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Doc. 10.) 129
BISHOP JESPER SWEDBERG .
students. In the homiletic exercises, which Swedberg had
among the students, he became acquainted with a candidate,
Anders Rudman, whom he found suitable for the purpose.
Rudman himself looked around for colleagues. Erik Björk, a
student, was proposed and accepted, and by the royal order a
third, Jonas Aurén, was appointed. These were ordained into
the ministry at Upsal, and were supplied by the King himself
with the necessary funds for travelling. Björk laboured inde
fatigably for sixteen years in America. The English society
De promovenda fide christiana apud gentiles et Judæos (for the
promotion of the Christian faith among gentiles and Jews),
offered His Majesty their thanks for his Christian care, and
in 1712, received Swedberg as one of their members. This
trust he administered for the future with all possible zeal and
self-sacrifice, so that he kept up an extensive correspondence
with the American Church, whose Bishop he became ; nor did
he withhold from them severe words when they required it.
It may be said that the Swedish-Lutheran missionary stations
were in a flourishing condition, as long as he was at their
head. This mission was continued until 1785, when the Swe
dish government withdrew their aid.
The attention which the above-named society in England
paid to Swedberg, was due also to his episcopal care over the
Swedish churches in Lisbon and London. The Swedish consul
in the latter place, Joach. de Besche, had made an application
to him similar to that of the Church in America . The con
sul’s request was complied with, and a very worthy clergyman,
Magister Silvius, was sent there. The Swedish Church in Lon
don elected Swedberg as its Bishop in 1725.
Reverses and oppression alternated uninterruptedly in
Swedberg’s life with successes and distinctions. He had often
to endure, with the clergy, persecutions and sufferings. At
one time he had to defend them against the arrogance of the
governor of the province, who complained of the manner in
which they discharged their duties. In the year 1712, the
Bishop’s seat in Brunsbo was burnt down; “ in the course
of two hours the barns and out -houses with all their contents
were reduced to ashes," and all Swedberg’s books and manuscripts
were destroyed. In this affliction also he poured out his
9
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