The First Year of the European General Conference: Statistical Report
By Guy Dail
GUY DAIL
With June 30, 1902, closed the first fiscal year of the European General Conference,—the most important year in the history of our work in this immense and interesting field. Doubtless more progress might have been made had each man more faithfully performed his duty, and still we feel encouraged and hopeful, and are thankful to God that he has so visibly made bare his mighty arm in behalf of his co-laborers, who are seeking to keep aloft the precious torch of truth in these lands.
As our readers are presumably acquainted with the organization of the European General Conference, and its five union fields,—the German Union Conference, the Scandinavian Union Conference, the British Union Conference, the French-Latin Union Mission, and the Oriental Union Mission,—we will not attempt to review the circumstances leading up to, or connected with, the formation of these union fields, but14will content ourselves by giving the facts as they existed June 30, 1902.
The German Union Conference
A VILLAGE IN SCOTLAND
Of the growth of the work in this, the largest of the union fields in Europe, a detailed account appeared in the REVIEW AND HERALD, Dec. 2, 1902. During the year (the reader will bear in mind that all the facts and figures in this article refer to the twelve months closing June 30, 1902) the tithe received in this conference amounted to $25,401.55, the Sabbath-school donations to $2,315.25, the First-day offerings to $426.87, the annual offerings to $1,309.39, and miscellaneous gifts to $122.03. The 203 canvassers sold $38,662.96 worth of books, in the following languages: German, Hollandish, Esthonian, Lettic, Russian, Livonian, Bohemian, Hungarian, Rumanian, and Bulgarian. Among our 150 churches and companies, 750 persons were baptized, and 161 were received by vote, bringing our total membership up to 4,079. There were twenty-five ministers, fourteen licentiates, and thirty-eight Bible workers in the field. Area, 23,271,006 square kilometers; population, 255,364,842.
The Scandinavian Union Conference
This field includes Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, which are organized conferences, and the mission fields of Finland and Iceland (with Greenland). Eighteen ministers, four licentiates, twelve Bible workers, seventy-one churches and companies with a total membership of 2,215; 116 additions by baptism and 44 by vote; $13,733.70 tithe; $806.89 Sabbath-school donations; $312.32 First-day offerings; $578.93 annual offerings; $376.03 general gifts; $32,920.32 book sales by eighty-one canvassers,—such is the summary for this field. Area, 1,382,272 square kilometers; population, 12,506,503.
The British Union Conference
In reality, at the time concerning which we are writing, there was no such thing as a British Union Conference, as that was organized later in the summer. But we can give the data for that entire field: ministers, eight; licentiates, three; Bible workers, thirteen; canvassers, thirty-four; other workers, three; churches, forty; total membership of field, 926 (there are a number of “un-baptized Sabbath-keepers” not reckoned in this statement); baptisms, 105; tithe, $12,287.75; Sabbath-school donations, $239.93; First-day offerings, $232.15; annual offerings, $432.66; book sales, $41,101.87. In this field are England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. Area, 314,667 square kilometers; population, 41,660,000.
French-Latin Union
What is now the French-Latin Union Mission was formerly known as the Central European Conference. This is a great field. It includes the French-Swiss Conference, and the French, the Italian, the Spanish, and the Portuguese missions. The two latter are as yet unentered. Five ministers, six licentiates, nine Bible workers, and eight canvassers make up their working force. The summary is as follows: membership, 531; tithe, $4,753.87; Sabbath-school offerings, $596.55; First-day offerings, $141.12; annual offerings, $640.64; general gifts, $607.82; book sales, $5,443.91; persons baptized, thirty-nine; received by vote, twenty-seven. Area, 2,336,887 square kilometers; population, 104,245,000.
Oriental Mission
Greece and Crete, Turkey, Egypt, Asia Minor, Palestine, and Persia are in this field. They have three ministers, four licentiates, seven Bible workers, twenty-four churches and companies, with a membership of one hundred and eighty-nine; nineteen persons were baptized, and four were received by vote. The tithe amounted to $1,175.85; Sabbath-school gifts to $78.31; First-day offerings to $46.91; annual offerings to $125.83. Area, 7,565,488 square kilometers; population, 56,066,000.
Summary
In the territory of the European General Conference are fifty-nine ministers, thirty-one licentiates, seventy-nine Bible workers, 326 canvassers, 307 churches and companies, 7,940 members,—1,029 were added by baptism, and 236 by vote. The tithe amounted to $57,352.72, Sabbath-school donations to $4,036.93. First-day offerings to $1,159.37, annual offerings to $3,087.45, general gifts to $1,105.88, book sales to $118,129.06.
These figures speak for themselves. They show our need better and more eloquently than anything else could. Consider them, kind reader, and then ask God if you personally owe anything to the millions of Europe and the territory covered by the Oriental Mission, and answer the question as he directs. There is plenty of work for all.
