Labors in Great Britain and Scandinavia
239
Second Visit to Scandinavia
Mrs. White’s second visit to Scandinavia was made in the summer
of 1886, in company with her son and Miss McEnterfer. During
the first part of the journey, Miss Christine Dahl acted as guide and
interpreter.
The most important of the meetings attended on this trip was at
Orebro, Sweden. Here the Swedish Conference held its annual session,
June 23 to 28, during which a tract society and a Sabbath school
association were organized, each including the work in Denmark,
Sweden, and Norway.
A week before the opening of this Conference, Elder Matteson had
begun a school for colporteurs and Bible workers. In the carrying on
of this school he was joined by Elder A. B. Oyen, of Christiania, and
Elder O. A. Olsen, just from America. Education was the watchword
among the leaders in those days, and the people were eager to learn.
The workers’ institute was opened each morning at 6:30 with a prayer
and social meeting. At 9 o’clock there was a class in bookkeeping; at
11:30 instruction was given in home missionary work. Instruction on
the holding of Bible readings was given at 4 o’clock in the afternoon;
and at 8 P.M. there was a preaching service. Every hour of the day
was counted as precious by both teachers and students.
At the conference session following, about sixty-five Sabbath keep-
ers were in regular attendance. Of the ten churches in Sweden, nine
were represented by twenty-three delegates. Mrs. White spoke six
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times in the early morning meetings, and five times on other occasions.
Addressing the small but resolute band of believers, she said:
“In the beginning, the work goes hard and slow. Now is the time
when all should bend their shoulders to raise the load and carry it
forward. Advance we must, though the Red Sea be before us, and
impassable mountains on either hand. God has been with us and has
blessed our efforts. We must work by faith. ‘The kingdom of heaven
suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.’
Matthew 11:12
.
We are to pray, believe that our prayers are heard, and then work.
“The work may now seem small; but there must be a beginning
before there can be any progress. ‘First the blade, then the ear, after
that the full corn in the ear.’ The work may start in weakness, and its
progress may for a time be slow; yet if it is commenced in a healthy