Northern Wisconsin by Ole Andres Olsen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 23, 1910

Northern Wisconsin

By Ole Andres Olsen

I MADE a brief visit in northern Wisconsin recently to acquaint myself with matters relating to the Foreign Department of the General Conference. My first appointment was at Bethel, where I had interesting meetings with the church and the school. This was my first visit to that place. The school seemed to be running well and making good progress. I met a number of our people whom I had known in the message many years ago, and was glad to find them faithful, and rejoicing in the blessed hope.

Passing on from Bethel, I stopped one evening at Grand Rapids, and spoke to the church there. The following day, in company with Elder P. C. Hansen, I went on to visit the Oneida Indian reservation. Here I found quite a large company, and held a number of meetings with them. Some not being able to understand the English, Brother Israel, the elder of the church, served as interpreter. I was much interested in this visit, and our meetings were greatly appreciated by our Indian believers. There are other reservations and communities of Indians where the truth ought to be taken. I was glad to find a church-school among them. Brother William Kloss and his family have done much to help on the work among the Indians, especially in their church-school effort. The Lord will surely bless them for their sacrifice and labor of love.

I spoke one evening to our church at Green Bay. Many years ago we lived and labored in this city, and it was a pleasure to meet many who took their stand for the truth at that time, and to find them faithful, and rejoicing in the blessed hope.

At Green Bay I was joined by Prof. Paul Sheppler, and together we went on to Robinson to visit our French-Belgian church at that place. One of the special objects of this tour was to acquaint myself with the condition of the work among the French here in the North.

We were glad to find the church at Robinson holding its own. Since I last visited them, thirty years ago, many changes have taken place. Some have died, and others have moved away; but their places are taken by new believers. Some from here have moved to Wilson, in Northern Michigan, where there is quite a large church.

There is a large French-speaking population all through Michigan and northern Wisconsin, and with faithful labor many more could be gathered in. I am glad to say that the prospects are brightening, and I hope that before long we shall be doing active work among the French both in the East and in the Central West.

At our late council meeting of the General Conference Committee in Washington, it was voted to request the Latin Union Conference in Europe to send us a French laborer. To this call they are cheerfully responding. It would seem more fitting for us to send help to Europe, instead of calling their laborers to come here; but in the present instance we are glad they can supply the needed help.

I can now appreciate as never before the blessing that has resulted from the German, Swedish, and Danish-Norwegian departments in Union College, where young people of these tongues have received a training for labor among these nationalities. We ought, years ago, to have had a French department in some school, where young people from the French nation could have had the same opportunity as the Germans and Scandinavians have had. Something must be done in this line very soon. The time has come when we must make a definite forward move among the millions of foreigners in this country. I much enjoyed our visit with the Robinson church, and also my association with Professor Sheppler, who is of French birth. I trust that from this time on he will give his whole interest to the development of the work among the French.

One evening was spent with the church at Sturgeon Bay, where I labored thirty-two years ago. Here also we found the believers faithful, and pressing forward. In company with Elder C. McReynolds and Professor Sheppler, I enjoyed an afternoon and evening with the church at Lena, where we had some interesting meetings. The whole visit was both interesting and profitable, and I trust will contribute to the advancement of the message.

O. A. OLSEN.