in Clarinda three years. There was nothing peculiar or striking
about the pastorate. No especially great revival occurred, but there was good, steady growth, and a
fair degree of success. The pastoral salary was $1,500 a year. Upon the arrival of Dr. Bresee in the
city, his brethren proposed that he should not say anything about money, or have anything to do with
finances, but should merely draw his salary monthly from the bank. He complied with the request
for the first year, after which he found that it was necessary for the pastor to devote some attention
to the finances of the church, not on his own account, but for the good of the work. He never had any
trouble about his support in the Clarinda church.
A Musical Church
The Methodist Episcopal church at Clarinda was characterized by great singing ability. It was said
to have the best choir, the best double quartet, and the finest chorus in the state of Iowa. Great
musical conventions were held in the city, and the Methodist church was always in the forefront of
these gatherings. While it is possible that these musical accomplishments did not hinder the work,
it is certainly true that they did not help it to any great extent along spiritual lines.
At Clarinda Dr. Bresee began to introduce the modern gospel songs which he had used so
effectively at Red Oak. Among the first of these books was that issued by Phillips. It was a song
book with choruses which were sung with great power at Red Oak. These Brother Bresee used at
Clarinda, but not in the regular services. The people were grand singers and sang the old hymns in
a delightful manner. The only peculiarity that characterized their singing in the church at Clarinda,
was manifested at the prayermeeting in this wise: After a season of prayer, and just as the people
were rising, they would begin to hunt a hymn, and the pianist would commence to get ready. In a
little while they would announce the number, and would commence to sing. This little peculiarity
was objectionable to Dr. Bresee, as tending to cut off the whole tide of spiritual life, and he met the
situation in a way that was characteristic of the man. As soon as he rose from his knees he would
begin to sing a hymn. He was incapable of striking the tune, but he would do his best, and Mrs.
Bresee, or some other good singer, would take up the tune, and they would carry it along. Dr. Bresee
stated that he considered it quite probable that this method of beginning a hymn was somewhat
humiliating to the people, for he noticed that in a very short time they learned to sing without
hesitation or preparation at the end of a season of prayer.