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Life Sketches of Ellen G. White
house another of these places; and six years later, during her visit to
Australia, she saw, in the Bible Echo Office in Melbourne, still another
pressroom where she recognized the place and the presses as among
those she had seen in the vision at Battle Creek, January 3, 1875.
The Sale of Literature
The Swiss Conference was held September 10-14, 1885. There
were about two hundred in attendance. This meeting was immediately
followed by the European Missionary Council, which continued for
two weeks. At these meetings very interesting reports were received
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from Scandinavia, Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy, and Switzer-
land, where the cause of present truth was beginning to gain a foothold.
The reports elicited some animated discussions of such subjects as
these: The most effective plans for the circulation of our literature;
the illustrating of our periodicals and books; the use of tents; and the
bearing of arms.
The Scandinavian brethren reported that the sales of literature in
their conferences during the preceding fiscal year had amounted to
$1,033. The delegates from Great Britain reported sales amounting
to $550. The Basel office had received on its German and French
periodicals $1,010.
Much time was occupied by the colporteurs who had been laboring
in Catholic Europe, in relating their experiences and in telling the
Council why our literature could not be sold in Europe on the plans
that were very successfully followed in America; and it was urged by
them that the colporteur must be given a salary, as was done by the
leading evangelical societies that were operating in Catholic countries.
During the nineteen days covered by the Conference and the Coun-
cil, Mrs. White was an attentive listener to the reports, which were
given mostly in English. She spoke words of encouragement and cheer
in the business meetings, and in the early morning meetings gave a
series of instructive addresses, dealing with such subjects as love and
forbearance among brethren; manner of presenting the truth; unity
among laborers; courage and perseverance in the ministry; how to
work in new fields. Addressing the missionary workers, she said:
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“Remember, brethren, in every perplexity, that God has angels still.
You may meet opposition; yea, even persecution. But if steadfast to