p. 171 | NORTHERN EUROPE by J. G. Matteson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 14, 1882

NORTHERN EUROPE.

By J. G. Matteson

We are busy at the printing-office trying to get copy ahead for the paper and to replenish tracts that are sold out. I intended to return to Moss, as some people there are favorably affected by the truth, but circumstances seem to demand more labor in Sweden, and I have decided to go there first. Next week, the Lord willing, I shall start in company with Bro. Rosqvist.

Bro. R. has had a taste of the severity which a church clothed with the power of the State can exercise. He has been punished as a heretic by those would-be orthodox churches that pretend to explain the meaning of the Bible, and wield the word of the law against offenders. And the end is not yet. Bro. R. has again been summoned to appear before the court in Grythyttehed on the second day of March, this year. The law on this point is now arranged so that he can be accused and punished every time he preaches where he has once been forbidden to do so.

What an illustration this is of the work of the church under the two-horned beast, as soon as the amendment of the Constitution can be effected. And how wonderful to think that the time is nearing when the dragon, in its last form, will wage the final bitter warfare against the remnant of the seed of the woman, that keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

As a remnant of barbarism, and as a specimen of the depravity of many people in old Sweden, I will mention the following: Last Christmas the priest in Grythyttehed preached, according to custom, at 6 o’clock in the morning. Crowds gathered to the church, Bro. R. with the rest. The priest (he is the chief instigator of the severe treatment suffered by Bro. R.) grew eloquent in praise of Christian liberty and all that Christ had done for them. He had finished all things on the cross. There was nothing left for man to do. All sin was taken away. We were now all justified and righteous in him. When service was over, there was a general hurrahing outside of the church, and the brandy bottles were waved triumphantly in honor of Bacchus, and this happy Christmas time. Before noon many teams with sleighs went through the streets, containing one or more persons lying on their backs, moving their arms and legs out and in (as Bro. R. expressed it) as lobsters move their claws. And this procession passed right before the dwelling of the priest. Now the law demands a fine for such proceedings also. But the priest cared nothing about enforcing it against them, although he is a more moderate drinker; for he does not generally get drunk before evening. Yet he is known all around as a drunkard.

Now Bro. R. had a meeting in the evening, and spoke on temperance, trying to show the necessity of total abstinence and the terrible consequences of the use of spirits. Many were moved by the truth on this point, and a temperance society was organized. But, lo, the man that tried so nobly to bring souls over on the side of truth and temperance, and whose earnest efforts were crowned with such good success, was dragged into prison, thrust into a dark, narrow cell, clothed with a miserable coarse prison costume, fed on sour bread and water, forbidden to speak or read aloud, or sing (worse in this respect than Paul and Silas were situated) and cruelly waked up out of his sleep every night at midnight, preventing any further sleep. Yet, thanks to the Lord and his sure word, Bro. R. never felt more happy in his life.

Another priest stated that he would rather have a diocese full of habitual drunkards than to have to deal with those miserable temperance folks. He feared that the people would be self-righteous when they abstained, and it is a sad fact that this idea is quite common. What a blessed work to snatch souls like burning brands out of such an infernal fire!

In Denmark, Bro. Brorson is laboring patiently from place to place. He is still in Sjælland. There are many open doors, and a few souls have been gained. Bro. K. Kristensen has also labored with some success in the northern part of Julland this winter. Bro. Berg is doing a good work in the vicinity of Drammen and Holmestrand, Norway, scattering our publications, and Bro. Ström is laboring acceptably in this place. Dear brethren, pray for the work in Northern Europe.

Christiana, Feb. 4. J. G. MATTESON.