Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, May 22, 1910, Page 19

THE OMAHA REV. G.A BRANDE LLE,D.D. BGINNING Sunday, June 6, The Augustana Synod andAugustana College and Theological Semi- nary at Rock Island, Il will begin a two weeks' celebration in commemoration of the fif- tieth anniversary of their birth. April 27, 1910, marked the fiftieth milestone in th history of the synod and the college, and, though the ocoasion was fittingly cele- brated with memorial services at that time, the real jubilee celebration will take place June 5 to 15 at Rock Island, 111, where the #ynod holds this year's session and where the college is located. It will be the greatest celebration in the history of the eynod and thousands of visMors are ex- pected to be present, coming from nearly all the states of the union. It is estimated that at least 4,000 persons from far off con- gregations will be present and that at some days the number will be much greater. Of the 1,02 congregations belonging to the synod each one is entitled to two dele- gates. Beside these delegates scores will come from those places to be present as visitors. Spectal trains will run from the nelghboring towns, such as Galesburg, Rockford, Chicago, Paxton and others, and 260,000 Swedish-American Lutherans throughout the land will celebrate the fif- Ueth anniversary of the organization of nod and the establishing of their central hool of higher education. Extensive and elaborate arrangements have been made by the synod and the col- lege authorities for a fitting celebration of the anniversary. Every day will be oc- cupled with progress and about three ses- slons will be held dally. Invitations have been issued to all the larger universities and colleges of this country and Sweden to send delegates, and favorable replies have been recelved from most of them. The universities of Sweden will send their most representative men, the Upsala uni- versity sending its president, Dr. Henrick Schuck, widely known as a scholar and auphogity on the literature of the middle ageP. The representative from Lund was to be Dr. C. J. W. Thyren, but word was received last week that on account of urgent business at the Swedish Rikdag, of which he is a member, he could not me. Another representative will come in i place. The representative from the Bwedish church will be the venerable blshop von Scheele, who has been here twice before. He is without doubt the most prominent man in the church of the old country, and the college authorities are much pleased over the fact that the king appolnted von Scheale, He was present in 1808 at the 300th anniversary celebrations of the final establishment of the reformation in Bweden, and during this visit he made many friends wherever he went. The presi- dents of the various Lutheran synods of the country will also participate, bringing greetings from thelr respective synods, and he presidents of the nine sducationul in- ‘Jnluucn. belonging to the Augustans synod will also be present. Besides these scholars and church there will be many other prominent taking part. Governor Eberhart of Minne- wola and Governor Charles Dencen of Illi- nois are on the program, the former taking part in the session which has been called “Greater Augustana,” held in the evening of June 7. Judge Peter S. Grosscup of the United States circuit court of appeals, Chicago, will be the college commence- ment speaker and Chief Justice Harry Olson of Chicago will also speak. The Rev. Dr. E. Norellus of Vasa, Mina., president of the synod and one of the early plor will be the main figure at the lyn?i‘l jubliee. Though now an old man, belng years old, he is quite active and & staunch pillar in the synod. Agmpecial auditorium seating over 3,00 peofs has just been completed on the col- lege campus, and arrangements are being made for extensive decorating of the beau- titul College boulevard and all the streets leading to the college grounds. All the classes that have graduated from the school bave arranged for reunions, as tave also the musical organizations. The largest musical reunion will no doubt be the reanion of the Handel Oratorio chowus, which, it 18 estimated, will number close to 300 members. This chorus will render the jubllee cantata written for the occasion » W, Olon of Chicago, The famous w.’fl, o chorus will also be more t red The chapel cholr, com- m ol Of tralned volces, haw sent no- be men men o KANSAS REVEN SWANBERG __J) ugustana Synod is Soon to N NEBRASKA AvgusTaNA COLLEGE AND THEOLOGICAL SEMNINARY tices for a reunfon te all its former mem- bers. The Augustana