Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-06-13
NORTH AMERICAN SYNOD.
The Interesting Gathering a
Aagustana College.
The DedicatOry services and Ad-
stftutionL Change Discussed.

The ded cation of the new college
building. ar outline of which we gave in
the ARGUS OF yesterday. was an event
fondly looked for by the alumni and the
friends of the college. The struggle has
been of ten years duration. but the eff
forts Of the people of this vicinity and
members of the Swedish church through
out the land. have been crowned with
success. The noble structure is monu>
ment to Their effort, which can be looked
upon as fully worthy of the money and
work. The interior. though not com
plete, is q marvel in conveniences in its
arrangements for practical use and hand.
some to the eye. When the design is
fully completed, it will be in all respects
source of pride to the generous hearts
who contrib ted their dollars and cents
for its construction.
Prof. T. N. HasselQ uist, the venerable
president of the college. was the presid
ing officer. The programme, was sue
cessfully carried out as given in yester>
days ARGUS.
The audience filed every possible
space on the main foor and gallery, and
the hall leading from the main entrance
was packed with people back to the stair
case. while rs many more surrounded the
building on the outside. They could not
hear the address, but could hear and in
part enjoy the elegant music and sing.
ing. Prot. Stolpe presided at the organ.
The chorus consisted of fifty ladies and
gentleman, who-were assisted in song by
the audience. The festive song was COM
posed by Prof. Stolpe for this particular
time.
The usual opening by prayer and read
ing of scripture was folio we'd by the adj
dress Of the Rev. c. A. Swensson, presi-
dent of Bethany college. Lindsberg, Kan
sas, in behalf of the alumni. 1t was
THE GEM OF THE DAY
in words and eloquence. A synopsis
will not do full Justice to this address :.
His first words were: Education is a
condition of liberty. The ignorant man
is slave in proportion to his ignorance.
1t is the cause of fallen humanity. Edu-
cation lifts him up and purifies. enobles,
develops ard brings into ,ony that
wonderful and unsesrchab.> .Jtal called
man"
A republic and free church dope nd
on their continued existence upon the
truth Of this principle. The United
States will go on in its career of unexsm-
pied prosperity just as long as the
school houses, colleges and universities
furnish TO the youth Of the nation that
education equipment, without which
free citizenship is a curse and puplic
menace. A free church with an illiterste
ministry AMI an ignorant people, will
soon become the battle ground of dema-
goguery and unprincipled tyranny. be it
And so the republic and the church cele
brate together as days of unusual interest
and importance, the dedication of new
college universities and their buildings.
May the pages of history yet to be writ
ten bear ample and eloquent testimony
to the fact that such q day and such oc-
csslon was the present one. The simple
requirement of knowledge does not neces-
| sarily educate man in the highest and
best sense o! the word. knowledge is a
characteristic Of God, but it is also a
property of the devil. knowledge has
been frequently the poisoned dagger in
the hands OF the villain.
The development of the intellect with
out corresponding care of the will and
passions. will often bring forth not son
OF God, but monster. Education, in
order to deserve its name and significance,
must be har nonious and complete and it
must also build character. What we
need today in our nation is more
Washingtons. Franklins, Lincolns,
Garfields and other christian statesmen;
what we need in the church is more Of
Huss, Luther of Wesley. We need today
| men OF true education, men of religion.
men of prayer and men full of common
sense. A diploma from college should
not only be mark Of education, it should
also be ties timony of character. II it
means less that college has passed the
useful period of its existence and should
be abandoned.
There is wonderful educational move
ment going on in the country. and that
on large scale. 1t is the education of
nations. Bgotry and minded
ness of everT kind belong to the times of
the old covenant Kingly power and the
king himself are relics Of heathenism.
Israel. the people of God, elected their
first king as direct and plain sin against
God, and under Gods protest and dis
pleasure. They had forssken God and
were DESTROYS of initiating the heather.
This nation has abolished royal vest
ments and power and returned to the
simplicity OF people of God, recognize.
ing no other king, but the Lord Al
mighty; unoer God we are a sovereign
free and dependent. The speaker con-
demned denominstionsl and factiensl
strife; it is also direct sin against God
and the result of human ingenuity.
He paid G. fine tribute to his fathers
native land and oountrymen. which is too
lengthy to more than note briefly. he