The Great Second Advent Movement: Its Rise and Progress

THE SCANDINAVIAN MISSION

The mission to the Scandinavian people was opened by Elder John Matteson in the year 1887. On the 6th day of June he arrived in Vejle, in Jyeland, Denmark. When he went to that country there were a few who had begun the observance of the Sabbath through the reading of papers and tracts sent to them by friends of America. GSAM 413.1

In tracing the rise of this work, we learn that in 1850, four persons who had moved to America from Norway, began to keep the Sabbath of the Lord. They resided in Oakland, Wisconsin. Two of this number were the father and mother of Elder O. A. Olsen. In 1863 Elder John Matteson began the observance of the Seventh-day Sabbath. He lived in Poysippi, Wisconsin. In the next six months, through his labors, about forty Danish-Norwegians embraced the doctrines of Seventh-day Adventists. The first active preacher who united with him in the ministry was Elder J. F. Hanson of Minnesota. GSAM 413.2