Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists

THE WORK IN GERMANY

During this interval Bro. Erzenberger had vigorously continued the work in Germany. After a course of lectures in the village of Hilden, as the result of which a few embraced the Sabbath, he went to the city of Solingen. There he found an interest on the part of the people to listen to the truth. His first meeting was attended by three hundred persons, and the attendance continued to increase. The most perfect order and quiet was maintained in the meetings. Of course this interest on the part of the people stirred up a spirit of opposition, and after the introduction of the Sabbath question several efforts were made by persons of rank to hinder the lectures and drive Bro. Erzenberger from the place. To accomplish this, an appeal was made to the highest authorities of the city, but it did not avail. The law granted him the right to hold his meetings, and his opponents were not permitted to accomplish their object. HSFM 22.1

Feeling the urgent need of publications in German, Bro. Erzenberger while here translated and published at his own expense small editions of the English tracts, “Scripture References,” “What is Truth?” “Which Day do you Keep, and Why?” and “Who Changed the Sabbath?” HSFM 22.2

As the result of the effort in this city, where there was not an observer of the Bible Sabbath when he commenced his course of lectures, sixteen adults embraced the truth. The first baptism by Seventh-day Adventists in Germany was Sabbath, Jan. 8, 1876, the ordinance being administered in a small lake, which at the time was covered with thick ice. Eight persons were baptized, and a very favorable impression was made upon those who witnessed the scene. HSFM 22.3

While thus laboring in Western Prussia, Bro. Erzenberger learned of a company of Sabbath-keepers residing in the eastern portion of the empire; but for a time he had no direct communication with them. HSFM 22.4