The church of Pentecost

Preface

The following pages were written, for the most part, during the brief intervals of leisure which could be secured in the midst of a very busy life, and no doubt will bear many marks of insufficient preparation and imperfect work. The only leisure enjoyed in writing the book has been that found on steamship voyages in the Eastern seas, and this of course precluded the use of libraries and books of reference of every kind. How great a disadvantage this has been can readily be appreciated by every one who has had even a limited experience in writing for the press.

The thought of writing such a book was first suggested many years ago while attending a "holiness" camp-meeting in the United States. While there appeared to be a general agreement in doctrine among those in charge of the meeting, and while there were frequent references to Pentecost, there yet seemed to be a wide difference between the simplicity of the New Testa-

4 Preface

ment story, and the minute definitions, the many restrictions, and the limited experiences of the modern Christian assembly. At Pentecost the manifestation was clear, complete, and satisfying. It was "full" as a spiritual manifestation, and carried with it all the spiritual elements which enter into the organization of a Christian society. It set forth all which could be heard in the modern assembly, and very much in addition. While noting these points, the thought was suggested that the modern Church had much to learn from the story of the first Christian Church, and as the years passed, a wider observation, embracing many phases of Christian life and many departments of Christian labor, greatly strengthened this impression.

More tlhan once an effort has been made to induce writers better equipped for the work, and having leisure enougii to give the subject the thorough treatment which it merits, to undertake the task which is so imperfectly set forth in the following pages ; but failing to enlist others in the work, it has seemed better to cast this little offering upon the literary waters than to let the

matter drop altogether.

J. M. T.

Bombay, December i } 1898.

Contents

Page

I. Introductory, ----- 7

II. The Charter Members, - - 17