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Among the Danes

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 30, 1871

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 37, No. 24.

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Among the Danes.

By John Matteson

I HAVE labored about two weeks in the vicinity of Poy Sippi among our Danish friends. Those who started in the truth last winter are still holding on and have made some progress; and some more have embraced the message. Fourteen have been added to the church, and seven have been baptized. The Lord has blessed in our meetings and we have been encouraged to hope that the Lord will prosper the cause in this place. The present number in the Danish church of Poy Sippi is thirty-three. And among those none of our papers have as yet been read. This is a great loss to them. And it is a wonder that they can get along at all, deprived of those privileges which we all can appreciate who enjoy them, and which we could not well get along without. I have encouraged those who understand to try to read, a little, and some will try, yet they cannot get near so much good out of it as those who understand the language.
The few books that have been printed in the Danish language are working among the people, and many of the Baptists have imbibed more or less of the truths advocated, which causes considerable disturbance among them. I went to visit one of their preachers, who has dissented from them. He believes and preaches the truth on the kingdom and immortality question. I asked him if he had read concerning the prophecies. He said, Yes, and handed me my own book. Still he opposes the Sabbath, yet he seemed willing to learn, and as he can read English, I handed him the eleven Sermons on the Sabbath and ordered the REVIEW for him. There are large numbers of Danes and Norwegians in these regions and a door in the gospel seems to be opened to us.
I am now about to commence a course of Danish meetings here in Neenah. Six years ago I preached a little in this place. Since then many Danes have settled here. And I find some good friends who take me in, get a house for preaching, and are anxious to hear. May the Lord give wisdom and bless our feeble efforts for the glory of his own holy name. JOHN MATTESON.
Neenah, Wis., May 19, 1871.