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Ellen G. White: The Lonely Years: 1876-1891 (vol. 3)

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The Well-Attended Meetings in Sweden

On Wednesday afternoon O. A. Olsen, the Ingses, and Ellen White took the train for Stockholm for the session of the Swedish Conference, which opened on Thursday, June 23. Sixty believers were present for the opening meeting at ten o'clock. They met in a tent, “the first tent that has been pitched in Sweden,” noted Ellen White. She added that as the meetings progress, “the people flock to the tent. It is to them a new and singular meetinghouse.”—Manuscript 35, 1887. 3BIO 370.1

Friday afternoon she spoke to a large audience. 3BIO 370.2

At five o'clock I spoke to a tent crowded full. Every seat was occupied and a wall of people was about the tent. All were orderly and listened with apparent interest. Many found seats on the platform. Many were standing under the tent and around the tent. I had freedom in speaking to the people from Titus 2:11-14.

.... I think I have not seen as an average, a more intelligent, noble-looking company than was before me, both men and women.—Manuscript 35, 1887.

People crowded onto the grounds again on Sabbath, and she addressed an audience of four hundred on Christ's second coming. Detecting that before her were many who understood English, she held her voice in even tones and with distinct utterance. The meetings continued through Monday, with forty attending the farewell meeting Tuesday morning. “I remained after the meeting,” she wrote, “to bid all farewell. Shook hands with them and with the thought that we should never meet again until we meet around the throne of God.” 3BIO 370.3

But there was “another little parting scene.” 3BIO 370.4

All the colporteurs and workers assembled in the house of Brother Matteson and we had a formal parting meeting. Each one said a few words of their appreciation of the meetings. They had read the books of Sister White and wanted so much to see her, and as they had listened to her testimony they had accepted the message brought to them and had been greatly benefited and much blessed of the Lord. I responded in a short talk through Brother Matteson as my interpreter. We left Stockholm about 6:00 P.M. We were favored with the best of accommodations and slept quite well during the night.—Ibid.