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REPORT FROM DENMARK

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 29, 1877

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 50, No. 22.

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REPORT FROM DENMARK.

By John G. Matteson

NORDBY, FANÖ.
THE battle continues. There are many who oppose us. The people are unwilling to give up the customs which they have received from their ancestors, and they cling to them, whether good or bad. We have a good place for meetings, but it costs about five dollars a week. From sixty to one hundred persons have attended the meetings; but the majority of them are women. I have already been represented in the public prints over the whole kingdom as a teacher of error, and there is therefore much prejudice to overcome, especially on this island, where people cling with much more tenacity to their old customs than in other places. But the Lord has, however, opened some hearts to his word.
Yesterday, I visited the parish priest, who was very friendly toward me. But he said that it was his duty to oppose fanatics and heretics. He remarked afterward, however, that I was no fanatic, and wished to know if I intended to speak against infant baptism. I told him, not at present. He then thought that it would be enough, perhaps, to speak against me from the pulpit. I visited the church yesterday. He spoke well on man's accountability to God, and also defended infant baptism somewhat.
Last Sabbath I was brought up before the authorities. The superintendent of police appeared in a loud, blustering way against me, thinking me, perhaps, somewhat deaf; but when he noticed that I could use the organ of hearing to good advantage, he became more gentle. He wished to see my documents and money, and spoke as though he wished to expel me from the island. I was not to be permitted to make the least call for donations, not even to pay the rent of the hall. Neither would he allow me to sell any books, nor obtain subscribers for any papers, and he could also compel me to appear before him every week.
The bookseller in this place has now taken charge of the sale of tracts and the ADVENT TIDENDE, and they cannot hinder me from giving away as many tracts as I choose. A person who is interested in the meetings, has hired the hall, and sees to it that it is paid for every week. Sufficient money was given last week to pay the rent. We will therefore continue our lawful labor this week in the name of the Lord.
Oct. 29. JOHN G. MATTESON.