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Work among the Swedes

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 2, 1875

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 46, No. 9.

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Work among the Swedes.

By James Sawyer

A few months ago, a gentleman in a tea store in Portland, Me., wrote, saying that he would act as agent for Swedish publications, and would ask no compensation for so doing. A few packages of tracts were sent him; and this place being, as we supposed, on the route of travel from Sweden in Europe to New Sweden in Maine, we expected to hear from these tracts again.
June 27, we received a letter from our friend in Portland, stating that he had sold the most of the tracts among the Baptists; that they were thankful for them, and desired more; and that some approved of the doctrines set forth in them, and would like to be informed on other points of our faith.
A few weeks ago, we received the following:—
PORTLAND, ME., JULY 7, 1875.
“To the Svensk Harold: I lately received your paper, and have read a great deal in it, and I find its contents to be very precious, because in every way it shows me that God’s word is the ‘Book of books,’ wherein all treasures lie. I wish you would send me a bound volume of your paper for 1874. Please send it to J. P. Gelott, New Sweden, Me. I also ask you to send the Harold, from the beginning of this year, to the address of Chas. J. Gelott, 94 Brackett St., Portland, Me.”
One brother from St. Paul, Minn., lately wrote: “Three are now keeping the Sabbath here, and others are investigating.” This result was brought about mostly by the distribution of tracts and the Harold.
Another friend from Brooklyn, N. Y., writes: “Please send me a copy of your paper. Perhaps I shall become a subscriber.” In a few weeks we received a subscription from a person in that place.
Another in St. Cloud, Minn., writes: “I saw an advertisement in your paper of a tract, entitled, ‘Seven Reasons for Sunday-keeping Examined.’ I am undecided what to do. I wish to know whether the Sunday should be kept holy or not; so I write that I may become informed. Please send me something to show how the Sabbath was changed.”
The following is an extract from a letter from a friend in Sweden, in answer to one which was sent about six weeks before:—
STJÄRNHOF, JUNE 25, 1875.
“DEAR FRIEND: Yours of the 5th of last May I received yesterday, and it was all the more welcome because it was unexpected, and especially because it was from an Englishman, one in whose language I always had an interest, although I never have had an opportunity of learning its elementary principles. At the same time that I received your letter, I also received three copies of the ADVENT REVIEW and a few copies of the Svensk Harold, for which I am very thankful.
“It is a great encouragement and consolation to me to see the teachings of God’s word therein set forth in their purity. We seldom hear of this being done, because the taste of the readers is so perverted that healthful food is not relished with wholesome seasoning, but it must be mixed with sweetmeats, in order to be made palatable.
“I will say I was fortunate in borrowing a few numbers of the Svensk Harold, and in them I saw some things about the kingdom set forth in a correct manner.
“You ask me about my residence. Soon I shall have none; for I know not what day I, with my family, shall become outcasts under the bare heaven. Where I am now, I have been teacher for twenty years. The religious freedom which you have in America is not found here. The State here makes her subjects Christians, and woe to him who will not become such an one. It is, however, such Christianity as one may pray to be delivered from.
“It is the daughter of harlots who, by her servants the priests, under the color of law and justice, forces me from house and home, clothes and food. I cannot rely upon her doctrines. I cannot associate with her and drink of the wine of her fornication. Here I am without friends or brethren, as a lone sparrow upon the house-top. My condition is far from pleasant. Unbelief says, Where shall I find a table in the wilderness? God’s word says, ‘Fear not; for I am with thee.’
“In friendship, J. EKDAHL.”
Another writes from Chicago that five have lately embraced the truth in that city. Several subscriptions have been sent in from that place of late. The people have a desire to read, and the publications in the Swedish can be circulated much more extensively than they have been. Will the brethren please search out the Swedes in localities where they reside, and send in names to the Svensk Advent-Harold?
JAMES SAWYER.