Evening journal., 1898-02-09

administration, and from time to time
through following generations so long
as the children could speak Swedish.
AS has been said above, the English
people soon began to look to him for
religious instruction, and he qualified
himself to be useful to them by learn
ing their language, and was able to
preach to them in their own tongue
shortly after his arrival in the country,
and with him and his colleagues began
that close and intimate connection
with the English Episcopal clergy and
congregations which remained un-
broken for a century, and led to the
absorption of the Swedish churches
into the Protestant Episcopal commu-
nion when they had ceased to under
stand the language Of their fathers. and
the direct union with their mother
church was dissolved. The Swedish
and English clergy attended each
others councils, held mutual councils
OF both communions, and preached in
each others churches.
Most of the Swedish ministers were
allowed certain stipends for preaching
in vacant English churches by the So
ciety for the Propagation Of the Gospel
and Bishop Swedberg was a member Of
that society. The bishops of London,
who had the oversight of the Episco-
pal churches and missions in America.
/ repeatedly recommended the Swedish
ministers to the kindness and hOspi-
/ tality Of the English and the various
archbishops of Sweden and Bishop
! Swedberg eXhorted the Swedish minis
ters and churches to live in unity and
friendship with the English churches
Thus naturally, when the time came
that English-spealSing preachers and
pastors were necessary, and the Swe-
dish authorities deemed il best to with
draw their fostering care and allow the
churches to choose religious teachers
| from this, now their native country, a
clergyman Of the Protestant Episcopal
church was chosen in the place Of
these who returned to Sweden. In
deed, not all did return. Mr.. Collins
remained rector of Gloria Del, Church
until the time Of his death, in 1880.
having several Episcopal ministers in
succession as assistants.
There was no difference in doctrine,
and very little in the manner Of con-
Quoting religious services, and many in
the outlying districts had already con-
nected themselves with Episcopal
churches in their neighborhood. and
as will be shown farther on, the las,
Swedish minister of Holy Trinity re-
qucsted and received from the Society
for the Propagation of the Gospel re-
ligious books for his English-speaking
young people.
On the 29th of June, 1714, Mr.. BjorlI
with his family, started for Sweden
having been recalled by King Charlie.
XII, by a letter written at Tamarlarlk
near AdrianOple, in Turkey, June %
l7l8, and appointed provost and to b
pastor Of the great Copperburg Churcf
in the city Of Fahlun, in Dalecartin
= where he preached till an old man. dy
ing in 1740, and from whence was sent
in l7lS. a beautiful chalice and Ntel
CT silver given to the Holy Trinit,
Church by the mining company Of tha
| city a result OF his loving remem
/. brance Of his first charge here in tn
: | wilderness, which communion servic
is still used in the churches of the par
"a ish on all anniversary and special &C
: casions.
Immediately on the intended reca
a of Mr.. Biork two other ministers weT
n selected by the ecclesiastic authOritie
= and commissioned by the Royal COur
ell (the king being a fugitive in Tu
- key to which country he escaped afte
- the disastrous battle of PultOwa /
= Russia) They were Magister A. Hes
4 sellius and Abraham Leidenius, an
!, they arrived May 1, I'LL. They lahore
: in conjunction with Mr.. Bjork unit
/ the Sd OF May, 1712, when they too
q formal charge Of Holy Trinity Churcl
Il I Mr.. Bjork having been appointed prC
n - oil hn aIt Al.
= Swedberg (who now had the oversigl
r Of the churches in America), he SER
8 ing in that capacity until the kin
could be heard from and his regul;
n transfer to the church abOve-mentiOns
e be made.
Ia Rev. Jonas Aureen had been
le charge Of that part of the congreg
NJ ton on the east side Of the Delawar
-e under the direction Of Mr.. Biork. (,
N SINE time past. but had died in II
n previous February, so it was thoug
r best that Mr.. Lidenius should be a
a signed to that side of the Delawa
d and Magister Thessellius remain
30 Chrlstiana as pastor, with the gener
IN oversight of the parish.
10 The people on the other size sos
after began the erection Of a church
lr the spot where the present Penn's Ne
al Church stands, and were organized
or separate church, with Mr.. Lidenius f
ms their pastor. and as circumstanc
of would permit, the congregation fulfill
IL their promise to those on the east si
It OF the river to repay them as much
es they had contributed towards the bull
ur ing Of Holy Trinity, which, on accOu
NJ of the great scarcity Of money, W
er paid mostly in wheat.
The folks at Raccoon-creek having
ch ready built a small church, they ha
he united under the same pastorate wi
se Penn's Neck, and Holy Trinity pari
r. was henceforth confined to the w,
Ir- side of the Delaware river.
100 During The pas;orate of Mag 'ster II,
er seilius the church prOspered. and, n.
nd withstanding the times were hard. d.
as off their debts and provided schot
"a for their children. He preached his I;
he sermon September 10. 1923. and so
he after returned to Sweden. the Engli
le- clergy giving him a most hearty tes
monial for his zeal in serving in ,
op cant English neighborhoods. and
he brother. Samuel, who had been for S,