military band will niso be greatly augmented. These musical organizations will furntsh the music during the two weeks' celebrations, besides the solo numbers on the program. The history of the Augustana synod is a most interesting and fascinating one. From humble beginning it has grown until it has become ‘the greatest body in the general council, of which it composes one-third, and a great power for the enlightenment of the Swedish Lutherans in America. It has united the scattered Swedes of this goun- try as no other organization. Little did the founders of the synod who met in the little church at Clinton, Wis., in 1860 re- alize that the organization of which they were laying.the foundation would assume such enormous proportions and develop in the manner which it has. Little did they realize what an Influential part it was to play in the history of the Swedes in Amer- ica @nd the Lutheran church. It has proven to be a mighty power In uniting the Bwedes in"this country and in estabffshing & system of schools and colleges founded on Christian principles, where their children might obtain a thorough education. It {s often forgotten that the Swedes were among the early settlers of this con- tinent and that they had churches estab- lished here as ecarly as 168, But the “Glorfa Del"” church at Philadeiphia and the “Old Swedes church” at Wilmington, Del,, are still witnesses of thelr earliest church work in this country. Among the immigrants that arrived from the old country In 1638 were several pastors, and immediately upon landing they established churches where they might worship. The immigrants were a religious people and could not conceive of a settiément without a church. Their churches prospered as long as they had their pastors among them, but gradually their ministers dimin- ished in number, some returning to the old country and others died. Having no other way of getting ministers for thewr congregations, they petitioned the king to send them pastors, but the (roublesome times in the old country at that time made it Impossible for the king to grant toeir petition and they were compelled (o get along without any clergy. On this account the churches were gradually closed and fically’ went over to tne Episcopalian church, in whose possession some stil ro- main, Such was the first chapter in the history of the Swedish Lutheran church in America. The second general exodus of Swedes be- gan in the forty-fourth and forty-firth years of the last century, when several families arrived from the southern part of Bweden and settled in Sheboygan, Wis, and New Sweden, la. A beginning had been made and several other familles ful- lowed, but did not settle close (o th that had come before, but scattered throughout widely separated parts of country. Their experiences in a strange land with a strange language and customs were varied. They spent months at sea, tossed about In small salling sels, suffering ail mauner of hardships from stormes, sickness and sometimes from hunger and thirst. Hundreds dled on way. But their iniseries were not at'an end when they Then begun the tiresome aund often dangerous Lravel over the endless prairies. in boats and prairie schooners they found their way @cttlements In Illinois and other western states. ln 1854 came the terrible cholera year. It is estimated that about two thirds of the Immigrants that arrived that year perished in the plague. Many literally walked about and died. Serious times were coming. At first men worked for W cents @ day, while the women worked at 10 and % cents a day, One of them wrote in No- vembs of the above year: 'Twenty-three of our small company have dled; the rest are unable to work; our means are gone and winter is at hand.” Three years later came the financial crisis and many of the settlers who had a little of thelr savings in the banks lost all' they had. The eastern and central states next re- celved several groups of immigrants We find them settling In Sugar Grove and Jamestown, along the borders of Penn- sylvania and New York; at Chicago, And- over, Rock Island, Moline, Galesburg, at Burlington, 1a., and Chifago lake, Min- nesota. At this time no organized church work existed among the immigrants, but the lack of & shepherd was keenly felt. In New Sweden, 1a., the settlers organized a tion as early as 18, Belng with- inister they appolnted one of their as pastor. Soon trouble arose and the existence or not of the congrega- tion whs serious. But at this juncture Revs. Esbjorn and Haszelquist came and succeeded in restoring order and harmony. These two men became the pillars of