IN Wadenswil, thirty minutes' ride up Lake Zurich from the delightful city of Zurich, the German-Swiss brethren held their fourth annual meeting, July 4-9. Along either bank of the green inland lake, stretching back up the hillsides, were the clean, well-kept villages, among the pleasant fields and orchards and fruit-trees and vines, while off in the distance were the snow-peaked Alps, painted red by the evening sun, the whole forming a picture more entrancing than the most delicate hand can portray, ever reminding us of the power, goodness, and love of our Creator, whose wonderful handiwork should cause us to admire, worship, and praise him.
WADENSWIL
Wadenswil itself contains about four thousand inhabitants, and many of them attended the services, so we had a fair attendance. Of our own people, there were about one hundred and sixty present. Twenty-three tents were on the ground, and this little white village could be seen by thousands of the dwellers just across the lake.
Elders Conradi, Erzberger (known to most of our readers as Erzenberger), Schuberth, and Frauchiger were able to unite their labors with the efforts of the workers in the field, feeding an interested audience on the bread of life.
Properly elected delegates represented every church and group in the conference. Two new companies applied for and received admission—the one at Sissach, where we held our meeting last season, and the other at Thalwil. During 1904 seventy were added to our membership, bringing it up from three hundred and sixteen to three hundred and eighty-six.
In the experiences related by the laborers, it was evident that the enemy had not been idle, and that we have not yet reached the time when one should think persecution an impossibility. In one godless and irreligious neighborhood, where there was a hatred for everything built upon the Word of God, and for the Bible itself, our worker was cast into a pool of dirty cold water, and the mob left him to get out the best way he could. Notwithstanding he was compelled to remain in his wet clothes for an hour, we are glad to say he suffered no ill effects. Another brother was laboring in a very devout neighborhood, where the people were divided into two opposing religious parties. Night after night he was laid in wait for by about twenty fanatics, who desired his hurt, but he passed through their midst unharmed, as they did not recognize him, and in one instance they watched for him until three o'clock in the morning, not knowing that he was safe at home in bed, having been protected from harm as he went by. Such instances remind one of the earlier days in the gospel work, and they will be more and more common as we near the end. In God alone can we rest safely; if our peace is made with him, we need have no fear of what man can do.
Six resolutions, some of them of general interest, were discussed and unanimously passed. They expressed thankfulness for God's care the past year, and humbly pledged to greater faithfulness in time to come, especially in encouraging proper young persons to enter our colporteur and evangelical work, and in the payment of tithes and First-day offerings (the First-day collection on Sunday amounted to one hundred and forty francs). It was also voted to establish a material fund for the aid of the "Ministry of Healing" in German, and to purchase a new tent before the next camp-meeting, as the two large tents now in use are made of unimpregnated canvas, and do not turn the rain, nor stand the dampness of the climate.
Seven persons were baptized on Sabbath, and one who was prevented from being present at the Sabbath baptism was baptized Sunday. This soul is our first-fruits in the unbelieving neighborhood to which we have already referred.
There was no party spirit, there was no lack of unity, in the business transactions of the conference. A good spirit was present, and the unconverted who began to serve God at the meeting are an evidence of his presence and power.
The finances of the German-Swiss field never were more prosperous. Their book sales amounted to $3,625 in 1903, and $2,926 the next year; their tithe to $2,418, and in 1904 it reached $3,102; gifts, 1903, $581, 1904, $569.
Brother O. Stoye, whose labors God has blessed, was ordained to the ministry of the gospel Sabbath afternoon; a very precious season was this for us all.
The officers chosen are as follows: President, J. T. Boettcher; Treasurer, A. Sebald; Secretary, O. Stoye; Secretary of Sabbath-school Department, Mrs. L. Sebald; Secretary of Missionary Department, T. Kestenholz; Committee, J. T. Boettcher, J. Erzberger, W. Kury, A. Sebald, J. Murbach.
Two ministers, one licentiate, and five Bible workers take up the work in this field, with its 2,319,000 inhabitants, for the coming year. We are glad for the progress being made, and hope God will continue to add his blessings, that the work may grow yet more rapidly.
