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A Typical Day at the Azusa Street Mission

by Stanley M. Horton

You could count on something new and different happening at the old frame building on Azusa Street in Los Angeles during the years 1906 to 1908. For a sample, let us look in on an all-day meeting on a certain Thursday in 1908.

Like most of those who come, we arrive by streetcar. We shall talk on the way home tonight, but now we have been holding our hearts steady in silent preparation for God’s moving during the day. We have not forgotten the Spirit’s exhortation of the night before: “Prepare yourselves in outward silence, for it favors an inward silence and promotes interior spiritual rest. It is a cessation from inordinate and grasping activity, a resting in the perfect will of God. The Holy Spirit is calling the people to this interior stillness that they may have a deeper understanding of the mystery of God in Christ, now being revealed, and to know the signs of the times as they go forth at His call.”

Once in the mission we find a place on one of the backless benches. One of the leaders, Brother Fisher, commits the meeting to the Holy Spirit and says, “We have no planned program, nor are we afraid of anarchy or crooked spirits. God the Holy Spirit is able to control and protect His own work. If strange manifestations come, trust the Holy Spirit, keep in prayer, and you will see the word of wisdom go forth, a rebuke; an exhortation that will close the door on the enemy and show the victory won. God can use any member of the body, and He often gives the more abundant honor to the weaker members.”

Someone starts a song: “Higher Ground.” Next we sing: “ ’Tis Burning in My Soul.” The glory comes down. We sing the song over and over. Brother Seymour calls us to prayer and we kneel at our seats crying out to God.

One of the leaders reads part of a letter from George S. and Carrie Judd Montgomery who are visiting the mission fields. It tells of the thrilling revival at Pandita Ramabai’s school in Mukti, India.

Others have heard from all parts of the world. From T.B. Barratt in London comes news of an Ignatian monk saved and seeking Pentecost. D.E. Evans in Swansea, Wales, writes of 15 or 20 receiving the Baptism with the Bible sign of tongues. From Brother Berntsen in North China comes news of “Quite a stir.” From Sisters A. Moomau and L. Phillips in Shanghai come word that four Chinese are filled and a few missionaries pressing in. Others have heard from South America, South Africa, and Germany.

The reports bring an outbreak of praise. Then for 15 minutes the whole congregation sings in the Spirit. It comes over us as a wave of sound (not tongues, but in English), a harmony with never a harsh note, a praise in the unity of the Spirit until we are lifted unto the heavenlies.

At the noon hour some leave, but about 200 stay for the observance of the Lord’s Supper. Again the glory falls. Praise, testimony, singing in the Spirit continues into the afternoon.

Gerard Bailly, missionary to Venezuela, comes to the pulpit and tells us how intimately and inseparably the Cross is connected with Pentecost. “In seeking the baptism in the Holy Ghost the deepest crucifixion of heart is experienced as preparation for His coming. The Cross enters more deeply into the soul in the preparation than in any previous experience. The deepest saints seem to die the deepest death to get Pentecost.”

Nothing could better express the response to such a message in the eyes of this congregation than a ceremony of footwashing. Preparations are made and all enjoy a glorious time.

Meanwhile, about 25 young people slip out and go upstairs to a big room where they pray over a stack of monthly papers that they will fold and mail out to all parts of the world. For their encouragement someone reads a letter from Canada from Harry Horton (my father), telling how he and his parents feel the Spirit as they read the paper.

The evening service continues with praise, prayer, and testimonies in which many tell how quickly and how wonderfully they have received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Elmer Fisher (my grandfather) gives a few pointers on how to receive the baptism in the Holy Ghost.

1. Believe the truth concerning it. Jesus commanded the disciples not to depart from Jerusalem, but to tarry until they were endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49). Be assured that when the early disciples received they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and spake with tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4).
2. You must feel your need. Is your life barren of power? Ye shall receive power (Acts 1:8).
3. Tarry until—cease from your own works and fix your eyes on the exalted Christ. Abandon yourself to God and cut every tie that binds you to the world.
4. Be sure your heart has been cleansed by the Blood.
5. Obey quickly every commandment the Lord gives you (Acts 5:32), with your prejudice given up, your theology submitted, and Christ will be all in all to you.

(Note—not all the things mentioned actually happened on the same day, though all are truly typical of a day at the Azusa Street Mission.)

Stanley M. Horton, Th.D. is project coordinator for the Pentecostal Textbook Project, Springfield, Missouri. This article is reprinted from Heritage, fall 1982.