p. 7 | Our European Division Meetings - No. 3

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 16, 1913

Our European Division Meetings — No. 3

By Arthur G. Daniells

At the close of the North England meeting, Elder Conradi hastened away to the Continent to be at the opening of the German-Swiss camp-meeting. On my way I spent a day in Paris, where I met some of our brethren and sisters of that city. Thus far our work has moved slowly in the French capital. In that city of three millions, we have a church of fifty or sixty members, and one minister giving his time to the work.

We have the fullest measure of liberty in France. On all the public buildings throughout the republic are engraved or painted the words, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. Those words look good, especially to an American. And they express the national sentiment. But the infidelity of the nation’s leaders who first proclaimed these lofty sentiments in France has proved a withering curse to the whole nation. This makes evangelistic work difficult everywhere in France.

A night’s ride from Paris brought me to Basel, Switzerland. Here, in this old city so prominently connected with the early history of our work in Europe, I had good reason for indulging in thoughtful reflection. It was this city that our dear Elder J. N. Andrews, our first foreign missionary, chose for his headquarters. He arrived here from America in 1874—thirty-nine years ago. For many years this spot was the center of greatest interest to our people. Here they began a foreign missionary movement that has now become world-wide in its operations. While developing the work at this center, Brother Andrews and his little band of workers were visited by many of our leaders of that time—Sister White and her son W. C. White, Elder G. I. Butler, then president of the General Conference, Elder S. N. Haskell, Elder J. N. Loughborough, and others. From year to year competent helpers were sent to join Brother Andrews in the work. Among these may be mentioned the Brethren Bourdeau, Brother Wm. Ings, Sisters Maud Sisley, Addie Bowen, and Anna Oyen.

Brother Andrews never permanently left Basel, until death ended his labors. A modest tombstone in the city cemetery marks his resting-place. How stupendous his task must have seemed to him! and how small the part of it he saw accomplished! But he obeyed the command to “go.” He did what he could. The seed he planted in Basel sprang up

and has continued to grow until it fills all Europe. What would be his amazement and joy could he awake now and see what God has wrought by the faithful men and women who have taken his place. Some of his successors have also fallen, but the cause has lived on. Close by the side of the marble slab at the head of Brother Andrews’s grave is another bearing the inscription “J. H. Waggoner.” These two workmen, who toiled side by side so ably and pleasantly during the early days of our cause, are quietly resting together until called to their high reward by Him in whose name and for whose sake they labored and fainted not.

Elder B. L. Whitney, who took Brother Andrews’s place, pressed forward with the work until failing health and death brought his labors to an end. Then came Elder H. P. Holser, who for years labored untiringly to extend missionary operations to all parts of Europe. But his health gave way, and he, too, was numbered with the fallen warriors.

By this time the seed had taken good root, and the cause had been permanently established in Europe. When Brother Holser’s health failed, the interests of the Central European Conference, with Basel as headquarters, passed to Elder L. R. Conradi. Since then many changes have taken place. Basel is no longer a center of operations in Europe, except as the headquarters of the German-Swiss Conference. The publishing work has been transferred—the German part to Hamburg and the French part to Gland. The sanitarium has also been moved to Gland. The whole Central European Conference has been broken up and reorganized. Its territory now has many conferences, both local and union. Switzerland itself has two conferences—the German-Swiss in the northern part where the German language is spoken, and the Leman Conference in the southern part where French is spoken.

The German-Swiss camp-meeting was held at Brugg, a small town a few miles east of Basel. Here we met some of the first believers who embraced the third angel’s message in Europe. Among them was Elder J. Ertzenberger, who is still hale and strong physically and rejoicing more than ever in the message. Brother Ertzenberger was the first European Seventh-day Adventist to cross the Atlantic to visit our people in America. It was his visit to Battle Creek, Mich., and his appeal in behalf of a small company of Sabbath-keepers in Switzerland that led to the sending of Elder Andrews to that field in 1874. Brother Ertzenberger has not only remained firm all these years, but has given his children to the work of the Lord. One of his sons now goes to Beirut to devote his life to the missionary work in Syria.

Good reports were rendered by the laborers of the German-Swiss Conference. The cause is making steady progress. Elder O. E. Reinke, the president of this conference, having been called to the presidency of the Russian Union, Elder F. Prieser was chosen president in his place. The membership of the conference is now close to seven hundred, with an annual tithe of about nine thousand dollars, being almost thirteen dollars a member. There are canvassers at work selling about ten thousand dollars’ worth of our message-filled literature each year. Thus the Lord is pressing into his service those who embrace the truth in the fields the world over.

From Brugg we went to Lausanne for the French-Swiss camp-meeting. The camp was located on a fine, elevated piece of ground only a few minutes’ walk from the center of the city. There was a large delegation from the churches, and a very good evening attendance from the city. The brethren and sisters were most enthusiastic in behalf of all that stands for the advancement of the cause and the finishing of the work.

This conference has seven hundred and fifty members. Its annual tithe is close to ten thousand dollars, making a little more than fourteen dollars a member. As the income of our brethren in this part of the field is not so large as in some parts, this indicates faithfulness in tithing.

But were I to tell all regarding the Leman Conference, I should be obliged to point out the small effort they are making to sell our literature in their territory. The report for the quarter ending June 30 of the present year shows only five canvassers in the field, with sales averaging less than one thousand dollars a year. This is a very unfavorable showing by the side of the work being done in the German-Swiss Conference, where both the membership and the tithe are less. Surely our brethren in the Leman Conference cannot let this continue. An earnest effort should be made to place our books and papers in the homes of the people. Conditions are favorable compared with many other parts of Europe. More can and should be done.

Having contracted a severe cold, I found it necessary to spend a few days at the Gland sanitarium. It was a pleasure to be at this inviting institution. It is beautifully located among giant trees on the north shore of Lake Geneva. Directly in front of the building on the opposite shore of the lake towers the snow-capped summit of Mont Blanc. The climate matches the scenery. But the cheerful faces and prompt, efficient service of physician, nurses, and helpers are more pleasing to sick people than the climate and scenery combined. The patronage has outgrown the capacity of the institution, and while I was there the Latin Union Committee adopted general plans submitted by Brother W. C. Sisley for a large addition to the building, and for improving the treatment-rooms and equipment. Dr. P. A. De Forest, who was placed in charge of this institution when it was located in the city of Basel and was little more than city treatment-rooms, is still with it. In all the difficulties and vicissitudes through which it has passed, he has carried its burdens on his heart, regardless of honor, reputation, or remuneration, and now we rejoice with him and his associates in the results of these years of earnest service. To all appearance, the Gland sanitarium has a bright future. May it prove to be a soul-winning as well as a health-restoring factor.

A. G. DANIELLS.