Breaking Ground in Austria by JOHN WOLFGARTEN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 6, 1907

Breaking Ground in Austria

By JOHN WOLFGARTEN

JOHN WOLFGARTEN

At the time of the last conference in Friedensau, it was voted that we make Austria our field of labor, and we accepted the call in faith, believing it to be of God. In September we took up our abode in Vienna, the capital of Austria, where the Lord helped us in finding a suitable dwelling, although we had arrived in rather an unfavorable time to choose a good house. Shortly after getting well settled in our new quarters, I went to Prague, to cast out the gospel net there for a few months. In December Brethren Conradi and Boettcher visited us, and the little company of believers was strengthened by their presence, and several were baptized, while three or four others expressed their desire to follow later.

Unfortunately, we have no freedom in this land,—at least not such liberty as we enjoy in the greater portion of Germany,—and yet our work must be done. If one plan does not succeed, we must try another way to attain our object, and keep on trying until our effort is crowned with success. The laws of this land are so formed, as far as religious liberty is concerned, as to be of advantage only to the Romanist, and therefore the spiritual darkness is so great that it can be broken only through the third angel's message. Liberty of speech we do not enjoy, for we can not come freely together and speak of God's Word; the colporteur dares not scatter the printed page, for with that is forbidden; we do not have the liberty even to give away our literature, to say nothing of attempting to sell it; and yet the Lord opens avenues through which we may circulate our tracts and periodicals and books among the people.

We now have Bible studies with some interested persons, right in our own home. Not long ago we had the joy of seeing a young Rumanian baptized. His uncle is minister of justice in Rumania; and now the young man, who came to us from the Greek Catholic Church, is in the Friedensau School, preparing himself to carry the message to the people of his own land.

That I might get in touch with people in various cities, who are interested in the genuine gospel of Christ, I have placed in newspapers such insertions as this: “Such as would like to seek for religious truth, and gain information with reference to the signs of the times and coming events, are invited to confidentially apply to ——.” One gentleman wrote in reply: “I would like to find peace for my troubled heart.” Another wrote: “It is very hard to seek for the true faith among the many opinions and confessions of to-day. The Christian faith has so changed that it contradicts itself, and one finds no comfort in it; one is in continual unrest.” A lady wrote: “I am much interested in what you say with reference to the future. Have you possibly read the Revelation of St. John? It appears to me that the world must soon come to an end.” Yet another: “O, I would like so very much to know what truth is, but I can not imagine what it can be! I plead for the truth. Hasten, hasten!” Another: “Our Christianity of to-day is altogether too superficial, and mostly outward formalities.”

These replies speak for themselves. I correspond with these persons, and send them our publications through Hamburg. The Lord certainly has a people here also, that will answer the call, “Come out of her,” as soon as the call reaches them.

We feel happy to be found doing what we can for the Master in this difficult field. Our responsibility is great.

Twenty-nine million people, speaking five or six different languages, must be warned in this land; and after the truth has gone to all the world, “then shall the end come.”

Vienna.