Earlier text: CHANGE IN LOCATION OF THE OFFICE.The results of the labors of Eld. D. T. Bourdeau at Branges, France, during the summer of 1884, were encouraging. The community was largely Catholic; but the people of this faith gave earnest and respectful attention to the preaching of present truth, and showed even less prejudice than the Protestants. He had been led to go to this locality through correspondence with a brother who had embraced the Sabbath from reading Les Signes. The manner in which the meetings here were conducted illustrates the custom of the people of this class in many parts of France, and the means that have to be used in order to reach them. The inhabitants of this section are mostly farmers, and the country is not very thickly settled. The soil has been under cultivation for so many centuries that it is necessary to bestow great care upon it in order to secure even a moderate crop. Most of the people are in very moderate circumstances, and have to exercise the greatest economy and diligence in order to live. They work50in the fields from four o’clock in the morning to nine in the evening, and during the busy time of harvest are often found in their fields at an earlier hour than we have named. As these meetings were held during the busiest part of the season, it was found impossible to commence them before nine o’clock in the evening. The people being scattered, some came considerable distances on foot in order to attend. It will readily be seen that the interest to hear the truth must have been great to lead the people to assemble at so late an hour after their long day’s work; and yet meetings were held nearly every evening under these circumstances, and were quite well attended. As the result of this effort, several persons embraced the truth, and were organized into a church before Eld. Bourdeau left for another field. From Branges Eld. Bourdeau went to Bastia, in the island of Corsica. In this city a young evangelist of the Baptist denomination had become interested in the Sabbath from reading Les Signes, and had begun to observe it. The island of Corsica has about 150,000 inhabitants, all of whom are Catholics except about fifty who have embraced the Protestant faith. The island formerly belonged to the kingdom of Genoa, hence the people all speak the Italian; but nearly all speak the French also. The influence of Bro. Comte, the young evangelist mentioned above, had in a measure prepared the way for the preaching of the message, as he had agitated the question of the Sabbath and conditional immortality among those for whom he labored. Although Bro. Bourdeau remained in Corsica less than a month, twelve persons embraced the Sabbath, and a church of eleven members was organized, with all its officers regularly appointed From Corsica Bro. Bourdeau proceeded to visit Naples, Bari, and Barletta, Italy. In the former city he held meetings with the believers, and labored to encourage them in the missionary work. At Bari he found several persons observing the Sabbath and holding regular meetings on that day, although the company had not been organized. During this visit in Italy, Bro. A. Biglia accompanied Eld. Bourdeau, acting as interpreter for him. Bro. A. C. Bourdeau met with decided opposition in his public labors in Roumania. On his arrival at Pitesti, he began meetings in a private house; but the congregation increased to such an extent that it was thought advisable to secure a hall. Here the meetings were attended by a large number of persons; but so much opposition was raised through the influence of the priest, that it became necessary to abandon the meetings in the hall; and return to the private house. Special efforts were made to instruct the believers there more perfectly in the truth, and some others were added to their number as the fruit of the meetings. A church of fourteen members was organized, and several were baptized. Eld. Erzenberger labored for some time in the city of Gladbach, Prussia, and also gave a course of lectures in an adjoining city. As the result, several persons embraced the truth. In the former city there were quite a number of those who had been among the first to receive the Sabbath under the preaching of Eld. Lindermann. Bro. Erzenberger labored faithfully and with some success to bring these persons fully into harmony with our work; but he was not able to effect an organization among them. During the months following the51Council, Bro. Albert Vuilleumier had been laboring as a colporter in the cities of Locle and Chaux-de-Fonds. In the latter city he had excellent success in his work, especially in obtaining subscribers for Les Signes des Temps. In this city alone he obtained more than one hundred and fifty subscribers. Other colporters had also been laboring in different parts of Switzerland, but no public effort was made during this season. An increased degree of activity had been manifested in the missionary work, and quite a decided advance had been made in the amount of publications issued, as the following figures show:— From Oct. 1, 1883, to Oct. 1, 1884, the number of copies of Les Signes printed was 62,900; of the Herold der Wahrheit, 46,200; Adevărŭlu Present, 23,000; and L’Ultimo Messaggio, 14,000; or, in the aggregate, 146,100 copies. The entire editions of Les Signes and the Herold had been distributed, except those reserved for binding, and quite a proportion of the Messaggio and Adevărŭlu. During the winter of 1884–5, Eld. D. T. Bourdeau gave a course of lectures in Torre Pellice, Italy, which was largely attended. He was assisted in his work by Bro. Adémar Vuilleumier, and several persons were added to the number of the friends of the cause in this valley. At the close of the effort, in which Eld. A. C. Bourdeau and Bro. Albert Vuilleumier also joined, a church of fourteen was organized. ARRIVAL OF ELD. W. C. WHITE AND MRS. E. G. WHITE.
