The Work in Europe

The following interesting paragraphs are from a private letter from Sister White, dated Basel, Switzerland, January 27:—

«Every week letters come to this place from France, Italy, Russia, and India, stating that souls are embracing the truth from reading our French paper. To-day one has been received with five names signed of persons who are much interested in the truth from reading Les Signes, and who send the pay for a year’s subscription. Another comes from a man in France, thanking Brother Whitney for the papers sent him. He says he has no money to pay for the paper, and asks if Brother Whitney will take a blank book (a register) in exchange for it. His father and mother have been opposed to his reading Les Signes, but now they are reading it themselves. Brother Whitney has most precious letters from India and Russia also, commending Les Signes, and telling the good it has accomplished. These testimonies are cheering to our hearts.

«There have been some conversions here. One young man, a German, who was attending the theological college, left school, and is now in the office, working on the German paper. He is just the help that is needed here.

«These tokens that God is working in Europe are matters of great rejoicing to us. We expect the truth will go forth as a burning lamp. But it is harder for men and women who receive the truth here than it is in America. Workmen, jewelers, receive but one dollar a day as the highest wages, and they have large families to support. Many get for their day’s work only from one to two francs; and when they receive the Sabbath, it is doubtful whether they can get any work, and they are obliged to take up with any jobs they can get.

«If our people in America could understand the privations that have to be endured here, and the close economy that has to be practiced in order to obtain even the necessaries of life, they would guard their means that not one penny should be expended needlessly. There would not be a feather on their bonnets, and they would wear no needless ornaments; neither would there be any extravagant houses built, or money laid out in costly furniture. They should bear in mind that it is God’s money that they are using,—money that could be invested in saving souls for whom Christ died. Any needless expenditure of this money is blocking up the way; for the means thus used would send publications and the living preacher to those who have not the truth.» —