Bavaria by J. H. Schilling

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 13, 1908

Bavaria

By J. H. Schilling

NÜRNBERG.— Since my last report to the REVIEW I have changed my field of labor from the Silesian Conference in the German Union to the South German, where I have now labored since the eighteenth of August.

The territorial extent of this conference includes the kingdoms of Bavaria and Württemberg, the grand dukedoms of Baden, Luxemburg, and part of Hesse, and the provinces Alsace and Lorraine, with a population of over thirteen million. The Catholic faith is the dominant faith here, especially in the first- and last-named countries.

These states comprise by far the most picturesque part of the German empire; especially is this so of the Rhein, and upper (Ober) Pfalz in the northern part of Bavaria, and the Alps in the southern, where the highlands of Bavaria, of the Tyrol, and of Switzerland meet. The mountain peaks, covered with eternal snow, are mirrored in many a crystal lake, and these snow-clad giant peaks, in the midday sun, so sparkling and so glittering; often change their snowy white to a rose pink, or even a fiery red, as the eventide advances.

From the first to the fifth of January we had our annual conference session in Nürnberg. Our thirty-three churches and companies were all well represented. The ministering brethren present imparted the word with power and spirit, so that all left the conference refreshed and strengthened, to live better lives for the Lord, and to do more toward the salvation of precious souls than ever before. The conference workers also went back to their respective fields of labor with a greater determination than ever to press the battle to the gates, and to a glorious victory in the Lord.

During the last year the Lord has done wonders for his work in this part of his great harvest-field. Last year at this time we could not have gathered with such liberty as we did during this conference session. Hence our people had special reasons for rejoicing in the Lord, and in the liberty which he gave them. The gospel door is now open in Bavaria. The services held last year in this country had to be held in seclusion or at night, or if allowed at all, could be conducted only under the aspect of a lecture. This year, however, we dare preach as freely as a pastor of the state church.

During August and November of last year I had the opportunity of delivering a series of lectures here in Nürnberg. We had a hall with a seating capacity of one thousand, which was sometimes nearly filled. How pleasant it was to speak to so many eager listeners, without any fear of being apprehended. The Lord was with us, and blessed our humble efforts with a good harvest of souls. We had the pleasure of baptizing twenty-seven, and have hopes of having a goodly number more to baptize during this quarter.

It is really wonderful that the church in Nürnberg stood so steadfast amid all the trials and persecutions which she had to endure. One could almost expect that she would have weakened and dispersed, but instead she kept together, so that when I came here last fall, I found a church of sixty-one members. As the persecution of early Christians could not destroy the churches then, but rather spurred them on to greater zeal and enthusiasm to spread their precious faith, so that the membership increased astonishingly, and soon spread over the entire Roman empire, so it was with our church in Nürnberg, and the churches in Bavaria. The persecution helped rather than hindered; may it always be so. “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

We are now working at seven different places in Bavaria, and have the brightest prospects. Last year we had two hundred seventy additions in the entire conference. With God’s help we shall gain many more this year.

J. H. SCHILLING.