The Austrian Mission by Dail Guy

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 27, 1910

The Austrian Mission

By Dail Guy

GUY, DAIL

We have just held the last business session of the third annual meeting of the Austrian Mission. There were about sixty present, and in half an hour one thousand Austrian kroner was raised toward the Austrian educational fund. All the churches and companies of the field were represented. The spirit of liberality and love for the cause has characterized each business session, and made it a real joy to meet with our people here.

Brethren F. Gruber and J. Muth were ordained to the gospel ministry. Brother Gruber is the first native Austrian we have been able to thus set apart for the service of God. It is always our aim to secure native workers in each land we enter just as soon as we can. There are special reasons why we desire this here—for we have been already compelled to witness the government expulsion of several of our foreign workers from Austrian territory. Again, only a citizen of the country has a right to open our public meetings, and then he may call upon the foreign lecturer of the evening to speak. If the speaker uses any unwise words that cause offense, the man who opened the meeting is held responsible.

In connection with the reception of one new company of Bohemian brethren, we were interested to learn what a simple locksmith was able to do, through God's help. The brother has lost one of his eyes, and yet he has so carefully improved his time that through his efforts a new company of believers could be received at this meeting, and several others are awaiting baptism.

Another incident of God's overruling providence came to our notice: Our worker had written a lady desiring baptism as to the time she might expect him, even giving the hour of the arrival of the train at the central station. The husband, who opposed her taking this step, got the letter, and at once determined to prevent the carrying out of his wife's intentions. He secured several police officials, and took them with him to the station, intending to place the worker under arrest. However, as the train was nearing the city, the brother's coworker said: “We had better get out here at this station, and not go to the central station, at the other end of the city, for we shall then have to return to this part of the town, and will arrive too late for our appointment.” After considering the matter carefully, they got off the train before reaching the central station, and so the husband and his policemen missed the worker entirely. The sister, not having the letter, did not meet the brethren, but later went over the border, and was baptized. She has a small fruit and vegetable shop, and says she is running it entirely for the Lord, and her liberality shows this to be true.

Her husband, on finding out that our brother was not angry with him for his attempt to arrest him, is now in the city with his wife, and is attending the evening lectures with her. He asks carefully about the Bible studies and transactions of the day, which are more especially for our own people, and which only our own members are expected to attend, and they must be provided with a card authorizing their presence; for we have closed meeting only by day, while the open lectures for the public are at night.

In spite of many unpleasant experiences, our workers are of good cheer. Sometimes their meetings have been broken up by the rabble, and sometimes forbidden by the authorities. However, those things that are forbidden are often much sought after. So the fact that here the message is not accorded the same privileges in its proclamation as are granted to the so-called orthodox faith, seems only to increase the desire of many to listen. One officer, who really seems troubled in heart, said to our worker that he did not feel free to allow the lectures to continue, for they disturbed the people. The lecturer replied: “O, no, sir, we do not wish to harm the people in any way, only to do them good.” So far, the workers have been able to continue in that place.

In the present territory of the Austrian Mission (all of Austria save Bukowina, Galicia, the eastern part of Austrian Silesia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, that were cut off from the Austrian Mission Jan. 1, 1909), there are about nineteen million two hundred thousand people, and one hundred forty-two members.

During the last year there have been fifty-three additions by baptism and vote. The Austrian tithe averages over ten dollars a member annually. The future outlook is bright, and we hope soon to have more workers.

Up to the present, our labors here have been confined to the German, Czech, and Italian languages. We hope soon to carry on work among the Slovenians. This will add another tongue.

Vienna.