Words of Appreciation by E. T. RUSSELL

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 26, 1907

Words of Appreciation

By E. T. RUSSELL

At the General Conference Council held at Gland, the North Pacific Union, the Northern Union, the Lake Union, and the Central Union Conferences united in furnishing four gospel tents for the following countries: one each for Scotland, France, Belgium, and Holland.

I have received words of appreciation from the brethren representing the fields to which these tents were sent.

I am just in receipt of a letter from Elder Klingbeil, of Brussels, Belgium, in which he sends this recommendation, which was passed at the late annual conference of the Holland and Flemish Belgium Mission Field:—

“Whereas, The union conferences of the United States of America have favored us with a donation of a new tent for holding meetings,—

“Resolved, That we express our most sincere thanks for this much appreciated gift.”

He stated that the tent reached them when the season was quite far advanced, yet he says: “We pitched the tent, and made an effort in one of the suburbs of Brussels. Notwithstanding the weather has been very wet, the Lord favored us with excellent weather all through the time the tent stood, so that we were enabled to hold meetings every evening until the close of October. The Lord blessed our efforts, and gave us fifteen souls, who have started out to obey, while others are in the valley of decision. Many times have I told them that it was a gift from the dear brethren in America, and often they have thanked the Lord that he put in your hearts to do so. I am very sure that some day you will see souls saved in the kingdom of God through the means of the tent which you were so liberal as to give us. We have now taken down the tent in view of the approach of winter. The Lord helping us, we intend to pitch it again early in the spring. Once more we thank you for your kindness.”

Brother J. Wibbens writes: “Brussels is, next to Paris, a city devoted to the goddess of fashion. Nearly all who are religious are Catholics, and Catholicism in a Catholic land is a different thing from Catholicism in Protestant communities. In such countries one sees how, under the mask of religion, people are sunk in immorality and vice. It is hard and slow work to make such people good, well-informed, noble Seventh-day Adventists. The majority sneer and mock at religion. Brussels is a Sodom, if any city on the earth deserves that name. Through some evangelical societies, some have been gathered out who have left Catholicism, but their standard is very low. They have proved themselves to be the greatest opponents of the message. First, they published articles against us in the papers. A short time ago one of the ministers announced that he would deliver a lecture against the Sabbath. When he saw Brother Klingbeil there, and a few others present, he got frightened, and inquired who those men were. When they gave their names, he requested them to leave the meeting before he began. This foolish move caused the people who were present, to ridicule him, and since then all his congregation have attended our meetings.

“Here in The Hague, the world capital of the peace idea, where I myself have been laboring for one year and a half, we have a company of thirty-six members, six unbaptized, and a number in the valley of decision. Last Sabbath our Sabbath-school had an attendance of nearly sixty. We had two members when I came here. A man who has been in the court of the queen for twenty-five years, who looks after the table silver of the queen, is at the point of decision. I hope that ere long we can send you greetings abroad, from the saints and from Caesar’s household. ‘All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.’ Phil. 4:22. Last month, among others, an old Englishman, a retired railway superintendent about seventy years of age, who never before made a profession of religion, gave his heart to God. Our God is good, and we praise his name. May the Lord bless you all is the prayer of the Holland and Flemish Belgium Mission Field.”

For one, I am very thankful that the strong conferences in America can assist the needy fields in Europe.

E. T. RUSSELL.