p. 5 | My Visit to the General European Field

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Oct 5, 1905

My Visit to the General European Field

By Arthur Grosvenor Daniells

The German Union Conference

In the Review of September 7, I reported the union meeting of the French-Swiss Conference and the Latin Union Mission, held at Gland, Switzerland. In this report I gave an account of the general features of the meeting, and a description of the new headquarters of the Latin Union mission field, which have been located at Gland. Although this location is not the geographical center of the Latin field, it is very accessible, and the excellent climate, the beautiful surroundings, and the varied and direct advantages make it a most desirable place for the work that will be carried on there. It will undoubtedly be a grand rallying center for that part of the field until our work on earth is finished.

From Gland, I went to Friedensau, Germany, to attend the annual session of the German Union Conference. In making this journey it was my privilege to travel through the central part of Switzerland all the way from Lake Geneva to Lake Constance. I was accompanied by Brother Guy Dail, who acted as guide and interpreter, and Sister Haskell, wife of Elder C. P. Haskell. Sister Haskell was returning to America from Africa, where she had been visiting her son-in-law and daughter, Brother and Sister Hayton, who have charge of Claremont Union College.

Much has been said and written in praise of the beautiful scenery of Switzerland. This trip taught me that no description, either oral or written, can convey to the mind any true conception of that wonderful scenery. The beautiful blue lakes, the mountains with their verdure-covered sides and snow-capped peaks, the fertile valleys, and the gorgeous sunsets must be seen to be truly conceived and fully appreciated.

The German Union Conference convened July 20, and continued ten days. This was the largest gathering of our people ever held outside of the United States. There were about eight hundred Sabbath-keepers present. Eighty-one of these were delegates, representing seven local conferences and six organized mission fields. The German Union Conference embraces Germany, Russia, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Holland, Flemish Belgium, and German Switzerland. These countries have a population of two hundred and sixty million, more than three times the population of the United States. Scattered among these many millions in so many countries, there are nearly eight thousand Seventh-day Adventists. There are five organized conferences in Germany, one in German Switzerland, and one in Eastern Russia. The organized mission fields which are being operated by the German Union Conference are those of Russia, Austria including Bohemia, Hungary, the Balkan States, Holland, Flemish Belgium, and German East Africa. About one half of the Sabbath-keepers in this territory are located in Germany, and about one fourth are in Russia.

The statistical reports for 1904 show a net gain of 1,141 members, an annual tithe of $43,597; offerings to missions, $8,435; book sales for the year, $48,260, and health food sales, $25,000. At our Hamburg printing-office, publications are being printed in fourteen different languages. In 1904 there were printed 989,360 copies of the different papers, and 34,168,340 pages of books and tracts. The affairs of the printing house were so managed that a profit of about ten thousand dollars was made during the year, and the most of this was donated by the directors to the missionary enterprises of the German Union Conference.

I desire to call special attention to the remarkable fact that the missionary work being carried on in the many countries of the German Union Conference is supported almost wholly, if not entirely, by the brethren and sisters in that territory. In making up our estimates for 1906, we found that the expenditures will reach at least $21,000. This does not include the expenses of any of the seven organized conferences. It represents the expenditure to be made in the great missionary fields attached to the conferences. According to the records of last year's receipts, we estimated that the churches in the German Union Conference will furnish at least $19,500 of the $21,000 required. All they ask the brethren and sisters in America to contribute toward the great work they are endeavoring to carry forward in mission fields is $1,500. They are not sure but that they will be able to provide the whole amount; but, for safety, they made a call for us to furnish $1,500, while they raise $19,500.

In these days of small victories this is a remarkable record. The nucleus of the German Union Conference is Germany. From one point of view Germany is really a great mission field. Every dollar of the money now being expended in the countries around Germany could easily be used by the German Conferences in their great cities. But they are working on another plan altogether. They divide their own slender resources with the great dark lands around them, and then work with all earnestness for their own fields with what is left, all the while praying the Lord to increase their ability to do for him. And the Lord hears them, and blesses with increased numbers and means.

It should be remembered that our people in Germany, Russia, Holland, Austria, etc., are not rich people in this world's goods. But few of them own the houses in which they live. Their incomes are small, but they are frugal and industrious. Their one great aim in life seems to be to co-operate with God in finishing his work in this generation. O that this may be the one and only ambition of every believer in the third angel's message!

In reporting my visit to Friedensau, I should not fail to tell what the Lord has done and is still doing through his people at that place. This will be given next week.

The Friedensau conference was a great and good meeting. The brethren and sisters were in good health physically, and were full of joy and courage in the Lord. The services of each day began with devotional meetings at six o'clock in the morning, and continued with only brief intermissions until half-past nine at night. The sermons preached and the reports given by the laborers were so full of interest, and the people were so eager to hear, that the large tent was nearly full at every meeting. I never witnessed the like at any conference before. It was marvelous. God is truly blessing his dear people in that great field. The difficulties tower like mountains, but the Lord is leveling them, or taking his people over them.

At this conference I had the privilege of meeting and conversing with the presidents of the conferences and the directors of the mission fields in all parts of this section of Europe. I was glad to find our representatives in Russia full of courage and good cheer. They have been in the midst of the terrible riots and revolutions of that country during the past year. The Lord has taken care of them, and has greatly blessed their labors. The dangers, trials, and oppressions of the country are used to advance the cause of God. But our dear people in that land need our prayers. Let us not forget them.

A. G. DANIELLS.