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The Latin Union Field

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 2, 1907

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 84, No. 18.

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The Latin Union Field

By Louis Richard Conradi

L. R. CONRADI
OUR Latin Union Committee had its annual session at Gland, Switzerland, February 13-16. We were glad to have with us Elder Dexter, superintendent of the French Mission; Elder Tieche, president of the Roman-Swiss Conference; Elder Curdy, director of the French-Belgium Mission; and Dr. De Forest, Brethren J. Roberts, and J. Vuilleumier, together with the leading brethren of the Roman-Swiss Conference Committee—in all about twelve brethren.
As we reviewed the growth of the Latin Union field for 1906, all felt grateful for what the Lord had done, considering the difficulties under which our workers have been laboring.
The Roman-Swiss Conference had, during 1906, forty-eight additions. Of their nine evangelical workers, only two are ordained ministers, and one of these has had to give considerable time to school and editorial work. The tithe was $1,500 less than during the previous year, but in reality it showed a gain of $500 over 1905, as that year $2,000 had been given by one sister as extra tithe. Their other gifts have also risen. Small as the Roman-Swiss Conference is, it pays two tithes to the Latin Union, toward missionary operations in the union mission fields, and it supports the editor and teacher; and still that conference had a slight surplus when it closed its accounts for 1906. What this field lacks is more bright, promising young help, to go forth and extend the message. Now, for the first time since its separation from German Switzerland, the Roman-Swiss Conference has a membership of over five hundred.
France proper has also had quite a prosperous year. There were thirty-eight additions, and the membership rose to two hundred and two. Their tithe and offerings also show an increase, and Elder Dexter is of good courage in the work. The growth is not simply confined to the southern part of the country, but we are thankful that God has blessed the efforts of Brother Augsbourger in Paris, so that quite a good, solid company is growing up in that great city. We have thirteen evangelical workers, and five canvassers in the field.
As for Spain, we can also see God's hand in the progress of the work there. Last year there were eight additions in that country. Our membership arose from six to eighteen. There are now the two Brethren Bond and three canvassers at work there. We have a good start in Barcelona, and are beginning at Valencia. Their tithe and offerings show a gain.
As for Portugal, that mission had its first baptism last year, and no less than six were baptized by Elder Schwantes, so that, including the increase in membership made by the arrival of Elder Schwantes' family, the number of believers in the Portuguese field arose from two at the beginning to eleven at the end of the year. Their tithes and offerings also materially increased. We are located in Oporto and in Lisbon. There was one canvasser at work the latter part of the year.
There were two additions to our membership in Italy, bringing their total up to forty. There is a decline in their tithe, but an increase in their offerings. Important changes have taken place here. While Elder Everson is working with several other laborers in Rome, and a school has been opened there, Brethren Fant and Benezet are laboring in Turin and in the Waldensian Valleys. We have five gospel workers in Italy.
In French Belgium there were three baptisms during the year, and their membership was increased to twenty-seven. There is also a nice growth in tithe. Besides Elder Curdy, there is one canvasser there.
In Algeria Brother and Sister Jesperson have been trying to scatter the seeds of truth, and several persons have begun to keep the Sabbath, and expect soon to become members. At the time of the council, the committee thought it might be well for Elder Dexter to visit Algeria soon, to baptize those who are ready for baptism, and to see what further ministerial help should be provided for the field.
If we consider the Latin Union as a whole, during 1906 there were 105 additions in the field, bringing up their membership from 730 to 801, with a tithe of $8,172, or over ten dollars a member. Their offerings amounted to about $1,800. There are now thirteen gospel workers and thirteen canvassers in the field. Their sales have been rather small ($1,775), but several of the canvassers began late in the year, and, aside from the work done in French Switzerland, most of the canvassing will bring in small returns.
Our school at Gland, in charge of Elder Vuilleumier, has had about twelve students; but all these young people went out into the field as nurses, Bible workers, or colporteurs, at the close of their school year. With the development of our work, of course we expect that the school will also grow; but as we receive word from young people in Spain, France, Italy, and Portugal who desire an education, but have not the means to pay their way, we see that there is great need of our securing some way whereby we may help these worthy young people to get such a training as will fit them for the service they can render in the waiting harvest-fields of the world.
Although we are but fairly starting, yet the sanitarium has had the best patronage it ever had, even including its history in Basel. After paying its rent to the Philanthropic Society (which owns the Gland property), the loss of the sanitarium proper was the smallest it ever has been, amounting to about $600. After meeting all the current expenses from the gain of the health food factory, there was still a surplus of about $500. The Philanthropic Society as owners of the property were also able to gain a little over $1,000. While our total investment at Gland is about $95,000, we have been able to bring up our capital to about $38,800, so that we still have quite a task before us in bringing our institutional work there onto the proper financial basis.
As to our publishing work, we are thankful to our brethren for their efforts in behalf of the circulation of our literature. The French paper now has a circulation of about five thousand, and, as we are getting out suitable books, we find that there is also an increase in our book sales. Although the International Tract Society, at Geneva, has a capital of only a little more than five thousand dollars, yet it shows a gain of over $300 last year.
The Latin Union Committee was very harmonious and united in all its actions, and all the brethren feel hopeful for the outlook before them during the coming year. In all the fields a beginning has now been made.
The total expenses of the union and the mission fields for 1906 were about $13,100, $5,650 of which was made up by the income of the union, while the appropriation called for from the States was $7,458. If we remember that this money was to help forward the third angel's message in the missions in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Algeria, France, and Belgium, with a population of nearly 110,000,000, it would seem that surely the help rendered is small in proportion to the number of people who are to be reached. We are thankful that the force of workers is gradually increasing, and that the prospects for the future are brighter than ever before. Let us all remember the Latin Union in our prayers, and by our hearty support.
Hamburg, Germany.