Sept. 3, 1885, Eld. W. C. White and family, and Mrs. E. G. White, with her attendant Miss Sarah McEnterfer, arrived at Basle. The visit of Eld. White had been specially requested by the Executive Committee of this mission, in view of the anticipated completion of the new publishing house, and the probable enlargement of the publishing work. This committee had also, in behalf of the brethren and sisters of this mission, extended an earnest request to Sister White to visit Europe, that the cause here might share the benefit of her labors, and of the light which the Lord has so graciously given his people through her instrumentality. In response to this appeal, the General Conference of 1884 passed a resolution recommending that Bro. White visit Europe in the especial interest of the publishing work, and extended an earnest invitation to Sister White to accompany him. In harmony with this recommendation, Sister White, although very feeble, undertook the long journey from California, reaching Basle in a much better condition of health and strength than when she left home. Their arrival was a source of great joy to the friends of the cause in Switzerland, who had for some time anticipated their coming. THE SWISS CONFERENCE AND EUROPEAN MISSIONARY COUNCIL.
The Swiss Conference assembled Thursday, Sept. 10, 1885, and continued until the 14th. There were nearly two hundred brethren and sisters present, including delegates from Germany, France, Italy, and Roumania. The minutes of the Conference show that it has one ordained minister, seven licentiates, and ten churches, which have a membership of 224. The tithes for the year were 8,235.11 francs. The report of the Tract and Missionary Society, which included its work since its reorganization, showed a distribution of 137,039 pages of tracts and52books, and 39,920 journals; 9,066 missionary visits had been made, and donations for various enterprises aside from the tithes paid to the Conference amounted to 10,209.22 francs. A meeting of the Sabbath-school Association was also held. This Association includes eleven schools, with a total membership of 251. The most important feature of this Conference was the deep religious feeling, which increased to the very close. The earnest and practical discourses of Sister White were appreciated by those present, and seemed to take a deep hold upon the hearts of all. Fourteen persons were baptized, and Bro. Albert Vuilleumier was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry. This Conference was immediately followed by the third session of the European Council. This session was even more largely attended than the previous one, and as it continued for ten days, a greater number of subjects received consideration. Among the practical questions which were discussed at length was that of the use of tents in the European field. The laborers from England reported favorably concerning their trial of this kind of work in their field during the season which had just closed, and strongly recommended the employing of tents as an effective and economical way of reaching the people. The Council, after mature deliberation, recommended their use in the other missions. It was also recommended that Eld. A. C. Bourdeau remove with his family to Torre Pellice, Italy, to labor especially in the Waldensian Valleys. In view of the vast extent of the German field and the scarcity of laborers in that tongue, the General Conference was requested to send a German laborer to this field. Much attention was devoted to the question of colporter and canvassing work, and during the session a special class for the instruction of the colporters present was held. Soon after the close of the Council, Eld. A. C. Bourdeau removed to Italy, to continue the work there. His wife, however, was unexpectedly detained at Basle by the rapid decline of her daughter, Sister Edith Andrews. Sister Edith had been in delicate health for several years, and on the return of Eld. Butler had accompanied him to America in the hope of restoration to health by a period of treatment at the Sanitarium. During her sojourn there she suffered from severe and repeated hemorrhage of the lungs, and grave fears were entertained that the malady would terminate speedily and fatally. Under the most assiduous care and skillful treatment, however, she rallied, and at the end of nine months returned, seemingly much improved. This improvement, however, proved to be only apparent, as not many weeks elapsed before it was evident that she was again declining Soon after the Council she was seized again with severe hemorrhages, and from this time the progress of the disease was marked and rapid. Her death occurred Dec. 24, 1885, about nine months from the time of her return from America. Thus the three who crossed the ocean together on the occasion of Bro. Andrews’ return from America, and who shared together the labors and anxieties of the work, are now lying side by side in the mission lot, awaiting in hope the coming of Him to whose service their lives have been devoted. Eld. D. T. Bourdeau, who had been located for some time in the city of Geneva, commenced here, during the53winter which followed, a course of lectures in which he was joined later by his brother. At the same time Eld. Erzenberger, assisted by Eld. Albert Vuilleumier, carried on a similar effort in the city of Chaux-de-Fonds. The General Conference, in response to the request of the Council, sent Eld. L. R. Conradi, who had been laboring