St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-08-11
THAT AUGSBURG TROUBLE.
Discord in Trinity Church-Wi
Pastor GiertSen Resi1n2

Discord in Trinity Church-Win
Pastor Gjertsen Resign?
Since the establishment of a rival
school to the Augsburg seminary. dis
cord has broken forth in the various
churches of this synod. Just now the
storm is raging most violently in the
congregation of Rev. NJ. Falk Gjertsen,
Trinity Norwegian church at bust
ness meeting of the church held July &c
it was voted to side with the Augsburg
faction. There was stubborn minor
ity, however, and they have been quietly
continuing the fight. Wednesday night
the minority held meeting at the resi-
dence Of Christian jacobson, and voted
to call meeting of the congregation for
Aug. %. The meeting Wednesday night,
from all reports, was veritable council
of war. Some of the malcontents ad-
vised the adoption of radical measures,
and even went so far as to suggest that
the resignation of Rev. Gjertsen be de-
manded.
Mr.. Jacobson, at whose house the
meeting was held, was seen by re-
porter yesterday, bat he was averse to
airing the troubles Of the church in
public. He said the whole matter
come out at the special business meet
inc and that it would be open to the
public. Asked whether there was dis
satisfaction with the course of Pastor
Gjertsen in the seminary contest, he
reLlied that if there was any it would
be made known on the Esd. MIR. Jacob
son said the purpose of the special meet
ing is to reconsider the action pledging
support to Augsburg, and to transfer
the same to the United Church semi
nary.
The efforts to GUST Mr.. Gjertsen have
been conducted, as one of the Interested
persons state, as an underground wire
movement At first, he said, a paper
was secretly circulated, pledging the
signers to join in such movement, and
that action should be publicly taken
when majority of the male members
had committed themselves to the move
ment. The secret move, according to
this statement, had disclosed forty
seven for removal and forty-two against,
| and there being majority favoring, a
public meeting had been called, as
above stated. This information was
given by warm supporter Of Mr..
GjertseD, who said it appeared that the
friends of the pastor were in the minor
ity, but that he could not, under the
rules, be depoSed without two-tnirds
vote, and this he had no idea they could
| secure. He said, however, that there
hoo Gel t1lu W UO a AlOb uSH1 lAOLl Ihio
| time on.
Rev. Gjertsen was seen in his cosy
| study concerning the matter last even
| ing, and, though not disposed to be
| talkative, said all there was to say.
1.-The trouble in the Lutheran church"
he said, "began three years ago when
| the anti MiSsOurians came in as part
of the United church. Up to that time
! everything had gone well, and we had
been blessed with peace. Since that
time they have tried to monopolize
affairs, and the fight over Augsburg
| seminary is the result. l am friend OF
| Augsburg: come what may. l gave
| it its name twenty-five years ago
and have stood by il ever since.
AS am not given to desertion, I shall
| continue in the future as l nave done
| in the past. The statement above
| quoted. that we are in the minority,
however. is not true, as we have had
majority of nearly two-thirus ever since
the trouble began. or course, what is
wanted, would be to get an anti
Missourian pastor in my place, and the
outcome must be left to the future. As
to the statement that the above is from
a friend of mine, it seems impossible"
| Mr.. Gjertsen. while using no harsh
| language toward those who are working
to injure his standing in the church,
| spoke i'll a decided manner. which
would ordinarily mean fight to the bitter
end.