The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-08-15

dent of Portland. The following No
vember, after our acquaintance had rip.
ened into friendship, Mr.. Becker one day
informed ME that he had accepted call
from a congregation of Lutherans at
Monson, Me-. and should start immedi-
ately for that point, and knowing that he
would have to pass through Portland
gave him letters of Introduction to peo-
pie here of the Lutheran faith, little
thinking that it was the nucleus of the
undertaking which has resulted in the
building of Emmanuel Lutheran church
of Portland, Me.
While Mr.. Becker, whose 7 ambition
Loaned toward the ministry, was serving
his Oh arge in Monson he was invited on
one or two occasions to preach for the
Swedes of this city, and finally was urged
to come here and attempt the building
up of a Swedish congregation. This un-
dertaking was fraught with more or less
disappointment and, might say. person
al sacrifices on the part Of Mr.. Becker,
but by diligent application to the OBJ
ject in view he succeeded in getting
sufficient number of families to organizs
a society of Swedish Lutherans, and their
meetings were held in the Y. M. G. A.
hall on Congress street, and later in the
Rines block on Congress street, near
Oak, and few months later Columbia
hall was leased for a year. Mr.. Becker
was greatly aided in the work of orga-
nizing by Rev. j. A. Forsland, now of
Brooklyn, N. Y, which organization was
accomplished on the 9Th of March, 1894,
with membership of about 80 persons.
In August of 1894, Mr.. Becker left
Portland for other fields of labor and
was succeeded by Rev. Oscar Nelson, a
graduate of Augustana Theological
Seminary. Rev. Mr.. Nelson was very
successful in his passionate here and the
| congregation grew in strength and en-
thusiasm in the work while under his
charge. Rev. Nelson remained with us
year when he accepted call to Attica,
Ind, and again we we've without pas
tor and at a time when one was much
| needed in order to keep the interest from
tagging. Finally Mr.. V. e. Lagerson.
then q student at Bethany college,
Lindsburg, Kans., accepted call to take
| charge, in the absence of a regular pas
tor, and fulfilled the duties of this office
until June, 1895, when he resumed his
collegiate studies.
Mr.. Lagerson WAS succeeded by Mr.. y.
A. Henry. theological student Of Rock
Island, ILL.,, who Immediately conceived
the idea of gaining site for church
building, and set to work with grim
determination to attain this object, call
| ing to his assistance Rev. G. Nelsenius
| of the New York conference of Angus
| tana synod, who officiated as travelling
missionary for said conference. Togeth-
er they called meeting to be held on the
18th of July, 1886, for the purpose OF
making necessary decision in regard to
the purchase of lot Of land and the
building of church edif1ce. Mr.. Henry
was empowered to solicit funds for the
object and was signally successful in
the work. On January "a, 1897 at the
regular annual meeting of the parish the
Emmanuel Lutheran church was duly in
corporated according to the state laws, by
Fred V. Matthews, justice of the peace.
Mr.. Henry remained with us until
June, 1897, and then left Portland for
Michigan, where he assumed another
charge. His departure was made just
one week too early to see the object of his
untiring efforts attained in the purchase
in July /, 1897 of lot, No. II Sherman
street, of Hon. James P. Baxter. From
June, 1897 to January 1, 1898, we were
without a pastor, but there seemed to be a
common hand which held the little con-
gregation together. knowing as we did
that our ambition was in fair way to
be realized, inasmuch as we actually
possessed the land on which to build as
soon as our condition would permit.
During these few months, in which call
was under his consideration, services
we're held by visiting clergymen, and
occasional reading services by members
Of the congregation. Late in the fall,
Rev.leA. Aaron sent US his. acceptance to
commence his duties here on January 2,
1881 and he preached his initial sermon
at Williams hall on that date, taking
his text from Rom. Is oh. 1898, the
theme of his discourse being: "In the
fullness of the blessing of Christ" di- |
yided into three subjects:
I-Shall come to you, and though |
weak, grow strong?
Ills the pastoral office ordained
III.-Shall we, after mutual good work, |
together find rest?
AS the theme seems to have pointed to |
the especial case of our undertaking, has
come to be realized in the thought that
Sin the fulness of the blessing of Christ, -
we are this day to lay the cornerstone of
our church homes. Rev. Mr.. a aron has
been indefatigable in his en6eavors to
cultivate the building of church edi-
flee and as result of which we look up
on this gathering of people who have
come together to help us in the glorious
work of praising God for his goodness
and guidance and asking his blessing to
rest upon this church and its people
that 1t may be fruitful of good results
L