The Latin Union Field by Benjamin G. Wilkinson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Jul 28, 1904

The Latin Union Field

By Benjamin G. Wilkinson

DURING the last six weeks we have baptized fifty-six in this field. In the past two months I have been called to make several extensive trips in the field, and I find the work very encouraging.

In Belgium, where Elder Curdy has been working, he has lately baptized five in connection with the church of Jemeppe. He has also been encouraged in evangelical work during the past year in the large city of Charleroi; although no baptisms have yet taken place, yet there is quite an interest in the truth, and some results of this work are expected soon. One quite wealthy lady who was strongly in favor of our work, and has recently died, in her legacy made provision for a chapel to be erected in that place for the Adventists.

We have also baptized our first convert in Paris, in the Seine River, in the city. A number of others are ready for baptism, as they have fully accepted the truth, but circumstances have hindered their going forward in this ordinance.

On one trip to the south, I visited the church in Valence, where we baptized five. On the same journey, I visited Mazamet, where one of our young men, who has lately entered the work, is laboring. A good interest was manifested there; the last evening I spoke, in fact, the two evenings when I held meetings, the hall was crowded, and some were seated in the hallway and on the stairway.

I also made a short visit to Spain, where I baptized three. Some others are quite favorably disposed toward the truth, and among them are two who are much exercised in reference to their receiving baptism. In this place, Brethren Frank and Walter Bond have been working the past year, and they have lately been joined by Brother W. Robinson, of Wales.

In French Switzerland, in Geneva, about twelve have lately been baptized. Here Elder L. P. Tieche, president of the conference, has been laboring. He has been assisted by a young man, Brother J. Rey, who was a student at our Geneva and Paris schools. During the winter, Brother Tieche has also been holding weekly meetings in Lausanne, where six have been baptized.

Among those baptized in Geneva was a young lady who accepted the message in Noyon, as a result of the labors of Brother D. Lecoultre and Sister Perrin. Eleven were baptized in Vevey, by Brother Tieche. At the close of our Lausanne meeting last year, Sister Bourquin was sent to Vevey as a Bible worker, where she prepared the way for the meetings, so that when she was joined later by Brother Augsbourger, this interest was more fully developed, and as a result, a small church of fifteen members was organized.

In Tramelan, Brother Provin, a Bible worker, has been laboring since last February, and as a result of his work, eight persons were baptized by the elder of the church, and added to this church, which is the oldest we have in Europe. Also as a result of the missionary work of the church at Chaux-de-fonds, and of visits paid to that church, three have been baptized and added to its list.

After an absence of fifteen months, I went to Rome to see how the workers there were prospering. Brother Conradi met me there, on his return trip from German East Africa. We found much to encourage us in the work at Rome, and what has been done demonstrates that much can be done. While no baptisms have actually taken place, Brother Everson expects soon to bury with our Lord in this solemn rite the first believers in the third angel's message in this ancient city of renown. While we were there, we had a council respecting the work in Italy, and it was decided that Brother Everson, with an Italian who has recently entered the work, should continue labor in the city, while another young worker from the French field, who made considerable progress in the Italian work at Rome, was designated to open up the work in some of the lesser cities near by.

The new tract on the war in the East, notice of which appeared in the REVIEW AND HERALD some time ago, had a sale of ten thousand copies of the first edition, almost before it came from the press.

It might also be of interest to know that the sales of the publishing house of the Latin Union the past year have amounted to between five and six thousand dollars. The tithes were more than four thousand dollars.

In comparison with the other unions of the European General Conference, it is recognized that the advance in membership in the Latin Union has been most encouraging. Like all other work, the beginning is hard; but the workers are of good courage, and their hopes are high that as the proclamation of the message attains more and yet more adherents, a wider base will promise a larger building.

B. G. WILKINSON.