p. 11 | Impressions by the Way by L. R. CONRADI

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 12, 1912

Impressions by the Way

By L. R. CONRADI

L. R. CONRADI

LEAVING Hamburg September 6, I had a safe journey to New York. Elder J. H. Schilling met me on my arrival at the latter place, and I spoke to the German church in Brooklyn, reaching Takoma Park, D. C., September 17.

The council of the General Conference Committee was indeed of world-wide importance, and principles were again emphasized which must ever remain the fundamentals of a sound policy. The spirit of unity which prevailed throughout the meetings, and the active interest taken in the fields beyond and in increasing our contributions for them, presage only good for the future. It was my privilege to speak several times in Washington and at the Seminary, in Takoma Park.

September 26 I left for Boston. I spoke several times at the Melrose sanitarium, and in South Lancaster, and then on Sunday in the Greater New York tent, and again in Brooklyn on Monday, and sailed October 1 for Europe. Arriving at Plymouth, October 7, I was joined by Mrs. Conradi, who had been visiting relatives in England. I was also pleased to meet Brethren W. J. Fitzgerald and S. G. Haughey, and several members of the Plymouth church, and to improve the short time of our stop in counsel.

In Hamburg I had only four days to prepare for the long trip to Africa, and part of this time had to be spent in considering matters pertaining to the Hamburg Publishing House, and in correspondence. The Hamburg presses were busy in running off the extra edition of the Herold der Wahrheit, which, for the first time, is to reach an edition of half a million copies. A new press was being set up, none too early to meet the ever-increasing demands made on the house.

Evening after the Sabbath I met Elder H. F. Schuberth in Berlin, and addressed a crowded chapel of our brethren in that city. In view of the good success attending our health food store in Hamburg, the German Health Association has recently rented good quarters in Berlin for the opening of the same kind of work there. The same night Brother Schuberth and I went to Friedensau, where we spent Sunday in counsel. Our Friedensau school has one hundred seventy-five students, all preparing for active missionary work in various parts of the European Division. On my way south, I met Elder J. G. Oblaender at Frankfort-on-the-Main, and Elder O. E. Reinke went with me from Basel to Zurich, where I spoke on the sixteenth.

Good quarters have been secured in Basel for the headquarters of the Central European Union. I spent the seventeenth with the Latin Union brethren at Gland. I was pleased to find their school so well filled, and thus the prospect brightening for workers in the great Latin field. Next day Elder L. P. Tieche and I proceeded to southern Italy, meeting Elder Guy Dail at Milan, Elder L. Zecchetto at Faenza, and reaching Gravina Friday noon. All our brethren gave us a hearty welcome at the station, and did everything they could to make us feel at home among them.

This was our first general meeting in Italy. All our local workers were in attendance, and also about twenty-five of our people, besides about as many interested strangers. The four days spent here were crowded with workers’ meetings, meetings for our own people, and in the evening our public lectures.

Gravina is a town of about 25,000 inhabitants, the seat of the Catholic bishop, and is situated in the midst of fine vineyards and olive groves. Close to the present town in a ravine by an old Roman aqueduct are many old caves. When the Saracens destroyed the city, then situated on the adjoining hill, the inhabitants went to the ravines below, and found shelter in caves cut into the soft limestone rock. Though Gravina has a priests’ seminary and no less than sixty-two priests, yet the weakness of the Roman Church in this place is best seen from the fact that the city government is entirely in the hands of the socialists.

Much of our time was spent in instructing our workers and laying careful plans for the advancement of the cause in Italy. During the winter, work will be carried on in Naples, Florence, Pisa, and the Waldensian valleys. There are now nearly one hundred members in Italy, and we have seven gospel workers, among whom is only one ordained minister—among 35,000,000 people. Much valuable time has been lost, but we are glad that brighter prospects are before us in this field. We need, more than anything else, consecrated men who know the language, and feel one with the people, as well as with the truth.

Some time was also given to the consideration of how we may increase the circulation of our Italian paper, and edit it in such a way that it might serve as an important mission factor in the evangelization of the Italians. All our people who feel a burden for the advancement of the work among this nationality could help us greatly by aiding in the circulation of the Italian paper. We have some very promising members in our churches, and the results attending the work thus far are the best assurance that the Lord still has a great work to be done in Italy. Let us remember this field in our prayers.

Brindisi.