SWITZERLAND.

Commenced in 1849.

Organized as a Conference in 1886.

BISHOP VINCENT HAS EPISCOPAL SUPERVISION.

BERNE DISTRICT.-Rev. L. Peter, P.E.

The best of all is, God is with us!" The truth of these words of our father, Wesley, we could learn on our district in the past year. God has been with all our brethren, preachers and congregations. It was a difficult year. Sickness visited every family of our preachers for a longer or shorter time, but the true Lord has helped them again. In the time of afflictions the work of our Church grew, and the Lord crowned it with victory. Many souls have been converted and united themselves with the Church. I am glad to say we are having in our congregations more than ever an earnest, godly, and holy life. The Methodists in Switzerland will be saved, and their preachers are going ahead. Although the last Conference year had only eleven months, we have had an increase of members and collections. Methodism is a power in our father-land-powerful and aggressive in our own Church, and as a good leaven working in other Churches. God help us to be Methodists in the good old manner of our fathers!

Basel has 3 preaching-places, with 309 members, 40 probationers, 3 Sunday-schools, and 880 scholars; collections, 11,120 francs. We should have a chapel in Kleinbasel, but we have no money for it. Basel is a very hopeful circuit.

Berne, with 4 preaching-places, has 162 members, 10 probationers, I Sunday-school, and 200 pupils; collections, 7,066 francs. The work is growing here. We have no city in Switzerland where other denominations have accepted as much from Methodism as in Berne. We can see in other Churches prayer and revival meetings, love-feasts, etc. The conference of the pastors from the state Church passed a resolution at the last meeting that the functions (baptism, etc.) of a Methodist preacher shall be acknowledged as legal.

Biel has 15 preaching-places, 190 members, 56 probationers, 9 Sundayschools, and 668 scholars; collections, 7,096 francs. The Biel Circuit has had a good year. Our Church is necessary in every place, but it is most necessary in this field. The principal work of the inhabitants, men and women, is watch-making. The people make and need much money, and a large part of them are living in drunkenness and other vices. "Christianity in earnest " is the only means to the redemption of these poor people.

Geneva has 3 preaching-places, 89 members, 30 probationers, and I Sunday-school, with 102 children; collections, 4,250 francs. We have here a good society, consisting of pious, generous, and faithful members, exerting a very good influence.

La Chaux de Fonds, with 4 preaching-places, is a beautiful circuit. Our Conference was held here this year. The members are giving honor to God and the Church by their pious life. Members, 106; probationers, 29; Sunday-schools, 4; collections, 5,663 francs.

- Langnau has 4 preaching-places, 57 members, 19 probationers, 2 Sunday-schools, and 170 pupils; collections, 1,592 francs. Langnau is a hard field. The success is not great.

Lausanne. The work here prospers gloriously. Many souls have been converted and are members of the Church. The reason of the success may be found in the fact that all members are more or less helpers in the labors of the preacher. Brother Schmidtmann preaches also in the French language from time to time. We do not forget the wish of Bishop Mallalieu, to commence a French work in Switzerland or France, and as soon as we have men and money enough we will do so. Lausanne has 113 members and 37 probationers; collections, 7,841 francs.

Lenzburg is a large circuit, with 16 preaching-places. The helper of the preacher in charge is living in Aarau, the capital of the canton of the same name. We hope Aarau will be a new circuit next year. Members, 289; probationers, 22; Sunday-schools, 10, with 650 pupils; collections, 7,306 francs.

In Liestal we have 11 preaching-places; members, 256; probationers, 35; Sunday-schools, 13, with 858 pupils; collections, 10,139 francs. The preacher in charge built a beautiful parsonage, costing 17,000 francs, which he sold to us for 15,000 francs. The Lord has blessed the labors of his servants.

In Lyss the scattered seed is growing, though slowly. The circuit is using much power from above, and through the efforts and patience of its preacher we should get a good harvest. Members, 116; probationers, 40; Sunday-schools, 4, with 220 pupils; collections, 3,063 francs.

Neuenburg. God be praised that we have a new chapel, with a home for the minister, in this city. The house cost 87,000 francs, of which we owe 70,000 francs. We let out some rooms and get 2,500 francs rent. We should have extra help for Neufchatel. Members, 100; probationers, 17; Sunday-schools, 2, with 150 pupils; collections, 5,030 francs.

In St. Imier also the Lord is with us and is giving us the victory. We have not been able to buy the chapel from Brother Hager, and consequently should build one; but we have no money to do so. Members, 86; probationers, 18; Sunday-schools, 3, with 80 children; collections, 2,288 francs. What the Methodist Church needs in Switzerland is this: that the power from God may come more than ever upon preachers and members, and that the beloved brethren and sisters in America or elsewhere help us with prayer and money, so that we may pay our chapel debts and extend the work in every city and village.

ZURICH DISTRICT, H. J. Breiter, P.E.

