H. W. Cottrell: We will continue the reports from the German Union. We will hear first from Elder K. Sinz, president of the Saxon Conference.GCB May 18, 1909, page 50.12

Elder Sinz spoke through an interpreter, Elder Conradi.GCB May 18, 1909, page 50.13

The Saxon Conference

WASe

K. Sinz: The field which I represent is the cradle of the Reformation. The territory is small, being only about five thousand square miles in extent; but it has a population of 4,500,000. Saxony is noted in Germany as the country of strict police regulations. The police look after all matters carefully, even to the smallest details. Our work there was at first under the charge of Brother Perk, but in August, 1902, he was sent out of the country because he was a foreigner. As I was born in that country, I was called to labor there, but for two years was greatly hindered. At every meeting, even when we met for singing, there were one or two detectives noting what was said and done. But to-day the authorities are more favorable to us. They have become persuaded that we desire only to help our fellow men. But up to the present time we are simply tolerated; for we have no rights as a denomination. We can not baptize openly, but must do so at night, or in secret places. It is the same with the Lord’s Supper and other services. Even now baptism is conducted under great difficulties, and the candidates must show firm faith in the truths they profess. But in spite of all these difficulties, the truth has spread in such a manner that in January, 1908, our believers could be organized into a conference.GCB May 18, 1909, page 50.14

The following figures will show how during one year the truth has extended since our organization. During 1908 our membership increased by 92; being now 434; our tithe was over five thousand dollars. Tracts and pamphlets have been circulated to the value of over $1,000.GCB May 18, 1909, page 50.15

We are grateful to the Lord for the success which he has granted, and our desire is to serve the Lord more faithfully in the future than hitherto. Our brethren and sisters are of good courage in the Lord, and rejoice to have heard this message. They also rejoice to take part in this great work for the salvation of man. They charged me to give to you their greetings, and I do so at this time. Our prayer and desire is that the day may soon come when we, after our work is completed, may enter the kingdom of God, and there remain at rest.GCB May 18, 1909, page 50.16

The West German Conference

WASe

In the absence of the president of the West German Conference, W. Prillwitz, his report was presented by Guy Dail, as follows:—GCB May 18, 1909, page 50.17

On the fifth of last February, when, in harmony with the resolution of the German Union Conference, the Middle German Conference was organized from the territory of the West German field, it contained the province of Saxony, the duchies of Brunswick and Anhalt, the Thuringian states, and the southern part of the district of Hildesheim, with a population of about 5,448,300, among whom we have twenty churches and companies, with a membership of 482. There are in this, the youngest conference in the German Union, 2 ministers, 3 licentiates, 6 Bible workers, and 2 other helpers. During the first quarter of our organized existence we have had a gain of 34 members, and the tithe was $2,800; the Sabbath-school gifts about $120, and the weekly offerings, $75.GCB May 18, 1909, page 50.18

In two places where we have been recently holding lectures, the established church has preached against us. In one of these places our opponent chose as his subject, “The History and the Teachings of Seventh-day Adventists.” After the church meeting in which our case was handled was over, it was our privilege to speak, and the Generalanzeiger (General Advertiser) contained the following report: “After the business of the day had been attended to, the Seventh-day Adventist minister arose to reply to the suspicion and reproach that had been raised against them. The quiet manner in which he warmly witnessed for his faith enlisted something of our sympathy. It is good when there are meetings where these things can be thoroughly discussed, and the special teachings of the sects set forth in the proper light.” This same paper accepted a column-and-a-half article written by a brother concerning Sabbath and Sunday among the sects, which was mostly a reproduction of the tract, “Christ or the Roman Church.”GCB May 18, 1909, page 50.19

In another place our opponent announced his subject as “Are the Adventists Right?” We were permitted to deliver ten lectures on this subject, and fair reports of these appeared in the daily paper. The local superintendent of the state church was present at nearly all of the meetings. The lectures are now to be continued by a series of Bible readings. We believe that here we shall not only re-establish ourselves in the confidence of many of the people, but that the church will increase in membership.GCB May 18, 1909, page 50.20

We are happy that our opponents are being silenced by the truth, and that the Lord is leaving these efforts not without results. In another city we have now received permission from the state to organize our church, and to freely exercise our religion. Thus, although our conference is but young, we feel to thank God that he has visibly blessed us during the first three months of our existence. To him be all the honor.GCB May 18, 1909, page 50.21

