During the months of September and October, 1903, it was my privilege to visit my friends who live in the German colonies of Russia. I entered several places with very little difficulty, and as we had a district meeting appointed in the colony of Dobrianka on the Volga River, a good representation of our German brethren and friends came from the various colonies. The meeting was a profitable one, and we experienced the truth of the words in the twenty-third psalm. The Lord had indeed prepared a table for his people in the presence of their enemies; for nearly all our meetings were held without disturbance. On several occasions the enemies of the truth objected to our laboring in public, but the Lord so opened the way for us that we could speak freely.
I will mention one instance which shows how the Lord sometimes works15for his people. On arriving at a colony, my friend, who was an elder of the Lutheran church of that place, asked me to hold several public meetings. This I consented to do with the greatest pleasure. Many were invited. The pastor of the place, on learning of my presence, at once objected, and sent word to my host, the elder, not to allow any meetings of this sort, stating that if we persisted in continuing these gatherings, he would stop us by the police. I then concluded to speak to the gentleman myself. He received me in a friendly manner, and at once explained his situation, excusing himself for taking such a strong stand against us. He said that our teachings would only tend to confuse his communicants, and that after my departure he would have a very difficult task in restoring order. I assured him that I had come to present to the people the straight truth, which brings liberty and freedom to all who accept it, and that he should trust the result to the Lord. He then told me that he did not consider the Sabbath question of sufficient importance to make it a point of controversy and division. I told him that it is not the day only, but it is a matter of obedience to the Lord. I then had a long talk with him concerning the present truth, and our work as a people, and concluded with saying that I took him to be too much of a Christian and lover of religious liberty to interrupt our meetings. He smiled, and after thinking a little while, said, “I will not hinder your meeting to-night, on one condition, if you will also invite me to be present; I will thus take the responsibility of the meeting upon myself.” I at once took him at his word, and said, “I not only invite you to come to our meeting, but I expect you to feel at liberty to occupy some time in speaking to the people.” He gladly accepted the invitation. “Only,” he added, “promise me that you will say nothing on the Sabbath question.” I replied: “You, as a minister, know as well as do I that Paul says, ‘Quench not the Spirit,’ therefore, if the Spirit of the Lord impresses me to present that part of the truth to-night, neither you nor I would have a right to act contrary to the Spirit of God. I will, however,” I continued, “promise you to preach the straight gospel, and nothing but the gospel, even according to the statement of Luther, who said, ‘He who preaches the gospel without first presenting the holy law of God, does not preach the gospel right.’ On the other hand, he who preaches the law only, commits the same error. First preach the law of God in all its power and clearness, so that the sinner may be aroused by the thunders from Mt. Sinai, and see his lost condition, and then bring him to Calvary, that he may behold his Saviour in the beautiful story of the cross.”
We then found our way to the place of meeting, where a large company had gathered to await the results of the day. The meeting was given into my hands, and the free Spirit of the Lord came so near that we all felt his blessing and presence. At the close of the meeting our good friend, the Lutheran pastor, declared that he himself felt very thankful for the meeting, and he heartily wished that the Lord would unite the hearts of all Christian believers, and further assured our brethren that he would not hinder them hereafter.
A RUSSIAN HOME
In this and in other ways the Lord is wonderfully opening the doors for his work, even here in Russia. The people are rapidly being prepared by the Spirit of the Lord; but where are the workers? One thing is sure, our German American brethren can do a great deal for the work here among the Germans in Russia. If they come here to visit their friends, and at the same time spread the message, they will find thousands of ready listeners, and the police will not interfere with their work so readily, as they are only visitors, and their friends stand by them.
May the Lord bless our brethren in Russia, and bless the great Russian empire so that this precious truth may be known throughout all its bounds.
