Mission to Prüssia

California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Oakland, Cal. · Apr 15, 1875

Mission to Prüssia.

It is with great pleasure that we give our readers still further report of the Mission to Prussia. Elder Andrews writes from Elberfeld, Prussia, March 7, 1875:—

The time has now come when it is a duty for me to return to Switzerland. I have spent nearly five weeks here in earnest labor with Bro. Ertzenberger, wherever the way has opened. Though the work has taxed our strength severely it has been to us a period of deep and solemn interest. We have not been without many things to try our patience and our courage, yet God has made all thing work for our good, and in the end has every time given us the victory. God has greatly blessed the labors of Bro. Ertzenberger, and made his help very valuable to me.

We have found in these German Sabbath-keepers a class of persons that we feel to respect as upright, worthy, Christian people. Though none of them are very wealthy, all of them are in comfortable circumstances, and some of them possess what may be considered a competence. The keeping of the Sabbath does not bring men to poverty. The seventh day of rest is preceded by six days of industry. The people who have principle to keep the rest-day of the Lord have no disposition to spend their money in dissipation, and so it follows that Sabbath-keepers are not often found in deep poverty, unless, like Lazarus, they are prostrated by disease. We have made the best of our time, holding meetings in public halls and private houses, wherever the way has opened, and we have spent

much time in visiting from house to house. Of course, we have seen faults, and found some errors. But we have found an industrious people; for even the children are taught skilled labor, and we have found neatness everywhere.

The last few days we have devoted wholly to the brethren. There were very many things that I wished to say before returning. We have therefore, for some days past, had just as many meetings as they could attend. The friends who live near Holland came to spend Sabbath and first-day with us, and they have just left for home, our meeting having closed some two hours since. I spoke to them yesterday forenoon, three hours, and I think they did not count the meeting tedious for nearly all were weeping when it closed. It was not an appeal to their sympathies which drew the tears, but a plain faithful testimony concerning their faults.

In the afternoon I spoke two hours, taking up many things. God gave me freedom in speaking and to Bro. Ertzenberger much liberty as he interpreted in German. In this discourse I pointed out some errors in their manner of keeping the Sabbath, as they have hitherto observed it from six in the evening to the same hour again. I set before them the sunset time. Then I spoke on Systematic Benevolence, and some other things. When I had finished they arose almost as one man and said that they were satisfied that what I had spoken was right. They pledged themselves at once to adopt Systematic Benevolence according to the plan set forth. To-day, as we could have but one meeting, I have spoken four hours. I have principally occupied the time with an account of our work in America, and of the manner in which God, by his providence, has led our people. I have given the reasons for our views of Spiritual Gifts from the Bible, and I have spoken also of the sacrifices made by some of the older Sabbath-keepers in the commencement of our work. We have had a very important series of meetings the past two days, and I feel certain that lasting good has been done. I do not approve of such long meetings as I have here reported except upon extraordinary occasions, and then we have the example of Paul in their support.

As the result of our month's labor, this company of about fifty Sabbath-keeping Christians in the German Empire are ready heartily to co-operate in the work which God has given us as a people to do. Since we have been here a few have embraced the Sabbath of the Lord, though our work has not been long enough in one place to accomplish much for those not walking in the truth. I would gladly stay and labor in Germany, but the work is now in that condition that I think Bro. E. can do alone nearly all that we two could do together. I cannot help feeling most intensely. I have the past week received intelligence which I think is authentic concerning two other bodies of Sabbath-keeping Christians. It really seems that God has been at work without the labors of ministers in Europe, raising up poeple to keep his commandments. If God will, I will know of these people before long.

I pray God that his work may prosper in Switzerland. I shall make every effort to this end that is in my power to make. I have no doubt that God will help there in a very special manner. Something must be done very soon to help the friends in Italy. And we must have publications in all these languages. If it were possible to labor without cessation, how gladly would I thus work.

Our German brethren do not believe in bearing arms. One of them was imprisoned at Dusseldorf two years for refusing to serve in the recent war with France. A daughter of one of our brethren was converted at the age of fourteen and felt a strong conviction of duty to be baptized. Her parents thought her too young and told her she must wait. Shortly after this she was attacked with the small-pox and her life was despaired of. Then she felt deep distress that she had not obeyed God, and her anguish was so great that her parents sent for the elder of the church in the night, and having provided a suitable place in the house she was buried with Christ in baptism. The next day she was much better, and her recovery was very rapid.

On arriving in Prussia the first thing is to go to the authorities and present your passport and obtain permission to remain. In fact, unless you do this within twenty-four hours the person who entertains you is liable to a fine. Also, if one is to speak to the Prussian people he must send a note to the proper authorities stating that fact, and they will return the note with their seal affixed which gives the right to speak, and saves you from the violation of the law. But such regulations seem to an American very unreasonable, and they are certainly quite inconvenient.