Germany by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 4, 1900

Germany

By John Norton Loughborough

The camp-meeting, with annual meetings of the German Conference, was held at Friedensau, Germany, July 5–15. On the 10th and 11th there were also meetings of the officers of the European Union Conference, Elder O. A. Olsen presiding. In these meetings were representatives from England and Scandinavia, and Brother A. G. Daniells, of Australia, was also present.

The camp-ground was a turfed meadow close to tall pines. The sod of grass and moss prevented dust, which is frequently present on camp-grounds. During the meeting about five hundred of our people attended. These were accommodated in the thirty-five tents on the grounds, and in the buildings of the school, sanitarium, and food factory adjoining one side of the camp. There were twelve nationalities represented in our meeting, and it was the largest gathering of Seventh-day Adventists ever held in Europe.

The placing of the school, sanitarium, and food factory here has made a favorable impression in the community. Men of prominence attended the meeting, and wrote articles for the papers, commending the work that is being done, and advising the people to come to the meetings and hear. Hundreds came every afternoon. On the last Sunday the large tent was filled with attentive listeners, at least five hundred of whom were not Seventh-day Adventists. In that section the meetings made a powerful impression in favor of the work, medical and educational, now being conducted at Friedensau. It was a blessed season for our people and for the workers. The business all passed off pleasantly. During this gathering twenty-one persons were baptized, and two brethren were ordained to the gospel ministry. One of these was Brother Rijsdam, of Holland; the other, Brother Hünergardt, of Hungary.

The report of standing showed that there are seventy-nine companies of our people in the German field, and a little over two thousand members. Of these, sixteen companies were gained last year, the net increase of members being about two hundred and fifty. The tithe of the Conference for the year was $15,003; First-day offerings, $308.22; other offerings, $4,192.63; Sabbath-school contributions, $1,254.28, all of which, except twenty-five dollars, was given to mission work. The book sales of the colporteurs and office amounted to $24,480. During the camp-meeting there was pledged to the work in Friedensau one thousand dollars. Of this considerable was paid on the grounds. The second Sabbath of the meeting the Sabbath-school contribution, which amounted to eighty-nine dollars, was given to the Russian field.

There was great freedom in the seasons of social worship. In one meeting I counted seventy persons who rose to their feet at once, waiting an opportunity to speak. In that meeting of ninety minutes about two hundred bore testimony. The workers separated from the camp in good cheer for another year of service for the Master. We could but say, The Lord bless the work in the German field. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.