West German Conference
By H. F. Schuberth
THREE quarters are now in the past since the division of the German Conference into a West and an East German Conference and the establishment of a South German Mission Field. The West German Conference, including the provinces of Schleswig-Holstein, Hannover, Saxony, Westphalia, Hesse-Nassau, Rhenish-Prussia, and the grand duchies Oldenburg, Oberhessen, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and Strelitz, and the duchies of Braunschweig, and the states of Thuringia, having an area of 76,000 English square miles, and a population of 22,597,023, began the first of July, 1901, with a membership of 896. Up to March 31 the increase in membership was 105, making the present membership 1,001. The tithe for the three quarters is 31,321.05 marks, or $7,529.09; from this we gave a second tithe to the German Union Conference, and $500 to the Oriental Mission for the opening of the work among the Abyssinians; besides this we expect to support a worker in Austria, where forty-six millions are waiting for the third angel's message. The Sabbath-school and first-day offerings, amounting to 4,352.32 marks, or $1,046.23, also go to the German Union Conference. Our working forces are six ordained ministers, two licentiates, and fifteen Bible workers. In the three quarters, forty canvassers sold 45,901.62 marks, or $11,034.50, worth of literature. During this time eleven new places have been entered; of these the largest church has been raised up in Cassela, a city of one hundred thousand inhabitants in the center of our field. Here our worker experienced much opposition from the Catholics, who threatened him with a lawsuit on account of talking against the pope. On the other hand, in some places we meet much opposition from the Protestant state church and other denominations. One of them, for instance, was not ashamed to publish the following statement at one of their conferences: “We do not wish anybody anything bad, but we would be glad if they [referring to Seventh-day Adventists] would all die in one day.” At different places the pastors tried to persuade the landlords not to let us have their halls and lodgings. We could mention many instances where the Lord is wonderfully opening the way. One of our young brethren, being obliged to serve in the army, has full freedom to keep the Sabbath — a17privilege never before granted us. We are all of good courage, and grateful to the Lord for his guidance and ever-present help. H. F. SCHUBERTH, President.