CAMP-MEETING IN NORWAY.
By Stephen N. Haskell
Moss, the place selected for the camp-meeting, is a city of about 8,000 inhabitants, and, as we stated in a previous article, located about forty miles from Christiania. The camp-ground was located on what was originally a peninsula about five miles long and four wide, the sea on each side nearly meeting in the midst of the city of Moss. Forty years since the connecting isthmus was severed by a channel through which the largest vessels can pass, thus forming what is known as Jel Island. The tall Norway pines furnished a beautiful grove in which to pitch the tents, and the balmy freshness of the air, the scent of the green foliage, and the fine weather, combined to make us believe that “the groves were God’s first temples;” and the outpouring of his Spirit showed that God accepted the worship in this, nature’s temple. The way was prepared for a camp-meeting by a series of tent-meetings held during the summer by the Brethren Olsen, which resulted in bringing out about thirty Sabbath-keepers. Tent-meetings are a novelty in this country, and preaching a new and strange doctrine aroused the curiosity of the people. The brethren pitched their tent so near the priest’s house that he could easily hear all that was done, without going out of his house, and in a short time the saying was going the rounds that “those boys know what they are about, or they wouldn’t go so near the priest’s residence.” This circumstance seemed to make a favorable impression, and aroused an interest to come out and learn what was being preached. The camp-meeting awakened still greater interest, being the first one ever held in Europe. A house on a high elevation near the camp, overlooking the water and the city, was secured for Sister White, a number of the ministers from abroad also stopping in the same. A book-stand and boarding and provision tent were provided, and a large tent for speaking in English and Norwegian. More than thirty who spoke English were present. Quite a number of family tents were pitched upon the grounds, but a failure to receive tents ordered from America rendered it necessary that the brethren and sisters living in the city of Moss, about a mile away, should lodge at their homes. The arrangement of the grounds, and the taste displayed in ornamenting the large tent, were fully equal to that displayed in any of our American camp-meetings. The preaching was done largely through an interpreter. The afternoon and evening meetings were well attended by friends from the city. The services on the Sabbath were especially interesting, Sister White speaking in the afternoon with freedom and power. The Spirit of God seemed also to rest upon Brother Matteson, the interpreter. The melting Spirit was manifested more particularly in the morning prayer-meetings. A Norwegian Conference was organized, and an annual meeting of the Sabbath-school Association, and of the Tract and Missionary Society, was held. There is now a Conference in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. There are eighteen colporters supporting themselves by the sale of our publications, in Sweden, three in Denmark, and three in Norway. There are in all about eight hundred Sabbath-keepers in Scandinavia, and five ministerial laborers. The language being similar, our brethren can labor in either country. The population of these countries is about eight million. As in other countries of Europe, the common people are poor, but, considering all circumstances, we think there is no more promising field in Europe than this. And if workers can go out here and support themselves, our brethren in America certainly should be able to do so, as there are less difficulties to meet in America. The influence of the meeting was good, and the warnings of some of the papers against us only served as an advertisement. The article in another column is a translation of a report furnished by a reporter sent on the grounds by a Christiania paper. We believe the camp-meeting was in the providence of God, and that there are better times before the Scandinavian cause. The General European Council now continues for one week. S. N. H.