In War-Stricken Europe by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 8, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 35.

In War-Stricken Europe

By Editor

Word from Men in the War Zone When the Clash Came — Conditions That Demand Both Sympathy and Help

Word from Our Board, Washington, D. C.

THE following statement and presentation of conditions in Europe at the outbreak of the war has just reached us from our Board, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. In view of its importance, we present it entire to our readers. — EDITOR.

YOU will be anxious for the first news from Europe. Therefore this Friday morning's mail is passed on to you. First came the following letter from Elder N. Z. Town, who was attending the British Union Conference in London, which opened July 31. He writes:

"Battersea Town Hall, "London, August 2. "Dear Brother Spicer: "These are anxious hours on this side of the water. As you have seen, Germany declared war on Russia last evening. Elder Conradi wired Hamburg two days ago to draw most of their money from the bank. This evening Brother Conradi left for Hamburg. He may have difficulty in getting through. He felt he ought not to stay here during the remaining two days of the meeting. "There are about 2,000 of our workers and members who will have to respond to the call to arms. Nearly every ordained minister in Germany will have to march to the front. As I bade Brother Conradi good-by, he made a special request that we remember the work over here in prayer. "I still hope to sail the sixth on the Celtic from Liverpool. We had about 1,000 of our people here on Sabbath. Raised $1,525 for missions. "N. Z. Town."

By the same mail, the following letter came to the treasury department, from Elder L. R. Conradi:

"En Route England to Flushing, "Holland, August 2. "Dear Brother Knox: "Quick as a flash of lightning, the continent has been involved in the most terrible struggle the world probably has ever witnessed. The outcome no one can foresee. We left Hamburg last Tuesday to attend the British Union Conference in London. Then there were no definite signs. Elders Raft and Tieche and I attended. We have had good meetings up to to-day; but as the war

has definitely broken out, we had to take our chances in getting home. Only Holland is open; and should England be involved, we shall be about entirely cut off. We shall have an experience that we have never really had since our denominational existence, directly involving some 25,000 of our people, and within a few days probably 2,000 of our brethren will be under arms.

"I hope to get back to Hamburg by tonight or to-morrow, and we shall have to organize our European Division work as best we can. Conference presidents, ministers, employees, etc., will be taken within a day or two, and our canvassing, etc., will probably be entirely stopped. Russia is already cut off from us, and will have to finance itself, and we shall be cut off from our colonies and work in Africa. We have supplied those mission fields with funds the last moment, and we shall send you statements; but if the war lasts two or six months, you will have to furnish money for the time being, until normal conditions return.

"All these countries ought to be notified to cut down all possible expenses to the mere outlay of living until this is over. If England keeps out, she can look after some colonies; if not, you will have to help us sustain the missions there. We sent $1,000 due you ere matters became too serious. The parties you will have to look after will be probably Brother B. B. Aldrich, in the Canary Islands; R. S. Greaves, and the workers in Sierra Leone; Elder D. C. Babcock, in Nigeria. M. W. Lewis and family, of the Gold Coast, are now on furlough in the Canary Islands, and he can delay his trip to the coast if England becomes involved. Then there will be A. A. Carscallen and the workers in British East Africa; B. Ohme, and the workers in German Victoria Nyanza; also E. Kotz, and all the workers in the Pare Mission, German East Africa.

"It may be that if Italy keeps out, the routes to East Africa will remain open; but we must prepare for the worst. Skodsborg, Denmark, has sufficient money for their new sanitarium buildings. In Gland, Switzerland, we have not commenced to build the addition. We shall let everything rest, and

cut our expenses down to the mere living. We call off all our meetings, and shall do our best to keep our members alive and doing their duty. We surely need the prayers of God's people, and wisdom to know how to arrange matters best in these trying times. Brother N. Z. Town will bring you the latest news, and I hope he can cross safely.

