The East German Conference by GUY DAIL

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 6, 1909

The East German Conference

By GUY DAIL

GUY DAIL

Originally, that is, in 1901, the East German Conference was comprised of the provinces of East and West Prussia and Posen and Silesia, of the kingdom of Saxony, and of that which constitutes its present territory—the provinces of Brandenburg and Pomerania, and the city of Berlin. The organization of the Prussian Conference in 1903 took away East and West Prussia; Silesia and Posen were cut off into the Silesian Conference in 1907; and in 1908 the kingdom of Saxony was separated from the East German field. Of the seven and a quarter million people still within the bounds of this conference, about three million live in the great city of Berlin, with its suburbs, where we have six churches and five hundred members.

The eighth annual session of the East German Conference was held at Stettin, January 27–31. The thirty-five churches and companies of the field were represented by ninety-eight delegates. Brethren L. R. Conradi, who had just returned from his African trip, H. F. Schuberth, O. Luepke, P. John, F. A. Doerner, and Dr. Emma Behn were at the meeting, and rendered timely help in the instruction for our people and in lectures for the public. These lectures were held in two large halls. The one hall is known as the Aula, located at the city gymnasium, and the other is in the Konzerthaus, where the conference proper was convened. The lectures were well attended by interested audiences.

The president’s report showed that three hundred six had been added by baptism and vote in 1908, and that the membership had increased in the present territory of the field from eight hundred forty-five at the beginning, to ten hundred twenty-one at the close, of last year. The tithe showed an increase of seven thousand one hundred forty-four marks. There was a corresponding increase in the other church moneys. Ten churches and companies were received at the conference. The auditing was done, and a neat surplus was left in the treasury to begin the new year, notwithstanding that fifteen hundred marks had just been voted from the tithe to assist the message in Austria. One thousand one hundred twelve marks was raised at the meeting toward the school building in Friedensau.

Sabbath was especially blessed of the Lord. Two hundred fifty attended the Sabbath-school, and the collection for missions amounted to one hundred four marks. Several were baptized at the meeting. Sunday morning, after a missionary talk by Brother Conradi on our work in Africa, and the rendering of a pleasing program by the children of the Stettin church, the first-day offering was made, amounting to nearly fifty-eight marks; and in connection with the meeting one hundred ninety marks was raised by the brethren toward purchasing a bell for the mission station at Kiburio, German East Africa.

Elder G. W. Schuberth was re-elected president. Associated with him for the coming year are three ministers, three licentiates, fifteen Bible workers, and twenty-five regular canvassers under the leadership of Brother A. Luedtke.

We wish for this interesting field, with its great city, continual advancement and constant growth. May it be remembered in the prayers of God’s servants.

Hamburg.