successfully among the Germans of America, to the assistance of the German work in Europe. As a public effort had been commenced in the city of Lausanne, whose population includes a number of thousand Germans, it was decided that Elds. Conradi and Erzenberger should join Bro. Bourdeau in the labor there. Courses of lectures were conducted in both French and German simultaneously. These closed with the baptism of twenty-two persons and the organization of a church. The recommendation of the Council in favor of tent work led to the purchase of two tents, one of which was pitched in St. Germain, Italy, by Eld. A. C. Bourdeau and his assistants; the other at Nîmes, France, by Elds. Bourdeau, Erz enberger, and Vuilleumier. After the close of the effort at Lausanne, Eld. Conradi, in answer to many and urgent appeals from those in Russia who had become interested in the truths of the message by reading our publications, started on a tour through that vast empire. Thus the living preacher has gone to the farthest country of Europe. As we look over the history of the work during the years since the establishment of this mission, and review what has been done in this field to the present time, we feel thankful for what has already been accomplished in preparing the way for the final and extended proclamation of the message in these great countries of Central Europe. There is abundant reason why the friends of the cause should rejoice at what God has already wrought, and should take courage for the future. The Providence that overruled in the planting of the work here, and that has guided thus far in the preparation of the agencies by which the great conflict in behalf of the present truth shall be carried forward, will continue to lead on until the message shall triumph in the successful accomplishment of its work, and a people who shall be prepared for the return of their Master shall be called out from among these nations. Although the progress of the cause has been slow,—at times almost imperceptible,—progress has nevertheless been made, and a good foundation has been laid for future advancement. If the reader will refer to the accompanying map, he will see on the broad extent of the countries embraced within the limits of this mission special dots and crosses placed here and there. These mark the location where there are little churches and companies of believers whose hearts are true to the great doctrines of the message. They have accepted the truth under great difficulties, oftentimes greater than those encountered in other countries, and hence they know from experience what obedience to the truth costs. They are desirous that the precious light they have received shall be imparted to others. They are anxious to witness the prosperity of the truth, and are willing to sacrifice for its advancement. Thus a light has been kindled in these countries which will not cease to burn till it shall have resulted in the illumination of many souls. A score or more of laborers are working in the different branches of the cause and in various parts of the field. Although all that measure of success which might be desired has not attended their efforts thus far, yet they have not been without encouraging results. Periodicals and publications have been scattered here and there, and as the result there are some to-day rejoicing in the light of the truth who could not have received it had it not been for those who have taken an interest to prepare it in their own tongue and send it to them. These in turn are preparing to become missionaries to carry the light to those around them. In order to the proper dissemination of the present truth among the various nationalities who do not speak the English tongue, the office of publication has been established at Basle. This office is already well equipped for its work, and has a capacity for doing tenfold what has been done up to the present. Already some of our standard works are being issued and scattered in the principal languages of Central Europe. The progress in the work of publishing has been especially slow; but the experience which has been gained will be of value in the future, while what has actually been accomplished will enable us at once to put before the world in these foreign languages thousands of copies of some of our most important doctrinal works. Such are some of the things already accomplished in the progress of the work in the Central European Mission,—things for which we as a people have reason to be thankful and take courage. On the other hand, it is well to remember that the work is but fairly begun. The foundation, it is true, has been laid, but the structure has yet to be built upon it. The reader who has carefully noted the facts brought out in this imperfect sketch will readily acknowledge that there are in the conditions and customs of the people many serious obstacles to be encountered in the work here which are not met with in some other fields. These have naturally made the work slow and laborious. Although something has been accomplished, there remains much more yet to be done. Those who will take the pains to examine the map, will notice in how few localities the truth has as yet found lodgment, how many hundreds of cities there are, with their teeming thousands, where the message has not as yet been proclaimed, how many millions there are still who have not heard that there is such a thing as the third angel’s message! Indeed, he will find whole countries, with