The Norway Conference by Guy Dail

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Aug 20, 1903

The Norway Conference

By Guy Dail

GUY DAIL

This meeting was held in Christiania, Norway, June 16-21; fifty-four delegates were there, to represent fifteen churches; the churches in Trondhjem, Kristiansand, Stavanger, Tromsø, Sandnes, and Arendal (which were so far distant that few, if any, of their members were able to attend the conference) telegraphed their greetings, quoting some appropriate Scripture text.

God is granting his people valuable experiences all over the world, and each country has interesting features. Norway is no exception. In this field Satan, too, is at work as in other lands, and the past year there has been strong, determined opposition to the truth. However, this has only served to increase the interest, and night after night hundreds have come to listen, who were compelled to go away, because the hall would not accommodate them. Articles against us in the newspapers have seemed to do no harm. It is a fact that God is creating among many honest-hearted a desire for truth that will not be suppressed. If we as a

people were only ready, God would use us mightily; if we do not get ready, his work will be done without our co-operation. As we see these things, we cry to God to accept our repentance for sin, and fill us with his Spirit. Events are coming to pass in rapid succession, and the situation in our own denomination, and in the popular churches of the day, and in the world, all proclaim more loudly than words possibly can proclaim it, that the day of the Lord hasteth greatly. In Norway, one minister, in writing against the truth, presented flimsy arguments that were completely answerable by the writings of one of his brethren who lived and wrote in support of correct Gospel principles many years ago. This has offered us a great advantage, as, by contrasting the two positions, it has been possible to show how the purity of the Gospel is being repudiated by popular teachers of the day.

In the denominational organ of another religious body, appeared a series of articles entitled, “Ten Hard Nuts for Seventh-day Adventists to Crack.” In the ninth proposition the writer plainly asked: “How can we explain Christ’s transgression of the divine law, unless we acknowledge that He abolished the law—which, in fact, He did?” At one place our minister reviewed these theses. In his audience was a preacher who belonged to the church represented by the writer of the articles under discussion; and that preacher stated that he could not agree with the positions taken in the “Ten Hard Nuts for Seventh-day Adventists to Crack.” In the course of the meeting, this preacher was asked what, in his opinion, would be the future lot of those who keep the seventh-day Sabbath. He replied: “Laws will be enacted that will prohibit Sabbath-keepers from buying or selling, and, finally, the government will decree that the people shall have the right to kill Sabbath-observers.” This shows that at least some of those who are opposing the third angel’s message begin to realize something of the future prospects of that little body of worshippers who are determined to face death rather than yield their obedience to the law of God.

In reporting the Norway Conference two years ago, mention was made of the wonderful manner in which, from the study of the Scriptures, alone, a fisherman living in the northern part of the country, at Vandve, on the island of Helgeland, became convinced of the message, and so faithfully labored with his neighbors that a number of them were also ready for baptism when the president of the conference visited them. There is now a church of twenty-six members in this hamlet of humble fisher folk, and their church elder (he who had brought to them the glad tidings of a soon-coming Saviour) was present. He is a large, whole-hearted man, with ruddy, sunburnt cheeks, and simple, unaffected manners, whose general bearing reveals a character such as one would expect in a disciple of the Master, who had learned to trust God in the daily experiences of life.

When this company were baptized, they were in debt, but now these debts have been paid; for, strange as it might seem to some, while there was poor fishing in general, this faithful band of believers was richly blessed in temporal things. They were, as is the case with the average fisherman, poor. Indeed, a few felt that they were too poor to pay the Lord’s tithe. One brother who had accepted and begun to practice the tithing system, told his elder that he really thought he could not afford to pay a tenth to God. The elder told him that God could not bless him in that. However, the brother determined to try it, anyhow. He withheld what was God’s. He went fishing, but had little success. He kept on fishing, but his condition became worse and worse. He was reduced to very distressing circumstances. At length, he was on the water one day, and a storm came up, and his boat was upset, and everything the poor man had in it was lost—but the brother himself escaped with his life. He had made a fair test of the matter, and told the church elder, who had watched for the outcome of it all with an anxious solicitude, that he would now try paying an honest tithe. He was kindly invited to take God at his word, and assured that he would enjoy His blessing. After thus dedicating to God his own, the brother went fishing again, and caught a whole boat load of fish, and, since then, he, like the others, has been enjoying prosperity. He paid his tithe as he vowed to do, and is now out of debt. When God’s promises are complied with, we need not fear but that He will do just what He says He will.

During the year, the Norway Conference has reduced its debt about 1,000 kroner (3.70 kroner make one dollar), and the conference has a debt of only about 900 kroner. The tithe for the last three conference years has been: 1901, 12,335 kroner; 1902, 13,586 kroner; 1903, 13,714.82 kroner; gifts, 1901, 1,552.50 kroner; 1902, 1,304.46 kroner; 1903, 2,199.63. During the twelve months ending December 31, 1902, 75 had been baptized, and 45 received by vote, making the total membership of Norway 679; last quarter’s report shows 707 members. One new church was received into the conference at this meeting—the church at Sandnas, numbering 13.

The business sessions of the conference were lively, and the committees reported promptly, and there was present a pleasing spirit of unity of purpose and action, so that the business was out of the way by Thursday.

At the suggestion of the Committee on Resolutions, it was voted to thank God for His blessing in the work in Norway during the past year; to thank Brother O. P. Norderhus for offering his services to the Conference for two years, as a self-supporting missionary; to express to the South Dakota Conference heart-felt appreciation for volunteering to support one laborer to accompany Brother Norderhus (who expects to labor chiefly in the rural districts); to do what can be done to increase the circulation of Evangeliets Sendebud among our own people, as well as solicit subscriptions from those not of our faith; to have the Sabbath-school officers chosen by the church; to ask that there be held a Scandinavian union meeting next year; to thank Brother Sherrig for the help he has been to the canvassing work in Norway, as he now devotes his time fully to Denmark; to raise a fund for the purpose of assisting in conducting a training-school for workers, especially church-school teachers, by contributing toward this purpose an average of ten ore a week per capita; and to express the sentiments of the brethren concerning the financial help they have received from the Hamburg publishing house.

The Conference Committee chosen is as follows: President, O. A. Johnson; other members, H. M. Hansen, O. P. Norderhus, A. C. Christensen, O. J. Olsen, H. L. Halvorsen, B. Jensen. Secretary, C. B. Jensen; Treasurer, A. C. Christensen; Auditor, J. Falk; Sabbath-school and Missionary Secretary, Johanne Christensen; General Canvassing Agent, H. L. Henriksen. Norwegian Philanthropic Society officers: President, O. J. Olsen; other members, O. J. Johnson, Jno. Lorntz, Johanne Christensen, C. B. Jensen, H. J. Hansen, H. L. Halvorsen.

Ministerial credentials were granted O. A. Johnson, H. M. Hansen, N. P. Nelsen, O. P. Norderhus, O. J. Olsen, A. Sevaldsen; missionary credentials, Edward Iversen, Johanne Bjorcklund, Julia Lycke, Oskar Andersen.

The spirit of self-sacrifice shown by our Norwegian people is commendable. They have many reasons for encouragement, and in many respects a promising field. Finances are close, but distressing times are often most favorable for the proclamation of the truth. The outlook is very hopeful.

In closing, we would say that the help of Brethren Irwin, Conradi, and Paulson was blessed of God to the good of the people. Each found plenty of opportunity to speak words of encouragement, hope, and good cheer, and these messages were received with thankfulness and eagerness. God is working in Norway, and he will still work with greater power.

Nyhyttan, Sweden.