Progress of the Work in Central Europe.
At the time of our last report of the work in the Central European Mission, there was being held in Basel a national fête of the various societies of Swiss athletes. Although the fête was to last but four days, preparation had been going forward on the common just in front of our publishing house, for several weeks. Large buildings were erected, and the grounds were laid out and ornamented with great care. Over two thousand athletes and many thousands of spectators from all parts of the country were expected to be present. For some time we had been discussing the advisability of making special efforts to get the truth before the people of Switzerland at these fêtes, which are numerous and popular here, by having our colporters attend them and see what they could do in the way of selling books, and distributing periodicals. And now that one of these great fêtes was brought to our very door, we felt that the time had come for us to see what could be done by distributing reading matter on such occasions. As this was our first effort of the kind, and as it was in Basel, where our work is permanently located, we felt that an especial effort should be made to give a favorable impression with reference to our reading matter and our work. We could not without large expense obtain permission to sell publications on the ground, but the way seemed to be open for the distribution of our papers. We knew that the people who came to this fête would come for pleasure; that many of them would have no interest in religious reading, and that those who were interested in religious subjects, would not be looking for anything of the kind on such an occasion. Therefore it seemed necessary that there be something connected with the paper which would please them at first sight, and secure their attention. If we could put something in the paper which they would wish to keep and carry home, there was greater probability that they would sometime read the articles on present truth, and that the articles would also be read by others who might be more religiously inclined. It was finally decided to take a photograph of the grounds, and have a photo-engraving made, showing the grounds and the buildings of the fête; this picture, printed on the last page of a special edition of our papers, would surely attract attention. Great pains was taken in the preparation of special editions of Les Signes des Temps and Herold der Wahrheit. Thirteen pages were filled with short, pointed articles on the various points of present truth. Two pages were devoted to temperance, and a most striking diagram was given, comparing the annual expenditure for clothing, food, tobacco and liquors, and mission work. The sixteenth page was occupied by the large picture of the grounds, and a brief address to the public, stating the object of the paper. This address stated that while they were giving so much attention to physical culture, we thought it an appropriate occasion to call their attention to the means of spiritual development, and they were invited to give their candid consideration to the subjects contained in the paper. It was a matter of no little difficulty to get the papers printed in time. The decoration of the ground was not completed so that a photograph could be taken until Thursday noon, and the papers must be printed and distributed on Sunday and Monday. Evening after the Sabbath the picture came. Special permission had been obtained of the city authorities to run our press on Sunday, and quite early in the day our brethren began to distribute the papers. At first the people received them with great indifference, and although they were only offered to those whose appearance was most favorable, there were many who refused. Soon, however, they began to realize what they had received, and although the picture of the ground and buildings was rather a poor representation, it served to thoroughly interest them in the paper. As those who received the papers carried them into the great building where thousands were assembled, and communicated to others where and how they had received the papers, the people gathered in crowds about our brethren, and took the papers from them as fast as they came from the press. Two thousand five hundred of the French papers were distributed, and the whole ten thousand edition of Herold der Wahrheit. Ten thousand more of these could have been used if they could have been printed in time. During the fête and afterward there was not one soiled or torn copy of either paper to be found upon the ground; thus twelve thousand five hundred copies of our sixteen-page papers have gone forth with their burden of truth. We know not how many of these will be read, but we have faith that they will accomplish much good. Already we begin to see some fruits of this effort here in Basel, although in planning the enterprise our thoughts rested upon the benefits to be done those who came from other places. Already we see a marked change in the public sentiment toward our people and our work. Several of the secular papers gave very favorable notices of the papers distributed at the fête, and complimented the enterprise of the establishment which printed them. The most influential newspaper in Basel has very unexpectedly to us given a two-column article, accurately describing our building, giving a correct synopsis of the history of the advent movement, and giving quite a fair statement of our doctrines. One gentleman who had received tracts from Brother Aufrance several years ago, after receiving a paper at the fête,663became fully convinced that it was his duty to keep the Sabbath, and now meets regularly with us. A young lady was also convinced, and among many difficulties is striving to obey. Before the fête, a stranger in our Sabbath meetings was seldom seen, but now, hardly a Sabbath passes but what there are two or three in attendance. And some of the young men employed in the office who have begun to hold Bible-readings in the city find more openings than they can fill. We believe that there is an important lesson to be learned from this experience, and that in the many fêtes which are being held in different parts of Switzerland, there is one of the best opportunities to disseminate a knowledge of the truth. When printed in large editions of our papers more reading matter can be furnished for a given sum of money, than in any other form, and it is also in the most acceptable form.