Peniel Mission
Encyclopedia
The Peniel Mission was an interdenominational holiness
rescue mission that was started in Los Angeles, California
on 11 November 1886 by Theodore Pollock Ferguson
(1853–1920) and Manie Payne Ferguson
(born 1850; died 8 June 1932). It was dissolved in 1949.
for six months until it could be demolished. The Mission then relocated to rented rooms at 107 North Main Street. In the first eight years, the Mission relocated six times, before establishing a permanent location.
The Mission was eventually renamed the Peniel Mission. Peniel means "Face of God", and "was chosen from Genesis 32: 24–30, and is meant to connote spiritual triumph."
. In 1894, the Fergusons received a significant anonymous financial donation (from former English cricketer George Studd
). With this funding the Fergusons were able to plan to expand the ministry of the Peniel Mission. They invited former Methodist presiding elder Dr Phineas Bresee to join them in their endeavour, and planned to construct a 900 seat auditorium and ministry centre at 227 South Main Street, Los Angeles. It was decided that there would be four superintendents: Theodore and Manie Ferguson, George Studd
and Phineas F. Bresee
.
On Sunday 21 October 1894 the 900-seat Peniel Hall was dedicated. University of Southern California
president Dr. Joseph Pomeroy Widney
led the 9.30am Praise Service, while Bresee preached in the 11.00am service "from the text, "And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."(Smith, 40). In the initial issue of the Peniel Herald, the mission's official newspaper, it was announced
As Timothy Smith explains:
In October 1894 at the dedication of the Peniel Hall, Widney announced his intention to organize a Training Institute, in which Bible and practical nursing were to be the principal studies. By December 1894 Bresee had urged in the Peniel Herald the creation of an organization to screen out undesirable workers, and to create a group for "those that are being gathered in, who have no church affiliation, who need care and fellowship, and a place to find a home and work." Bresee and the other three superintendents created a printed statement of belief to be required of all who wished to associate themselves with Peniel Hall. It was a broad one, "embracing in simplest statement… a few of those essential things which are the common inheritance of the children of God.":
According to Smith, "What Bresee intended, apparently, was a combination of the interdenominational mission idea with that of an independent church, the former for the workers and sponsors who had no thought of forsaking their old allegiances, the latter for the converts and others who had no church home."
Another cause of disagreement was that Bresee became convinced that the best ministry for the urban poor was to create strong churches that ministered to entire families, whereas the Fergusons believed that the Peniel Mission should focus instead on the "down and outer" and remain non-denominational.
, other missions were established as Peniel Missions, primarily on on the west coast of the United States of America, but also in Memphis, New York, Alaska and Hawaii. "With a United States membership destined never to exceed a thousand (in 1906 a government report said 703), the ministry…had an impact on the larger [holiness] movement far in excess of that implied by numbers." By the turn of the twentieth century, more than 25 missions and rescue homes had been started. Among the Peniel Missions established were those located at:
Other Peniel missions were established, including:
of April 1906 had a negative effect on the Peniel Mission. Among those defecting from Peniel Hall was an Owen "Irish" Lee, a former Irish-American Catholic converted through Peniel Hall, who hosted William Seymour
in 1906 and allowed meetings in his home. The Lees informed other members of Peniel about the meetings (later held at 214 North Bonnie Brae Street). On 9 April 1906 Lee received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and spoke in tonguesin his home when Seymour laid hands on him and prayed. This precipitated other manifestations of tongues-speaking (including Seymour for the first time) later that day. Among those affected were Jennie Moore and Ruth Asberry who went to the Peniel Mission and spoke in tongues there. This resulted in the entire congregation of the Peniel Mission following them to the Azusa Street Mission. "Most of the churches, mission and tent meetings in the area were effected immediately. Some lost so many people to the Azusa Street Mission that they closed."
Among those who also defected to the Pentecostal movement was their primary financial supporter, George Studd
, former English cricketer and one of the primary benefactors of the Peniel Mission since its inception in 1886, who defected to the Apostolic Faith Mission
in September 1907; and Frank Bartleman
(1871–1936), pioneer Pentecostal preacher
and the chronicler of the Azusa Street Revival
, who was appointed director of the Peniel Mission in Stockton, California
in early 1904, and later preached regularly at the Peniel Mission in Pasadena, California
immediately prior to his involvement in the nascent Pentecostal movement.
.http://www.novelguide.com/a/discover/ear_01/ear_01_00070.html In 1998, the former West Coast USA Peniel Missions missionaries resigned from Peniel Missions, Inc. / World Gospel Missions and went to work for CityTeam Ministries. Peniel Missions in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Oakland were closed and the buildings and small fixed assets were sold to the ministry of CityTeam in a transaction that allowed those being ministered to continue receiving the services they needed. Peniel Missions in Stockton, California
is the only remaining American Peniel Missions affiliated with World Gospel Mission.
