St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-14
MINNEAPOLIS.
A UNITED CHURCH.
The Norwegian Lutherans Stand
Undivided. e

Undivided.
I Yesterday was great day in the his
tory of the Lutheran church. For the
past three days the separate societies
have been holding meetings in different
parts of the city, and all through these
meetings there has been an effort to get
the three factions together for the pur-
pose of combining in one grand society.
Early in the morning the three societies
met at their respective churches and I'M
S 49, At " al" oc loe ths Conference
met at Trinity church, and the
final vote was taken, which was
to unite all III one grand church.
Shortly after the other two organiza-
tions came marching in two bodies to
the church. They were received by
the conference standing, singing
hvmn, in which the new corners lolned
as they approached. Then the LORDS
prayer and the apostles creed were re-
peated, and the immense congregation
was dismissed with blessing.
Rev. NJ. Falk Gjertsen was appointed
grand marshal, the and one huge united
congregation marched to the Swedish
Augustana churh, here the cere-
monies of ratification were to be per-
formed. At 1880 o'clock the organ was
pealing forth its melody as the head OF
the long column approached at the en-
trance and filed into the aiSleS.
Rev. Mr.. Hoyne, the former president
of the conference, conducted the pre-
liminary exercises, and at II O'Clock the
congregation joined in the hymn, "a
Mighty Fortress Is Our God" Rev. T.
A. Rasmussen, of Lisbon, ILL.,, one of
the leaders of the anti Missourian fac
ton. and one of the prime movers for
the union, offered up a thanksgiving
prayer, and petitiOned for the Will OF
the Almighty in the deliberations OF
the new body.
Rev. NJ. Bion, retiring president of
the anti NiSSourianS, proposed the name
of Prof. Sven Oftedahl for temporary
chairman, and he was elected. Rev. j.
temporary secretary. A committee on
credentials was appointed, consisting of
t. Eggen, of DEBORAH: 0. c. Holm.
of Cambridge, To-, and Rev. j. G. Jemi-
son, of Milwaukee.
Ex-President Hoyne then made a
motion that the adoption OF the constl-
tuition by the old bodies be formally
ratified, and at II :53 a. M. on the 18th
day of June, A. D. $780, Chairman Prof.
S. Oftedahl announced the constitution
of the Norwegian Lutheran United
church of America unanimously carried
by rising vote.
The afternoon session opened at 2:30
pm, Prot. Sven Oftedahl in the chair.
Letters of credentials were read and
about fifty delegates received as voting
members of the organization. Five
congregations applied for admission to
the United church, and were unanl-
mously received.
The whole afternoon was de Yotedto
business transactions. RevS. HOyme,
Biorn and Rasmussen were nominated
as permanent president of the United
church, Rev. Hoyne receiving by ballot
TAO votes, Rev. Bjorn 126, Rev. Ras-
mussen II, Svensen l, Prof. Oftedahl
/, Hattestad l. Mohn l. Rev. Hoyne
was then elected by unanimous vote.
The reverend gentleman thanked the
United church for the honor and conf
dence they had shown him, and pledged
himself body and soul for the work for
Christ and His churc'. As he, how
ever, still had charge of number of
congregations, he asked the church for
some time for consideration. The pres
idency involved much labor, and one
could not very we'll have charge of con-
gregatiops and at the same time take
proper care of such large body as the
United church.
Rev. L. M Bjorn was elected vice
president, with a ballot of TIA votes.
Rev. Rasmussen receiving 16; Hattie
stoo, 80; Kildahl, IA; Elleston, "A; G. 0.
Offedahl,1 i; BOckmann, /; Mohn.20; Lund
s; Hougen, &; Stensen, l. l.. M. Bjorn.
was then unanimously as vice president
For secretary Rev. Kildal received 435
votes: J. G. Jensen 1872; E. Jensen l;
Olaf Lee l; Geouli L: Rev. Kildahl be-
ing unanimously elected. While the
votes were counted, several questions as
to letters OF credentialsiwere brought up.
and the organization quickly disposed of
them resolving, that all persons who
had no credentials, but were delegates
from congregations which had adopted
the constitution of the United
church should be considered as
members of the organization and
entitled to vote, provided they
handed in their names to the secretary.
This was Immediately done and some
fifty delegates swelled the body of the
Uuited church to about 900. This
morning the meeting will decide upon
whether the president shall devote his
time exclusively for the church, or if
he shall retain his congregation. The
probability is that the meeting will
favor the first proposition.
A sacred concert will be given to-
night at the Trinity church, when the
new pipe organ will be used. The
Young Peoples association has charge
of the concert. which promises to be
largely attended.
uONODINf, ruUIp nEAn