An Appeal in War Time by W. T. Knox

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 20, 1914

An Appeal in War Time

By W. T. Knox

The terrible conditions existing in Europe have appalled the world, for never in history has such an extensive calamity occurred. The results no man can foretell, save that there will be untold suffering in every nation involved, and unnumbered lives be sacrificed. The deep interest and anxiety felt by all is evidenced by the eagerness with which the really meager and conflicting news items appearing in the daily newspapers are scanned.

While reading these reports of the mobilization of vast armies and of the battles in progress, every Seventh-day Adventist has been deeply concerned over our brethren in these troubled lands. What effect will the war have on them? What will be the effect upon our work in general? It would be unreasonable to presume that the European Division Conference, embracing the territory that is now racked with war and drenched with blood, should be unaffected. It has been with great anxiety, therefore, that the General Conference Committee has looked for direct word from our European brethren. No news was received from them after war was declared, until August 14, when letters written under date of August 2 reached the General Conference Office. That all may know the real situation, the letter from Elder Conradi is published in full:—

“EN ROUTE ENGLAND TO FLUSHING, HOLLAND, August 2.

“DEAR BROTHER KNOX: Quick as a flash of lightning the Continent has been involved in the most terrible struggle the world probably has ever witnessed. The outcome no one can foresee. We left Hamburg last Tuesday to attend the British Union Conference in London. Then there were no definite signs. —Elders Raft and Tieche and I attended. We have had good meetings up to today, but as the war has definitely broken out we have to take our chances on getting home. Only Holland is open, and should England be involved we shall be almost entirely cut off. We shall have an experience that we have never really had since our denominational existence, directly involving about 25,000 of our people; and within a few days probably 2,000 of our brethren will be under arms.

“I hope to get back to Hamburg by tonight or tomorrow, and we shall have to organize our European Division work as best we can. Conference presidents, ministers, employees, etc., will be taken within a day or two, and our canvassing, etc., will probably be entirely stopped. Russia is already cut off from us, and will have to finance itself, and we shall be cut off from our colonies and work in Africa. We supplied those mission fields with funds the last moment, and we shall send you statements; but if the war lasts six months, or even two, you will have to furnish money until normal conditions return.

“All these countries ought to be notified to cut down all possible expenses to the mere outlay of living until this is over. If England keeps out she can look after some colonies; if not, you will have to help us sustain the missions there. We sent $1,000 due you before matters became too serious. Those you will probably have to look after are Brother B. B. Aldrich, in the Canary Islands; R. S. Greaves and the workers in Sierra Leone; Elder D. C. Babcock, in Nigeria. W. M. Lewis and family, of the Gold Coast, are now on furlough in the Canary Islands, and he can delay his trip to the Coast if England becomes involved. Then there are A. A. Carscallen and the workers in British East Africa; B. Ohme and the workers in German Victoria Nyanza; also E. Kotz and all the workers in the Pare Mission, German East Africa.

“It may be that if Italy keeps out, the routes to East Africa will remain open, but we must prepare for the worst. Skodsborg, Denmark, has sufficient money for its new sanitarium buildings. In Gland, Switzerland, we have not begun to build the addition. We shall let everything rest, and cut our expenses down to the mere living. We call off all our meetings, and shall do our best to keep our members alive and doing their duty. We surely need the prayers of God's people, and wisdom to know how to arrange matters best in these trying times. Brother N. Z. Town will bring you the latest news, and I hope he can cross safely.

“Under present circumstances there is little hope of my going to the United States for the October council, or of the division conference meeting next July in Europe. Plans for visits to the fields from your side may have to be changed, unless war can be limited to a few European powers and to a short time. Our boat is so packed we have to sit up. Germans and Austrians had to leave France within a few hours' notice, and leave all behind but what they could carry. Many never got away and are held up. The United States ambassadors and consuls look after the foreigners,— Germans in France, and French in Germany, etc. Our hope is in God, who guides the destinies of the world, and who will protect his own, and will not allow his cause to suffer too terribly in the crucible of affliction. We know that our brethren in America will stand by our missions and brethren who are cut off from our division treasury. Remember us at the throne of grace.

“With kindest regards, your brother in Christ, L. R. CONRADI.”

This communication sets forth the situation that confronts the denomination. It is evident that the work in Germany, the headquarters for our European Division, will be paralyzed. Their funds will be practically cut off. Upon their treasury is dependent not only the work in the strong and well-organized Protestant countries, but also that in the Catholic and Mohammedan fields, and all the purely mission territory that they have been operating without expense to the General Conference treasury. In this crisis, it will be impossible for us to deny their plea for help. To enable us to come to their assistance, word has been sent out to all our mission stations in Asia, South Africa, and South America, informing them of the situation and instructing them to cut down their expenses to a minimum,—to undertake no new work, nor any building operations,—in order that all money possible may thus be conserved for war time emergencies.

We must now appeal as never before to our brethren in America for financial assistance. Our mission receipts have been alarmingly small during the entire year, so that even under normal conditions we have been alarmed. Instead of receiving at the rate of twenty cents a week per member, our receipts have barely averaged ten cents a week; and yet the full amount called for is required for our work under normal conditions. Now, with Europe appealing to us for assistance, the situation is even more desperate than it has been in the past.

We are not discouraged, however. We are satisfied that the meagerness of our mission receipts has not been due to the inability of our people to make liberal offerings to the Lord; but other causes have intervened. Now, whatever these causes may have been, they must be set aside, and all must rally to the help of the Lord in the crisis in which we now find ourselves. God still rules in the affairs of the world; and if we are faithful, and do our part, we may rest assured that even this great calamity that has visited Europe will be caused by him in some way to redound to his glory and to the furtherance of his cause.

The General Conference Committee appeals to every Seventh-day Adventist now to come to the help of the Lord in liberal offerings, and urges that definite plans be made at once by every one to avail himself of every opportunity, such as the coming Harvest Ingathering campaign, to gather largely for the cause of God. The members of the committee feel confident that to this appeal there will be a general rally upon the part of all. This fund will be known as the Emergency Fund, and will be counted as part of the regular Twenty-cent-a-week Fund, available for Europe and all the world.

W. T. KNOX, Treasurer General Conference.