, including street-corner meetings followed by parades back to the mission hall". According to Schwanz,
According to Sandra Frankiel,
and Hawaii
, eventually Peniel Missions were established overseas in Africa
, Bolivia
(1911); China
(1909)http://ricci.rt.usfca.edu/institution/view.aspx?institutionID=567; Egypt
, Guatemala
, India
, Mexico
, and the Philippines. A separate organisation, The Peniel Missionary Society, under the control of Manie and Theodore Ferguson, was formed in 1895. The objective of the organisation was: "Mission work, as God shall lead, and as means shall be provided." (Dennis). The Mission operated on the faith mission
model, with workers unsalaried, and guaranteed no financial support. Despite this, by 1911, the Peniel Missionary Society was operating in the following fields: India, North Africa (Egypt), Mexico, Central America (Guatemala), South America (Argentine Republic, and Bolivia), West Indies (Puerto Rico), Alaska, and Hawaii. (Dennis)
Holiness movement
The holiness movement refers to a set of beliefs and practices emerging from the Methodist Christian church in the mid 19th century. The movement is distinguished by its emphasis on John Wesley's doctrine of "Christian perfection" - the belief that it is possible to live free of voluntary sin - and...
rescue mission that was started in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
on 11 November 1886 by Theodore Pollock Ferguson
Theodore Pollock Ferguson
Theodore Pollock Ferguson was a pioneer leader in the American Holiness Movement, a Christian evangelist and social worker who co-founded the Peniel Mission and Peniel Missionary Society.-Biographical Details:...
(1853–1920) and Manie Payne Ferguson
Manie Payne Ferguson
Manie Payne Ferguson was a pioneer leader in the American Holiness Movement, a Christian evangelist and social worker who co-founded the Peniel Mission, and the author of several hymns, most notably "Blessed Quietness".- Early life :...
(born 1850; died 8 June 1932). It was dissolved in 1949.
Origins and Early Days (1886–1894)
Manie Payne Ferguson, along with her husband, Theodore, founded the Los Angeles Mission on November 11, 1886 at the Masonic Hall on Spring Street (near 416 North Main Street) in downtown Los Angeles. However, after three months they were forced to move to the basement of the Nadeau Hotel (opened 5 July 1886), located on the southwest corner of Spring and First Streets. After a year, they were forced to rent the burnt-out Methodist Episcopal Church, SouthMethodist Episcopal Church, South
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, or Methodist Episcopal Church South, was the so-called "Southern Methodist Church" resulting from the split over the issue of slavery in the Methodist Episcopal Church which had been brewing over several years until it came out into the open at a conference...
for six months until it could be demolished. The Mission then relocated to rented rooms at 107 North Main Street. In the first eight years, the Mission relocated six times, before establishing a permanent location.
The Mission was eventually renamed the Peniel Mission. Peniel means "Face of God", and "was chosen from Genesis 32: 24–30, and is meant to connote spiritual triumph."
Peniel Hall (1894)
From the outset, the Peniel Mission was non-denominational and nonsectarianNonsectarian
Nonsectarian, in its most literal sense, refers to a lack of sectarianism. The term is also more narrowly used to describe secular private educational institutions or other organizations either not affiliated with or not restricted to a particular religious denomination though the organization...
. In 1894, the Fergusons received a significant anonymous financial donation (from former English cricketer George Studd
George Studd
George Brown Studd - cricketer and missionary.Studd was the second eldest of the famous Studd brothers, who dominated English cricket in the late 19th century...
). With this funding the Fergusons were able to plan to expand the ministry of the Peniel Mission. They invited former Methodist presiding elder Dr Phineas Bresee to join them in their endeavour, and planned to construct a 900 seat auditorium and ministry centre at 227 South Main Street, Los Angeles. It was decided that there would be four superintendents: Theodore and Manie Ferguson, George Studd
George Studd
George Brown Studd - cricketer and missionary.Studd was the second eldest of the famous Studd brothers, who dominated English cricket in the late 19th century...
and Phineas F. Bresee
Phineas F. Bresee
Phineas F. Bresee was the primary founder of the Church of the Nazarene, and founding president of Point Loma Nazarene University.-Early life and ministry:...
.
On Sunday 21 October 1894 the 900-seat Peniel Hall was dedicated. University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
president Dr. Joseph Pomeroy Widney
Joseph Pomeroy Widney
Joseph Pomeroy Widney, M.D. D.D. LL.D was a polymathic pioneer American physician, clergyman, entrepreneur-philanthropist, proto-environmentalist, prohibitionist, racial theorist, and prolific author....
led the 9.30am Praise Service, while Bresee preached in the 11.00am service "from the text, "And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."(Smith, 40). In the initial issue of the Peniel Herald, the mission's official newspaper, it was announced
"Our first work is to try to reach the unchurched. The people from the homes and the street where the light from the churches does not reach, or penetrates but little. Especially to gather the poor to the cross, by bringing to bear upon them Christian sympathy and helpfulness.... It is also our work to preach and teach the gospel of full salvation; to show forth the blessed privilege of believers in Jesus Christ, to be made holy and thus perfect in love."
As Timothy Smith explains:
Here were holinessSacredHoliness, or sanctity, is in general the state of being holy or sacred...
and humanitarianismHumanitarianismIn its most general form, humanitarianism is an ethic of kindness, benevolence and sympathy extended universally and impartially to all human beings. Humanitarianism has been an evolving concept historically but universality is a common element in its evolution...
working hand in hand, as in the days of Wesley. And sectarian feeling was rejected: "Peniel Mission is thoroughly evangelicalEvangelicalismEvangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
but entirely undenominational," the Herald declared. Its superintendents would welcome help from all "earnest souls . . . who have any time over and above the work in their churches that they desire to give."
