OUR fourth midwinter conference in the German empire was held in the extreme eastern part of the country, at Koenigsberg, a city containing about one hundred and ninety-seven thousand inhabitants, January 14-17. It is now two years since the two eastern provinces of Prussia, known as East Prussia and West Prussia, were separated from the East German Conference, and organized into the Prussian Conference, with Brother J. G. Oblander as president. There are about three and one-half millions of people in this field, and it has a membership of six hundred and nine. Although only nine workers were engaged here last year, yet no less than one hundred and fifty-seven additions were reported.
In Koenigsberg, which is the leading city in the conference, we were able to secure a fine hall belonging to the Free Church, for our services; in the gallery was a nice pipe-organ; and the evening lectures were so largely attended that the hall, which holds about four hundred persons, was crowded. About two hundred of our brethren and sisters were in attendance, representing all the different churches and companies throughout this field.
Brother Erzberger, Dr. Hoenes, and Brother Gaede, of the North Russian Mission, with the writer, were able to assist in presenting the message for this time. The trouble in Riga had reached such an acute stage that Brother Gaede had thought it best to bring his family to Koenigsberg, where they are to remain, while he returns to his field. The Prussian Conference was a season of refreshing to all present, and we were very highly pleased to see how God had blessed us during the year 1905, especially in the growth of the finances in this field. The tithe was nearly four thousand four hundred dollars, and even after paying two tithes to the union conference, and raising the wages of their workers, they were able to settle all their bills, and still have a small surplus in the treasury. The brethren contributed liberally to the First-day and Sabbath offerings, and raised over one hundred dollars on the material fund for the “Ministry of Healing.”
The Sabbath was a most precious day, especially in the afternoon, when Brother H. Fenner was set apart to the gospel ministry; by prayer and laying on of hands, and two brethren were ordained as local church elders. All present at this conference session went to their homes with a new determination to push forward in the good work. Elder Oblander was again unanimously elected president of the Prussian Conference for the coming year.
It happened that the subjects announced for Saturday night and Sunday night were, “The Solution of the Labor Question,” and “Missionary Experiences in Russia.” As the Socialists were expecting to make great demonstrations about this time, we found the police not only armed with revolvers for the first time, but were also a little surprised to see two of them in the hall to protect us. After observing the orderly behavior of the audience, and listening for a while to the discourse, they left us. Our church in Koenigsberg has now nearly one hundred members, and is the largest church we have in the Prussian field.
The next day after the close of this meeting, I went to Danzig, the capital and chief city of West Prussia. It was our privilege here to baptize one willing brother in the Baltic Sea, although we had to perform the service in very stormy weather, when the waves were rolling high. In the evening we spoke to quite a large company here. One of the great questions we have to deal with in all these large cities is, Where can we find suitable quarters for our meetings, without incurring too great expense?
The following evening I was in Stettin, the capital of Pomerania, where we have quite a large church, and our meeting hall was filled to overflowing. Wednesday night I spoke in our chapel in Berlin, and Thursday morning I had an audience such as it was never my privilege to have before. Some time ago a number of our books were forbidden to the canvassers in various parts of Germany, especially in Catholic sections. It is not only necessary to have government permission to canvass in this field, which must be annually paid for, but each book and paper must be allowed to the canvasser by a specially appointed committee in each district of the country. Now, the law states that if any book or any paper should prove offensive to anybody, either religiously or morally, this committee in the district is empowered to forbid the circulation of such publication through the colporteur. Thus, in Rhenish Prussia, a Catholic committee struck out quite a number of our books and publications, which were considered hostile to the Catholic Church. As we protested, the number of these forbidden books was reduced from twelve to six, and even from six to two, the only books remaining in the list as forbidden being14“Great Controversy” and the German “Revelation.”
About twenty passages were marked as objectionable in these two books, as they showed up the papacy in the light of prophecy. These two books were finally referred to the highest administrative court in Germany; and although they had already written us that they would uphold the lower committee in its decision, yet they granted us a hearing. Seven of the leading judges in Germany, with their secretaries, were present, and before this committee I was permitted to review our position, occupying over an hour, and taking up the rejected passages one by one. The greatest interest was shown in what was said, and after we had finished presenting our case, they retired to consider anew their decision. They remained away until they had themselves carefully reviewed the case, and then came back and stated that, according to the plain letter of the law, no publication offensive to any party in the state could be circulated by the canvassers. But this would not exclude the sale of the literature through the book-shops, and any local committee in any district could allow the circulation of these books if they so desired. But we to-day do know that if any of these local committees desire to forbid these two books in their district, they have a perfect right to do so, and have the decision of the highest administrative court in the empire behind them. This is certainly a warning to our people, showing that they should circulate the truth as fast as possible, while they are permitted to do so.
From Berlin we went straight to Breslau, and when we arrived here in the evening, we found Elder Erzberger speaking to a large congregation in the Palace Hotel Hall. In order to hold our evening meetings here, we had to secure three different halls, although we made arrangements for these three months ago. This was necessary because the celebration of the emperor’s birthday took place the twenty-seventh, and the halls were engaged so far ahead on that account. About two hundred and fifty of our people were present, and during the evening lectures as many as five hundred and fifty, and among the strangers were some of the leading people of the city, even pastors being in the congregation. The city of Breslau contains four hundred and fifty-nine thousand people, and it is the leading place in the province of Silesia.
The East German Conference, with about twenty-five workers had no less than two hundred and forty-three additions last year. Elder Schilling is now following up the interest in Breslau, so that the conference, with this new addition to its working force, sends five ordained ministers into the field. Their present membership in eastern Germany is one thousand one hundred and nineteen, and their tithe was nearly twelve thousand dollars for 1905. This conference, also, was able to pay two tithes to the German Union, settle with all its workers, and still have a small surplus in the treasury to begin the new year. If the work continues to grow this year, there will be another conference formed with the beginning of 1907, cutting off two of the provinces now in the East German field. At present the East German Conference contains the four Prussian provinces of Pomerani, Brandenberg, Posen, and Silesia, together with the kingdom of Saxony; population, nearly eighteen million. Four were baptized at this meeting.
Of the five meetings held in Germany this winter, it can truly be said that in attendance and interest each meeting surpassed the preceding one, and the last was the largest of all. The presidents of the various local conferences are now en route to Hamburg, where we have our union committee meeting, January 29 to February 3. We are thankful to God that to-day there are in Germany proper four thousand and sixty members, and that last year eight hundred and fifty-three were added to our ranks in this empire. The tithe was forty-two thousand seven hundred and sixty-five dollars, an average of over ten dollars a member. We surely have every reason to be encouraged that God has so greatly blessed us, in spite of many difficulties.
