p. 108 | REPORT FROM NORWAY by O. A. Johnson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 18, 1902

REPORT FROM NORWAY.

By O. A. Johnson

While the enemy of all righteousness is neither bound nor dead, and while he is doing all he can to hinder the work of God, yet we see evidence of divine guidance in the work, and therefore have reason to take courage, ever trusting Him who will never leave nor forsake. We are also truly thankful for the progress the work is making amid the difficulties surrounding us here.

The financial difficulties that came over the work here had a discouraging effect upon many, and as a consequence some drew back. Of course it would naturally take some time for these to develop. We are glad that some are coming back, like the prodigal son, and asking to be received into the confidence of the church again. Others have left the truth entirely, and have had to be dropped from our church records. These dismissals, together with the large per cent of our brethren who go to America, reduce our numbers so that our increase is not large either in numbers or in finances, although quite a number may be yearly added to our church.

Although an unusually heavy snowstorm, followed by rain and hard wind, kept many of our brethren from attending the services during the week of prayer, yet we hear reports of excellent meetings in various places. We are unable to report at this writing the amount of collections received at this time. Besides the yearly collections at the week of prayer, we have had three general collections in our Conference during the last year to raise money to pay the Conference and tract society debts to the publishing house here, and we are glad to say that our brethren have responded nobly, notwithstanding the hard times. We hope to liquidate these two debts by Conference time next May or June. We also hope to reduce the debt of the Book Mission to the publishing house, and in a year or two we hope to liquidate all Conference obligations.

Elder H. Hansen is having an excellent interest at Stavanger, and some are deciding for the truth. Elder Nelson and Brother Iversen have been laboring at Porsgrund, and also at Skien, with encouraging results. Brother Nelson leaves Brother Iversen to carry on the work, while he goes to Christiansand to begin a series of public meetings.

At Christiania, where I am now laboring, we have had, since Christmas, our large hall full of attentive listeners every Sunday evening. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings I conduct a Bible school, using printed lessons, which is also well attended by our brethren and by others. Our church here holds district prayer-meetings, and several will now begin holding family Bible readings. We expect to have baptism soon.

Last Sunday evening I talked with a man who has lately moved into this city. He and his wife have kept the Sabbath for years, without the knowledge of us as a people. He told me that he learned to keep the Sabbath from reading the Bible. It is evident that there are many honest people in Norway searching for light; for in our travels we see persons reading the Bible, and in talking with some of them we soon perceive that the Spirit of God has been troubling their minds about the Sabbath, the coming of Christ, baptism, and kindred truths.

Brother Sherrig has just closed a very successful canvassers’ institute. Our present canvassing force now numbers twenty-six, and will doubtless be increased by spring. The sales for 1899 amounted to 21,547.83 kroner, about $5,823.73; for 1900, 26,904.31 kroner, or $7,271.43; for 1901, 32,708.45 kroner, or $8,840.12. From this it may be readily seen that this branch of the work is progressing, although the finances are getting worse all the time in the country as well as in the city. The canvassers related many interesting experiences, and presented earnest calls from various places for the living preacher. Up to the present time the country people have been, and are still, more under the direct influence of the clergy than the people in the cities are, and therefore we have labored more in the cities. We hope before long to be able to enter these openings, and work in the country. In one place in northern Norway there are some Finnish families who have observed the Sabbath for some time, but with whom we have not yet come in direct contact.

The health work is onward; for about two years two sisters have run a health home in Bergen, giving various treatments to the sick, and teaching health principles. They have had, and still have, the support of some of the leading physicians, and have been able to labor for a good class of people. They are making their work a success financially on the self-supporting plan. A brother began the same kind of work about a year ago, and is also doing well on the self-supporting plan. He is also reaching a good class with the health principles, and winning their confidence. In Christiania the same kind of work is carried on under the direction of Brother O. I. Olsen. An old building, which has been empty for years, and which belongs to the publishing house here, has been remodeled, and fitted up for a small sanitarium, with rooms for patients and rooms for various kinds of treatment for both sexes. This work is now progressing quite well.

The basement of our large office building has been remodeled, and fitted up for a type room, as well as for a press room. Two presses have been traded for a new one, better fitted for our work. This new press does most excellent work. We have also an old English press, which does good work. So we are able to do good work, and we are glad to report that up to date we have been quite busy. Brother John Lorentz has rented the first floor of the large building for his bindery. As the work is now arranged, all rooms, both in the old and in the new building, are bringing us some rent. We can truly say that it seems clear to us that the hand of the Lord has been with us in carrying on our work in harmony with the counsel of the brethren sent here to direct in these matters.

We are feeling the hand of the law in this country. Elder Sewaldsen was imprisoned for four days, on bread and water, for baptizing a lady under fifteen years, because she could not get a letter of dismissal from the pastor of the State church. A young brother has been imprisoned in the fort here for ten days for refusing to do military duties upon the Sabbath. The elder of the church was called into court to explain our views on the Sabbath question. This brother appealed his case till it reached the highest court in Norway; but there was no escape from prison. Elder O. I. Olsen, while working in the old building here, fitting it up for a small sanitarium, was twice called into police court, and has once since then been before the higher court to answer for Sunday desecration. He has appealed his case, and will appeal to the highest court. But

the probability is he will have to go to prison a few days, on bread and water. A brother in the country was fined for selling goods on Sunday; he also appealed to the highest court, but in vain. It is really astonishing that laws thus punish common, innocent work, while street cars and railroads under State control continue to run on Sunday as well as on other days. Many times street cleaning is done on Sunday as well as on other days of the week, and no fine or imprisonment awaits those who thus desecrate Sunday. While Norway has many excellent laws, yet she has a Sunday law and a few other religious laws, which work hardships upon those who refuse to comply with them.

We are truly grateful to God for His mercy and blessings to us in the midst of various obstacles and trials. The brethren are of good courage, and work with a heart and will to advance the cause of God.

The brethren of Norway are indeed thankful to our brethren in the United States and in other lands who have come to the rescue of the cause here by giving so liberally of their means. One must be here to understand how the hearts are touched by the liberal gifts sent to save the work here from disgrace. We are glad to know that the Lord will abundantly reward His faithful, sacrificing servants. Sweet will be the rest and peace when the struggle is over, the victory gained, and we are saved in the kingdom of God. O. A. JOHNSON.