The European Division by L. R. CONRADI

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 7, 1911

The European Division

By L. R. CONRADI

L. R. CONRADI

The first six months of 1911 clearly show the marked blessings of God resting upon the work throughout the European Division. During this time not less than 2,500 souls were taken into the church, by far the greatest number ever uniting with us in a like period of time. Our net gain in membership during this time was 1,718, bringing our membership to 23,666 at the end of the second quarter. The greatest increase of membership is in the two German unions. The East German leads in Europe.

While the work is being strengthened in the established conferences and unions, populous though these fields may be and great their wants, there is a constant increase of interest in the less favored mission fields. While all rejoice to hear of the steady growth in their own conferences, yet they rejoice even more as they see the work advance in the difficult fields beyond.

The steady growth of the work attracts more and more public attention. In the last census of 1910 the government published specific statistics of our people. The work of our missions in Africa appears in the regular evangelical statistics, and is more or less commented upon. Yet the enemy is not asleep, and here and there efforts are being made of such a nature as one would not dream of in countries like the United States.

All our brethren throughout the world who have prayed for our faithful men in prison will be interested to learn that one of our dear brethren who has suffered so long has finally been released; even the jailer where he was lodged supported the plea for clemency in his

case, and two and one-half years of the allotted sentence have been remitted. For five long years he has suffered for the truth's sake, ever looking to his Master as his strength, and his firmness has attracted much attention and comment, especially among the clergy, who tried in vain to divert him from the truth.

In Russia the work is also advancing, and our membership is fast nearing the 5,000 mark. One dear Russian brother is settled now at Irkutsk, in the very heart of Siberia, and from that place is extending the work throughout that vast field. The headquarters of the Siberian Union has been established in Saratof, and that new union now has nearly 1,000 members. We must remember that in the Russian empire, with its 160,000,000 people speaking many languages, we have only fifty workers. What might be done, if we had three or four times that number! Considerable portions of Russia are again threatened with famine, and especially the Siberian Union Mission field. People are actually starving there, and appeals come to us to assist even our own people who are suffering because of crop failures.

Brethren H. Dirksen and F. F. Oster are now situated at Urmia, Persia, and find that the most favorable place while the present political difficulties continue. In the Levant Union, Brethren E. E. Frauchiger and W. C. Ising had a well-attended tent-meeting at Haifa, in Palestine. Brother Z. G. Baharian is laboring in the very heart of old Armenia. Brother A. M. Buzugherian writes of a good interest near Adana. In spite of the war, our canvassing work seems to gain steadily in Constantinople and its vicinity. We are now getting out some Arabic publications. We hope soon to push our work into Mesopotamia. Our workers in Egypt are also arranging for good winter efforts.

Brethren A. Grundset and P. N. Lindegren are active in the work around Asmara, Eritrea, and are getting ready for their winter school. Brother E. Lorntz has safely arrived there. He is studying the Tigre, and we hope will be a good additional help to them. In British East Africa the interest seems to be spreading, and from the surrounding country and the islands come urgent calls for out-schools. Our workers are asking for a mission boat, so they can conduct out-schools with greater ease. This seems the more necessary, as we thus far have not been able to obtain more mission sites; but the prospects in this respect are brighter. We are sorry, however, that Brother H. H. Brooks, on account of failing health, has to return to England with his family. He had an operation, and has done all in his power to recover his health there, but in vain. During my stay in England, Brother F. A. Spearing and his wife accepted the call to Africa, and are getting ready to sail next spring. But this will only fill the gap made by the return of Brother and Sister Brooks. In the German Mission on the southern part of the Victoria Nyanza, Brother B. Ohme and his workers are pushing ahead. Dr. F. W. Vasenius and family and Brother R. Stein and his wife have safely arrived, to strengthen the hands of our workers there. Sister E. Rassler, who after the death of her husband courageously pushed on the work in that field, had additional attacks of blackwater fever, and consequently returned home with her child. Otherwise, the health of our workers in that part of the field seems to be quite good, and they are working hard in the establishment of new stations. Two young men, Brethren F. Bornath and R. Munzig, are at present studying the Swahili at the Hamburg Colonial Institute, and expect to go to that field next spring.

Brother E. Kotz reports steady progress in the Pare district. There are about thirty candidates for baptism in his class. The schools there are well attended. Brother E. C. Enns and wife are on their way back to Africa, and will labor in Vunta, the fourth new station in the Pare district.

A few days ago we received the sad news from the Latin Union that our dear brother, Pietro Creanza, who came a few years ago from America accompanied by his large family, to labor among his people in Italy, has died at the early age of thirty-six years, leaving a widow with six children. Brother L. P. Tieche was visiting among the companies in Italy at the time. They buried Brother Creanza Sabbath forenoon, and in the afternoon of the same day five dear souls were buried in baptism. These had been brought to a knowledge of Christ by Brother Creanza's faithful labors. Italy, with its 34,000,000 people, and only five gospel workers, will feel this loss very keenly.

Elder J. C. Raft has been in Iceland for a time, assisting Brother Olaf Olsen to start in the work there. He reports hopefully for the future in that field. The work in Scandinavia shows nearly 200 added to the church in the first half of this year. Skodsborg has had a very favorable season, and everything seems to promise well for the growth of this important institution.

In Hamburg our new publishing house, which was greatly needed, is nearing completion, and we hope by the new year to be able to occupy it. A new branch office of the Hamburg House will be started in Budapest, Hungary, as local conditions seem to make it necessary.

The few months I spent at home have been rather busy ones. Very important literary work occupied my whole time. In my research new evidences are continually coming to light, even from the church Fathers, showing that during the dark ages, from 200 to 700 A. D., there were many Sabbath-keeping Christians, upon whom the popular church trod with an iron heel. The more we investigate the historical records and the Word of God itself, the brighter the Sabbath truth shines. Although Europe may be in great commotion, with the alarm of war, the tumult of riots, financial crises, and difficulties of all sorts, yet the Lord's hand is over all. He restrains the winds, and the glad tidings come from the four corners of the field that God's truth is advancing.