the church work from now on. Actusted by & the new the nded canal m;* desire to help his countrymen in the (far off country, Rev. Bsbjorn settled with his company in Andover, 1ll, which soon be- a large center for the Swedes. He soon organized & church there and later on other churches at Princeton, Moline, Hen- derson and Galesburg, 1Ll But Dr. Esbjorn's work was not limited to llinois alone. In the spring of 1851 he undertook a journey to the eastern states to solicit funds among the English and German-speaking Lutheran people for the erection of churches In the newer and poorer western settlements. In Bosten he was introduced to the famous Swedish singer, Jenny Lind, and received from her a gift of $1500. With the money he gath- ered he erected a church at Andover and a frame church at Moline, 1ll. One of thoso who was of great assistance to Dr. Esbjorn in the trylng early days was Dr. E. Nore- llus now living at Red Wing, Minn, and president of the syrud. Together they walked or rode between the soattered set- tlements assisting thelr countrymen in every way. They were tireless in their forts, and, sacrificing comfort, they set an example for their brethren. About this time it became evident that a stronger church government was neces- sary for their existence. Dr. Bsbjorn, \erefore, together with some Norwegian pastors, met with the Engllsh Lutheran congregations in northern lllinols at darville in the fall of and organized the Evengelical synod of north- ern lilinots Meanwhile the congregation burg had called Rev. T. came Ce- 1861 Lutheran at Gales- N. Hasselquist of ¢ me—— REV.303. A ANDERSCT™ ToWa SUNDAY BEE: MAY BISHOP GEZ. vow SCHEELE WHO COMES AS REPRESENTATIVE oF THE SWEDISH CHURCH AND APPOINTED BY KING GUSTAF V the diocese of Lund, Sweden, to become their pastor. Rev. Hasselquist accepted and arrived in 182 and at once took charge The coming of this man marks an epoch in the of the Lutheran church in America. He was an unusually well gifted man, with rare ability to organize and with an untiring working capac Early in the year of 1853 he organized a congregation in the rapidly growing city of Chicago. history a elebrg,te 22, - 1910, Its 0 Fiftiet O L P.ESBSORN . PH.D.,D.D ORGANIZER OF THE AUGUSTANA SYNOD E NURELIUS,p.0. PRESIDENT OF AUGUSTANA SYNOD S A R Rev. Krland Carlson, another of the staunch p.oneers, took charge of this work after \Hasselquist had put it on a surp footing. With unabated vigor this man labored in Chicago for twenty-two years, recelving a salary of $330 during the first years. When he was offered $400 he replied that he could get along on $30. The work of the church now reached Minnesota, where Rev. P. A. Cederstam THE A‘ h Anniversary QUSTAV ANDREEN, PH.p. ~ PRESIDENT OF THE A was stationed at Chisago Lake and P. Carlson at Carver. A little later J. P. C. Boren took up the work at Red Wing. Beside the small means at their disposal they often had to be on their guard for the Indians, who often annoyed them. At times they were compelled to leave thelr dwellings and flee from the prairie into the towns with the Indians at their heels and their houses in flames behind them. The spiritual status of the different con- gregations varied exceedingly. Here Is & picture of the discipline exercised within a northern settlement: The men gathered and went from place to place to punish indi- viduals and “apply the law.” One man was trying to appropriate the land of a widow. He was driven out of the settle- ment, whereupon the whole crowd plowed, sowed and fenced In a considerable posi- tlon of the widow's land and promised to protect her rights. After it was all done, the “committee” took & few drinks and “spend an enjoyable evening together.” This of course, was more on the order of “vigi- lance” than of evangelical church disci- pline; but their motives seem to have been good, and it had at least the desired ef- fect. Some Specially Culled May Time Flowers from Storied Urns An Appropriate Text. OHN D. ROCKEFELLER, Jr., sald a New York banker, “‘asked me une Saturday aftarncon a 800d, bibical text to base an addruss on, ““I'm thinking,' he saii, ‘atout Uiat beauliful verse trom the Tw.nty-third Psalm--"The Lord is my Shephciu, 1 suwil not want.' " Beautiful, and appropriate,’ I Rockefeller, there verse in the same est my head with over.” ' "—Cleveland NS agreed. a better pstam—"I'nou anotnt- ofl; my cup runneth Post. But, is even In the Land of Rapld Travel. “The train crews of the southwest, from sheer necessity, are made up of men able to take and appreciate a joke,” says former Courcilman L. C. Carran, “Otherwise