Rays of Light and Liberty From Austria by JOHN WOLFGARTEN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 3, 1908

Rays of Light and Liberty From Austria

By JOHN WOLFGARTEN

JOHN WOLFGARTEN

Religious liberty has recently been proclaimed in Russia, and Bavaria and Austria quickly followed. Though to us as a denomination, liberty of propagation has not been granted officially by the government, yet under a certain organization we are allowed to hold public meetings, and to give lectures throughout the country, and thus we can now proclaim the precious truths of the third angel’s message in this stronghold of Catholicism.

In the fall of 1906 we were sent to Austria to take up the work; but not much time elapsed before we experienced what it meant to be in prison for the truth’s sake. According to the laws of this country, members of one creed may assemble in their homes for family worship; but it is unlawful for their friends and acquaintances to attend such gatherings. The possibility of spreading the message in such meetings is therefore

entirely cut off. On the other hand, religious liberty is fully granted to every individual on the statute-books; every one may worship his God according to the dictates of his conscience, without being allowed to proclaim his religion in public.

Here is another act of Roman toleration: children under six years of age may attend meetings of those of another faith. This is a great privilege for the mother who visits our lectures, as she may bring with her the baby or the other small children. From the age of six to fourteen the children are under the school laws, and in this period only the “mother church” has the “right” to educate the youth.

The first of January, 1907, after we had labored for three months under the blessed hand of God, I prayed that the Lord might give us more freedom the coming year. I expressed this thought and our great need at different times, and had the conviction that this year must establish a waymark in the history of our work here. In April of the same year Bavaria received liberty, and this encouraged us to pray without ceasing that God would also answer our petitions in regard to Austria. I consulted different members of the Parliament for advice, and also obtained an audience with the minister of public worship and education; at last one of the representatives said to me, “Why don’t you organize a society?”

This occurred between the council of the General Conference at Gland and the camp-meeting in Friedensau. At the latter meeting it was planned that I should change my field of labor, and go to Hungary. I asked the brethren to let me stay in Austria as I had laid some plans, the result of which I expected would bring the long-desired liberty. My request was granted. In the fall of that year, Brother Gruber, one of our workers and a native of Austria, in whose name everything had to be undertaken, my wife, and I worked out the constitution and by-laws of the society which was to be organized. We had carefully examined the constitution of a similar organization, but had to adapt them to suit our needs.

We presented this document to the administration of the state, and, with some alteration, it was approved by it about the last of November. The name of the organization is a “Society of Christian Men and Women.”

The object is the fostering and promotion of humanity, of Christian life, and education in general; the promulgation and advocacy of the knowledge of acquiring and preserving physical strength and spiritual life, thus leading humanity upon a way that is in harmony with God and beneficial to mankind.

The method of accomplishment is by lectures and instruction on scientific and profitable subjects, according to the needs and desires of the members, and by public meetings, lecture tours, etc., with practise in singing and music. One paragraph about the practise of prayer was crossed out by the administration.

Thus our prayers were answered, and our faith strengthened. In December we made all necessary arrangements and preparations, and on Jan. 3, 1908, we began public lectures. Since then fourteen dear souls have accepted the precious truth, and followed their Lord in baptism. Six others are deeply interested, several of whom keep the Sabbath, and have expressed their desire to be among the next company for this ordinance.

“The Lord has done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”

*Vienna.