Editorial by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 19, 1911

Editorial

By Editor

IT was a time of rejoicing in the early church when news came of the conversion of others than Jews to the faith of Jesus.

THE work begun at Jerusalem spread forth to the Samaritans; then Romans, of Cæsarea, believed; and next came the word from Antioch that many Greeks were also obedient to the faith. The church at Jerusalem sent forth Barnabas to follow up this movement among other nationalities; and the record tells us that as Barnabas came to Antioch, and saw “the grace of God” among the Gentiles, he “was glad.” The message was beginning to spread to the world.

So, also, it was a time of rejoicing in the early days of our own work when the message began to reach other nationalities than the English. At the College View council of the General Conference Committee, a year or more ago, Elder O. A. Olsen told us of the rejoicing that was felt among the little handful of Scandinavian believers in Wisconsin when the first report from a Scandinavian laborer appeared in the REVIEW. Well he remembered just how the report looked on the page, and how he held it up for his father to see, saying, “Look at this; now we have a minister to preach the message to the Scandinavians!”

THAT first report from Elder J. G. Matteson was in the REVIEW of July 5, 1864. Before this, a few Scandinavian believers had been reached by English preaching. In June, 1858, Elder W. Phelps had reported the baptism of six Norwegians, adding: “What a pity some of our publications are not translated into the Norwegian language!” In that year our first Scandinavian church was established, in Oakland, Wis. These new believers earnestly prayed the Lord to raise up some one to lead out in giving the message to the Scandinavians in their own tongue. And the Lord answered in sending us Elder Matteson to be our pioneer laborer for the Scandinavian peoples of this country and Europe.

ELDER MATTESON accepted the message through the work of Elder P. H. Cady, near Poy Sippi, Wis. He was in charge of a Danish Baptist congregation; and as he preached the new-found truths to them, a good proportion followed with him. In this first report—to which Elder Olsen referred—he told of their joy in having found the message, and said:—

We want to move in harmony with the body, and to join our State association at the first opportunity. It is our desire to go with the remnant of God's people to Mount Zion, and to give all the praise to the Lamb of God in his glorious kingdom forever.

Since those times, the numbers of Scandinavian believers have grown into thousands, marching shoulder to shoulder with believers of all other nationalities toward the goal of the finished work.