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

A PAPER ESTABLISHED AT BASLE

By this time Bro. Andrews had so far progressed in the French as to be able, with the assistance of Eld. Bourdeau, to commence the publication of a French monthly journal, which was appropriately to bear the same title as that given to the first Adventist paper in America, the Signs of the Times. With this object in view, he removed to Basle in the month of April, considering this city as the most favorable point at which to establish the publishing work. As a reference to the map will show, it is located but a short distance from France, and just on the present boundary line of Germany, so that our publications designed for that country have to be carried but three miles in order to be mailed from a German post-office. Basle has for centuries had a most favorable reputation as a publishing center, especially of religious works; and publications issued from this city are favorably received in any of the countries of Europe. This was a consideration worthy to be regarded. HSFM 23.5

So, in the old city which fostered the present truth of the sixteenth century, and in which Frobenius turned off from his rude presses words which electrified the thinking minds of that day, the present truth of the nineteenth century was planted, and Les Signes des Temps, the first advocate of the third angel’s message in the Old World, had its birth on a nineteenth-century press, the first number being issued in July, 1876. HSFM 24.1

Much of the subsequent labor of Eld. Andrews was devoted to this journal, and he spared no pains in his endeavor to adapt it to the wants of the people. Appreciating the situation of the people and the great lack of knowledge of the Bible on the part of the masses, he labored to present the truth in the most clear and simple manner, and in the way best calculated to bring it within the intelligent comprehension of all into whose hands it should come. HSFM 24.2

His success in these efforts was certainly remarkable, and the present truth, as presented in the early volumes of this journal, furnishes an admirable example, and one rarely attained, of simplicity, clearness, and force. Although advocating truths so unpopular, and notwithstanding the fact that it was devoted almost wholly to religious topics, Les Signes gained a strong hold upon its readers, and attained a standard and reputation worthy of the truth of which it was the exponent. Although it had little but its own merit to recommend it, as, during the early days of its publication, very little was done by way of personal effort for its circulation, it gained a widely scattered list of subscribers, though of course their number was quite limited. Though the matter published was prepared for the masses, testimonials are not wanting to show that many minds among the cultured class were deeply impressed by the great truths taught in Les Signes, and by the spirit of candor, sincerity, fairness, and earnestness with which they were presented. HSFM 24.3