p. 124 | Our Work in Europe by John Nevins Andrews

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Apr 25, 1878

Our Work in Europe.

By John Nevins Andrews

I HAVE need to ask pardon that so long a time has elapsed since my last report; but in my own behalf I will say that it is almost impossible for me to find time to write reports, or even briefly to answer important letters. Before the arrival of our friends from America, I had thought that it might be duty to suspend our publishing work for a time. This would have cut off the greater part of our expense, and would have enabled me to give my time to other labor. But the coming of helpers from America changed all this. Instead of suspending our paper, it was evidently our duty, in the providence of God, to establish an office of our own, and to do our own work except that of the press. We have proceeded to do.

We have taken one of the rooms on the first floor of our hired house for our compositors, and we have thus fitted up our office without additional expense for rent. We added something to our stock of French type, and have bought a quantity of German type, sufficient for the printing of tracts in that language.

We are now getting our tracts in German and Italian, in addition to our work in French. Brother Ribton says that the proof-sheets are freer from errors than if they came from an office in Naples. He says that the compositors deserve great credit. I am much encouraged by this, because it shows that with proper care we can get our Italian publications.

As we have now a good assortment of French tracts, we shall probably cease to print others for the present, and confine our French printing to the paper alone. We shall continue to print German tracts till we have a tolerable assortment of those most necessary. We think to do the same with respect to the Italian. We are making some progress in our work, though it may seem to our friends to be very slow. But the labor necessary in order to get under way in these languages, so that we can print them with tolerable correctness, is immense. It is the more difficult in that it must be performed in the midst of many perplexing cares. But persevering effort will, with the blessing of God, overcome all obstacles in every work the Lord assigns us to do. When we can use the press with facility in these three languages, we have a powerful agency by which to move the people of Europe.

Some time since, Brother Ribton sent me the name of a minister at Bari, on the east coast of Italy, requesting that our paper should be sent to him. This request was complied with, and now Brother R. writes, that this man has embraced the Sabbath. So God is at work upon the hearts of many by means of the publications.

A few weeks since a man who lives in the department of the "High Alps," France, wrote, saying that he had by accident obtained one number of our paper, and that he had read it with much interest. He was especially interested in what it contained concerning the prophecies, and on the subject of baptism. He wished to obtain the back numbers, and that it should be sent to him regularly hereafter. We hope the light will shine among these mountains.

I have received a letter from the pastor of the French church at Brighton, in England, who has received Les Signes from the commencement. He wishes some copies to distribute among his congregation, saying, "If this is really the work of God, it must be that some of my congregation will respond to it." The pastor is himself convinced concerning the Sabbath and baptism, but lacks courage to obey. Perhaps some in his congregation may receive the truth from the numbers we send, and may obey it.

I have again heard something from the Sabbath-keepers in Russia. One of our Swiss subscribers stated to Brother Albert Vuilleumier recently that he lived among these persons in former years. He says that they are a good people, but that they regard some portions of the ceremonial law. This is all that I have from this source. Brother Bertoli, of Naples, has learned that there are Sabbath-keepers at Corinth, in Greece. Brother B. is now preaching the Sabbath and the advent of the Lord to the people in Northern Egypt. We send our paper to quite a number in Egypt, and to several on the island of Malta.

Our friends from America have rendered very important help. Brother Ings has made the stands for the cases of type, and done all the work for which we should have needed a carpenter in fitting up our office, and he has done very much to aid in many ways. Sister Ings has set our German tracts, and also the greater part of what has been set in Italian. Sister Sisley has acted as the foreman of our office.

We have been getting our work so arranged that I need not be here for the future only occasionally. I have used all diligence to get our affairs in such condition that I can do my part of the work while out in the field. We have almost accomplished this. I have not forgotten the counsel of the General Conference Committee with regard to other labor besides that of publishing; but providential circumstances have compelled me hitherto to give my principal attention to the publishing work. I believe that it is now possible for me to make an immediate change, and I have a very great desire to do so.

Brother Ertzenberger has given much time to the careful revision of our tracts that have been printed in German. These revised tracts we are now printing for him as rapidly as we can do the work. We shall soon have a sufficient assortment to meet his most urgent wants, and then we shall cease to print German tracts for the present. Brother Ertzenberger will immediately enter a new field of labor at some distance from our friends where he now is. Under his faithful labors these friends have made much progress in Christian experience, and are well established in the truth. They can now do well without his labors, and he will here after only be with them after considerable intervals. The friends in Germany sustain Brother Ertzenberger wholly, and they have sent 250 francs to aid in the printing of the German tracts.

Brother Ribton is laboring very energetically in Naples. In almost every letter he speaks of additions to the number in that city. Yet his situation is very trying. He has to sustain himself against a very violent opposition from nearly all the Protestant ministers of Naples. He is also exposed to danger from violent men in the streets. One of the recent meetings in his hall of worship was broken up by fire works, which were thrown in and exploded among his hearers. But his labors are unremitting, and God blesses them to the conversion of some. Several of those who have received the truth from him are capable of becoming helpers in the work. The people of Italy seem willing to receive the truth. There are some things which are calculated to make the Sabbath truth easier to be understood by Italians than by most other nations. Thus the only name for the seventh day in Italian is Il Sabato, the Sabbath. With them the day begins and ends at sunset. At that moment the bells ring to mark the commencement of the new day, and then every Catholic lifts his hat, not in honor of God, but of the Virgin Mary.

The severe and dangerous sickness of Sister Bourdeau during the entire winter has greatly crippled the labors of Brother B., and has considerably hindered my own work. Several times it has been supposed that she was dying. I made three long visits at Morges during this time of distress. God has been pleased to hear prayer, and there is now a good prospect that her life will be spared. Brother B. has made great efforts to preach the truth at Morges, but he has had to labor under serious disadvantages. Probably there will be ten or twelve to obey the truth.

Brother Gabert, of Valence, France, has been making some efforts to preach the truth, and has had some success. He has to meet great opposition from the Protestant ministers, and is extremely embarrassed by the laws of France. The laws would permit us freely to preach the Sabbath or the Advent faith, if we could go into the temples of any denomination. Otherwise we are forbidden, except to a few persons who may be invited to a private house. This law gives the existing denomination the power to be very ungenerous and oppressive toward those who would present the law of God, and they gladly take advantage of it.

To show how oppressive are these laws, I will say that when Brother B. and I were in Paris last spring, we called at the office of the American minister to consult him as to what could be done to obtain the privilege of preaching in France. The secretary of Legation stated that

recently a Congregationalist minister who was his personal friend desired, during the period of his sojourn in Paris, to establish prayer-meetings at his own house. He asked the secretary to intercede for him, and the secretary made a personal effort with the French government in behalf of this minister. The answer was, "He can hold such service in any temple which may be opened to him, but not in his own house."

We hope soon to print the first number of an Italian paper. This will probably be published at first as a quarterly; after a time, if God shall prosper our effort, it will be printed monthly. Brother Ribton is already translating matter for this new paper.

A German paper must also be commenced. Probably it will be necessary to adopt the same plan as that proposed for the Italian. We have an immense task before us, but we have the strong arm of God for our support. The truth of God is of such value that no efforts nor sacrifices should be spared by us in its advancement. Our Lord is coming, and then he will reward every man according to his work. Our time for labor is short. We must work while the day lasts; for the night cometh in which none can work.

J. N. ANDREWS.

Bâle, Suisse, March 28, 1878.