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DENMARK

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Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, June 24, 1880

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 56, No. 1

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DENMARK

By J. G. Matteson

THURSDAY, May 20, I started from Christiana for Denmark. At the same time an ocean steamer started with about one thousand emigrants bound for the United States. The weather is fair, and the bay presents a beautiful view. On the way I met and greeted Bro. Jasperson; he was coming up the bay, and I going down.
The next day I landed in Frederickshavn, Denmark. In Norway we have a constant view of rocks and mountains reaching to the clouds. Denmark presents a flat and sandy coast. The Danes sustain themselves principally by agriculture. Here we see cattle and sheep in the meadows and on a thousand hills. The sons of Norway seek their bread principally on the sea, plowing the great waters from the cold polar seas to the hot coasts of India. And America complains of the many Norwegian ships in her harbors, because they bring down the prices on freight.
Our forefathers were pirates only eight or nine hundred years ago, and they were a terror and torment to the nations of Europe. It is no wonder that their descendants are a hard and stiffnecked people.
ALSTRUP.—Sabbath and Sunday, May 22 and 23, we held four meetings in Alstrup. Bro. Brorson joined me here. The weather was cold and stormy, yet the meetings were well attended. It was edifying to meet with these friends after so long an absence, and many willing hearts received the word joyfully. Monday we walked through the rain and storm two miles to Renbak and preached; there were sixteen present. Tuesday we went ten miles back and forth to Stenum where thirty met. Wednesday, seven miles to Farup. Here the house was filled with hearers, and the word was received with much feeling. These meetings were held soon after dinner, so that people could attend them instead of sleeping; for here all sleep a couple of hours after dinner during the summer time; then they work till nine in the evening.
Thursday night the brethren met, and this meeting closed half an hour after midnight. They pledged about $3.00 s. b. for the quarter, and ordered twelve copies of Tidernes Tegn for the tract society. It was decided to take an hour every Sabbath afternoon for Sabbath-school, and to use the Bible lessons.
Friday forenoon we walked eight miles to Brønderslev, where we met two brethren who came by rail from a distance to attend the Conference. Then Bro. Madsen took us to his home in Hellum.
HELLUM.—Here we had a good meeting Sabbath forenoon. Seven brethren and sisters came on foot from Alstrup, seventeen miles. Others came from other places. In the afternoon we celebrated the ordinances; forty-one persons were present, thirty-three of whom took part. It was a very precious season to us. It was good to meet with old friends of the truth, and to see new ones who had learned to love and obey the Lord and his truth.
Sunday we preached twice in Hellum and Jerslev to interested congregations. Monday forenoon the Conference held its last session. The brethren have manifested a good degree of union and interest in the cause according to their ability, and the Lord has blessed us in this our first yearly gathering. In the afternoon we met with the members of the church. They pledged $4.36 s. b. per quarter. The tract society, consisting of seven members, ordered thirteen copies of Tidernes Tegn. The brethren decided to begin a Sabbath-school. Tuesday Bro. Brorson went into another town further north to encourage and help souls there, while I held a meeting four miles from here. Neighbors came in, and were interested to hear. Wages are low in these parts (about 13½ cents per day), and the sources of income small. People live very economically and are very close in their deal. And the whole commonwealth is so arranged that the capitalists receive the income, and leave very little for the poorer class. The greatest satisfaction our American brethren have of this mission at present is, that the gospel of the kingdom is preached to the poor. My address is Christiana, Norway.
J. G. MATTESON.
Hellum, Denmark, June 2.