The Meeting in Middle Russia by Guy Dail

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

The Meeting in Middle Russia

By Guy Dail

GUY DAIL

In the beautiful city of Kief, a “holy city” of the Russians, extending six miles along the right bank of the Dnieper, and containing three hundred nineteen thousand inhabitants, the representatives of the ten churches and companies of the Middle Russian Mission held their second annual meeting, October 2-5.

The Middle Russian field is rightly named, for it is composed of twenty-eight governments in the very heart of Russia, extending from Archangel on the north to Perm, Viatka, Kazan, Simbirsk, Penza, Tambof, Varonej, Kursk, Poltava, Kief, and Podolia on the east and south, and Moghileff, Smolensk, Tver, Novgorod, and Olonetz, on the west, making a field one third the size of the United States, including Alaska, and having a population of 62,793,900, a little more than the United States had in 1890.

That there might be no trouble in securing permission for the assembly, it was thought best to use our local meeting hall in Kief, so enlarging it for the time being, that it would accommodate three hundred persons. That the hall should not be too much overcrowded, and also that we might give the first opportunity to those who are known to be interested in the message, three hundred invitation cards were distributed, and only such as had these were allowed to pass the two policemen at the entrance; especially was this rule adhered to the first evening. However, so great was the desire to hear that a number listened to the lectures from without, on the street; and in the audience within, were students, teachers, and people of the better classes. We were glad to see that the Kief church had made such good progress: in June, 1905, there were twenty members; now, there are seventy-five. Our Bible worker here, and the nurse, have both found their hands full, and they have secured entrance to some of the best families.

On Sabbath, after a stirring sermon by Brother Conradi, about forty remained after the congregation had been dismissed, to seek the Lord. Several were baptized. God also blessed the labors of Elders J. T. Boettcher and H. J. Loebsack.

In this field, as in other parts of the world, Satan is busy sowing seeds of unbelief and suspicion. Many points that had not been clearly understood by some of the brethren were made plain to them; the organization and management and support of the work were among the subjects considered.

There has been a deep interest taken in the plans for the circulation of “Ministry of Healing,” and in the collection of money for the material fund, over one hundred dollars being pledged for this purpose. The other business transacted and the resolutions passed, were much the same as those considered and favorably received at Bender. It was voted that the territory of St. Petersburg, which has heretofore been a part of this field, become a part of the Baltic Conference, from Jan. 1, 1908. This will cut down the present membership of the Middle Russian Mission to two hundred fifty-six.

We believe it is impossible for us correctly to conceive how great is the need of workers in such countries as this. Here is a field that is mostly composed of native Russians—be they Little Russians, or Great Russians, or White Russians. We have but one ordained

minister among them, Elder O. Wildgrube, the superintendent. He is assisted by two native licentiates, two Bible workers, two natives that do Bible and colporteur work, and a missionary nurse. This makes one worker for every 7,849,000 of the inhabitants, which certainly is not enough; and it is easy for our brethren to understand how very necessary it is that we have more laborers in this, the most populous and the most needy of our Russian fields.

The Middle Russian tithe has steadily increased. In 1905 it was $1,013; in 1906, $1,878. During the last nine months 145 members have been added in this field, against 95 in 1906. Were we to lower the standard somewhat, as to the tithing system, it would be much easier to increase our membership, for no small number of native Russians believe in the Sabbath, but are unwilling to pay the tithe.

One of the important centers to be opened this winter is Moscow, a city of 1,173,000 inhabitants. All will carefully watch the growth in that great Russian capital, for even to this day the czars are crowned here.

All the brethren and the workers go forth from this meeting with renewed courage, to press the battle more determinedly than ever before; and we feel assured that this field, which is so very large, and has only a handful of believers, will be remembered by the people of God in their prayers throughout all parts of the vineyard.

Kief, Russia.