ALSTRUP, DENMARK by John G. Matteson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 2, 1877

ALSTRUP, DENMARK.

By John G. Matteson

The Lord has prospered us this week beyond all expectation. I have preached nine times, and attended two other meetings, besides visiting a number of families. We have sold tracts for $2.50 and obtained one subscriber for the TIDENDE. Most of the people in this town (or small village—many of the farmers build near together, and thus make little villages all over the country, from one to three miles apart) have attended, and some from other towns.

All our meetings are held in the daytime, at 1 and 7 o’clock P. M., also Sunday forenoon. Evening meetings are out at 8:30. It is not dark before 10 o’clock. Thus people can go home and attend to their chores after meeting. All the large houses in town (except the church and the school-houses) are open for meetings, but they are too small. The people stand up in the sitting-room, kitchen, bedroom and hall, and crowd around the windows out-doors, and come in rain and shine. The young people and children are just as quiet and attentive as older people. The good Spirit is present, and hearts are moved, while tears flow freely.

Sunday we got a barn seated, where we could get plenty of fresh air, which was a great relief. About two hundred assembled in the afternoon. It was a very solemn meeting. About half of the people promised to serve the Lord as well as they understood. They have many things to overcome which are considered all right here, and are such long-established habits that they cannot easily be changed. Yet we trust that some will accept and obey the truth.

The priest does not oppose at all. He is not patronized much. Sometimes but two attend his Sunday sermons besides himself and the deacon. They will go to our meetings, but not to their own. I went to the church after our forenoon meeting (we met at 9 o’clock in the morning), and encouraged the people to go, yet we were, in all, but thirty-four.

It is very curious and pitiful to behold their Catholic ceremonies, although they are Protestants—Lutherans. They have an old house, probably more than two hundred years old, with a few small windows, a brick floor and no stove; there are paintings by the altar, and two very old, large-sized carvings of wood, quite poorly made, representing Christ on the cross.

To-day, I go six miles north to hold two meetings in another town, where we have a brother that has kept the Sabbath five years all alone. I have invitations to come and hold meetings all around in this vicinity. The people like our songs very much. They have bought more than thirty of our small hymn books this week. It is very encouraging to find plenty of work to do. Pray for us, that many souls may be converted to the Lord. JOHN. G. MATTESON.

July 9, 1877.