AATesten, Thomas ok, a missionary among the Lapps or Finns down to the year 1727. This man was one of the most noteworthy characters in the history of Protestant missions. The people among whom he la- bored dwelt from latitude 64° northward, chiefly in the marshes of Finland and in the North country, but to some extent also among the Norwegians. Their number is now reduced to from 4000 to 7000 souls. They speak a language resembling that of the inhab- itants of Finland, proving that they belong to the same stock. As they have not made any considerable advancement in civilization, they are greatly despised by Norwegians and Swedes. In the period of the Chris- tianizing of those regions, they heard the Gospel and were forced to receive baptism. The preachers were not able to traverse all the country and reach all the people, and hireling adventurers, intent only upon the securing of gain, came to occupy many of the parishes. In many instances persons were denied the privileges " of religion because too poor to pay the amounts demand- ed by their ministers as a yearly contribution. The Norwegians, too, were guilty of overbearing and unjust conduct in their intercourse with these people. The result was what might have been expected; the Finns returned to their former heathenism, though outwardly observant of the forms of Christian worship. Baptized children were washed on their return from Church in order that their baptism might not take effect on them, and a sort of counter-baptism was administered, etc. A Fiimish name was given the child, which was carefully concealed from the preachers, etc. The forgiveness of the heathen gods was invoked whenever participation in the sacrament of the Lord's supper became necessary.
In morals, the use of alcoholic liquors had done great harm. Drinking-shops stood in church-yards and at church-doors, and even ministers of the Church carried on a profitable traftic in the business of providing for the general thirst for fiery potions, and used persuasion to induce unwilling persons to drink. In time, no cere- mony could be conducted without the use of alcoholic drink. Marriages were sealed with it, and it was sprin- kled over the graves of the dead as a sort of holy water. After a time, the Norwegians came into the possession of the Finnish lands and property, and even children.
The Danish - Norwegian Church was not, however, altogether unconcerned about the needs of this people. Bishop Eric Bredahl visited it repeatedly, and won a few individuals over to Christianity. Isaac Olsen, a schoolmaster, spent fourteen years at Yaranger, on the Russian frontier, and under the 70th degree of latitude, engaged in apostolic toils, enduring apostolic sufferings for the cause of Christ, and succeeding so far as to see some of his pupils excel their Norwegian competitors in a knowledge of Christian doctrines in the animal visita- tion of churches and schools. In 1707, king Frederick IV of Denmark ordered an investigation of the condi- tion of schools and churches in Nordland and Fimnark, and in 1714 he ordered the newly founded Collegium de Promovendo Cursu Evangelii to make preparation for a
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mission among the Finns. The result of the measures taken in consequence of these orders was the«selection of Tliomas of Westen to be the superintendent of the proposed mission.
Westen was born at Trondhjem, in 1682, and was obliged in early life to contend with want and diffi- culties of every sort. His father refused to permit him to study, and, when benevolent effort made a university career possible, induced him to study medicine instead of theology. Just as he was about to take the degree of JM.D., liis father died and left him penniless; but pov- erty did not deter him from entering on the study of theology, and particularly of Oriental languages. He was able to get food of very inferior quality, and onl}^ on alternate days; and he shared with his room-mate in the ownership of an old and poor black coat, which compelled him to remain indoors when the garment was away. A call to ^loscow as professor of languages and rhetoric, which was extended to him at this time by Peter the (Jreat, was withdrawn witliout result, and he accepted instead the post of librarian at Trondhjem without salarj', but with a prospect of ecclesiastical pre- ferment. In 1710 he became pastor of the parish of Wedoen, and after six years of successful labor was made lector and notary of the Trondhjem chapter, and soon afterwards vicar and manager of missions among the Finns. In the capacity of lector he was called on to preach several sermons in each week, to deliver dai- ly lectures on moral and positive theology, and also to guide the school, which was designed to become a nur- sery for the Finnish mission.
Westen's Hrst missionary tour among the Finns was undertaken iMay 29, 171G, and was protracted through West Finmark, East Finmark, and Nordland until au- tumn, when he returned in open boats, often at the risk of being drowned in the stormy inland waters, to Trond- hjem. He brought the worn-out Olsen with him, and afterwards recommended him for the post of Finnish teacher and interpreter in the missionary college. He had left a chaplain as missionary in Ivist Finmark, and had appointed a number of itinerant teachers, besides encouraging the building of churches by all the natives whom he could persuade to that work. He also brought to Trondhjem a number of Finnish children to be train- ed for missionary work, and in time sustained a semina- ry for such children in his own house. The bishop, Krog, endeavored to prevent the success of Westen's plans, but was defeated through the favor of the king. In 1717 the seminary was secureh' established, and roj^al edicts were issued providing for the erection of churches and chapels within the field of the mission, and settling the relations and duties of catechists and teachers and similar matters. A second missionary tour was begun bj' Westen, in company with several assistants whom he had gained, in June, 1718. He was already permit- ted to note progress in the work he had so recently be- gun. Several churches were in course of erection, and a number of children were secured for instruction in the principles of Christianity. The volunteers who accom- panied him were left as pastors in diiferent places, and not only became useful laborers in the preaching of the Word, but also valuable contributors to the literature of the country. ?>asmus Rachlew translated Luther's Catechism, and wrote a Gnnnmatica Lapponica, and a Specimen Vocdhularii Lappimiri. Martin Lund ren- dered similar service with his pen. Westen was unable to return to Trondhjem in the autumn of this year, and contented himself with rendering a written report, which led to his being summoned to Copenhagen in the follow- ing spring that he might give fidler information. He was presented to the king, and was permitted to submit for examination a list of whatever things he might con- sider necessary to the promotion of success in his work. Corresponding arrangements were then made and new missionaries enlisted.