General Conference Bulletin, vol. 6

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Report of the European Division of the General Conference

W. A. Spicer, C. P. Bollman, I. H. Evans, C. M. Snow, T. E. Bowen

L. R. CONRADI, VICE-PRESIDENT FOR EUROPE

Nearly three thousand years ago the prophet counseled the Israel of God: “Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; for thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left.... For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel, the God of the whole earth shall he be called.” Isaiah 54:2-5. GCB May 14, 1909, page 6.7

English Sabbatarians in 1661 GCB May 14, 1909, page 6.8

Only too often has Israel forgotten this injunction, and lost sight of the fact that the Holy One of Israel as the God of the whole earth, desires that his people shall be a light unto the world. When the Reformation sprang up in every part of the Old World, men all over Europe felt urged by the sure word of prophecy to build again the old waste places, and to restore the breach that had been made in God’s law. Notwithstanding the Sabbatarians in England were weak in number (they had only nine churches in all), and in spite of one of their pastors having been executed, and his body quartered and put up in various parts of London, while his head was placed on a pole opposite his small chapel (1661), yet they sent their first missionary across to New England in 1664, only forty-four years after the landing of the “Mayflower.” Four years later, after a company had been gathered out, a prophetic message was sent to them from their brethren in London, from across the sea, addressed “To the remnant in Rhode Island, who keep the commandments of God and the testimonies of Jesus.” GCB May 14, 1909, page 6.9

To-day, at the bidding of tens of thousands of believers in the United States, the thousands of Sabbath-keepers in all other lands send a hundred delegates to represent them at this world’s conference of those who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus in their midst. GCB May 14, 1909, page 6.10

Growth of the Work GCB May 14, 1909, page 6.11

When in 1863, the first General Conference was hold, we had some 3500 believers and a tithe of about $8,000. The following year the brethren were strongly entreated to send a missionary to Europe, but they felt unable. However, the missionary went back to the Old World, where Christian Sabbath-keepers had never been lacking since the days of the apostles, and where, immediately after the disappointment of 1844, some began to keep the Sabbath in southern Germany, and where some others had by this time begun its observance in Prussia, simply from reading the Bible. A company of believers was soon raised up in French Switzerland, and in May, 1869, Elder Erzenberger was sent as their first delegate, and he remained in America until March, 1870, to represent Europe for the first time at a General Conference. Later the same year another delegate was sent; but it was not until 1874 that the Macedonian cry was heeded, when we had over 7,000 Sabbath-keepers in the States, and an income of more than $31,000 tithe; and with his being sent, the offerings to missions set in, beginning with $5,000, which revealed possibilities heretofore unthought of by our people. Elder J. N. Andrews left for Central Europe in 1874, Elder Matteson followed for Scandinavia in 1877, and Elder J. N. Loughborough for England one year later. In 1880 our first missionary, a European, left for Africa, where he and some of his helpers met death in the massacre of Alexandria, 1882. That same year our first missionary was imprisoned in Sweden, and in 1886 two missionaries were imprisoned in Russia, at the time of the organization of our first Russian church. In 1887 one of our missionaries working in Europe, entered Asiatic Russia. GCB May 14, 1909, page 6.12

Conferences Organized GCB May 14, 1909, page 6.13

It was in 1880 that Quebec and Denmark, the first two conferences outside of the United States, were organized; in 1882 Sweden, in 1884 Switzerland, and in 1887 Norway were organized as conferences. The three first European councils were all held in Switzerland; in 1883 by Elder Haskell; in 1884 by Elder Butler; in 1885 by Sister E. G. White; then in 1886 it was in England, and in 1887 the council was held in Norway, where our first Russian delegate was present. GCB May 14, 1909, page 6.14

