238
Life Sketches of Ellen G. White
average of 42,237 books, 1,717,912 periodicals, 5,840 pamphlets,
241,041 tracts, at an average annual retail value of $77,555.
“We have 207 regular book and periodical canvassers, an average of
one out of every eight of our members....
“The net profits of our publishing work during the past four years have
been $19,878. The tract society has donated that sum, and $12,832
more of its former profits, or a total of $32,710, to the British Union
property fund.” (
The General Conference Bulletin 1909, 96
.)
[296]
First Visit to Scandinavia
During the two years spent by Mrs. White in Europe, she vis-
ited Denmark, Sweden, and Norway three times. At the close of
the Missionary Council held in Basel during September, 1885, the
delegates from Scandinavia pleaded that she should visit their field
as soon as possible; and although her friends in Switzerland pointed
out that summer was a better time to travel in northern Europe, she
decided to venture out by faith, trusting in God for strength to endure
the hardships of the journey.
October and the first half of November were spent in Copenhagen,
Stockholm, Grythyttehed, Orebro, and Christiania. Mrs. White was
accompanied by her secretary, Miss Sara McEnterfer, by her son, W. C.
White, and by Elder J. G. Matteson, who was guide, interpreter, and
fellow laborer. In the various places where believers assembled to hear,
her message was received with reverential interest. The congregations
were not large, excepting in Christiania, where the church membership
numbered one hundred and twenty. On Sabbath day, October 31, when
the brethren from other churches gathered in, there were about two
hundred in attendance. On Sunday she spoke in the workingmen’s
hall to an audience of eight hundred. The next Sunday, by request of
the president of a strong temperance society, she spoke to about one
[297]
thousand three hundred assembled in the soldiers’ military gymnasium,
on the importance of home training in the principles of temperance.
This subject was presented from a Biblical standpoint, and illustrated
by the experiences of Bible characters.