p. 649 | The Work in Russia by W. C. White

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 28, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 41.

The Work in Russia.

By W. C. White

On the 29th of June Elder Conradi started for Russia. At Odessa he was met by Brother Perk, and together they began to visit the Sabbath-keepers in Southern Russia. Wherever they went there was a great interest manifested to hear the truth. So busily were they engaged in their work that not many letters were written, and we can give but few particulars about their work up to the 1st of August, when it was very unexpectedly and suddenly cut short. Then they were both arrested on the charge of teaching Jewish heresy, and were thrown into prison. Although they were imprisoned the 1st of August, it was not until the 12th that we received at Basel a very imperfectly transmitted telegram, stating the fact. A few days later a letter was received signed by five of the German brethren giving some of the particulars with reference to the meetings held by these brethren, and their arrest. From their letter we take the following statements:—

“After having had, through the grace of God, our dear Brother Conradi almost three weeks among us, he has been taken from us and thrown into prison. At his request we write to you how these things happened, for he is not allowed to write. Wednesday, July 14, he went to Katisch among Baptist brethren, where he had twice before held meetings. Friday morning, in company with two brethren, he came to us. After much conversation, with joy, we went the same day to Japautchi, where we had a meeting with the brethren the same evening, and we rejoiced in the good instruction which we received.

“Sabbath morning also there was a meeting, and in the afternoon Brother Conradi gave us Sabbath-school lessons. . . . In the evening we invited all the neighbors in the village, and our meeting was well attended. Brother Conradi preached with eloquence on the present truth. Many were convinced, and went home in silent meditation. Sunday we held another meeting which was still better attended. After the meeting a teacher invited Brother Conradi to go to another village to preach there. If Brother Conradi could not go, he promised to visit him with a certain preacher; but alas, when he heard Brother Conradi preach that to break the Sabbath was as great a sin as to transgress the other commandments, he became offended, and we think that he and the preacher he mentioned, took part in the treachery against Brother Conradi.

“Sunday afternoon I returned home full of hope for the future. Brother Conradi remained and held meetings every evening. The next Sabbath we all assembled again; also the brethren of Berdebulat. Meetings were held Friday evening and Sabbath morning. A brother and his wife from the Mennonites kept the Sabbath with us, and many others were convinced and inclined to keep the Sabbath. In the afternoon we had Sabbath-school, where we said our lessons as far as we understood them. In the evening Brother Conradi preached with power. The meeting was well attended, and many prayers were offered with tears. In our prayers we remembered also our friends, and may God put it more and more into our hearts to bring the light of truth, the message of the third angel, before our friends. During the meeting two windows were broken by enemies. This caused some fright and disturbance, but the meeting went on with blessings. Sunday morning was the last meeting in Japautchi. In the afternoon Brother Conradi went to Westheim, where there was a sister who wished to be baptized. In the evening he was invited to another village, where he went in company with several brethren, and held a meeting in the house of the man who had invited him to the village. The next week he went to visit two brethren in Avell and held two or three meetings there. Friday noon he went to Berdebulat, where he again explained the rules of faith, above all our duty to be faithful toward God, to one another, and to the community; and all this with proofs from the Scripture.

“So it came about that Sabbath afternoon we were organized as a congregation of nineteen members. But just as we were celebrating the ordinance of humility, by washing one another’s feet, a policeman entered, and summoned our brethren and Brother Conradi and Perk to appear at court, after having taken our passports. On the day following our brethren of Berdebulat had to go with them to Perekop, where Brethren Conradi and Perk were imprisoned without cause. Our brethren came home with sorrow after having consulted a lawyer. The lawyer advised us to pledge our property as security that he would appear before the court at the appointed time. We did all in our power. Two days later we were again at Perekop but everything was refused us. We were not even permitted to talk with him. At last, however, we obtained the privilege of a few minutes’ conversation in Russian, in presence of a Russian officer. Then Brother Conradi told us that we should inform you of his situation; that we should write in his behalf to the American Consul; that we should greet all the friends; and that we should be peaceable and full of love to everybody, for the Saviour, said he, will end all things well. These things Brother Conradi spoke in German, and Brother Perk had to translate all in Russian to the officer and to me. Then I took leave without being allowed to speak a word in German. My heart has spoken many things but only with God. Hearty greetings to you, dear brethren, in the Lord. We help our Brother Conradi to the extent of our ability, just as you do. Rejoice, for the work of the Lord goes forward. Soon we hope to see Brother Conradi again and will give you further news. Your brethren in the Lord.”

