Aksel telephoned yesterday to let me know that he can’t find any place better than Horten to have a conference at Easter, so we will do what we can to make preparations here.

Yesterday I went to the home of the director of the lodge to enquire about renting the meeting hall. The man himself was not at home; his wife told me that they will be hosting a party in the hall on Maundy Thursday, but she thought it might be possible to rent the hall on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, if they were given advance notice.

Write as soon as possible—after you have consulted with the friends in Sarpsborg—and let me know whether you would like to have the conference on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday or on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. Which one would be your first choice and second choice. I will then try to arrange it according to your wishes.

I expect Br. Ellefsen and Br. Birkeland will be at home for Easter.

No one here in Horten is wealthy, so everyone should be prepared to fend for themselves. If there are some who cannot come for financial reasons, then they should either get support from the friends in their hometown or stay at home. For that matter, we do not come together to pamper ourselves but to hear God’s Word. If people have a clear understanding of why we get together, then they will avoid many illusions, disappointments, offenses, etc., which all should be crushed before they even see the light of day.

I am not writing this to prevent anyone from coming. I just want to bring everything down to earth so everyone can have realistic expectations and look after their own needs.

We live in hard times, so if everyone is to pull their own weight, then we need to take all these things into consideration. This will promote brotherly love rather than weaken it, because demands on others will be eliminated, and people will be stirred up to give instead. This also applies to Horten.

Warm greetings.

Yours,