In October 1894 at the dedication of the Peniel Hall, Widney announced his intention to organize a Training Institute, in which Bible and practical nursing were to be the principal studies. By December 1894 Bresee had urged in the Peniel Herald the creation of an organization to screen out undesirable workers, and to create a group for "those that are being gathered in, who have no church affiliation, who need care and fellowship, and a place to find a home and work." Bresee and the other three superintendents created a printed statement of belief to be required of all who wished to associate themselves with Peniel Hall. It was a broad one, "embracing in simplest statement… a few of those essential things which are the common inheritance of the children of God.":
"The Peniel Mission is an organization for Christian service and fellowship. It will be required that those who seek to become members of the Peniel Mission be sound in the faith on all the main points of Christian doctrine, which may be
particularized as follows:
"1. The Divine inspiration of the ScripturesBiblical inspirationBiblical inspiration is the doctrine in Christian theology that the authors and editors of the Bible were led or influenced by God with the result that their writings many be designated in some sense the word of God.- Etymology :...
, the Old and New Testaments.
"2. The TrinityTrinityThe Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
of the Godhead, Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
"3. The Fall of man, and his consequent need of RegenerationRegeneration (theology)Regeneration, while sometimes perceived to be a step in the Ordo salutis , is generally understood in Christian theology to be the objective work of God in a believer's life. Spiritually, it means that God brings Christians to new life from a previous state of subjection to the decay of death...
.
"4. The Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ for all men.
"5. Justification by Faith in Him.
"6. SanctificationSanctificationSanctity is an ancient concept widespread among religions, a property of a thing or person sacred or set apart within the religion, from totem poles through temple vessels to days of the week, to a human believer who achieves this state. Sanctification is the act or process of acquiring sanctity,...
by Faith in the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, and the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.
"7. The ResurrectionResurrectionResurrection refers to the literal coming back to life of the biologically dead. It is used both with respect to particular individuals or the belief in a General Resurrection of the dead at the end of the world. The General Resurrection is featured prominently in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim...
of the dead.
"8. The eternityEternityWhile in the popular mind, eternity often simply means existence for a limitless amount of time, many have used it to refer to a timeless existence altogether outside time. By contrast, infinite temporal existence is then called sempiternity. Something eternal exists outside time; by contrast,...
of Reward and Punishment."
According to Smith, "What Bresee intended, apparently, was a combination of the interdenominational mission idea with that of an independent church, the former for the workers and sponsors who had no thought of forsaking their old allegiances, the latter for the converts and others who had no church home."
Leadership Difficulties (1895)
However by early October 1895, Widney and Bresee were "frozen out" of the Peniel Mission. Frankiel indicates: "At first Bresee joined with the Fergusons at the Peniel Mission in Los Angeles, where he tried to persuade them to open a school and organize to receive members like a church. They refused, however, and other difficulties led to his parting with them after one year." According to Smith,[t]he immediate cause for the organization of the Church of the Nazarene … is not so much to be found in Bresee's differences with the Methodists as in those which developed between him and the proprietors of Peniel Hall. Certainly J. P. Widney must have been disillusioned when A. B. Simpson, leader of the Christian and Missionary AllianceChristian and Missionary AllianceThe Christian and Missionary Alliance is an evangelical Protestant denomination within Christianity.Founded by Rev. Albert Benjamin Simpson in 1887, the Christian & Missionary Alliance did not start off as a denomination, but rather began as two distinct parachurch organizations: The Christian...
and reportedly an extremist on divine healing, appeared as a special worker at the mission in May [1895]. Bresee on his part disagreed with Mr. and Mrs. Fergusons' insistence upon the use of young women in rescue work, and their growing interest in foreign missionary schemes.
Another cause of disagreement was that Bresee became convinced that the best ministry for the urban poor was to create strong churches that ministered to entire families, whereas the Fergusons believed that the Peniel Mission should focus instead on the "down and outer" and remain non-denominational.
Subsequent developments and expansion (1895–1906)
From the home base in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, other missions were established as Peniel Missions, primarily on on the west coast of the United States of America, but also in Memphis, New York, Alaska and Hawaii. "With a United States membership destined never to exceed a thousand (in 1906 a government report said 703), the ministry…had an impact on the larger [holiness] movement far in excess of that implied by numbers." By the turn of the twentieth century, more than 25 missions and rescue homes had been started. Among the Peniel Missions established were those located at:
- 1. San Pedro, Los Angeles, CaliforniaSan Pedro, Los Angeles, CaliforniaSan Pedro is a port district of the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. It was annexed in 1909 and is a major seaport of the area...
