The Annual Meetings in Denmark and Norway by ERIK ARNESEN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 26, 1915

The Annual Meetings in Denmark and Norway

By ERIK ARNESEN

ERIK ARNESEN

NEVER before in the history of this message have yearly meetings in our field been held under circumstances so well calculated to produce feelings of solemnity and heart-searching thought as was the case on this occasion. This fact evidently put its stamp on the gatherings of the people of God in these countries, and accounts, to some extent at least, for the special character of the meetings. There is but little doubt that nearly all who had the privilege of attending any one of the four meetings held in Denmark and Norway will testify with the writer that, taken altogether, the meeting was fully up to the best we ever had. Personally, I never saw the Spirit's power make itself more plainly manifest at our annual gatherings. Surrounded by earthly powers engaged in a titanic life-and-death struggle, our small countries have, by the wonderful grace of God, been saved from all harm, and permitted thus far to enjoy the inestimable blessing of peace. All these things helped to give added weight to the solemn and timely truths presented in clearness and power by the servants of God.

The first of the four meetings was that of the Scandinavian Union District, held in Copenhagen, May 19-23. While all the other meetings were more than usually well attended, the attendance at this our first meeting was not quite so good as might have been desired. The reason, however, was that it was held just at a somewhat unfortunate time. In all other respects the meeting was a success. Ministering brethren attending from abroad were Elders A. G. Christiansen and L. Muderspach, presidents of the Denmark and Sweden Conferences, respectively. Owing to the large number of patients at the Skodsborg Sanitarium at the time, comparatively few of the large family of workers at that institution could get away to the city. For this reason services were held every evening also at Skodsborg, in the sanitarium chapel. These services were conducted by Elders Muderspach and Christiansen; they were well attended by the members of the Skodsborg church and by a large number of patients. We greatly regretted that Elder L. R. Conradi, on account of the war situation, did not see his way clear to be present at any of the yearly meetings in our union. For many years he has been with us on such occasions, rendering most valuable help and counsel. At the Copenhagen meeting thirteen persons were baptized. Elder J. C. Raft, our union president, will continue in charge of the union district the present year.

The Denmark Conference, next, had its annual meeting, this time in the city of Aalborg, May 26-30. Elder Christiansen, the president, assisted by two Bible workers, had conducted public lectures in the city during the winter. The attendance at this annual meeting was very good. The main burden of the spiritual work was carried by Elders Raft, Muderspach, and Christiansen. The meeting indeed proved a great blessing. The plain truths spoken were heartily responded to by our brethren and sisters, and not a few others came to listen to the public discourses in the evenings. The delegates took an active part in the discussion of matters that were considered in the business meetings, and a very gentle spirit prevailed throughout. Nineteen persons were baptized. Elder Christiansen was reelected president of the conference.

Christiania was the place of the third meeting, that of the East Norway Conference, held June 2-6. A large number of our people had come together, and the public lectures, chiefly conducted by Elders Raft and Christiansen, and Elder O. J. O. Roest, of the West Norway Conference, were well attended, the meeting hall at Akersgaden 74 being almost overcrowded at times. One interesting feature of this meeting was the presence of Brother Jens Hokland, our young worker among the Laplanders, far away in the northernmost parts of Norway. Some of the readers of the REVIEW may remember having seen his name before. He is doing well in learning the language, and has a great burden for those people, to whom he already feels greatly attached, in spite of the fact that their ways and modes of living are widely different from what we are accustomed to. The young people's societies in our union are using their offerings in helping to sustain the mission among the Lapps.

All in all, the meeting in Christiania was a very profitable one, and all attending felt the presence of God's Spirit in a marked manner. Elder N. C. Bergersen was again elected president of the conference.

The meeting in Christiania finished, early in the morning we took the train which was to carry us across the mountains to the city of Bergen, where the yearly meeting of the West Norway Conference was to be held, June 9-13. This trip takes all day, and presents some magnificent scenery of wild gorges, of foaming torrents rushing down the steeps from lofty heights, and of mountain areas covered with eternal snow. It is a piece of vivid revelation of the Creator's power.

For the meeting the brethren had secured a neat and attractive hall of just the right size. Considering the fact that this conference as yet has not a very large membership, the attendance was most encouraging. Especially at the public services the number of hearers, among whom were many not of our faith, was all that the hall could accommodate. Here, as in the other places, a very gentle spirit prevailed, and the delegates manifested considerable interest in the business of the conference. Also here the spiritual work done was very thorough. The words spoken by the ministering brethren from outside the conference, Elders Raft, Christiansen, and Bergersen, made a deep impression on all present. The divine Spirit worked on the hearts through the timely truths that were presented in a very straight and intelligent way by the brethren. Elder Roest, the former president, was again put in charge of the conference.

It was a source of great satisfaction to notice from the reports presented at each of these annual meetings that the war situation had not crippled our finances in the various conferences, as many of us for some time feared it would. Almost without exception both tithe and offerings had increased, in some cases even very substantially.

Drs. N. P. Nelson and A. Andersen, both of the Skodsborg Sanitarium, gave lectures on health topics at the meeting in Copenhagen; Dr. Nelson also at the Aalborg meeting.

At all these yearly gatherings the servants of God seemed to be weighted with a feeling of responsibility to present to our people the plain and cutting truths for just the present hour. The message to the Laodicean church received considerable attention. We have reason to believe that the meetings will prove a spiritual uplift to our people in these conferences. May God give life and growth to the seed sown.

Skodsborg, Denmark.