PENTECOST HAS COME 

PREFACE TO LIKE AS OF FIRE

"Many years ago in a tiny mission located in a short, humble street a group of saints met to pray for an outpouring of the Holy Ghost. As a result the power of Pentecost fell, thousands received the Baptism of the Spirit according to Acts 2:4. Ministers and laymen flocked from the four corners of the earth to kindle their torches, and went forth to spread the flame, which has set fire to the world.

Since that time millions have received the Comforter. Countless Pentecostal Missions have sprung up, here, there and everywhere. Nothing short of an Upper Room Experience could satisfy such hearts. They spake with other tongues, through their ministries the sick have been healed and the lame have leaped for joy.

The name "AZUSA" has become that of an international shrine. All that it stands for has become a guiding star, a signpost in a wilderness of modernism, a beckoning light house to urge men back to the power of Apostolic days.

The tiny Mission building has long since crumbled.

Its dusky portals no longer ring with the shout of Hosannas.

Eager feet of hungering saints no longer tread its dusty cobblestones.

The passer by has long since ceased to pause and look in wonder at the strange sight of black faces intermingled with those of white, lifted in raptured blessing, `neath the Latter Rain."(* From a note by Aimee McPherson sent to me while I was editor of Word and Work on April 30, 1936).

The old Azusa Street Mission is long gone but its Heaven born message has flowed to the endsof the earth. One of the Saints at Azusa retained a complete collection of the little magazine that the Mission published called the "Apostolic Faith". This complete set, several photographs, and some correspondence are reproduced here.

Rachel A. (Harper) Sizelove was but one of the many saints at old Azusa Mission. In 1934,while I was editor of WORD AND WORK(a monthly Pentecostal magazine) she mailed this collection to me and admonished me to republish the old documents telling how the Shekinah of God's glory fell on the people in the early days at the Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles, California. She believed that God would use them to stir up hearts that are hungry for the real Pentecostal blessing. Her letter to me is printed below.

March 15, 1934
1892 Stanley Ave.
Long Beach, California

Mr. Jim and Fred Corum;

My dear brother and nephew, I am sending you by mail a copy of all of the papers printed at the Azusa Street Mission, which were only thirteen, for before the fourteenth paper was published, Sister Crawford ventured out from the Azusa publishing house and set up in Portland, Oregon. I am sending the first and second papers that she printed in Portland, but do not want it printed in the book or reprinted with the Azusa St. papers (which were only thirteen).

I believe the dear Lord will get glory out of the reprinting of the papers in book form, for so many Saints say they would like so much to read the old papers. But, I cannot loan, for I would soon have none to loan.

I do not know of anyone who has the picture of Brother Seymour and Brother Smith his co-worker, who had been an old Methodist preacher for years and so well-known and loved by all who knew him. I would like their pictures taken just from their waist up and I think they could be taken from the group picture. They are both in glory now. I think it would be nice to have a picture of the letterhead they used in the beginning of Pentecost, to be printed just above the picture of the Azusa St. Mission, for God did get glory out of those letters. For, when so many just saw the top of the letter, conviction would seize them for their baptism, and the power of God would fall upon them, Hallelujah!

Now dear ones if you can take these papers and pictures and print a book to the glory of God, I will be so glad to donate my share of any revenues to the Bethel Home there in Framingham. I would like to donate some money to help get it printed if Josie is willing. But I am praying that God will furnish the means that it will be printed and I wi!! do all in my power by the help of God to self the book and the proceeds go to Bethel Home as long as you are in charge. But it might be it would fall into the hands of greedy and selfish men -then I would want the proceeds (for my part) to go to some worthy missionary, or God's cause. So pray over it. Wait upon God. It may be that He wil! raise someone up to help print the book. I do not want one cent out of the book to spend upon myself. I want, for my part, to donate every cent to the cause. Look these papers over and see what can be done, and if you decide you can print it, do as you are led of the Lord with your part of any proceeds.

I enjoy reading the Word and Work so much. I am sending a small contribution to help with it.

With Iove and prayers, I am your old aunt,
Rachel Sizefove

P.S. I am sending my credentials given me at Azusa Mission - might be we!! to reprint in the book below my picture, if it be God's will to put my picture in the book. You may publish my testimony, also Sister Lillie's and her picture, as she was the first to receive the baptism in Springfield. I'll pay any extra cost.
R. A. S.

The story of Azusa has been documented in may good books to which the reader is referred. Read them in conjunction with these papers and may be followed papers and may the Holy Fire fall and kindle a new wave of Heaven-born Latter Rain Holy Ghost revival that lifts up the old blood-stained banner, exalts Jesus the Messiah, and sweeps a final harvest of souls through to victory before the bridal call! Jesus is coming.

There were so many dear Saints at the Mission. You may read their own words in the Azusa Street papers. The group photograph shows the twelve that comprised the credential committee.

