Greater New York by L. Johnson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Apr 8, 1902

Greater New York

By L. Johnson

FOR over a month the writer has been laboring among the Scandinavians in Brooklyn and New York. There has been no Scandinavian minister there for several years, until about two months ago, when Elder C. Meleen came from Pennsylvania. The work was started in Brooklyn by Elder J. F. Hansen, and a church was organized in January, 1894, with twenty-two members. Since that time many have accepted the truth and joined the church, and although quite a number have moved away, and some have joined the American churches in New York, yet the present membership is fifty-nine, among whom are representatives of all the Scandinavian nationalities as well as of the Finnish nation. It has been difficult for the church to find a suitable place in which to hold meetings. They have moved from one hall to another, having occupied twelve different places since the church was organized. These halls were generally beside or above a saloon, which often made it very unpleasant; and therefore when an opportunity presented itself for them to buy a little church, they gladly accepted it. The church the brethren have bought is a wooden building, twenty-six by forty-five feet, and is located on Nineteenth Street near Fifth Avenue. It was built by the Jews, who sold it to the Danish Lutherans, of whom our brethren bought it for $3,050. There were two mortgages on it,—the first, $2,000, and the second, $750; but those holding the last-named mortgage agreed to reduce it to $550 if paid at once. In order to do that, however, our brethren had to borrow some, and by painting the building and making a few changes, they have incurred an expense of $250 more. It is now a neat little church, and is the first building owned by our people in Greater New York.

Greater New York is a needy field, having about seventy-five thousand Scandinavians. There is a good opening for labor, and our brethren show a willingness to help both with their means and by personal efforts. They have been selling “Christ’s Object Lessons” since it was printed in the Scandinavian languages (one sister has sold twenty-two copies), and they are going to push the work with greater enthusiasm till they have done their part. About one hundred persons daily visit the vegetarian restaurant that Brother Rasmussen has on 170 Fulton St., and I cannot but think that some of them will accept the truth for this time. They seem desirous to learn.

Brother Meleen and the writer have been holding meetings in the church or in private houses almost every night recently, and the Lord has blessed us. Some are interested. I have also visited the Scandinavian brethren in Worcester, Mass., and in Youngsville, Pa.

Sabbath, March 22, we held a union meeting, and the church was dedicated. Elders Haskell, Franke, and Warren spoke to us. It was a good day. One hundred and fifty dollars was donated to the church. May the Lord bless his work in Greater New York. The brethren have become very dear to me, and I feel much interested in the work. May we all be faithful to the end, always abounding in the work of the Lord.

L. JOHNSON.