“Success does not depend so much upon age or circumstances in life as upon the real love that one has for others. Look at John Bunyan enclosed by prison walls.... He is not idle. The love for souls continues to burn within him, and from his dark prison-house there springs a light which shines to all parts of the civilized world. His book, The Pilgrim's Progress, written under these trying circumstances, portrays the Christian life so accurately, and presents the love of Christ in such an attractive light, that hundreds and thousands have been converted through its instrumentality.”—Ibid., 151.EGWE 63.5

What she said next encouraged those with Lutheran backgrounds:EGWE 63.6

“Again, behold Luther in his Wartburg prison, translating the Bible, which was sent forth as a torch of light, and which his countrymen seized and carried from land to land to separate from the religion of Christ the superstitions and errors.”—Ibid.EGWE 63.7

She appealed then to the young men to devote themselves to the service of Christ, and closed with a challenge:EGWE 63.8

“I am thankful to see so large a number present at this meeting. But shall not your numbers be more than doubled during the coming year? Let each answer for himself what he will do.”—Ibid., 153.EGWE 64.1

That afternoon she spoke again. As before, the audience was divided into national groups; Elder D. T. Bourdeau translated into French, Erzberger into German, and Elder Oyen into Danish-Norwegian. This was a pleasurable experience for Mrs. White, as the translation process gave her more time to reflect on what she was saying, and to rest her voice.EGWE 64.2

There was also a surprise move—a “new experience for many of our brethren in Europe” as Ellen White described it. At the close of her discourse, she called “for all who desired to be Christians, and all who felt that they had not a living connection with God, to come forward,” declaring that “we would unite our prayers with theirs for the pardon of sin, and for grace to resist temptation” (The Review and Herald, November 3, 1885).EGWE 64.3

The work was of God. The people responded willingly. She reported, “It seemed that the entire congregation were on their feet, and the best they could do was to be seated, and all seek the Lord together.”—Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists, 173.EGWE 64.4

After this appeal, 115 people, many of them weeping all the while, bore their heartfelt testimonies to their desire for a genuine experience in the things of God.EGWE 64.5

In her Review article reporting the experience, Ellen White described the genuineness of this revival meeting in Basel. She testified to the similarity of the work of God's Spirit among His children everywhere. “The Holy Spirit operates the same the world over. When it is received into the heart, the whole character is changed.... Old habits and customs and national pride and prejudice are broken down.... [And this resulted in] unity of thought and action.”—The Review and Herald, November 3, 1885.EGWE 64.6

Practical Character of Ellen White's Addresses

Close of the Conference