their immense population, where there are not, so far as we know, any representatives of the truth. There are within the limits of this mission whole nationalities in whose tongue there has not as yet been published a single tract or periodical on the present truth. How vast then is the field still before us! And even in those fields which have been entered how much yet remains to be done! The faithful brethren and sisters who have already enlisted in the good work need to be educated, trained to become light-bearers to their friends and neighbors, and to act their part in the extension of the message. In no portion of the wide harvest field is individual effort in the missionary work more necessary than in this mission, which comprises such a variety of languages, and so many millions of people. The actual extent of the field is not easily computed, but some comparative estimate may be formed from the fact that it comprises a population more than55five times that of any other mission established by our people, and more than four times that of the United States. How are these millions to be warned? The difficulty of reaching the people by public labor is much greater here than in any other field yet entered, while the opportunities of access to them through our publications is more nearly the same as in other fields. Both these considerations,—the vast numbers to be reached, and the practicability of using our publications as a means to this end,—present the strongest reasons why the rank and file of the believers in these countries should be most thoroughly educated to become efficient helpers in the great work to be done. Is a thorough missionary organization necessary for the prosperity of the work in America? Then in a much more urgent sense is it the demand of the European field. NEED OF TRAINED LABORERS.
The score of workers already in the field ought to have their ranks recruited to more than tenfold their present number, and then all these laborers need to be trained and disciplined that they may labor in the most effective manner, and that they may know how to meet with courage and fortitude the peculiar difficulties and perplexities of this European field. An army of canvassers and colporters is needed to put in circulation the publications which our new publishing house is capable of supplying. These laborers must be thoroughly educated, for certainly theirs is no easy task. It is, on the contrary, one which requires tact, discernment, and perseverance, in addition to a thorough knowledge of the truth, and ability to present it in a plain and simple manner so that it may be comprehended even by those who oftentimes are surprisingly ignorant of the simplest truths of the gospel. Not only is there an urgent demand for this thorough general education of the various classes of laborers, but there is also necessity for a special training of workers for each of these different nationalities. Each of these countries has its peculiarities other than the diversity of tongue, and men must be trained to understand and to meet these peculiarities if they would be successful in these various fields. How is the message to go to these “nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples,” unless men and women are thus educated? This work of education in these various languages, and among these diverse nationalities, is no slight or easy task; but it is one which must be accomplished before the work shall be placed on the true basis. Where are the men and women of experience, who, with an earnest love for souls, will devote themselves to the preparation necessary to become the trainers, the educators, of those of various nationalities who desire to become capable workers in their respective fields? It will require those who have had mature experience in the working of our cause, to give the right mould to the work among all these nationalities. Where are those who are qualifying for this task, at once so delicate and so important? Truly it may emphatically be said that the work is but fairly begun. But let it not be forgotten that there is abundant encouragement to labor on. What has been accomplished shows what can yet be done with the blessing of God. Those who have already accepted the unpopular truths of the message, and who stand to-day as the tried and faithful friends of the cause, are witnesses that there are in these56nations honest souls, who, despite all personal loss or sacrifice, will be loyal to their convictions of duty, and to their allegiance to the work of God. In Germany the few friends who have received the light have for years anxiously desired to see the truth proclaimed to their countrymen. Although their hope has been long deferred, they have stood steadfast in their faith, in the midst of discouragements, and in a great measure disconnected from those of like faith. That they have remained thus loyal under these discouraging circumstances, and have still continued their efforts for the extension of the truth, shows that they have a sincere and abiding love for it. But is there not reason to believe that there are thousands of their nationality who would with equal willingness accept the light, and prove equally faithful in their obedience to it, were it brought to them? Will not this country, which acted so prominent a part in the Reformation of the sixteenth century, prove also a fruitful field for the last great work of reform? And if so, where are the men and women who are educating themselves