A New Russian Conference by Guy Dail

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Dec 5, 1907

A New Russian Conference

By Guy Dail

GUY DAIL

The second annual meeting of the South Russian Mission was held September 25-29, in Bender, a quiet city of about twenty-five thousand inhabitants, northwest of Odessa, in Bessarabia. The meeting was attended by about ninety German- and sixty Russian-speaking brethren, of whom twenty-seven were delegates, representing fifteen of the nineteen churches and companies in this field. Brethren L. R. Conradi, J. T. Boettcher, H. J. Loebsack, and O. Wildgrube received a warm welcome, and their efforts to assist the local workers and to present the word were blessed of God, and appreciated by the people.

The conference was held in the largest hall in the city. The chief district official, with a number of officers, attended the first meeting, and two policemen were on hand most of the time to preserve order—a very different purpose than actuated the police who sometimes visited our meetings a few years ago. Leading citizens of Bender also were seen at the public lectures.

The territory of the South Russian field is composed of the governments of Bessarabia, Kherson, Kharkof, Yekatrinoslaf, Taurien, and Don District II, with a population of 14,201,000, and a membership of 474 (their gain for the year was 142). This great district to the north of the Black Sea was organized into a mission a year ago, and now its delegates were able to see their way

clear, after having attentively considered the privileges and the duties of a conference, to vote in favor of the organization and hearty support of the South Russian Conference, whose organization becomes effective Jan. 1, 1908. The field is self-supporting, and will pay a tithe of its tithe to the Russian Union. It will also have its conference poor fund, which receives a tithe of the local poor funds that are taken up every first Sabbath in the month. The Sabbath-school, the First-day, and the annual offerings go to the General Conference, through the Russian Union treasury.

ATTENDANTS AT OUR MEETING AT BENDER, SOUTH RUSSIA

Owing to the very great difficulty we formerly experienced in receiving and instructing our members (for often the worker had to enter a place, hold his meetings, and leave between sunset and daybreak), there has in many cases been an imperfect idea of many points of present truth, especially among the native Russians. The Bible plan of supporting the gospel ministry has been one of the subjects most poorly understood, and the results of this are plainly visible in some of the Russian churches to-day where there is such a low average in the tithe. One remarked that to mention the tithe to him was as if one were to stab him through the heart with a sharp knife. This fact will account for the importance given to the tithing system in all our Russian meetings this year.

Another great need here, as in other parts of the world, is that of properly qualified native laborers—workers who are soul winners, and successful organizers. Heretofore, quite a number of young people from various parts of Russia have been trained in Friedensau; but, as the Russian field is now developing, we believe the time must soon come when our institutional work ought to be established in this great empire; and to assist in raising the necessary means, the plan of circulating “Christ’s Object Lessons” and “Ministry of Healing” was earnestly recommended, and about one hundred sixty-five dollars was raised toward the material fund for the latter book.

As a knowledge of reading, writing, and arithmetic is so necessary to every Christian, and as there are many millions of people in Russia who are unable to read and write, it was voted that the task of educating the children, at least in the elementary branches, be earnestly undertaken by our people in the South Russian field, and that, where it is possible, they be instructed either in the home or in the church.

Seeing we now have more liberty to circulate our literature, the delegates also gave due attention to the canvassing and tract society work, and four canvassers will enter the field the coming year. As yet, but comparatively little has been done in this department of the message. There have been many difficulties connected with the circulation of our literature in the past, and, indeed, we believe that there will still be problems to solve in this work in the near future. However, there must be a way found to freely circulate our literature, for we know the power of the press is being very materially felt in Russia, and that there is a great awakening among the Russian people.

Now, while there certainly is enough to be done in the South Russian Conference to employ all the means and talents of the brethren there, yet the delegates took hold heartily of the idea of contributing their share to the work among the heathen, and bearing their part in gifts and free-will offerings.

In all the business meetings there was unanimity of action, and the brethren, some of whom had been five days en route to attend, say this is the best meeting we have had here. Four were baptized. Sabbath was especially a good day for all, for many renewed their consecration to the Master’s service. The proceedings of the conference were conducted in the German and Russian languages. Brother Daniel Isaak was unanimously chosen president of the conference. He, assisted by three other gospel workers, goes forth to the work for the coming year, trusting in God to water the seed sown, and to give the increase. We bespeak for this young conference a hearty interest in the prayers of God’s people.

*Bender, Russia, Sept. 29, 1907.