In the Hungarian Field by Guy Dail

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 3, 1910

In the Hungarian Field

By Guy Dail

GUY DAIL

Elder H. F. Schuberth and the writer are waiting for the through train for Vienna after the good four-days' session of the Hungarian Conference held here in Kronstadt (or Brasso) November 18-21. This city, so picturesquely situated at the base of the Transylvania Alps, is said to have been founded by the Teutonic knights in the thirteenth century. It now contains thirty-seven thousand people,—Hungarians, Rumanians, and Saxons (who are the descendants of the Germans brought in to repeople and cultivate the desolated territories of King Geisa II, 1141-1161). It is chiefly of interest to us because it was the home of Johannes Honterus (or John Gross), the “apostle of Transylvania,” under whose leadership the Reformation was established in this country. In front of the “Black Church” there is a monument erected to his honor, bearing a German inscription, which, translated, reads: “He beat a new path for the light of heaven. His spear and shield was the printed Word. 1498-1549.”

THE CHURCH AT SUNDUL. ONE OF OUR STRONGEST CHURCHES IN KOREA

At first it almost seemed as if we were not going to receive government permission for our meeting at all, but the Lord overruled in our favor, so that the one hundred fifty of our German, Hungarian, Rumanian, Servian, and Slovakian brethren who had assembled to enjoy a feast of good things were allowed, unmolested, to attend the business sessions, the Bible studies, the health talks, and the evening lectures. The outside interest was good. That all might understand, there was constant translation from German into Hungarian, Rumanian, and Servian. This confusion of tongues causes one to long for the time when we all shall use the language of the heavenly Canaan, for, interesting though it may be to the stranger to hear such a lot of translation for a while, yet it becomes very tiresome to the congregation if continued any length of time.

PREACHER LE PONG SEUNG AND FAMILY, SUNDUL, KOREA

There was a call for earnest instruction with reference to the blessing of faithfulness in rendering to the Lord his own, for some of our brethren have been a little careless in keeping their account with the bank of heaven balanced.

An advance move is contemplated by the purchase of a tent for our work in the large cities. We have not yet tried holding tent-meetings in this empire, but we trust that the experiment will prove successful. As the work thus far has been done chiefly among the rural population, we all hope that the efforts to be made for the large cities will be crowned with success, though the task is not an easy one, and the workers should be remembered before the throne of grace.

This afternoon was a very solemn occasion, as the ordination of Brethren Todor Peter and Hermann Meyer took place. Brother Todor Peter is the first worker we have ordained for the Servians, among whom his labors have been richly blessed. Brother Meyer, formerly of Switzerland, will labor especially for the Germans. Elder J. Seefried will confine

himself quite largely to the Rumanians. We are expecting efficient help for the Slovakians from America. Most of the workers give considerable time to the Hungarian nationality.

The circulation of our Hungarian, Rumanian, and Servian literature received attention. The request made in our report of the Balkan Mission should be remembered in this connection—to circulate our literature among these foreign nationalities wherever they may be found. The Hungarian paper has a monthly circulation of about one thousand.

Elder J. F. Huenergardt was unanimously re-elected president of the Hungarian Conference. Elders H. F. Schuberth and J. H. Schilling and Dr. E. Meyer assisted the native workers in carrying the burden of the meeting. The report of the past year shows that ninety-one new members have been received, bringing the membership up from four hundred ninety-one, Oct. 1, 1908, to five hundred seventy, twelve months later. The tithe amounted to $2,865. We bespeak for this conference, with its eighteen million inhabitants, and for its president and his fifteen associates, an interest in the sympathy and prayers of God's people all over the world.

Kronstadt, Hungary.