THE WORK IN SWEDEN

As in many other places, the truth was first introduced to the people of Sweden by papers and tracts. Many of these had been sent to Sweden by our people in America, and also by the brethren in Norway, and a few in several places were anxious to hear the Scriptures explained more fully by a preacher. In accordance with this desire, Bro. Rosqvist, who had gained a good experience as a laborer in Norway, began in April, 1880, to preach the present truth in Sweden. After laboring about a month in Amot, he went to Grythyttehed, where some were convinced of the truth. Here he labored about four months. Forty-seven commenced to keep the Sabbath, and in August a church was organized. During the entire time he spent in this place, a lively interest was manifested in the meetings. He held, on an average, ten meetings a week, although the evening meetings on the working days had to be held between the hours of nine and eleven.HSFM 68.2

While laboring here, the priest of the State (Lutheran) Church requested Bro. R. to call on him. This he did, and found the priest in good humor, complacently smoking his pipe. The priest then explained that he desired information about some strange doctrines which it was reported that Bro. R. was preaching in that place. He proceeded to question him as to his teachings on the subject of the Trinity, man’s condition in death, the Sabbath, baptism, and other doctrines, and then requested Bro. R. not to labor against him. To this Bro. R. replied that if he was laboring for the salvation of souls, there would certainly be no conflict between them.HSFM 68.3

About this time Bro. Rosqvist was called to Christiania, to labor for that church while I went to the General Conference. The following April he returned to Sweden, and resumed his labors in Grythyttehed. And now the priest seemed fully aroused, and did all he could to oppose the work. He called a church council, and ordered Bro. R. to come before them and answer for the doctrines he was teaching. The examination was brief, and was upon the same points as the priest had questioned in the previous interview. They asked Bro. R. if he still held to these views, and when assured that he did, they formally forbade his preaching any more in Grythyttehed.HSFM 68.4

[Illustration] Partial view of Örebro, showing the prison in background.

But as the interest to hear was good, and many came to the meetings, he continued to labor as before. On the 22nd of May he was summoned to appear before the court, to answer for this offense. The warrant read as follows:HSFM 69.1

“Warrant for Criminality.-The Adventist minister, J. P. Rosqvist, from Christiana, is hereby summoned to appear before the fall session of court for Grythyttehed and Hellefors mining districts, to be held the ensuing October, to answer for the accusation of liability to law for having, contrary to the decree of the church council in Grythyttehed Parish, continued to preach such views as are not in conformity with the belief and creed of our evangelical Lutheran church.”HSFM 69.2

Paying no regard to this summons, he continued to labor in Grythyttehed, Lund, and other places. In October he was fined fifty kronor ($13.50), and was summoned to appear at the spring session. He refused to pay the fine, saying that if he had sinned against God, it could not be atoned for with money, and if he had not sinned against God, he had not sinned against man by preaching the word of God. In January he was arrested, and sent to prison at Örebro.HSFM 69.3

The old statute which still stands among the laws of Sweden, providing for the punishment of any who shall preach doctrines which will lead to division in the State Church, is very unpopular, and is seldom enforced. Dissenters, or Separatists, as they are called, are not few in Sweden; but it is seldom, in these days, that a priest is willing to bring contempt upon himself by an effort to enforce the old law. Some have thought that it was best to resist this law, and suffer the full penalities, that its injustice might be made the more prominent, and public opinion be aroused to secure its repeal.HSFM 69.4

Of his experience in the prison, Bro. Rosqvist has written: “I was sentenced for eight days, but was kept twenty-two hours longer. I requested the warden to let me keep my Bible, some writing paper, and a lead pencil, but this was denied me. But I was allowed to have a New Testament to read, a privilege which many before me had not had.HSFM 70.1

“I was not permitted to keep my own clothes, but had to exchange them for a regular prison suit, consisting of a coarse shirt made from hurds, coarse pants, vest, and jacket, some ragged, patched-up stockings, and a pair of very large shoes. It was very cold in the cell at times, and the bed was shut up in the daytime, so there was no opportunity to rest. In the morning they gave me bread and water for breakfast, and in the evening only water. Prisoners were forbidden to sing, or read aloud. I was much encouraged during my confinement, by letters from the dear brethren at Grythyttehed, who met every evening for prayer during the time I was in prison.... When I stepped out of prison, I was met by a merchant who had inquired for me, and who invited me to his house. Here I took breakfast, and spent a few hours pleasantly with his family. I left Örebro rejoicing in my heart, and praising God for his goodness to me, and returning to Grythyttehed, at once resumed my labors.”HSFM 70.2

A lively interest was manifested to hear the man who had been imprisoned for preaching Bible truth; and in the places where he had labored, some began to keep the Sabbath. In March he was again called to Grythyttehed to answer the charge of preaching views that would lead to division in the State Church. But the warrant was incorrect, and the case was deferred till the fall session of the court. When the fall session convened, Bro. Rosqvist was not able to be present, and although it could not be proved that he had done the acts specified in the warrant, he was fined for disobeying the order of the priest, that he should not preach any more in Grythyttehed. After this Bro. Rosqvist was constantly liable to arrest; for the fact that he had been condemned and forbidden to preach by the church council of Grythyttehed, subjected him to liability to arrest for preaching in any other place in Sweden. In one place where he was laboring shortly after this, a warrant was sent for his arrest, but the sheriff sent back word that if the priest wanted him arrested, he must come and do it himself.HSFM 70.3

During the year 1882, Bro. Rosqvist labored in the northern part of Sweden, where several small companies began to keep the Sabbath. In this year I visited Sweden, and a Conference was organized. Considerable has been done to extend the knowledge of the present truth to the people of Sweden, by the labors of faithful colporters. Their lot is not an easy one, and their earnings are very meager; but they have not engaged in the work because it is the easiest or most pleasant, but because they love their fellow-men, and desire to warn them of the evils to come.HSFM 70.4

Very few of the people of Scandinavia are rich, and the majority have a hard struggle to obtain a comfortable living; but they are kind-hearted, and many who cannot afford to purchase a book of any considerable cost, will buy one or two small tracts. At first our colporters had very few tracts to work with, and these must be sold at very low prices if sold at all. The colporters receive one-third of the selling price as their compensation, and this, with a few donations, is all their living. Now they have more books and papers; but the greatest economy must be practiced in order to live.HSFM 71.1

In the summer of 1883, Bro. Rosqvist went to America, at the request of the General Conference, to labor among the Swedes of the United States; and since that time, Bro. O. Johnson, who received the truth in Christiania, has labored in Sweden. Bro. C. Norlin, who has labored several years very faithfully as a colporter, and during the past winter as a preacher also, has brought quite a number of souls into the truth.HSFM 71.2