First Meeting in Asia GCB May 14, 1909, page 6.15

In 1885 Elder Haskell began work in Australia; in 1886, $200 came to the General Conference treasury from forty Sabbath-keepers in South Africa, and workers were sent thither in response. Our first general meeting on Asiatic soil was held in the Caucasus in 1890, over one hundred being in attendance; that same year I first visited Constantinople. Thus in thirteen years after the first missionary had left the United States, all the continents had been entered. GCB May 14, 1909, page 6.16

First Journal Appeared GCB May 14, 1909, page 6.17

In July, 1876, our first journal appeared in Europe—the French paper issued from our press at Basel. In 1879 came the Danish, in 1882 the British, and in 1884 the German, Italian, Rumanian, and Swedish, which, with the Danish health paper, made eight periodicals issuing from our European publishing houses. To-day there are twenty seven European periodicals (two of which have a weekly circulation of 23,000 and 30,000), which appear in fifteen languages. GCB May 14, 1909, page 6.18

Publishing Houses GCB May 14, 1909, page 6.19

In 1876, the General Conference decided to raise $10,000 to establish a publishing house in central Europe; in 1882 the Scandinavian Publishing Association was organized; in 1884 the publishing work was begun in England in a rented building; and the same year the lot at Basel was purchased, and the publishing house erected; and in 1885 the Christiania house was built. From 1885-1888 we were in the age of building, but we had no self-supporting canvassers, but few missionaries, and scarcely 1,000 Sabbath-keepers in all Europe. GCB May 14, 1909, page 6.20

European Conferences GCB May 14, 1909, page 6.21

In 1889 the work was begun at Hamburg; in 1891 both the German and the Russian mission fields were organized; in 1893 the mission property in Hamburg was purchased, to which the publishing work was removed from Basel in 1897. In 1890 the Pacific Press established a branch house at London. Although the membership rapidly increased on the Continent, yet organization of other fields was retarded till in 1898, when the German Conference was founded, with about 1,500 members. While Elders Irwin and Moon were with us the same year, a European Union Conference was organized consisting of four main parts. In 1901 two German conferences, the first Russian conference, and the German Union Conference were organized. In 1902, while Elder Daniells was with us, two conferences and a union conference were organized in Great Britain, and a fourth conference in Germany. In 1903 the Scandinavian Union followed, and in 1907 the Latin Union (and the French) conferences, and in 1908 the Russian Union, were organized. There are now in the European division, five fully organized unions, a union mission field, 24 conferences, and 28 mission fields; of these, one conference and four mission fields are in Asia, and five missions in Africa. GCB May 14, 1909, page 6.22

Training-Schools GCB May 14, 1909, page 6.23

As to the training of workers: At first we held institutes of a few months’ duration; but in 1889 a more permanent school was opened at Hamburg, which was transferred to Friedensau in 1899, where it still serves as the training center for the German and Russian unions. From 1894 - 1897 the Frydenstrand High School was in operation; and this was followed in 1899 by Nyhyttan, and in 1908 by the Scandinavian Union School, at Skodsborg. The Duncombe Hall College began its existence in London 1902, and since 1907 has its permanent quarters at Stanborough Park. In 1905 a Latin Union school was opened in Gland. There are about 350 students enrolled in the European schools at present. Three of the schools have their own buildings, another is nearly completed, and the fourth will be erected this year. There are about $90,000 invested in educational buildings, and a Russian union school is planned for. Some thirty teachers are employed. GCB May 14, 1909, page 6.24

Medical Work GCB May 14, 1909, page 6.25

Our medical work commenced at Basel and Skodsborg about 1896; later on, Frydenstrand began to be used as a sanitarium; in 1901 the Friedensau Sanitarium was opened; in 1902 the Caterham Sanitarium was purchased, and in 1905 the work of the Basel Sanitarium was transferred to Gland. There are now seven sanitariums, and four health homes, supplying accommodations for four hundred patients, and working in connection with them are five prosperous food factories. About $460,000 is invested in our health work. We have nine physicians, two hundred nurses, and in preparation for the medical work there are seven medical students attending European universities. Not only do we find our nurses laboring in Europe, but also at Jerusalem, Jaffa, Haifa, Cairo, Algiers, Eritrea, and in German and British East Africa. GCB May 14, 1909, page 6.26

