California by E. E. Parlin

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 21, 1907

California

By E. E. Parlin

SAN FRANCISCO.—In many respects the past year has been without a parallel. The great earthquake in April last and the devastating fires left over one half of the city in utter ruin, and the number of lives lost will never be known. Property to the value of hundreds of millions of dollars was swept out of existence. Public and private records were almost completely destroyed, and the city was for several weeks on the verge of what might have been the greatest monetary panic this country has ever seen. This was averted only by the declaring of holidays by the governor of the State until confidence and calmness once more took possession of the minds of men. Under these conditions, San Francisco, the once beautiful city by the Golden Gate, after weeks of confusion, for a few weeks clothed herself in sackcloth and turned from the evil of her way. The tremendous spectacle of common misfortune and suffering revealed, for a short time only, the universality of the brotherhood of mankind.

Then came trust manipulation of prices of necessities, labor disturbances resulting in various strikes, in one of which the badly crippled street-car service was again at a complete standstill for eleven days. Attracted by the high wages offered, hundreds of men from all parts of the country flocked to the city, if not for work, to at least by fair means or foul share in the labors of others. Whisky saloons, which for a time had been prohibited, were invariably the first to reopen, and appeared in wooden shacks all through the burned sections, placarded, “Open for Business.” Next, and in order, came an unprecedented reign of violence, drunkenness, robbery, and bloodshed. Rumors of extortion, misappropriation of relief moneys and the public funds by dishonest managers and corrupt city officials and politicians

persistently multiplied, until the grand jury took action and returned various indictments against the mayor of the city and many others.

Official indifference, if not actual sanction, of the disregard of private rights, and even of life itself, by the semi-public corporations, has become the order of the day. Saloons, with drunkenness and its attendant vices, with the sanction of the authorities, has invaded many of the hitherto respectable portions of the city which were not destroyed in the April disaster.

Taking advantage of the necessities of the people, many landlords have abnormally increased their rents; trusts created a shortage of coal; and almost all other necessities have been made the pretext for large advances in prices. On the one hand are boundless, ungoverned selfishness and avarice in the endeavor to accumulate money; on the other hand, increasing perplexity and discontent, and a growing feeling of being oppressed beyond the limit of endurance.

In spite, however, of the wickedness and selfishness of men, which can only be adequately expressed by comparing it with what we are told of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and of the adverse circumstances which have surrounded the church in San Francisco, with several saloons and incident evils within but a few doors of the church building, the past year has been in many respects the best in the history of the church here.

The total amount of cash handled in all the various funds of the church, including tithes, exceeded $12,000. After the disaster in April, donations to the amount of $490.16 were received from various churches and individuals to repair the damage sustained by the church building. The total expense of these repairs was $741.25. At the close of the year there was a small credit balance in each fund, the aggregate amount on hand being $505.51. The entire amount, including tithes and offerings, from the members of this church for the year 1906 exceeds $8,000.

The presentation of these reports at the annual meeting of the church on Jan. 2, 1907, was the occasion of much rejoicing, as it shows, in spite of the reduction in numbers because of the removal from the city of many of the members, that the cause of God is prospering, even beyond the most sanguine expectations of those who have been in contact with it. E. E. PARLIN.