, the first branch mission, established 20 November 1891; - 2. Grant Avenue, San Francisco (11 November 1893)
- 3. San Diego, California on 3 March 1895
- 4. Juneau, AlaskaJuneau, AlaskaThe City and Borough of Juneau is a unified municipality located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, when the government of the then-District of Alaska was moved from Sitka as dictated by the U.S. Congress in 1900...
on June 1, 1895 - 5. Douglas, AlaskaDouglas, AlaskaDouglas, Alaska is an area on Douglas Island in southeastern Alaska. Itoriginated in 1881 as a place providing services to miners of the nearby Treadwell gold mine, and was incorporated as a city in 1902. Douglas was once a larger town than neighboring Juneau, but dwindled in the early 1900s as...
in October 1895 - 6. San Bernardino, CaliforniaSan Bernardino, CaliforniaSan Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
in February 1896 - 7. Stockton, CaliforniaStockton, CaliforniaStockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
, on May 6, 1896 - 8. Eureka, CaliforniaEureka, CaliforniaEureka is the principal city and the county seat of Humboldt County, California, United States. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census....
, on August 11, 1896 - 9. 325 Kay Street, Sacramento, CaliforniaSacramento, CaliforniaSacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, on August 15, 1896 - 10. a second mission in San Francisco, California at Third Avenue was also opened in August 1896
- 11. Memphis, TennesseeMemphis, TennesseeMemphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
in December 1896 (although it only lasted a few years) - 12. 14th Street, New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, started by Miss Ella Shaw (later Melody) in spring of 1897, but relocated to 39 BoweryBoweryBowery may refer to:Streets:* The Bowery, a thoroughfare in Manhattan, New York City* Bowery Street is a street on Coney Island in Brooklyn, N.Y.In popular culture:* Bowery Amphitheatre, a building on the Bowery in New York City...
in December 1897 and subsequently known as the Peniel Josephine Mission; - 13. a third mission in San Francisco was originally started on May 14, 1897 on Sacramento Street, but later relocated to Pacific Street (within two blocks of 49 saloons), and later still to the corner of Kearney and Montgomery Streets
- 14. 407 Broadway, Oakland, CaliforniaOakland, CaliforniaOakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
opened on June 29, 1897, but later moved to the Oriental Block at 716–724 Washington Street - 15. Pasadena, CaliforniaPasadena, CaliforniaPasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
on October 30, 1897 - 16. the Victor, ColoradoVictor, ColoradoVictor is a Statutory City in Teller County, Colorado, United States. The population was 445 at the 2000 census.Victor is in the heart of Colorado's gold country, home to two of the major gold mines in the Cripple Creek mining district...
mission in the mining camps was opened on 20 November 1897 - 17. Fresno, CaliforniaFresno, CaliforniaFresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
opened on December 18, 1897 - 18. Vallejo, CaliforniaVallejo, CaliforniaVallejo is the largest city in Solano County, California, United States. The population was 115,942 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area on the northeastern shore of San Pablo Bay...
(near the naval station) was opened on 16 March 1898 by three women from San Francisco - 19. Long Beach, CaliforniaLong Beach, CaliforniaLong Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
mission was opened on 6 May 1898 - 20. a rescue home was established in San Francisco in August 1898 to minister to women
- 21. HawaiiHawaiiHawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
was opened on March 25, 1899, and by 1904 was meeting in a hall on the corner of Hotel and Fort Streets in Honolulu - 22. a rescue home was opened in Sacramento on April 1, 1899. Wealthy socialite Margaret Eleanor Rhodes Crocker (1822–1901) donated her Sacramento mansion to the Peniel Rescue Mission in 1900 for the care of "erring young women.";
- 23. Wrangell, AlaskaWrangell, AlaskaWrangell is a city and borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. At the 2000 census the population was 2,308.Its Tlingit name is Ḵaachx̱aana.áakʼw . The Tlingit people residing in the Wrangell area, who were there centuries before Europeans, call themselves the Shtaxʼhéen Ḵwáan after the nearby Stikine...
opened May 7, 1899 - 24. Skagway, AlaskaSkagway, AlaskaSkagway is a first-class borough in Alaska, on the Alaska Panhandle. It was formerly a city first incorporated in 1900 that was re-incorporated as a borough on June 25, 2007. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city was 862...
opened on May 16, 1899, by Victorine Tooley (or Yorba) and her daughter Roberta Yorba, who were members of the Peniel Mission in Sacramento. They decided to establish a mission in Skagway and when they moved up, brought both Justina M Dickinson and another orphan, Gusta Carnahan with them. "The Peniel Missions were dedicated to helping the "soiled doves" or prostitutes. There is no record of any of them after 1900, so they may have found better areas to take the Mission (once the gold rush was over, the population of men and consequently prostitutes dropped). - 25. 502 Pike Street, Seattle, Washington in 1902. On 21 July 1913 sailors of the US Reserve Fleet destroyed the chapel in the mistaken belief that it was the headquarters of the Industrial Workers. When they realised their mistake, the sailors took an offering to compensate the Peniel Mission, and then destroyed the headquarters of the Radical Socialists.
- 26. 247 NW Couch Street, Portland Oregon (1904), later 5 more locations including Jefferson and 1st Streets
Other Peniel missions were established, including:
- 12th Street and Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WashingtonTacoma, WashingtonTacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
- Astoria, OregonAstoria, OregonAstoria is the county seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Situated near the mouth of the Columbia River, the city was named after the American investor John Jacob Astor. His American Fur Company founded Fort Astoria at the site in 1811...
