Hollister, Cal by Joseph Harvey Waggoner

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, Cal. · Aug 12, 1875

Hollister, Cal.

By Joseph Harvey Waggoner

Political gatherings have greatly interfered with our meetings the last week. Prominent men have been here, and the firing of cannon or anvils, torchlight processions, &c., almost entirely carry away a small place like this. One night the noise and confusion was so great that we thought best to adjourn the meeting. Those meetings holding very late in the night not only distract the minds of the people, but unfit them for hearing because of their weariness.

A few have come out on the Sabbath. We judge that the interest is not deep with many, but can yet form no definite idea of the result. To-day Eld. Ware, Disciple, preached against the Sabbath, and Bro. Canright has appointed to review him to-morrow night. We hope this may increase and deepen the interest.

News from Gilroy is not altogether cheering. While some are holding on firmly, the enemy is making desperate efforts to overthrow some, and we fear for their safety. "Lord, spare thy people."

This morning at the break of day we had a pretty severe shock of earthquake, doing no damage here, however. Our tent is but a few rods from the jail, which is two stories and of brick. What effect is produced on the building we have not learned, but the prisoners must have been terribly frightened, as their screams were horrifying. A rumbling to the south-east like distant thunder, would seem to indicate that it may have been more severe in that direction.

A slight shaking of the earth produces the greatest consternation; but the plainest evidence from the word of God that the earth will soon be so terribly shaken that the mountains will be cast down and the islands removed, produces little effect on the minds of the people. The fear of God is nearly departed from the earth. J. H. WAGGONER.

Hollister, Aug. 8, 1875.