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In Eastern Prussia

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 17, 1910

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 11.

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In Eastern Prussia

By Guy Dail

GUY DAIL
We are just at the close of the seventh annual session of the Prussian conference, which was in session here at Insterburg from January 12 to 16. Of the forty-four churches and companies in the field, forty were represented by one hundred twelve delegates and by more than another hundred of our brethren and sisters. The evening lectures, conducted by Elders H. F. Schuberth and O. Luepke and Dr. E. Meyer, who have been present to assist the regular conference workers, were attended by from three hundred to eight hundred persons.
Many of our members in eastern Prussia are farmers; their manner of living is simple; frequently they do not have the privilege of regularly attending Sabbath services; but the spirit of liberality which has characterized them here, and the unity manifested in all business transactions of the conference, show that they have a heart for God's cause. One well-to-do farmer has pledged all his gain from now on to the support of the third angels' message.
We are especially pleased to see so many promising young men and women among us, and believe that there are not a few of them who will be found self-sacrificing laborers for the Master in the near future. The interest they show in missionary and young people's work is refreshing to our hearts, as it helps to bring life and activity into the churches in the east Prussian field.
During 1909 there were one hundred fifty additions through baptism and by vote, giving us a present membership of nine hundred eleven; twenty-five were dismissed by letter, twelve were disfellowshipped, and nine were lost by death. We are glad that three new companies could be received, with a combined membership of forty-two. The tithe for the year shows a gain of sixteen thousand marks, or 6.66 marks per member,over 1908. After the auditing committee had settled with the fifteen workers on the conference pay-roll, and one thousand five hundred marks had been voted for the Galician Mission in Austria, and one thousand set apart to the educational fund of the union conference, and two hundred marks to the canvassers' relief fund, there is still a surplus in the treasury. To assist in paying for the land secured at Friedensau last summer, over two thousand seven hundred fifty marks was raised in cash and pledges among the brethren present. There were fifty-one copies of “Ministry of Healing” sold at the meeting.
Our canvassing work for the year shows an increase of three thousand marks in sales, 29,436 marks' worth of publications having been placed in the homes of the people. We now have twenty-eight regular canvassers in the Prussian Conference, and there are six ministers, four licentiates, and five Bible workers. Elder E. Bahr was re-elected president.
The services were all graced by God's Spirit, especially upon the Sabbath, when Brethren M. Schuerer and C. Kapitz were ordained to the gospel ministry.
One feature of special interest is the work among the many thousands of Poles living in the two provinces of East and West Prussia,—which compose the territory of the Prussian Conference,—and we were glad to meet our Polish translator, who lives in this field. He is of great assistance to us in getting out literature for this nationality. There are about four million inhabitants in the Prussian Conference.
The outlook for the future is encouraging. It is planned to begin here also a series of tent-meetings in the summer. This will prove quite a new experience to our workers in this part of Germany. We bespeak for our work and workers in the Prussian Conference a hearty interest in the prayers of God's people in all parts of the world.
Insterburg.