St. Paul daily globe., 1893-06-13
EXCITED LUTHERANs
Put in a Warm Day Over the
Augsburg Affair.


Excitement ran high all day in the
session of the United Lutheran church,
and fully 1900 persons crowded the
ditorium. The exciting question was
the report on the presidents message,
which was taken up section at time.
When the first section was read-the
school affair-Prof. Oftedahl made an
excited speech and this proposition: II
want to inform the conference OF some
resolutions adopted by the trustees of
Augsburg seminary to the effect that
this difficulty should be settled by
friendly and brotherly means. In view
of accomplishing this, the Augsburg
trustees propose that committee
be appointed and authorized to
convene with the trustees of the
Augsburg seminary, as we'll as with the
trustees of the United church and form
such plans as would be agreeable aud
profitable to all. Owing to the fact that
we have discovered that the property of
Augsburg seminary cannot be legally
transferred to another corporation, we
propose that other ways be discovered
whereby it can be brought about that
the United church gains and holds pos
session of the affairs OF the college,"
Prof. Bockman wanted the matter
settled at once, and Rev. Rasmussen
wanted the substitute laid on the table,
but the convention voted it down. The
debate was continued until the noon
hour arrived.
At the opening of the afternoon ses-
sion of the council of the United church.
the committee appointed to investigate
the charge of malfeasance preferred by
Prof. Solrdrup against President
Hoyme reported progress, but will hard
ly be able to submit full report today.
The question of transferring Augs-
burg seminary to the United church
was then taken up, and nearly the
whole session was devoted to the dis
cussion of that important subject. Some
of tne speakers used very stong lam
guage, but the great bulk of the audi
ence kept comparatively cool.
Rev. n. j. Keldahl, who has been
after Prof. Oftedal in particular with a
sharp stick for the past two years,
seemed to strike the keynote Of the
sentiment of the meeting when he de-
clared that the churches expect that the
Augsburg seminary trouble will be
settled at this meeting. The PROPOSE
ton made by Prof. Oftedal would sim
ply put off the matter, he said. He also
referred to the past to prove that the
board cannot be trusted to do what the
church has intended it to do. The
proposition of the committee, on the
other hand. proposed to settle the mat
ter at once. besides making all reasona-
bic concessions to the anti-trans-
fer party. 1t would also be
dangerous precedent to leave such
important matters in the hands of a
committee, as Prof. Oftedal proposed,
instead of having the meeting settle the
difficulty.
"rhe board of trustees has retained
Augsbery seminary yillegally,&were the
Rev. Kildahl's words, land to negotiate
with the board would virtually be the
same as to admit that the board has
| been right"
Rev. Romsdal thought the proposition
of Oftedai would open the way to a
| peaceful and Christian settlement of the
difficulty.
Rev. o. Paulson felt sure that if a
| committee were to confer with the
board it would lead to a speedy and
| satisfactory settlement of the whole