EN ROUTE to and returning from Finland, we met the representative brethren of the Skodsborg and Frederikshavn institutions, as well as the leading brethren of the Danish field. The Skodsborg Sanatorium has had its best run of patients the past year, and the outlook is favorable for that institution.
During the summer months they had a fair patronage at Frederikshavn. This is the first year Frederikshavn ever had a physician permanently located there (Dr. N. P. Nelson), and they have made enough to pay his salary, and the institution will, perhaps, have a smaller deficit than last year. The poor season has militated against our work there, and none of the brethren felt that the work had been given a thorough trial, so it has been decided to continue the branch institution, and we hope that it may open up more favorably next spring. The brethren concerned are anxious to make the work a success, and Dr. Nelson is determined to do his best for the institution.
A STREET IN STOCKHOLM
The Danish health journal, largely through the efforts of Brother Hendrickson, has a circulation of five thousand copies monthly in Denmark alone. As two editions of this paper were being published, one in Denmark and another in Norway, arrangements were made to have both editions printed by our house in Christiania. This gives much-needed work to our Norway brethren, furnishes the paper to our Danish brethren just as reasonably as they secured it before, and provides for the publication of the Norwegian edition at a trifling cost.
I found that the weather had been so cold all over Norway, especially in the northern sections, that the harvests are nearly an entire failure, and in some places in Finland, Sweden, and Norway the government is obliged to help the people in order to keep them from starvation. As Norway, especially, has passed through quite a crisis in its cities, this comes still worse on the people there, as the crisis has now struck the country districts.
However, during the year ending June 30, 1902, the Norwegian books sold amounted to more than $8,000 in value; the tithe to $4,560. Fifty-eight persons were baptized, and six were added by vote. The present membership is six hundred and ninety-eight.
The president of the Denmark Conference, Brother P. A. Hansen, reports some successful meetings in Frederikshavn. The church there has been strengthened by quite a number of additions to its membership. Their book sales for the twelve months ending June 30, 1902, were over $4,200; their tithe was $4,760. Twenty persons were baptized, and nineteen were added by vote. The present membership is six hundred and forty-six.
We had an interesting meeting with the conference committee in Orebro, Sweden, October 13-15, where the work for the coming winter was laid out, and important publishing interests considered. Their book sales for the year were nearly $17,000; the tithe was $3,450. Twenty-five persons were baptized, and sixteen were added by vote, bringing the membership up to seven hundred and ninety-four. (Year ending June 30.)
Steps were taken to increase the circulation of our Swedish journals, and also to get out additional books in connection with Finland, so that both countries may be provided with a new book simultaneously. We find that co-operation in these Scandinavian countries will save means in many ways, and by a little planning a number of difficulties may be overcome.
We are glad that Brother Nils Anderson, who has been a faithful Bible worker in Sweden, has answered the call to go to Iceland. He expects to sail from Copenhagen, October 28, taking a steamer direct to Seydisfjord, in the eastern part of the island, where Elder Ostlund is now located. It has taken almost a year to find the proper person for that field. We are glad to send one who seems so promising.
In Orebro Brother C. Kahlström, who has been carrying forward a medical mission there for some time, has rented a nice apartment in the center of the city, and put in a bath room and an electric-light bath. He reports encouragingly of his work.
The Swedish Conference expects to take hold of the circulation of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” and push this vigorously throughout the field, for the benefit of their educational institution at Nyhyttan. They have recently finished a new building for the accommodation of the teacher. At the time of our visit, there were not so many students in the school as formerly.
In general, the work in Scandinavia seems to be going forward, and we believe there are better days before it. We trust that the cause of God here may be remembered by our people everywhere; for the effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much.
