Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-21
WAR IN BALKANS
TEXT OF REPORTS
Officers of the Seventh-Day
Adventists Relate Their
Experiences.
DENOMINATIONS WORK IN
EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
Conference Listens to an Address in
Opposition to Proposed Sun
day Legislation.

Echoes of the Balkan war We're heard
this morning at the worlds conference
of Seventh-Day Adventists. Takoma
Park. i'm the reports of the presidents of
the union conferences of the denomina-
tion among the European nations These
reports included accounts of how Seventh
Day Adventist believers were drafted into
the armies OF the Balkan allies and the
difficulties encountered in countries
where the laws do not recognize re-
ligous liberty.
The first report was that of the east
German union conference. which was de-
livered by it's president. Elder II. r.
Scnuberth of Berlin. He said this con
ference had 1872 evangelical workers and
during its three years of existence had
won 4.s2I converts. the tithes amounting
in 1919 to S1OS.764. and the other offer
ings to &24.O46. The work is being car
ried on in ten languages.
In speaking of a visit he paid to Monte
negro Elder Schuberth said: This is the
smallest of Russian kingdoms, with only
10000 inhabitants. They are rough.
mountain people, among whom all the
work is done by women. According TO
their understanding of affairs. it is a
mans work to carry on war, but not 10
do any other kind of labor.
Elder Schuberth also told OF two or the
believers there who had been cast INTO
prison because of their faith, but by their
faithfulness in the Jail were able to raise
up two churches of Adventist believers
Reports From Other Sections.
Elder j. G. Oblander Of Frankfort. Ger
many. the president. reported for the
west German union conference, which
comprises western and. southern Ger
many, German Switzerland, Holland, Bel
GUM and Austria. Work is being carried
on in ten languages in this territory, and
4 O2S new members have been added dur
ing the three years Of its existence. The
total tithes for the three years amounted
to $3.50, 937. and the fiifts to missions to
SIS. $50 The evangelical workers num-
bered 146.
Elder o. e. Reinke of Basic. Switzer-
land, the president, reported for the CEN
trail European conference. This feld mas
Sc evangelical workers, with 12S churches
and 3,O31 members. The 1.-THE in lsl2
amounted to $40, 45S, and $2.672 was given
to missions. In Bavaria, he said. many
Of the workers have been in prison. Re-
Gently, however, permission has been
given to hold lectures, but there can be
no public prayer or singing. nor is any
collection permitted. Notwithstanding
these obstacles, he reported, 34S people
have been added to the churches there.
Elder J. F.. Tuenergardt of Budapest.
Hungary, reported for the Danube Union
Conference, which includes the countries
of Hungary. RImania. Servia, Croatia.
Slavonia, Bosnia. Herzegovina and Mon
tenegro. Work is carried on in this field
in ten different languages. There are
81 churches In this territory, with a
membership OF $50.
Conditions in Balkan States.
In speaking of thesBalkan states. Elder
HuenersGrdt said:
Last month had the privilege OF Wis
ting Servia and Bulgaria. In Belgrade,
the capital of Servia. where we have
had much difficulty in the past in holding
our gatherings, We now. since the war
enjoy full religious liberty. Our COL
porteurs are selling much literature there.
In Bulgaria we have met with opposition
by the authorities in some localities, but
when reporting such cases to the gov
eminent in Sofia. the capital, We at once
received full permission to continue our
work.
Many instances could be related show
ing the protecting arm Of the Lord over
his people during the present war in the
Balkans. and especially over our brethren
who were called to the front. In Bulgaria
about nine of our members were called
upon to do military service. | had the
privilege of meeting with them in Rus
chalk before they were sent to the from
tier. Since then a number of battles of
the Balkan war have taken place. During
my last visit in that country, in April.
inquired about these brethren who had
entered the army. and found that the
lives of all had been spared: one of them
was wounded in the siege of Kirkilissa. I
met the brother in the hospital in Sofia,
and found him almost recovered. He ex-
poets to devote his whole time to col
porteur work among his people.
"One of our Bible workers. a young
man OF twenty-one years, who was call
ed into the army on several occasions
had opportunity to hold Bible readings
before his ofiicers and his company of
over 600 men. He said that he had talk
ed on the prophecy OF the Bible which
dictates that Turkey is to be driven out
ed the officers and resulted in many
favors to our believers"
Sunday Bill Opposed.
An address was delivered at the con-
ference in opposition to the bill being
urged for passage in several state legis-
latures by the Federal Council of
Churches and the American Association
for Labor Legislation. The title of the
bill Is AN Act to Promote Public
Health" and it provides that all classes
Of labor, with few exceptions. shall be
compelled to cease work Sunday. The
address against 1t was by Elder w. NJ.
Healy Of San. Diego, Cal. A part Of his
argument was:
Facts do not sustain the assertion
that working seven days in the week is
destructive Of health. The Japanese and
Chinese have paid no attention to a
weekly day Of rest. but have been almos,
incessant toilers for centuries. and now
their powers of endurance are SO great
that Sundaykeeping laborers ask for
state protection against their competitive
labor. Where Sunday is a day of general
enforced idleness Monday finds fewer
men able TO work than is found on any
other day of the week +"