As fast as information was received from Russia with reference to Elder Conradi’s situation, Elder Whitney communicated the facts to the American Minister at St. Petersburg. The minister, Mr. Lathrop, promised to do all that he could for Brother Conradi’s relief, but told us that great patience might be required, as the action of the foreign office was very slow. On the 18th of August, we received letters from Elder Conradi, written on the 1st and the 4th, and which had no doubt been detained a considerable time by the officers whose duty it was to examine them. In these, Brother Conradi stated that their situation was anything but pleasant. They were confined in a common jail; but as the officer was friendly they were allowed to keep their own clothing. After sleeping three nights on the hard floor the

brethren were allowed to send them some coats, with which to make a bed. They were also allowed to purchase some food in addition to the regular prison fare. From this date until September 10, we were able to obtain no definite information, and we had no assurance that our letters reached their destination. This painful suspense seemed unendurable, and although we had but little idea as to what could be accomplished, it was decided that a brother should be sent to ascertain the true facts as to the situation of these brethren, and to do whatever was possible for their relief. In accordance with this plan, Brother Oscar Roth, of Tramelan, one of our most successful colporters, a man of much business experience who speaks both the German and the French, was selected to go upon this painful and unpromising mission. He left Basel August 31.

The American newspapers of August 27 state that “Conradi the American who was recently arrested at Simferopol, in the Crimea, has been released and ordered to leave Russia immediately.” This, however, was a false rumor. But on the 10th of September brethren Conradi and Perk were both released, and Brother Conradi sent a telegram to us at Basel announcing the fact. In a letter from Odessa, written September 16, Elder Conradi says:—

“Since leaving the prison, the Lord has blessed us much in visiting the friends; the seed which has been sown is bearing fruit already. After being released, I sent you a dispatch Friday morning, announcing our deliverance. Then we hired as good a rig as we could get, and after a tedious ride on an old lumber wagon, we reached our friends at Berdebulat, about five P. M. About seven o’clock I met Brother Roth, who then came from the post-office, sad and cast down. Oh, what joy to all when we met! It seemed a wonderful deliverance. Later, five of the brethren came from Japautchi, and we spent the Sabbath together talking over the missionary work. Six here have joined the Tract and Missionary Society. Four promised to go forward in baptism. Evening after the Sabbath we drove fifteen miles to Westheim. From there we went to Japautchi, where we met by appointment our brethren from Avell, thirty miles south, and a Baptist and his wife who had commenced to obey the truth since we were imprisoned. Our meeting continued till after midnight. Here we talked about the Tract and Missionary work and received two more members. In the afternoon, at the request of the Mennonite brethren I visited their meeting, and told them my experience. I never had so many friends in Japautchi as now. My accusers have bitterly repented of their action already. Then we went to Timirbulat, where five have promised to unite with us by vote, and two by baptism. Monday morning we drove twenty-five miles to Biden, where the most of our brethren at Milltown, Dakota, once lived, and where many of their relatives still reside. Next morning we went to Nikkebash, where one promised to obey the truth, and then to Avell where several more joined our Tract and Missionary Society, and four promised to be baptized. Wednesday morning a brother took us twenty-five miles to Eupatoria, where we took the steamer for this place.

“Since arriving here I have seen the American Consul. He was very friendly, and said that some here thought that I would go to Siberia; that my deliverance was brought about through the intervention of the American Minister at St. Petersburg, who, after writing to the Foreign Minister of Russia, went personally and told them that I was not a Jew but a Christian. Truly the Lord has been merciful unto us, and has wrought in our behalf.

“There are now forty-five Sabbath-keepers in Crimea; twenty-four of these are church members bers. Eight are ready to join by vote, and twelve are waiting to be baptized. Twenty-three have joined the Tract Society. I expect Brother Wonneberg will baptize next Sabbath. I must be absent at such occasions, for the present at least, to avoid further trouble. Up to the present time I know of seventy-five Sabbath-keepers in Russia. As soon as he can get the books, Brother Perk will engage in colporter work. After visiting Brother Laubhan at Saratov I shall return to Basel. I am now planning to return by the 15th of October. I am anxious to get to Basel as soon as possible to help in getting out books. We must have books for our colporters, books that they can sell and support themselves in the work.”

In a letter written two or three days later Brother Conradi sends an order for a large box of books, and says that they are determined to give the canvassing work a thorough trial.

We cannot close this account of the work in Russia without calling the attention of our brethren to the means by which the knowledge of the truth reached these brethren in Russia. Here are seventy-five or more persons keeping the Sabbath, and up to the time of Brother Conradi’s visit, none of them had ever seen a Seventh-day Adventist minister, but had embraced the truth from reading books, papers, and tracts sent to them by their friends in America. This should be a great encouragement to those who have friends in the countries of Europe, to send them the reading matter. The seed sown may not always bring forth so bountifully as this, but it will have its influence, and not until the great harvest day will it be known whether it has yielded thirty-fold, sixty-fold or one hundred-fold. W. C. WHITE.