A Personal Experience

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Apr 26, 1906

A Personal Experience

ONE who has recently received the truth at San Diego, Cal., under the labors of Elder W. W. Simpson, writes as follows concerning his experience in coming to a knowledge of the truth:—

“In the autumn of 1904 I came to San Diego, Cal., from Oregon, and finding no work that was satisfactory, I returned to Oregon in the spring of 1905. Soon I found a very pleasant position, and could have remained the year round; but why I could not be contented to remain in Oregon I did not know. San Diego was in my mind continually, in spite of the fact that I had failed to find profitable employment there. The impression became so strong finally that I could endure it no longer, and so I left Oregon, and reached San Diego Oct. 3, 1905.

“When I refused a good situation in Oregon at good wages for six months, and a free pass to the place of labor, the man who made this offer was surprised at my foolishness, as he considered it, and told me I would starve in San Diego; but to San Diego I came, nevertheless, and felt certain that there was something in this city for me more important than what I had found or been offered anywhere else. I did not know what it was, however, until a few days after arriving, when I was offered good pay to go twelve miles out of town and work at steady employment. I wanted work, and here was a good opening, but for some reason I could not take it. Something seemed to keep me back, and so I refused to go. I soon began work with a business firm in town, and have remained with them ever since. Soon after beginning work for this firm, I was offered a free pass to Isis theater by an acquaintance at the house in which I was rooming, and was told that I would hear good preaching if I would go that night to the opera-house. I said, ‘I'll go;’ and I went, more out of curiosity, however, than with any real expectation of receiving benefit from the sermon. The name of the evangelist was on the ticket that passed me into the theater, but I had never seen him before, nor heard of him.

“That night was the turning-point of my life. Many warnings had come to me in dreams and in other ways, but when I heard Evangelist W. W. Simpson preach in Isis theater on the subject of the millennium last October, and saw his charts, I knew that God was speaking to my soul, and I praise him that he gave me strength and courage to listen and obey. In a few weeks I was baptized by Elder Simpson. The one who gave me the ticket to the theater was baptized the same day I was.”