NORTHERN EUROPE by J. G. Matteson

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, Cal. · Jan 22, 1880

NORTHERN EUROPE.

By J. G. Matteson

THE days are short now in Norway. In this place (Christiana) the sun rises at present about 9 o,clock, and sets at 2:52. The days are gloomy and dark; the sun is quite low at midday. Yet people are as active as ever, if not more so; and the winter is the best time for evening meetings.

The meetings in our own hall, Akersveien No. 2, are well attended. The tide has turned very much in favor of the truth, and the influence of this reaction in public sentiment has gone out to other places. A religious paper published at Goteborg, Sweden, has commenced a series of articles on the religious sects of our day, and begins with the S. D. Adventists. The paper devotes two columns to this matter. The article contains, first, a very fair extract from Bro. U. Smith's History of S. D. Adventists in Die Stimme der Wahrheit; and then the editor speaks favorably of the work in Norway. He says: "Miss-ionaer Matteson, who is stationed in Norway, labors with much zeal; but he has also met strong opposition, especially from the Methodists." And again: "It cannot be denied, that the Adventists have some good reasons for their faith; and it is certain that they can more easily defend their belief concerning Saturday, that it should be the Sabbath in the place of Sunday, than the idea which they also defend, that the wicked shall be destroyed. Yet this idea has lately gained many adherents."

The editor promises to give, from time to time, more information concerning the Adventists, from The Signs of the Times.

A Lutheran paper printed in this city, also contained a notice of our work in an article filling a little more than two columns. Is was written by one of our brethren, by request of the editor. They notice our Sabbath-school and printing office with respect, and speak well of us. This is beyond my highest expectations, and it is wonderful, in view of the fact that nearly all papers in this country are swayed by the Lutheran church, because that carries with it the weight of public opinion. In Denmark, also, my work and name ran through the papers, but only to be misrepresented and ridiculed. Here it is different. The Lord has given us an opportunity successfully to carry through a battle with the theological faculty of the State University, the bishop, and most prominent theologians of the country. Our church stands acknowledged by the State as a Christian church, and we have taken our place in the rank of dissenters, with as many privlleges as any of them.

The determined efforts of the Methodists against us have resulted in great loss to them. Their editor, who was the main leader in this opposition, has given up his office, and has gone to another city to preach. Many of their members flock to our meetings, and at present their meetings are not so well attended as ours. Even our worst opposers have publicly acknowledged that our coming here has stirred the people, and wrought a great change in them in regard to searching the Scriptures.

Printing work is especially favored in this country. The liberty of the press is unbounded. This is not the case in Denmark or Sweden. Here we can print all we wish and sell all printed matter without any license or tax. But we could not sell so much as a pencil without paying quite a sum for citizenship. Then the publications can go freely into our sister kingdom, and Tidernes Tegn can be carried by mail twice a month for one year to one subscriber at a cost of 5 1/2 cents.

Bro. Brorson is steadily gaining ground in Denmark. Six brethren and sisters have lately been baptized. Others are coming into the truth. Brn. Jasperson and Roseqvist are at work in Skien. Bro. J. writes lately that Bro. R. does good service, and that he has excellent abilities for preaching. Indeed, he says he thinks he is not behind any of our Scandinavian preachers in America.

Bro. Olsen is doing good in Sweden. He has translated a small tract (concerning the word eternity), which he very much needed. It is now in type, and will soon be printed. A Swedish brother writes from Amot (the first place Bro. Olsen visited after he left us) that his visit did the friends good. There are five believers who have since commenced to keep the Sabbath. Several persons from Amot have attended our meetings here in Christiana, and many tracts have been scattered by them. The truth is spreading largely there.

I have also just received a letter from Bro. Tockzelius in Sweden, who came here with another brother last fall. They were both baptized. Bro. T. has been a preacher for several years. He has been advocating the truth diligently, and it is stirring many souls. A Baptist preacher has accepted the truth and is also spreading it among others. Then I receive letters from other places in Sweden, where little companies here and there are investigating. Truly, the fields are white for the harvest.

Next week I commence to give a series of lectures in a new place where we have rented a hall—Stromsveien No. 64. Yet the meetings in this place are not diminished. So every day in the week will be occupied. This will open a new field to us. Aid us, dear brethren, in the distant West, with your prayers. We need very much the help of God; for who is sufficient for these things?

May we get our work done at last, and meet in the kingdom. J. G. MATTESON. Christiana, Norway, Dec. 13, 1879.