Publishing in Chassu GCB May 14, 1909, page 7.1

We have seven publishing houses, and three branches, employing in all about 125 hands. There are 472 canvassers laboring under 12 general agents, and our sales for 1908 were $308,000, while for the four-year period they amounted to $935,000. We have invested in this department $302,000. We do only our own publishing, and our houses have been able not only to improve their facilities, but the Hamburg and London houses have contributed liberally to other missionary enterprises, in addition to doing a great deal of missionary publishing in various tongues. Our Hamburg publishing house has issued the first publication in the Chassu language, (East Africa), and expects to print the Gospels in that tongue this year. This language was first reduced to writing by Seventh-day Adventist missionaries; and their writings are the first to be printed by any publishing house in that tongue. GCB May 14, 1909, page 7.2

Evangelical Workers GCB May 14, 1909, page 7.3

As to the greatest department in our work—the ministerial and evangelical—we have now 116 ministers, 70 licentiates, and 195 Bible workers. These, with those engaged in office and treasury work, make a total of 435 workers, or nearly twice the number employed four years ago. Including the physicians, nurses, colporteurs, and teachers, we have a total of over 1,200 laborers of all classes who are engaged in the European division. Of these there are, in the Asiatic portion of the field, 8 ministers, 5 licentiates, and 12 Bible workers. In Africa there are 4 ordained missionaries, 11 licentiates, and 9 other workers, or 24 in all. GCB May 14, 1909, page 7.4

Work Self-Supporting GCB May 14, 1909, page 7.5

The work in Europe proper, with its 425 millions of people, is more than self-sustaining, as we spend in our operations in Asia and Africa more than the $10,000 received from the Mission Board. Comparative statistics of the past four years with the previous four years will best show our growth:— GCB May 14, 1909, page 7.6

In the years 1900 - 1904 there were received into the churches, by baptism, 4,900 members; by vote, 1,736 members; these paid a tithe of $256,805; Sabbath-school offerings, $19,446.50; weekly offerings, $4,923.30; annual offerings, $14,651.10; the book sales amounted to $295,825. In the years 1905 - 1908 there were received into the churches, by baptism, 9,374; by vote, 1,738; the tithe paid was $539,072; Sabbath-school offerings amounted to $41,561.40; weekly offerings, $21,088.30; annual offerings, $31,806.30 the book sales amounted to $633,525. GCB May 14, 1909, page 7.7

Net Increase GCB May 14, 1909, page 7.8

Our net increase from 1900 to 1904 was from 7,000 to 11,028, or 4,028 members; and from 1905 to 1908 it was raised from 11,028 to 17,362, or 6,334 members; while our tithe for the two quadrennial periods more than doubled, and our offerings nearly trebled. The present membership of the European division equals the total membership of the denomination in 1883, and the tithe equals that of the denomination in 1888. The tithes and offerings for 1900 - 1904 amounted to $295,826, and for 1905 - 1908 to $633,588. Sixteen of our conferences already pay a second tithe for the support of missionary work outside of their own borders; and this year a number of them gave, in addition to this, sums of $250 to $500 for missionary operations in other fields besides. None of our conferences or union conferences are financially involved. GCB May 14, 1909, page 7.9

Encouraging Showing GCB May 14, 1909, page 7.10

In general, our institutions enjoy the confidence of the people, and, above all, the manifest blessing of God is with them. From 1904-1908 they have about doubled their assets, and more than doubled their present worth. We have a total investment of $1,052,000, of which $607,000 is paid-up capital. The net earnings during this period were $163,700, while the income from the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons” and “Ministry of Healing,” from legacies, donations, and some $17,000 received from the States, have added another $150,000. GCB May 14, 1909, page 7.11

