The Rio Grande (Brazil) Conference by John Lipke

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 16, 1908

The Rio Grande (Brazil) Conference

By John Lipke

The first conference ever held in a tent in Brazil convened at Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, April 4-11. The tent was pitched in a prominent place near the center of this city of fourteen thousand souls. A cheap but good vegetarian diet, and comfortable sleeping-rooms, were provided in a hotel not far distant.

PREPARING BOUQUETS FOR MARKET IN VALENCIA

The meetings were seasons of blessing to our people. About sixty were present, Germans for the most part; but there were also a number who spoke only the Portuguese language. All but the evening sermons for the public, which were preached in the Portuguese, were translated. Instruction and counsel given by Elders J. W. Westphal and F. W. Spies were much appreciated, and contributed to make the conference a blessing to all.

There was a good attendance from the city evenings, and some seem to be interested. Many heard for the first time the great truths of the third angel's message. Brethren Gregory, Kumpel, Lindermann, and the writer remained to follow up the work.

Harmony prevailed in the business of the conference. The officers elected are: John Lipke, president; Dr. A. L. Gregory, vice-president; August Preuss, secretary and treasurer. There seems to be, among the brethren of our conference, a desire to work. Ten persons, most of them young men, offered themselves for the canvassing work. Brother August Brack was chosen canvassing agent. With the writer he will hold a short canvassers’ institute with these in May, and then they will be taken into the field. Means was raised to purchase a colporteur’s wagon, with which to canvass the prairies during the summer months. The plan is that this wagon, with a small tent, shall form the rallying point for a group of from four to six canvassers. It will be the means of transporting their books, as it is too difficult to carry them on the backs of mules. These workers will visit all the inhabitants to the distance of several leagues on each side of the wagon road by mule. As they canvass the smaller cities, the tent will afford a cheap lodging and boarding place. In this way they hope to economize effort and means, so that this branch of the message may become fully self-supporting, and minimize the discouragement of financial failure.

About one hundred fifty dollars was raised toward the new press to be purchased for the Brazil publishing work. Nearly enough means was raised to pay off the remaining indebtedness on our tents. In all, about three hundred dollars was donated to the work. Notwithstanding the depredations of the locusts, the last year has been a prosperous one financially. The increase of tithe over the previous year was about one thousand dollars. After settling with the laborers for the year, a neat sum remains in the treasury to carry forward the work. With courage, expecting to advance under our Captain, we enter upon the labors of another year with one minister, three licentiates, three Bible workers, and a number of canvassers.

JOHN LIPKE.