Winter Conferences in Germany by L. R. CONRADI

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 10, 1910

Winter Conferences in Germany

By L. R. CONRADI

L. R. CONRADI

The rapid pace at which present truth is advancing in the German empire is best seen by the development of its members and means, and the increasing number of its organizations. On going to that country twenty-three years ago, the writer found two little companies of about twenty-five members, which were located in Rhenish Prussia, and were the only ones at that time in the whole German empire. In the winter of 1889, the third company was organized, in Hamburg. In 1898 the first conference was organized; in 1901 the first union conference; and now there are two union conferences, and in Germany alone, twelve conferences. The writer remembers the time when he knew every member, and baptized every new one, and visited every church; but the conferences have increased so rapidly that this winter it was impossible to visit all. In five weeks' time we held nine conferences, and the very cities where these conferences were held show the spread of the work throughout the empire. They were as follows: Insterburg and Breslau in the extreme eastern part of Germany, Stuttgart in the south, Bremen in the north, Elberfeld in the west, and Frankfort-on-the-Main, Frankfort-on-the-Oder, and Halle in the center. There is yet to be held a general meeting in the spring at Berlin.

There are now over 8,000 Sabbath-keepers in Germany, which places the “Cradle of the Reformation” next to the United States in membership. These have paid over $100,000 tithe during the past year, which makes an average of about $12.50 per member. Of this tithe, fully $20,000 was given to fields beyond,—outside of the German empire,—besides over $18,000 in offerings. More than 1,700 members have been received during 1909.

Our first meeting was held in Breslau, Silesia, from January 5 to 9. There was a good outside attendance at the public lectures, and also a full representation of our people.

While Brother Guy Dail and Elder H. F. Schuberth went to Insterburg to attend the meeting of the Prussian Conference, I went to Stuttgart to assist Elder J. H. Schilling in the South German Conference gathering, which was held January 12-16. We were pleased to see all our churches and companies well represented, about four hundred of our people being in attendance. These, with the strangers who came into the meetings, made good audiences. Not less than 267 members have been received into this conference during the past year; its tithe has risen to over $13,000. Its total membership is 1,115, so the time had come, when, according to the decision of the last union conference meeting in Friedensau, this field should be divided. Old Bavaria, with nearly six million people, was organized into a separate conference, its membership being about 335. The South German Conference still retains over 8,000,000 people, and nearly 800 members.

Our readers will remember that only a few years ago, our work in Bavaria was greatly hampered. We were forbidden to have our worship or celebrate the ordinances. But the Lord answered prayer, and finally, after several petitions had been sent to the prince regent, we gained recognition, and were given liberty. Since then quite a sturdy membership has been developed in Bavaria, and there are now good strong churches in the larger cities,—in Munich, Nurnberg, Augsburg, etc.,—and everything promises well for the future of these conferences. With tears of gratitude in their eyes, our brethren in Bavaria told of their former trials, and praised God that the time had now come when they could have their own conference. In view of the weakness of the membership, the South German Conference nobly voted that they would divide equally the remaining capital with them, while on the other hand, the new Bavarian Conference promised to turn over its first and second tithe to the union conference for the work in the mission fields. Elder D. P. Gaede was elected president of the South German Conference, in the place of Elder Schilling; and Elder F. Prieser took the Bavarian Conference.

The business of the conference passed off harmoniously. Our people showed deep interest in the mission work, and listened with the best of attention to the reports which Brother E. Kotz and the writer gave of the progress of the work in Africa. There were good offerings on the Sabbath for missions. Our brethren raised nearly $800 in cash and pledges for the school in Friedensau. They also voted about $500 for the work in Austria and the educational fund. On the Sabbath the Lord came very near to us, and there were many hearty confessions made. Brother Erzberger was present during the meeting, but was laid up with a severe cold.

Our canvassing work is also gaining strength. We still have to pay quite a high license in Bavaria, but the canvassers' reports show that there was about $10,000 worth of books sold in the South German Conference last year.

Several interesting incidents occurred during the meeting. Elder Kotz's speech on Africa was announced in the papers; and at the beginning of his talk, he was approached by a fine gentleman who had read the notice. To Brother Kotz's

great surprise, he recognized in this gentleman the chief officer of the county of that district of German East Africa where our missions are located. He had come home to Stuttgart on a furlough, and when he learned of the meeting, he came with his lady friend. I also had an interesting visit with him. He has visited our stations several times, and invited us all very heartily to call on him in Africa.

Another instance of God's working was this: As we gathered for our dinner in the vegetarian restaurant, I made the acquaintance of one of our stanch brethren from Wurtemberg. His wife was with him, and when I asked her if she was also a sister in the truth, she emphatically declared in the negative, and that she did not want to be. I then told her that my experience had been that those most bitterly hostile to me on account of the truth became my warmest friends after accepting it, and gave a few instances. She became deeply interested during the meetings, and a week later the good brother wrote to us, and, with his heart full of joy, informed us that his wife had yielded.

At this meeting the first company from the little grand duchy of Luxemburg was received, with seven members, several of whom were present. The grand duchy has about 250,000 inhabitants, and does not belong to the German empire. Its inhabitants are nearly all Catholics, but the country is very free. As we could not obtain the hall for Sunday, the sixteenth, I spent that day in Zurich, Switzerland, and spoke to a crowded house on Abyssinia. Next day we had our audit for the German-Swiss Conference, which now has about 527 members, and I was well pleased to learn from the committee that they appreciated their new president, Elder O. E. Reinke. On the seventeenth I spoke to the church at Strassburg. The work is also growing in Alsace-Lorraine, and we have now over 100 members in that province. On the eighteenth I spoke to an attentive audience at Karlsruhe, my birthplace.

From January 19 to 22 we attended the West German Conference in Frankfort-on-the-Main. The West German Conference takes in the provinces of Westphalia and Hesse, and also the grand duchy of Hesse. There was a good representation of our people from the field. During the past year 175 members have been added, of which seventy-six came in during the past quarter. Lately twenty-seven have been baptized in the city itself, and there are now 118 members there. Being so centrally located for the western part of Germany, as well as Austria and Switzerland, Elder Schilling has chosen this place as his headquarters for the West German Union Conference. An excellent spirit prevailed also in this meeting. The people took a deep interest in our mission work. Over $600 was given for Friedensau, and about $500 for the mission in Austria and the educational fund. The meetings were held in a small hall in one of the finest establishments in the town, and were well attended.

Elder H. Fenner was unanimously elected again president of the field. On Sabbath young Brother Erzberger (the son of Elder Erzberger) was ordained to the ministry. The other son of Elder Erzberger is head nurse in the Gland institution. So one son is serving the Lord in the French Conference, and the other in the German. We are glad to notice that our young people are thus dedicating themselves to the work.

Receiving a despatch from Dresden, I spent Sunday there at the Saxon Conference. They held their meeting at Loebtau, a suburb of the city. This conference has now a membership of 503. During the last year 164 were added. Elder W. Prillwitz was chosen as their new president. Our liberty is still restricted there, but we are sure that God will hear the prayers of his people, and ere long will grant us full liberty in this field also.

As we see one strong conference after another being organized in Germany, the finances developing, the work increasing, and note the good attendance at the general meetings, and that many strangers attend, we can but say, “Germany is indeed ripe for the message.”

God has already done great things, but we are sure that if the people and ministry will keep close to him, we shall see still greater things in the near future, and that Germany will once more be a mighty factor in this last reformation. May God grant it! is my earnest prayer.

Hamburg.