Your ShelfYour Projects

CHRISTIANA, NORWAY

13%

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 10, 1879

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 54, No. 3.

Read the full edition

CHRISTIANA, NORWAY.

By J. G. Matteson

We have now held ten meetings in our new hall. We have seats for about five hundred persons. I have commenced a course of lectures on the prophecies. There is a fair attendance and a growing interest; but it is not so easy to gather the people in the warm summertime as in the winter. The summer season is short in this country, and as the city people have a peculiar love for nature, they enjoy the fresh air, and seek recreation out of doors when their week's toil is ended.
We have a baptistery in the hall. Twenty-five willing souls have been buried in baptism, and others will soon be ready. These, with our brethren and sisters that have come to us from the Baptist denomination, have united, and thus form a church of commandment-keeping believers. We have difficulties to overcome, and trials to endure; but the Lord is with us, and his blessings make up for all losses.
The days are very long; in fact, there is no night in this city now. The sun rises about 2:40 A. M., and sets 9:20 P. M., and the daylight continues all night. We can read print any time of the night, in the house, when it is clear weather.
I am thankful for the prospect of soon obtaining some help in this work. It has been no small task to start so many enterprises alone, and to get them in proper shape. Besides the preaching, and visiting as far as I can reach, there is a constant correspondence to keep up, and a paper (Tidernes Tegn) to write for, besides arranging for an office of our own. Last, but not least, comes our building enterprise, which can prosper only through the blessing of God and diligent attention. Then I am treasurer for the whole concern, and keep all the books.
The repairing and fitting up of our house has cost us about Kr. 1400 ($373.33). The whole amount that has been received and paid out or deposited during the two last months is about Kr. 2880, besides private accounts.
It will be a great relief for me to have the help of a few faithful friends, and the cause needs it, that we may work out into a larger sphere by the help of God.
June 10. J. G. MATTESON.