WORK AMONG THE SWEDES by John Nevins Andrews

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 12, 1874

WORK AMONG THE SWEDES.

By John Nevins Andrews

It seems evident that God's hand is set to the work of the third angel's message. This is specially manifest from the manner in which it is taking hold upon the people of other tongues. In my recent visit to Waukon, Iowa, I was deeply interested to learn that the Swedish people a few miles east of that village were becoming interested in the observance of the Sabbath, and in the doctrine of the near advent of Christ. The first Sabbath which I spent in W., seven of these friends came to the meeting and remained over the first-day meetings also. The second Sabbath a larger number came, including some who were undecided. My interview with them was of great interest to me. They gave great evidence of a desire to learn the truth, and of a willingness to obey it at whatever cost.

I will state how they came by the truth. Some years since, sister Carlstedt, a Norwegian sister, who received light on the Sabbath from Bro. Matteson, felt impressed to send some Danish tracts to a Swedish sister Johnson of Wisconsin. These tracts were the means of converting sister J. Thereupon she felt in turn impressed to send tracts to her own brother by the name of Sweedburg, living some eight miles east of Waukon, Iowa. And not satisfied with this, sister J. visited him. The result was that he also began to observe the Sabbath. As he was a local preacher among the Swedes, his conversion created considerable uneasiness among that people. Elder Hamren, the regular Swedish Baptist preacher, was appealed to for help to put down the Sabbath. But Eld. H., who was educated and trained as a Lutheran in Sweden, and had there, at the expense of his situation as a Lutheran minister and school teacher, become a Baptist, had learned that truth may not always be on the popular side, and also that truth is worthy of being followed at any expense; proved to be candid enough to examine the subject before giving his decision. As the result, he also became a Sabbath-keeper. Another Swedish Baptist minister was sent for, who was so far convinced of the truth that he rendered the first-day Swedes little help. But at last one was found who came and excluded the Sabbath-keepers from the Swedish Baptist church.

So again Bro. Hamren was called to sacrifice his position as minister and school teacher, and he did it with the same promptness as before. He said if he could trust God for salvation, he could also trust him for a livelihood. His former brethren, knowing his poverty, said that they would starve him into a recantation. But I am persuaded that he has too fully counted the cost in what he has undertaken to be deterred from obedience in such a way. I was very happy to make his acquaintance, and to explain portions of the present truth to him and others through Bro. Sweedburg, who understands some English. The wife and daughter of Bro. H. walked twelve miles to attend the second Sabbath meeting above-named.

I also formed an interesting acquaintance with Bro. and sister Sweedburg and with several other Swedish Sabbath-keepers. I trust they will all stand steadfast in the truth, and prove an honor to it by their godly lives. Several other Swedish friends, who are halting between the Sabbath and the no-Sabbath teaching, took pains to attend, and treated what was said with great candor. May they yet become commandment-keepers. I trust these Swedish friends will be looked after by those who can preach in their tongue. J. N. A.