Notes From Europe by L. R. CONRADI

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Sep 14, 1905

Notes From Europe

By L. R. CONRADI

L. R. CONRADI

AFTER enjoying our excellent General Conference in Takoma Park, and remaining a few days for counsel, I spent June 3 and 4 at Reading and Allentown, Pa., meeting old friends. I was glad, indeed, to find a number as firm in the truth as ever, and still more rejoiced that I could talk with them of the truthfulness of our interpretation of the Scriptures with even stronger evidences in its favor than we had twenty-two years ago.

Leaving New York on the “Kaiser Wilhelm,” June 7, I reached home the morning of June 14. June 16-20 I spent with our brethren in Frederikshavn, Denmark. I had hoped to meet Elder P. A. Hansen, president of the Scandinavian Union, at that time, but he had been detained in America by the illness of his wife. I enjoyed the presence of Elder O. A. Olsen at this meeting, as well as at our annual conference in Sweden, and the brethren in both places appreciated his services. We never had a larger meeting in Denmark, and I can truly say that we never had a better one. Throughout the meeting there was the most perfect union in all our deliberations. The conference shows signs of prosperity throughout, and is now leading the Scandinavian field in tithe, which increased about sixty cents a member last year.

The Danish Conference has recently acquired the Frederikshavn property, and our brethren are taking a deep interest in getting this institution on a good financial basis. A few years ago this seemed almost a hopeless task, but things have now so turned that everybody has confidence in its ultimate prosperity. The house was full of patients,—a good class of people, too,—and some attended our meetings, and the most of them were much interested in a lecture I gave in the parlor, concerning our mission work in German East Africa. Dr. Nelson feels encouraged about the outlook at Frederikshavn, and I was also glad to hear from Dr. Ottosen that the Skodsborg Sanitarium is doing well this season.

Our next meeting was at Grythyttehed, Sweden, where we were also glad to find a good spirit prevailing throughout the assembly. It was the desire of all to move onward. It was decided that Elder Oeberg, one of their ministers, and Oscar Anderson, a promising young man of their field, should go to Finland, as this field has been needing extra help for some time. This will also so arrange the work in Sweden that the expenses of the conference can be carried from nine tenths of the tithe, leaving the one tenth free to go to the Scandinavian Union. The outlook of the conference, including their book work, school, etc., is very encouraging, for last year they added about twenty-three hundred dollars to their capital, which now amounts to about sixteen thousand dollars. I can truly say that the prospects for Sweden never appeared brighter.

Elder Anderson, who was present from Finland, also had cheering news from there.

Brother Dail and I were three days en route from Grythyttehed to Stavanger, on the west coast of Norway, where we found the meeting well under way. Elder Raft, and Brother Jens Olsen, the union treasurer, both from Denmark, were also at the Norway meeting, as Elder Olsen could not be with us. There was a fair attendance, and the conference shows quite a good growth in membership. The Lord helped to remove some difficulties existing. While there were political troubles brewing between Norway and Sweden, yet we are thankful we can say that these were not mentioned in our deliberations, nor was there in any way the slightest feeling manifest between our brethren of these two nationalities, for we are citizens of that “better country.”

The outlook in the Scandinavian field was never brighter for our work than it is at the present time, whether we speak of the financial or of the spiritual side. A true missionary spirit is taking hold of the people, and I think it will not be very long before Scandinavia will take an active part in sending some of its workers into the “regions beyond,” and supported them there. The education of their youth is claiming considerable of their attention.

Four days after the close of the Norwegian meeting brings us down to the German-Swiss meeting, not far from Zurich, where we have a fair attendance. Our sanitarium on Lake Geneva, although the work has naturally been hindered by our moving from Basel, is doing nicely, and there are more applications for rooms than we can supply. Sixteen are already there, and eight more have been promised quarters, and we believe that if we had the accommodations for forty patients, every room would be full at the opening of the institution.

Good news has also been received from the German Union, as to the number of baptisms during the past quarter, and there have also been additions in the Latin Union. Even in Russia, amid all the difficulties there, twenty-three have recently been added to the church in St. Petersburg. Dr. George has sent us the good news that our brethren have been set free in Asia Minor, although we have as yet received no particulars.

Elder Olsen reached England the latter part of June, and expects to leave July 12 for his long trip to Australia, via America. While we regret to see this faithful worker leave us, yet we know that the great Australasian field needs men of experience, and we feel sure that the Lord will continue to bless his work in Great Britain, as he has done of late.

We have every reason to be grateful for the good outlook in the General European Conference, and for the help the Lord has given us in our meetings thus far.

Wadensweil, Switzerland.