Our Scandinavian Tent in Minneapolis by Gabriel Loftfield

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 14, 1909

Our Scandinavian Tent in Minneapolis

By Gabriel Loftfield

ON July 1 we pitched our tent on the corner of Riverside and Twenty-first Avenues, South. We scattered about three thousand hand-bills. The tent seated over three hundred persons. Through the generosity of the Minnesota Conference we were provided with many conveniences essential for our work. From the first meeting, the attendance was good, and the interest keen.

The Scandinavian field offers much encouragement to the worker. The Norwegians, Swedes, and Danes are conceded by all to be among the very best immigrants coming to this country, capable of adapting themselves to new conditions and environment. They are intelligent and independent, and illiteracy is not found among them.

The Scandinavians are naturally conservative about adopting new things, but when a follower is once gained, he becomes a stanch believer. They adapt themselves readily to our customs, and learn the English language quickly, make great progress along all lines, and are giving their American brethren a merry chase for offices of trust and emolument. “The Norwegians are found in every public office except those filled by Swedes,” is a common witticism in Minnesota and the Dakotas.

The message has made good progress among these people, and while a large number of the converts are found in American companies, many Scandinavian churches have been raised up. We experience a great dearth of competent Scandinavian workers, because the process of establishing schools, or departments in our American schools, for our Scandinavian workers, has only begun. This department of our work must be strengthened. Our Scandinavian workers need, above all else, a liberal education.

Our services at the tent were conducted entirely in the Scandinavian languages, principally Danish and Norwegian. We had no Swedish worker with us; nevertheless large numbers of Swedes came to our meetings.

Elder L. H. Christian, who is at the head of the Norwegian-Danish work in America, was our principal speaker. His sermons carry conviction to the hearts of the hearers.

The tent-meetings are to be continued as long as the weather permits; then a suitable hall will be engaged for the winter.

On the seventh of September, when I parted with this tent company, to take up again my duties at the Washington Foreign Mission Seminary, many of those who had attended our meetings were standing in the valley of decision. It was wonderful indeed to see how the Spirit of the Lord was striving with them, to reprove sin and to turn their hearts to God. I believe that there will be a goodly company coming out from this effort to join the army of the Lord

and to strengthen the Scandinavian church of Minneapolis.

Scandinavian tent-meetings were also held at St. Paul and Fergus Falls, Minn. The reports are encouraging.

We ask our American brethren to join us in prayer for the “adopted children” of the Scandinavian north.

GABRIEL LOFTFIELD.