The Baptists in Sweden. By Mrs. M.F. Anderson ...

120 THE BAPTISTS IN SWEDEN.
took the seats first; those who stood up in the
aisles were women. Some of the mothers were
feeding their infants with onions.
"As each person entered he stopped a moment,
covered his face, and made a silent prayer. After
a little time a hymn was commenced by the congregation-a monotonous, melancholy kind of
chant. The organ was a powerful one, but it was
almost drowned in the surges of sound which
rolled up from that vast assembly. This was continued through some thirty or forty verses. At
length the clergyman ascended the pulpit; a short,
apparently extempore, prayer was uttered; and the
sermon was read. There was profound attention
through the whole audience. After it a quartette
was sung with beautiful effect; and with another
long chant, and some reading of the Scriptures, the
assembly dispersed. Many lingered without to
admire the new crown just placed on the Byzantinelike tower, others gathering in knots to discuss business and village affairs.
"My friends computed that there were seven
thousand persons present in the church.
"I was impressed, in seeing the audience, with
the wonderful opportunities granted to the Swedish
clergy for influence over the peasants. In such
remote provinces they are almost the sole guides
and directors-there are no nobles, or judges, or
governors here, and every Sunday they have these
vast audiences upon which to impress humane, lib