The North American Foreign Department

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 3, 1909

The North American Foreign Department

Fourth Meeting, May 20, 8 A. M.

Elder F. C. Gilbert, our worker among the Jews, gave an interesting report of the past work and future possibilities of the Jewish work. The immense labors of Joseph Wolff, in the years preceding 1844, in the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean, show what a converted Jew can do. In this country alone there are more than 3,000,000 Jews, of which number we find 1,000,000 in the State of New York. It is the custom of the Jews to segregate in the different cities in colonies, called ghettos; nevertheless, we have seen already a large number of Jews accept present truth. Twenty or thirty Jews in the United States have accepted the truths of the message, and are remaining faithful.

Brother Gilbert offered the following suggestions: (1) That the work for the Jews be placed under the North American

Foreign Department; (2) that a special fund be raised for the distribution of our literature and of New Testaments among the Jews; (3) the extension of the evangelical work; (4) the extension of the religious liberty work; (5) that a place be provided in which the newly converted Jew can be instructed and helped; (6) that provision be made for open-air work.

Elder L. Zecchetto then reported the Italian work. It was four years ago when he began his work among the Italians in the Greater New York Conference. On November 17 of that same year he organized the first Italian church. Since then the work has spread among the Italians, a number of churches and some able laborers having accepted the truth. Brother Zecchetto also started an Italian paper, which is having a good circulation both in this country and abroad. He gave some interesting cases of conversions through this paper. He desired that broad plans might be laid at this General Conference for the extension of the work among the Italians.

Brother Sevach, a Hungarian worker in the Greater New York Conference, gave some interesting statements concerning the Hungarian work in New York City.

Elder J. W. Hofstra next spoke of the work among the Hollanders in Michigan. A start was made about twenty years ago in this work, but since then little or nothing has been done until last year, when work was once more begun. Many of our good books have been translated into the language of the Hollanders by the German Publishing House. These ought to be largely distributed. He hoped that this Conference would do something to organize the work among the Hollanders, and place it under a responsible chief.