City Work in San Francisco by J. W. McCord

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Feb 25, 1915

City Work in San Francisco

By J. W. McCord

FULLY one hundred persons in San Francisco have recently begun the observance of the Sabbath. Seventy of these have already been baptized, and the others will soon be ready for that step.

This is the Lord's work during 1914, through one company of workers in San Francisco, and we rejoice to have had a part in it. As 1915 is the year of the Panama-Pacific Exposition, we are praying and planning for greater results, and to this end we earnestly ask for the prayers and help of our people everywhere.

Our company consists of Elder R. S. Fries, my associate in preaching; Elder Taphouse, a veteran in Bible workers; and Brother Ferry, who takes care of the hall and also does good service as usher.

As we cannot use tents to advantage in San Francisco because of high winds and fog, we are obliged to labor entirely in halls and store buildings. This makes our work in this city somewhat costly, and to some degree less attractive. However, we are not discouraged by any means, but purpose by the grace of God to do our best with conditions as we find them.

Of these one hundred new Sabbath keepers, seventy-two came out during our last series of meetings on Fillmore Street. Fifty-eight of these have already been baptized, and others will soon follow.

The Fillmore Street series was excellent in every way. Our hall seated nearly three hundred, and frequently we had to turn many persons away. We had a service each evening for fourteen weeks and one day, and the attendance averaged fully 250 each night for the entire period.

The expense of this series amounted to $695, and the donations for the same time amounted to $720, leaving a surplus of $25. We gave away thousands of tracts and papers, and sold $150 worth of books.

One of the many things we city workers in San Francisco are thankful for is the steady cooperation that exists between the workers and the churches. This team work is a source of great encouragement to us, and also, we believe, to them.

In closing this report, perhaps it would be wise to mention a few cases as samples of the Lord's work in reaching sinners during the Fillmore Street series.

Brother Hines is a shoemaker, and a few years ago he owned a large downtown shoe store in San Francisco. He lost everything, however, through drink. A few nights ago I noticed that he seemed somewhat penitent, and asked the reason. He looked up in my face with tears in his eyes and said, “I was just thinking how the Lord has kept me from touching strong drink for four months.”

Brother McDougall is a young Irishman, who, with his wife, sister, and cousin, also accepted present truth at this time. Brother McDougall was under deep conviction. For five months he had been vainly looking for work, and a few days after his conversion he obtained employment. A few days later the Sabbath was explained from the pulpit, but his employer would not allow him to keep it. This young man gave up his work at once, and within three days secured work where he could keep the Sabbath.

Sister Ruggles had been a Spiritualist. She had often seen lights in the sky, and even Satan himself had appeared to her in different forms. Night after night in her bedroom, apparently deadly combats took place between so-called good spirits and bad ones. She was told that the good spirits were there to defend her, and she fully believed them. This woman was truly possessed of demons, and became so bad that her relatives finally had her placed in an insane asylum. She remained there for two years, and the spirits told her the very day and hour when she would be set free. This came to pass exactly as these spirits had told her, and she was liberated. Later she came to San Francisco and attended our meetings on Fillmore Street. She invited us to her home, and after weeks of patient labor the Lord set the captive free. She is now happy in the service of the Lord.

These are but samples of the Lord's work in this wicked city, and they make us rejoice to have a part, however humble, in this closing work. We are now about to close another successful effort in San Francisco. This, however, is another story, and properly belongs to the next report.

J. W. McCORD.