p. 100 | Among the Nations

California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Oakland, Cal. · Jan 14, 1875

Among the Nations.

LIGHT IN NEW ZEALAND.

ABOUT one year since a sister who works in the Review Office sent the Review and Herald and some tracts to a friend in New Zealand. The following is from a letter which she has recently received from her friend, which shows that the Sabbath question is being agitated in New Zealand:—

"I have a friend in the South of New Zealand who has recently left these parts, and has read your Review, &c., and is anxious that I should continue to send them to him. I should like my brother to have mine when he comes up. I am sure my friend would remit any expense it might be to you to send two copies of the Review. If I was sure he was likely to remain in one place I would send you his address; but he is an interpreter in the House of Lords, and only remains in Wellington three months in the year. He will pay the postage from here. I believe if he was in America he would become a true convert to your faith. I noticed the Sabbath question was agitated in our Church Gazette last week. I believe many are pondering the question. Our bishop has been challenged to answer the Sabbath question. He did so in the paper last week, but made a very, very lame attempt. I am going to mail him some of your pamphlets on the subject, 'Who Changed the Sabbath,' 'The Seventh Part of Time,' 'God's Answers to Man's Excuses,' and the 'Seven Reasons for Sunday-keeping Examined.' And as I shall send them anonymously I shall not get them back. Could you send me another copy of each? as I value them. Your interpretations of prophecy I am convinced are correct. I read many of them with widely different views from those I once entertained."

NEWS FROM NORWAY.

A sister writes from Chicago, as follows:— "It gives me great pleasure to receive the visitors of our dear paper, Advent Tidende, from month to month. Each number, it seems to me, is better than the previous one. I would not be without it, even if it should cost $10.00 a year. On the other hand, I can readily do without the articles of luxury, which it speaks against, such as jewels, artificial flowers and fashionable articles of dress, coffee, tea, etc.

"May the Lord continue to bless our dear paper, and all those who are employed in preparing it. May it bring light to many who are now sitting in darkness, and, instead of following the laws and doctrines of men, may they receive 'the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.' I will try to get as many new subscribers for the paper as I can.

"We have received a letter from sister Reirsen in Norway. Among other things, she says: 'You may believe, dear sister, that there are many voices calling upon us, and you may rejoice that you are among a people who love God and his commandments. My husband and I wish that God would either let us go over to the dear friends across the ocean, or that he would in his providence send somebody from America to preach the third angel's message, which is now sounding among you, as there are many who are longing to hear the last message of mercy. We have commenced to keep the Sabbath of the Lord, and rejoice in the soon coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The people here have become interested in reading the Advent Tidende, and as they cannot resist the truth, we hope that some will receive it, and be prepared for the glorious coming of Jesus, and thus have a home in his everlasting kingdom.' R. LORENZEN." November, 1874.

THE WORK IN SWEDEN.

We hail with joy the interesting news from our fatherland that the people are becoming awakened to the proclamation of the third angel's message. A Baptist sister writes:

"What astonishing truths! They are light in darkness. Can I and my friends have the Harold another year? Tell us the directions, that we may send the money for it."

A Baptist preacher who has recently embraced the Sabbath, and who is spending his life in the Lord's service, writes:—

"The Harold has reached me, and I have read it. It is astonishing that such truths have been so long concealed, while one after another has searched the Scriptures and claimed to have noticed the law of God and the faith of Jesus. But when even the truth shines in their face, many still close their eyes to it. I preach every Sabbath evening, and where we are assembled there is a full house; and from all sides is the call made, 'Come over and help us!' The country is opening; the harvest is great; workers are few." CHARLES LEE.

LINCOLNSHIRE, ENGLAND.

A sister living in Tuscola Co., Mich., has been sending the Review and other publications to England. The following is from a letter written by her:—

"I must tell you the good news which I received from home. Father is so much better as to be able to write me a letter. He and his wife are keeping the Sabbath. They spend the day in reading the Review, our tracts, and the word of God. The minister who preaches where they attend meeting Sunday morning, is very much interested in reading our publications, and those to whom I send the Review like it very much. This to me is good news indeed. I think that my efforts have not been fruitless, and I am encouraged to still try to spread the truth."

SABBATH-KEEPERS IN SCOTLAND.

THE following is from a letter written to the Vigilant Missionary Society in New England from a sister in Scotland:

"I thank you sincerely for your very kind and sympathizing letter. It gives me great pleasure, though coming from one I have never seen and can scarcely ever hope to see in this life. Sympathy is always welcome whether coming from friends who are near or those who are far off. I fully appreciate the spirit in which you endeavor to direct my thoughts to the hope of future happiness amid the trials of this present life."

In speaking of the Sabbath Conference held at her house when Bro. Andrews was there, she says: "I suppose you have already heard of the Sabbath Conference held at our house on the 8th of October. You will doubtless be pleased to hear that we have held prayer-meetings here every Sabbath evening since then. These meetings are usually attended by six persons, including my mother and myself. Five of us have decided that the seventh day is the true Sabbath. The sixth I believe is convinced, being regular in attending the meetings. I feel much obliged to you for your kindness in sending me tracts. But I am sorry to say they have not reached me."

DAKOTAH TERRITORY.

THE light of present truth was first spread here, by reading the Advent Tidende nearly two years ago. Several families commenced to observe the Lord's Sabbath, but after a few months a worldly spirit crept in, and through discouragements, all but one family lost their interest in the truth, and finally gave up. This family continually called for ministerial help. Finally, the Lord sent our brother John F. Hanson to teach the truth in our midst, and the cause has moved steadily forward since that time, for which I bless the Lord.

Since going forward in the ordinance of baptism I have felt the sweet blessing of the Lord continually, and my peace has been like a river.

There are now four families of us who have covenanted together to keep God's holy commandments, and we feel his blessing each week in our Sabbath meetings, which continue full of interest to us who want to learn the way of truth more perfectly.

We feel the greatest gratitude to God for the labor received from his servant; and have it in our hearts to make payment for the same; and would do so if the grasshoppers had not left us so destitute, they having taken nearly all our crops, leaving us barely enough for bread and seed; but we hope by the blessing of the Lord, to be able in the future to help in his cause. In behalf of the friends. O. F. FREDERIKSON.

The following is a letter received since my visit:—

DEAR BRO. HANSON: We thought it would cheer you to hear from us in regard to the cause here. Our interest in the truth is unabated, but on the other hand we feel very much encouraged. One more family has embraced the truth since you left us, making five families in all. We are also trying to spread the truth among others, and two families have commenced to read our publications. We pray that it may result in good. We feel the need of more tracts, in both the Danish and English languages. If you can send us some, please do so, and we will try to place them in the hands of those who will read them.

You remember that when you left us, I could not see the force of all you told us as you seemed to see it, but now I am fully persuaded that this is the last message of mercy to the world. Also in regard to man's nature, I now see the beauty and harmony of the Scriptures on that point. In fact, I am in full sympathy with all the views you presented, and desire to unite myself with the people of God. We hope the time is not far distant when you can again be permitted to come and minister to our needs. Yours in hope, N. JENSON.

In addition to the above I would say that while in Dacotah, I found an earnest desire with the people to hear the truth, especially among the Americans, and was frequently requested to speak in the English language. I consider it a fine field of labor in that tongue, and would suggest the propriety of sending help to that part of the wide harvest field. JOHN F. HANSON.