Bale, Switzerland
EGW
We arrived at this place on the morning of September 3, and were taken at once to the office of Les Signes des Temps. Here, as in England, we met old friends whom we had not seen for years. We are much pleased with the location of the publishing house. While sufficiently near the center of the town for all business purposes, it is far enough out to avoid the noise and confusion. The building faces the south, and directly opposite is a sixty-acre common of government land, inclosed by trees. Just beyond this are buildings, and then come gentle hills with their sprinkling of fir-trees, green fields, and cultivated lands. And back of all this rise higher mountains, forming a fine background to the lovely scene. To my mind, a more beautiful location could not have been obtained. RH October 13, 1885, par. 1
The building seems to have been constructed with true economy. It is not genuine economy to see how cheaply a building can be erected, but to have everything made for durability, and not for show alone. The firm construction of the building is in keeping with the importance of the message that is being sent out from it. There are laws here which compel people to build their houses with reference to the health and safety of the inmates. The building department exercise a close supervision of every new building. The walls must be so constructed that dampness will not imperil life. If a basement is to be occupied by workmen, the floor must not be more than one and one half feet below the ground. To insure against accident by fire, it is required to build the walls of brick or stone; and the stoves must be built in the wall, or be set four feet from any wood work, with stone or tile underneath. RH October 13, 1885, par. 2
The city of Bale was an important place to the Protestant reformers. The great snow-clad hills of Switzerland were among the first to catch the light of morning, and to announce the rise of reformation. And Bale was one of those points on which the rising day concentrated its rays, and whence they radiated over the country around. Early in the sixteenth century a small council of a municipal character sat at Bale. A civil war was feared; the people passed the night before in arms. In vain did the city authorities try to reconcile papists and reformers by half measures. The reformers denounced the mass, the papists demanded its continuance. Twelve hundred people who sympathized with Lutheranism insisted that there should be no more delay. They met one evening by torch-light, and said to the faltering Senate, “What you have not been able to do in three years, we will do in a single hour.” Then they began their work of breaking down images, and committing other acts of violence. At this, Erasmus cleverly remarked, “I am much surprised that they perform no miracles to save themselves; formerly the saints worked frequent prodigies for much smaller offenses.” Thus, amid a tempest of excitement, the Reformation opened in Switzerland, and Bale became its head-quarters. Being the seat of a university, it was the favorite resort of scholars. It also had many printing offices. Here Zwingli received his early education; here Erasmus published the New Testament which he had translated from the original Greek into Latin; here Frobenius, the celebrated printer, published the writings of Luther, and in a short time spread them in France, Spain, Italy, and England; and here, too, John Foxe spent a portion of his exile in getting some of his books through the press. Poverty and persecution troubled him, and we fancy we see him walking to and fro upon the surrounding heights, sympathizing with earlier exiles, who said, “We sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion,” while here he issued the first installment of the “Book of Martyrs.” RH October 13, 1885, par. 3
As we looked upon our press, working off papers containing the light of truth for the present time, we could but think how much greater difficulties than we had met had been encountered in former times by the advocates of Bible truth. Every movement had to be made in secrecy, or their work would be destroyed and their lives imperiled. Now the way seems to be prepared for the truth to go forth as a lamp that burneth. The Bible standard is raised, and the same words that fell from the lips of the early reformers, are being repeated. The Bible, and the Bible alone, is the foundation of our faith. RH October 13, 1885, par. 4
In the providence of God, our publishing house is located on this sacred spot. We could not wish for a more favorable location for the publication of truth in the different languages. Switzerland being a small republic, anything coming from here is not looked upon with the suspicion that it would be if coming from other countries. Three languages are spoken here, the French, the German, and the Italian; therefore it is a favorable place for issuing publications in these languages. The work begun here in weakness will be carried on to a glorious consummation. There are hundreds of large cities that have not yet been entered by the living preacher; but the silent messengers have been exerting their influence, and now the question arises, Shall these fields be entered? if so, more means will be needed. As yet, no wealthy men have accepted the truth in Europe; but we have hope that some may; for we cannot see how the message of mercy and warning is to be given unless some of the wealth God has intrusted to men be consecrated to his work. We need more faith and to be imbued with the spirit of the Master Worker, that we may be able to obey his orders. If we remain humble, meek, and lowly, daily learning in the school of Christ, we shall not fail to do his will. We need to connect ourselves with the source of all wisdom and power. We want the simplicity of humble, trusting faith, believing that God will do just as he has promised. When we pray that the Lord may advance his work, we must labor to the extent of our ability and means to bring about an answer to our prayers. We must work as though we saw just how our help was coming. “Believe that ye receive the things ye ask for, and ye shall have them.” Faith comes first and surety afterwards. We must pray more earnestly and act with more energy. RH October 13, 1885, par. 5
My feelings cannot be described as I look upon these large cities where nothing is being done by the living preacher. I inquire, Why does the work advance so slowly? It is for want of workers and for want of means. Where are the Lord's stewards? What are they doing? Let our brethren and sisters in America draw nigh to God and stir up the gift that is within them. Let those who have had the opportunity to become familiar with the reasons of our faith now use this knowledge to some purpose. RH October 13, 1885, par. 6
The grassy common in front of this office, of which we have spoken, is reserved by the Swiss government for the use of soldiers at certain seasons of the year. Since we have been here, there have been hundreds on the ground nearly every day training, so that when they are needed they will be ready for action. We are grateful that some efforts are being made to train young men and women that they may go forth as soldiers of Jesus Christ, to war against the enemies of truth. But we regret that these efforts are so few, and that our means are so limited. Our preachers need to do more than preach. They need to become educators, that through their efforts others may be raised up to enter the missionary field. RH October 13, 1885, par. 7
The people of God are not half awake. A stupor seems to be paralyzing their sensibilities. Brethren and sisters, lay aside your love of self, your love of ease and of dress, and let your contributions flow into the treasury. Each of us will soon have to stand before the Judge of all the earth, to answer for the deeds done in the body. All will then have to give an account for the good they might have done, but did not do because they were not so closely connected with God that they could know his will and understand his claims upon them. In God's great book is recorded every dollar that has been needlessly expended for selfish gratification. The means thus used was the Lord's, and you made self an idol and neglected the souls of your fellow-men for whom Christ died. If the money expended for changeable suits of apparel and for adornment had passed into the treasury of God, houses of worship could have been built, halls could have been hired for mission purposes, and where there is now one missionary in the field there might have been one hundred. Who will have to render an account for this great lack of funds? Many of our American friends have done nobly and willingly for the advancement of the truth in Europe. But there is a great work yet to be done. Many who have given liberally could do more, and others should now come forward and bear their share of the burden. Now is the time when houses and lands should be converted into mission funds. Men are to be educated and disciplined. We feel alarmed at the little that is being done, when we have a world-wide message, and the end of all things is at hand. Christ is soon to come in the clouds of heaven to reward every man as his works have been. To whom will it then be said, “Ye have done what ye could.” RH October 13, 1885, par. 8
The Swiss Conference began one week after we reached Bale. Of this and the general European council which began one week later, and is still in session, we shall speak in our next. RH October 13, 1885, par. 9