AZUSA STREET

by

Frank Bartleman

Numerous books entitled "Azusa Street" written by Frank Bartleman have been published.  We have seen at least two other versions which are similar, but not the same as this one, containing 184 pages, published in 1980 by Bridge Publishing Inc., 2500 Hamilton Blvd., South Plainfield, NJ  07080.

The "Azusa Street visitation" is considered by many to be the root of the modern-day Penecostal movement.  Frank Bartleman was a journalist and intimately involved in the activities occurring on Azusa street in 1907.  This book is his eyewitness account of those events.  Azusa Street is a complete and unabridged reprint of Bartleman's 1925 history entitled, How "Pentecost" Came to Los Angeles - Hw It Was in the Beginning.

Frank Bartleman has recounted both events and also the personalities which comprised the happenings throughout the 1906 to 1909 period of revival on Azusa street.  He gives us a look at many of the people involved in this move of the Holy Spirit.  He also shows us the varied backgrounds these people came from and how their personalities often clashed because of those differences.

The Azusa street revival occurred because there were individuals seriously searching for the presence of God.  As the revival gained momentum, it also began to attract the attention of a number of the local church leaders who expressed disdain for what they saw happening.  There was much contention between those involved in the revival and the local church congregations.  Eventually that contention crept into the meetings bringing about the divisions which led to the demise of the revival.

A large part of that contention was centered around "speaking in tongues" advocated by Charles Parham, one of the preacher/teachers at the meetings.  Another part of the contention was over the mixture of races attending the meetings where blacks and whites would be worshiping side by side.

According to Bartleman, the end of the revival was signaled by the return of the "priest class."  In describing it he wrote, "It is a fact that in the beginning platforms and pulpits were as far as possible removed out of the way.  We had no conscious need of them.  Priest class and ecclesiastical abuse were entirely swept away.  We were all 'brethren.'  All were free to obey God.  He might speak through whom He would.  He had poured out His Spirit 'on all flesh,' even His servants and hand maidens - Acts 2.   We honored men for their God-given 'gifts' and offices only.  As the movement began to apostatize, platforms were built higher, coat tails were worn longer, choirs were organized, and string bands came into existence to 'jazz' the people.  The kingss came back once more, to their thrones, restored to sovereignty.  We were no longer 'brethren.'  Then the divisions multiplied."