Another Word From Europe

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 24, 1914

Another Word From Europe

ANOTHER letter has been received from Elder Conradi, written under date of August 21. As it contains much of interest concerning conditions affecting our work in Europe, it is herewith given to the readers of the REVIEW AND HERALD:—

“Elder W. T. Knox,

“Takoma Park, D. C.

“DEAR BROTHER KNOX: I hope that you received my letter which I wrote from Holland, on my way home, August 3. I have since learned that I took one of the last boats that went over that route. Instead of reaching Hamburg as usual, in eighteen hours, I was forty-two hours on the road. Through the kindness of the officers, I was allowed to use a military train, otherwise I could not have arrived so soon.

“This war means more to our work than any war ever fought. While a few countries in Europe are neutral, yet nearly all are under arms, and all are feeling the financial depression. We are cut off entirely from our missionaries in East Africa, and what their future may be we cannot tell. We are cut off from our men in Persia. Brother Frauchiger writes from Constantinople that he cannot correspond with the men in the interior, as Turkey also is mobilizing. All are under arms in Switzerland. Here for several weeks, only a few very slow trains have been running for passengers, at a speed of about fifteen miles an hour; but now they are putting on fast trains again, still at limited speed. The last two days we have had the three German union presidents with us for a council meeting, to decide how to carry on our work and conduct our finances during this crisis. We are doing everything we can to keep up the courage of our brethren and sisters, to keep them active in the work, and to take care of those who have been thrown out of employment by the war, and of the families whose providers have been called to the front. As our people have been faithful, we realize that now, in the hour of need, they should receive help in every way possible. We are entirely cut off from our brethren in Russia. We must quietly await developments there. I hope that in some way we shall hear from them. On the east German border, about eight or nine towns and villages have been burned by the Cossacks. One of our little meeting halls has been burned, and undoubtedly a number of the homes of our people. As soon as we can get news, we shall have to assist these persons.

“We have made an appeal for special help. We had about $1,500 in a special fund for this purpose, and now we hope that some of us will be able to help with probably five per cent or ten per cent of our wages, and others who have a little money, with some special gifts. We shall do all we can in this direction, but we thought that our brethren in the States ought to know our condition, and should make an appeal for this special necessity.

“There is no need of any one's leaving the field, as far as we know. We all expect to stand by the field where we are to the very last. We are the shepherds of God's people, and as such we have no right to run away if a crisis comes. As matters now stand, the brethren have asked me not to think of going to the States this fall, even if it should be possible, but to stay right here, where questions of the greatest importance are constantly coming up, and where we are in touch with three fourths of our members. We have not had the good REVIEW, nor mail from the States, but undoubtedly after matters have turned into smoother channels again, we shall receive something.

“We have learned from Skodsborg, Denmark, that the moment the war broke out, the number of patients at the sanitarium dwindled down to thirty-five, and they have already dismissed over one hundred of their helpers. Gland has likewise had a steady decline, and Friedensau also. In Gland, they are suffering from a shortage of coal. I am glad that our institutions are in such a condition that we can bear quite a shock just now. Otherwise it would be bad for us. But it will be bad enough as it is, especially if the war is prolonged, and a long financial crisis follows afterward. For weeks all mail service was stopped, and our many canvassers were cut off from all supplies. Even now the mail service is very limited, and we can send only a small number of packages.

“With kindest regards,

“Yours in the work,

“L. R. CONRADI.”