p. 92 | The Work in Norway by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 20, 1879

The Work in Norway.

By James White

The Review of March 6 contains interesting and startling news of the work in Norway. What a statement is this from Elder Matteson in his report from Christiana! “Wednesday evening we secured a large hall in the theater, in order to get a reply before many. About eighteen hundred crowded in, and many went away for want of room.”

Eighteen hundred persons in one assembly, listening to a defense of the great truth for our time, trampled under the feet of priests, and misrepresented and slandered in the public prints! These make hard work for those who, like Paul, are “set for the defense of the gospel;” but they have a part to act in this great closing work. They advertise for us by calling the attention of the people to our doctrines and work. Without them the world would hardly know we were in it. The battle goes well.

The statement of Bro. Matteson, that he had purchased real estate in Christiana to the amount of fifteen thousand dollars, really startled us at first. But as we read his explanation of the reasons for so doing, setting forth both the necessities of the case and the easy terms upon which the purchase is made, the movement appeared more consistent.

We honor the judgment of our dear Bro. Matteson in deciding to labor where he can accomplish most, and appeal to our people to assist and encourage him and all others who thus labor. The terms of payment of the fifteen thousand dollars are as follows:—

1. The time. This was doubtless set by the party who sold the property—thirty-three years. Eld. Matteson is not a timist. If he were, we have no idea he would place the period of the close of the message thirty-three years distant.

2. The rate of interest. Five per cent per annum is exceedingly low. Rents for a place of worship, which they now save, added to what rent they now receive for the remaining portion of their house, would far exceed the interest on the entire fifteen thousand dollars.

3. The annual payments. For the first five years they would have to pay $266 annually. At the expiration of the five years the yearly payments would be $552.

The system upon which these brethren and sisters are working to raise means is certainly a good one. Thirteen and one-third cents per week seems like a small sum indeed, but in a year it would amount to $6.93. A church of one hundred members would raise $693.33. A body of one thousand brethren and sisters would raise annually $6,933.33. The strength of united action is here seen. At first, the payment of this debt will move slowly and heavily upon the few brethren in Christiana and the Scandinavian brethren in Europe. But as their numbers increase, and the sum of their interest is diminished by annual payments on the debt, the burden will grow lighter.

We set the time for the payment of this entire debt, including the cost of a complete publishing house, at five years. But in order to accomplish this, our brethren in Northern Europe must have help from America. First, the Scandinavian brethren in this country will esteem it their pleasure as well as their duty, to act a very liberal part for this mission, and, second, the American brethren, who take a deep interest in all our missions, will give of their means to assist this one also. Both are responding to our call for immediate help for Bro. Matteson. The receipts for Danish Mission in Review of March 6 alone come up to the amount of $488.

We will now suppose that it will require $15,000 more to establish the press in Norway, and help support missionaries until the cause there shall be self-sustaining, making in all $30,000 to be raised in five years, or $6,000 annually. By the grace of God we will do it. And we suggest that the American brethren pay one-half this sum. As the cause is young and comparatively weak in Europe, the American brethren will have to raise the larger sum for a few years. Then as the cause in Europe gathers strength, the Scandinavian brethren will be able to come up with their half. This we represent as follows:—

YEARS.	AMERICAN.	EUROPEAN.
1879	$5,000 00	$1,000 00
1880	4,000 00	2,000 00
1881	3,000 00	3,000 00
1882	2,000 00	4,000 00
1883	1,000 00	5,000 00
Total	$15,000 00	$15,000 00

Thus the $30,000 will be raised in five years. And of this sum Mrs. W. and the writer propose to pay $1,000 in payments as follows:—

1879, $300; 1880, $200; 1881, $200; 1882, $150; 1883, $150.

We wish this article to be regarded as suggestive rather than decisive. This, and many other matters of grave importance, will come before the General Conference the 17th of April.

James White.