Denmark, Europe by John Matteson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 22, 1875

Denmark, Europe.

By John Matteson

By a letter from Bro. M. A. Sommer, Denmark, I learn that himself and his friends are much interested in the truth, and have commenced to keep the Sabbath of the Lord. Bro. Sommer has read the Advent Tidende the last two years, as he has exchanged papers with us. He says that he has read it with much pleasure, and circulated it as much as possible among his friends.

M. A. Sommer has in principle mostly been agreed with the “Friends.” They have silent meetings and feel edified by them. He has for the last twenty years labored very actively and unselfishly for the gospel, as far as he has understood it, and is well known all over the kingdom. He has fearlessly attacked the wickedness and wrongs of the government and clergy in public speeches as well as print, for which he has often suffered imprisonment. Several of his friends in this country have embraced the truth.

He publishes a small monthly paper. It has a circulation of four thousand copies; two hundred copies come to America. He says he hopes his paper has helped to prepare the way for the Advent Tidende. This it has done. He asks permission to publish from the Tidende for the past three years as much as he can find room for in his paper. This request we are happy to grant, especially if he will give us due credit.

An editor in Norway, who publishes a religious paper to point out the wrongs in the established church and lead people to a better knowledge of the Bible, has taken several articles from Advent Tidende every month for the last year without permission and without giving credit.

Bro. Sommer has written largely on the second coming of Christ all last year. Himself and friends seem to be believers in the soon coming of our Lord. In the last paper we have received from him he has an article on the Sabbath and acknowledges the divine authority of the fourth commandment. He exhorts the people to throw away the doctrines and commandments of men, and to return to the true worship of God, obeying his commandments.

In his letter he asks to be further informed on all points of our faith, which have not yet been set forth in print, and adds: “It would be very desirable if you could send us some preachers who could proclaim the Advent doctrine and scatter your publications; for here are many believing souls who are ready to receive the message and obey the word of God.”

He states further: “The Baptists in Denmark are greatly stirred concerning the Sabbath. Most of the members are in favor of keeping Sabbath on the seventh day, but the teachers hold back and will not yield to the claims of the truth, for that would separate them from their Baptist brethren in other countries.”

The truth seems to be at work also in Denmark. For this I feel very thankful to the Lord. JOHN MATTESON.