In the month of April, 1906, a little band composed chiefly of colored people were praying together in a mission-hall on Azusa street in Los Angeles. Some of them had heard of a recent peculiar happening in Kansas, where a strange power had taken possession of a man and he had been apparently made to speak in tongues. Day after day and night after night these people, who thought they recognized in this a sign of a second Pentecost cried earnestly to God for a similar manifestation, and at last the "power"fell. One by one they were taken possession of by a superhuman energy that made them at times insensible to all around, and caused them to pour forth a torrent of strange sounds, often monosyllabic gibberish; and again somewhat connected expressions that seemed to be in strange languages. Their joy knew no bounds. To them had been committed, so they believed, the ushering in of the "Latter Rain" dispensation-the final Pentecost to close up the present age.

Excitement ran high, and from far and near mission workers, ministers and others came to investigate. For months meetings were kept up almost continuously, and hundreds received the same mysterious power. Many came in as skeptics, and went away convinced, that they had indeed seen a marvelous manifestation of divine energy. Many came to scoff and ridicule, but were soon on their knees, beating the floor, crying in anguish and beseeching God for a like gift; and of these great numbers spoke in "tongues."

Like wild-fire the movement spread in all directions. Through missions it was carried all over America and across the seas. In India and other heathen lands the same power was manifested and in the same way.

As time has gone on, thousands once in the full current of the movement have withdrawn from it; but thousands more fill their places. Those who have left tell various stories. Some say it was all nervous excitement, a mere hysterical condition with nothing supernatural at all. The "tongues" were no tongue, only a Callomania, a weird dervish-like excitement leading to wild incoherent utterances unlike any language known to man. Others say a tremendous supernatural power is working and they fear to condemn, yet dare no longer endorse it as they have seen such mixed effects from its presence. Many are certain they have been misled by the direct power of Satan, performing " lying wonders " in order to deceive if possible the very elect; and they now shrink from the whole thing in horror, feeling humiliated and deeply repentant as they think of ever having been ensnared in it.

Lately, divisions have been rife among the Pentecostal people, and the adherents of the various parties roundly anathematize one another, but they all have the same marvelous sign of speaking in tongues. Each party declares the "tongues" are of the devil when found among their adversaries. The warring sects stand for the affirmation or denial of special teaching. One party are annihilationists; the rest are strong not only on the orthodox doctrine of everlasting punishment of unrepentant sinners, but often declare the eternal damnation of all who fail to receive the gift of tongues. One party is radical on the so-called holiness question, teaching the eradication of all inbred sin prior to the reception of the baptism of the Spirit. These set forth a definite statement of doctrines, to most of which enlightened Christians could subscribe, but with just enough of their own strange system to make them a very dangerous counterfeit, if not really of God. From the "Apostolic Faith," published in Portland, Oregon, I clip this doctrinal statement:
"We preach Christ, His birth, His baptism, His works, His teachings, His crucifixion, His resurrection, His ascension, His second coming, His millennial reign, His white throne judgment, and the new heavens and new earth when He shall have put all enemies under His feet, and shall reign eternally, and we shall abide with Him forever and ever.

Repentance toward God-Acts 20:21. Repentance is godly sorrow for sin (2 Cor. 7:10; Mk. 1:15).

Restitution-The blood of Jesus will never blot out any sin that we can make right. We must have a conscience void of offense toward God and man. Restitution includes restoring where you have defrauded or stolen, paying back debts, and confession (Lk. 19:8, 9; Ezek. 33:15).

Justification is that act of God's free grace by which we receive remission of sins (Acts 10:43; Rom. 5:1; Rom. 3:26; Acts 13:38, 39; John 1:12; John 3:3).

Sanctification is that act of God's grace by which He makes us holy. It is a second, definite work wrought by the Wood of Jesus through faith (John 17:15, 17; 1 Thess. 4:3; Heb. 13:12; Heb. 2:11; Heb. 12:14; 1 Jno. 1:7). As to this I can here only refer the inquiring to my book, " Holiness:the False and the True."Same publishers.

