Editorial Correspondence.
By John Nevins Andrews
FURTHER LABORS IN PRUSSIA.
Since my last report our labors have been constant, and we have experienced much of the blessing of God. We have had meetings in different villages as the way has opened, and in every place have seen some tokens for good. I have also been obliged to devote considerable time to the answering of those letters which have been called out by my advertisements for persons interested in the Sabbath of the Lord. On Thursday last, Bro. Ertzenberger and myself returned to Gladbach, and spent the Sabbath and first-day in that city. On Thursday evening we spoke to the brethren on the best methods of carrying forward the work. On Sabbath evening as our first-day Baptist friends were present, I spoke from Rom. 6, concerning the relation between baptism and the law of God. Sabbath forenoon I spoke upon the Sabbath of the Lord. In the afternoon Bro. Ertzenberger spoke upon the choice which Moses made. In the evening I spoke to the brethren on the subject of advertising to find the scattered Sabbath-keepers of Europe. I told them what had been done in this business, thus far, also that when in London Eld. Jones said to me, that he had heard that there were Sabbath-keepers in Holland. I said to them that as they were on the border of Holland I should invite them to meet the expense of this undertaking, and that I should invite the Elberfeld brethren, who live east of the Rhine, and at a considerable distance from Gladbach to undertake the like burden in behalf of Germany. The Gladbach friends responded at once that they would do this with the greatest pleasure. Our meetings on first-day were held in a public hall, and were advertised in the principal paper of the city. Gladbach is a Roman Catholic city, but it has many candid citizens. In the forenoon we had two hundred hearers, and they were persons of intelligence. We were told that the school teachers of the city were generally present. At noon a gentleman who was an entire stranger came and invited us to speak at eight that evening to the church of which he is a member, in a city about twelve miles distant. As we already had three meetings appointed for the day, it seemed at first not possible. But we could get to the place on the cars after our last meeting in Gladbach, and as the invitation seemed like God’s hand opening our way, I could not find it in my heart to refuse. It seems that here is a church of several hundred persons who have no pastor, but who maintain worship themselves, and who seek to walk in the truth as Bible Christians. Just before the afternoon meeting this gentleman informed us that he had forgotten that at eight that evening his church had the Lord’s supper, which would fill the time till nine. He invited us to come at any other time, and promised us a large congregation. Hereafter, if God will, we will know something further of this people. In the afternoon our congregation was much larger than in the forenoon. We had the school teachers again, several, clergyman, some of the wealthiest people of the city, and very many Catholics. There were no base-looking people present. We had great freedom in speaking, both in the forenoon and in the afternoon. But the meeting in the afternoon was one of deep solemnity. The subject was Acts 17:30, 31. I spoke first of the great day of final account, and the people listened as though the subject was wholly new to them. Then, for the special benefit of the Catholics present, I set forth from the word of God the nature of that repentance which God here commands. I showed that it did not consist in punishing one’s self for sins, and then returning again to the same sins, and again squaring the account with self-inflicted punishment; that men who acted thus retained the love of sin all the time in their hearts, and never stood in a position where God could accept them, and never laid the foundation of a virtuous character, such as God proposes to receive into heaven. I showed them that true repentance begins in godly sorrow for sin, and that it produces an entire change of heart and life, and that this class of persons alone would be able to stand in the Judgment. When the meeting closed a business man, who was present in the meeting of the previous evening the son of Sabbath-keeping parents, but not a Sabbath-keeper, came and asked the privilege of meeting the entire expense of advertising in Holland. He wished it to be done in three different papers. He expressed his interest in what he had heard, and I hope this act signifies that he means to have a part in the work as a commandment-keeper. After we returned to our lodgings a first-day Baptist gentleman and his wife called upon us to say that they had that day decided to keep the Sabbath of the Lord. Also that evening a lady who has never observed the Sabbath only in conformity to her mother’s request, came and desired to be baptized saying that she was fully decided to keep the commandments. The evening service was one of prayer and exhortation. Bro. E. filled the time with profit, but from weariness I did not attend. Next morning we called on several families. At the first place we met a Catholic lady who attended our meetings the previous day, and who is anxiously inquiring the way of truth. She had never read the Bible except such parts as she found in her books of instruction. She said that the people were not allowed to have the Bible. We confirmed this fact by inquiring in vain at the book-stores for Catholic Bibles. This lady has begun to learn that repentance and faith precede baptism, and she is very anxious to walk in the truth. But her priest and her family are violently opposing her. We advised her to call often in the family where we then were, and read the word of God for herself. At the next place where we called we found a lady who belongs to the Protestant national church and who believed herself to be a Christian simply because she was sprinkled when a babe! But she listened attentively while Bro. E. explained to her the way of salvation through faith and repentance, how Satan has cursed the world with institutions which make void the institutions of the Almighty, and which lead men astray from God! From Gladbach we returned on Monday as far as the village of Hilden, where we found the brethren had secured a hall for a course of lectures. It is quite well adapted to our purpose, and will accommodate three hundred persons. It will cost about seven dollars a month. This seems to be a providential opening, and as such we accept it. I have now been in Prussia about one month. Our labor has been constant and wearing, but it has been scattered over quite an extensive territory. This has been caused partly by the fact that our friends are thus scattered, and partly because we could get no hall for steady meetings except at ruinous prices. If God will, I shall set out for Switzerland the first of next week, and leave Bro. Ertzenberger to give the course of lectures at Hilden. The time that remains to me in this region I purpose to spend in giving special instruction to the brethren here in practical matters of vital importance. We have already done much of this kind of work. Bro. Ertzenberger has been a very efficient helper. I have spoken nearly every time thus far, because I expected to leave and he expected to remain. But much of the interest of our meetings has been due to his ability to interpret109into German with readiness, and to the help which he has received from the Spirit of God. The way seems to be open before him to labor successfully in this country and I have great confidence that he will stand in the counsel of God, and that God will bless his labors. I will speak of our finances hereafter. The brethren here will sustain the expenses of the work from this point, and I shall try to have the entire expense of our mission to Germany refunded to the Swiss treasury. I see no lack of disposition on the part of these brethren to do all that is reasonable in their circumstances. Elberfeld, Prussia, March 3, 1875.