THE EUROPEAN GENERAL CONFERENCE.
By Guy Dail
Delegates from the various fields in Europe assembled at Friedensau, Germany, to attend the first European General Conference, July 23-26. In connection with the German meeting, which began the 18th, two Union Conferences had been organized,—the German Union Conference, with L. R. Conradi as president, and the Scandinavian Union Conference, with P. A. Hansen as chairman. We have previously spoken of the former in our report of the German meeting. With reference to the latter, we might state that its territory includes the Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish Conferences, and the mission fields of Finland, Iceland, and Greenland; and its Committee will act as a board of council in things pertaining to the general interests of the work in Scandinavia. The European General Conference held its first session at 9 A. M., July 23. It proceeded at once to the business before it. Elder O. A. Olsen was chosen chairman of the meeting. The constitution recommended in the General Conference Bulletin of April 22, 1901, was considered, and adopted, with the following slight modifications:— The Conference Committee will be thirteen, instead of nine; the basis of representation will be one delegate for every three hundred members,—three instead of five hundred, as originally provided,—and a new paragraph was added, stating that the funds of the European General Conference shall be a tenth of the tithes and offerings of the Union fields. There were some recommendations passed that may be of general interest. It was voted to invite the Mission Board to send a man to Rome, Italy, and to support him for a time, until the standard of truth be firmly planted in that great city. Basel, Switzerland, being a German city, has never been the most suitable place for the education of French workers; and now that Latin Europe has been organized into a separate field, it seems fitting that it should have a training-school of its own. As medical instruction will constitute an important part of the training given our workers, and as the medical missionary work in this field ought to be more fully developed, the Mission Board was asked to send a man to Paris, that he might gain a preparation to lead out in the medical work among those speaking the French language. Brother David Ostlund, of Iceland, was present, and spoke in behalf of that interesting mission. For three years he has been laboring there alone, and he greatly desires that some one be sent to assist him. It was decided to ask America to help support a colporteur in that island. The North Russian Mission is unable to support all its laborers, and thus far we have done nothing to properly establish the medical missionary work in Russia; therefore an appeal will be made for the Mission Board to pay the superintendent of the mission in northern Russia, and send and support a medical worker who shall devote his time to disseminating the glorious principles God has revealed to us concerning the care of our bodies. In Prague, Austria, we have a small company of Sabbath-keepers, and it is planned to permanently enter that field this year, and to ask the Mission Board to support one minister in that country. Two nurses have been selected for Palestine, a land in which they will have to receive outside help. In behalf of Sweden there was formulated an earnest call for assistance, to be forwarded to America by the Field Secretary upon his return. It was decided that the headquarters of the European General Conference be London, England, where are located the Secretary and the Treasurer. The European General Conference sustains the same relation to its five Union fields (the Scandinavian, the German, the British, the Latin, and the Oriental) as is sustained to the General Conference by the Union Conference and fields in America. Naturally, it will present to our brethren throughout the whole world, the needs of the cause within its own borders, and it will ever be glad to receive help to forward the gospel message among the millions who know not the saving power of Christ. The European General Conference Committee are L. R. Conradi, Chairman; O. A. Olsen, Secretary; W. C. Sisley, Treasurer; E. Lind, Auditor; E. J. Waggoner; P. A. Hansen; O. A. Johnson; Drs. J. C. Ottosen, A. J. Hoenes, and P. A. De Forest; B. G. Wilkinson; H. F. Schubert; and R. G. Klingbeil. There were four sub-committees or departments organized. Financial Department: L. R. Conradi, O. A. Olsen, W. C. Sisley, E. Lind, P. A. Hansen. Sabbath-school and Educational: O. A. Olsen, B. G. Wilkinson, O. A. Johnson, E. J. Waggoner, H. F. Schubert. Publishing: L. R. Conradi, J. C. Ottosen, E. J. Waggoner, O. A. Olsen, W. C. Sisley. Medical: J. C. Ottosen, W. C. Sisley, A. J. Hoenes, P. A. De Forest, L. R. Conradi. These are a few of the recommendations of the Conference that will be of general interest. As will be observed, this new organization has begun to lay plans for the extension of the work,—plans involving a greater outlay of means than can now be obtained in Europe; but we believe there are those among our people in other parts of the world who will esteem it a privilege to help publish the message in the regions beyond, and that they will remember Europe when they are considering the needs of the world's harvest field. Among those who attended the European General Conference, there was the greatest unanimity of feeling and action. All believed the time had fully come when we should take the steps we have taken. As they saw the work in Europe opening up, they appreciated more than ever the urgent demands for such an organization, and they left the meeting thankful for the privilege of being connected with the reorganization of the European field. We trust we shall ever have the hearty co-operation and sympathy of our brethren and sisters, the world over, and that the God of heaven may visit us with an abundance of His power and wisdom. To this end we shall work and pray.