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The Missionary

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 5, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 42.

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The Missionary.

European Council of Seventh-Day Adventist Missions.

THE third session of this Council convened in the new meeting hall at Basel, Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 11 A. M., the chairman, Elder B. L. Whitney, presiding. The following persons were present at the meeting: Elders J. G. Matteson, A. B. Oyen, E. G. Olsen, and Knud Brorsen, and Sisters Oyen and Dohl, from Scandinavia; Elders B. L. Whitney, D. T. Bourdeau, A. C. Bourdeau, J. Ertzenberger, and Brethren Albert Vuilleumier, Ademar Vuilleumier, A. Keller, and A. Roth, from Switzerland and Central Europe; Brother Thos. G. Aslan, from Roumania; Brethren J. Geymet, A. Biglia, V. Guerini, J. D. Malan, and Sister Malan, from Italy; J. B. Conte, J. P. Badant, and A. Aramy, from France; Wm. Fleck, Chas. Kuller, and Hugo Schneppe, from Germany; Elder R. F. Andrews from Ireland; Elders S. H. Lane, M. C. Wilcox, A. A. John, and Brother G. R. Drew, and Sisters S. H. Lane and Jennie Thayer, from England; and E. G. White, W. C. White, and H. W. Kellogg, from America. Besides these, the meetings were attended by the employees of the publishing house, and quite a number of the brethren and sisters of the Swiss Conference.
The following committees were appointed:— On Order of Meetings—W. C. White, R. F. Andrews, S. H. Lane. On Nominations—R. F. Andrews, A. C. Bourdeau, E. G. Olsen. On Resolutions—J. G. Matteson, D. T. Bourdeau, M. C. Wilcox. On Auditing—W. C. White, R. F. Andrews, S. H. Lane, A. C. Bourdeau.
At the close of the meeting, the committees proceeded to their work, which occupied the remainder of the day.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 16.

The Committee on Order of Meetings proposed that something in the line of a Biblical Institute be held in connection with the Council, and in harmony with this suggestion, it was arranged that Elder Matteson should conduct a Bible-class at 9 A. M., and that Elder Lane, assisted by Elders Ertzenberger and Bourdeau, should conduct a Bible-reading at 6:30 P. M., each day of the meeting, which, it was thought, should continue two weeks instead of one, as appointed.
These classes were very interesting and profitable. So great was the desire of all to hear every lesson that the office work was suspended so that the workmen could attend; and several of the German and French brethren who intended to return home after attending two or three meetings, remained till the close. In the Bible-class the subjects of the second coming of Christ, the millennial reign of the saints with Christ, and the return of the Jews, were considered. These subjects were especially appropriate because of the universal prevalence in Europe of the grossest errors on these doctrines. Few of those present had ever enjoyed the privilege of attending such a class before.
The brethren conducting the Bible-readings, translated into German and French those readings that the colporters would wish to use first, and they were given simultaneously in French, German, and English, accompanied by remarks as to how Bible-readings should be conducted. These readings are being printed in leaflets, so that the colporters can use them in conducting readings, and then distribute the leaflets among those who wish them.

REPORTS FROM SCANDINAVIA.

Elder Matteson thinks that Sweden is, at present, the most promising field in Northern Europe. His meetings in Stockholm were largely attended, and fifty persons were converted to the truth. The Stockholm church numbers seventy-one members, and there are ten others keeping the Sabbath, who have not yet joined the church.
At the Conference just held in Sweden, about fifty Sabbath-keepers were present, representing seven churches, with nearly two hundred members. These, with scattered Sabbath-keepers, number two hundred and seventy-nine, a gain of ninety-four since last year. The two colporters and one minister laboring in this Conference the last year, have sold and distributed 426,400 pages of reading matter, obtained 448 subscribers for our papers, and received $585 from book sales and subscriptions.
Elder E. G. Olsen has labored most of the time during the year in Christiania and Drammen. At Drammen a church of twenty-one members has been organized, and in Christiania twenty-eight have joined the church. The colporters and the missionary society in Norway have sold and given away 600,000 pages of tracts and books, and obtained 500 subscribers for our papers.
Elder Brorsen reports that there are in Denmark nine churches, with one hundred and sixty members, besides ninety-eight scattered Sabbath-keepers.
Elder Matteson presented the following summary of the work in the three Scandinavian countries:— Number of ministers, 7; licentiates, 7; colporters, 8; churches, 18; members, 514; whole number of Sabbath-keepers, 698; tithes and donations, $2,163.86; subscribers for periodicals, 1,044; pages of reading matter sold and distributed, 1,041,400; received on sales and subscriptions, $1,033.

