Meeting of the European Division of the General Conference Committee
By L. R. CONRADI
After having had the audits for the German-Russian Union Conference in Leipzig, for the Latin Union in Gland, and for the Scandinavian Union at Skodsborg, the following members of the General Conference Committee met in Hamburg, March 2-5: Elder E. E. Andross and Brother W. C. Sisley, of England; Elder J. T. Boettcher, of Russia; and Elder L. P. Tieche, of Switzerland; by invitation, Elder H. F. Schuberth, the vice-president of the German Union; Elder J. C. Raft, representative from Scandinavia; and W. Ising, the German Union secretary (under appointment for the Levant). The vice-president, the secretary, and the treasurer for Europe were also present. We are indeed grateful to report that during 1907 there were 2,752 additions and a net gain of 1,566, bringing the membership of Europe up from 13,768 at the beginning, to 15,334 at the close of the year. While we do not see all that we would like, yet we are thankful to God that there is a steady increase throughout the field. Our institutions show more or less gain. After the committee had done the auditing, the European summer meetings were appointed, and arrangements were made for exchange of labor among the General Conference men in Europe at these gatherings. There were several transfers advised in Europe, among our laborers, as follows:— 1. Brother C. Reifschneider, a German-Russian who has been laboring in Austria-Hungary for nearly four and one-half years to gain a better experience in lecturing, and who speaks the Russian, and desired to return to his former field, was asked to settle at Omsk, Siberia, as early in the spring as he can conveniently do so. This great field will have a much-needed worker supplied by the arrival of Brother Reifschneider; for there are in Siberia about two hundred Sabbath-keepers. Elder O. Schwenecke, who is now laboring in the Saxon Conference, will be expected to take Brother Reifschneider’s place in Hungary. 2. It was unanimously voted to invite Brother W. Ising to go to Syria, and to ordain him. On the evening of March 4, the chapel in Hamburg was well filled; and after an address by Elder Andross, and some remarks by Brother Raft, Brother Ising was ordained to the ministry, the writer delivering the charge. Elder Ising has done efficient service as German Union Secretary for several years. Both he and his wife speak German, English, and French, so that in this respect they fit into that cosmopolitan field, and they were glad to accept the call. Since Brother H. Krum’s return to America, Syria has been without ordained help. Just a few days ago, we received the sad news of the sudden death of Brother Glenk, the ordained local elder of our Jaffa-Jerusalem church. Brother and Sister Ising planned to leave by the end of March, that they might reach Beirut before the hot season sets in. While it means quite a sacrifice for the German Union to let them go, yet we are glad we can supply this great need in Syria. There are now four German nurses in that field, and they will naturally be glad to welcome workers who can talk with them in their native language. There are also a number of German colonists in Palestine. 3. As Brother Gregorius, who has been in charge of our Jerusalem “Health Home,” desires a furlough on account of the ill health of his wife, it was voted that Brother L. Krug, a German nurse, join Brother Ising, to relieve Brother Gregorius. 4. It was voted that Sister E. Fenner, who has thus far been successfully acting as treasurer for Russia, go to Riga to take charge of the Russian Union and field treasuries. 5. Sister S. Bojanus, who has been teaching in the Russian department at Friedensau was asked to go to Riga, to act as Russian Union secretary. As, beginning with Jan. 1, 1908, all the union conferences in Europe were to turn over to the General Conference European subtreasury at Hamburg a tithe of their regular income from their tithe, and all their offerings to missions, quite a change has been necessary in the financial arrangements of Europe. We find that the deficits for all the missions operated from Europe (including the Asiatic and African missions, in which the European union conferences are at work), would be about $37,700 a year; and of this sum Europe itself would raise $27,700, so that it would call for only $10,000 from America on appropriations for 1908, instead of $18,000 as heretofore. When we take into consideration the Levant field and the African missions that the European brethren are directing, we find that to-day Europe, with over four hundred millions of people is really self-supporting, and is sending men and means into Asia and Africa. As a committee, we feel thankful to God for this evidence of his blessing, and also for the opportunity we have had to counsel together. We hope that future sessions of the committee may be held at least twice a year. The membership of Europe is only about one fifth of what it is in the United States; but we have four hundred evangelical workers in Europe, about twenty in Africa, and as many in Asia. If we remember that the whole field under European supervision includes five hundred millions of people, or one third of the world’s population, it must be seen that it would be well for the workers here to meet together more often and exchange ideas, and counsel about the best methods of operation. At this last meeting the Spirit of God certainly was present. Perfect harmony prevailed in all our deliberations, and the various laborers go out to their respective fields full of faith and courage, hoping that the year 1908 may show greater advancement to the cause of God throughout our whole field than any previous year.