News From Central Europe by L. R. CONRADI

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 18, 1915

News From Central Europe

By L. R. CONRADI

At the invitation of Elder Schuberth I spent December 4-6 in Berlin. He had so arranged that in the three meetings we held on the Sabbath I was able to speak to all the dozen companies in the city. We had overflow meetings. The courage and faith of our brethren and sisters in this great city are good, and the work is onward. We also had a very interesting visit with one of the leaders of mission work in the German colonies.

From Berlin we went together to Friedensau, and spent several days in counsel there. I spoke twice to the students and the church. There are now one hundred and twenty students in attendance. Dr. Meyer has taken charge of the school. The Russian department is still in operation. During our stay arrangements were completed for the care of one hundred wounded soldiers at Friedensau. At the very outbreak of the war we offered our new building in Hamburg and our school and sanitarium in Friedensau to the Red Cross Society; but so many mechanics being called to arms, the finishing of our building in Hamburg was so delayed that its use was out of the question.

Matters in Friedensau were also delayed because our offer was not brought to the notice of the proper persons. But as soon as they heard of it, they visited the place, looked over all our equipment, and spoke very highly of it. This was in the latter part of October. A contract for one hundred wounded was signed, and we are to receive some remuneration. It will be an excellent experience for our nurses and students. The very first thing we were called upon to do was to prepare a sufficient number of suits for the hundred wounded to permit of change of clothing. We were happy to secure enough material, and our sisters had a busy time for several weeks in preparing the outfits. I found seventy-five beds in the boys’ dormitory, also the necessary day rooms, and quarters for the inspecting officer, while the other twenty-five beds are in the sanitarium. Over fifty of our nurses have recently passed the state examination at Berlin, a thing which heretofore had been rather difficult, as a several years’ course was required in one of the state institutions. But one of the physicians who had become acquainted with our nurses and

their thoroughness, encouraged them, under present circumstances, to apply; and now whenever they state that they are from Friedensau, they are passed quite readily.

At Burg two of our brethren are engaged as head nurses for the Red Cross Society. One of these is Brother Krug, who had been in charge of our health institution at Jerusalem. They had about fifty wounded in the hospital where Brother Krug is at work. Apparently, he was well liked, and giving excellent service.

I next went to Munich to counsel with Elder G. W. Schubert, and here in the evening I also spoke to a full house. The work in the Central European Union is onward.

On the tenth of December I reached Lake Constance, and crossed by steamer into Switzerland. Luggage and passport were carefully looked over on each side of the border. Late at night I reached Gland. All day Friday I spent in counsel with the brethren. That evening I spoke to the church, and Sabbath forenoon went to Geneva with Elder Tieche, where I met with the church in their new chapel. The Lord has blessed the church in Geneva so that the chapel was well filled. By heavy donations they were able to pay the $6,000 for the lot, but they are in debt to us for the building. As the watch trade is to a great extent at a standstill, our brethren suffer considerably, and it is difficult for them to meet such an extra expense. If only all our brethren could once learn the lesson of securing all the money before they build, it would protect them against all times of need. In the evening I spoke once more at Gland, and on the thirteenth we had a committee meeting, Elder Dexter being able to be with us. We were sorry we could not reach Brother Curdy, who was holding meetings near Vevey. In view of the fact that we have no minister at present in Paris, it was decided for Elder Vaucher to return to that city. Elders Steiner and Tieche are conducting a course of meetings in Geneva, and Elder Dexter in Lausanne, Elder Augsbourger in Neuchatel, and Elder Kamm in Bienne. Thus the largest cities in French Switzerland are being worked, and some good results are already appearing. Elder Dexter is expected to take charge of the work in southern France as soon as he gets through with his interest at Lausanne.

I was pleased indeed to see for the first time our neat little printing plant which Brother Borle had fitted up in what was formerly used as a barn. A few thousand dollars made great changes, and gave suitable places for the printing office, stock room, and offices for the editors and manager. Several of our printers from Hamburg had gone there to assist, and thus far had good fortune in not being enlisted.

The sanitarium has about the same number of patients as it generally has at this time of year. We thus have full assurance that our institutions at Gland will not suffer any loss. In order to facilitate the correspondence and the sending of means to our workers in the French colonies, this work has been turned over to the Gland office, and we were pleased to learn that the work is also onward in these fields. In Mauritius a church of twenty-eight has recently been organized, and as many more are interested in the truth. One of the natives of the island who had been for some time in Australia, has recently returned, and is assisting Elder Badaut in the work there.

On my return trip I came via Basel, where I met Brother Seebald, who is in charge of our depository. He informed me that one good Swiss sister bequeathed $800 to the mission work, and he has since been able to secure the necessary legal documents. Thus God is constantly providing for the support of his cause.

In order to cross the border near Basel I had to take a hack to the German frontier; and after the baggage and passports had again been searched on both sides, I passed on with another hack to the first German railway station. After crossing the frontier, I spent one night with my sister. The next day I spent a few hours with Elder Oblaender in Frankfurt, and after another night’s journey, safely arrived home.

Amid the turmoil of war, we are permitted to preach the gospel of peace, a peace which grim war cannot destroy. While war deals its blows of death everywhere, we are permitted to offer life in Christ Jesus, life eternal. No wonder that such a gracious and powerful message must triumph even in the darkest hour.

L. R. CONRADI.