LETTER FROM SWEDEN by A. Swaden

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 10, 1876

LETTER FROM SWEDEN.

By A. Swaden

A BROTHER who recently received the truth in Dallas, Texas, has returned to his native land, Sweden, to work for the cause there. He now writes:

I rejoice in the Lord that I have health and the opportunity to write a few words, in order to let my brethren, especially in Dallas, Texas, know where I am.

I arrived at Philadelphia the 9th of June. As the Sabbath drew nigh, I stopped at the Hygienic hotel. I asked a young man if he knew of any Sabbath-keepers there. He answered, “No, the editor of the REFORMER has boarded here, but he is now in the country.” This man said he had once kept the Sabbath, but had now given it up. My spirit was stirred when he said it, and I asked him how it was possible that he had lost sight of the heavenly city after he once had been so enlightened, and after God had thus given him the means whereby he could help save the lost. As I said this he turned his face away from me.

On Sunday, I attended a Swedish church which was built in 1706. The members had left the Lutheran and joined the Episcopalian Church, had given up the use of their mother tongue, and their minister delivered his sermons in English. Praise had plainly come in. I could readily see that “Babylon is fallen.”

In the afternoon, I attended services in a Second Advent church. I heard nothing about the commandments of God. The minister assured the people that there would be miracles wrought, such as restoring the sick, etc., before the second coming of Christ.

The 12th, I attended the Exposition. I saw much from different parts of the world as evidence of man’s skill, and yet I found that man’s extensive understanding had not induced him to keep the seventh day as a memorial of creation.

At last I came to the books of the Seventh-day Adventists. For me, this was the best part of the Exposition. As I thought what I had learned from those books, I rejoiced with tears in my eyes.

The 16th, I left New York. We had much fine weather at sea. I spent one Sabbath on the ocean. On that day my mind went back to the little church in Dallas, and I remember the rich blessings which God had poured upon his people there.

I have a great desire to reach the new Jerusalem, and praise God on the sea of glass as the glorified saints join in the anthem of thanksgiving to Him who sitteth upon the throne.

July 7, I arrived at Germany. I wished to see Bro. Andrews and Ertzenberger, but it was too far out of my way for me to visit them.

July 12, I arrived at my native land. It is much changed. Intemperance and other forms of wickedness have greatly increased during my absence. I inquired concerning religious tolerance and the reply was that there was more religious liberty than formerly. I inquired if the people had heard of the doctrine called Seventh-day Adventism, which teaches the three messages to the world and the second coming of Christ. The reply was that it was talked about among the people in their houses, but not many had fallen in with it. It came to my mind here that the Bible informs us that but few will walk in the narrow way. It is my design to seek out such.

On my journey, I conversed with many and distributed some tracts. Pray for me, that I may not be misled in this wicked land, but that I may grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. A. SWADEN.

Jonkoping, Sweden, July, 16, 1876.