The German Union Conference
By Guy Dail
JANUARY 25-29 the German Union Committee met in Friedensau, to consider the advisability of enlarging our educational institution for the training of workers; to determine who should constitute the company of missionaries to sail for German East Africa in February; to take definite action with reference to receiving the church building and property in Vohwinkel, near Elberfeld; to review the year’s work at Friedensau; to look over and audit the accounts of the German Union laborers; and to lay plans for the work the coming half year. If we consider that the German Union territory contains over three million square miles (excluding Siberia), and a population of two hundred and fifty-six millions, we can readily admit that its training-school, accommodating only threescore and ten students, ought to be enlarged, provided it would be possible to enlarge it without increased indebtedness, and to supply it with the required number of suitable students and properly qualified teachers. Often parents from foreign lands, come to us, and ask if we can not receive their children fourteen or fifteen years of age. This is at present impossible, as we take only such, in general, as can most rapidly prepare themselves for some department of the Lord’s work. We must take this course because of our lack of facilities, and our great need of native-born workers—notwithstanding eighty-five per cent of our laborers are natives, trained here. In view of the lack of room and of workers, it was thought best to erect the chapel and the north wing of the school building, completing the structure as soon as possible; it is hoped it will be ready for occupancy this autumn. The cost will be about seventeen thousand16and five hundred dollars. The Friedensau school can then accommodate about one hundred and seventy students. When the chapel is finished, it will be the third chapel we own in Germany. The sale of the German “Christ’s Object Lessons” has aided us very materially in this enterprise; gifts from the earnings of the Hamburg publishing house have also greatly assisted; the gains of the Friedensau plant itself (in 1903 the net gain was 3,500 marks) have a part to play in making this enlargement possible; but the self-sacrificing spirit of our brethren everywhere in the German Union Conference, under the blessing of God, is the chief factor in the growth of our industrial training school. The meetings with the church and school at Friedensau during the time of the council were very interesting, as the German East African Mission was the great topic under consideration. A sister who had been a missionary in British Central Africa was also present, and delivered interesting talks on the missionary work with which she had been connected. A spirit of deeper consecration came over the students. Many more fully gave their hearts to the service of the Lord than ever before. Besides the wife of Brother J. Ehlers, and the sister engaged to Brother Enns, two brethren, A. Langholf and C. Wunderlich, were chosen to accompany Elder Conradi to Wilhelmsthal, German East Africa. The former is a blacksmith, by trade. He was for a time a student in our mission school, and during the last two years has been treasurer of the Russian field; the latter has been acting as our fireman and general mechanic at Friedensau, and can turn his hand to almost any work that will be needed on the mission farm. He leaves his family behind, and it is expected he will return after the work of building is finished. We said good-by to all these brethren at Port Said, March 12, and word has already been received from them from the wilds of Africa. In previous reports, it has been stated that the opening of the German East African Mission has been a great boon to all our churches. It is showing to the world that we feel a burden for those who are said to be the farthest distant from the Christian’s standard and ideals, and this reaching out into the heathen world will enlist the sympathies of some who have formerly been opposed to us. It is being demonstrated that to give to missions will serve only to increase our zeal in doing the work of the church at home. It was decided to advise our legal body to take over the chapel in Vohwinkel, on the conditions proposed by the owner, Brother Kuller. The property contains a dwelling, as well as the chapel we have erected, and we are glad that the believers here will have their own house of worship. In considering the year’s work at Friedensau, there was cause for thankfulness to God, and there were also found things which can and will be improved in the future. The sales of our nut food products are increasing. Last year we disposed of about twenty-three thousand dollars’ worth of these goods. The school made more than its expenses, and the sanitarium had a small gain. In auditing the German Union laborers, there was unity of action, and harmony of sentiment. By the aid of the appropriation from America, the German Union was able to complete its auditing work without indebtedness. Aside from the German East African Mission, the German Union has now begun work in the Caucasus region, Southern Russia, where Dr. V. Pampaian and brother have been since the early part of January. They will labor especially for the thousands of Armenians in and around Tiflis. There may be some difficulty experienced in their getting a start; but they write that they are of good courage, and they believe the Lord will go before them, and open up the way. Elder J. Erzenberger, whose former years have been chiefly spent in Switzerland, is henceforth to labor a part of the time in general church work throughout the union. His long experience in connection with the truth will enable him to bring a message of cheer and hope to hundreds of our believers who are young in the faith. The best of reports have come from his work thus far, showing how much his labors are appreciated. The German Union Conference will be held in Friedensau, July 20-25. It will be preceded by the European General Conference, July 15-19. As to figures, which often speak louder than words, we would say: At the close of the year 1903, there were in the territory of the German Union 163 churches, with a membership of 4,620; 50 companies, with 439 worshipers; 97 isolated Sabbath-keepers, making a total of 5,156 members; there are 26 ministers, 17 licentiates, 66 Bible workers, 181 canvassers, and three other workers; tithe for 1903, $35,640.28, $5,586.67 of which is turned over to the German Union treasury, for missionary work outside the local conferences; $2,052.10 annual offerings; $1,075.17 First-day offerings; $3,007.35 Sabbath-school donations, all of which goes to missions; book sales of the canvassers and publishing house, $54,159; number baptized and added by vote during the year, 1,318, as against 911 during 1902. Since the membership of the union was 4,256, Dec. 31, 1902, the net increase for the year was 900; the increase in tithe was $8,692.77; First-day offerings, $625.75; annual offerings, $1,053.42. We feel thankful for this growth, but it ought to have been more, and would have been, had every member been true to his privileges, and every worker yielded himself absolutely into the hands of the Master Workman. We see that the efforts of the enemy will surely succeed in overthrowing the faith of all who are unwilling to give themselves entirely to the work before us. The time for half-heartedness is forever past: we must be whole-souled for Christ and for the Word of God, or he can not use us. Brethren, pray that we all may be one in the bond of Christ’s love.