the dreariness and of thelr might kill them 1 was on & train when the and howled out as we came to a stop. “‘What place the conductor ‘Place? — sald, and his monotony Iives in Arkansas recently, biakeman c through the car some sort glbberish is this, please?” I asked ~, ‘this ain't good-naturedly, just one of the engincer. Whenever he goes so mal he stops just from force of habit. land Leadcr no place,’ he at that, of the yards oo, is habits Friends in Hoth Places. Mark Twain, the humorist, had friends in 1y, and one of then, was his hostess at a dinne: to Philadelphia, tells the following story: We weie talking about the future life, and the various Kinds of reward and pun- ishment that might b world, and, Mr the discussion, After @ few moments of conversation on the part of the other guests, and com- plete silence from the humorist, the woman sitting next to him turned to him and said ‘Well, Mr. Clemens, aren't you going to tell Ls what you think about future pun- ishment and roward?" a woman who on his last visit d in the next 100k no part in expe Clemens I must ask you to excuse me, madame, he replied, ‘you see 1 have frienas in both places. Philadelphla Times. Hin iden of Prof. Ludley A Diguity. Sargent, physical dai- Yector of Harvard, ¢aid recently that the female figure w improving moure notably than the male—and no wonder, sinc: womaa took healthy whiie an office. “To look at some of our men,” said Prof, Sargent, “you would belleve that senti- ments like Blank's were universal “Blank, & fat milllonaire, was arranging to have his portrait painted. The length— three-quarters—was settled and then Lhe painter sald: “'And shail the view be protils or full exercise man slaved in face, Mr. Blank?' “‘Profile, by all means,’ was the reply. ‘The curve of the stomach gives a dignity to the figure.’ "' —Philadelphia Bulletin, One Not in the Bible, “We werc invited to dinner the other evening, my wife and 1,” sald a Staten Island preacher, “by some people who had just moved into the parish. Inadvertently my wife had allowed the maid to go out that duy, waich involved the considerat.on of my boy, who Is just'6 years old. My wife teiephoned asking if 1t would be agree- atle Lo bring the youngeter, Of course the new parishioners replied that they would be deiignted. So we went, “AU dinner 1 was wsked say grace, and not satlsfied with this the family be- gan to repeat in turn a passage of Scrip- ture. The brevity of the beatitudes seemed to make the most popular appeal, and when my boy's turn came I saw a twinkle in his cye, but was prepared for what followed. With & look of extreme piety tuided bis hands and exclaimed: Glessed those sit on a tack, for they shall rise a New York Sun. to scarcel he are who ain! Where Was Johnt A San Francisco woman, whose husband had been dead some years, went to a me- dlum, who produced the spirit of her dead husband. “My dear John," sald &pirit, “are you happy 1 am very happy Happler than you »" she asked. “Yes,” was the answer; “I am far hap- pler now than I was on earth with you." “Tell me, John, what Is It like heaven? Heaven!" widow to the now? Jonn replied carth with were on m n sald John. “I'm heaven.'—Lippincott's Magazine not in Platt’s Cynleal Wit ““The late Senator Platt,” sald an Albany legislator, “had a cynical wit. Talking about & politician had changed his party, he once sald to me * ‘Clroumstances alter everything ical views, religion, even hecalth Why, I've got a friend who is afflicted insonmia in its worst form, and morning that man sleeps as sw sound new babe when h him to start the fire.’ " polit- with every and a ® crawls over iester Herald vet born Rou That Settled His Fate, Superintendent of Insurance Willlam Hotehkiss said at a dinner in New York Thero not many people buying annuities from the insurance companies as there used to be. ‘This, perhaps, speaks well for human nature holder, you know, 18 apt to be selfish “I heard the other day, however, of an annuity holder agalnst whom the charge of seltishness could not be prought. This man lived on and on. Year after year his annulty was paid. Finally, when H are 0 his age seemed about 119, the company sent a special agent to his home to make sure that James Montrose In his proper person was really gettng the annulty. “The agent found James Montrose, an aged man, but hale, making a chicken coop 1 Uie Lackyard. ‘‘Are you Mr. he asked. James Flagg Montrose? sir you annuity I am,’ the old man answered. the Mr. Montrose who draws from the Dash company?' , 1 am, and my father before the old man."