The Novo Hamburgo Conference by F. M. Spies; John Lipke

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 14, 1909

The Novo Hamburgo Conference

By F. M. Spies; John Lipke

The last of the series of Brazilian conferences, the Rio Grande do Sul conference, which was held February 23-28 at Novo Hamburgo, has just closed. Hamburgo is a town with about three thousand inhabitants, mostly Germans. It is near the Catholic center of this state, and about twenty-two miles distant from the capital. It is surrounded by quite a number of German colonies. Unusually heavy rains weeks before our meeting had filled rivers and made the roads bad. Therefore we did not expect a large number of our brethren. But we were happily surprised to see more than one hundred ten at our meeting. Some had come by rail, others on horseback and in farm wagons and ox carts. Some brethren traveled about four days; they had to overcome many difficulties. During the early part of the meeting the weather was not very favorable, but during the last days it was excellent.

The evening meetings were well attended by people from Novo Hamburgo and vicinity. It is estimated that at one evening meeting four hundred strangers were present. The one lecture on alcohol and tobacco made quite a stir, and many were thankful for the light received on the subjects. There are many interested souls at this place, and we hope they will take their stand on the side of the truth.

For the first time since we have held conferences in Brazil, almost all our people lived in tents made by our brethren here. It was the first real camp-meeting ever held in Brazil. The conference owns a meeting-tent, a dining-tent, and a goodly number of dwelling-tents.

The interest manifested on the part of the brethren was good, and it was certainly a time of rich blessing to all whose hearts were open to receive the good things the Lord had to give. Inasmuch as about one third of those present were Brazilians, meetings were held in both the German and Portuguese languages, or in case the entire conference was addressed by one speaker, his talk was translated into the other language.

All the business of the conference was transacted with the greatest harmony. In accordance with the recommendation of the South American Union Conference Committee, the president, Elder John Lipke, was released by the conference, in order that he might engage in the educational and young people's work, while Elder Waldemar Ehlers was elected as his successor.

Financially the conference had not been as prosperous during the year 1908 as during former years. In various places of the conference locusts and droughts have caused the crops to be almost an entire failure. But the prospects for the present year are good. Still for the last two years the conference had a surplus tithe of nine hundred dollars, and of this they voted six hundred dollars to the South American Union Conference.

The brethren here took a deep interest in the institute to be held for workers in Sao Paulo, and decided to send a number of their promising young men to attend the course of instruction. The meeting-tent remained to follow up the interest. We hope that as a result of the effort there may be a good harvest of souls.

F. M. SPIES, JOHN LIPKE.