Annual Meetings in Scandinavia by ERIK ARENSEN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 22, 1910

Annual Meetings in Scandinavia

By ERIK ARENSEN

ERIK ARENSEN

The annual meetings in our union conference are now in the past. It can truly be said of these gatherings in the different countries throughout the Scandinavian Union Conference that they were so many feasts to God’s commandment-keeping people in the far North.

The Scandinavian Union held its regular biennial meeting at Akersgaden 74, Christiania, in connection with the annual meeting of the Norway Conference, May 16-22. The union meeting was attended by a full delegation from Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and the North Swedish Mission. From abroad were present Elders L. R. Conradi, W. A. Spicer, and Dr. A. B. Olsen, of England. The valuable services rendered by these brethren in the meetings throughout the union were highly appreciated by all. Dr. J. C. Ottosen, of Skodsborg, Denmark, made short visits at the meetings in Norway and Sweden.

A new conference was incorporated into the union,—that of Finland, organized in October, 1909. According to the president’s report, the union now, with this latest addition, consists of four conferences, with eighty-six churches, and 3,028 members, 577 new members having been received by baptism and by vote during the last two years. Through the General Conference treasury the union has contributed about $9,100 to foreign missions. We now have eighteen ordained ministers, five licentiates, eighteen Bible workers, and about a hundred canvassers. An earnest effort is being made to increase the corps of laborers in the union; hence the educational work received considerable attention in all the meetings.

The usual resolution of thanks was put in a somewhat new and practical form in each conference, resolving that we make our gratitude manifest by taking up a collection on the $10,000 Fund to be raised in Europe, in addition to the $300,000 Fund now being raised in the United States. The Scandinavian Union agreed to add out of its treasury an amount equal to the grand total thus raised by its local conferences. This recommendation received a most hearty response throughout the field, about $1,440 being given, including a thousand kroner each from the Norway and Danish conference treasuries.

One important measure taken at the union meeting was the unifying of the publishing work in Norway and Denmark, making the Christiania Publishing House a union institution, and the headquarters of our Danish-Norwegian book work. The depositary in Copenhagen will henceforth be a branch of the Christiania office.

Elder J. C. Raft was unanimously re-elected president of the union for the ensuing two years. It was recommended that Elder Fred Anderson, who has for a number of years made a successful leader of the work in Finland, take charge of the North Swedish Mission, and that Elder L. Muderspach, of Denmark, make Finland his field of labor. Elder N. P. Nelson, who has for seventeen years been doing a good work in Norway, cheerfully responded to an urgent call to remove to Skodsborg, Denmark, to do pastoral work at the sanitarium, and to unite with the teaching force of the Union Mission School there. All the deliberations of the union passed off most harmoniously, the same spirit of unity and brotherly love characterizing the meetings throughout in each conference.

The attendance at the annual meeting of the Norway Conference was larger than ever, and powerful waves of blessing from our bountiful Father above at times rolled over the congregation. Especially was this apparent Sabbath forenoon, May 21, when Elder Spicer delivered a spiritual discourse that made a deep impression upon the large audience, which filled every available space in the meeting-hall and its approaches. It was indeed an occasion long to be remembered by those present.

The public meetings in general were well attended from outside. Dr. Olsen’s visit was highly appreciated. Besides giving public talks on health topics at the meetings he attended in Norway, Sweden, and Finland, he gratuitously made examinations and gave medical counsel to a large number of persons, who were glad to improve the opportunity. Unfortunately, his duties at the Caterham Sanitarium made it necessary for him to return to England just at the opening of the conference meetings in Denmark.

The advancement of the work in Norway is evident. Especially is this seen in the financial affairs of the conference. The heroic efforts of our faithful brethren there during the last decade to save the cause from financial ruin are beginning to show blessed results. Last year that conference received $8,000 in tithes, an increase of $1,300. Our canvassers sold literature during the year amounting to nearly $9,200, while in 1908 the book sales were $7,000. The conference has paid into the union treasury over $2,600 in tithes and offerings in 1909. It has also paid off nearly $6,000 indebtedness on our real estate in Christiania. Elder N. C. Bergersen was again elected president of the Norway Conference.

Of the annual meetings that followed in the other conferences in the union we need only write briefly. To tell of each meeting in detail would be needless reiteration. The excellent meeting in Norway was largely typical of those that followed in the other countries. The same encouraging features were only repeated. The annual meeting of the Swedish Conference was held in the old historic city of Linköping. The attendance on the part of our own people was considerably larger than customary, and the outside interest was quite good. One of the leading dailies of the place contained a column-and-a-half article on the work and belief of Seventh-day Adventists, written by Brother Emil Ahren, at the request of the editor. The tithe of this conference for the past year amounted to about $5,000, and the book sales to $25,500 (in 1908 a little over $22,000). The former president of the conference, Elder S. F. Svensson, was re-elected.

Next in order came the first annual meeting of the newly organized Finland Conference. This was held at the city of Bjorneborg, June 1-5, seventy of our brethren and sisters attending, besides Elders W. A. Spicer, J. C. Raft, and L. Muderspach, and Dr. A. B. Olsen, from abroad. It was with sadness that our brethren and sisters in Finland saw Elder Fred Anderson, their faithful and tried leader for nine years, leave for another field of labor. But they felt the urgency of the call for him to go to the North Swedish Mission, and they cheerfully responded. Elder L. Muderspach, of Denmark, was appointed to take the presidency thus made vacant. The Denmark Conference has shown great liberality toward this younger member of the union by giving one of its best workers, and promising to pay all his traveling expenses and wages until the close of this year, besides giving him $270 to take along with him as a gift to the Finland Conference.

The annual meeting of the Denmark Conference was held in Copenhagen, with a large attendance. The tithe during the year was close to $9,200. The book sales showed a total of $24,000 in 1909, while in 1908 they aggregated $19,000. Elder C. C. Jensen, who has had charge of the work in Denmark for the last two years, was re-elected president. While the meetings were going on in Copenhagen, Elders Conradi and Spicer held a number of meetings with patients and helpers at the Skodsborg Sanitarium.

We firmly believe that these good annual meetings throughout the union will show blessed results in the work in Scandinavia. The faith and courage of our workers and people generally have been strengthened.

Skodsborg, Denmark.