- Bakersfield, CaliforniaBakersfield, CaliforniaBakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
- W 11th St and N Senate Ave IndianapolisIndianapolisIndianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, IndianaIndianaIndiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, eventually leased to the Christ Temple Pentecostal denomination from 1912 and sold in 1915; (DuPree, African-American Holiness Pentecostal Movement, 269–270. - Santa Cruz, CaliforniaSanta Cruz, CaliforniaSanta Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
.
Azusa Street and the Rise of Pentecostalism
The Azusa Street RevivalAzusa Street Revival
The Azusa Street Revival was a historic Pentecostal revival meeting that took place in Los Angeles, California and is the origin of the Pentecostal movement. It was led by William J. Seymour, an African American preacher. It began with a meeting on April 14, 1906, and continued until roughly 1915...
of April 1906 had a negative effect on the Peniel Mission. Among those defecting from Peniel Hall was an Owen "Irish" Lee, a former Irish-American Catholic converted through Peniel Hall, who hosted William Seymour
William Seymour
William Seymour may refer to:*William Digby Seymour , MP for Kingston-upon-Hull*William Digby Seymour, QC, lawyer and poet, MP for Sunderland and Somerset*William H. Seymour , American politician...
in 1906 and allowed meetings in his home. The Lees informed other members of Peniel about the meetings (later held at 214 North Bonnie Brae Street). On 9 April 1906 Lee received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and spoke in tonguesin his home when Seymour laid hands on him and prayed. This precipitated other manifestations of tongues-speaking (including Seymour for the first time) later that day. Among those affected were Jennie Moore and Ruth Asberry who went to the Peniel Mission and spoke in tongues there. This resulted in the entire congregation of the Peniel Mission following them to the Azusa Street Mission. "Most of the churches, mission and tent meetings in the area were effected immediately. Some lost so many people to the Azusa Street Mission that they closed."
Among those who also defected to the Pentecostal movement was their primary financial supporter, George Studd
George Studd
George Brown Studd - cricketer and missionary.Studd was the second eldest of the famous Studd brothers, who dominated English cricket in the late 19th century...
, former English cricketer and one of the primary benefactors of the Peniel Mission since its inception in 1886, who defected to the Apostolic Faith Mission
Apostolic Faith Mission
The Apostolic Faith Church , formerly the Apostolic Faith Mission, is a Pentecostal Christian denomination with headquarters in Portland, Oregon, United States. The Apostolic Faith Mission of Portland was founded in 1906 by Florence L. Crawford, who was affiliated at that time with William J....
in September 1907; and Frank Bartleman
Frank Bartleman
Frank Bartleman was born December 14, 1871 and lived through August 23, 1936. He was converted and also became a preacher in 1892. In the year 1905 he became a prolific writer.- Achievements :...
(1871–1936), pioneer Pentecostal preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
and the chronicler of the Azusa Street Revival
Azusa Street Revival
The Azusa Street Revival was a historic Pentecostal revival meeting that took place in Los Angeles, California and is the origin of the Pentecostal movement. It was led by William J. Seymour, an African American preacher. It began with a meeting on April 14, 1906, and continued until roughly 1915...
, who was appointed director of the Peniel Mission in Stockton, California
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
in early 1904, and later preached regularly at the Peniel Mission in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
immediately prior to his involvement in the nascent Pentecostal movement.
Highlights
About 15 October 1906 there was a fire at the Peniel Hall in Los Angeles which caused the death of one elderly female worker, injury to two male workers, and the total destruction of the building.Deaths of Theodore and Manie Ferguson
After her husband's death in 1920, “Mother Ferguson” continued to direct the work until her own death. Upon the death of Manie Ferguson on 8 June 1932, control of the Peniel Mission passed to an all-female self-perpetuating board.Changes
In 1947 the Peniel Mission became a part of the present-day World Gospel MissionWorld Gospel Mission
The World Gospel Mission is an interdenominational Christian holiness missionary agency headquartered in Marion, Indiana, United States. From its inception, WGM has been aligned with the Wesleyan Holiness tradition of Protestantism...
.http://www.novelguide.com/a/discover/ear_01/ear_01_00070.html In 1998, the former West Coast USA Peniel Missions missionaries resigned from Peniel Missions, Inc. / World Gospel Missions and went to work for CityTeam Ministries. Peniel Missions in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Oakland were closed and the buildings and small fixed assets were sold to the ministry of CityTeam in a transaction that allowed those being ministered to continue receiving the services they needed. Peniel Missions in Stockton, California
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
is the only remaining American Peniel Missions affiliated with World Gospel Mission.
Methods
"The Peniel Mission used some of the same methods as the Salvation ArmySalvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
, including street-corner meetings followed by parades back to the mission hall". According to Schwanz,
"Manie Ferguson was more outgoing than Theodore and was the guiding force for the expansion of the ministry. … Under Manie’s direction, the Peniel Missions sought to provide a ministry for single women. This appears to have been a primary motivation in the growth of the movement. The women usually lived in rented rooms near the rented hall where they conducted evangelistic services. They boldly testified on street corners and in bars and houses of prostitution. All workers were unsalaried, but the local mission paid for most of their expenses. Even the Fergusons were not paid by the mission, but lived on the rental income from three small houses they owned."
