NOTES FROM EUROPE by H. P. H.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 11, 1897

NOTES FROM EUROPE.

By H. P. H.

(From our own correspondent.)*

SINCE my return from Turkey in October, I have briefly visited our work in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, and England.

My first stop was at Genoa, where a ship missionary is engaged. Genoa, the birthplace of Columbus, has become an important seaport. Besides large numbers of Italians, many Russians, Poles, etc., migrate from this port, mostly to South America. As far as possible, publications in the various tongues are supplied them.

The next visits in Italy were at Turin, the former capital, and at Torre Pellice, the town situated at the opening to the Waldensian valleys. A church has been gathered from this interesting historic people, and one laborer is still maintained among them. Many publications have been here circulated, and it is believed that many of this people will yet embrace the present truth.

Returning to Switzerland, via the Mount Cenis tunnel and Geneva, I visited our French churches, mostly situated in the Juras. The work here is onward. Where our last camp-meeting was held, a nice church has been established. Before the meeting in August, nothing was here known of the message. A few days were spent at our children's school in the canton of Bern, where some fifty children enjoy the benefits of a Christian home school, situated at the foot of the Juras in a pine and beech grove. The school is doing good work, and is a blessing to many families.

During the latter part of 1896, Switzerland was greatly agitated over the Armenian question. Many meetings were held, and much money collected in behalf of the Armenians. The people became greatly excited over the matter. Taking advantage of the situation, I delivered lectures at several centers in the Juras on the Eastern Question, to show the people the meaning as expressed in prophecy, of the situation in the east. For years it has been the general sentiment in Europe that the integrity of the Ottoman Empire must be maintained; but this sentiment has now largely given place to the feeling that at all hazards the Turks should be severely chastised. This change is but another decided step in advance in the fulfilment of Dan. 11:45 and Rev. 16:12–15.

The early part of December was spent at Basel, at our new sanitarium. Our health work in this field is gaining steadily, and gives promise of becoming a powerful factor in the advancement of Gospel truth. Altho battling with strong prejudice and many errors, our young institution has already made itself known as a true friend of suffering humanity.

A short visit at Hamburg, the center of our work in the German mission, revealed new tokens of the advancement of the message in this field. Altho but seven years old, our work in this field has taken deep root in the majority of the large cities, and has extended to Holland, Poland, Bohemia, Hungary, and Roumania. From about 40 our membership has in this time increased to 1,000. Many books and tracts are being circulated in ten or more languages, and the circulation of the German paper has, some time since, passed the ten thousand mark. Native laborers are being developed to an encouraging extent; and the German mission is fast becoming a center for developing mission work in surrounding nations.

After a brief visit in Holland, where the message has made decided advancement of late, I came to London, where our annual general meeting for Great Britain was held, December 31 to January 6. This gathering was attended by the preachers, Bible workers, and a number of the canvassers. Reports showed that every effort put forth during the past year had been fruitful. For both the Present Truth and books, about 80 canvassers were in the field the past year. The Present Truth is doing a good work, evidence of which is frequently seen in fruit resulting from its circulation. For 1896, the average weekly circulation was 12,856, an increase over the previous year of more than a thousand.

Gradually the truth is taking root in the large cities; new laborers are developing; and with the present working force, the means raised in the field meet running expenses. This is good evidence of the substantial growth of the work in this field. A special feature of the general meeting was the work of Elder Loughborough, who delivered nine discourses on the rise and experience of the Advent people, much to the encouragement of all present. The sentiment prevails in this field that the work is the Lord's, that still greater blessings await our demand and reception, and that the Lord will speedily do a great work in this field, as in all the world. H. P. H.

On the Atlantic, January 14.