A New Conference in Europe
By L. R. Conradi
WE are thankful to God that the work in Europe is onward. Our membership is constantly increasing, and this increase in membership, laborers, and means, enables us to further subdivide our large and populous field, so that each division may receive better attention, and become more fully developed. It is now five years since the German empire, which to-day has a population of sixty million, was organized into one immense conference. In 1901 the East German Conference was organized, and southern Germany was formed into a mission; in 1902 the South German mission was changed into the South German Conference; in the beginning of 1903 the Rhenish Prussian Conference was cut out of the territory of the West German Conference, and now, near the close of the year, the Prussian Conference, composed of East and West Prussia, with a population of three and a half millions, has been organized into the Prussian Conference. The territory of this newly organized conference includes about one sixth of the German empire in Europe. It is situated in the northeastern part, pretty well surrounded by Russia on the one side, and the Baltic Sea on the other. Thus it was quite unhandy for the brethren to attend the annual meetings of the East German Conference, and the field was not so carefully looked after as it should have been. The first annual meeting of this local field was held at Koenigsberg, its largest city, with two hundred thousand inhabitants, December 16-20. About one hundred and twenty of our brethren and sisters were present, giving us a good representation in the twenty churches and companies in the conference. We had a nice hall in the center of the place; it held about three hundred persons, and was crowded from night to night. The evening collections, averaging five dollars, nearly covered the hall rent. All the brethren present took a deep interest in learning everything they could as to the duties which would fall upon them as a newly organized conference. While the tithe thus far paid by the four hundred and fifty members in this field is the lowest we receive in Germany, averaging not more than four dollars per capita, yet they were willing to promise the same assistance to the union treasury as is rendered by our four northern German conferences—to pay two tithes. God has testified his approval of this system, as the eastern conference was able to turn over to the newly organized field five hundred dollars of its capital, which will assist in making up the probable deficit that will need to be covered the first few months of its existence. The only ordained minister in this field is Elder G. Ohlander, unanimously chosen the president. He is assisted by one licentiate and four Bible workers. As these divisions are made from time to time, we see plainer than ever that one of our great needs is ordained men who can bear responsibilities. What might not be done, had we more help! In the Prussian Conference there are fifteen canvassers and one general agent, who are doing a good work. We are operating in the German, Polish, and Livonian languages. We are giving special attention to strengthening our publishing work. A deep interest was manifested in the East African Mission, which has just been started, and the collection for that purpose amounted to eleven dollars; the Sabbath-school offerings were the same. As the week of prayer was so near, we did not feel that it would be best to make any special call for means. Two new companies were received into the conference at this time, and thirteen persons were baptized. En route to the conference, I stopped a day in Berlin, where we have under consideration the lease of a lot near the middle of the city, on which we may erect a chapel. On my return to Hamburg, I again spent a little time in the capital city, counseling and assisting Brother Teschner, a nurse from Friedensau, who was en route to Jerusalem, Palestine, to connect with our institution there. He will assist in filling a place recently made vacant through sickness. The German union has enough territory of its own to keep busy all the workers it can educate, and yet we are glad to lend a helping hand to other fields, wherever we can.