—Detroit Free i the me,’ Press. Epigram on Lxperience. The late Senator Platt had a whimsical way of wrapping his views of life in neat epigrams. A New York jurlst once sald to Senator Platt “My Give him some good advice, No, id Senator Platt worthiess. We learn Here he smiled sadly “And experlence,” he comb for a bald head.’ a chorus girl. won't you?" ‘Advice experlence son wishes to marry said, alas! New York Sun. s our and Roosevelt of forelgn newspapers of Colonel Roosevelt draw novel pen pictures of the event and occasionally institute comparisons. In the latter class Is the Parls correspondent of London Truth, who contrasts the present tour with that of Grant, thirty- two years ago. He says: The tour of General Grant president, round the capitals of urope was humdrum and indeed just nothing compared/io that now made by Colonel—to give him his military title—Roosevelt. Yet Grant turned the tide from south to He brought States and without wind-up me of the wars ever known. He must have passed through Europe unnoticed had not different monarchs called on invited him and Mrs. Grant to dinner. And they did this without & out of the ordinary course. Not a soul noticed Gen- eral Grant on the boulevards and in the Rue de Palx as he sauntered to and from the American bar to take & glass of whiskey as an appetizer before each meal. Hix instinct led him to keep his goods on the back shelves of That of ex-President Roosevelt to them well in the front window. But few persons thought Grant interesting until he revealed his great racter and tender in his last iliness from a cancer in the throat In that time of sore suffering he wrote his memolrs, not for any egotistical satls- taction, but to assure a fairly good in- come to Mrs. Grant. The pen to correct and revise only fell from his hand a few hours befure the fatal moment “Phick not that 1 want to draw any in- vidious comparison between General Grant Grant's Correspondents following the trail General , when ex- and courts quiet, and rth oty vietory a Caesarist greatest civil throug his store. nature rush around Burope has approaching to bring out and the ex-president whose the capitals and courts of turned all attention from the comet. The parallel Is rather the incapacity of the public from top to bottom to see greatness when not set forth with some striking or sensational element. The course of going straight from the White House to the wilds of Uganda was o much out of the common not to hypno- tize all lookers on, imperial, royal and otaer. The dazed this Times correspondent, by the sends to his paper grimly humorous dispatch ‘It Is one week since I joined Mr. Roos velt's expedition—it seems many a year. For the correspondents who have followed him’ from Gondokoro time has long since sed to have any meaning. Since Febru- they have toiled after the colonel heat and dust, have risen at 5, after working till 2. They can only trust the tele- graph office to know the names of the places, the month and the date, for they are no longer certaln of any of these things. They wander in a kind of dream. Person- ally, after one week | have begun to doubt the glamour of a fireman's life. Walting to jump for & motor car when the alarm’may be given—in two minutes, in half hour, or not at all—is more fearing even than walit- lng for a flying man to tly “This s indeed singular adventure upon which we are engaged. It is usel to pretend that it is not a royal progre: for what further marks of distinction could any sovereign rec than travel in royal trains, to dwell in kings' houses, to be welcomed by kings, queens and princes, Lo drive in stute carriages amid flags and cheering erowds, and to have the yards of warships manned for him? “And It is not only the ex-president who is honored as if he a reigning mon- arch. Mrs. Roosevelt, with her charm of quiet dignity lonored equally. Her bright, unspollt, at 1active son and daugnter are honored, 100 The affair is quite unique. One constantly wondering what it all means.” ar in were whole Dog Counts (he Hours. Promptly &t 4:30 John Paesner, a farmer N, J. arises and begins his day's work. He does not bother about alarm clocks any more, for he places more reliance in his hound dog Spot, who sleeps outdoors and who & few minutes before 4:30 begins an unearthly howl Pac lees o'clock _ever morning at Beverly ner knows from experience It is use- to try to prolong for the yelps will not cease until his master comes down to him Paesner gives a simple explanation of how the dog became such a reliable alarm, When he used the clock the first thing he would do after getting up would be to see if Spot was