TRAVELS IN THE NORTH by John G. Matteson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 25, 1877

TRAVELS IN THE NORTH.

By John G. Matteson

We celebrated the ordinances at Fish Creek. I tried to get the members to take a position and obtain an experience in harmony with the spirit of the message. Some are doing well, but some are faltering. Others will probably take their crowns. The Lord has done much for this people. My prayer is that they may live to glorify his name.

Tuesday morning I started for Washington Island. Two brethren went with me to help draw the baggage. Three miles from the north point of the peninsula, we took up our carriage (or baggage) and with the mail-carrier for a pilot we intended to cross the ice in the afternoon. But we could not see twenty rods ahead on account of the snow, and he did not consider it safe to cross. The channel in the middle of the Door was open the day before, four miles wide; but he had crossed it in the forenoon on ice less than two inches thick, which had formed in the night while the thermometer stood twenty degrees below zero.

We went about a mile on the ice along the shore, and were kindly entertained in a fisherman's shanty through the night. We could hear the sea roaring in Lake Michigan and the ice cracking in the bay. It sounded like the report of big guns. But the Lord favored us in the morning with fair weather; so we started again on the ice, and when we reached the open water (for the new ice had all gone into the lake), we followed it to the north, until we got around it.

When we got to the end of the open channel, we were within four rods of the water. The ice which we were on heaved up and down as far as we could see. It rose and fell at least six inches. We could hear the water under our feet and see it pressing up through the cracks in the ice. This looked somewhat doubtful to us, but we had confidence in our guide, who has traveled over this dangerous water, month after month, for the last twenty years. We arrived safely on the other shore after about twelve miles' travel on the ice. In many places we would sink into the snow and water, yet there was solid ice underneath. Then again we would mount over heaps of ice that had been thrown up by the storm and waves. It was beautiful to behold these crystal rocks glittering in the sun as far as our eyes could reach.

I thanked the Lord for bringing us safely through; for these turbulent waters swallow many victims every winter and summer. I hope to find work on this island. It contains about 500 inhabitants, mostly Danes, though some are Americans, some Irish, and some Icelanders. They have one church edifice and two school-houses, but no minister of any kind.

Thursday there was a very cold north wind. I walked ten miles to see the trustees of the church, and give out notice of meeting. Friday I walked eight miles through the storm to get a school-house on the south side of the island for Danish meetings, and give out notice. On the Sabbath I rested, and I held two meetings on Sunday. The meeting in the church was well attended, and there was a good impression made on the people, while a tender and solemn spirit pervaded the house.

Meanwhile a notice was sent to me from the clerk of the board, forbidding me to hold meetings in the school-house. So we held the meeting in a private house opposite the school-house. Some over twenty came together. About half of them were Icelanders. We have started a petition for a special school meeting. It is signed by thirteen voters. There is a good prospect of getting the house yet. For the good of others we will here copy a portion of the

SCHOOL-LAWS OF WISCONSIN.

“Chap. 235. Amended. Sec. 1. . . . A majority of the district board of any school district in this State shall have the right to permit the school-house to be occupied by religious meetings, temperance meetings, and any other meetings which in the judgment of the majority of the board will aid in disseminating intelligence and good morals among the inhabitants of the district.

“Approved, March 4, 1875.”

If the board refuses the house, and a majority of voters in the district are in favor of meetings, a special meeting can be called by sending a petition signed by at least five voters of the district to the clerk of the school board, stating time and place for meeting (it shall be held in the evening at 7,) and object for which called. It is the duty of the clerk to post a notice of such meeting in four public places, one of which shall be the outer door of the school-house, and the notice shall be given six days before the meeting is called.

JOHN G. MATTESON.

Washington Harbor, Door Co.; Wis., Jan. 15.