The baptism of the Holy Ghost is the gift of power upon the sanctified life (Lk. 24:49; Matt. 3:11; John 7:38, 39 ; John 14 :16, 17, 26; Acts 1:5, 8).

And when we receive it, we have the same sign or Bible evidence as the disciples had on the day of Pentecost, shaking with tongues, as the Spirit gives utterance (Mk. 16:17; 1 Cor. 14:21, 22). Examples-Acts 2:4; Acts 10:45; Acts 19:6.

Healing of the body-Sickness and disease are destroyed through the precious atonement of Jesus (Isa. 53:4, 5; Matt. 8:17; Mk. 16:18; Jas. 5:14-16). All sickness is the work of the devil, which Jesus came to destroy (1 John 3:8; Lk. 13:16; Acts 10:38). Jesus cast out devils find commissioned His disciples to do the same (Mk. 16:17; Lk. 10:19; Mk. 9:25, 26).

The second coming of Jesus-The return of Jesus is just 'IS literal as His going away (Acts 1:9-11; John 14:3). There will be two appearances under one coming; first to catch away His waiting bride (Matt. 24:40-44 and 1 Thess. 4:16,17 and second, to execute judgment upon the ungodly (2 Thess. 1:7-10; Jude 14 and 15 Zech. 14:3,4).

Ordinances. 1st. Water baptism by immersion (SINGLE)-Jesus went down into the water and came up out of the water, giving us an example that we should follow (Matt. 3:16; Acts 8:38, 39; Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:4, 5; Col. 2:12).

2nd. . The Lord's Supper-Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper that we might "show His death till He comes" (1 Cor. 11; 23-26; Lk. 22:17-20; Matt. 26:26-29). It brings healing to our bodies if we discern the Lord's body (1 Cor. 11:29, 30).

3rd. Washing the disciples' feet-Jesus said:"If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye ought also to wash one another's feet, for I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done unto you" (John 13:14,15).

The Tribulation-Jesus prophesied a great tribulation such as was not from the beginning of the world (Matt. 24:21, 22, 29; Rev. .9; Kev. 16; Isa. 26:20, 21; Mal. 4:1).

Christ's Millennial Reign is the 1000 years of the literal reign of Jesus on this earth. It will be ushered in by the coming of Jesus back to earth with ten thousands of His saints (Jude 14, 15; 2 Thess. 1:7-10). During this time the devil will be bound (Kev. 20:2, 3). It will be a reign of peace and blessing (Isa. 11:6-9; Isa. 65:25; Hos. 2:18 ; Zech. 14 :9, 20; Isa. 2 :2-4).

The Great White Throne Judgment-Rev. 20:11-14. God will judge the quick and dead according to their works (Rev. 20 :11-14 ; Dan. 12:2; Acts 10:42).

New Heavens and New Earth-The Word teaches that this earth ,which has been polluted by sin, shall pass away after the White Throne Judgment, and God will make a new heaven and new earth in which righteousness shall dwell (Matt. 24:35; 2 Pet. 3:12,13; Rev. 21:1-3; Isa. 65:17; Isa. 66:22.)

Eternal Heaven and Eternal Hell-The Bible "teaches that hell is as eternal as heaven (Matt. 25:41,
46). The wicked shall be cast into a burning hell, a lake of fire burning with brimstone forever and ever (Rev. 14:10, 11; Lk. 16:24; Mk. 9:43, 44).

No Divorce-The Word teaches that marriage is binding for life. Under the New Testament law, the law of Christ, there is but one cause for separation, fornication, and no right to marry again while the first companion lives (Matt. 5:31, 32; Matt. 19:9; Mk. 10:11, 12; Lk. 16:18; Rom. 7:2, 3).