According to Sandra Frankiel,
"Together with his wife Manie, he offered street-corner meetings in the afternoons and evangelistic services nightly, with a meal afterwards. Their entire work, like that of most of the city holiness missions, was oriented toward soul saving and the promotion of holinessSacredHoliness, or sanctity, is in general the state of being holy or sacred...
. The mission was not a church, however; converts were supposed to join one of the regular denominationsChristian denominationA Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
. It was, rather, a holiness revival station spreading the message of Christian perfectionChristian perfectionChristian perfection, also known as perfect love; heart purity; the baptism of the Holy Spirit; the fullness of the blessing; Christian holiness; the second blessing; and entire sanctification, is a Christian doctrine which holds that the heart of the regenerant Christian may attain a state of...
".
The Peniel Missionary Society (1895–1949)
In addition to the expansion of the Peniel Mission in the United States of America, and its overseas territories: AlaskaAlaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
and Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, eventually Peniel Missions were established overseas in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
(1911); China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
(1909)http://ricci.rt.usfca.edu/institution/view.aspx?institutionID=567; Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and the Philippines. A separate organisation, The Peniel Missionary Society, under the control of Manie and Theodore Ferguson, was formed in 1895. The objective of the organisation was: "Mission work, as God shall lead, and as means shall be provided." (Dennis). The Mission operated on the faith mission
Faith mission
Faith mission is a term used most frequently among evangelical Christians to refer to a missionary organization with an approach to evangelism that encourages its missionaries to "trust in God to provide the necessary resources" These missionaries are said to "live by faith."Most faith...
model, with workers unsalaried, and guaranteed no financial support. Despite this, by 1911, the Peniel Missionary Society was operating in the following fields: India, North Africa (Egypt), Mexico, Central America (Guatemala), South America (Argentine Republic, and Bolivia), West Indies (Puerto Rico), Alaska, and Hawaii. (Dennis)
Prominent Members and Supporters
Prominent members of the Peniel Mission included- Haldor LillenasHaldor LillenasHaldor Lillenas was "one of the most important twentieth-century gospel hymn writers and publishers" and is regarded as "the most influential Wesleyan / Holiness songwriter and publisher in the 20th century"...
(1885–1959), "the most influential Wesleyan/ Holiness songwriter and publisher in the 20th century", who was converted at the Peniel Mission in Astoria, OregonAstoria, OregonAstoria is the county seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Situated near the mouth of the Columbia River, the city was named after the American investor John Jacob Astor. His American Fur Company founded Fort Astoria at the site in 1811...
, in 1906; and - R.G. LeTourneau, wealthy pioneer of the earth-moving industry who was active in the Peniel Mission at Stockton, California.
Sources and Further Reading
- Anderson, Donald Firth. ""We Have Here a Different Civilization": Protestant Identity in the San Francisco Bay Area, 1906–1909." The Western Historical Quarterly 23:2 (May, 1992), 199–221. See reference to Peniel Missions.
- Avella, Steven. Sacramento: Indomitable City. Sacramento, CA: Arcadia, 2003. See page 71 for reference to the Peniel Mission at Sacramento.
- Bangs, Carl. Phineas F. Bresee: His Life in Methodism, the Holiness Movement, and the Church of the Nazarene (1995). Includes a chapter that discusses Bresee's involvement in the Peniel Mission in Los Angeles and profiles other principal leaders involved in the mission's founding and development, including the Fergusons and G. B. Studd.
- Bartleman, Frank. How Pentecost Came to Los Angeles. Los Angeles, CA: 1925. Republished as Azusa Street. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/bartleman/los/formats/los.pdf
- Beach, Harlan Page. India and Christian Opportunity. Student volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions, 1904. Page 297 gives statistics for the Peniel work in India.
- Besse, Henry True. Church History. Holzapfel Publishing Co., 1980. See page 232 for article on the Peniel Missions.
- California Historical Society. "Peniel Mission". California History 74:388.
- Cary, William Walter. Story of the National Holiness Missionary Society. Chicago, IL: National Holiness Missionary Society, 1940.
- Carroll, Henry King. The Religious Forces of the United States Enumerated, Classified, and Described. C. Scribner's Sons, 1912. Page 470 Enumerates the statistics for the Peniel Mission at 703 members in 1910.
- Case, Jay R. "And Ever the Twain Shall Meet: The Holiness Missionary Movement and the Birth of World Pentecostalism, 1870–1920." Religion and American Culture 16: 2 (Summer 2006):125–160.http://caliber.ucpress.net/doi/abs/10.1525/rac.2006.16.2.125 "Case moves the study of Holiness/Pentecostal origins to a new level of sophistication by framing the story within a global process, paying special heed to notions of modernization and resistance to modernization. The article makes clear that Pentecostalism did not start in the United States but came here as part of an international movement."http://www.iupui.edu/~raac/downloads/newsletter/SP06.pdf
- Clark, Elmer Talmage. The Small Sects in America: Their Historical, Theological, and Psychological Background. Revised Edition. Nashville: Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, 1949. See pages 79–80 for discussion of the Peniel Mission and TP and Manie P Ferguson.
