MISSIONARY WORK IN SWITZERLAND.
By John Nevins Andrews
WE have just received two hundred copies of the Stimme der Wahrheit, and we return for them our grateful acknowledgment. Nothing could be more timely for our work than these papers. We will send them to German readers, accompanied by letters. When we began to print, as we had but few friends in Europe, we had very few subscribers; but as great care was taken in the preparation of each number, it seemed advisable to print not less than 2,000 copies. When all who were friendly to our cause had been supplied, we still had on hand quite a large quantity of our papers. I hoped by the aid of the tract societies to be able to distribute these in such a manner as to save to the Office at least the first cost. These societies have done something, but owing to the financial embarrassment that has prevailed among our friends, only a small part of these extra copies have been distributed by them. When I found myself the past winter unable to continue public labor, I turned my attention very anxiously to the question of what could be done by means of this printed matter. I thought if the papers could not be distributed so as to bring some income to our Office of publication, then we would distribute them gratuitously, especially if the providence of God should send us means with direct reference to paying the postage. We have entered upon a thorough system by which we seek to place several numbers of our paper in every family in Switzerland that read the French language, and as far as possible in every Protestant family in France. All connected with our work at Basle have united with us in this effort. We have sent out a large number of the earlier copies of our paper, placing letters in the first and fourth numbers sent. We have made this work a special subject of prayer, and have watched the providence of God to see if he approved of what we were doing. The success of this undertaking has greatly exceeded our expectations. Money has come in small sums from many sources from which we had no thought of receiving anything, and in several instances it has been especially designated for this gratuitous distribution. A few days ago we received 30 francs from Egypt. We have received many favorable responses to our letters, and hardly a day passes without our receiving one or more subscribers, as the result of this work. Even those who refuse our paper, generally say that they have been interested in reading it. I think we have adopted a system of action which promises the most important results. We have an immense number of addresses, and can obtain many more without difficulty; and if God shall prosper us in the future as he has begun to do, we certainly shall see great results from this effort. We have had to contend with the bitterest prejudice and the densest darkness; but I believe it to be possible, by means of our paper accompanied by letters, to gain the attention of the people and secure an interest in behalf of the truth. We find the paper even more valuable for distribution than the tracts, because every paper contains a variety on the most important subjects connected with our faith, and there is not one article in any of the papers that we should be unwilling to have examined by our enemies. We have a large amount of excellent tracts, but these we shall use with greater reserve, and as far as possible shall obtain pay for them. We have not been under the necessity of using any means from the missionary treasury for the expense of this distribution of our paper. We have means for the present to carry on this work, and believe God will still sustain it. I am glad to speak of God’s mercies. The way is now open before us to make an important move in behalf of the French people, and we have many tokens that God is blessing the effort that we make. Within a few days past a great change has taken place with respect to my health. My strength has begun to return, and I believe that God is willing once more to strengthen me for his work. I ask no greater happiness than the privilege of doing the work of God. I expect to labor with Bro. Loughborough during the tent season, if my health will permit. I must, however, reserve some time in which to write for our paper and to read the proof-sheets. Since writing the above we have received the first two responses from a quantity of our old papers sent into France a few days since. As these were copies of the first number printed, we had some doubts concerning their favorable reception. But the first of these responses was an earnest request that more copies should be sent, the writer promising to distribute them to others, and saying that he would give them to those only who would promise to read them and distribute them to others. He also said that he would subscribe for our paper when he could raise the money. The second response is from a man who became so much interested in the electrotype of the chart printed in that number, that he writes to purchase a copy of the original chart. We have sent, from time to time, a considerable number of copies of our paper into France from our regular issue, and some have responded by sending us money; but this is the first time that we have sent old copies, and these are the first responses.