Russia by Gerh. Perk.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Apr 18, 1912

Russia

By Gerh. Perk.

SARATOW.—“They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented.” Heb. 11:37. Although some trials have befallen us, and especially our brethren and sisters in the Siberian field, this winter, we have nothing to complain of, since most of what Paul speaks of here has happened to none of us. None of us have been stoned, none of us sawn asunder, none slain with the sword; although some of the brethren have gone about clothed in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, afflicted, in privations, despised for the sake of their faith, and having no abiding-place. Yet we rejoice that our brethren remain steadfast in the Lord, and are not shaken in the faith.

It is true that such trials cut to the quick. And there are always some who sell their birthright for a mess of pottage, who murmur, and long for the flesh-pots of Egypt; and yet they do not profit by it, but only bring grief to soul and body. Here we are commanded to fight valiantly. God knows what he is doing. He lays a burden upon us, but he helps us to bear it. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor. 10:13. And if we are discouraged now, what will we say when Psalm 91 is fulfilled, and a thousand fall at our side, and ten thousand at our right hand?

I can say, to the praise of God, that though poverty is very great in many places, we have received comparatively few requests for help, because our people realize that God's work also is suffering. They long to seek the Lord more earnestly that he may verify his word that he allows no righteous man to beg bread. Ps. 37:25; Isa. 33:16. God is testing us now as he once tried the children of Israel in the wilderness. Now is the time for us to show our courage.

We learn, from a letter from Brother Just, of the Kokbekti church, near the Chinese border, which was organized by Brother J. T. Boettcher about a year and a half ago, of how our brethren are getting on who settled in Siberia. He writes:—

“We were recognized here by the government, and land was allotted to us legally, and we received our proper papers. In the beginning, the authorities were very much on our side. But when we began to talk with our neighbors concerning present truth, their attitude toward us changed, and without much question, they took away our title to our land, the priests having undertaken to get rid of us. Then we complained, and received our claims again. The priests have drawn up petition after petition, and now we must remove from the land. Our missionary work is considered a propaganda, and a few have been brought to court for it. We must now leave our houses without further ceremony, and must go six hundred versts from here, into a wilderness inhabited by wolves; and it seems, by comparing past experiences with the outlook for the future, as if many of us would have to leave the cities and villages. It seems very hard. We had expected great liberty, but have met just the opposite. Yet we will not despair; but we need patience. We will faithfully look after our donations and what belongs to the Lord, because it is his. But there are many things, such as wheat, potatoes, etc., which can not be sold on account of the continuous rains.”

We can see from this what power the Russian clergy can exert when it wishes. It can bring about the exact opposite of that which the czar's manifesto intended. Pharaoh will not let Israel go, and God will have to send punishment until men recognize that the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

The work of the Lord is onward, and in all parts of our field there are souls ready for baptism. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. GERH. PERK.