In the European Field by Ludwig Richard Conradi

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 4, 1903

In the European Field

By Ludwig Richard Conradi

L. R. CONRADI

After the General Conference in Oakland, the brethren thought it advisable that I accompany them direct to Battle Creek. I had greatly desired to spend a little time among some of our German churches in the West, and this the more as I knew there were many young people who ought to be encouraged to enter our schools and prepare themselves for gospel work; but under the circumstances, I had to forego this privilege.

I remained in Battle Creek until May 3. I am glad that the good Spirit of the Lord came in, and that existing difficulties were removed. From Battle Creek I went to New York, stopping over night in Reading, Pa., where I spoke to the friends. I also had meetings with our German brethren and in Elder Haskell's mission, in Greater New York.

May 6 I took the steamer “Deutschland,” direct for Hamburg, and was happy that we had nice weather; this enabled me to do considerable correspondence on the way over. We sailed more than five hundred miles a day, and reached Hamburg on Friday, the 15th.

I was glad, indeed, to learn from Brother H. F. Schuberth, the vice-president of the German Union Conference, as well as from the quarterly reports, that God's prospering care had been over the field while I was absent. During the first quarter of 1903, one hundred and sixty-one persons were baptized, and twenty-three received by vote, making our present membership 4,357. This quarter's tithe was about $7,911, and the offerings amounted to $1,250, of which the First-day offerings (about $200) are set apart to the establishment of the mission in German East Africa. The greatest growth in membership was in the West German Conference, which added seventy-five. I was also glad to learn that this year our publishing house in Hamburg had sold over five thousand dollars' worth more books than during the preceding year. In spite of the hard times and many difficulties, our canvassing work is constantly moving ahead. May 22-24 I spent with our sanitarium and school in Friedensau. I found the work here in a prosperous condition. The new addition to the sanitarium was finished the morning I arrived, and before evening, three rooms were occupied. At present there are twenty-five patients in the sanitarium. The school is also well patronized, and the food factory sales are increasing constantly, averaging from fifteen hundred to two thousand dollars a month. We have made arrangements to hold our coming German Union meeting on the same grounds as heretofore.

En route to England, I spent two days in Holland, holding meetings in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, and meeting our four workers in that field, whom I found of good courage. I also visited Brother Klingbeil. The party that claimed to have “new light” have nearly all ceased to observe the Sabbath, and some have returned to the use of tobacco. Some who wrote pamphlets against us, strongly attacking the spirit of prophecy, have not simply left us with their indebtedness unpaid, but have also made bad debts in some other places; so we need not wonder that they were so willing to fight the Testimonies, on borrowed capital. We trust that, with proper care, the work in Holland will soon gain all that has been lost.

I was glad to meet Elder Irwin and Dr. Paulson when I reached London, May 27. The following day our Caterham Sanitarium was dedicated, and this was a very happy occasion, leaving the best impression upon those who were present. Good reports of the proceedings were published in several of the leading papers.

May 29 to June 7 was the time appointed for the British Union and South England Conferences, which were held in that part of Portsmouth known as Southsea. One of the best halls in the city was secured for the occasion, and there was quite a fair attendance from London and other sections of southern England; but owing to its extreme southern location, there were not many delegates to the conference from North England and the mission fields of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales; still we were pleased to meet the conference presidents and the directors of the missions in the British Union. This was really the first British Union Conference we have ever held, and several steps were still necessary more fully to perfect the organization of the union, and bind its parts more closely together. As no constitution was provided last year, there was not any definite arrangement as to the size of the various committees, and this question was taken up at this meeting, and after it had been clearly explained to the people, a constitution was adopted. The fact is, even at the present time church property is being held in Great Britain in the name of three trustees, and one of these has apostatized; surely there should be a better arrangement for holding such valuable property, so that it may not simply be left to a few private individuals or to isolated churches, but may be in the possession of the general body of believers.