The chairman next called for the report fromGCB May 18, 1909, page 50.22

The Holland and Flemish-Belgium Mission Field

WASe

J. Wintzen presented the report, which, by an error in the make-up, was dropped into yesterday’s BULLETIN at the end of the Russian report. He remarked that it surely was characteristic of the rapid West that his report should have been printed before it was delivered. We reprint the report in its proper order as follows:—GCB May 18, 1909, page 50.23

The members of the Holland and Flemish-Belgium Mission Field send their sincere greetings and best wishes for the blessing of God to the General Conference assembled.GCB May 18, 1909, page 51.1

Our report comes from a field which can boast of no high mountains or great forests; for a great deal of this country is below the surface of the sea, as expressed in the name “Netherlands.” This beautiful little country has been the meeting-ground of two famous peace congresses, and at present the great Palace of Peace is under construction, and will be ready in 1910. We are glad to be laborers here for the advancement of the gospel of the soon-coming Prince of peace. While the area of our field is not large, yet we have nine million people to work for. Truly the harvest is great.GCB May 18, 1909, page 51.2

Our staff consists of 8 laborers, and we have now about 250 members. In 1908 their tithe and offerings were $2,607.96. God has richly blessed our canvassing work. We have 29 canvassers, who, in 1908, sold books to the value of $6,059. Our Holland paper, Teekenen de Tijas, is published monthly, with an average of 7,000 copies. The Lord has richly blessed us, and the work has grown amid many difficulties.GCB May 18, 1909, page 51.3

Surely the time has come when the work of God will go onward with great power, and we have all reason to believe that this will also be true of our field. We beg our brethren in America, South Africa, and the East Indies to do all in their power to use this paper among the many Hollanders in their territory.GCB May 18, 1909, page 51.4

We want to assure you that all our brethren and sisters firmly believe in this third angel’s message, and are working to bring the message to their neighbors. May God hasten his work so that soon we shall be gathered to the heavenly home. For this all the brethren and sisters in the Holland and Flemish-Belgium Mission Field are praying.GCB May 18, 1909, page 51.5

The Balkan Mission

WASe

This union mission field was reported for by Elder H. F. Schuberth, president of the union, as follows:—GCB May 18, 1909, page 51.6

The Balkan Mission consists of Rumania, with a population of 7,700,000, and Bulgaria with 4,000,000. Five years ago Brother Hinter went to Bucharest, the capital of Rumania, and found a company of 16 members there. He first had to master the Rumanian language, which was no easy task; but under the blessing of God, the membership of this church has grown to 106, representing the Rumanian, German, Hungarian, Ruthenian, Greek, Slovakian, Bohemian, Russian, Polish, Armenian, Bulgarian, and Croatian nationalities. Although in their unconverted state these nationalities are continually at odds one with another, yet the third angel’s message makes them all one in Christ.GCB May 18, 1909, page 51.7

Notwithstanding that Brother Hinter was several times threatened with banishment from the country, he was able to work all these years without serious molestation. However, only a month ago, he was compelled by the authorities to leave the country, and has taken up his residence on the border of Rumania, in Bulgaria, from which place he will be able to look after the work in this field. I was personally there at that time and was compelled to leave within twenty-four hours, because it was stated that the growth of our work was threatening the prosperity of the Greek Church.GCB May 18, 1909, page 51.8

We also have a church of twenty-one members at Constantsa, on the Black Sea. We have one small company at Sinaia, the summer residence of the king, and there is another company in Buzeu, where our native worker has been imprisoned several times. He has also been severely flogged. In Bulgaria, where there is freedom, the people are difficult of access, and we have but a few small companies. The total membership of the field is 137. Our laboring force here includes 2 ministers and 4 Bible workers. Our tithe for 1908 was $1,195.37. While the Lord has given us many tokens of his overruling providence in this field, yet we feel anxious to do still more for these interesting countries, which compose a part of the great granary country of Europe.GCB May 18, 1909, page 51.9

We wish our brethren to remember the work and workers here, for they have every need of the prayers of those who believe.GCB May 18, 1909, page 51.10

REPORTS FROM RUSSIAN UNION

WASe

The chairman called for further reports by the delegates from the Russian Union Conference.GCB May 18, 1909, page 51.11

The South Russian Conference

D. Isaak, president of the South Russian Conference, prefaced his report by reading Matthew 28:18-20. He then said:—GCB May 18, 1909, page 51.12

In November, 1904, it was my privilege to go to Europe to labor in Germany. In October, 1905, I was assigned to South Russia, which was then cut off from the South Russian Conference and organized as the South Russian Mission Field. This field then had a membership of 270. In the three years from Jan. 1, 1906, to Jan. 1, 1907, we, with the help of the Lord, took in 340 new believers, both Russians and Germans and also one family of Jews.GCB May 18, 1909, page 51.13