Sister Evans was the first woman to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost after the meetings moved into the Azusa Mission, and Brother Evans was the first man to receive the baptism at the Mission.

Jennie Moore, who had received the baptism on April 9, 1906 in the Richard Asbury home at 214 Bonnie Brae Street, later married Brother Seymour. (When I first published this picture in the January and March 1935 issues of Word and Work I misspelled her name as Sister "Moon" and that error has propagated on through various books and magazines that have copied the picture.) Her testimony may be read in the Volume 1, No. 8 (May 1907) issue on page 3, entitled "Music From Heaven". Also see Volume 1, No. 12, page 1.

Brother Cook took the message to Indianapolis and his report is in the Volume 1, No. 6 (February-March 1907) issue on page 3 and Volume 1, No. 5 (January 1907) on page 1. His testimony is given in Volume 1, No. 3 (November 1906) on page 2. It was during these meetings that J. Roswell Flower was saved and Thomas F. Zimmerman's mother first heard the Pentecostal message. Sister Flower gives a glowing account of this testimony and the subsequent meetings led by Tom Hezmalhalch. See Volume 1, No. 7 (April 1907) on page 1. Also see references 10 and 13 the Azusa Street Papers.

Sister Crawford took the message north, arriving in Portland, Oregon at noon on Christmas Day, 1906. By 3 p.m. she had started at "Second and Main". Her story has been documented and is told in the book THE APOSTOLIC FAITH, and may be followed through the pages of the Azusa Street Papers. She went on to glory June 20, 1936.

Sister Sizelove had been a Free Methodist Evangelist. The day that she left to carry the message to Springfield, Missouri, in the latter part of May 1907, this little group gathered around her and prayed, laying hands upon her, and the Holy Spirit spoke by interpretation, "Go and go quickly!" I was only seven years old at the time, but I remember when she came to our door. The Holy Ghost spoke through her with tongues and the interpretation was, "The Holy Spirit as a dove shall hover over this home." The power fell in Springfield on June 1, 1907 and mother received a precious pearl of great price.

Aunt Rachel made a second trip to Springfield in June of 1913, when she had a vision of a sparkling fountain springing up out of Springfield; but all this and the story of the first Los Angeles Camp meeting of the Apostolic Faith Mission (see Volume 1, No. 8) will be told in my book, THE SPARKLING FOUNTAIN, which will soon be released, the Lord willing.

Dear Sister Clara E. Lum knew shorthand (she is holding a pencil in the picture) and she recorded people's testimonies stenographic ally and the interpretation of messages in tongues. Her testimony is given in the Volume 1, No. 6 (February-March 1907) issue on page 8. She went with Sister Sizelove, Sister Mayo, Brother R.J. Scott and Tom Anderson to a spot where God had shown in a vision that a camp meeting should be held. (See Volume 1, No. 8, pages i and 2). Brother Anderson later went as a missionary to South America. His testimony is in Volume 1, No. 6, page 8, and a report in Volume 1, No. 12, page 4. Sister Mae F. Mayo's testimony is given in Volume 1, No. 8, page 4. Brother Scott wrote in Volume 1, No. 6, page 7, and Volume 1, No. 8, page 2.

Of Sister Prince, I know very little. In various places she has been called, "A Mother in Israel".

Many other faithful Saints attended the Azusa meetings and their testimonies are scattered throughout these papers and in many books and tracts which were later written. Brother Frank Bartleman's diary conveys much of the atmosphere of these early days. Sister Anna Bartleman wrote to me that Brother Bartleman passed away on August 23, 1936. He was born on December 14, 1871. He received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost at the Eighth and Maple Mission on August 16, 1906 and his experience is given in his book on page 71 (of the original edition). Also see Volume 1, No. 2, pages 1 and 4. He had been preaching for forty four years when the Lord took him. Bethel Temple in Los Angeles conducted the funeral service (See WORD AND WORK, Volume 53, No. 10, page 7, October 1935).

The fire spread eastward and in the Apostolic Faith, Volume 1, No. 10, on page 4, you can read how Brother Fred A. Graves, who wrote many beautiful hymns (Brother Brumback calls him a "sweet singer in Israel", SUDDENLY FROM HEAVEN, page 73), along with Marie Burgess (who had received the Baptism on October 18, 1906 and later married Robert Brown and started Glad Tidings Tabernacle in New York City), Jeanie Campbell, and Brother and Sister William Hamner Piper (the pastors of "The Stone Church" in Chicago) started services for the teaching of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. But, this is another thread radiating outward from Azusa.

In the Azusa papers you will find several poems and testimonies of Thomas Hezmalhalch. Sister Alice Reynolds Flower tells about him in chapter 10 of TOUCHED BY THE FIRE and in GRACE FOR GRACE. A.S. Worrell, who wrote a translation of the New Testament gives a testimony in Volume l, No. 4, page 2 and in Volume l, No. 6, page 5.

