BEFORE speaking of the meeting proper, we will consider the territory embraced in the South German field. It includes the states of Bavaria, Wurttemberg, Baden, Alsace-Lorraine, Luxemburg, Hohenzollern, and of Hessia, the provinces of Starkenburg and Rhenish Hessen. It contains over fifty thousand square miles, or is about the size of Alabama, while its population is fourteen17million, or more than nine times that of Alabama.
The meeting was appointed to be held in Carlsruhe, Dec. 31, 1902, to Jan. 4, 1903. Carlsruhe means “Charles’ Rest.” The city was founded by Charles William, margrave of Baden, who erected a hunting seat here in 1715. It is stated that its unique, fan-shaped appearance is due to a dream which Charles had, wherein he was shown that he should build a city whose streets should radiate from his castle, as the rays of light emanate from the sun; the result is very pleasing, for no matter on which of the thirty-two streets of the inner city one may be walking, he can always see the palace. Behind this large building lies a nicely arranged park, with beautifully laid out gardens and walks and drives,—a perfect haunt for the lover of nature, as one may enjoy a quiet and a peace here that are not to be found in the midst of every large city. Carlsruhe has a population of about one hundred thousand, the larger number of whom are Protestants.
A VIEW OF CARLSRUHE
It was on New Year’s eve, while the world was drinking its wines and making merry, that about one hundred of the believers in southern Germany met in the neat but unassuming hall, temporarily secured for this occasion, and listened to the opening sermon, by Elder Conradi. He also occupied the time of the three succeeding evenings, dwelling largely on the signs of the times, as presented in the prophetic word. Although the outside attendance was not very large, yet it was quite constant, and a deep interest was manifested. The meeting was pre-eminently for our own people, of whom there was a good delegation. Elders Erzenberger and Schuberth were blessed in their efforts to awaken the people to greater earnestness.
In 1899 there were one hundred and fifty-five members in the South German field. The report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1902, shows that we have a membership of two hundred and fifty-six, seventy-two of whom were added during the year, and churches or companies in Darmstadt, Heilbronn, Kaiserslautern, Carlsruhe, Mannheim, Munchen, Neustadt, Nurnberg, Pfullingen, Strassburg, Stuttgart, and Worms. Their annual tithe was $3,256.32; Sabbath-school donations were $266.85; First-day offerings, $31.92; and the week of prayer collection was $58. With the money in hand, the auditing committee was able to pay the workers.
On New-year’s day the first business session was held, and one of the initiatory steps was to organize the South German Mission into the South German Conference, making the fifth conference in the German union. The officers are as follows: President, C. W. Weber; Secretary, R. Schillinger; Treasurer, B. Severin; Secretary of Sabbath-school and Missionary department, K. Laubhan; Canvassing Agent, A. Kolhosser. Conference Committee: C. W. Weber, O. Lindenmeier, H. G. Baumann, A. Kolhosser, and H. Zercher. At the same time a committee of fifteen was chosen from the floor, to take charge of the routine work of the conference.
A missionary spirit was manifested in the various sessions of the meeting. The subject of the proposed German East African Mission was considered at some length, and our debt to the heathen was forcibly brought home to us by the Spirit of God. Although this is a young and struggling field, with but few laborers and a small income and a large and undeveloped home territory, yet the twenty-five delegates representing the South German churches were heartily seconded by the entire congregation in voting to augment their First-day offerings, and to dedicate them to the German East African Mission the coming year, and besides that, about one hundred dollars (three fourths in cash and one fourth in pledges) was raised toward this worthy enterprise during the meeting.
Owing to the lack of laborers, our people here had not received so much light on the principles of health reform, as had those in the older conferences. Elder Schuberth’s lecture on that subject was listened to with marked interest, and the questions that followed indicated that this is a live issue with the friends of the cause in Southern Germany. That they might more emphatically show their love for this branch of the message, they voted to do all in their power to adopt the right principles of living, and seek to circulate our health literature more widely.
Our educational work is coming into greater prominence. No field can be successful without its quota of properly educated native laborers: this is true not only of heathen lands, but also of civilized countries. The crusade with “Christ’s Object Lessons” will continue to enlist the energies of the South German Conference, until there shall have been sold within its territory an average of five copies per capita, and the brethren and sisters are determined to raise their proportion of the means for the Material Fund, and to choose and encourage suitable young persons to attend the Friedensau Training School, where they may be better prepared for missionary work. The conference also voted to take steps toward securing a tent for summer tent meetings.
The present working force is composed of two ministers, four licentiates, five missionary licentiates, and twelve colporteurs.
Five candidates were baptized at the meeting, and they will unite with the Carlsruhe church.
As in every field, so here, there were perplexing questions to deal with; but we believe that God’s Spirit was present in aiding to solve the knotty problems that came up for consideration, and expect to see more rapid advancement than ever, in the future. To this end, we would ask those who are anxious for the work to close up in triumph, to remember the cause of God in this newly organized conference. GUY DAIL.
