p. 7 | Notes on the Friedensau Council

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 31, 1911

Notes on the Friedensau Council

By William Ambrose Spicer

In addition to the regular report of the biennial council in Europe, we may give a few miscellaneous notes further, which are sure to be of interest to those who watch the onward progress of the message.

Twenty Years

To be in the great gathering of believers—numbering about three thousand—representing well-organized conferences spread over Europe, and to see the evidences of sturdy strength in our work in the land of the German Reformation, one could scarcely realize that all this had grown up within a score of years; that just twenty years ago the first little mission was organized in Germany.

In the opening meeting of the council, reference was made to a report printed in the REVIEW of June 27, 1893, in which Elder L. R. Conradi wrote:—

It was exactly two years ago [in 1891, twenty years ago] that the German mission was organized and presented at your last General Conference. So thus while South Africa appeals to you as the youngest child of the sisterhood of conferences and expects your tender care, we as one of the newest mission fields call for your tenderest care. It seems strange that the great cradle of the Reformation, whence the great truth of justification by faith spread with lightning speed all over the world centuries ago, should have been so far behind in this last great movement; but while the providences of God are at times mysterious, we know they are for the best; and we are glad and thank God that while we are so far behind in time, yet we are, with the help of God, catching up a little in rapidity of growth.

Seventeen years ago the light of the Sabbath was kindled again in central Germany from God’s ever-burning lamp of truth, and some forty embraced it and came in harmony with us when Elders Andrews and Erzenberger visited them; yet not until 1889 was the work taken up here. The two small churches but few miles apart, had increased to five in 1891 [when the German Mission was organized], and now we have seven, one being on the border of Denmark, in the north, while another is in the extreme south, on the very border of Bulgaria, and the membership has increased from forty in 1889 to 220 at the present date, doubling itself during the last eighteen months. Besides we have about thirty scattered Sabbath-keepers, making 250 in all. About half our membership, 106, is in the city of Hamburg-Altona.

Twenty years have swiftly passed,—years of steady preaching of the third

angel’s message, by voice and literature,—and now in the two German union conferences is a body of about twelve thousand earnest believers, reaching forward to push the work into every unentered region. In that report of twenty years ago, plea was made in behalf of the peoples beyond the borders of Germany. Elder Conradi wrote:—

It is not only the sixty-five millions of Germans in these countries we are pleading for, but the millions of Hungarians, Bohemians, Poles, etc., under German rule and accessible through the German language as in no other way. Yes and more than two thirds of all the Jews in the world are in these countries, and all of them, be it in Holland, Bohemia, Poland, Hungary, or the farthest end of Russia, speak the German jargon and read it. Then there are the German colonies in Africa and Australasia, and the Russian empire, extending its influence clear across Asia, all along China, knocking at the very door of India and reaching into Asia Minor. This is the great field before us.

So twenty years ago, with faith in God, and helped by gifts and a few laborers from America, a little band went into the field; and wondrously the Lord has witnessed by his Spirit to the preaching of the Word.

Difficulties

The way has often been beset with difficulties. In fact, year after year some portions of the field were worked with the laws and the local government seeking to block the way. But the truth of God has won victories all the time, and sooner or later the barred gates have usually given way. And in the last two years, where has the truth made, perhaps, the greatest gains in numbers received, in proportion to the laborers? Where have we grown most rapidly?—In the most difficult field of all, in Russia.

This shows how the power of God is the strength of the third angel’s message.

In a subcommittee meeting one day, at the council, mention was made of difficulties. “Difficulties!” said Elder K. A. Reifschneider, of the Caucasus; “if any one wants to avoid difficulties, he should keep out of Russia. We are accustomed to difficulties, from childhood up.”

But where the need abounds, there divine help much more abounds.

Greetings From Japan

In behalf of our Japanese brethren, Elder T. H. Okohira, of Tokio, sent a message of greeting to the council, which is a greeting to all our brethren. The original, in Japanese characters, is a beautiful document. From the translation we quote:—

Representing the Japanese people who believe in the third angel’s message in the far East, I present to you their hearty salutation, and we send up our earnest prayers to the Heavenly Father, asking that during your council our good Lord may richly bless you all. . . .

Dear brethren, we desire at this opportunity to express our appreciation of what you have done for us, giving us “this gospel of the kingdom,” which “shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

Dear brethren, “of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” O, I thank God for this, and that in his great mercy he has already accepted many souls in this spiritually benighted land!

As a result of your last General Conference, Elder I. H. Evans was sent over as a general man in the great Oriental field, and his frequent visits to this field have been a great encouragement to us in various ways. Also a year ago you spared Elder F. H. De Vinney as our new superintendent. Indeed, we are glad and thankful that you could spare such an experienced man for us; so our work is progressing more and more. We have now three tents which you have sent us. We are thankful for these gifts, and now we are earnestly proclaiming the blessed message day and night to the people. . . .

However, dear brethren, while we have good reason to praise the Lord for what he has done for this field, yet we feel very anxious for the extension of the work. We very much need permanent quarters where we can build up our school, sanitarium, and publishing interests. We have been making some efforts in these lines, but lack of suitable buildings has hindered progress. So we earnestly pray to the Lord, and leave these requests with you and with the Lord, who will direct you by his good Spirit how to act on this appeal. “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, Amen.”

The needs of the growing work in the far East especially call us to hasten on with the $300,000 Fund for the providing of facilities.

What a view we get of the expanding work of God as we review the widespread interests pressing for attention wherever the brethren gather in general council. The Lord is leading us out into all the world, that he may bring us in to give us the inheritance promised.

What we see in the older fields, which were appealing for help twenty years ago, but which now are towers of help and strength to the work, should encourage us to throw resources into the newer and still unworked fields.

W. A. S.