What shall we say of Mason, Copley, Barratt, Body, Opperman, Durham, Cashwell, Parham and Seymour? Their words are woven throughout these papers and each was used mightily to spread the precious message to so many hungry souls. Except for Brother Seymour, their stories have been well documented. I have recently been contacted by a Brother Douglas J. Nelson (Ph.D. candidate in church history with Professor Walter J. Hollenweger of the University of Bermingham England.) that is writing a biography of Brother Seymour, and perhaps it will soon appear in print.

There were 5,000 copies of Volume 1, No. 1 of this paper issued in September of 1906. Today, like so many other old papers, they have become collector's items. Their thrilling accounts, however, must be shared with new generations. The story of the spreading message of Pentecost anew is told in their pages. Not only do they document the outpouring across the USA, but also to Scotland (Volume 2, No. 13, page 1), Australia, India, Sweden, Norway, Jerusalem, Asia, Africa, the islands of the sea, . . . and to the ends of the earth.

The people and places named read like a "Who's Who" in Charismatic history, and their works have followed after. There are many unfinished testimonies and stories here. One wonders, if the Armrnians that are mentioned Volume 1, No. 7, page 2 and Volume 1, No. 6, page 7) were not part of those described by Demos Shakarian in his life story, THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE ON EARTH (reference 17, page 24). There are many names which do not appear in the Pentecostal history books. Sometimes it is the hand of mercy that covers unrecorded history, but so often precious jewels are discovered only by mining very deep. So many of these humble workers desired no credit and no glory, and would seek to cover their trails so that their works would be "known but to God".

A brief history of the Azusa St. origins is given in the first few issues. (See especially Volume I, No. 2, page l and No. 4, page I). And, again I would recommend that these papers be read along with the standard Pentecostal histories which have appeared over the years. Each one has it's own particular insight.

What were the meetings like? What was the atmosphere of Azusa Street Mission like? Many years later, Gordon Lindsay asked Arthur G. Osterberg what the outstanding spiritual phenomena was at Azusa Street. Osterberg's reply was one word, "TEARS". See reference 1 1, page 28.

I have many more things that aunt Rachel wrote about and sent to me, and I remember her several trips to our home. Rachel Sizelove was led to make a trip east in 1907 to bring the Pentecostal message to her sister in Missouri. The Azusa saints gathered together and the Spirit spoke, "Go, and go quickly, for I am with you."

The story of that trip will soon be told in another book. God blessed many along the way as she traveled eastward by train. Lillie N. (Harper) Corum was the first to receive the baptism in Springfield, Mo. Here is part of her testimony.

"In the latter part of May 1907, Sister Rachel A. Sizelove of Los Angeles, California came to Springfield, Mo. And while she was at my home for a week or more, she preached and brought the message that we were living in the last days. God was pouring out His Spirit on all flesh, with signs following as on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:4. For some months, I had been reading a little paper called the Apostolic Faith printed by the saints at Azusa St. Mission. My soul was so hungry to learn more of the wonderful works of God! 5o after The Lord Jesus gave me a wonderful vision of His Heb. 13:12. He baptized me with the Holy Ghost and fire from Heaven. I spoke and sang in other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance, which was marvelous to all who witnessed it. Praise the Lord forever! I could feel the fire burning in my very bones. And God gave great power to witness for His Glory."

There is much more to tell and this is only one thread woven outward from the old Azusa Mission. As dear Brother J.W. Welch wrote in the preface to Bennett I.awrence's book, "If He shall tarry for a time, it is hoped and expected that this book will be followed by another in which it will be possible to give a fuller account of the greatest revival the world has ever seen since the early church period."

Today there exists a whole literary genre associated with Pentecostal history. Some of the books we have found useful, over the years, are listed below. There are probably many others. Surely only eternity will tell the whole story.

We have been working on a second book and, the Lord willing, it will soon follow this one. It will be but one more thread in the tapestry of Charismatic history. Surely God uses only the longest threads to weave his fabric, so that each small piece reveals the beauty of the entire tapestry.

There is a fresh wind blowing and the Holy Glow which has rested on these old coals for all these years is leaping forth into flame. We are so unworthy to follow in the pathways that were opened so very long ago, but as Roy Turner and the Camerons once wrote, our heart's desire is to ". . . live like those who've gone before and pray down the power as in the days of yore."

We believe that our mighty Lord is leading us in this publishing effort. We want none of the credit and none of the glory, but only to be in the cleft of the rock while the Shekinah passes over. Surely God is in this undertaking. We believe that it may be the final call, "Return, return O Shulamite". (Song of Solomon 6:13)

As I look at these photographs and reread these old papers, I am reminded of another battle fought for freedom and liberty by humble New England farmers that changed the destiny of our planet. For,

"Here once the embattled warriors kneeled, And prayed down the fire which spread 'round the world".

Fred T. Corum August 1, 1981