p. 16 | San Francisco by E. J. Hibbard

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 13, 1907

San Francisco

By E. J. Hibbard

Since April 18 last year, San Francisco has been a city much spoken of. Earthquake, political graft, strife between capital and labor, robbery, pugilism, murder, have attracted the attention of the world to this place.

Just yesterday, the erstwhile political leader here, who has been under some sixty-odd indictments for receiving and disbursing bribe money for the purpose of granting illegal franchises, etc., made a complete confession to the grand jury, after first reversing his former plea of “not guilty,” in Judge Dunn’s court. His confession fastens guilt on the mayor, also on many high officials of the united street-railways, the telephone companies, fight trust, and so on to the end.

With this before and about us, we are enjoying the pleasure of walking to and from our several appointments in the city, as are most others who have to move about to their work. You have read of the strike by the street-car men. There is as yet no indication of a settlement. Strike-breakers are here; the company is running some cars from about 8 A. M. to 6 P. M. The papers seem optimistic about a speedy breaking of the strike, but there is no ground for cherishing such a belief. It is said that there are ninety thousand union men here. These with their families are prohibited, under heavy union fines, from riding on a car. Money is flowing in by the thousands of dollars from union carmen and others to support the strikers and their families while they are out of work. If this continues, the strike can hold out indefinitely.

But with their cars all boycotted by the trades unionists and their families; others refraining from their use, either from sympathy with or from fear of these unions, the cars can not begin to pay running expenses. However, the millions behind the trusts involved, together with their determination to win, will lead them also, no doubt, to continue a long and fierce fight.

Our tent, where Elder Shultz, myself, and others are holding a series of meetings, is situated about a half block from the car barns, whence the company first started cars after the strike began. Thousands of people were in the streets to oppose or to gaze as the cars first made their appearance. In the strife which ensued, bullets fell like hail all about our tent. One person in the street was killed outright, and others were fatally injured.

It seems to us that the perils of the last days are thick about us. Few in the city have any regard for God or truth. A careful house-to-house canvass in the vicinity of the tent scarcely reveals one in a hundred who does not sneer at the very name of God or the Bible. Yet, somehow, I scarcely know how, the Lord nearly fills our fifty-by-seventy-foot tent each evening. This, too, in spite of the fact that all who come must walk.

The meetings began April 14. To the present, six or more have begun the observance of all God’s commands, though we have not yet presented the law or Sabbath directly — only as it came in connection with the prophecies.

Expenses here are heavy. To one accustomed to country work, they are startling. Our tent site costs one hundred dollars a month; our house rent for workers, eighty dollars a month, and other things in proportion.

But we must be true to our trust. The Spirit constrains us to feel thus. There are here more than the “required ten” who fear God and obey his will. The outlook is favorable for a splendid harvest of souls. But the angels must hold the winds, else we can do nothing.

The prayers of all are earnestly desired. Financial assistance from any in this conference whose hearts God may move will not be refused. “The coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”

E. J. HIBBARD,

2519 Octavia St., San Francisco, Cal.