MISSION TO DENMARK by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 19, 1877

MISSION TO DENMARK.

By James White

At an early period in the cause, Eld. John G. Matteson, a Danish Baptist minister in the State of Wisconsin, embraced the doctrines peculiar to the Seventh-day Adventists. He entered the field as a preacher and writer, and has for several years edited our Danish monthly. He has translated many of our tracts, and has prepared some larger works, which have been scattered in Europe as well as in America. And our faithful Danish people have sent a large amount of reading matter to their friends in the old world.

We have seen for several years that the way was prepared for a Mission to Denmark and Norway, and for the past year have felt anxious that Eld. Matteson should return to his native land, and there preach and publish the great truths connected with the last message. And it is with great pleasure that we give the following excellent letter from his pen concerning his Mission to Denmark. Under date of March 23d, 1877, Eld. Matteson addresses us in the following words expressive of faith and confiding love:—

“ELD. JAMES WHITE: Dear and much esteemed Brother, I think the time has come when I must get ready to go to Denmark, to labor in the interest of the last message. You have already plainly expressed your mind on this subject, yet I desire very much to hear from you before I go, and to get your advice.

“It is a great sacrifice on my part to go, and there is no undertaking that I have been so slow to decide on as this. But everything seems to point in that direction now, and I am afraid the Lord will not bless my labor if I refuse to go. I have thought for some time that Bro. O. A. Olsen might be fitted for this work. I believe that he is in many respects better qualified for it than myself, and I have urged him to go, but he does positively refuse to do so. He promises, however, to do what he can among our countrymen in America when I am gone, and to take my place in that respect as far as possible. He says he will exchange the school for the field next week.

“Bro. Haskell has advised me to go, and thinks the time has come for this move to be made. The leading brethren among our countrymen are very anxious to have me go this spring. There are two hundred and sixty ADVENT TIDENDES that go to Denmark monthly, and about sixty to Norway. We frequently receive favorable letters from Denmark, and some are keeping the Sabbath there. I fear the cause will suffer if I do not go now, and trust that God will direct and bless the work.

“But before I go, I want to take a position in full harmony and sympathy with the General Conf. Committee. I feel the necessity of this, and feel that it is a privilege for me to do so. I therefore pledge myself to lead out in nothing independently, but to seek your counsel in every important matter, and in short, to act, not as a private individual, but as a representative of the S. D. Adventists of America, laboring in the fear of God, and in the love of my brethren.

“Our Danish-Norwegian people have already donated and sent to the Office in B. C. about $200 for this mission, although we have made no call for money. I think the best time to go would be about May. May the Lord bless you much in your labor of love.”

The foregoing statements from Eld. Matteson will touch the feelings of all his brethren, whether Scandinavian or American. And they will give him their hearty sympathy, and follow him to his new field of labor by their prayers and with their means. His statements respecting the relation he wishes to sustain to his American brethren are frank, full, and satisfactory. In behalf of the General Conference we as freely state that Eld. Matteson will be sustained in his important contemplated mission by our counsel and the prayers and means of those who have the missionary spirit. This movement of sending our ablest live ministers to Europe will give all our people greater interest in our world-wide message. J. W.