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

CHANGE IN LOCATION OF THE OFFICE

Before his return to America, Eld. Haskell rented a new building on the corner of Weiherweg and Belchenstrasse, which was occupied by the office and the mission family soon after his departure. This building was much larger and better adapted to the wants of the work than the one which had heretofore been occupied. It contained a good-sized hall, which was fitted up for public meetings. During the winter which followed, a course of lectures was delivered in this hall by Bro. Erzenberger. It was well attended, and as the result several persons embraced the truth, all of whom were Germans. HSFM 38.3

During the spring of the following year, Dr. J. H. Kellogg, who was making a tour of some months in Europe, accompanied by his wife and sister, spent a few days with the mission family at Basle. This visit was a source of real encouragement to the workers here, on account of the practical interest manifested by Dr. Kellogg in the work and in the health and comfort of the workers. During his short visit he introduced some changes in the arrangement of the new building which they had recently entered, whereby its sanitary conditions were greatly improved, and rendered superior to most of the buildings of the city. He also made a careful examination of the case of Bro. Andrews, suggesting such measures as in his judgment might be beneficial in arresting the progress of his disease. He also manifested a deep interest in the case of Sister Over, who for some months had been seriously ill with what proved to be that fatal malady, consumption. The interest of Dr. Kellogg in these cases, as well as in those of many others who improved the occasion of his brief visit to avail themselves of his medical advice, was held in grateful remembrance, especially by Eld. Andrews, who highly appreciated this visit. HSFM 38.4

Dr. Kellogg also visited the company of Sabbath-keepers at Naples, and manifested a deep and practical interest in their effort to maintain the truth in that city under circumstances so well calculated to discourage them. HSFM 39.1

At the session of the General Conference held in Rome, N. Y., Dec. 7, 1882, it was recommended by this body, in view of the extreme feebleness of Eld. Andrews, and the necessity of his receiving immediate assistance, that Eld. B. L. Whitney and family be sent to join in the work of this mission. In accordance with this recommendation they sailed from New York, accompanied by the aged mother of Eld. Andrews, and her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Martha Andrews, the 28th of June, reaching Basle the 26th of July. They found Eld. Andrews indeed very feeble, being confined most of the time to his bed, and yet by dictation doing a large amount of editorial work on Les Signes. From this time he continued to grow more feeble, although he continued his editorial work even to the last number of the paper issued before his death. HSFM 39.2

This year also Eld. D. T. Bourdeau and family returned to join again in the work in this mission. Sailing from New York Sept. 4, he reached Basle Sept. 19, five years after his departure for America. After spending one Sabbath at Basle, he made a tour among the churches of Switzerland, and on two occasions attended the ordinance of baptism. Eleven persons were baptized. On one of these occasions he had opportunity to witness the prejudice which had been aroused on the part of the people in consequence of the work of the Salvation Army. In some instances its members had manifested marked disrespect, and even defiance, toward the civil authorities, and excitement and prejudice had been manifested in a strong degree. This is not the only instance in which our work has had to encounter strong prejudice from this cause. HSFM 39.3