The Norwegian Meeting by GUY DAIL

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Sep 21, 1905

The Norwegian Meeting

By GUY DAIL

GUY DAIL

June 27 to July 2 the Norwegian Conference was held at Stavanger, on the western coast, a city of about twenty-seven thousand inhabitants, a nice, intelligent class of people. It is a hilly city, but has a nice, large harbor. It contains a fine church, erected of very enduring stone in 1272, also a number of factories, many of which are engaged in the canning and preserving of various kinds of fish.

Although there was not that unanimity of feeling among the workers which we found elsewhere, yet the Lord's Spirit melted hearts, and blessed the people, and we had a good meeting together.

God has blessed the labors of our workers in Norway, and by his providence he has opened the way for them to secure places for pitching their tents, and has also moved upon the heart of one person to donate a second tent to the conference for tent-meetings. The tent was pitched in Drammen last year, near Christiania, and it was so neatly fitted up that it became quite an attraction to the people of the place, who visited it and the meetings by the hundred. Many were convinced of the truth, but thus far only about twenty have taken their stand; others are now awaiting baptism, as the tent effort was followed by winter meetings.

A new series of meetings will be held at Trondhjem, where God has wonderfully opened the way for us to secure a place to pitch the tent on the grounds of a very wealthy person, owning a fine large castle on the hill, at the foot of which we shall have our meetings. The way to secure this place seems to have opened in direct answer to the earnest, daily prayers of the church-members who received the truth in the tent effort last summer. There will be also a second tent pitched, not far from Larvik, in southern Norway.

On the west coast there have been continually accessions to our membership, as well as in Christiania itself. During the year sixty-two were baptized and added to our membership, which numbered eight hundred and eight at the close of 1904. The tithe was $4,409, against $3,999 last year; and the gifts $897, instead of $513 the previous year. The book sales increased from $4,801 in 1903 to $7,307 during 1904. The publishing house in Christiania added $515 to its capital. The health institution in Christiania has had a fair year. In general, the finances of the conference are much better than at any previous period for years. It has been decided to do more toward establishing a fund for the payment of the material in the manufacture of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” and to push the sale of that book as much as possible. They will also try to increase their First-day offerings during the coming year. For the last few years little has been done in Norway toward this system of giving, as there have been so many other matters demanding financial aid.

The Sabbath was the best day of the meeting. The Spirit of God visited the people, and their testimony showed that they had been touched by his power. Four were baptized.

The officers chosen for the coming year are: President, O. A. Johnson; other members of committee, O. P. Norderhus, N. P. Nelsen, O. J. Olsen, L. Halvorsen, J. M. Narem, H. Z. Johansen; Treasurer and Manager of the Book Mission, A. C. Christensen; Canvassing Agent, J. M. Narem; Secretary Sabbath-school and Missionary Department, Johan Nielsen.

Ministers: O. A. Johnson, H. M. Hansen, N. P. Nelsen, O. P. Norderhus, A. Sevaldsen; Bible workers, E. Iversen, O. Narem, Johanne Bjorckelund, Julit Lycke.

We trust God's blessing may continue with the brethren here, and wish for them a successful year. The political outlook is not the most assuring, and yet we know that the God of hosts will be with all who will trust him. Let this people be remembered by their brethren throughout the world, that the work may be advanced in all its branches, and the cause of God continue to prosper.

Hamburg, Germany.