BALE, SWITZERLAND by John Nevins Andrews

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 3, 1880

BALE, SWITZERLAND.

By John Nevins Andrews

Our tract and missionary work at Bale is carried forward with constant activity. We have learned several important lessons. 1. We have ascertained that our paper is much more valuable for general distribution than tracts; that is, for introducing the truth. The tracts are wanted to follow it up. 2. We have found how to send out our paper without having it returned unread, and to make it efficient in obtaining subscribers. 3. We have thus learned how to make known to the public our doctrine and our work, notwithstanding the hostility of the pastors and of the journals. It may seem a small matter to learn these facts, but the lesson has cost us much time and effort and patience. In time past we have sent out our journal to many new addresses, but in most cases it would be immediately returned to us. We have now adopted the plan of sending a letter of introduction with the first number sent to each address, and with the fourth number an invitation to the receiver to subscribe for the journal. These letters have seemed to make a very favorable impression upon the people, and we have received very interesting responses, even from persons who had received only our first paper and letter.

Comparatively few papers have been returned to us. On receiving the letter with our fourth number many have written expressing their interest in our journal and commending the excellence of the articles which it contained. Some have expressed a desire to continue to receive it, but have said they were not able, at the present time, to pay for it. Even those who have directly declined to subscribe, have, for the most part, spoken in praise of the numbers which they have received. A considerable number have responded by sending us the money for a year or more. Our success has been the more surprising to us because we have sent out for the first three numbers only old papers, and have only sent a new paper for the fourth number.

The greater part of our papers have been sent to Switzerland and France, but many have also been sent to the following countries: Italy, Austria, Hungary, Prussia, Saxony, Alsace, Belgium, Holland, Wales, England, Scotland, Sweden, Russia, Sicily, Hindostan, Egypt, Isle of Mauritius, Spain, Bermuda, Canada, United States, Costa Rica, Chili, and Brazil.

One thing has greatly encouraged us. Money has come in from many sources from which we did not expect it, sufficient to pay the heavy expense of postage without taking anything from the missionary treasury. One person who received our paper saw in it a request that addresses should be sent to us, and though it was an old number, he complied with the request and sent us a list of addresses, and said that he would be glad to help us in any way in his power. We wrote to thank him for the addresses sent, and he responded by sending us a second list of seventy-five names, and said he would distribute our papers with pleasure.

A lady in Berne having received one of our old papers wrote immediately to say that she wished the whole set from the beginning, and to know what would be the expense. The secretary of an important religious society in one of the principal cities of Switzerland, who had received a few numbers of our journal, wrote to express his deep interest in the subjects presented and to request us to continue to send it, sending us what money he could spare at the time. We have received some very interesting letters from France and several subscribers. We also have some very good letters from citizens of Bale.

Nearly all the time since I returned from America I have had to struggle with consumptive difficulties. During Mary’s sickness it was necessary that I should care for her day and night, because she so earnestly requested that I should do it rather than any one else. Dr. Kellogg gave me warning that I should certainly take her disease. I knew the danger, but could not do otherwise than I did. Since coming to Europe I have been constantly struggling with the same forms of disease that were manifested in her, and I get over the difficulty in one form only to have it renewed in another. At present I am troubled with extreme congestion of the brain, attended with considerable cough. If I can get over this difficulty, I hope that my health will greatly improve.

Last fall when I went out to labor in Switzerland, I resolved never again to mention ill health in any report, and hoped, with God’s blessing upon my earnest effort, to so do his work that I should be able to keep this resolution. But I have been compelled to desist from active labor in the field, and it is due to the brethren that I should state the facts. The question in my case is, whether I can overcome the tendency to consumption or whether that shall overcome me. In many respects my condition seems changed for the better: but now comes the new difficulty, which causes great prostration. I intend, if the providence of God shall make it possible, to join Bro. Loughborough and labor with him during the tent season. It is very difficult for me to leave Switzerland, but I think it is duty to make this change in view of the general interests of the cause in Europe.

In my last report I mentioned the fact that Bro. Ertzenberger had commenced labor in the canton of St. Gall. He met with some success. Two persons have commenced to keep the Sabbath, and others became interested; but violent persecution broke out against him. He was compelled to walk five miles through the rain to appear before a judge; but when the judge had examined his case, he gave him an honorable dismissal and showed him much respect. His enemies being thus baffled, a little after midnight made a violent assault upon the house where he lodged, and broke open the doors to seize him. He attempted to escape by a window, but one of the party was watching for him, and knocked him down and kicked him with much violence, so that he bled much from the mouth. Bro. E. thought it best to refrain from further effort in that canton for the present, as it brought bitter persecution upon the few friends who reside there. Those who made this brutal attack upon Bro. Ertzenberger supposed him to be the teacher of some very dangerous doctrine. If our paper could have been extensively distributed through the canton before the visit of Bro. E., public sentiment would have held these wicked men in check.

While writing this report, a letter comes from a lady in Germany who has received a few numbers of our paper, and who speaks in high terms of the doctrines it inculcates. She wishes it sent to a friend, and promises to send the pay for it immediately. While writing this paragraph we receive two letters from Paris; one contains a subscription for our paper, with the money; the other comes from a gentleman who says that he is pleased with our journal, but cannot subscribe for it. He says his partner is very much interested to read it, and he wishes that from time to time we would send it to him. J. N. ANDREWS.