THE CAUSE IN FINLAND by Stephen Nelson Haskell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Feb 3, 1887

THE CAUSE IN FINLAND.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

THAT the coming of the Lord is nigh, is most conclusively shown by the fact that events connected with the second advent are already taking place in the earth. The Spirit that God will give to accompany the truth will not only cause it to find its way to earth's remotest bounds, but will give it power to affect hearts and cause people to regard its claims. The straight testimony will be borne for men and women to put away their sins as we near the second coming of Christ, and in proportion as this is done, God will bless the efforts put forth to spread the truth. We have ever looked forward to the time that the truth would find its way to the different nations of the earth. But already it has been circulated far more widely than those realize who have not carefully watched its progress in the last few years.

We can remember the time when letters written from a foreign land were few and far between. At one time the International Society had the address, as far as we knew, of every Sabbath-keeper in Europe. But that time long ago passed. We were in correspondence also with every person who was receiving missionary letters from individuals in foreign lands. At the present time we can scarcely visit a church where we do not find interesting letters which members have received from various parts of the world. Those who have taken an interest in remailing our periodicals to different foreign countries, have not only been encouraged by receiving letters in response, evincing an interest in the truth, but in some cases companies of Sabbath-keepers have been raised up in this way. The International Tract Society is in receipt of letters from nearly all portions of the earth. Only a few days since we received a letter from Finland which shows that the truth has found its way to that country. We will give a portion of the letter, changing only a few expressions, as the writer is somewhat unfamiliar with the English language:—

"DEAR BROTHER IN THE LORD: I write to you to state my views and wishes, and in hopes that some way may be opened for me, whereby I may obey the commandments of God more fully than I can now. I will inform you that we are four in number in this place who half-way keep the Sabbath. I came home last autumn, and was, I think, the first man who ever kept the Sabbath day holy in Finland. The people here very much dislike to have it said that the seventh day is the Sabbath, and the day on which they ought to cease working. For the present, my wife and myself have been given over by former friends, and wholly so by my wife's brother, who is a member of the Lutheran Church. When I married, about two months ago, my wife did not see any difference between Sabbath and Sunday, but now she is obeying with me the commandments of God. Some think me crazy that I do not go to their meetings, and do not accept infant baptism.

"Now that I have mentioned the main points of my native place, I will speak of myself. In the spring I bought a vessel of 3,732 tons burden, upon borrowed money. From the beginning I did not get along well. In the first place I got aground, and lost both anchor and cable. Then on the last voyage, I lost a little boat, and the spanker was blown to pieces, and the mainsail torn.

"But this is not all the trouble. I cannot fully observe the Sabbath while sailing with a cargo that belongs to another man. While I do not work myself on that day, I know it is not right to let other people work. I translated some tracts from Swedish into my language, but no one will publish them, as it seems to them to be a doctrine of the devil. Then I cannot go as mate or captain on these deep-water ships, and I have now a family to support. I don't understand what to do, but I see it is not profitable for a Sabbath-keeper to go to sea. I can do watch-making work, but it does not supply our needs. I can translate Swedish into Finnish, but have nothing to do in that by which to make a living.

"I hope the Lord will open the way for me, and hear the prayers of his children in all parts of the globe. If it suits you there in America to print Finnish, I could come to you and help as much as I can. All I want is that my family have their daily food. The world says I am mad to give up such a good place as mate of a vessel only for the Sabbath commandment, but it is better to obey God than man. May the Lord bless you all. Pray for us that we may not turn to the world."

We have also received a letter from one of our city missions, a portion of which we will quote:—

"I spoke to you about a young man, a Finlander, who was interested in the truth. He has been a preacher for the Baptist Church, but has now fully embraced the truth. He has been in America three years, and now feels quite a burden for his countrymen. He is writing back to them and sending reading matter. We are teaching him the English so he can read all of our works. He preached to us last Sabbath in English. It is wonderful how the Lord is raising up men to help in this closing work. I write to you that you may correspond with him. He wants to get acquainted with our leading brethren and work in harmony with the message."

S. N. H.