General Conference Bulletin, vol. 1
THE COUNCIL MEETING
O. A. Olsen
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4.
THE Council met this afternoon according to program, at 2:30, and was addressed by Elder O. A. Olsen, who took as his theme, “A Glance at the Work in other Lands.” GCB February 6, 1895, page 35.1
We shall not attempt to look into the minutiae of the work in any field, as these features will be considered more fully subsequently, and most of those fields have their representatives with us; and it will devolve upon them to speak of the work in their own fields. GCB February 6, 1895, page 35.2
EUROPE
The most of you will remember that in the spring of 1893, at the advice of the General Conference Committee, I set out for an extensive tour to different portions of the world where our work had become more or less established. this trip embraced the European field, South Africa, and Australasia. The first will be represented by brethren from thence, and I shall not undertake to speak of it particularly now, except to say that at every point the Lord is blessing and the work is going encouragingly forward. Some important steps have lately been taken. This is particularly true in Hamburg, where we have succeeded in securing a commodious and convenient mission house; and more lately we have built a house for school and chapel purposes. by the purchase of a few more feet of land in the rear of the former premises, room for the new building was readily secured. Now Brother Conradi writes that everything is ready for occupation. This is quite an achievement. GCB February 6, 1895, page 35.3
In Scandinavia, during the past year they have built a school-building of good proportions, three stories high above the basement, providing for living apartments, recitation rooms, and chapel under one roof. At the institute held there at the opening of the buildings last summer we had a full representation of our workers in all the Scandinavian countries. GCB February 6, 1895, page 35.4
In Finland there are at present about sixty or seventy Sabbath-keepers. There are fifteen canvassers at work distributing our literature in both the Finish and the Swedish tongues. Finland now belongs to Russia, though it formerly belonged to Sweden; and consequently many of its people speak that language. We are pressing our work toward the center of Russia from two directions: from Finland on the north and from Germany on the west, while many of our own brethren are located in the south. GCB February 6, 1895, page 35.5
That which forms the greatest burden on my mind at present is to secure publications in all these great and minor languages of Europe. The circulation of our literature opens the way for the living preacher to follow. We ought to furnish the truth printed in all these tongues. This work is being prosecuted to some extent, and further arrangements are being made. This Conference will do well to encourage this work. GCB February 6, 1895, page 35.6
It will be some time before we can send the living preacher to all these countries, but we can send the printed page there much sooner if proper plans are laid and active steps are taken at once. The providence of God seems to have opened up the way in a remarkable manner, as you will notice by the report of Elder Conradi and others. Publishers stand ready to print and aid in the circulation of our literature in the various tongues of European countries. GCB February 6, 1895, page 35.7
During the past year our liberties have been enjoined in Switzerland and Christiana. brother Holser, who is at present with us, has already passed through a tem of imprisonment and is liable to another when he returns. Two fines have been imposed upon our Christiana office during the past year, and those have not been paid. the matter is in the hands of the authorities for decision. As in Switzerland, so here, the prosecutions are brought under the Factory Law, which requires employers to give their hands a day of rest each week, and the law is construed to indicate Sunday as the day of rest. How it will be decided in the case of the Christiana office is of course a matter of some anxiety with them. My mind has been greatly burdened that our brethren should be prepared to make the most of these opportunities. Satan’s efforts to destroy the truth have so far had the effect to open up the way for the advancement of the work as never before. Thus far nothing has happened that has so far advanced the truth as these prosecutions have. But it requires wisdom for us to know how to improve these opportunities to the best advantage. GCB February 6, 1895, page 35.8
AFRICA
In Africa we have the work established at present at four points: Cape Town, Algeria, West Coast, and Matabeleland. In the first place we have our oldest and strongest work. In Algeria there have been Sabbath-keepers for years. A church has been organized and the work there is now under the care of the Central European Conference. There have been Sabbath-keepers on the West Coast for a long time, and Brethren Sanford and Rudolph have been sent thither. GCB February 6, 1895, page 35.9
On account of ill health, Brother Sanford was obliged to return. Brother Eastman of Texas, Dr. Carmichael of California, are now under appointment to go there, and with others will take their departure as soon as arrangements can be made after this Conference. the fourth place is in the interior of South Africa. Last May, Brethren Peter Wessles and Druillard, accompanied by others, started from Cape Town for mashonaland, but stopped short of that section and located in Matabeleland, forty miles west of Bulawayo. GCB February 6, 1895, page 36.1
It will be well to notice how wonderfully things move. A year or two ago missionaries were excluded from the dominions of the dreaded Lobengula; but now they may go anywhere, the whole country is accessible to them. God’s hand is in this, because the time has now come for the message to go to all the world. GCB February 6, 1895, page 36.2