In the autumn of 1907, this mission field was organized into a conference, called the South Russian Conference. We have 4 laborers. Calls for help are coming in faster than we can answer them. This is especially true of the Russian people here. At present we have only one Russian laborer. We ought to have ten, and these would find plenty to do.GCB May 18, 1909, page 51.14

We have great hopes that our coming school will help us in this respect; also we are longing for that day soon to come when we will have a laborer for the 50,000 German Mennonites in this field, and one for the Jews. In Sevastopol where our Russian laborer was working for about a year, his hall was filled at every meeting. All seats were taken, even thirty minutes to an hour before the time of the opening of the meeting. The result was that a church of 62 members was organized. Even sailor-soldiers were converted and baptized, of whom three, on account of their faith, are now suffering imprisonment.GCB May 18, 1909, page 51.15

I will here read a letter received from our Russian worker, written from Odessa:—GCB May 18, 1909, page 51.16

“Many experience the promise of Isaiah 49:14-18 in these last days as they see with their eyes and hear with their ears how the Lord fulfills what he has spoken to his prophets. I could see the hand of God in my last visit in Eupatoria and Konrad (in the Crimea). I baptized three in the waves of the Black Sea, and received three by vote. One of these was a Baptist minister who had worked against the Seventh-day Adventists for some years. [Elder Boettcher here remarked that this brother is now to go to Siberia to labor.] Since the year 1880 he has been a teacher in the Baptist denomination, and also a preacher. Now he helps in spreading the truth among his former friends. In Sevastopol I stayed ten days, and baptized thirteen souls in the Black Sea. The meetings were attended by the different classes of people, and all listened with great interest to the message from heaven. It was not possible to get all the people into our hall; however, two hundred were present. There is much work to do, and the laborers are few. Calls for help are coming from every side. Beloved in the Lord, let us arise as one man in helping others while it is yet day, even as we have received help. The truth spreads everywhere like a fire in the forest.GCB May 18, 1909, page 51.17

“In the villages where there are Molokans, there are some who are obeying the truth. They ask for a minister to come and explain to them the truth, since they have received their knowledge only from our literature.GCB May 18, 1909, page 51.18

“In Sevastopol I received three letters from our brethren serving in the navy, and who have been imprisoned on account of their fidelity to the truth. They accepted the truth while they were soldiers in the navy, and because of it were imprisoned, one for two years and a half, and the other for two years. The leading officer accused them severely in their trial, whereupon they received a severe sentence. They were sent to a northern province called Archangelsk, where it is very cold, and there they were required to work on the Sabbath day, and also to be present at the religious exercises of the Greek Catholic Church, and asked to pray to their images. This they refused to do, upon which they were flogged. They are determined to remain true until death. The prison officials entered a new suit to a higher court, where they received an additional sentence—one for two and one-half years, and the other for two years. The brethren said to their officers, ‘Let us keep the Sabbath, and do not force us to worship the things which man has made. You may punish us otherwise all you please.’ A priest was called, who tried to persuade them to return to their faith; but upon their remaining true they were bound with fetters, and the priest ridiculed the truth of God. Our brethren were compelled to pay the traveling expenses of this priest from St. Petersburg to Sevastopol, because they, having been declared guilty, had to bear all the expenses. These brethren endure all cruelty with joy and courage.GCB May 18, 1909, page 51.19

“One of the brethren writes: ‘My dear brethren in the Lord: I still have ten dollars. Please pay two dollars of this as tithe into the treasury of the Lord, seventy cents as six months donation for Sabbath-school, seventy cents as an annual offering, and sixty cents to that poor sister. Also take from this money enough to pay for your postage on the letter that you write to me. We are at Kronstadt near St. Petersburg, in the navy prison, where we expect to receive our fourth court sentence, which may be to work in the chain-gang. But we are determined not to forsake the truth. Satan is wroth, and tries to devour us as a roaring lion; but we trust in the Lord, who will help us to be true to the end. All our reading-matter has been taken from us, but with the help of the Lord, we were allowed to retain a Bible and our book on Christian temperance.’GCB May 18, 1909, page 52.1

“In the month of March I baptized three other sailors of the navy, who, with tears in their eyes, said, ‘If the Lord permits we will follow these faithful brethren.’”GCB May 18, 1909, page 52.2

Our canvassers in general are doing well selling books, tracts, and papers.GCB May 18, 1909, page 52.3

Conference Proceedings. SEVENTH MEETING

OUR LAST CONFERENCE