Riga (Russia) Publishing Branch Closed by J. T. Boettcher

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 4, 1912

Riga (Russia) Publishing Branch Closed

By J. T. Boettcher

A FEW days ago, while attending the annual meeting of the Siberian Union committee in Saratow, I received a telegram stating that, by a decision of the senate in St. Petersburg, our publishing branch in Riga was ordered closed. I had intended going on to Trans-Caucasia, but was obliged to return to Riga at once. Here I learned that the police had come with orders from the governor that an invoice be made of all our stock on hand. They returned for the same the next day, and the papers had to be signed by all our employees and returned to the governor; and they are held responsible that not another book shall leave the office.

This is a great blow to our work in Russia, and at present we do not know what the outcome will be. It was hard enough before to go out and sell our literature without the permission of the authorities. Those who did go had their books taken away from them more than once. It was hard to get people to engage in a work where they knew they were in danger every day that they went out, but it will be worse now. However, we believe the Lord will show us a way out. We take courage in looking at God's dealings with his people in times past. When the children of Israel were standing before the Red Sea, they did not know what to do, only to go forward. We can not believe that the Lord would have suffered our house here to be closed if he did not have something better for us.

To-morrow I expect to have an audience with the governor; he may give us time to dispose of our publications, and then we shall have to work through other channels. We are living in very trying times, and we hope all our people will pray for us.

J. T. BOETTCHER.