Ellen G. White in Europe 1885-1887

Chapter 28—Germany and the Vohwinkel Vision

A divine call for unity and good will

In the major coal mining and industrial region of West Germany, bounded on the south by the Ruhr River, are found populous and wealthy cities like Dortmund, Essen, Dusseldorf, Cologne, and Wuppertal. A suburban area of present-day Wuppertal is known as Vohwinkel. Nearby is Elberfeld. In those two small communities Adventists had early formed little companies. EGWE 275.1

When Sister White arrived at Vohwinkel on Friday afternoon, May 27, she was accompanied by Sister Ings and by L. R. Conradi, who had joined them that afternoon at Mainz. The surrounding country was all a part of old Prussia, from which the “Iron Chancellor,” Bismarck, had reached out to consolidate the German state into an empire. EGWE 275.2

The little companies of Adventists came together for a general meeting at Vohwinkel with eager expectations, for Sister White had not preached in Germany before. She spent Friday night at the home of a local church elder who lived “in a pleasant location” several miles out in the country. EGWE 275.3

Ellen White “found the churches ... in difficulty,” and she saw their need for special counsel and help at this time (The Review and Herald, September 27, 1887). Unkind criticism had crept into the church, and factions and hard feelings had resulted. EGWE 275.4

Conradi spoke Friday evening to an interested, attentive audience. The German leader was a dynamic, executive type of man, and his influence could be felt. EGWE 276.1