THE SWISS CONFERENCE by J. N. Andrews

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 13, 1881

THE SWISS CONFERENCE.

By J. N. Andrews

Of the seventh annual Conference of Seventh-day Adventists which convened in Tramelan, Nov. 19–21, Eld. J. N. Andrews sends the following report:—

The Lord met with us on this occasion, and we found his assistance in our business. Our brethren seemed disposed to make a strong united effort for the advancement of the cause of God. The prospect seems more favorable for the prosperity of the work in this country than at any former time. A full report was made of the finances of our publishing work; also a report was made of what has been accomplished by sending out our journal during the past year. These reports seemed to encourage the brethren very much, and they will do all in their power to render our mission self-supporting within a short time. I am encouraged to believe that this is possible.

Our printing office occupies two small rooms in our dwelling-house, and we carry on all our work under our own roof. It would be more agreeable to separate the Office of Publication from the house in which we live, but it is less expensive to arrange things as we have them now. We have to take the white paper and the pages of type on a hand-cart the distance of half a mile or more to the press. But we are encouraged in our work by the certain evidence that the truth is taking hold of the people. Some in this city have become interested in the truth, and have almost decided to keep the Sabbath.

We have now for eight months printed three thousand copies of our journal each month, instead of two thousand copies, as formerly. We have needed all of these to use in our work, in connection with the back numbers of our paper which we have on hand. Thus our paper visits five thousand families each month, and is read to a greater or less extent by about twenty-five thousand persons. Up to this date, we have had means to pay the postage on these papers without taking anything from the treasury at Battle Creek. The additional expense for printing the third thousand is simply for press work and white paper. The press work costs $2.40 and the white paper $7.60, in all $10 per month for the extra thousand; but this expense has all been paid by our Swiss friends.

In my report to the General Conference, there is an error which I wish to correct. I said that we were expecting responses from twelve thousand persons to whom we had sent letters and papers. I should have said that twelve thousand papers had been sent out from which we have not yet received responses, but we send four papers and two letters to each person.

I am encouraged to believe that God has heard prayer in my behalf. Some difficulties that were quite serious have never troubled me since the day of prayer, July 24. I have, however, continued to be troubled with feebleness and with difficulty in my lungs. The journey from Southampton to Bâle was very exhausting, and when I had partially recovered from this, the labor of the Conference brought me down again. I am now improving, and have many tokens of God's favor. The weather is mild and agreeable, which is a very great advantage to me in my present circumstances. There are so many indications that the Lord is at work among the people that I feel a strong assurance that he will regard the prayers that have been offered in my behalf, and permit me to live to labor in his cause.

Bale, Dec. 12, 1880.