to assist in extending the work into this broad field? Are there not those of this nationality in America, young men and women, who feel constrained to qualify themselves to help in the work of carrying this last message to the land of their fathers? In Italy also, amid the darkness which religious despotism and superstition have brought on this fair land, the truth has found honest, loyal souls who have stood firm and unyielding amid persecution and difficulty. Are there not others whom it will yet search out, and who, when found, will rejoice to be the bearers of the good tidings to those who still sit in darkness? France, notwithstanding its well-nigh universal skepticism, has furnished and will furnish its share of faithful, noble witnesses for the truth of this day, as she has done in past generations. It will require patient, untiring labor to search them out, but in the end they will shine as stars in the crown of rejoicing of those who faithfully devote themselves to this work, and labor with unselfish zeal in the closing efforts for the Master. The demand of the hour is that the work go forward. The work is indeed great, but the time is short, and therefore the greater earnestness and activity are required. There are difficulties to be encountered, but courage and faith in God will meet and surmount them. Laborers who are thoroughly educated and trained are needed in order that the best results may be secured; but God will bless and prosper the effort to intelligently supply these requirements of the work. When this need shall be met, and when, feeling their dependence on the divine aid for the successful accomplishment of the great task before them, laborers shall go forth clothed with the power of the Holy Spirit, then will the message prosper as it has not prospered in the past. Under the promised outpouring of the Spirit, these nations will become enlightened with the glory of the message, and in its final triumph some will be gathered from them all as sheaves for the Master’s garner. “And they that be teachers [margin] shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.” EARLY SCANDINAVIAN SABBATH-KEEPERS.
In 1850, Bro. A. Olsen moved to America, from the vicinity of Christianssand, Norway. Before leaving Norway he with others had had his attention called to the Sabbath question by a preacher from Sweden, and their minds were much exercised on the subject. At the same time they ceased to feel satisfied with the State Church and its dead formalities. Their souls were longing for truth, for spiritual food. This with other reasons led them to remove from Norway. It seemed to be impressed on their minds that there was light awaiting them in America. On coming to this country, they settled in Oakland, Wisconsin. Here they joined the Methodist church. This was an advance step, and in taking it they experienced the blessing of God; yet they were not satisfied; the subject of the Sabbath continued to trouble them. When the minister at church spoke of Sunday morning as the holy Sabbath morning, it did not seem right to them. Thus the subject worked on their minds until they decided to give it a careful examination; and the result was that they became fully convinced that the seventh day is the only Sabbath ordained of God. Opposition was already strong against THE SCANDINAVIAN MISSION.
them, and they had nothing to rely upon but their God and their Bible; but they decided that they must obey God rather than men. The first Sabbath meeting was attended by four adult persons,—Bro. and Sister Olsen, and Sister Olsen’s brother and his wife. After awhile, however, the two latter gave up the Sabbath. But the number of Sabbath-keepers soon increased, so that in about two years eight families had begun its observance. At this time the subject of baptism by immersion began to be agitated among this little company, and to many it was as difficult to accept this truth as the Sabbath. Indeed, some who had begun to keep the Sabbath went back at this point. But in other cases this was the opening wedge which made a way for the present truth to enter. About the year 1855 or 1856, Eld. Waterman Phelps, who was then laboring in Wisconsin, held a series of meetings among the Scandinavian Sabbath-keepers. The work moved very slowly; for none of the older Scandinavians, and only a few of the young people, could understand any English, and there was no regular interpreter. Those who could understand a little would whisper it to others. Of course this caused some confusion in the meeting, but it was the only way in58which the truth could be made intelligible to that people, and the blessing of God attended the effort. From this time the work advanced more rapidly, a number of American Sabbath-keepers joined in the Sabbath meetings, and the services were conducted in both English and Norwegian. When the question of organization was introduced, there was a great struggle, and many of the American members of this company, who had held age-to-come views, withdrew, while the Norwegian brethren all embraced the whole message, and united with the Seventh-day Adventists. The church in Oakland, Wis., has never been a very large one, but its members have been faithful, and have been liberal in sustaining the cause. Four of Bro. Olsen’s sons have entered the ministry, and are proclaiming the third angel’s message. We have found no history of Scandinavian Sabbath-keepers at an earlier period. ELDER MATTESON’S CONVERSION AND EARLY LABORS.
