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Shelby Co., Iowa

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 18, 1873

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 41, No. 10.

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Shelby Co., Iowa.

By John Matteson

STILL I am trying to labor in this county, and intend to continue another month, if the Lord will. We are holding meetings now in the town of Clay, near Indian Creek. About twenty Danes have embraced the Sabbath here, and some Americans. There are now in all forty Danes in this county who have taken hold of the Sabbath since I came here. Most of these have been awakened by the truth, and are just starting out to serve the Lord. It is remarkable that most every one of that class of people try to live out the truth when they are convinced of it.
At Bowman's Grove, where I labored before I came to this last place, the Baptists have tried hard to turn away those new converts, but without success. The brethren have met together every Sabbath, and although none of them ever took part in religious exercises before, yet they sing together, read and study the Bible together, and some of them begin to pray. They all seem to enjoy it well. I was with them last Sabbath. Went on horseback across the prairie, eight miles and back, through a severe, cold wind. Went the same distance the Sabbath before, to Copy's Grove. Took a hard cold, yet I filled two appointments the next day, although I breathed with difficulty. By the help of the Lord and the use of water I soon got over it. The winter is severe, and the weather very changeable and unfavorable for meetings, yet I learn that we fare much better than those farther north.
The prospect is good that three little companies will be raised up here to obey the truth. They live about eight miles apart, and can all meet together once a month. I learn the same lesson here as often before, that a preacher has not so good chances at first when he goes into a new place, but when once a good reputation is established, the field is more likely to open up before him. There are a number of other places in these parts that I would like to visit, where no doubt good might be done. Omaha is only forty miles west, and is a principal place for the Danish population in the West. Much land around here is bought up by Danes, who are soon to settle. I therefore consider the planting of the truth here among our people as a work of much importance. I intend to return in the spring or summer, and it would be desirable to have another missionary settle here permanently, or, at least, a brother who could take the lead of the work. Urgent calls from other places make it necessary for me to leave here soon, otherwise I should remain longer.
The Advent Tidende takes much of my attention. It requires about seventy pages of foolscap manuscript every month. Besides this, much correspondence is called for, as well as reading, to keep posted. Consequently, I cannot visit so much as I otherwise could. The work of preaching moves along some, and the interest in the Advent Tidende is increasing among its readers.
Bro. Shong, from Chicago, writes: “I learn from the readers of the Advent Tidende that it is acknowledged to be the best religious journal in our language now in circulation. Some of the leading men among the Baptists have become subscribers.”
Bro. Petersen, from Poy Sippi, Wis., says: “The Lord has been very gracious to us as a people in helping us to obtain so many publications in our own languages, and especially our monthly journal which comes to me like the gentle rain on the dry ground.”
In the same way, write many others. A Methodist brother, A. W. Jensen, from N. J., embraced the truth by reading. He seems to have a great burden for others, and is now on his way to Texas for the purpose of carrying the truth to a Danish settlement there.
From Chicago, I learn that the brethren are united, and some have been added to their number, although they have no preaching. From Poy Sippi, the elder, Bro. Nielsen, has gone out into new places, while the members enjoy meetings together and have settled difficulties of several years' standing. This is a better way than to call away preachers from their field of duty to settle difficulties.
Our labor is more and more awakening opposition among other churches. The Evangelist, the Baptist organ in Denmark, comes out strong, declaring that the papal power has not changed the Sabbath, wherefore we are heretics.
Maanedstidenden, organ for the Lutheran synod, attacks me heavily, because some of their members have joined us. They are our most learned opponents, and speak with great zeal and bitterness. This is all replied to in our paper, and of course calls out many interesting items. Yet, who is sufficient for these things? Certainly, great wisdom is needed, and nothing short of the wisdom of God will do.
The blessing of the Lord is with us, yet still we pray that many more effectual doors in the gospel may be opened before us, and that God himself will send forth laborers into the great harvest. JOHN MATTESON.
Elkhorn, Feb. 5, 1873.