My Visit to the European Field
By Arthur G. Daniells
A UNION meeting of the North and South England Conferences and the Welsh Mission was held at Birmingham, England, August 4-14. This was the largest gathering of Seventh-day Adventists ever convened in Great Britain. Nearly every member of the executive committees and boards of the organizations and institutions of the territory represented was in attendance. Nearly all the ministers and Bible workers were present, and there was a good delegation of the churches in all parts of both conferences and the Welsh Mission field. It had been five years since I had first attended a general meeting in that field, and three years since I was there last. The change that had taken place was very apparent. It could be felt as well as seen. There was not only a much larger attendance than at the previous meetings referred to, but there were so many new faces that it seemed like another congregation. This change can be understood when it is known that the membership has nearly doubled in the last three years. There was present a much larger and stronger staff of laborers than I have seen before in that field. And there was a strength, a force, a solidity that could be felt. The people seemed to have their bearings. They acted like people who know that they have a mission in the world. They attended to the affairs of the conferences they represented as if they were a part of the movement. And they coupled with the business proceedings of the meetings a whole-hearted spirituality that was truly uplifting. A meeting for all the ministers and Bible workers was conducted every morning. The Lord blessed us as we prayed together and studied how to so labor that we might see larger results in soul-winning. At the same hour a meeting was held for canvassers and periodical workers. As there are so many of our people in that field engaged in that work, and as they are having such cheering success, this was a large and enthusiastic meeting. These canvassers, and Present Truth and Good Health workers, not only reported steady success, but gave a testimony of a good personal experience, and of many signal victories and blessings in their work. The business proceedings of both conferences and the mission field passed off very harmoniously. Elder W. H. Meredith gave a most encouraging report of the work in Wales. He had a large delegation from that mission field, whose love and zeal for this cause did us all good. There are now two hundred Sabbath-keepers in Wales, and they are beginning to think about organizing a Welsh conference. This will surely be done in the near future, if the blessing of God continues with them. One encouraging feature about the work in all the European fields is the fact that nearly all the ministers and workers are devoting practically all their time to evangelistic work in new fields. They are constantly pressing on into communities and cities where the message has never been preached. Wherever they go, they find honest souls ready to hear the message they have to give. This was illustrated by the union meeting, of which this is a report. It was held in a part of the large city of Birmingham, where no meetings had ever been held by our people. During the meeting our brethren and sisters visited hundreds of families with our literature, and invited them to the services. There was a good attendance, and a splendid interest was developed. This was followed with a tent effort and missionary work. The last report that has come to me states that twelve or fifteen had begun to keep the Sabbath. Elder L. R. Conradi attended this meeting, and labored untiringly for the welfare of the cause in that field. Elder W. S. Hyatt, who was returning to South Africa, spent a few days at the meeting. Elder J. W. Westphal was with us one day. Brother Guy Dall, secretary of the General European Conference, was present. All these brethren received a hearty welcome. The American laborers now located in Great Britain are nearly all in good health, and seem to be enjoying their work. A number of consecrated English brethren and sisters are developing into efficient laborers. It will not be long until the work in this entire field will be self-supporting, and the conferences will be pushing out into foreign parts of Great Britain. In fact, this late conference voted to take steps at the earliest opportunity to open a mission in British East Africa. As a preparation for this step, it was voted to devote the Sabbath-school offerings to this mission. Thus the movement is already begun. May it be as greatly blessed of God as other missions in Africa operated by the Christian churches of Great Britain.