In 1862, John G. Matteson, a young Baptist minister who had come from Denmark only a few years before, received light on the immortality and kingdom questions through papers and books published by the First-day Adventists; and in the fall of the following year he embraced the Sabbath. He was at this time living at Poy Sippi, Wis., and it was here that his attention was called to the subject of the Sabbath through the efforts of Bro. P. H. Cady of that place. Bro. C. had carefully preserved his old Reviews, and had lent them to a Danish brother, who, in turn, lent them to Eld. Matteson. These papers contained the reply of J. M. Aldrich to the “Fifty Unanswerable Arguments against Seventh-day Sabbath-keeping.” This established him on the Sabbath question. The reading of Eld. Waggoner’s “Refutation of the Age-to-Come” helped him out of the labyrinths of the age-to-come theory, and he soon began to preach the doctrines he had embraced. When Eld. Matteson visited Bro. Cady, and after presenting many objections to the Sabbath doctrine, confessed that he had become fully satisfied that the seventh day is the Sabbath, and declared his intention to keep it, Bro. C., who for years had stood alone, and had longed for friends of like faith, shed tears of joy that God had heard his prayers, and blessed his efforts to bring precious light to other minds. Late in the fall, Eld. M. walked forty miles to become acquainted with the brethren of the Mackford church, and to attend their quarterly meeting. He was much strengthened by this visit, and encouraged by the love and union that he found among the brethren. During the next six months he labored earnestly among his former friends in the vicinity of Poy Sippi, and from thirty to forty began to keep the Sabbath. During the next four years, Eld. Matteson traveled most of the time, preaching principally to the Scandinavians, and a goodly number of churches were raised up in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Later he labored also in Iowa and Illinois. In those days these western Conferences were not very strong, and many of the American brethren had but little confidence in foreigners; and for the four years’ labor, Eld. Matteson received but twenty dollars from the Conferences. The donations from the friends for whom he labored were scarcely sufficient to meet his necessary expenses, and sometimes he was forced to borrow money in order to reach his field of labor; but59the Lord sustained him, and blessed his labors. His wife worked hard, and they lived very economically; and she never called him home from his field of labor on any consideration, although he was sometimes absent from home from six to fifteen months at a time. The first active preacher who joined Eld. Matteson in the Scandinavian field, was Eld. J. F. Hanson, a Baptist preacher of Freeborn County, Minnesota. Eld. Matteson went to his home, and after a short conversation about spiritual things, asked him to take his Bible, that both might turn from text to text, and ascertain, if possible, which had the most Bible evidence to sustain his belief. The questions especially considered were the Sabbath, and the immortality of the soul. This investigation was continued until Eld. Hanson acknowledged the truth, and both he and his family embraced it. Another man in the same vicinity, Bro. H. Rasmussen, was gained in the same way. The Bible reading with him was continued till midnight, and he at once became a Sabbath-keeper, although he had been so much prejudiced by evil reports that at first he would not ask Eld. Matteson to come in, and the conversation was commenced across the fence, Eld. M. standing in the road. Eld. Hanson had preached some among the Baptists, and he soon became a zealous advocate of the truth. Through his earnest labors, many Scandinavian Sabbath-keepers have been raised up in Minnesota and other States. At quite an early date, Bro. O. A. Olsen gave himself to the work of preaching the present truth. His opportunities for obtaining an education had been very limited. He was but a small boy when his parents left Norway. They had but limited means, and in removing to a new country, they experienced the usual hardships and struggles of early settlers. Ole was the eldest of the children, and his help was much depended on at home. While this gave him a practical experience, and developed traits of energy and perseverance, it afforded but little time for a school education. In his first efforts to present the truth he met many discouragements, and was for the time being led to give up the thought of becoming a laborer. But he could not free himself from the conviction that it was his duty to devote his life to this work. Through persevering effort, and the help of God, he conquered difficulties and embarrassments, and the Lord has blessed his labors among both the Scandinavians and the Americans. At a later date, Elds. Lewis Johnson, O. A. Johnson, and others united in the work, and they have since taken an active part in preaching the third angel’s message among the Scandinavians in America. By the year 1872 there were several hundred Scandinavian Sabbath-keepers, and as but few of these could read the English readily, it was urged that a Danish-Norwegian paper should be published for them. Accordingly the Advent Tidende was begun at the