Report of European General Conference
By Guy Dail
Year Ending Dec. 31, 1902
Some time ago we gave a report of this field for the year ending June 30, 1902; but the reports of all the fields are now in hand, so that we can speak of the year 1902 as a whole. Local reports of independent fields have been given heretofore in these columns, but thus far no general summary for the five union fields (the German, Scandinavian, and British Union Conferences, and the French-Latin and Oriental Union Missions) operating in Europe, Asia Minor, Turkey, and Egypt, and composing the territory of the European General Conference. If we compare the twelve months of 1902 with the twelve months made up of the last half year of 1901 and the first half year of 1902, there is, for the whole field, a fair and encouraging, though not a flattering showing. In some conferences there is a falling off in one or more respects; in others the growth has more than counterbalanced the loss in the less fortunate districts. Taking the general summary, there are five items in the report for the year ending December 31 that show a deficit when compared with the report for the twelve months ending June 30, 1902; there are three less canvassers, and a falling off of $15,477 in the book sales; the First-day offerings are $330.51 less, and the annual offerings have decreased by $517.49. In explanation of the last item, we may add that this is caused by the tardiness of the returns from the week of prayer donations, for, while we have not yet heard from all our fields for the quarter ending March 31, 1903, yet that quarter shows an income from annual offerings of more than $877, which, as the reader will see, more than compensates for the shortage in this respect. The number of Sabbath-schools reporting in December was 321, against 344 for the year closing six months earlier: membership of schools in December, 6,959; whereas it was 6,856 half a year before. To give the complete figures in the instances now under consideration, as shown by the report for the year closing Dec. 31, 1902: canvassers, 323; book sales, $102,651.78; First-day offerings, $828.86; annual offerings, $2,569.96. In the matter of members received, we notice that during the year ending June 30, 1902, 1,029 were baptized, and 236 received by vote, making a total of 1,265; while for the year 1902, taken as a whole, 1,011 were baptized, and 332 were received by vote, making a total of 1,343, so that 78 more were taken into church membership during the latter period than during the former. The membership last June was 7,940; in December, 8,274, showing a net increase of 334 for the last six months of 1902. For the year ending June 30, the tithe was $57,352.72; Sabbath-school donations, $4,036.03; and miscellaneous gifts, $1,105.88. During the year 1902, taken as a whole, the tithe was $59,010.91; Sabbath-school donations, $4,240.96; and miscellaneous gifts, $1,524.32, showing an increase of $1,658.19 in tithe, $204.03 in Sabbath-school donations, and $418.44 in miscellaneous offerings. As to evangelical workers, in December there were 62 ministers, 33 licentiates, 80 missionary licentiates, and 12 other laborers, or a total of 187, as against 59 ministers, 31 licentiates, 79 missionary licentiates, and 3 other workers, or a total of 172, for the year ending June 30, showing an increase of 15 laborers in this entire field during the last six months of 1902. We submit these figures in no boastful spirit, for we feel that there is nothing about them to cause us to feel a sense of glorification. The progress shown ought to have been greater, and the loss exhibited might have been avoided, had each one connected with the Lord's work in Europe done his full duty. However, there is reason for gratitude to God that he has not forsaken us, and that he continues to give us evidences of his keeping and preserving power. We trust that the year 1903 will show more progress in every phase of Christian effort, and that the gospel may go with increased14glory and power, even the power of God, which will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. We thank our brethren in other parts of the world for the interest they are manifesting in the European field, and trust they will continue to think of, and pray for, the work here, and that we may all labor together in love and union until the work is finished, and God's people are gathered home.