The Work in Europe by John Nevins Andrews

California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Oakland, California · Apr 1, 1875

The Work in Europe.

By John Nevins Andrews

ELDER ANDREWS has a very interesting account of his labors in Europe, given in the Review for March 18, 1875, under the heading, The Work in Europe, from which we take the following concerning the results of advertising. He writes from Prussia:—

I will now state the result of advertising in the Journal de Geneve, so far as that result has been reached. My call was addressed to those who observe the seventh day as the Sabbath, or who are interested to examine the subject.

The first response was from a professor of languages in one of the institutions at Geneva. He is a first-day man, and in response to his letter, I addressed him a communication in behalf of the seventh day, and sent him some Sabbath publications.

My second letter was from a gentleman who stated that he was proprietor of an extensive watch factory in Geneva. He also is a first-day man. He wrote me that he finds it difficult to establish the sacredness of the Christian Sabbath in the minds of his workmen, and asked counsel as to the proper course. I responded by showing him that the difficulty lies in the nature of the institution; that if he would return to the Sabbath which God ordained, he would find the authority of God's law to back it up, whereas now he has nothing but a human institution and no greater authority to move the conscience than the authority of man. I sent him also publications on the Sabbath.

My third letter is from a gentleman of Geneva who states that himself and his family are adherents to the seventh-day doctrine, and that he desires to enter into communication with me upon the subject. In signing his name he styles himself "maitre imprimeur," meaning, if I understand the term, foreman of a printing office. I have written this gentleman from this place, but have not yet had time for his reply. But to get knowledge of this seventh-day family in Geneva gives me no little joy.

My fourth letter is from a gentleman, also a resident of Geneva, who thinks "le Dimanche," that is, Sunday, the day to be hallowed, but he wishes publications. I shall write him at once, and send him what publications I can. But alas! my stock is almost exhausted.

My fifth letter is in English, though from the name and the style I am sure that the writer is a Frenchman. He also is a resident of Geneva. The penmanship is very beautiful. I omit the first sentence it is so warmly expressed. The remainder of the letter reads thus:—

"Having just read your appeal inserted in the Journal de Geneve, I hasten to let you know that my wife and myself, are observers of the divine command relative to the seventh-day rest, and desirous to see it fully observed. Therefore, we are quite willing to hear from you any communication on this most important subject. May the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless your gospel mission to Europe.

"Yours respectfully, M. de C."

I have just written to this gentleman concerning our sacred work, and given him quite a full account of the Sabbath-keepers throughout the world. These five letters are all that I have thus far received in response to my advertisement. But two of these letters are from seventh-day families! If it please God, I shall very soon after my return to Neuchatel visit these Geneva friends. These things greatly interest our friends here in Prussia.

The writer gives his experience in holding evening lectures in Hidden, Prussia, in the paragraphs that follow:—

The only hall that could be obtained is a large hall in the second story of a hotel. There is a custom connected with such halls that I did not know. It is in good order to drink beer and to smoke while listening to the speaker. The first intimation that I had of this was when entering the hall I saw that four rows of tables extended the entire length of that large hall, and that the chairs were placed by the side of these tables, and on each table was a match case. A good congregation assembled, very intelligent in appearance, and they were very well dressed. Before our services commenced, a waiter handed about beer, and he renewed this from time to time during the meeting! Moreover, a considerable number smoked during the service! The reader will say, perhaps, that it would have served them right had I turned away and left them. But it was this place or none. Paul says, "Instant in season, out of season." If this was not a good place, it was at least a poor one, and this was better than none at all. But now I will say that these people paid the strictest attention. I could never turn my eye to any part of the hall in which I did not see every eye fixed steadfastly upon me. And when prayer was offered by Bro. Ertzenberger at the commencement and at the close, every person stood up and remained motionless. We had a very solemn meeting, and God gave great freedom in speaking.

The meeting next evening was at a private house. Here the smokers came again, though they ceased to smoke on coming in. But to see men sit before you with pipes about four feet long is a strange sight. As some of them seemed possessed of fair mental powers, I watched them to detect some tinge of shame for having such implements of folly in their hands. But I looked in vain. These persons smoke during their entire waking hours. I am told that they take their pipes with them to their beds, and smoke as they lie down to sleep! Tobacco is the god they worship; or rather, their base appetite is their god, and the tobacco is the incense which they burn to the demon they worship. The Sabbath truth is too pure to dwell in the same heart with this vile weed; and it is no small witness to this that our German Sabbath-keepers are wholly clear from tobacco.

I cannot close without mentioning a very interesting item that appeared in the German papers of last week. It is this: That a few days since there died at Prague, in Bohemia, a Sabbatarian, aged one hundred and five years. From some cause he has been very highly honored by the last two Austrian emperors, and at their request has visited them both in their palaces. The papers say that this man was the last of the sect of Sabbath-keepers. I do not believe this statement; for though Sabbath-keepers have always been in a minority, God has always had these witnesses to his truth, and though their enemies have wished them to die out, and have thought from age to age that they would, they have thus far waited in vain.

J. N. ANDREWS.

Elberfeld, Prussia, Feb. 21, 1875.