- Cox, Mabel Holmes. The Lady Pioneer: Pioneer Missionary Work in Alaska and the Northwest. Roseburg, OR: n.p., 1968. Autobiography of Peniel Mission missionary who served at several different sites. Includes photographs, including ones of Mr. and Mrs. T. P. Ferguson, founders of the Peniel Mission.
- Darling, Olive M., compiler. Converts of Peniel Missions. n.p., n.d.
- Dennis, James S. and Charles H. Fahs, eds. World Atlas of Christian Missions: Containing a Directory of Missionary Societies, a Classified Summary of Statistics, an Index of Mission Stations, and Maps Showing the Location of Mission Stations Throughout the World. Rev. ed. New York: Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions, 1911. Online edition: http://www.archive.org/stream/MN41422ucmf_2/MN41422ucmf_2_djvu.txt Gives details of Peniel Missionary Society.
- Ferguson, Manie Payne. Echoes From Beulah. Los Angeles: T. P. & M. P. Ferguson, 1913. Musical Score. 268 pp.
- Ferguson, Manie Payne. "Peniel Missionary Work" in Faith Tonic: 1 and 2 Combined; being a series of articles by different writers, exemplifying God's dealings with those who trust Him, 3–35. Compiled by Leander Lycurgus Pickett. Louisville, KY: Pentecostal Publishing Company, c.1920s. 102 pp.
- Ferguson, Manie Payne. T.P. Ferguson: The Love Slave of Jesus Christ and His People and Founder of Peniel Missions (c.1920). 240 pages. Includes 39 poems by Ferguson, a photo of T.P. Ferguson (page 17), biography of the life of T.P. Ferguson, notes from T.P. Ferguson's diary for 1881–1882 (pages 95–103), Bible readings and notes by T.P. Ferguson (pages 107–219), Peniel Missionary Work (pages 220–238), and an update of "Peniel Missionary Work" (page 239).
- Frankiel, Sandra Sizer. California's Spiritual Frontiers: Religious Alternatives in Anglo-Protestantism, 1850–1910. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988. http://ark.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/ft1z09n7fq/ See pages 106–107 for Peniel Mission and the ministry of the Fergusons.
- Henry, Helga Bender. Mission on Main Street. W. A. Wilde Company, 1955. See page 105 for reference to Mrs Ferguson and the Peniel Mission.
- Hinshilwood, C. Milton and Elena Irish Zimmerman. Old Los Angeles and Pasadena in Vintage Postcards (Postcard History Series). Arcadia Publishing: 2001. Features photographs of the Nadeau Hotel (page 14).
- Hittson, Paul A. History of Peniel Missions. Homeland, CA: Paul A. Hittson, 1975.
- Holland, Clifton L., comp. An Overview of Religion in Los Angeles from 1850 to 1930. http://www.prolades.com/glama/la5co07/overview_1850-1930.pdf
- Hunt, William Chamberlin, ed. United States. Bureau of the Census. Religious Bodies: 1906. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1910. See page 285 for good description of the Peniel Mission.
- Hustad, Donald Paul. Dictionary-Handbook to Hymns for the Living Church. Carol Stream, Illinois: Hope Publishing Company, 1978. See pages 239–240 regarding Manie Ferguson.
- Jones, Charles Edwin. A Guide to the Study of the Holiness Movement . Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1974.
- Jones, Charles Edwin. Perfectionist Persuasion: The Holiness Movement and American Methodism, 1867–1936. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1974. Section on the Peniel Mission: 243–244.
- Jones, Charles Edwin. The Wesleyan Holiness Movement: A Comprehensive Guide. Volume One: Parts I-III. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2005. See pages 734–735 for article on the Peniel Missions.
- LeTourneau, R.G. Mover of Men and Mountains. Chicago: Moody, 1967. See pages 87–88, 91, 194–195 for LeTourneau's involvement in and support of the Peniel Mission at Stockton, California.
- Lewis, James R., editor. The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions. 2nd ed. Prometheus Books, 2001. See page 561 for encyclopedic article about the Peniel Missions and the Fergusons.
- Lillenas, Haldor. Down Melody Lane: An Autobiography. Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 1953. See page 77 regarding MP Ferguson. Lillenas was converted through the Peniel Mission in Astoria, Washington in 1906.
- Lillenas, Haldor. Modern Gospel Song Stories. Kansas City, MO: Lillenas Publishing, 1952. See page 67 regarding Manie Ferguson.
- Melton, J. Gordon, editor. The Encyclopedia of American Religions: Vol. 1. Tarrytown, NY: Triumph Books, 1991. Chapter: Holiness Family; section: 19th Century Holiness; pg. 214 for article regarding the Peniel Missions and the Fergusons.
- Nickel, Thomas R. Azusa Street Outpouring: As Told to Me by Those who were There. Hartford, CT: Great Commission, 1979. Page 8 refers to the effect of the 1906 Azusa Pentecostal Revival on attendances at local churches and missions, including large numbers leaving the Peniel Mission in Los Angeles.
