Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-12-08
AUGUSTANA CELEBRATES.
The Birth Of the Hero King Most Fittingly
Observed.

The Birth of the Hero King Most FIttingly
Observed.
At 10 o'clock this morning the 3
days celebration of the birth of the
world-renowned champion and de-
fender Of Professionalism in Europe,
King Gustavus Adolphus, was opened
in the magnificently decorated chap
ell of Augustana college. Long be-
fore the opening of the EXERCISES it
was apparent that seating room
would soon be at a premium. All
day yesterday 80 pairs of willing
hands had been busy decorating the
beautiful chapel, which was now lit
orally draped in the Swedish and
American colors. The great stained
glass window in front had a magniti
cent wreath of national flags and COL
ors fastened to its castings, while
across it, hung in beautiful lettering,
the motto of the heroic king, whose
life was given for the cause of Pro-
testant liberty, ..God With U.s."
Just back of this motto hung a mag
| niticent crayOn portrait of the king,
the work of Miss Munroe, of the con-
servatory Of fine art. On the balus-
trade of the gallery hung large por-
traits of Washington, Lincoln and
Grant, indicating that notwithstand
ing the institution today celebrates
the birth OF one of the greatest kings
the world has ever known, it is not
unmindful of the fact that this g,ori-
Gus country also possesses names of
men whose memory and national
greatness it also gratefully and pa
triotically celebrates.
| The Exercises.
The morning exercises were opened
promptly at 10 O'Clock with mu-
sic by the Augustana Silver Cor
net band, after which the venerable
Rev. DIR. 7. j. Sward, of Omaha, pres
ident of the Augustana synod, read
the Hath Psalm OF David, and Of
fered prayer. Then were sung two
stanzas of Luther's famous battle
hymn. lin feste burg, ist unser
Gott.n The first stanZa was sung by
the congregation, while the second
was responded to by the grand choir
under the leadership of Prof. Griffith.
After this followed most able his
toric address by Rev. Carl A. Evald,
of Chicago. on the subject. The Di-
vine and Human Right of Protestant
ism in the History of the World"
The speaker began by drawing bold
picture of the great darkness in
which the church of Rome existed in
the Fifteenth and Sixteenth centur-
les. and said that to his mind, moth
ing could be compared to the patri-
otism of a nation which would tear
itself loose from religious thrawldom
and assume the God given privileges
of religious freedom. The address
throughout was a master effort, and
the speaker held his audience spek-
bound for more than 80 minutes
The Augustana male choir then sang
Lindblad's beautiful battle prayer,
after which Rev. Ludwig Holmes. of
Burlington, la. delivered beautiful
poem on the Snow Majesty Of the
North" The production was a bril-
liant tribute to the memory OF him to
whom all the Protestant world today
bears homage. Next was sung three
stanzas of the hymn which King
Gustavus Adolphus and his brave
soldiers sang on the morning of the
eventful day at Lutzen. The beauti-
. full singing OF this hymn by the great
choir produced marked effect. The
forenoon exercises were then con-
cluded by music by the band.
The afternoon exercises were
opened promptly at o'clock, and in.
cluded, in addition to fine musical
program. orations by Rev. A. j.
Enstam. of New Haven, Conn, and
Rev. l.. A. Johnston, OF St. Paul.
At S'o'clock this evening one OF
} the grandest concerts ever rendered
at the institution will be given. A
large number of visitors from abroad
are already here. prominen: among
whom are Rev. Edman, of Samul
roffa, India: Rev. Eustam. of New
Haven, Conn, and others. Nearly
all the ministers from the Swedish
Lutheran churches within a radiu.
of 60 miles are here.
: Tomorrow afternoon the exercise.
will be wholly in Swedish, and ser
mon will be delivered by the presi
, dent Of the synod, Rev. DIR. >ward
of Omaha. j. E.. &.