Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-01-05

TTJHE REV. HUGH K. WALKER,
d. d.. pastor of Emmanuel Presby-
Il terrain church. has preached and
lived the Christian life in Los Angeles
for many years; and during his incum-
bency of that pulpit the city has known
its greatest growth and received its
epochal uplift Such a man is known,
popularIy, to be safe counsellor, and
The Herald sought him out to, Took
back over the year nineteen hundred and
seven and tell our readers what has been
done for our state and nation" The fol-
lowing able summary resulted:
'It is no easy. task we set ourselves,
when we undertake to review and inter-
pret the past 1t would be simple
enough if it were only the collection of
facts for the sake of the facts them
selves. The work Of the statistician is
laborious, but it is neither delicate nor
difficult. The processes of such a work.
man involve the application of ethics, but
not of aesthetics. The man, however, who
would take the story of even a single
year and make it a means of guidance
and inspiration, Is in an altogether differ
ent class. He must be by instinct and
education an artist; The statistician, the
mere facts gatherer, need only be an ar
tisan.
'orhe present writer frankly confesses
that he is neither an artist nor an arti-
san. The tabulation of a vast array of
figures would be to him an impossible
achievement and at the same time he
feels himself unequal to the artistic task
of Interpretation. And yet, presumptuous
as the undertaking seems a rash promise
given to that mighty potentate in our
modern life, thAnewspaper editor, renders
it necessary that an attempt at the role
of guide, philosopher and friend should
be made. The field assigned is the record
furnished by the notable eevnts of that
good year of our Lord, 1907 There are
those who like to take a backward look
into the very heart of the now vanished
year. The retrospect must be only a
brief glance, and we would see the old
familiar face, glorifed by the spirit that
shines out of it. We have only time for
a touch, and we would like for the
mighty pulse beats of the great-hearted
year to thrill us once more. For surely
1t was a glorious twelve months, in which
good, red blood poured through the ar
teries of the social. political and re-
ligious life of the community, and the
nation. There has been no dizziness, no
sluggishness; something doing all the
time, and that something worth while.
The ideals that blossomed in other years
have come to some measure of fruitage.
The strenuous life, with it's moral earn
estness and vigor, has been realized, as
never before. With it all has been min
gled a flavor of romance, that adds to
the delciousness of the gathered fruit
age. No matter how much we may mix
the metaphors, the point we are making
is that nineteen hundred and seven was
truly great.
ut was mighty, as has been intimated,
in its heart-beats Who does not recog-
nize thrill as we recall the royal CON-
bat between our modern David and the
giant trustsi The sling and stone of our
champion wrought havoc among the
boastful Goliaths, that came forth in a
troop to meet and daunt him. The well
aimed missile found the vulnerable point
and 10, the mighty are fallen. In all
seriousness. the fight against the trusts,
however unsatisfactory in practical re-
suits 1t may be to some selfish and carp
ing critics, has been an incentive along
the line of moral courage and heroism,
which will not lose its force The Har-
ward professor who declared that the