Foreigners' Union Convention
By Ole Andres Olsen
THIS convention was held in the Swedish chapel at 213 Oak Street, Chicago, Ill., Dec. 27, 1910, to Jan. 4, 1911. Each department—German, Swedish, and Danish-Norwegian—held separate meetings in the afternoon, and public meetings were conducted in the several foreign churches in the city evenings, with the exception of Friday evening.
While all the laborers in foreign tongues could not be present, we are glad to report an attendance of sixty-seven representative workers from twenty States and from Canada. As this was the first meeting of this character ever held in this country, it was a question in the minds of many as to whether it would be a success, and prove beneficial to the work. Now that the convention is past, we are glad to report that it was a real success from every point of view, and we have reason to believe that it will give a decided forward impetus to the work of the message among the foreign nationalities in this country. The convention took vigorous hold of many important questions relating especially to the work among the foreigners. Different ones had been requested to prepare papers on important subjects, such as, “The Object of Our Schools: Their Place and Relation to the Work at Home and Abroad;” “Courses of Study;” “Spiritual Interest and Discipline;” “Industries to Be Developed and Fostered;” “How to Secure Students,” etc. Then followed papers on other subjects, such as, “The Need of Efficiency in the Ministry;” “Instruction Needed by Our Churches, and What a Minister’s Visit to a Church Should Accomplish;” “Foreign Nationalities in This Country: Their Numbers, Condition, and Needs;” and “Reporting: Its True Use and Importance.” The question of “Our Relation to the International Publishing Association and the Circulation of Literature,” was the subject of another paper. These subjects will give the reader some idea of the question studied by the convention. The spiritual interest was the strong feature of the meeting. The morning devotional services were well attended, and these, with the very practical Bible studies that were conducted every day, brought a serious and earnest spirit into the convention, and led us to reach out after higher and more advanced experiences in divine grace. I have seldom witnessed a better interest than was manifested throughout this entire meeting. The meeting was greatly favored by the presence and labors of Elder A. G. Daniells. The Bible studies he conducted and the instruction he imparted were most timely and well suited to the occasion. In our planning for the meeting we had made special arrangements to have the Friday evening meeting for all the workers. The feeling prevailed that we must reach higher ground in our spiritual life, and that we must come into a position where greater efficiency and power could characterize our labors for the saving of the lost. This meeting opened at 6 P. M. Elder Daniells presented some practical instruction, and then the time was given to the workers. Earnest prayers were offered, confessions of sin, neglect, and carelessness were made, and a spirit of reconsecration came in that means earnest work in the future. This meeting continued for nearly five hours, and its experience and blessing will long remain as a precious memory by all who were present. This was indeed a good beginning to a good Sabbath for our German, Swedish, and Danish-Norwegian churches in Chicago. For Sunday afternoon, New-year’s day, we had prepared a special program. A general mass-meeting of the members of our various foreign churches in the city was held in the German church. A goodly number of our American brethren also met with us, so the church was well filled. In this service Elder Daniells led out with an interesting and instructive presentation of the work in the world-wide mission field, which began so small, and yet has accomplished so much in a comparatively short time. This presentation was a source of real inspiration to all present. Elder G. F. Haffner then presented the development of the message among the Germans in this country and in Europe; Elder S. Mortenson, the work among the Swedes; Elder A. Boettcher, of New York, the work among Italians, Russians, Bohemians, Hungarians, and others; and Elder L. H. Christian related incidents of progress among the Danish-Norwegians. This meeting was a profitable occasion, and gave both ministers and lay brethren a broader idea of the work of the message, and also a deeper conviction that while the work of the last warning message is fast hastening to its close, much yet remains to be done. Still, with the special blessing of God coming with pentecostal power, that which remains can be quickly finished. An interesting matter came up in connection with our studying the needs in the East, especially among the many nationalities in Greater New York and Jersey City. It was felt by the workers there that a tent under the control of the Foreign Department would be a great help in the development of the work. The convention then passed a recommendation that a tent 30 x 50 feet be purchased, and the money be raised by the workers present. In a few minutes, cash and pledges were taken to the amount of one hundred sixty dollars, and this was given as a thank-offering in acknowledgment of the blessings that the Lord had granted us during this convention. Another recommendation of special interest was passed, as follows:— “Resolved, That we raise a mission and literature fund of two thousand dollars for the production and circulation of suitable literature, and that the General Conference be requested to appropriate one half this sum, and that the other half be raised by the North American Foreign Department, as follows: Germans, $450; Swedes, $100; Danish-Norwegians, $450.” It will be seen that the members of the convention showed real and tangible interest in the work of extending the knowledge of the truth to other nationalities besides their own. Our convention closed the afternoon of January 4 with a blessed praise service. Many testified that the convention had been a great blessing to them, and that it would mark the beginning of a new era in their Christian experiences and also in their labors as ministers. We are sure this will be so if we all carry into effect daily the new resolutions made. We must take time to pray, to read our Bibles, and to study and heed the instruction the Lord has given through the spirit of prophecy.17 We greatly appreciated the presence of Elder Daniells. Not only was his instruction most timely and helpful, but it was of importance that he should have an opportunity to become better acquainted with the work, the field, the conditions existing, and the laborers engaged in, and connected with, this department of the great General Conference field. This convention gave him an excellent opportunity, and will be a blessing both to him and to the work. It would have been well if more of our leading men could have had a like opportunity. The fact is that much more is at stake in this work for the foreign population in this country than most of us appreciate. May God help us all to fully awake to the needs of our time and to the work the Lord has given us to perform.