Again: the passing of the constitution for the health association was up for consideration; and as the proposed constitution referred to the various local

and union committees of the British field, it really seemed imperative that there be some written statement as to the number of persons composing these committees. After the British Union constitution was adopted, the articles of the health association carried in a short time. This association holds the sanitarium property, but its doings are subject to the approval of the British Union Conference. There was chosen a board of fifteen directors representing the various parts of the field, and Brother W. C. Sisley was elected chairman. Dr. A. B. Olsen was chosen superintendent of the Caterham Sanitarium.

We had an interesting educational day, in which Professor Salisbury and others set forth the advantages of a proper education. Two hundred dollars was donated toward the educational fund, and about six hundred and twenty-five dollars was placed at the disposal of that fund, without interest. This now opens the way for promising young people to receive an education, even if they do not have all the means necessary; but it is expected that as soon as those who are thus assisted begin to earn wages, they will return the money that they have been using, and thus this fund may be replenished.

Elder Irwin and the writer clearly set before the brethren what our people in America are doing for the work in Great Britain, and in all other parts of the world, and the efforts of the American churches seemed to be appreciated. The delegates passed a vote of thanks for this help, and pledged that they would do their utmost to co-operate with their brethren in other lands.

Elder O. A. Olsen was unanimously chosen president of the British Union Conference, and he enjoys the confidence of our brethren there. As Dr. Waggoner resigned the presidency of the South England Conference, Elder Olsen was unanimously asked to accept the presidency of that field until some one else be supplied.

The British Union Committee is composed of the presidents of the North England and South England Conferences, the directors of the Irish, Scotch, and Welsh mission fields, and the heads of the publishing house, the Caterham Sanitarium, and the school.

The British brethren have lifted nobly during the year in raising five thousand dollars for the Caterham Sanitarium, and there has been a noticeable increase in the tithe, especially of the North England Conference. The increase in membership is not so apparent, as statistics have not been given so accurately in the past; but it is now possible for the membership to be definitely stated, and we believe that the future will show a decided growth. Aggressive work has been planned for various other places.

Dr. Paulson spoke to the people each day, and his work was appreciated. All were pleased indeed to have the benefit of Elder Irwin's presence and counsel. The last Sabbath of the meeting was a good day, and the power of the Spirit of God was felt. The outlook for the work in Great Britain is very hopeful.

From this place, Brethren Irwin and Paulson and the writer went, via Hamburg, to the Danish Conference in Copenhagen, which was held June 9-14. There was a good attendance from the field, and a hopeful spirit prevailed. Elder P. A. Hansen was again elected president, and in view of his duties as chairman of the Scandinavian Union, calling him more or less into the general work, Elder J. C. Raft was asked to act as vice-president. Sabbath here was also a good day, and all the brethren enjoyed the good Spirit of God. We spent some time in considering the educational and the book work. The conference is entirely out of debt, and the tract society has paid half of its indebtedness to the Basel House. It was agreed that Brother L. H. Christian conduct a five months' institute in Copenhagen the coming winter, in connection with a course of lectures in that city. The Danish brethren realize the necessity of educating their young people for the cause of God.

At present we are attending the Norway Conference, and from here we intend to go to Nyhyttan, Sweden, where the Swedish Conference will be held June 22-28, and in connection with it, we shall have a council of the Scandinavian Union Committee. From June 29 to July 8 is the French-Latin Union Conference, in connection with the French-Swiss Conference, in Lausanne, Switzerland; and from July 9-19 is the German Union meeting at Friedensau. This will give Elder Irwin and Dr. Paulson an opportunity to get acquainted with the large union fields in Europe, and in turn, these fields will have the benefit of their assistance. While we would have been glad to have Elder Daniells with us during these meetings, yet we are thankful that the Lord has provided us with such efficient help and counsel, and above all, that we have had the presence of his good Spirit.

The outlook for the work in the European field is bright; but difficulties are not lacking. We daily remember our brethren in their general meetings in America, and hope that the Lord will give our people willing hearts, so that means may freely flow in for the support of the work in the regions beyond.