OUR SITUATION AND PROSPECTS.
By John Nevins Andrews
We have cause to render thanks to God for his gracious assistance. Hitherto the Lord has helped us. We have had to labor under very great disadvantages of which our brethren in America can have no adequate idea. God has suffered our faith and patience to be severely tested, but he has never suffered us to be overwhelmed. We began to publish under circumstances that made the work in every respect very difficult and very laborious; but our circumstances are changed so that the labor to issue our French paper and tracts is greatly diminished. We have nearly four hundred subscribers, the most of whom take an interest in the paper. We have nineteen French tracts; viz., The Millennium, The Second Advent, The Two Thrones, or Exposition of Daniel Second, The Judgment, The Sanctuary, What Day Do You Keep? and Why? Exposition of Matt. 24, The Sabbath of the Bible, The First Message, The Second Message, The Third Message, Perpetuity of the Ten Commandments, The Sufferings of Christ, The Two Laws, The Law and the Gospel, The Sabbath in Prophecy, The Present Truth, The Spirit of Prophecy, and God's Memorial. We have also in German, The Sabbath by Elihu, The Millennium, and The Two Laws. These have been printed in editions of 5000 copies, except two, which were printed in editions of 10,000 each. An inventory recently taken shows that we now have on hand, at wholesale prices, 2500 francs in value more than all the money that has been invested in our publishing work in Bâle. We have practiced rigid economy, and have made great efforts to guard against errors and losses. To publish a paper like LES SIGNES DES TEMPS, we are absolutely obliged to live in a city. If we had a press of our own, we could set up an office in some small village; but if we have others do our work, we are obliged to choose some city where a suitable press can be found. Whenever our American press is established in Europe, it will then be very easy for us to set up our office in any village that may be most desirable. Bro. Bourdeau has now returned to Switzerland, and I am nearly ready to join him in public labor. Our work is now in such a condition that we can keep up the paper and the publication of tracts, and yet it will be possible for me to be with him half of the time. We shall probably select as our fields of labor those villages where our paper has been taken. I think we have reason to hope for success. And now I must speak of the German work. Bro. Ertzenberger cannot make headway in new fields unless he can have tracts. He has to meet powerful antagonists, who use the press against him, and thus destroy the interest after he has raised it to the point where many seem ready to decide for the truth. I am satisfied that it is a duty to print tracts in the German language. I should be glad if they could be first used in a German paper, as they would then come cheaper. But I know not when it will be in the providence of God that our paper shall be printed in German. I hope, however, that the time is at hand; but purpose to get out several German tracts at once. And now I must also speak of the Italian work. Bro. Ribton is putting forth a very earnest effort in the city of Naples. He feels the need of tracts in the Italian language. He has already translated several of the best tracts, and is very desirous to print them for immediate use. He is a competent as well as conscientious translator, and understands the three things which every translator should understand, viz., the subject itself, the language out of which he translates it, and that into which he translates it. I feel an interest for the work in Italy that is very intense. Certainly God has planted his truth in that country in a manner that shows his desire that it should be there preached. We must sustain and advance the work in Italy. I have been struggling hard in connection with our publishing work in French to master the German and Italian languages. God has helped, and some progress has been made. We have a choice and valuable assortment of publications. These are well adapted to the wants of the people to whom the truth is preached. We have not sunk nor squandered the money that has been sent here for the publishing work. We have now in valuable publications, not only the full value of the money, but nearly 3000 francs in excess of all. We have a considerable number of interested readers of our journal. Some have been converted. There is an opening for the preaching of the word of God in several places where the paper is taken. Many who have read our paper are convinced of the truth. And now with God's blessing I hope to give much of my time to public labor with Bro. Bourdeau. It was never my intention and never my wish to shut myself up to the work of printing our paper and the tracts; but, contrary to my own purpose and my own choice, I have found myself obliged to put forth my utmost effort to sustain this branch of the work, and to guard against serious errors and losses. It has been to me a school in which I hope that some lessons have been learned that will be of profit to the cause of God. I have perfect confidence that God is here to help. My heart is full of courage. This is his work, and he will sustain it. All my interest is in it, and I wish to spend and be spent for Him who gave himself for me. We heard of the sickness of Bro. White with very great pain. He may be sure that we pray for him. May his strength be given back to him by the Spirit of God, and may we still share his wise counsel and his faithful oversight. 58 Mullerweg, Bâle, Suisse, Oct. 17.