- Osbeck, Kenneth W. 101 More Hymn Stories: The Inspiring True Stories Behind 101 Favorite Hymns. Kregel, 1985. See pages 314–315 for biography of Haldor Lillenas and his conversion through the Peniel Mission in Portland, Oregon.
- Osbeck, Kenneth W. Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions (2nd Edition). Kregel, 2002. See entry for May 22 for reflections on "Blessed Quietness".
- Owens, Robert R. Speak to the Rock: The Azusa Street Revival: Its Roots and Its Message. University Press of America, 1998; Xulon, 2005. See pages 58–66 for effect of Azusa Street on the Peniel Mission in Los Angeles. Among those defecting was a former Irish-American Catholic converted through Peniel Hall, Owen "Irish" Lee who hosted William Seymour and allowed meetings in his home. The Lees advised other members of Peniel about the meetings (now being held at 214 North Bonnie Brae Street). On 9 April 1906 Lee received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in his home when Seymour laid hands on him and prayed. This precipitated other manifestations of tongues-speaking (including Seymour for the first time). Among those affected were Jennie Moore and Ruth Asberry who went to the Peniel Mission and spoke in tongues there. This resulted in the entire congregation of the Peniel Mission following them to the Asuza Street Mission (66). "Most of the churches, mission and tent meetings in the area were effected immediately. Some lost so many people to the Azusa Street Mission that they closed." (Owens, 66).
- Phillips, Jim and Rosemary Gartner. Murdering Holiness: The Trials of Franz Creffield and George Mitchell. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press, 2003. Franz Creffield briefly headed the Peniel Mission in The Dalles, Oregon before forming his own controversial group.http://www.ubcpress.ca/books/pdf/chapters/phillipsandgartner/intro.pdf
- Pickett, Leander Lycurgus, comp. Faith Tonic: 1 and 2 Combined; being a series of articles by different writers, exemplifying God's dealings with those who trust Him. Louisville, KY: Pentecostal Publishing Company, c.1920s. 102 pp. Includes article entitled: "Peniel Missionary Work" by Manie Payne Ferguson, pp. 3–35.
- Piepkorn, Arthur Carl. Profiles in Belief: The Religious Bodies of the United States and Canada. Harper Collins, 1978. See page 7 for Bresee's involvement in the Peniel Mission.
- Pounds, Michael E. “The Beginning Days.” Peniel Herald, Number 5, 1986. Concerns the Peniel Missions and the work of T. P. and Manie Ferguson. Reference to Haldor Lillenas.
- Schwanz, Keith. Satisfied: Women Hymn Writers of the 19th-century Wesleyan/Holiness movement. Wesleyan/Holiness Women Clergy, Inc, 1998. http://www.whwomenclergy.org/booklets/satisfied.php Gives a brief biography of Manie Ferguson.
- Smith, Timothy. Called Unto Holiness: The Story of the Nazarenes. Kansas City, Missouri: Nazarene, 1962. See pages 49 and following for involvement of Bresee and Widney in the Peniel Mission.
- Taiz, Lillian. Hallelujah Lads and Lasses: Remaking the Salvation Army in America, 1880–1930. University of North Carolina Press, 2000.
- "The History of Urban Ministry." http://www.urbanministry.org/book/export/html/18982 (accessed 2 July 2008) Website of resources, including reference to Peniel Missions and CityTeam Ministries.
- The Year in Review at the Los Angeles Mission, 1990. The Los Angeles Mission is the reorganized Peniel Mission.
- Trachsel, Laura. "Kindled Fires in Peniel Missions". In Kindled fires in the U.S.A., 33–47. Marion, IN: World Gospel Mission, 1988.
- Wacker, Grant. Heaven Below: Early Pentecostals and American Culture. Harvard University Press, 2003. See page 204 for GB Studd's contribution to the Peniel Hall.
- Wood, John Windell. Pasadena, California, historical and personal;: A complete history of the organization of the Indiana colony, its establishment on the Rancho San Pascual … Churches, societies, homes, etc.. John W Wood, 1917. See page 326 for description of the Peniel Mission.
Periodicals
- Chandler, Russell. "L.A.'s Quake-Stricken Peniel Mission Plagued by Constant Financial Difficulties" Los Angeles Times (27 November 1976):A31.
- The Los Angeles Peniel Transformer 7:10 (October 1978).
- The Oakland Peniel Transformer [Oakland Peniel Mission] 12:9 (October 1978)
- Peniel Herald. Official organ of the Peniel Mission. 59:1&2 (January & February 1957)
- "Story of Peniel Mission: Local Institution Observes Date of Founding in 1886 and Occupancy of Present Home: Peniel Mission Story is Told", The Los Angeles Times (18 November 1923):II1-2.http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/342375072.html?dids=342375072:342375072&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&date=Nov+18%2C+1923&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=STORY+OF+PENIEL+MISSION&pqatl=google
Archival Material
- "Papers of Charles Henry Troutman, Jr. Collection III". Billy Graham Center Archives, Wheaton, Illinois. The IVCF-USA folders are letters and reports from other Christian organizations about evangelism and mission activities around the world. For example, Folder 5–34 has letters and critiques of the Peniel movement. http://www.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/GUIDES/111.htm
- "Records of the Peniel Missions, 1917". Yale University Library, New Haven, CT.