The School in Germany by Otto Lupke

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 17, 1902

The School in Germany

By Otto Lupke

OTTO LUPKE

THE Friedensau school, with the close of this quarter, completes its second year. We have reason to feel thankful for the blessings which we have enjoyed. The year began the first of September, with twenty-one students. This number has increased to forty-two. Just one half of the students have decided to take the Missionary course, the rest the Nurses’ course.

All the students attend the Bible study, history, geography, German, and singing classes. The missionary students are allowed to pursue other branches, according to their ability. At present, English and Russian are taught. The Missionary course may be finished in one year, the Nurses’ course in two years. The nurses have their instruction free, but bind themselves to work for three years after completing their course; while the missionary students may go out to work before the end of the second year, but are then expected to pay the amount of their tuition. In the course of the present school year three workers went into the field,—one to Berlin, the capital city, one to Holland, and one to former Hungaria,—where they are engaged partly in canvassing and partly in Bible work.

The instruction given has been both theoretical and practical. Our school bears the appearance of a school of practice, as the opportunity is given the students to do active work in the field. Our young people are not permitted, by the law, to earn money by selling our periodicals, as no one under twenty-five years of age receives license to canvass in Germany. It would be altogether impossible for foreigners to receive permission to work, and our students would have to pay from three to six dollars to receive license. But the Lord has made it possible to work with our periodicals in Germany, inasmuch as we present the printed matter to the people without asking a price. At times we have to give away papers, but at other times we receive more for them than the price, and the surplus received goes into the missionary fund.

We go once or twice a week with our Herold der Wahrheit, Gute Gesundheit, and tracts to neighboring towns of from two hundred to one thousand inhabitants, and to larger towns that may easily be reached by the train. We improve our opportunities to speak to people about the present truth, and thus the way is opened to give Bible readings or deliver sermons and lectures at different places. Fruit is already seen as the result of this labor.

Of special advantage do we find our efforts in nursing and treating the suffering. A glad heart and a cheerful spirit, with a willing, helpful hand and a good treatment, have in many cases removed prejudice; for we have no lack of opposition, especially on the part of the clergy, who regard our work as nothing more than an effort to make proselytes for our church.

The influence of these difficulties has reacted upon our young missionary students and upon our school. Through such missionary work character is formed. Although tears may sometimes flow because of rebuffs, rough words, and unkind deeds, yet by lifting the heart to God in prayer, the worker is consoled, the work is pursued, and another door is reached. These struggles make the worker polite, quiet, peaceful, and diligent.

When this course closes in July, we hope to place fifteen young workers in the field, to the honor and glory of our merciful Lord. To him be the praise!