The Seventh Annual Meeting in the Caucasian Conference
By Guy Dail
TO-DAY the best session this conference ever had has been closed. Sixty delegates from the twenty-three churches and companies of the Caucasian field have been abundantly blessed in their deliberations concerning the well-being of the cause of God in this part of Europe and Asia. From the beginning of the meeting (the conference was held October 16-20), about three hundred of our own people were in attendance. Of these one hundred were native Russians—nearly four times as many as when we visited this place four years ago. The conference was held in the new hall erected by the Alexandrodar Music Society. The Bible studies and the business sessions were conducted in German and Russian. There were no dry or formal business meetings, for the reports rendered and the subject-matter considered in the resolutions were of such a practical nature that all felt a deep concern in what was before the house. It was reported that in one neighborhood as many as fifty Molocaners (a Russian sect numbering thousands, whose motto is, “Love, Unity, Freedom, and Equality”) are keeping the Sabbath, and ask that one of our workers be sent to instruct them. In other places there are inquiries for the message God has given us. Although we have been operating in this part of the country for about twenty years, still there are German colonies that we have as yet not entered, notwithstanding the fact that our chief efforts have been put forth among the German-speaking people. We have also done very little for the cities. It is felt that a change must be inaugurated. This winter it is planned to enter Tiflis, the “Hot Town,” so called because of the sulphur springs near by. This is an important city, with a population of 161,000; it is located at the southern terminus of the great post and military road passing through Dariel Pass from Vladikavkaz. Dr. V. Pampaian will extend the sphere of his influence by entering one or two of the larger towns within easy reach of Erivan, where he is now laboring among the Armenians. Other cities should be opened, as Baku, of 112,000 inhabitants, the most important commercial center on the Caspian Sea. It is in this neighborhood that the more than seven hundred oil-wells are playing such an important rôle in the production of Russian petroleum. Then we should not forget Batum, Poti, Kars, Jekatorinodar, Alexandropol, and Stavropol, some of which have been well-known to history. As to territory, this conference embraces Ciscaucasia and Transcaucasia. It is probable that nowhere else in all the world are there so many different races, speaking such a variety of languages. Indeed, the Persians have dubbed this “the Mountain of Tongues.” Such peoples they are, too—these hardy mountaineers, who resisted the Russian arms for nearly a century. Some say that there are no less than one hundred fifty peoples scattered among the 11,759,600 inhabitants of these regions, and that there are as many as seventy languages represented by them. The Georgians and the Circassians, famed for their personal beauty; the isolated, half-savage Svans, or Svanithians, who, although they number only 14,000, yet, aided by the almost inaccessible glacier-crowned ridges that surround their Upper Inghur Valley, have successfully withstood every attempt Russia has made to collect taxes from them; the hardy Lesghians, “one of the finest races in Caucasia;” the Armenians; the Kurds; the Mingrelians,—these, and many other nationalities are to be found here. Then, too, of course we are not to forget the Russians and the Germans, whose influence will help us to gain access to these various peoples; nor should we omit the Kalmucks, through whose steppes we passed on our way down from Saratof. The Kalmucks have strong Mongolian features. Many of them are large landowners, and wealthy stock-raisers. One of our brethren has been holding Bible readings with an educated Kalmuck, who hears the message gladly, and spreads it among his fellow countrymen wherever he has opportunity. Jan. 1, 1907, the Caucasian Conference transferred about three hundred of its members to the East Russian Mission. During the past three quarters, sixty-three new converts have been received, raising the Caucasian membership to 706; the tithe for this time has been $1,412. Heretofore, some erroneous ideas have been abroad in Caucasia, as to the manner in which the accounts of the workers are audited. Near the close of the business session, a number of the newly elected auditing committee (after they had gone over the time and expenses of the laborers) made a voluntary statement to all the delegates as to just how this work is done—that the ministers and workers do not set their own wage, but that all is determined by the committee, the large majority of whom are composed of lay members not in conference employ. They vouched for the justice of what is done, and earnestly requested all our people to be true to God in bringing the tithes and offerings into his storehouse, especially in view of the great amount of work yet to be accomplished, and the need of more laborers to proclaim this message. The educational problem, the work of the Sabbath-school and tract departments, the care of the poor, the importance of the canvassing work, church order and organization, the circulation of “Ministry of Healing,” and the strengthening of the material fund (toward which they gave $675)—these and kindred topics were thoroughly and conscientiously considered in the resolutions brought before the brethren. Everything was done in brotherly love and a spirit of union, without friction of any kind. The Lord showered down upon us a rich blessing on the Sabbath. Elder L. R. Conradi spoke freely in the forenoon, and the word of God met response on the part of the hearers; both the Russians and the Germans gained new experiences, and received rich blessings from the Lord. The afternoon social meeting was in charge of Elder J. T. Boettcher; and the testimonies given showed great appreciation of the blessings the conference had brought to all. Dr. V. Pampaian and Elder H. K. Loebsack, as well as all the local workers, also rejoiced for the privileges of the meeting. Eleven were baptized Sunday afternoon. Elder H. J. Loebsack was again unanimously chosen president of the Caucasian Conference. He will be assisted the coming year by one ordained minister, three Bible workers, one medical missionary, and three colporteurs. We wish for them all God's Spirit and power, as they have a field that is in many ways truly a difficult one. We believe every Seventh-day Adventist will remember them in prayer, that God may go before them, and open up the way.