Bergen, Norway by John G. Matteson

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 3, 1878

Bergen, Norway.

By John G. Matteson

FROM Christiana I went to Eidsvold, where I visited a Christian brother who is much interested in the truth. He has translated four small tracts about the Sabbath (4 pp.) and printed 10,000 of them. He is soon to print 10,000 more. They have been sent to him from our S. D. Baptist brethren. He is engineer on a small steamer. He preaches often on Sundays, and some souls have become interested, and have commenced to serve the Lord. I held one meeting in his neighborhood. The people were friendly and asked me to come again.

Sunday, I went to Romedal, where I staid a day with a friend who keeps the Sabbath. He has become interested in the truth by reading, and preaches occasionally. He is a homeopathic doctor.

Monday, I took the cars for Trondhjem, a distance of 228 miles. The fare for this distance was $3.75. Norway is one great rock, and this road brought us through valleys, and over mountains whose tops were vailed with clouds. It is a wonderful picturesque country. The railroad reaches an elevation of several thousand feet above the sea.

In Trondhjem I found two Christian sisters who love the truth. One of them has commenced to keep the Sabbath; the other, I trust, will soon begin. There is a temperance society in this city, and I became acquainted with one of its members. We were on the cars together, where he defended total abstinence, and was much pleased when I took his side against several others who tried hard to defend "moderate drinking." I left them some tracts and papers, and then took passage for Bergen on a steamer (320 miles).

In this place I find five dear souls who are keeping the Sabbath of the Lord, and some others who are interested. I remain here four days. Rent is high, rooms are scarce, and it is very difficult to obtain a place for meetings. The Baptists have invited me to come to their chapel to-night.

We have now a few friends in many of the cities of Norway, and can, by the help of the Lord and by some judicious labor, obtain many readers for our tracts and periodicals. If we could get a paper printed here, it would facilitate the work in Northern Europe very much. May God direct for his own glory through Jesus Christ. JOHN G. MATTESON.

September 2, 1878.