What We May Expect by F. C. Gilbert

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 10, 1907

What We May Expect

By F. C. Gilbert

F. C. GILBERT

WHEN we read of the trial of the blessed Lord Jesus and learn of the terrible injustice that was done him, we feel that it was cruel for men to do such a thing to One so innocent. Yet such happened when the Spirit of God was withdrawn. We read, furthermore, that whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning. We know, therefore, that when the Spirit of God is withdrawn from men to-day, they will do the same things. A few days ago we had an experience which will illustrate this forcibly.

One of the workers of the Jewish Mission was out doing colporteur work. The Lord was blessing his efforts, and he was doing what he could to help the people, at the same time getting into their hands literature filled with the blessed truth. At one house he met a poor soul who was discouraged. He pointed her to the precious promises, cheered her spirits with the blessed hope, and received an order for a book. This visit lasted about twenty minutes. He then went to another house, where he spent about five minutes, then started to meet a brother worker, with whom he had an appointment at noon.

As he was going from one street onto another, having been obliged to hurry a bit in order to fill the engagement, some one pointed him out, saying, “He is the one,” and very soon he felt a hand placed upon him. Then another young man came along and laid hands on him, and together these young men led our brother to a place about seven minutes’ walk distant, where he was accused of larceny, of having stolen a diamond ring and a brooch. The young man protested his innocence, but to no purpose. Though they admitted that they could not identify his face, still he was dressed like the young man who was seen running across a lot from the house, and was chased by these young men. An ambulance was sent for, and he was locked in a prison cell.

About six hours after, we were notified, and went to see him in the station-house, only to learn that it would take two hundred dollars to let him out on bail. The funds were supplied, and the young man promised to be in court at 9 A. M. the day following.

Several of the ministering brethren and a number of other workers attended the trial, and also the woman at whose house he was at the time the theft was committed, six blocks away.

None of the government witnesses said that they knew he was the one, for no one had seen his face. He had a coat like his, was about his size, looked something like him, something of the same general build. The only witness who gave any damaging evidence was the young man who said he chased him from the time he saw the culprit running, till he caught him. To do this, however, the teamster had to go up and down several blocks, while the thief was running across a lot. Despite the blocks of houses, he dared tell the court he never took his eyes off the young man, and his testimony was not questioned by the judge.

All the witnesses testified that the theft was committed between 11:40 A. M. and 12:05, noon. Then the brother called for the testimony of the lady at whose house he had called at the time. She was a beautiful Christian character, and recited to the court her story, from the time the young man entered the house, at 11:40 A. M., till the time he left, and for five minutes after. “For,” she said, “I thought what an excellent young man he was who encouraged me, and did me so much good.” She had her Bible in court to show the judge the very texts the young man turned to while he was there, and also the receipt the young man left as a guarantee, bearing his own signature, that he would bring the book. But the court refused to see either.

She was asked by the judge, furthermore, how long it would take a person to go from her house to the place where the theft was committed, and she told him that a good walker could travel the distance in fifteen minutes.

Then the brother took the stand and told his story. He informed the court that it was the first time he had ever been in that section of Boston, did not even know where the street was, and could tell nothing about it. He also explained that he was a Christian worker, and told what he was trying to do among the people. Certainly it was told in a way that ought to establish the belief in his innocence in the minds of every one present who loved justice. Despite all this, the court found him guilty. It certainly came as a shock to us all.

Then the judge asked the question as to the disposition of the case—what he should do with it. The brother then called on me, and I recited to the court my acquaintance with the young man. I knew he was a Christian, had known him for nearly two years; was acquainted with him when he was training for a medical missionary, and never knew anything bad about him. We endeavored to tell the court the truth about the matter. Then the judge called on the clerk of the court for his opinion. The clerk gave a very good testimony; he said that he had heard the young man had done good work, was thought much of by those who knew him, and seemed to be an upright person. Everything that could be said in his favor was recited. The judge then took the matter under consideration.

In a few minutes he handed the clerk a paper, and the clerk announced that he was fined forty dollars. This certainly was an astonishment to us all. The poor brother did not know what to say or do. Even the prosecution was surprised. He then appealed the case to the superior court.

After the trial was ended, the woman who lost the articles came to several of our workers, and told them she did not believe he was the one who took them, and felt very sorry that things turned out as they did. She said that she did not swear it was he, only she was obliged to testify, which she did.

After leaving the court I had a conversation with an officer. He said that, being an officer, he did not care to be quoted; but he remarked that in all his experience as a policeman he never heard such a decision. He said that when thieves were caught with the goods on them, they were never fined over ten dollars for petty larceny; but here this Christian young man was fined forty dollars.

A few days after, the brother had occasion to go into the same neighborhood where he was canvassing when arrested, and a policeman came to him and asked him if he was not the one who was arrested for larceny. The policeman told this brother to get off his beat, and that if he did not, he would arrest him again. So he was obliged to leave.

This, dear friends, is an experience with a lesson in it. May God arouse us to take hold and do this work while we have the opportunity; for it surely will be much harder soon. And what we fail to do in times of prosperity we shall have to do in times of adversity.

We hope you will all pray for the brother, and that God will give us wisdom to know what to do. He was bailed out again for the same amount as at first. The case comes to trial the first Monday in January.

Boston, Mass.