Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-04-01
AUGUSTANA COLLEGE.
Dr. O. Olsson's 54th birthday Anniversary
Celebrated-Addresse Presentations.


fell Saturday evening. about FIVE
hundred friends of the esteemed DR..
o. OLSON had assembled in Angus
tana college chapel to tender him a
surprise upon his 9th anniversary.
PrepaI ations for the occasion had
been making during all of the pre-
vious week, and guests from the sur
rounding cities, including Geneseo,
Andover, Orion and Swedona were on
hand. The members of the several
faculties, mem bers of the board of
trustees. together with the pastors
o; neighboring churches. had assem-
bled in Gable hall. The evening was
the regular evening of the week
which is set apart for devotional ex-
ercisrs and prayer by the students
These exercises are in charge OF
President OLSON, and it was as he
was about to enter the chapel for SER
vices that he was informed that a
number of friends desired to meet
him in Cable hall. Having entered
the hall. he was requested to head q
procession composed of the mem bers
of the several faculties, embers of
the board and others. and by the
side of Vice PRESIDENT Foss to march
into the beautifully Illuminated
chapel. The procession having
reached the platform. Master of Ger
emonies Foss addressed the greatly
surprised and almost overcome doc
tor. stating that it was in his
honor that his many friends had
now assem- 5led; that il was for the
purpose of celebrating his 54th
birthday the large audience had
deiied the raging elements in order
that they might once more be per-
mitted to express the high esteem in
which he is held. At the conclusion
| of Prof. Foss' remarks. DIR. n. For
| sander of the Theological seminary,
| delivered a brief but heartfelt address
aud concluded by the most fitting
| words of love and affection. Another
| address was then delivered by DR..
| c. +. Lindberg. also of the Theologi-
cal seminary. who. in the short time
which was allotted to him, presented
the doctor from an oratorical point
| of view. a veritable laurel wreath of
| congratulations and well wishes.
DR.. 5. p. A. Lindahl, editor-in-cbief
| OF Augustana, was next called upon.
| His remarks. which were entirely eX-
temporary, ne related many incl
dents in DR.. Olsson's life, illustrat-
ing the manner in which divine
| providence .lad guided it t. its pres
ept exalted position. In the course
of his remarks. DR.. Lindahl said that
| it was not alone the influence which
| the subject OF this occasion was ex-
ertiug upon the youth who came to
| this seat of learning, but that his
| worth was felt throughout the entire
| synod. Prof. &. . Graners then
read an original poem composed for
| the occasion, entitled "A Birthday
Dream" An appropriate song was
next sung by the Apollo quartet.
after which Rev. G. A. Hemborg, pas
| tor of the Swedish Lutheran church.
of Moline, conveyed in 4 happy and
felicitous speech, the greetings OF his
church, saying. that had it not heen
for the inclemency of the weather
the members of his church would
have filled the chapel to overlooking.
Concluding his speech. the pastor
| presented DR.. OLSON with a magnifi-
cent bouquet OF flowers, the gift of the
ladies' of his church. This greeting
| was ;he more acceptable to the doc
| tor, in as much as it came from the
members of the church of which he
| is also an honored and beloved mem
Der.
Rev. Slatt, pastor of the Lutheran
| church of Rock Island. was the next
speaker. He stated that he did not
represent himself upon this occa-
| sion, but was the chosen delegate of
| his congregation to extend their well
| wishes and gratitude to one who was
! loved and esteemed by them all 1t
was while Pastor Slatt was speaking
that sharp flash of electricity snap
ped the current which supplies the
| large chandelier and other electric
lights of the chapel, and in an in
slant all was utter darkness. In
less than two minutes, however, the
current was again switched on, and
all was as brilliant as ever. Again
addresses followed by Rev. A. 2.
Fors, of Geneseo, and Rev. John
Johnson. of Orion, both OF which
were happy tributes. E. Floren. on
behalf of the Students union, in a
brief address extended to the doctor
the greetings of the students of the
several departments of the institu-
ton. He was followed with an able
address by Rev. j. Jesperson on be
hall of the board of trustees. The
pastor stated that the great work
which the synod had placed upon the
venerable doctor was not only highly
appreciated by the board of directors.
but BY the whole Lutheran church OF
! America. T.. W. Olson, editor of tn c
! MA Pressen, of Moline. then read a
poem OF exceptional brilliaucy of
diction, breadth of thought and ele-
garce of composition. Another poem
was next read by its author, Rev. A.
| Rodell, associate editor of Augustaus.
The contents of this poem was surve '
OF DIR. Olsson's experience as pioneer
| pastor and missionary in the state OF