THE SILESIAN CONFERENCE

The Silesian Conference was cut off from the East German Conference in 1907, and had a membership of 376 at that time. This conference is composed of the two provinces of Silesia and Posen, with an area of about 23,000 square miles, and a population of 6,929,246. Two thirds of those in Posen and one third in Silesia are Poles. Aside from these, there are Jews and Bohemians in this field. In the conference we have twenty-eight churches and companies, with a membership of 592. Our number of laborers is ten, three ordained ministers, one licentiate, and six Bible workers. Among the two and one half millions of Poles we have done little, although last year we secured about to Polish members. But as we now have a young man in training at Friedensau, we hope to be able to do good work among this people very soon. We are in great need of more Polish literature. The Bohemians of our field have descended from immigrants who had to forsake their land because of persecution. As they are more Germanized, and do not manifest such national hatred as we see among the Poles, it is easier for us to secure a hearing among them than among the Poles. To some extent the blessing of their ancestors still rests with them.GCB May 23, 1909, page 122.17

The membership and the means steadily increase in our conference: in 1907 our tithe was 21,121 marks, and in 1908 it was 27,253 marks; last quarter we had a tithe of 9,217 marks. Our weekly offerings increased from 1,081 marks in 1907 to 1,503 in 1908; our Sabbath-school gifts from 1,776 marks to 2,240 marks, and the annual offerings from 1,543 to 1,711 marks. The missionary societies had an income of 2,654 marks in 1907, and 3,170 in 1908. To God be all the honor for what he has done in our field. It is our prayer that the spirit of the third angel’s message may permeate the whole conference more and more, and that the love of Christ may take full possession of our hearts.GCB May 23, 1909, page 122.18

We have in hand a health talk by Dr. A. B. Olsen on “Food and Flies,” and a sermon by W. W. Prescott on “The Message for the Hour.” These will appear when space permits. With so many fields reporting in the regular Conference proceedings we must necessarily abbreviate and defer reports of other meetings.GCB May 23, 1909, page 122.19

Friday and Sabbath were rainy days in the camp. The pavilion is rain-proof, however, and floored throughout. On Friday evening Elder E. W. Farnsworth spoke. The Sabbath-school yesterday registered an attendance of 1,239. Sister White occupied the desk at the morning preaching service, and in the afternoon Elder O. A. Olsen led a social meeting. Last evening Professor Wallace Newton gave a stereopticon lecture on the Holy Land.GCB May 23, 1909, page 122.20