11. The Edification at Graalum

THE EDIFICATION AT GRAALUM.

Hauge held prayer meeting at the home of Iver Graalum, and the pastor, after being invited, came also to hear the lay preacher. He had with him his curate and the bailiff. Hauge talked to a large audience, and the learned gentlemen were also listeners. When it was over the parish minister rose and forbade Hauge to hold any more meetings like this one. Hauge was of the opinion that nobody had any right to forbid him to exhort people to repent and believe, as long as he did this in conformity with the Word of God, and asked if the minister had heard him say anything wrong. To this the minister answered by asking the bailiff to let the people know what the law decreed in regard to assembling for religious worship.

Hauge had the conventicle act with him, and asked them to read it, so people could hear what was said therein. But no, the great gentlemen would not do this. Several of the farmers took the floor in Hauge’s behalf and asked if the magistrate and the clergy would “hinder that which was good.” They thought it queer if such gatherings should be forbidden while they permitted dances and other gatherings where sin and indecencies were committed.

As the magistracy saw that they had the people against them, they sneaked off and left Hauge in peace.

The minister sent an account of the whole affair to the bishop and said that one ought to crush this enthusiasm right in its beginning, but the bishop did not agree to this. Such fanaticism would die by itself, the distinguished bishop decreed. Thus Hauge was allowed to work undisturbed.