Extent of the Work GCB May 14, 1909, page 7.12

Our work to-day extends from Lisbon and the Irish coast in the west to Charbin, Tarschkand, and Ararat in the east, and from Iceland and Lapland on the north to Nyasaland and the Kongo on the south; in other words, our stakes are being set up to the border of China, Korea, India, Persia, and the South African Union Conference, covering a territory that extends about 8,000 by 6,000 miles. There are to-day hundreds of believers in London, Berlin, Hamburg, Riga, and Copenhagen; there are strong churches in Petersburg, Christiania, Stockholm, Edinburgh, Paris, Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bucharest, Dresden, Cologne, Leipsic, Stuttgart Breslau, Munich, Nuremberg, Augsburg, Erfurt, The Hague; besides smaller churches at Constantinople, Prague, Eisenach, Jerusalem, Cairo, Rome, Barcelona, Lisbon, Budapest, Brussels, Amsterdam, Dublin, Moscow, Warsaw, etc. GCB May 14, 1909, page 7.13

Suffering for the Truth GCB May 14, 1909, page 7.14

Quite a number of our people have suffered or are suffering from imprisonment and fines in Germany, Turkey, and Russia; and some of our workers have been expelled from Austria and Rumania. Some of our young men have been condemned to even fourteen years’ imprisonment for refusing service on the Sabbath in the army. GCB May 14, 1909, page 7.15

Truth Reaching High and Low GCB May 14, 1909, page 7.16

On the other hand, God’s special providence has secured us more liberty in Russia and Bavaria, and brightened the prospects in Turkey. Not only has the truth reached thousands of honest believers in the middle and common classes, but some of the nobility have taken a stand with us, and others are interested. It may be of interest to know that the dowager empress of Russia and the queen of Denmark have registered their names at the Skodsborg Sanitarium, and that the queen of one of the European countries has offered to write a preface to the “Ministry of Healing” if we should publish it in her language, to help in establishing a sanitarium there. Other royal personages have bought a number of our publications from our faithful canvassers, or have accepted them as tokens of kindness. Thus to-day the message reaches the high and the low, the rich and the poor, the university professor, and the peasant, the heathen in his blindness, the unbeliever, the Mohammedan, the Jew, the Roman and the Greek Catholic, and the various sects of Protestants. GCB May 14, 1909, page 7.17

Summing Up GCB May 14, 1909, page 7.18

But when we consider that there are over 535,000,000 people, or one third of the world’s inhabitants, living within the territory worked by the European division of the General Conference, we must confess that the work is only begun. Workers are called for everywhere, new fields in the three continents should be entered, the few workers in some portions should be increased, our schools enlarged, and our educational funds to help young people obtain a training for the work should be increased. Our publishing work needs urgent help to assist in getting out more publications adapted to our various fields, and to make translations into still other languages. Consecrated medical missionaries should be fitted to qualify for different countries. GCB May 14, 1909, page 7.19

We can not close without mentioning in tenderest remembrance our noble pioneers who have died in Africa and in Europe: Brother Sander, Brother Wunderlich, Dr. George, Brother Kueller, and Sister Ehlers. GCB May 14, 1909, page 7.20

The European field extends a hearty invitation to the General Conference to hold its coming biennial meeting in Europe, that the presence of the General Conference Committee may be a blessing to us, and that its members may also be blessed by coming in contact with so many of various nationalities, where God has a great work to be done. While we have lengthened our cords, and strengthened our stakes, we do honor our Maker as the true husband of the church, as the Redeemer of Israel, and as the God of the whole earth. GCB May 14, 1909, page 7.21

After the close of this report, a quartet from the German Union sang a hymn in German. GCB May 14, 1909, page 7.22

Meeting adjourned, with benediction by I. H. Evans. GCB May 14, 1909, page 7.23

A. G. DANIELLS, Chairman,
W. A. SPICER, Secretary.