| Show A LETTER FROM NORWAY Tiao mso northland and norway april 1 1893 AB anything to la seldom beard through the columns of the NEWS about the land of the midnight un sun 1 1 perhaps a tew few notes from th tb is part of the lords lord vineyard might not prove uninteresting at the ast 1st conference in Obria brother H A Pede raon from L gan aud and 1 I received our app ointments to labor as missionaries in branch Northland North landor for the ensuing six aix mautha our on r prospects were not of the bright eat we naturally expected to meet unusual hardships from cold etc in such auch an extreme I attitude but put VI ting our trust in the lord to whom these two years yeara of our lives haj beon bea gratefully dedicated and we believe accepted by ulm him we made all uelee lis peg ary aary preparations bade goodbye to the elder presiding over the conference and the few remaining missionaries at the capital capita aid via nord banon were soon oon on our way towards the north two days daya P miles brought us to norway Nor waya Js ancient capital trond blem a city of inhabitants and situated on ore ofte of the country count rys sd most moat 41 important import aint fjords a veritable queen of the northern arse behind it r see in its ita majesty a branch of lo in front gleam the blue green waters of a lovely bay much 0 uld be said of the many fighte that meet the ba inter toted bated gazers sye eye of mountain jake and valley between C and this place but I 1 feel the hopelessness of A an attempt at description with my mj poor stock of words we remained in Trond blem a week and during that time had an excellent opportunity to visit the various places of interest for which this city la Is noted the greatest attraction la Is the cathedral ra although this majestic pile has baa thrice been destroyed almost razed to the ground twice by the fires of heaven and once by the swedes it now raises its magnificent spires toward the skies a monument of former catholic cat hollo glory and present catholic pride the structure was commenced in the year 1000 A D in the days of that staunch reformer st olaf olaf haraldson Haraldso oj who brought the light of christian hope to thet e climes only by wading tia through rough the blood of fellow creatures the cathedral Js is the prominent object of attraction to the visitor as soon as the city comes within sight might but in order to comprehend the coll osal proportions of it the observer must be brought within the shadows of its walls walle on every arch and portal are delicate carvings aud of the creation the crucifixion of christ etc out cut in such a manner that they became silent teachers even to this enlightened age notwithstanding ten centuries having passed since the originals were carved these ancient of art tell us that the catholics of those days were in ID possession os session of far better ideas concerning r ng the hidden mysteries of the al mighty than the so called christians of the crumbling statue stat uee carvings and enormous pillars of the exterior remnants of former glory are only outward signs of inward graces 11 within these gloomy walls are hidden relies relics of Chrit christian stian worship A hole in the ceiling above the officiating dignitary is ti head from which upon the summons of the priest priced issued a voice from the when necessity required is no longer a mystery nor an excuse ter for the superstitious un der the stone floor near the pulpit and at the east end of the large central hall lie entombed Nor ways great heroes of earlier times prominent among them the founder of the cathedral lit bt olaf magnus the good and king halfdan Hall HaIl dan while at the opposite stand thorold the tho cold alabaster statues of the twelve apostles of the primitive church much has bai been done to make this church a monument of interest this has proved a success but butan an air airoff of gloom and coldness seems to pervade the entire building As I 1 sat ant contemplating the he colossal proportions and magnificent architecture of this grand pile brought into existence by the wisdom and genius of man MAD my mind reverted to the he time when I 1 had the privilege of entering the house of the lord in zion MOD of the spirit that pervaded the very atmosphere of that structure and the contrast was pleasing wednesday morning nov 22 we embarked embar kd on the large coast steamer haskon haakon jarl and again commenced our journey northward landing US ua at our destination after a rough voyage of seven days the distance from is thirteen hundred miles A sail along the coast of norway Is full ot of interest it is a trip to be remembered with profit aud and delight as long as life laste a nine hundred mile long panorama of all that to is grand weird and romantic in natures handiwork mountains mounta Ans whose beada beads rise above the clouds while their feet are lost in the surging deep cliffs chals of every tint and hue chiseled by omnipotence and constantly sprayed by dashing angry as tafe afe foundations for the bumble fis fisherman hermans cottage or as stations for the thousands of variously colored signal lights guiding the mariner into safe ports on we went towards the nort bover that dreaded piece of ocean crossing the arctic circle past east the famous lopoten Lof oten islands of 01 worldwide world wide renown where fishes are caught wilbin a few months time and at lasts last as aa stated we landed at Tro taso this bo c called paris of the north is situated on an island on the northwest coast of norway 69 degrees north latitude it is the headquarters of ef the northernmost branch of the church extending from a short distance above the arctic circle on the south to as far as the north cape on the north and aad eastward to the russian empire the vast mujo majority rity of the of northland live by fishing situated so far north this region is subjected to remarkable and varied changes of nature while in the summer the un fun e blesses the country with eternal day for about three months duration feeding vegetation with a double nourishment ish ment in the winter egyptian gloom covers ti e earth the god ot day i disappears behind the southern horizon borizo n hiding biding his face for over two long dreary months the glorious aurora illuminates the vaulted heavens shooting living flames of light from every point of the compass meeting at the zenith where the wildest commotion of boiling seething flame ensues we fully appreciate the opportunity that we have although the gospel has been preached here bere for thirty years the branch may be counted among the new fields it has been almost an impossibility for an elder to accomplish anything in the past on account of the counter current of if opposition the missionaries Laries have been into prison and persecuted in different ways heretofore and have been unable to rent any kind of a room for holding meetings how ever it seems that the force of opposition is decreasing in vigor and the people are becoming more humane perhaps more car careless elees with regard to their duties in the faith they have accepted we have been fortunate enough to find a man who was willing to us our meetings have been well attended we have born our testimony to hundreds of people we rejoice at seeing the light of success loom ing in the distance light which in hope will soon coon evolve a more substantial form our labors have been rewarded lot jet the lord receive the honor 0 A I 1 4 |
