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Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists - Contents
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    THE SECOND EUROPEAN COUNCIL

    Immediately following the meeting at Bienne, the second session of the European Council assembled at Basle, May 28, continuing to June 1. This important meeting furnished perhaps as striking an illustration as any meeting ever held by Seventh-day Adventists, of the inspired declaration that the message is to go to every “kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” There were representatives from nine different nations, and the discourses delivered were translated into four languages. Although there was such diverse representation of nationalities, the spirit of unity and harmony which prevailed in the important deliberations and decisions of this assembly showed that the message in all these nations is one, truly uniting all hearts in the great work of preparing a people for the coming of Christ.HSFM 45.1

    The general relation of this Council to the various missions in Europe, as well as the details of its organization, were more fully defined at this session than at its first assembly; and as the work had been considerably enlarged in all the missions, during the interval between these meetings, a much greater variety of subjects demanded consideration at this time. Owing to the peculiar situation, the affairs of the Central European Mission occupied quite a share of the attention of the Council. A large committee was formed to examine the question as to whether it would be advisable to continue to rent a building for the publishing work, to purchase the one now occupied, or to erect a new building for this purpose. This committee, after having carefully examined the question, reported unfavorably as to renting for a term of years or purchasing the building already occupied, and recommended the erection of a new building.HSFM 45.2

    In accordance with this recommendation, a fine lot on the corner of Weiherweg and Rudolfstrasse, the site of our present publishing house, was purchased at a cost of 29,361 francs.HSFM 45.3

    Plans were considered for the erection of a new building on this lot, and while the Council did not take the responsibility of deciding the question of the immediate erection of this building, it was decided to submit these plans to the General Conference Committee, with the recommendation that the building be immediately proceeded with. The action of the Council on this question alone, as will be readily seen, was to have an important bearing on the future work of this mission.HSFM 45.4

    The further organization of the Council, as decided at this session, provided for the election of an Executive Board of three, which should have the general supervision of the work in all the missions, under the direction of the General Conference Committee. In addition to this, there was to be an Executive Board of three for each mission, and these should have the special oversight of the work in their respective missions. The Executive Board chosen for the Central European Mission consisted of Elds. B. L. Whitney, A. C. Bourdeau, and D. T. Bourdeau. It was recommended that Eld. A. C. Bourdeau accompany Bro. Aslan to Roumania to labor for a time in that country, and to effect a thorough organization of the believers there.HSFM 45.5

    At the close of the Council, Eld. Butler immediately returned to America, and the brethren who had enjoyed this interesting and profitable occasion of counseling together, and who had shared much of the blessing of God at this meeting, were soon scattered to their widely separated fields of labor. Eld. A. C. Bourdeau, according to the recommendation of the Council, accompanied Bro. Asian to Roumania, Eld. D. T. Bourdeau soon went to France, where he engaged in a course of lectures at Branges, while Eld. Erzenberger returned to Germany to engage in labor in a new field not far distant from the locality of his former labors.HSFM 45.6

    At this time Sister Addie S. Bowen who had been for years an efficient worker in the Tract and Missionary Society in America, came to join in the work here. The lack of experienced laborers in this branch of the work, rendered her coming particularly opportune, and her assistance of much value.HSFM 46.1

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