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The Prospect

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 17, 1875

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 45, No. 25.

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The Prospect.

By J. S.

SLOWLY and yet successfully the work goes on among the Swedes. A few weeks ago, we had news from one locality in Kansas of eight persons who had embraced the Sabbath and formed themselves into a society, and now we have news from another locality in the same State of five families who are also following in the course of the others, and all have embraced the truth by simply reading. God’s Spirit and the simple truth are marshaling the mighty hosts of the Lord in places where there is no living preacher.
A brother starts out from Battle Creek with a few tracts and journals, goes among entire strangers away in the northern part of Michigan, and by visiting and circulating these papers, invites the attention of the people, so that several take a stand on the side of the truth, and file in among the ranks of the Lord’s army.
A few weeks ago, there came a letter to this Office from a school teacher in Sweden, stating that he has learned through the Svensk Advent Harold that there is a weekly paper called REVIEW AND HERALD published at Battle Creek, which advocates such doctrines as he wishes to examine, and as he can read English a little, he would like to see it; and that another school teacher out in the country would like to take the Svensk Harold.
There are now nearly a hundred silent messengers that are finding their way to Sweden. These speak with power unto those who are ready to investigate. The Harold visits all classes, from His Majesty the king, to the humble peasant in the cottage, and some of the learned are concerned, in view of doctrines which induce their countrymen so suddenly to forsake orthodox tenets. A flame is being kindled there which must necessarily illuminate every corner of the kingdom. And Finland will doubtless soon follow in receiving the last message. Three copies of the May Harold were sent to Finland. The last mail from that country brings intelligence of the late publication of an excellent Swedish-Finnish Lexicon.
Thus, part of the Finnish nationality who cannot read the Swedish, can yet have “present truth” in pure Finnish, and the “gospel of the kingdom” will yet make its way into the territory of Russia. We see already by the last mail that a Russian newspaper is soon to be published semi-weekly in Finland, which will be edited by a Russian school teacher. This paper is especially intended to serve the interests of Russian residents in Finland. We see how easily the truth could find its way through Finland into Russia. This may be the way God designs to use for the purpose of sending it there.
The Finlanders have some good characteristics. In the last report from that country we have an account of a female benevolent society that has cash on hand to the amount of 2609 marks. We understand that a mark is about equal to a pound sterling. This society of late decided to stop collections in behalf of the poor fund, since there are so few of that class to be found.
We are glad to hear of hearts that respond to the cries of the suffering and the poor. This was one object of Christ’s mission to the earth, that the poor have the gospel preached unto them. We hail with joy all efforts which have for their object the amelioration of the human race and the salvation of men from sin. And may God hasten this glorious proclamation of a coming kingdom, so that many of the Finns, Laplanders, and Russians, may receive it. We shall rejoice to hear that all Europe is ablaze with the light of the third angel’s message, which embraces in its ingathering the people of every tribe, kindred, and tongue. J. S.
Battle Creek, June 10, 1875.