CHRISTIANA, NORWAY by John G. Matteson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 23, 1879

CHRISTIANA, NORWAY.

By John G. Matteson

The truth is clearing away the mist from many minds. The Lord is helping us. It appears that we have come here just in time. No missionary work had been done before us; no tracts or papers had prepared the way. The greatest prejudice existed against our faith. And yet the Lord has been to work on many hearts, and the providence of God has kindly guided.

The policy of the prominent preachers in this place (outside of the State churches) is to hire every large place for meeting, and thus shut out others. So it is exceedingly difficult for any dissenter to get a large hall. I succeeded in hiring a hall that will accommodate eight hundred people or more, for three months, to be used by me every Sunday evening. One pastor Munk also preached there three times a week. He is very popular. He pronounced us heretics and warned his people against us. But many of them would come any way. He tried to get me out; but being unsuccessful, he suddenly left the hall entirely, and went and joined himself to another most popular man, pastor Stor-johan, who works for the State church, although they had before opposed each other.

There is only one more preacher here who can be called really popular outside of the established churches,—pastor Ring. Then he came and hired the same hall, and tried to get me out. The hall belongs to the Latin school. They figured to prolong their meetings and stop their members, and pay extra to get me out, but all in vain. Now he has become sick of it and threatens to leave town.

Some of the priests and a number of the students often come to our meetings. The State university is here, and the learning of the country is centered here. The past week has been occupied by the life and death question. On no question do the people in this country entertain more prejudice; yet the battle has been fought successfully, and many souls are rejoicing in the light.

A Baptist brother, who has embraced the truth, is editor of a semi-monthly religious paper, which has about one thousand subscribers in this city. He calls the attention of his readers to our work in this city, and tells them that his paper for the coming year will be principally devoted to the great doctrine of the coming of the Lord, and the prophecies.

The Sabbath question has only been spoken of occasionally as yet. Nevertheless, it has stirred up the zeal of leading men in the city, so that they held a mass meeting last night to form a society for the defense of their Sunday institution, and to take measures, by publishing tracts, writing articles, etc., to bring about a more sacred regard for Sunday.

It is now seven weeks since I commenced preaching here. Last Sabbath forty persons met with us to worship the Lord, most of whom are keeping the Sabbath. In the afternoon we commenced a Bible-class, which promises to be of much interest. To the Lord be all the praise.

JOHN G. MATTESON, Osterhausgaden 12, Dec. 22, 1878.