General Meeting of the German Workers of the United States
By George A. Irwin
At the General Conference held in the city of Washington in the spring of 1904, a department was created known as the Foreign Department, and a committee of five persons was chosen to stand at the head of this department. The object of the department, and the work of this committee, was to more thoroughly unify and systematize and enlarge our work among the foreign-speaking people in the United States. As a beginning to this work, a superintendent was appointed, under pay of the General Conference, to have charge of the work among the Danes and Norwegians, and a superintendent to have charge of the work among the Swedes. Two persons were appointed to have the oversight of the German work, one located in the East and one located in the West, the Mississippi River being the dividing line between the divisions. Much good has resulted from this arrangement. Perhaps no one thing has done more to strengthen and encourage the work and workers in the Scandinavian languages than the institute held last winter for the ministers and workers. In this meeting brethren were brought together from different parts of the field, many of whom had never seen their superintendent before, nor many of their fellow laborers. After spending ten days together, seeking the Lord in prayer and studying the Bible, and in considering the needs of their work and the best methods for its advancement, their hearts were knit together in the bonds of Christian love and fellowship, and all left for their respective fields with greater determination to press the battle to the gates. Seeing the good results from this meeting, the German brethren have decided to hold a similar meeting for the German workers in the United States. This meeting will be held in Chicago, November 29 to December 9. The place selected is centrally located between the East and the West, and it is hoped that there will be a large attendance of our German ministers and workers at this meeting. There are thousands upon thousands of German-speaking people scattered over the United States, and there is a large work to be done in giving these people the message. Hitherto our German workers have never had a general meeting to get thoroughly acquainted with one another and with the needs of the work in the different parts of this country. Such a meeting as this, if well attended and properly conducted, will certainly mean much to the German work in the United States. It will mark a new era in its history. Our German brethren have been very loyal to the third angel’s message, and have given liberally of their means to advance the work both in the home land and in foreign fields. And hence, I bespeak for this gathering the same interest upon the part of the presidents of the various local conferences that they have manifested in the Scandinavian meetings. It will certainly be to the interest of the work in the different local conferences for their officers to encourage German laborers within their borders to attend this meeting, and I would suggest that, where necessary, financial assistance be rendered. We must do everything we can to push forward the work among the different nationalities that God has seen fit to send to our shores. This message is to go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, and it will therefore be the part of wisdom to encourage the work among the foreign people in the United States, where it will require less expenditure of means than it will to send missionaries abroad. All these people have friends living in the Old World, and as rapidly as they are brought into the truth in this land, they become just that many more agencies in spreading the message. In addition to the Bible studies and general instruction given from day to day during the progress of this meeting, time will be given for a general study of the field, and for the discussion of suggested plans for a more rapid extension of our work among the German people both in the United States and in the fatherland. Either Elder Evans or the writer will be present during a portion of the meeting to render whatever assistance lies in his power. I trust that all our German workers will make especial effort to be present at this meeting, and that the Holy Spirit, the great teacher of righteousness and representative of the One who is mighty in counsel, may be present in a large measure to give intelligent direction to all that may be said or done. GEO. A. IRWIN,
Chairman Foreign Committee.