Multitudes and Tongues by William Ambrose Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Nov 24, 1904

Multitudes and Tongues

By William Ambrose Spicer

THAT is what our brethren in Europe are dealing with. The delegates at the Friedensau general meeting represented work among twenty-five or thirty languages. Not that many tongues were spoken by delegates present, but more languages were actually spoken on the grounds, probably, than in any meeting Sabbath-keepers have ever held since apostolic days. There was no babel of confusion; for the third angel's message is just the same in every tongue.

And the truth makes the people just the same. There they were, from Iceland to Syria, and from Russia to Britain, delegates and believers gathered in camp, eight hundred strong. It was a stirring sight. The Lord was with us, just as in our best camp-meetings at home. This truth is the power of God, and a precious gift that makes all hearts beat as one in sacrifice and service.

Companies gave us now and then a song service in French, Russian, Holland, Lettish, Hungarian, and one or two other tongues, I think. All thought of it as just a suggestion of that coming day when representatives of every tongue will sing the new song about the throne, all in the one pure language of heaven.

Our brethren are pushing in with the truth among the vast multitudes of Europe. They have five hundred millions in their territory, with its mission fields. And they have seventy ordained ministers leading the forces in. It works out a population of seven millions to each minister. Christ ordained “other seventy also” in addition to the twelve, and as he sent them into little Palestine, he told them to pray the Lord of the harvest to send yet more laborers into his harvest. Depend upon it, the little staff in Europe are praying for laborers as they work.

New converts were with us from further Hungary—children of the old Saxons who migrated to Transylvania four hundred years ago. The Hungarian field now has a paper, and literature is being provided. Already about two hundred and fifty Sabbath-keepers greet us from that field.

In Austria open canvassing is out of the question. The primary problem of the believers there is to know how to give literature away; for even that is against the law. Yet twenty-one new members had joined us during the first half of this year. All sent greetings to the conference, with assurances that they are one with us in love for this truth.

Brethren were present who knew all about the inside of Russian prisons; others could tell of press censorship, and of books being put on prohibited lists. In many parts of Europe curious laws restrict action in this direction and that. But on goes the truth, and the workers are full of courage. One Holland delegate was held back by an interest he could not drop at Antwerp. The night before he sent his greetings by mail, a crowd of a thousand people were gathered about his meeting hall by the opposition of elements fighting the truth, and by the interest aroused in it. These experiences come and go, and amid it all God cares for the workers, and Sabbath-keepers spring up.

In 1901 the European tithe was $47,593. In 1903 it was $68,581, and still it is growing as the believers grow in numbers and in faithfulness. W. A. S.