St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-06-03
NORWEGIAN LUTHERANs.
Meeting of the Minnesota synod at
Rothsay.

special TO the GLOBE.
RoTHsAY, Mimi, June 2.-The Mime
sofa district of the Norwegian Lutheran
synod met here to-day. The session
opened with devotional exercises by Rev.
Is. Harstad, The committee on credentials
comprises Prof. Z. Mohn and Revs. o. Sol
seth and t. Johnson. Assistant secre-
taries, Rev. Halvorsen, Borge, Vangsnes,
Lokensgord, Brandt and Gronlig. The
meeting was organized by approving the re-
port of the committee on credentials, rec
Ommending eighty-four delegates for adj
mission. The president read his report.
Two churches have been dedicated, nine
clergymen ordained, six churches visited,
five refused visits, one clergyman deposed,
and six churches apply for admission.
Revs. Bjosgo Borge, Biorn and Torstensen.
MeSsrs. ASlaksen. LYder and johnson were
elected to appoint all committees decided
upon by the synod. unless otherwise re-
solved. The temporary committee on ere
dentials was on motion made permanent.
Rev. o. p. Vangsnes of Minneapolis,
opened the afternoon session with appro-
pirate exercises. Revs. o, Lokensgord, n
Koammen and Mr. H. Bak were appointed
to consider the report of the president On
motion of Rev. L. NJ. Biorn the following
was adopted as a theme for discussion:
What Constitutes the Opportunity for Con-
version Offered to a Person Called by God
This synod is
THE LARGEST AND OLDEST
religious organization among the Nor
wegianS in this country Ministers and
congregations connected with it are found
in most places where Norwegians have set
tied from Portland, Me-. to Portland. Ore
Its growth since first organized has kept
step with the increase of the Norwegian
population in this country. In 1853 five
ministers and delegates from few congre-
cations met and organized the synod. AT
the present time it numbers PIC ministers
and professors, 700 congregations with 15O.-
600 members In order to educate ministers
and teachers the synod was at first Obliged
to send candidates for the ministry to St
Louis. No., to attend the German Lutheran
Theological seminary. located there. In
1862 college was founded near La Crosse
Wis, with two professors and an at
tendance of ten students. The accommo-
dation there soon proved too small. and the
institution was removed to DEBORAH. Ia.
where magnificent college building was
built by voluntary contributions at a
eost of $780, 900. The number of
professors was increased to ten, and
the average annual attendance of students
rose as high as $50. The number who have
graduated from the college is nearly two
hundred. while over one thousand have at
tended for shorter period. The course is
at present seven years. Until 1876 students
of theology were sent to German Lutheran
seminares to complete their education. but
that year
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
was founded at Madison, Wis, with two
professors and twelve students. Suisse
quently the number of professors was in
creased to three and about forty-five
students attended annually. St. Olafs
school at Northfeld, Mimi, was founded i'll
1875, in order to offer opportunities for
acquiring a sound Christian education to
those who did not wish to take the course
of seven years at the college in DEBORAH.
Five professors are connected with the
school, and the average annual attendance
is eighty. The regular course is four
years! The Minnesota Southern seminary
and institute at Willmar, Mimi, was
founded in 1883. on somewhat the same
plan as ST. Olaf's school, only giving greater
scope for individual selection of studies.