Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists

EARLY PUBLISHING

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-speaking people 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. HSFM 59.6

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. HSFM 60.1

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 :- HSFM 60.2

“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 already donated 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. HSFM 60.3

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. HSFM 61.1