DENMARK by John G. Matteson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 22, 1877

DENMARK

By John G. Matteson

We had only one meeting in Saltum this week. I have made several visits, and tried to encourage the people to furnish us a suitable place in which to hold our meetings. During the summer we can easily find a place, but in the winter it is very difficult. When the audience is scattered through three or four rooms in a house, the interest cannot be maintained. A gentleman in Alstrup is now building a hall, which we have rented of him for five years. It will be finished in four or five weeks.

Friday morning I started on my trip to Fanö. This island lies about two hundred and fifty miles south of Alstrup. An interest was raised in this place, when I was here last August, and several wished to have me come back again. I have hired a hall for meetings in Nordby. Last night I held a meeting with some friends nearly all of whom were members of the Lutheran church. Many have tried to raise prejudice against us; but these friends feel the need of spiritual encouragement and help, and some receive the word gladly.

Several articles have appeared against us in some of the papers, and an effort is made to hinder us in our work as much as possible. But we trust that they that are with us are more than they which are against us. One article is entitled, “A Strong Religious Excitement.” I have written an answer to this and sent it to the publisher, but it has not appeared in print yet. A Pastor Kirkeberg, in America, has sent a lengthy article about S. D. Adventists to the High School Journal, which has an extensive circulation in Denmark. Among his accusations against us, he states that we have appointed the day and hour when Christ shall come; that we preach the law first and Christ second, &c., &c. Such palpably false statements do no harm among those who are acquainted with us, but they may, no doubt, cause prejudice among those who have heard nothing but false statements about us.

We will continue to warn our fellow-men of the coming Judgment, and try to lead their hearts to the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. And when they speak all manner of evil against us, falsely, we will, according to our Saviour’s words, rejoice and be glad.

John G. Matteson.

Nordby, Denmark, Oct. 22, 1877.