Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-04-30
OUR SWEDISH PIONEERS.
INTERESTING EETTERS FROM
PIOUS BISHOP SH'EDBERG,
Recording also Matters of Interest
Concerning rhc Downfall of
Charles XuH and the Career of IN
Brother Ia the Swedish Seer.

n letter from the Highworthy Bishop OF
Skara, DIR. Jesper Swedberg, dated
} Brunsbo, the 23d of April, 1708, with
the information that His Majesty had
been pleased to recall me home with the
J assurance of a favorable situation for me
and that he had commissioned two ex-
cellent clergymen to serve the congrega-
tions here in my place and also had given
10 of the newly translated bibles in folio
and 400 well bound psalm books for the
use of the congregations.
I'LL, the 1st of June.--I received a
letter from DIR. Swedberg, dated August,
ITO, containing various particulars of
the disastrous war in which Sweden was
involved which had prevented the sending
over of the clergymen promised.
The LIST of May by Gods mercy, there
came to me from Sweden the Honor
worthy gentlemen, the Rev. Magister
Hesselius and Mr.. Abraham Lidenius, Mr.
Charles Rumse bringing them up from
Bohemia Landing TO this place. They
had with them His Royal Maiesty's letter
of recall for me dated headquarters ut
Smorgonia, i'll Lithuania, the 2lst of
Feb. 17O8, in His Majesty's own hand and
with his Royal seal thereupon, and with
this another of His Royal Majesty to the
congregation of the same date and place
MS that to me, informing them of the
sending over of the two above mentioned
ministers. &C., also letter from Bishop
Swedberg to the church, dated Brunsbo
Bishopsgard in Skara, the 7th of Sept,
I'LL, with the commissions printed in
both Latin and Swedish. . -.
Thus has God graciously dealt with us
Swedes SO far away from our native land.
The reason why the exchange had so long
delayed was that Sweden was suffering
great hardship on account of the disas-
trous war with Russia and His Majesty's
fatal battle of Pultowa and his merciful
escape through the greatest hardships and
dangers into Turkey, from which country
he could with difficulty communicate with
us.
1714, the 18th of January.-Mr.
Godha Hesselius came down from
Philadelphia with heap of letters
for me and Magister Hesselius and
Mr.. Lidenius which had been brought
by Capt. Richmond from the Highworthy
Bishop of Sknra, DIR. Jesper Swedberg.
The first to me was dated Brunsbo, Aug.
6, 1713, informing me among other things
that he had written to the King for me
asking that l might be preferred to the
/
dated Aug. ~ of the same year, was an
answer to one from me dated May 5th,
1878, in which the Highworthy Bishop,
as he learned that l intended to remain
here another year, honored me with the
appointment of Provost over all the
Swedish churches here. The letter read
MS follows.
" Your Honoro0rttiaeSs, Two letters
| Inv uf hn
| time yesterday. A former one 1 got s
days since and Immediately answered.
For the Inter one of the 9Th of May to
God be everlasting glory who upholds
you with health; and l perceive that
Magister Hesselius is already entered
upon his duties in the church. May God
| give much success and great blessings in
the name of Jesus. As your Honor
| worthiness will not leave there this year
will herewith request your Honor
worthiness not to hold up your hand from
the congregations, and that it may proceed
/ with the more convenience and order and
| your Honorworthiness may have better
opportunity thereto appoint and order
your Honorworthiness to be Provost over
all the Swedish congregations which are
there in India, with the earnest wish that
God will be with you in that service and
graciously bless you in NIL your duties
hereafter as he hus heretofore. l shall
| expect you to give me information of the
state of affairs in the shurches and for
myself l shall not intermit my efforts for
your advantage and promotion here, both
| in general and in particular matters.
| May God help us to peace and our
Gracious King home again, and when,
Mr.. Provost, you write home to MS write
| in such wise that can show the letters
to the King or his council. No answer
has come with regard to your appoint
ment to Fnhlun. For 4 or 5 months there
has been no letter from our King. All is
in uncertainty. What one post tells MS is
all knocked in head by the next. He
mentioned in one of his letters that he
has written to Alagister Hesselius to be
contented if not just everything should
be as they might wish both ms regards the
minister and people, for also i'll Sweden
many churches were suffering great hard
ships. request the honored Provost to
give my cordial greetings to the ministers
and to the Christly congregations, with
the fervent wish that God will pour upon
them all temporal and spiritual blessings.
If have their faithful prayers in return
am richly repaid for allmy little services
for them. May God keep and bless You
| all in Jesus name.
| / remain the Honorworthy Sir Provost's
obedient servant and faithful Friend,
| JEsPERUs SwEDBERG.
BBuNsDo, Aug. ~, 17l3.
"P. ST. have written to the Bishop of
London, thanking him for his kind offices
and for you and asking him TO continue
them in future"
The Sd letter dated the same month the
2Sth and the same year, was as follows:
"HORO17nOrthy Sir PYOg0St and Church
ODeT~eer: Notwithstanding have within
IL short time written several letters to
you Honorworthiness yet cannot refrain
from writing to you again Immediately to
give you the pleasing information that
His Royal Majesty has, on my humble
request and repre- sentation, honored you
with the pnstornte of the city of Fallun
and l have received the Kings COM
mission for you, dated Tamerlnsk, near
Adrianople, the 23d of June, 1913.
$50 doth God take care for and reward
his faithful servants. Now make inn
mediate preparation to return home and
undertake faithfully the care of the vine
yard which has been contided to you,
thanking God for such desirable and
important charge and expecting the all
loving Gods blessing upon your lahors.
| am especially glad of this appointment
TO you as it is my birth place. His Royal
Majesty has also upon my representation
granted u bell organ, 600 Psalm books and
the salary of schoolmaster. The good
God be everlastingly glorifed and His
Holy name be praised. Your Honor
worthiness should write a grateful letter
of thanks to His Majesty. My God keep
and bless you all in the name of Jesus.
"How is it? Can none of the heathen
be converted? Strong faith and good
life and faithful prayer can do much.
Wordy, discussions of abstruse questions
and wrangling of the schools amount to
nothing. May God keep you faithfully.
remain ever, Sir Provost, your willing
and ready for service servant and
Faithful Friend, JEsPERUs SwEDBERG.
BRuNsBo, Aug. %, 1713.
Which was my birth years ago, God be
praised for oil his dealings with me both
prosperous and adverse.
The 4th and last letter of the 18th of
September of the same year was only n
short compend of the former letters
with the addition that Stanislaus VII was
coming into Poland with 10000 Turkish
soldiers and our King was along with him.
NOTES
Bishop Swedberg was the father of
Emanuel Swedberg,o or Swedenbore as is
usually called in English, the founder of
the New Jerusalem or Swedenborgian
church, and another of his sons was n
resident of the Swedish colony here and