Frank Bartleman

Frank Bartleman was born Dec. 14, 1871, and died Aug. 23, 1936. As an Author, Evangelist, and Missionary, he was very influential in the early Pentecostal revival.

Bartleman was born in eastern Pennsylvania, was converted in 1892, and was licensed to preach by a local Baptist church shortly after that. Although he attended a year at a night school run by his church, and briefly attended Moody Bible Institute, and read many books by religious writers, it appears most of his knowledge and doctrine came directly by personal study of the Bible, as interpreted through the leading of the Spirit and personal experience.

Beginning in 1905 Bartleman was a prolific writer. One biographer (Robeck) commented that Bartleman was the “most significant social commentator” of early Pentecostalism, and that “It appears he was always looking for something which he believed God would do.”

Bartleman lived his life in a constant expectation of the soon return of Christ. He was not afraid to tackle the social issues of his day or topics which might be unpopular. While he was originally licensed to preach by a Baptist church, pastored a Wesleyan Methodist church for a year, pastored a couple other churches for short periods, and just prior to his European tour he was ordained as a Pentecostal minister, for most of his life he operated independent of any organization.

After his conversion but before his arrival in Los Angeles in 1904, Bartleman spent most of his time crossing the country as an itinerant evangelist for 12 years, living by faith, often preaching to the down and out side of society.

Bartleman is best remembered for his chronicles of the 1906 Pentecostal revival at Los Angeles, including the events leading up to and immediately following the revival. He wrote numerous diary like articles for a number of the Holiness, and later Pentecostal, magazines, starting in 1905, documenting the stirring that led up to the revival, then documenting the progress of the revival.

Later he condensed these articles, and his diary notes, into a book titled “How Pentecost came to Los Angeles.”

Over his life Bartleman authored six books, at least four pamphlets, and according to one source he authored over 550 published articles and over 100 tracts (the numbers here may actually be smaller than this since some articles published in more than one magazine, and some tracts that were also published as articles, reducing the actual number items written).

Bartleman’s writings indicate a distaste for personal glory and building up reputations, which may account for the limited number of his articles commonly available (just over 50 of his articles, and half a dozen of his tracts). Bartleman’s only actual doctrinal work was “The Deity of Christ.” His other longer writings recorded the historical events of the period up to the start of WWI, from a first hand viewpoint, reflecting a strong desire for consecration and a belief in the soon coming of the Lord. A number of his existing articles and tracts focus on issues of Christian consecration, including true Christian unity, whether Christians should fight, and what he viewed as being a Christian’s attitude toward money (these topics also show up in his books).

After the Los Angeles revival, and his missionary work (ending with the start of WWI) he returned to evangelistic and street work until his death in 1936.
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(Mostly from http://www.ccel.org/b/bartleman)

My Story: The Latter Rain (1909)
This is an early, shorter version of "How Pentecost Came to Los Angeles."

From Plow to Pulpit (1924)
This is an account of the Author’s early life. His "conversion, call to preach, and many years of pioneer, faith mission work in all parts of the U. S."

Two Years Mission Work In Europe (1924)
Bartleman tells about his travels and preaching among pentecostals in Europe 1912 -14, just before the World War.

How Pentecost Came to Los Angeles (1925)
"The story of the old Azusa Mission outpouring, as it was in the beginning, by the Author who was an eye witness."

Around the World by Faith, With Six Weeks in the Holy Land (1925)
A description of the Author’s Pentecostal Missionary trip, circling the globe, in 1910.

The Deity of Christ (1926)
A defence for the deity of Christ, and for the trinitarian faith. Clearly shows Bartleman wasn't into the "Oneness" error. Includes a compilation of what the best scholars of the church age have written on the subject.

A Treasure Chest (1927)
"This little booklet is a gem, being composed of the Author’s best thoughts in a nutshell, in proverb form. Very condensed and comprehensive, like nuggets of gold."

Dew From Heaven (1934)
Another collection of Bartleman's words of Wisdom.
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