office of the Review and Herald, as a 24-page monthly, edited by Eld. Matteson. The following year it was enlarged to a 32-page monthly. This was the first periodical issued by Seventh-day Adventists in any other than the English language. It had been previously proved by Eld. M. that the Danish-speaking60people would read a paper advocating the present truth. While living at Poy Sippi he issued a monthly paper written by hand, and containing about twenty-four pages of foolscap. There was only one copy of this paper, but it was put into a cover bearing the names of the subscribers, and stating how long each could keep it before sending it to the next person named on the list. Each paid a certain sum for the privilege of reading it. This paper was received with so much favor that it was continued about one year. There had been a few tracts printed in the Norwegian, through the efforts of Eld. Matteson, before the publication of the Tidende; and as the circumstances give us a good lesson in perseverance, we mention them. Feeling deeply the need of tracts on the present truth, Eld. M. wrote one on the Sabbath question, and went to Battle Creek to get it published. At first he met with but little encouragement. It was at the time of Eld. White’s long sickness, and those conducting the business of the Publishing Association had not had much experience in the work, nor did they appreciate the wants of the cause in all its branches. The Association had issued one or two books in German, and one in Holland, which were not being used, but were a burden on their hands, and they did not wish to be bothered with any more foreign work. But Eld. Matteson could not give up the thought of having the tract printed. He prayed much over the matter, and finally asked permission to go into the type room and try to set the tract himself. The managers consented; but when he asked the foreman for help and instruction, he was told that it would only be a waste of time, because as he knew nothing of type-setting, he would make so many mistakes that the work could not be used. But he was furnished a book giving some directions about the work. He studied this earnestly, and every day prayed that the Lord would help him learn to set type; and before long he had the pleasure of sending out to his countrymen a tract on the Sabbath question. The publication of the Tidende marked a new era in the Scandinavian work. The publications greatly aided the ministers in teaching the truth, so that in 1877 there were about eight hundred Scandinavian Sabbath-keepers in America. But this was not all. Quite a number of tracts and papers had been sent to the Old World, and there were four or five persons keeping the Sabbath in Denmark, and others were studying their duty on this point. These united with their friends in America in urging that some one be sent to teach the truth in Scandinavia. As Eld. Matteson was the oldest and most experienced laborer among the Scandinavians, it was natural that he should be selected to open the mission in Northern Europe. In answer to the requests and advice of his brethren on this point, he wrote, March 23, 1877, to the President of the General Conference, as follows:— “Dear and much esteemed Brother: I think the time has come when I must get ready to go to Denmark to labor in the interest of the last message... Eld. Haskell has advised me to go, and thinks that the time has come when this move should be made. The leading brethren among our countrymen are very anxious to have me go this spring. There are two hundred and sixty Advent Tidendes that go to Denmark monthly, and about sixty to Norway. We frequently receive favorable letters from Denmark, and some are keeping the Sabbath there... Our Danish-Norwegian people have already61donated and sent to the office at Battle Creek, about $200 for this mission, although we have made no call for money. I think the best time to go would be about May.” Being assured of the sympathy and support of both the American and the Scandinavian brethren, Eld. Matteson arranged to sail, with his wife, in May. He found homes for his children among faithful brethren in Oakland and Neenah, Wis., not knowing how long he might be absent. His eldest daughter he never saw again. Of his first labors in Denmark, and the subsequent growth of the mission work in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, we give the following, prepared by him for this sketch. A MISSION OPENED IN DENMARK.
On the 6th of June, 1877, we arrived in this place, a city in the southern part of Jylland. There being a few interested ones here, we hired a small room, 8x10, and visited the friends who lived in the vicinity. About fourteen miles from Vejle, I found three families keeping the Sabbath, while others attended the Sabbath meetings. I held several meetings here, and on Sunday about thirty came together, who gave good attention to the word spoken. One Sunday I spoke in the Methodist chapel at Vejle, on the second coming of Christ. There was a large congregation, and the people were much interested; but this door was soon closed, and the leader was reproved by his superiors. I met so much opposition here, and had so little means, that I did not venture to hire a hall. During our stay at this place I published a small hymn book, which afterward proved very useful.