The Danube Union Conference by L. R. CONRADI

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 22, 1916

The Danube Union Conference

By L. R. CONRADI

L. R. CONRADI

LEAVING Nuremberg January 24, Brethren G. W. Schubert and J. Wolfgarten and the writer reached Budapest the following afternoon, where the Danube Union Committee had its annual audits for all its fields, and where the general workers’ meeting was to be held. The division treasurer, Alice Kuessner, had arrived a day earlier, but the union treasurer was not able to secure the necessary permission to attend. The five days spent together were filled with workers’ meetings, auditing, and public meetings.

This union has made a splendid record, all considered, the last year. Strange to say, the field in which our brethren had the most bitter persecution and where other Protestant denominations had thus far had the least success, has proved to be the very best one for the growth of our message. Not fewer than 181 members have been added to that local conference the past year, bringing up its membership to 754.

Of the many remarkable experiences through which our workers and members here have passed during the year, I shall mention only the most interesting and striking. To quote from one of our workers’ letters:—

“Seven of our brethren had been summoned, charged with violating that paragraph of the law which is punishable by a fine of $400 and the imprisonment of any one who is found guilty of a direct provocation and contempt of the state religion. The legal proceedings were postponed three times in order that new witnesses might be secured, as nothing could be proved from the testimony of those who had been called. The hearing of the brethren was interesting. The testimony of one of the accused well represents the true influence of our faith. This testimony is even used by those not of our faith to enlighten people as to what kind of men the Adventists really are.

“The accusation was stated as follows: ‘Such and such persons have become heretics, and make propaganda to spread their heresy, and by so doing slander the church.’

“The brother giving the testimony is an old, gray-headed man. The president of the court said, ‘Hello, old man, how have you become a heretic at such an advanced age?’ The brother replied:—

“‘I will tell you, Mr. President. Up to this age and until the time I had these gray hairs [pointing to his gray head], I was a thief, a drinker who caroused in the saloon, on the street, and in the family, and who caused much trouble to the local police. In short, I was, without exaggeration, the worse fellow in the whole village. Please ask the priests and the witnesses whom they have summoned against me, and they will confirm this [the priests and the witnesses confirmed the statement]. But now in my advanced age God has had mercy on me, and through these people called Adventists, I learned to know the gospel of the fear of God, and I have become another man. Now, I steal no more, I drink no liquor, make no disturbances; yes, all the villagers testify of me that now I conduct myself better than any of them. Please ask the priests of our village, and the witnesses, and they will also tell you.’ Both the priests and the witnesses affirmed this also. Then the brother continued: ‘Now, Mr. President, please judge for yourself: When was I a heretic? Was it at a time when I committed such evil deeds, or is it now when I lead such a different life?’”

“The presiding judge and the judges and lawyers in attendance were all astonished and speechless. They themselves afterward said that they had never before heard such a testimony.

“Since then this incident has become widely known, as seen from the following:—

“‘Some time later I stood before a bookstore. I was called by name to a group of gentlemen consisting of a lawyer, a government counselor, an engineer, and another high official. The lawyer, after asking how my health was, asked me also how Adventism prospered, at the same time introducing me as an Adventist preacher. One of the gentlemen asked me, ‘What kind of people are these Adventists, and what are their principles?’ Before I could give an answer, the lawyer and the government counselor said:—

“‘Listen, I will tell you. The prefect of the district went out into the country in order to convert the Adventist farmers there to the orthodox church again, but before he got through, he himself was converted. He saw with his own eyes that the Adventists were really the best people of the villages—clean, polite, of good behavior, having cleanly houses and farmyards.’ And in conclusion: ‘Have you ever heard that an old farmer would come and say to any one, “My sir, up to my old age I have been the worst man in the village, which my neighbors can all confirm, and now that I am converted, the contrary is the case”? Have you ever heard any such thing? Behold, such are the Adventists, and this is their work, and thus you may know what the Adventists are, and what they teach.’”

“Very interesting also was the hearing of the witnesses. One of them was asked, ‘Have they slandered the church?’ and he answered, ‘Yes, indeed, in the worst manner.’ Then the president asked, ‘In what way?’ The witness answered, ‘By not going to church any more.’ ‘Well,’ asked the president, ‘what has that to do with it? Should they be therefore punished by the law? Do you yourselves go regularly to church?’ ‘Yes,’ the witness said, ‘I go to church on Christmas and Easter, but not on all the holidays.’ Then the president asked again, ‘Have you slandered the church by going so seldom?’ And the answer was, ‘No.’

“Another witness was asked, ‘Have these people slandered the priests?’—‘Yes.’ ‘How? What have they said?’ ‘Well,’ one of the witnesses said, ‘they have slandered the priests in the worst manner.’ Then he was asked, ‘Which one of the accused has done this?’ After naming one of the seven, he was asked what this brother had really stated. Then the witness answered, ‘I cannot tell it, but he spoke very loudly to the priest.’ ‘Well then, please tell all that has taken place.’ ‘I can’t tell it all. Both priest and Adventist were sitting round a table. They had a thick book which lay on the table. The Adventist pointed to the book, and spoke very loudly, but what he said I do not know. I cannot read; therefore, I cannot tell you what kind of book it was. All I remember is that the Adventist spoke of a Matthew and of a Luke. But I cannot tell you who these persons are, for I have never learned to read.’”

“Then the judge answered, ‘That’s no slandering of the priests. I know well of what you speak. Matthew and Luke are evangelists. The book was surely the Bible, and the Adventist undoubtedly had a conversation concerning it with the priest. The priest said, perhaps, “You should believe so and so.” The Adventist answered, perhaps, “No, for Matthew and Luke write differently from what the priests believe.” But this is surely no slandering of the priests on the part of the Adventists.’”

“All the witnesses were asked concerning the general behavior of the Adventists in the villages, and all had to testify that the Adventists are the best people in the village. Yet two of the seven brethren were fined $60 each, but they appealed to the highest court, and were freed.”

The largest conference in the union is the Transylvania, which had 121 additions last year, and its membership increased to 792. The Middle Hungarian Conference, of which the union president is in charge, had 134 additions, and its membership has grown to 653. The Theiss Mission field, where most of the members speak the Serbian language, had 53 additions, and its membership is 276. The union as a whole had 518 additions, and its membership is now 2,683.

But there has also been a wonderful increase in the tithe and some increase

in the offerings, in spite of the war. As many of the members are farmers, and farm products have raised greatly in price, they were able to pay a large tithe and give more offerings. Consequently the tithe rose from $16,000 to $24,000, and the total offerings were about $4,500. Only a few years ago we had to appropriate from twelve to fifteen thousand dollars annually to this field. This year the Roumanian and Transylvania Conferences each turned over about $2,000 surplus to the union, and cleared fully all the deficits of the union, leaving a small surplus. They did this after giving the workers a general increase in wages. There are but few directors of fields left, and yet in spite of all the opposition and the scarcity of workers, God’s cause is progressing as never before. The workers indeed enjoyed the instruction given, and went forth from this meeting with new courage in the Lord.

Brother Huenergardt and the workers remaining with him are of good courage. Let us remember in our prayers our brethren in persecution and trouble.