Last year we had to strive against many difficulties, yet the work is going onward. Nearly all of the preachers were sick during the winter and spring time, some of them very sick. Nevertheless, we had a very good success. The work is prospering in every department. The district embraces 16 circuits, with 3,868 members. More than 400 persons were admitted on trial last year.

Affoltern-a-Aa. Eleven preaching-places and 15 Sunday-schools. This is too much, I believe, for one man; but there are on this circuit some very good exhorters always ready to help the pastor. Nineteen persons were admitted on trial.

Aussersihl. Six preaching-places. Some years ago this circuit was separated from Zurich, and now we have there 322 members and 1,093 Sunday-school scholars. In reference to the fine chapel which stands at Aussersihl, I know only two defects: it is not yet free from debt and it is too small for the large congregation.

Bulach. Admitted on trial, 21 persons. The work here is not easy, for the 228 members are scattered over 17 villages and hamlets.

Chur. For some years Chur has not been a very important nor successful station, and there is not much hope of advancement there till we have our own chapel.

Frauenfeld. Preaching-places, 3; members, 131; admitted on trial last year, 24. We are very much in want of a chapel in Frauenfeld. For that purpose we collected money and have now about 6,000 francs; but we should have at least four times as much. I trust the Lord will help us to reach the object of our wishes.

Horgen, a beautiful village at the Zurich-See. Eight preaching-places. This circuit lost many members by removals last year, and besides this there are peculiar hinderances to be overcome at that place. Yet the number of members is not reduced and the condition of the congregation gives reason to hope for the future.

Nieder-Uzwyl. Six preaching-places. This circuit had, if not a most prosperous, yet a good year. F. Deppeler, the pastor at Nieder-Uzwyl, was very sick a long time; he came near to the grave. By the help of the Lord he recovered, but for many weeks he was not able to attend to his charge. At the end of the year the number of members shows no increase, but holds its position.

Rheineck, a beautiful small city in the valley of the Rhine, near to the Boden-See. Nine preaching-places belong to the circuit. The most of the members are scattered on the mountains, 3 to 4 miles distant from the chapel. But they are pious and good Methodists, regular in attending the church services, and willing to give as much as they can.

Schaffhausen, a large circuit. The pastor, dwelling at Schaffhausen, has two helpers, the one at Stammheim and the other at Stein. But these helpers, being young men, are changed nearly every year, which is not good for the work. We ought to form three circuits, and we would already have done it if we only had the men and the money for their salaries.

The circuit has 18 preaching-places and 14 Sunday-schools. A good work is being done there and we shall try to do our best in the future.

St. Gallen. Three preaching-places. Here we had an encouraging year. There is godly life in the congregation. Class-meetings and prayer-meetings are well frequented. A very costly repair at the chapel was necessary during the last year, therefore the debt could not be reduced as much as we wished. At Herisau, a preaching-place of this circuit, we have a very good congregation, and this place should be formed as a new circuit as soon as possible.

Teuffen. This is a small circuit near the foot of the Santis. It has 2 preaching-places and 38 members. We had some success there and are sure to have more. Our influence on the population is increasing.

Thalweil, a beautiful village at the Zurich-See. Five preaching-places; members admitted on trial last year, 29; increase, 21. The condition of the spiritual life as well as the material circumstances in this place entitle us to good hopes.

Turbenthal. Eight preaching-places far separated and 13 Sundayschools. No chapel on the circuit, only rented halls. This is an error. After all, the work is going on. Some years ago we began to collect money to build a chapel. The sum is increasing a little every year, till now we have for that purpose about 2,700 francs. At last we shall reach our aim !

Uster. Fifteen preaching-places, 502 members, and 20 Sunday-schools. On this circuit we had wonderful success last year, 100 persons being admitted on trial. A new chapel was built at Wetzikon, and this place with the stations around must be formed as a new circuit.

Winterthur. Seven preaching-places, 11 Sunday-schools; admitted on trial last year, 50 persons; real increase, 40. Some years ago Frauenfeld, with Weinfelden and Muhlheim, was set apart from Winterthur and formed as a new circuit. Winterthur has more members now than it had before that time. The work is going on gloriously.

Zurich. Nine preaching-places, 434 members; admitted on trial last year, 50; Sunday-schools, 8. Zurich, too, had a good year. Every part of the work there is growing. Three new Sunday-schools were formed last year. Zurich will soon come up to the same number of members which it had before Aussersihl was set apart. I am glad to say that our work is going on as well, or perhaps better, than at any previous time. Our congregations are in a good state. The members throughout spend gladly and generously as much as they can, some of them beyond their strength. Not only our sermons, but also our class and prayer meetings are well attended, and an earnest longing for holiness is to be found at each place.

Rev. C. Peter writes under date of Berne, October 2, 1890: Allow me to make some remarks about our work in Switzerland. You will see by the statistics of the Conference that we have 5,109 members and 994 probationers; total, 6,113. These people gave in collections