Our European Division Meetings by A. G. Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 23, 1913

Our European Division Meetings

By A. G. Daniells

No. 4

THE French camp-meeting was held in Quissac, a small town near the city of Nîmes, in the southern part of France. Our ride from the Gland sanitarium to this place was one of peculiar interest. We came first to the city of Geneva, in the southwestern part of Switzerland. Geneva is one of Switzerland’s finest and most celebrated cities. It was one of the chief centers of activity in the Reformation times. Here many prominent men found protection from the storms of persecution that raged wherever the Reformation took root. William Farel, a French Protestant minister, fled from France to Geneva in 1532. John Calvin, a French refugee, followed four years later, and still later came Theodore Beza, John Knox, William Tyndale, and other Reformers.

Here the Scriptures were translated and printed, and books were written, printed, and sent forth to arouse and enlighten the people. It was in Geneva, too, that John Calvin set up his theocracy, and ruled the recognized republic with an iron hand until his death, in 1564. For a time this theocracy turned Geneva into what has since been called the “Protestant Rome.”

And now, in this city of such great interest and activity in the religious awakening of three centuries ago, the cause of the third angel’s message is permanently established. The message was proclaimed here years ago, and a church was organized. A good influence seems to have gone out from this church, for during the past summer there has been manifested the greatest interest in our message we have ever known in Geneva.

Elder H. H. Dexter, the president of this conference, has been conducting a series of meetings in one of the large halls in this city. In answer to earnest prayer and faithful efforts, the Lord has given him an audience of many hundreds. It is one of the most encouraging public efforts we have ever had among the French people. Many have already taken their stand for the truth, and the good work is still going on. The believers here are taking steps to build a house of worship. They have in hand four thousand dollars, and under the counsel of the Latin Union Committee are going forward with the enterprise.

Pursuing our journey, we came to Lyons, France, three hundred miles south of Paris. This city has a population of about five hundred thousand, and ranks next to Paris among the cities of the French Republic. It is said to be the center of the activities of the Catholic Church in France. The great cathedral called the St. Peter’s of France occupies the most prominent and commanding position in the city. Black-robed priests stroll the streets in all directions.

Lyons is not Geneva. It has never had the uplifting influences of the Reformation, for Protestantism found no place there. But the third angel’s message has. More than a dozen years ago one lone man embraced it. I visited him at his home when passing through Lyons eleven years ago. For years he stood alone, holding up the light of truth the best he could. Now he enjoys the association of brethren and sisters. Among those who have accepted the truth are members of his own family. It made my heart glad to hear of these triumphs of the cause in this Catholic center.

Sixty-five miles south of Lyons our train halted at Valence, the town to which Pope Pius VI was exiled when taken prisoner by the French in 1798. The cathedral of St. Apollinaris, in which Pius VI officiated during his exile, still stands, and is, of course, the feature of greatest interest in the city. It contains a monument of Pius VI, who died there. Here, too, we have a company of believers rejoicing in the light of the third angel’s message. Some of them attended the camp-meeting to which we were then on our way to attend.

Continuing our journey southward along the Rhone River, we came to the city of Avignon, some seventy-five miles from Valence. From the train I observed the dome and towers of a stately building, and was informed by Elder Paul Steiner, who accompanied me, that this building was the Palace of the Popes. It will be remembered that in 1305 Pope Clement V chose Avignon as his residence. From that time until 1377 that city, instead of Rome, was the papal seat. This is the so-called “Babylonian captivity” of the popes. But one writer says that during that time, “Avignon was one of the gayest and most corrupt cities in the world.”

The Palace of the Popes covers a space of more than one and one-fourth acres. Its erection was begun in 1316, and it was finished in 1370. “In its construction everything has been sacrificed to strength, and though the effect is imposing, the palace has the aspect rather of a fortress than of a palace.” It is now used by the government as an army barrack. On inquiry I was told by Brother Steiner that in this old city of historic interest our cause is represented by a few believers. It is difficult to express the feeling of wonder and gladness that came to me as I saw how the Lord is raising up representatives and light-bearers in so many places of special interest.

And this feeling was intensified by the sight of an old-time Seventh-day Adventist camp-ground as our train pulled into Quissac. There were some fifty tents and about one hundred and fifty campers. Delegates were present from all the churches in France and Algeria. In some respects, this field is difficult, but the reports of the laborers for the past year were quite encouraging.

The French Conference held its annual session at this meeting. The membership is 234, with an annual tithe of nearly $2,000. Elder Tell Nussbaum was reelected president. The general laborers present were Elder L. R. Conrad, Elder L. P. Tieche, president of the Latin Union, and the writer. Brother Paul Steiner attended the meeting in the interests of the Latin Union School, at Gland, of which he is principal. This school is developing some promising young people for the Latin field.

Our meeting was a profitable one, and the laborers returned to their tasks with good courage. They surely need our prayers for divine help to awaken those people who are so dead in trespasses and sin.