SCANDINAVIA by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 21, 1900

SCANDINAVIA

By John Norton Loughborough

From June 1 to July 8 I was with our people in their annual meetings and Conferences in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. It was feared that there would be but a small attendance in the Norway meeting, owing to the depression in money matters all through Norway. The country has been afflicted with what Americans call a “boom,” and this, as usual, has been followed with business failures, and a general stagnation in the money market. In the “crash” Christiania alone lost over three million dollars by business failures. Our publishing house in Christiania was involved in the difficulty, which caused some discouragement among our people. As they came to the meeting and learned more fully the situation, they decided to submit to the inevitable loss of property, and, learning by past experience, to avoid in future what led to present calamity. Trusting in the Lord to build up again the work from a humble beginning, good cheer took the place of sadness.

Of the six hundred and fifty-two church-members in the twenty churches in the Conference, nearly one fourth were in attendance in the Drammen meeting. The report of standing showed that the tithe paid to the Conference for the year was $3,053. The tithe and contributions, notwithstanding the “hard times,” were $659.20 more than for the preceding year. The Sabbath-school contribution was $232.42. All of this, except $6.08, was given to mission work. The forty-two colporteurs sold books during the year to the value of $5,602.43. This was $1,218.67 less than the year before. This was partly owing to financial troubles, and partly to the lack of a new book to place before the people.

Brother O. A. Johnson, of Union College, Neb., was elected to preside over the Conference. Our people are full of courage with the prospect now before them. They have desired some one at the head of their Conference who could give his whole time to the work in that Conference. Now they have their desire, and we trust all will “pull together” with their president.

The annual gathering in Sweden was held in a new building on the school farm at Nyhyttan. Of the twenty-nine churches, comprised of seven hundred and forty-one members, nearly two hundred persons attended this Conference. There was a large attendance of the services by the people from the surrounding country. The meetings were full of interest. Several persons took their stand for the truth. To give some idea of the tone of spirituality, I would say that in one testimony meeting ninety-five persons bore testimony in about seventy minutes. June 26 Brother O. A. Olsen baptized six candidates.

There seemed to be a grand opportunity to study God in nature on the Nyhyttan school farm. I never saw a greater variety of wild flowers on the same amount of ground in any country. It seemed as if two or three new kinds came forth each day. The principal of our school there told me that during

last season his class, which was studying botany, picked two hundred kinds of flowers. The Lord has surely provided a glorious opportunity there by the river between two lakes, both in sight, to study his beauties in the natural world.

The Conference report of standing showed the tithe of last year to be $3,372.43; contributions to the work, $318.80. The Sabbath-school offerings were $236.80. All, except $3.80, was given to mission work. Their thirty-eight colporteurs sold and delivered last year $18,794.58 worth of books. Brother Linn, the canvassing agent, said that it was the largest amount of our books ever sold in one year in Sweden. The gain for the year at their book depository was $1,683.31.

Brother Pilquist, a missionary on his way to China, gave two talks on China to crowds of people, who contributed quite liberally to aid in the mission. Brother and Sister Pilquist sang several pieces in Chinese. They are anxious to get back to their field in China, and can hardly wait for the present “Chinese troubles” to be restrained before passing on their way. The part of Sweden where our meeting was held was their former home. They are visiting relatives and acquaintances on their way.

The Conference in Denmark was held in Vejle. This being a place quite central for Jutland, Denmark, a good representation from our churches gathered at the meeting. It was the largest representation of our people ever yet gathered in Denmark. One new church was added to the Conference, making seventeen in all. Several persons have accepted the truth in Denmark during the year; but owing to deaths, and many removals to America, the membership remained about the same as last year—six hundred. The tithe paid was $4,411.02; the contributions to the Conference funds were $94.41; the Sabbath-school contributions were $280.30, all of which was given to mission work. During the year twenty colporteurs were in the field, who sold books to the amount of $6,668.92. There was a loss of $364 on the business of their depository.

The meetings of this Conference were full of interest, from first to last. Among the topics considered was the health question. Dr. Ottosen, of the Skodsborg Sanatorium, gave several talks, and also presented testimonials showing how that institution is gaining favor with the people. Their rooms are full, and for the last two months they have met all their expenses from receipts, and furnished some funds to apply on debts. Brother P. A. Hansen, of Iowa, was elected president of the Danish Conference. Steps were also taken at this meeting to open again the school at Fredrickshaven, which has been closed for many months. Brother O. A. Olsen, president of the European Union Conference, was present in all these Scandinavian meetings. The writer was glad of the opportunity of meeting in these gatherings with about one fourth of the two thousand Sabbath-keepers of these Conferences. There is a great field before the ministers, physicians, teachers, Bible workers, colporteurs, and all who will give themselves to the work. May the Lord grant his special help to the workers.

This he will do for all who trust him, “because they trust in him.” So may the work prevail.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.