p. 12 | European Division Council in Budapest

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 18, 1913

European Division Council in Budapest

By Ludwig Richard Conradi

L. R. CONRADI

THE call to attend the fall session of the General Conference Committee in Takoma Park was somewhat unexpected, but when I carefully perused the important questions that were to be considered, I felt clear in accepting the invitation. Though conditions would not permit me to remain throughout the whole council, yet the deliberations were of such a nature that I felt fully paid for the time and expense incurred in attending the meeting. When we consider the fact that the European Division already has over 32,000 members and some 650,000,000 people within its borders, it is very apparent that we must keep in constant touch with the General Conference in order not only to preserve the unity of the work, but also to reap the benefits which are derived from such important deliberations.

Reaching New York October 9, on the “Imperator,” I spoke the same night to the German church, and Sabbath afternoon to about 800 of our people in the Y. M. C. A. building in Brooklyn. In Takoma Park I enjoyed the privilege of addressing quite a large congregation of our people in their new church building, and also of speaking every day to the students of the Seminary. We were so busy until the last moment that the automobile took me down at night direct to the train, and from the train I went to the boat, which sailed within an hour.

I reached Hamburg the evening of the twenty-eighth, and had just time to pick up my documents for our own European Division Committee meeting, which began October 30, in Budapest. I met with the Danube Union Committee here also, as a number of important matters were to be considered before they had their annual meetings throughout their union. As the other brethren of the division committee were engaged in important meetings, we called in only the nearest ones. Brethren Boettcher, Schuberth, Oblaender, Schubert, Huenergardt, Dail, and Hartkop, and the writer were present, and the five days spent together were very busy ones indeed. Quite a number of important decisions were made, while some of the actions taken at the General Conference Committee Council, had to be left over till our spring meeting, when the committee would be more fully represented.

The work in the Russian Empire received our special attention. There was really only one union in the immense European Russian field, with its 150,000,000 people. It was very apparent, however, that we could not profitably continue the work longer with the one general organization. It was accordingly voted that, from Jan. 1, 1914, European Russia be divided into two unions, the East Russian Union and the West Russian Union. Western Russia, with its headquarters at Riga, would take in three conferences and three mission fields, and the East Russian Union would take in three conferences and four mission fields. The Volga and Ural fields, which had hitherto belonged to the Siberian Union Mission but were in European Russia, were joined to the East Russian Union; and the Trans-Caucasian field, which is really in Asiatic territory, was joined to the division conference missions. Elder Reinke, who is located at St. Petersburg, will take charge of the East Russian Union, and Elder Boettcher, for the present, of the West Russian Union.

As Elder G. Perk urged his return to Germany, it was decided that he be transferred to the West German Union, and that the remaining fields of the old Siberian Union Mission be placed under the direct supervision of the division.

As the work is fast developing on the Pacific coast, it was decided that the Amur and coast provinces be separated from the East Siberian Mission, as a separate organization, with Elder Goebel in charge. Several workers were transferred from the Russian field to the Siberian missions.

Another important action was the recommendation to organize Roumania as the first conference in the Balkan field. Further, Elder P. Badaut, who has thus far labored with success in the Algerian Mission, was invited to proceed to Mauritius, where we now have some Sabbath-keepers, with the understanding that after working up the interest there, he proceed to Madagascar, and make that his field of labor. Elder Kotz was put in full charge of the Pare Mission field, German East Africa.

The appropriations for 1914 were carefully considered, and the following list of estimates will give an idea of the European Division field, its needs and its supplies:— Latin Union ....................$ 15,700 Danube Union .................. 13,150 Siberian, Amur, Turkestan, and Trans-Caucasian Missions... 6,800 Russian Unions ................. 5,500 Levant Union Mission .......... 9,000 Persian Mission ............... 1,250 Syrian Mission ................ 3,000 Egyptian Mission .............. 3,000 North African Mission ......... 2,000 Abyssinian Mission ............. 2,200 British East African Mission.. 12,500 Victoria Nyanza Mission........ 16,000 Pare Mission .................. 5,000 Canary Islands Mission......... 1,000 West African Mission........... 11,000 Miscellaneous ................. 700 European Division Conference.. 9,200 Madagascar Mission ........... 1,500 Emergencies ................... 10,500 Total .........................$129,000

Our income for 1914 is estimated as follows:— Mission offerings and gifts....$ 81,000 Surplus tithes of unions ...... 8,000 Surplus of Sustentation Fund... 17,000 First and second tithe of Ger- man unions .................... 23,000 Total .........................$129,000

It will be noticed that the Danube Union, taking in Hungary and some of the Balkan fields, comes in with quite a heavy appropriation for the first time. But up to this time, the East and West German Unions had spent their second tithe in these fields, while now, from Jan. 1, 1914, the East German, West German, and Central European Unions will pay their second tithe, amounting to about $20,000, to the European Division, which amount will more than balance the above appropriation.

Elders Boettcher and Dail are attending the five general meetings in the Danube Union this fall. Then Elder Boettcher will return to Russia and assist there in general meetings. I intend to leave November 9 for Freetown, Sierra Leone, and on my way visit our workers in the Canary Islands. If all goes well, I expect to return by January 1, and immediately enter into a series of conference and union committee meetings, lasting till the end of April.

We are grateful indeed that as far as we can see from our reports, our net increase during the three quarters of 1913 will come up to about 2,700 members, while our gross additions will be about 4,000. Our income is also increasing relatively, but the preparations for war and the uncertain conditions in the Balkan States have seriously affected the financial conditions of Europe. But as we see God's cause enlarging and extending and prospering in spite of the many difficulties, we feel indeed grateful to our blessed Lord, who directs this cause. To him be all the honor and praise.