Seth Cook Rees

Seth Cook Rees (August 6, 1854 – May 22, 1933) was a Quaker minister and leading figure in the “holiness movement," co-founding the International Holiness Union and Prayer League, and, following a schism with the Church of the Nazarene, founding the Pilgrim Holiness Church, a forerunner of the Wesleyan Church.

Early life and ministry Rees was born in Westfield, Indiana to a Quaker family. For his formal education, Rees attended the town's Friends Academy.

In March 1873, Rees had a personal conversion, undergoing a spiritual awakening. Rees' military-style form of organization underscored the active engagement with the poor and downtrodden, a central tenet of Rees' philosophy.

After two years of his Providence revival, Rees again took to the road to preach. With his boisterous preaching style, he was dubbed the "Earth Quaker." The Prayer League emphasized holiness, healing, evangelism, and premillennialism.

Move to Pasadena In 1908, Rees moved west, settling in Pasadena, California, a place that Rees regarded as "the fairest and best," and which served as his home until his death 25 years later. thumb Seth Cook Rees House, Pasadena, California.Later that year, after a particularly energetic guest sermon at the First Church of Nazarene in Los Angeles, Rees caused a bit of local scandal by departing the church and leaving his sleeping son Paul behind. According to a newspaper account, "hen the boy awoke he was frightened and began to scream lustily, but the door was locked and his rescue was delayed." When Rees returned home, he recalled having the boy and promptly telephoned the pastor's wife, learning that the boy was safe.

Church of the Nazarene In 1912, Phineas Bresee, founder and a General Superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene, called upon Rees to serve as the pastor of the newly formed Nazarene University in Pasadena. This resulted in a frenzied and ongoing revival, with the student body developing a profound attachment to Rees and Wiley. When the trial began, a raucous crowd of two hundred supporters had assembled as “character witnesses” outside the church. The throng caused such a commotion that the trial committee agreed to admit the crowd to the auditorium; however, they were not allowed access to the proceedings, and Rees "walked out" in protest. In the end, the committee of elders was unable to reach consensus and Rees was acquitted.

But the die had been cast. On February 25, 1917, a Nazarene executive showed up at a Sunday morning service to excommunicate Rees and order the dissolution of his congregation as a Nazarene church. In a formal letter, the district superintendent claimed that the move was required due to "intolerable conditions" within the church.

Pilgrim Holiness Church Following his expulsion, Rees formed a small denomination known as the Pilgrim Church, and began circulating a periodical known as The Pilgrim. thumb Grave of Seth Cook Rees (1854 to 1933) and his wife Frida Marie Rees (1872 to 1958); Mountain View Cemetery, Altadena, California.