I received a letter from Pauline today. She wrote that all the friends who are meeting with Ystrøm and Os had a small feast in our home. They played the piano, guitar, and violin. She said it was a really good time, and Br. Berg was elated. He’d been grumbling quite a bit since Ystrøm returned and had been somewhat in opposition. Pauline thinks he had been annoyed by the man from Moss who sat at the head table with his wife on Christmas Day, when you were in Horten. His last name is Johnsen. This man is now back in Horten and is staying with Knudsen, the editor, who is doing everything he can to cause division among the friends.

Ystrøm does not have the slightest idea about the inner ways, so he cannot be treated as a person who understands these things. I think you should pull him and Erik Andersen aside and really take them to task. Be authoritative and don’t hold back; you have enough knowledge to silence all their contradictions. These esteemed gentlemen need to hear something sharp and straightforward. I am sending you a letter from Lorentz Risnes to Br. Theodor Ellefsen so you can see how things are going in Drammen among Erik’s friends, who are on Knoffs Street.

We spend our evenings here convincing and instructing to the best of our ability. Working with these friends is heavy going. If God gives me grace to be of any help to them, that would be good; but I have no desire whatsoever to be a typical priest and provide them with religious entertainment. Yesterday, war broke out against a sister by the name of Aase Bjørndal, who has traveled as a preacher in Finnmark and Ålesund. There is no doubt that she has been working quietly against us. A conflict arose yesterday that wasn’t according to her wishes—she said she only wanted to listen. It became apparent that she’s a very shrewd person. However, she has a very limited knowledge of God.

Gjerde, from Hardangerfjord, is arriving this evening to work here this winter. In February, we will be in dry dock in Bergen, but it won’t be for long.

Warm greetings from your brother,