These are the doctrines that were revealed from heaven and preached in the out-pouring of the Spirit in Los Angeles, April, 1906. God has been pouring out His Spirit on the preaching of the full Gospel ever since, confirming the Word with signs following."* *Observe that in this whole confession Jesus is never called Lord, nor God Father.*

Another large sect utterly repudiates the second blessing theory (and with these many of the original mission are connected) and loudly proclaims "the finished work."* * I do not mean by scriptural here that it is used in Scripture, but that it is in accordance with it.* This sounds well, but the reader may be surprised to learn that the scriptural term "the finished work" does not, when used by them, refer to Christ's finished work on the cross, the basis of all our hope; but to a finished work in the believer whereby he is justified from his sins and freed from all inward carnality by one operation, and he is thus ready at once for the "Pentecostal experience."

Some press baptism in water as a pre-requisite for the gift of the Spirit; others hold tongues may be given independently.

From the same paper from which I clipped the doctrinal statement above, I took the following warning against the "Finished Work" people. illustrates the attitude of one section towards another; but, observe, the same signs follow in each case.
"Notice.-We feel that we should let our readers know, as there are many letters of inquiry coming in, that we have no fellowship with the so-called 'Worldwide Camp-meeting' in Los Angeles. It is not a part of this work. It is a compromise work that denies sanctification as a second work of grace, and covers up sin. We have no fellowship with any work that denies the second work of grace, or any other plain doctrine of the Word. The so-called ' new light' they have professed to receive, has wrecked many souls and led into fanaticism and wild-fire. The paper they printed and sent out entitled 'The Apostolic Faith,' is in no way connected with this work."

That many sincere Christians are, or have been, entangled with this movement there can be no doubt. It therefore demands our careful consideration that, even though free from complicity in it ourselves, we may be able to help others who are in danger of being ensnared.

Desirous of looking into it at first-hand,! attended in all about a dozen meetings in four different cities. I think I cannot do better than describe a little of what I saw and heard.

In company with a sober brother I went for the first time in San Francisco. The place was crowded. A large fleshy woman was leading amid great excitement. Strangely enough, we were hardly seated when she cried out,"We need to pray. Two enemies of the truth have just come in. The Spirit tells me they are here to fight the truth. But I warn them they are fighting against God," etc., etc., ad lib.

The meeting went on:one and another testifying, and some in a fairly sober manner. One thing soon struck us forcibly. No one said Lord Jesus. No one cried Abba Father. Now inasmuch as these are the two scriptural evidences that the Holy Spirit is in control we felt the incongruity of it all very soon. Much talk there was about the Holy Ghost. People spoke of "God," "God Almighty," "the Almighty," and of "Jesus," "Jesus Christ," and " Christ Jesus," but no one said "Father, "or "our Lord Jesus Christ."

Presently we. were electrified by hearing, for the first time, the weird, piercing notes of a woman under the " power," speaking in tongues. I took careful note of every syllable and jotted them down. "Ku-ri-ah; Ku-ri-ah; Ku-ri-ah; Ku-ri, ah-ki.* *This is remarkably like" kuriake;" the Greek for Lord's Day. Kuria is the Greek word for lady.* This she repeated over and over till almost out of breath, while the rest shouted with delight at this evidence of the spirit's control!

She finished in an exhausted state, and from a corner came what sounded like the wail of a lost soul. Another woman, on her knees, began to intone in most melancholy accents, " La-a-a-a-la-a-a-a-ah-la-la-la-la-ah-ah-oh-oh." This was all; but it was accepted as the great power of God.

At the close the leader came straight to us, and 'we withstood her to the face by meeting her declaration that she was living without sin with the counter declaration that we could give her chapter and verse for a direct command of Scripture she had been disobeying all through the meeting. She challenged its production, and we referred her to i Cor. 14:34. As we read it she raved in anger, till I felt justified in asking the ironical question, "Are you not afraid you will lose your sanctification altogether if you get much angrier ?" She cried out, "You are possessed with a devil! " and left us.
But five men followed us as we went out and plied us with questions, thanking us for opening their eyes as they had listened to our conversation with the woman. Needless to say we had seen nothing in this meeting to make us feel the Spirit of God was at work. H. A. I.

(To be completed, next issue.)