"Under present conditions, there is little hope of my going to the United States for the October council, or of the Division Conference meeting next July in Europe. Plans for visits to the fields from your side may have to be changed, unless war can be limited to a few European powers, and to a short time. Our boat is so packed we have to sit up. Germans and Austrians had to leave France within a few hours' notice, and leave all behind but what they could carry. Many never got away, and are held up. The United States ambassadors and consuls look after the respective foreigners, Germans in France, and French in Germany, etc. Our hope is in God, who guides the destinies of the world, and who will protect His own, and who will not allow His cause to suffer too terribly in the crucible of affliction. We know that our brethren in America will stand by our missions and brethren who are cut off from our division treasury. Remember us at the throne of grace. "With kindest regards, your brother in Christ, L. R. Conradi."

During the last few days, the probability of having to stand by the European work in a very material way had been considered. It would seem likely that help would have to be given from this side for the work in Spain and Portugal, and in Egypt and Turkey, as well as to the far African missions. Therefore it was felt that special effort should be made to urge our people to liberal contributions in this emergency. All will go into the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund.

It was further voted that word be sent to all the mission stations depending on the General Conference, to husband their resources, to defer plans for new extensions involving extra expenditure, and to defer all building operations not already practically completed, until it is seen how this European war affects other parts of the world. At the same time, our present appropriations provide for very little new work, and all the receipts counted upon normally will be needed even for this restricted program. And if the far East should become involved, living expenses would tremendously increase for all the workers in Asia.

The way in which countries commercially dependent upon Europe are affected, may possibly be suggested by the receipt this morning of a cable message from Elder Pohle, of La Paz, Bolivia, reading: "Distressed. Cable $500." Doubtless it means that expected steamship connections are interrupted, or banking connections cut with the union treasury in Buenos Aires, from which Bolivia should receive its funds.

Now that Europe is at war, we almost forget that at nearer points our workers and brethren are living amidst scenes of war, and looking to us for help. Elder A. F. Prieger, superintendent of our mission in the republic of Haiti, writes from Cape Haitien, under date of July 22: "We just had a fearful battle here in the cape Sunday night, beginning at 2:30 and lasting until 5:00 A. M. No correct estimate can be gathered as to the dead and wounded;

but some 40,000 rounds of ammunition were shot off, and it was indeed a gruesome sight to see the dead bodies in the streets the next morning. The big American gunboats are in the harbor, but they have done nothing to stop the slaughter."

Under date of July 26, Elder Prieger adds a postscript: "Could not write more until now. A brother has just come from Grande Reviere, a town in the interior, where we have a church. It is the first time we have been able to get news from that part. The entire city is pillaged, and many homes burned. The Baptist, Catholic, and Seventh-day Adventist church buildings were pillaged, and every piece of furniture demolished and burned for fuel, including benches and doors and windows. The buildings were used as stables for the horses. Our organ was used to entertain the soldiers. We are just wondering what we can do about it, for our brethren are all very poor. None have a bed, nor so much as a mattress to lie on, and all have passed through a terrible siege. Eleven of the officers who put their horses in our church were shot by the opposing party. Twelve leading citizens of the town were shot, along with two officers of the city and some others. None of our people were killed. One of our faithful colporteurs, Brother Tertullien Mercier, was shot in the foot. When a soldier saw him wounded, he wanted to kill him, when another man stepped between and thus saved his life. We thank the Lord for His protection. We have not heard from other places, and only hope and pray that they did not fare as badly."

We must now appeal as never before to our friends in America for financial assistance. All must rally to the help of the Lord in the crisis in which we find ourselves. God still rules in the affairs of the world; and if we are faithful, and do our part, we may rest assured that even this calamity that has visited Europe will be caused by Him in some way to redound to His glory and to the furtherance of His cause.

The General Conference Committee appeals to every one now to come to the help of the Lord's work in liberal offerings, and urges that definite plans be made at once by each one to avail himself of every opportunity, such as the Harvest Ingathering campaign, to gather largely for the cause of God. The members of the committee feel confident that to this appeal there will be a general rally upon the part of all.

This fund will be known as the Emergency Fund, and will be counted as a part of the regular Twenty-cent-a-week Fund, available for Europe and all the world where it is needed most.

Money designed for this fund may be sent to treasurer Pacific Press Publishing Association, Mountain View, California, who will see that it promptly reaches its desired destination.