The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-11-06
THE SWEDISH MISSION.

THE SWEDISH MISSION.
Rev. L. G.. Powers, of Minneapolis,
furnishes THE UNIvERsALIsT with
report of the work Of Rev. August Dell
gren among the Swedish population of
Minneapolis. 1t will be remembered
that Mr.. Dellgren began his mission at
Minneapolis in July of this year by hold
ing services at p. NJ. of each Sunday
at the Church of the Redeemer. The
place and the hour of service were
neither the best to attract the Swedes
of the city. Hence, for time, no ap-
parent success seemed to attend the
work. Then Mr.. Dellgren was sick and
services were suspended for a month.
AS nothing could be accomplished
worthy Of mention under these circum-
stances, nothing was reported.
But a change came with October.
Mr.. Dellgren has about recovered his
former health and strength ard is
again at work. Oct. 8 he began services
in the Norwegian Unitarian church.
This is in the center Of the Swedish popu-
lation. Congregations have been stead
lily gaining and the interest increases.
I'VE can see now" writes Br. Powers,
"that the work of the summer, though at
the time without result, was all to bear
fruit in the season Of the harvest. The
labor already expended here shows the
existence of larger number of liberal
Swedes than We anticipated. The in
fuential ones among them at first held
aloof entirely. They did not come near
the meetings. These men are now be-
ginning to attend and quite generally
express an interest in the movement.
They also express satisfaction with Br
Dellgren as man and a minister. Some
of these men are persons Of social and
financial position persons of character
and influence in the city. They do not
take position in hurry. They left
the Lutheran church because they
could no longer accept it's doctrinal
teachings and are now inquiring about
Universalism. We could reach them
much sooner if we had Swedish Univer-
salist literature to distribute among
them. They are thinking people and
want a strong man to lead them. One
reason why SO many Swedes in this city
have left the churches of their father
land is this: Their clergy here do not
represent so much culture and thought
as they desire. The Swedish preachers
here are behind some of their people in
these respects.
''The situation at present here is as
follows: These cultured and liberal
Swedes are beginning to attend Br.
Dellgren's services. If they find in him
man Of such thought and culture as to
command their respect, they will all
take hold of the movement. If they,
after trial, should not find him any
stronger than their old Lutheran men
here, they will do nothing. Br. Dell
gren is, in word, then, on trial before
the Swedes of this city. believe that
he will prove equal to the situation,
and that he will, at very early day,
gather around him very strong move
ment -; stronger than any of us dared
hope for last June. OF course this is
only an opinion, but it is an opinion
based upon an attendance Of all the
services since Sept. 1st, and upon per-
sonal conversations with many of the
Swedes.
''In the beginning of mission move
ment there can be no statistics of prog
ress. We can alone rely upon the spirit
of the leader and the character of the
field. Br. Dellgren commends himself to
us all as man of character and thought.
As a young man he was, of course,
without experience in the ministry, but
he is gaining this. He is cautious and
we are coming to have more and more
faith in him. The field is a rich one
and is already white for the harvest.
1 look then for large results to report
at least by the first of the new year."