As far as present plans go, it is intended to have reinforcements leave Cape Town in April, the best season for entering the country. They will need to leave this country as soon as possible. The work will be to educate and train the natives in all good things. They are merely overgrown children. They are worse than children. But we believe they are capable of being taught and trained in the right way. They are very kindly disposed toward our workers. GCB February 6, 1895, page 36.3
This is not all. There are great numbers of white people going into that country, and there is work to be done for them. We all know that when people break up their old associations and remove to new countries they throw off in a measure the restraints of their old associations and are more ready to listen to and accept of new truth. This field is thus opening up in a remarkable way. A telegraph line extends across the entire continent from north to south, and the railway is following it. GCB February 6, 1895, page 36.4
This Conference will need to make a study of this interesting field, and I would have no objection if we extended that study to northern interior Africa; for the time is coming when there will be Seventh-day Adventists scattered all through that country. GCB February 6, 1895, page 36.5
We have heard about “moving” and the “moving time.” And it is here. If we do not move out peaceably, I believe that persecution will thrust us out. Why would it not be an excellent thing for families to remove to these countries and settle? Not in colonies; for I have no faith in this grand colonizing scheme. They should scatter abroad, and while working to support themselves at the same time become lights in the world of darkness. When the missionary spirit comes upon us, one hundred will go where one is going now. GCB February 6, 1895, page 36.6
AUSTRALIA
From Africa, we journeyed to Australia. I might spend much time in talking of that country. Australia is an excellent field of labor. It is an interesting country though it has lately passed through a series of misfortunes such as we in this country cannot understand. The population of Australia is somewhat over three millions. Melbourne and Sydney contain nearly one third of this number. Adelaide, Brisbane, and other cities contain many thousand, so that we might say that almost all the people live in cities. For this cause, misfortunes are much more severely felt than in a country where there is a large agricultural population. GCB February 6, 1895, page 36.7
But as much as I regret these calamities I cannot regard them as altogether calamitous, because now the people have time to pause and consider the claims of the truth. They also realize that there is something better than this world to live for. the past year or two have been very prosperous for the cause of truth. GCB February 6, 1895, page 36.8
The camp-meeting held in Melbourne while I was there was in every respect a most extraordinary one, and great results have come from it. Some features of interest appeared which I have never seen elsewhere. One case was that of some young men from the University who came to the meeting and requested Elder Mc Cullagh to answer some questions in regard to the Bible. At the close of the interview their interest was so aroused that they requested it might be repeated. This was granted, when they returned, bringing with them others. This was again repeated much to their satisfaction. GCB February 6, 1895, page 36.9
Another camp-meeting has lately been held at Sydney which in all respects exceeded the one in Melbourne in interest; and a good work is following. three of our brethren near Sydney have been sentenced to the stocks for Sunday labor. For want of the instruments the sentences were not carried out. But the prosecutions awakened a wide-spread interest, and this has contributed toward making the late camp-meeting a great success. GCB February 6, 1895, page 36.10
The school enterprise in Australia, at last accounts, was in a state of some uncertainty. But we expect those to be with us before the close of the Conference who will bring us more recent and direct word. GCB February 6, 1895, page 36.11
Sister White has remained in that country longer than she anticipated when she went there, because she has, up to the present time, seen no time when she felt free to leave. Sister White realizes the great importance of giving to our work in every part of the world the mold which the Spirit of God would place upon it. It is highly essential that our work in all parts of the world shall bear the same impress In every department. I learn more and more to appreciate the labors and visits which Brother and Sister White used to make to different parts of the field in order to lend the aid of their presence and influence in forming and molding the work. The people in Australia appreciate the privileges they are enjoying; and though Sister White is in feeble health, her speaking is with as much power as ever in her life. I am often asked when she will return. I can only say that I know nothing about it. It will be when she feels at liberty to do so. GCB February 6, 1895, page 36.12
Before closing these remarks, I should allude to the work of the “Pitcairn,” among the Pacific Islands. The ship has now made three successful trips. And each time she returns safe, I feel thankful to God for his preserving care. GCB February 6, 1895, page 37.1
Of those who went on the last trip, more were left at Raratonga than elsewhere. Dr. Caldwell, who was of the number, is recognized as a physician, and his position gives him influence and standing amongst the people. But as Brethren Gates and rEad are here to represent that field, I will not go into the particulars of the work but leave it for others. GCB February 6, 1895, page 37.2
The missionary ship is now in port, and the captain, J. E. Graham, will soon be with us. It will devolve upon the Conference to consider what shall be done with the vessel. by some it is thought that a larger ship would serve us much better. Experience has taught us some things in reference to missionary ships, and how they should be built. GCB February 6, 1895, page 37.3
But the hour has closed, and for the present I leave the subject with you for consideration. GCB February 6, 1895, page 37.4