Thank you for your long letter from August 21, which I received yesterday. It is such a joy for me that you can see the situation so clearly and that you got an opportunity to speak with Br. Oldeide and Kuhlen face-to-face; so now they both have a better perspective of where things stand. Br. Kvalheim’s rod is clearly blossoming in this situation. Despite being banned from the church, God has now completely vindicated him, after Br. Peder Skram asked him for forgiveness publicly at the meeting. A letter that this dear brother wrote shows his humble attitude of mind. After careful consideration, I forwarded your last letter to 1) Nils Risnes, 2) Didrik Kvalheim, and asked for it to be returned; I hope that’s okay with you. I did this because it was full of reproof—on every side. At the same time, I wrote to Br. Nils Risnes and told him that he ought to write to Br. Didrik Kvalheim, to comfort and completely vindicate him, since it is evident that his (Kvalheim’s) rod is blossoming.

Throughout this entire battle, I have stayed in contact with Peder Skram, Kvalheim, and, to some degree, with Risnes. Hopefully it will go well.

Things are going well here. They are zealous for the truth—the few that are here.

It is a joy to see that the friends in Drøbak and in Kristiania are making progress. I still haven’t heard anything from Karl. I wrote to him and tried to refute his doctrine. I told him that it is from Satan, and that if he continues with it, we will immediately refute it. At the same time, I have exhorted him that it would be best for him, and for all of us, to allow this doctrine to receive its judgment. It is this doctrine that has been the underlying cause for all his earlier reactions. This is the very root of all the evil. Now he is facing a choice. He told me that every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted must be pulled up by the roots. Now it seems that this is being fulfilled in him.

Br. Oldeide previously told Kvalheim that he could attend the meetings, but no more than that. Now this is being fulfilled in Oldeide. If you dig a pit for others, you will fall into it yourself. Karl Pedersen can’t get around the things he has been quoted as saying—it is the time of reckoning. I think he is communicating with Br. Aslaksen, so now the question is to what extent Aslaksen agreed with him previously. It will be difficult for them—if they are both involved—to get out of this trap without judgment. Yes, not difficult, but impossible.

Just some brief thoughts for now. Nore’s brother from Horten has come aboard here as a medical petty officer.

Greet your household and the friends. Keep Br. Hansen updated.

Warm greetings from your brother,

Br. Ellefsen wrote to England and received a book by Fenelon. I have almost finished reading this book. It sheds light on Madam Guyon’s life. He also bought Madame Guyon’s commentary on the Five Books of Moses.