all right and throw him a plece of meat. The dog now looks for his bucak- fast st that hour, and for six weeks has not varied five minutes in time his sleep, dog’s 335\11«/\ (OLLEGE AND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY The privations and sacrifices of the min isters were great and it is hard for the present generation to understand how they could bear it. The present president of the synod, Dr. E. Norelius, lived at Vasa, Minn,, in & single room, which also served as church. The furniture consisted of a bureau, a stove and a bed. Later on they, moved to better quarters—a house pro- vided with a tent-roof. When it rained they slept under an umbrella. When they moved to Red Wing there was no room to be had, and In all good faith a man told them: “I don't know anything else but for you to move into my pigsty for the present.” It was a new one, however, and had not been used for its purpose as yet. But his hospitality was not put in requisi- tion. In the year 1860 the Scandinavians with- drew from the northern Illinols synod and organized an independent synod. They held a conference in the Swedish Lutheran church of Chicago, April 23-28. This step marks a new beginning In the history of the Scandinavian Lutherans of America. At the meeting at Clinton, Wis,, where the final organization of the synod took place, it was also decided to establish & #chool of thelr own and Augustans coliege and theological seminary, now lo- cated at Rock Island, 1ll, was founded. Rev. Hasselquist was elected president of the synod and Prof. Esbjorn president of the school. The school was first located ut Chicago, but later moved to Paxton, 1. Rev. O. C. T. Andren was sent to sweden to gather funds for the new school and succeeded well. The sum raised was 40,000 crowns, or $10,846.45. The king, Carl XV, donated over 500 volumes that had belonged to the library of his father. In 1875 the institution was removed to Rock Island, Il In 1870 the Norwegians withdrew from the Swedish Augustana synod, united with the general council, organized in 1867, The men who have served the synod as its presidents are Dr. T. N. Hasselquist; 1800-1870; Rev. Jonas Swenson, 1510 to his death in 1873; Dr. E. Norelius, 1874-1881; Dr, Erland Carlson, 1s81-1888; Dr. 8. P, A. Lindahl, 1888-1891; Dr. P. J. Sward, 1891-1899; and again Dr. Norellus from 15% to the present time, To give a briet review of the history of the Augustana synod it might be stated that when Dr. Esbjorn, on March 18, 1860, organized a Swedish Lutheran congregation in Andover, IlL, it consisted of ten comy, municant members. Ten years later, ofd June 5, 1860, there were thirty-six Swedish congregations, with seventeen pastors and $,447 communicant membenrs According to the latest avallable statistical reports, covering the time up to January 1, 199, the synod then consisted of 163,473 communi- cant members, with a total membership of 24,646. The number of congregations was 1,002, and of ministers, 611. The value of the church properties was $5,077,82, and the total annual expenses were $1,607,200. J'here were 8,144 students enrolled in #ts nine edu- cational Institutions. Its charitable in- stitutions consisted of elght orphan homes, four for the aged, three hospitals, two deaconess institutions and two ime migrant homes. Its missionary activities— home, forelgn and inner missions—are car- ried on extensively, and its publication house, the Augustana Book Concern, Rock Island, with branch offices at Minneapolis, Chicago and New York, is doing a great work in the interest of the synod. Augustana college aleo celebrates its fif- tieth anniversary with great festivities in June. It is the largest educational insti- tution of the synod, embracing also its on'y theological seminary. Dr. Gustay Andreen 1 its present president. He is a man of untiring energy and has done a great work for the school in personally leading the movement for soliclting the $200,000 endow- ment fund that is just being completed. It Is to a great extent due to his sacrificing and incessant labor for the placing on & sure foundation the college of which he is president, that Augustana will forever be the central institution of learning of the synad. Its rank is high among colleges and many of its alumni hold prominent po- sitions in church and state. One of the finest libraries of its kind in the country is now being bullt in the mem- ory of Mr. and Mrs, F. C. A. Denkmann, late residents of Rock Island, and donated by their sons and daughters. The cost of the building will be considerably over $100, 60 when completed, homes