Belgium and South England by J. H. SCHILLING

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 14, 1910

Belgium and South England

By J. H. SCHILLING

J. H. SCHILLING

Belgium

ON March 24 of this year the General Conference Committee of the European Division passed the following recommendation:—

“Resolved, That we approve of the plan of the Latin Union to release French Belgium to the West German Union, and that we accept the proposal of the West German Union to separate Flemish Belgium from Holland, and recommend Belgium to be known as the Belgium Mission, beginning Jan. 1, 1911.”

In recognition of this motion, and in order that the brethren in the kingdom of Belgium might adopt it themselves, it was decided by the same committee that a general meeting for that field should be arranged, the same to take place in Brussels, May 4-8. This meeting is now a thing of the past, but it has left upon the minds of those who were in attendance a deep impression of the importance of our time and the vastness of our work.

Taking into consideration that there are only four companies, with about one hundred members, in this field, one could not expect a very large meeting. Comparatively speaking, however, the meeting was larger than such meetings often are in fields where the membership is much greater. Over Sabbath and Sunday there were sixty-five out of the one hundred present, which can be called very good for Belgium. The collection on the Sabbath for foreign missions amounted to sixty-eight francs, a little more than a franc for each person.

The new organization was accepted with joy. Every one believed that the step was the very best that could have been taken to develop the work rightly. The resolutions adopted by the meeting are very practical, and appropriate to the needs of the field. Although the brethren are all poor in worldly goods, they seem to be rich in grace and good works. They love the truth. Their tithe for 1909 amounted to over $1,000. This comparatively large tithe is a good index of how they stand toward the truth; for one who pays an honest tithe is, generally speaking, in harmony with all other points of the truth, and loves it sincerely.

Aside from the workers who are in the field, there were present Elders L. R. Conradi, R. G. Klingbeil from Holland, and the writer. The word imparted was received with eagerness. Elder G. Roth, the former director of the French work, was also present, and gave an interesting report of the development of the work in Belgium. We are certainly very sorry to lose Elder Roth, but since his health does not permit him to remain in this cold, damp climate, we bid him Godspeed in the field to which the Lord may call him.

The sermons and Bible readings were given in three languages, German, French, and Dutch. All left the meeting full of courage. With new strength they went back to their homes to fight the battle of truth more vigorously than ever before. The Lord, who blessed them so richly during the meeting, will be with them constantly, to sustain them in every trial.

The Belgium mission field has at present seven workers, one to each million of the inhabitants. The writer is the director. In his absence in other parts of the West German Union, Elder Jacob Wibbens will take charge of the work.

Three tents will be in the field this summer, one in Brussels, one in Antwerp, and the third in the French part. May the Lord abundantly bless in this dark part of the world, so that many precious souls may be saved.

South England Conference

Immediately after the meeting in Belgium, the writer had the privilege of attending the annual meeting of the South England Conference, which convened at Southampton, May 9-17. A workers’ meeting preceded the regular conference for the field. Among the workers were also the canvassers, so that the workers’ meeting took on the nature of an old-time canvassers’ institute, such as the writer used to attend in the early part of his experience in the truth. The spirit which should always prompt the canvasser in his work was fully awakened. Every difficulty confronting the canvasser was carefully considered, and the way to meet it fully explained. The Testimonies especially appropriate to the canvasser were studied, and every point which invariably proves a blessing to him when observed was emphasized. The brother who has the canvassing work in charge seems to have his whole soul in it. He is a canvasser himself, and has the confidence of his men.

The meeting was a feast, at which the canvassers were refreshed spiritually and mentally. Their weapons of warfare were sharpened, so that they can fight more effectively. May the Lord help them in every way.

A two-hour period each day was devoted by the conference workers to the study of how to bring more souls into the truth. The workers were all of the opinion that they had not worked hard enough in the past, else results would have been better. They felt that they had lacked especially in the house-to-house work. The president of the union reported that where a systematic house-to-house work had been done, many more souls had been the result of the labors put forth. One worker had developed quite a large church in a comparatively short time.

It was therefore decided that each worker should be furnished with a certain number of tracts by the conference, with which he could visit every home in a city, or district of a city, where he is working. The people must be warned, and if they do not come to the workers, the workers must go to them. The shortness of the time in which we have to do the great work committed to us demands of us the greatest diligence. We must be up and doing. “Forward! and hard work,” should be our motto.

Great Britain is not the hardest field in the world. It presents a few hard

problems, it is true, yet not more than are found in other fields. The brethren have come to the conclusion that each field is equally hard, and that from now on they will speak not so much of the difficulties as of the grand possibilities. May the Lord help that the good spirit for work which has been awakened during this workers’ meeting may truly cause each one to do his duty, and that many more souls may be brought out of darkness into the light of the third angel’s message in the South England Conference this year than ever before.

The conference proper was also a refreshing from the Lord. Aside from the regular conference workers, there were present Elder W. J. Fitzgerald, president of the union; W. H. Wakeham, from the school; W. T. Bartlett, editor of the Present Truth; and the writer. The word imparted brought new courage and spiritual strength to all. The Sabbath especially was a blessed time. The evening services were quite well attended by outsiders, and the interest awakened will be followed up, and, we believe, with results.

The conference sessions were interesting, and the resolutions presented timely. They were freely discussed and unanimously adopted. The tithe of the conference for 1909 amounted to about $11,144. The present membership is 640, with eighteen regular workers. Four tents will be in the field this summer. God grant that a good harvest of souls may be garnered during this season in this conference.