REPORTS FROM ENGLAND.

Thursday, Sept. 17, Elder Lane gave an interesting account of his labors in connection with Elder Durland, at Risely. Finding that the renting of halls was very expensive, and quite unsatisfactory, they had purchased a linen tent, 27x50 feet in size, and with it had held meetings eight weeks. As a result, nine persons are keeping the Sabbath, and many others are convicted that it is their duty. Fruit, vegetables, and groceries were freely donated to those conducting the meetings, and the contributions were nearly sufficient to pay all the running expenses.
Elder R. F. Andrews gave an account of labors in northern Ireland. Caste, prejudice, an unwillingness to attend open-air meetings, and meetings in halls, are some of the difficulties to be met with in Ireland. A large number are becoming interested in the truth.
Elder A. A. John reported that he had moved to Wales, with a view of getting the present truth before that people. There are about 1,200,000 people in Wales, of which number about 400,000 are Englishmen, 400,000 understand both English and Welsh, and 400,000 understand only the Welsh. While devoting a little time to the study of the Welsh, he had labored for the English people at a large watering-place. He has found open-air meetings a satisfactory way of getting the truth before the people of England.
Brother Geo. R. Drew has visited 2,216 ships, selling 301,000 pages of books, for which he has received $750. Three colporters have been at work a part of the time. They have visited 2,433 families, distributing tracts, and obtaining subscribers for the Present Truth.
Elder Wilcox has spent most of his time at the office of the Present Truth. This paper has 514 regular subscribers in England and 300 in America; 77,800 copies have been sent to persons whose names were found in directories. The mission has received on the Present Truth $550; on book sales, $400; tithes and donations, $360.

REPORTS FROM CENTRAL EUROPE.

Elder B. L. Whitney spoke of the work in the Swiss Conference and in Basel. The Conference has one ordained minister, 7 licentiates, 10 churches, and 224 members scattered through Switzerland, Germany, Roumania, France, and Italy. There are, besides, 39 Sabbath-keepers in churches not yet connected with the Conference. The tithes paid in during eleven months of the year amount to $1,314.87, besides $264.35 which has been raised in Germany. The missionary society has 113 members. They have distributed 137,039 pages of tracts, and made 9,066 visits. The donations since the reorganization of the society amount to $2,041. The Sabbath-school association has 11 schools, with 251 members.
During the past year the office has printed 61,000 copies of the French paper, 53,200 copies of the German paper, 8,000 of the Italian paper, and 9,000 of the Roumanian paper. The receipts on the French paper amount to $520, and on the German paper, $490. The French paper has 827 paying subscribers; the German, 568; the Roumanian, 172; the Italian, 130. The office publishes 31 different tracts and pamphlets in French, besides a volume of Sister White's writings just issued. In German 14 different tracts are published, and in Italian, 7. The amount received on sales of tracts is $91.67. Colporters have had some success in canvassing for the French and German papers.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 18.

Interesting reports were made by Brother Aslan, of the work in Roumania; by Brother Biglia, of the work in southern Italy; and by Brother Malan, of the Waldensian Valleys. Brother Geymet said that he had sold 22,000 pages of tracts, and given away 8,000 pages. He requests that there be more Italian tracts printed, and an illustrated pamphlet on the prophecies.
Elder Ertzenberger reported his labors in Germany. He says that religious meetings cannot be held there unless notice is given to the authorities beforehand, stating the place and time of the meeting, and the subject to be spoken on. If this is not done, one is liable to be fined.
Elder D. T. Bourdeau reported his labors in Switzerland, Italy, and France; as a result, there are four new churches, with about forty members.
Elder A. C. Bourdeau reported his labors in Roumania, France, and Italy, in which he had baptized fifty-seven persons.
The meetings on the Sabbath were of a very solemn character. The necessity of a living faith in God, and of an earnest love for those for whom Christ died, were the themes dwelt upon.
The business meetings of Sunday and Monday were occupied with a discussion of the various methods of labor, and the question whether tents can be used to advantage in the various countries of Europe. Many interesting facts were presented, showing that there was ground to believe that tents could be used in Sweden, Germany, France, and Italy. In some of these countries where the laws were the most oppressive a few years ago, they are now the most lenient. At the close of the discussion, it was voted to recommend: (1) That a second tent be purchased for use in England the coming season; (2) That a tent be obtained in time for use the coming season in Sweden; (3) That the Swiss Conference purchase two tents, one for the German and one for the French work; (4) That we request the General Conference to furnish a tent for use in Italy.
The circulation of our papers was then discussed, and it was recommended that appropriate illustrations be obtained, and used in each of them.