ORGANIZATION OF THE WORK IN SWITZERLAND

The first general meeting of Sabbath-keepers after the arrival of Bro. Andrews in Switzerland, was held Nov. 1, 1874, at Neuchâtel. There were representatives present from the little companies in Tramelan, Locle, Chaux-de-Fonds, Fleurier, Bienne, and Buckten. This meeting, which was somewhat informal, was devoted to a free interchange of thought as to the best plans to be adopted for the advancement of the work, and the best means of gaining access to the people. The brethren manifested an earnest desire to do their duty, and a willingness to co-operate in any way possible, with their American brethren, to whom they expressed their thanks for the help sent them. Not having concluded upon any definite plan of action, another meeting was appointed to be held at Locle two weeks later. At this meeting the urgent necessity for publications was considered, and it was voted to raise the sum of 2000 francs to commence the work of publishing. The brethren present donated the sum of 1800 francs at once, and a committee of three, consisting of Brn. Andrews, Albert Vuilleumier, and Louis Schild, was chosen to take the oversight of the work for the ensuing year. It was designed that these funds should be used in the publication of such tracts as had already been translated into French, and of others that were in preparation. This work of publishing was commenced in the early part of the following year.HSFM 16.2

The most general assembly, however, of these early believers was convened at Chaux-de-Fonds in January, 1875. This meeting, which according to the report given of it at the time was “for the transaction of business, for the celebration of the ordinances, and for the worship of God,” still remains engraven in the memories of some as the first occasion of the kind in which they had ever participated. It was a season of encouragement to all. It was at this time decided that Brn. Andrews and Erzenberger should immediately visit the German Sabbath-keepers of whom they had learned in Prussia. To meet the expenses of this journey the Swiss brethren cheerfully raised the sum of 300 francs. The meeting closed the evening of January 31, and the next day these brethren started on their journey for Elberfeld, three hundred miles directly north. On their arrival here they found a company of forty-six adult Sabbath-keepers scattered over a territory some fifty miles in width. Some facts concerning the history of these Sabbath-keepers, and how Eld. Andrews came to have a knowledge of them, will, we are confident, be of interest.HSFM 16.3