Caucasia, Russia by J. T. Boettcher

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 4, 1912

Caucasia, Russia

By J. T. Boettcher

J. T. BOETTCHER

From Dubno, a city near the border of Austria, I bought a through ticket to Baku, a distance of over two thousand miles. If it were not for the comfortable Russian cars, in which each passenger has a place to lie down, it would be almost impossible to endure the long distances we must frequently travel in Russia.

After traveling nearly a week, I arrived in Chasaw-Jurt, Caucasia, Friday morning. Here I had expected to meet Elder K. A. Reifschneider, who was to accompany me on my trip through his field; but sickness kept him at home, and Brother Schaat arranged to go with me until Brother Reifschneider should recover.

The church at Chasaw-Jurt is composed entirely of Russians. About fifty miles from Chasaw-Jurt we have a church of German Sabbath-keepers, who, on learning that there would be preaching in the German language, came with their teams through mud and slush to attend the meeting. The Lord blessed them; and when we parted, they begged me with tears to go home with them, saying they would gladly travel twice the distance if I would only go. This, however, was impossible.

There were also quite a number of mountain Jews at the meeting. Although the weather was very warm, they wore fur caps indoors and out, nor did they take them off during the services. The ancestry of these Jews dates back to the captivity in Babylon. They did not return with Ezra and Nehemiah to help rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. They live in Caucasia and Persia, differing from the Western Jews in both looks and language, although their religion is the same. They were especially interested in the study of the prophecies.

With thankful hearts for the good meetings we had enjoyed with these faithful Russian brethren, we continued our journey Sunday, reaching Baku the following day, where we were made welcome at the home of Elder A. Osol and wife.

Baku seems to have taken its name from the Persian word badkube (windstorm), on account of the strong northwest winds which are so frequent. I soon had opportunity to experience such a storm. In the morning the sun shone warm and bright, but in a few hours it became cold enough for a fur coat, and the air was so full of dust that one could scarcely see the houses. The wind grew to such a velocity that not only sand but also pebbles flew through the air. People who must venture out are obliged to wear goggles. In the evening the rain came and laid the dust. In spite of such weather, there was a good attendance at the meeting, of Germans, Mohammedans, and Russians. The Lord blessed the word.

Brother Osol began the work in Baku under great difficulties. He was all alone, and had to serve as preacher, organist, sexton, and doorkeeper. Now that he is married, his wife is faithfully helping him in all his missionary work. One young man has decided to go to Friedensau to attend school. Already there is quite a company of Sabbath-keepers here. But there is missionary work enough for five or six workers. What can one minister do in such a city? Still, faithful work, performed in love, can accomplish much.

The city is quite Oriental in appearance. It is surrounded with the naphtha wells which make Baku so renowned. Brother Osol climbed with me, through storm and rain, to the top of a mountain, from which we could see thousands of oil-shaft towers standing so closely together that they almost touch. These shafts are sunk from four hundred fifty to two thousand feet. Through a refining process, the crude naphtha, a thin, greenish fluid, is converted into clear petroleum, and shipped to all parts of Europe and Asia. Nearly all the ships on the Black Sea and on the river Volga, as well as the railroads in Caucasia, use naphtha to fire their engines. Many rich treasures lie hidden deep in the earth, not yet found. If only men would sink their shafts as deep for the everlasting treasures, they would find inexhaustible, living springs.

Not far from Baku are a number of Molokan villages. These people are much interested in the Sabbath truth. We planned for Brother Osol to visit them. Since my return he has done so, and has organized two companies. He writes as follows:—

“I have now been here five days in the mountain, not far from Lake Gokcha. There is a great stir among the Baptists and Molokans. Twice each day I preach to an audience of about four hundred persons, who stand, listening earnestly to the truth. I work from early morning until midnight. Sometimes as many as one hundred fifty men and women prostrate themselves before God, lamenting and confessing their sins, and at times praying or praising God in chorus.”

From Baku we went to the village Prochladnaja, which is really a Kasack-stanize, that is, a settlement of Cossacks. Here we have a flourishing church, with a church building, paid for by the members themselves. The world in general thinks of the Cossack as being very cruel, ready to plunder and torment wherever he gets a chance. But whoever forms an acquaintance with our Cossack brethren gets an entirely different impression of them. It would be hard to find a more tender-hearted people anywhere in the world. One brother said: “As long as I live, I shall work, that my children may be educated for God’s cause. All that I have belongs to God.” He has one daughter in Friedensau, and is planning to send another. The son of another brother is also in Friedensau, and will finish school this summer. These fathers are praying earnestly that their children may become workers among the Cossacks. Already, one brother who has gone out from this stanize is having good success, selling our literature and preaching in other stanizes. Recently, in one village where he was working, he was arrested, had his head shorn, received convict’s clothing, and was left in jail for ten days. He was then set free to await his trial. But this does not discourage him in his efforts. We pray that God may raise up other laborers for this people.

After this, in company with Elder Reifschneider, who had recovered sufficiently to join me, I visited a number of German and Russian churches. Sometimes we had to travel long distances by team over good and bad roads, in all kinds of weather. But when we reached our destination and saw the interest manifested, we felt well repaid for all the hardships. In some of the churches we found active young people’s societies, taking clubs of our papers and doing good work.

My visit in Caucasia convinced me that our people there are willing to press the work to the finish; and though we dare not hold camp-meetings or conference sessions, we are sure that these local meetings have been a source of strength to them.

Baku.