The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-06-13

satiOn of This.
There was lively debate in the Angus
tapa synod yesterday morning. 1t was
| upon the question of the relative impor-
! lance of English and Swedish in the
| schools.
| 1t appears that the faculty of Angus
tana college and seminary at Rock Island
have ordained that the morning services
be conducted in English exclusively. This
was done for the sake of expediency
| ajone, and not necessarily on account of
greater attachment for English than for
Swedish.
1t happens that Augustana college,
from it's excellent curriculum, has at
tracted several American students, and
besides. there are also number of stu
dents OF Swedish extraction who do not
understand the language To these class
es- the chapel services were useless. In
order to give all the benefit of the mora
ing prayers, the faculty decided to sub
stitute language which all could under
stand. to-wit, English -
/ When this action became bruited about
there was trouble. The Swed sh news
papers made use of the action of the fac
ulty as mild sensation The enemies OF
the school became very busy and the
ultra Swedish felt that an insult had
been deliberately made. This element
charged that the school which they were
supporting with their hard-earned del
lars was rapidly surrendering to Ameri-
can influences. and threatened to with
draw their support on the pretense that
If the Americans were to control the
school they could also support it. This,
of course, was the extreme view, but
nevertheless there was much heated dis
pute, and it grew to such proportions that
the synodical council at it's meeting last
week felt called upon to take some cog
nizance of the matter
1t unhesitatingly sustained the action
of the faculty, and SO reported yesterday
morning. But a few, probably some of
those who had kept alive the newspaper
controversy, declined to approve the re-
port.
AS substitute to approve the report of
the council, some one moved that English
and Swedish be placed on an equality
with regard to the morning services of
Augustana college, each to be used on
alternate mornings.
Then there followed a morning of talk,
much of which was interesting, but hard
ly important to the general public. 1t
was mighty important: Ito the synod,
however, as it Gle AIRED the. atmosphere
and allowed an aggressive little matter
Ito receive the fullest and freest discussion
and allowed the action of the faculty 10
make the complete explanation that many
secmd to demand.
. DR.. Olof OLSON, president of the Angus
tana college; d.. c. A. Swensson, presi-
dent of Bethany college; DIR. S. PA
I.indahl. editor of - Augustana; S., G.
Youngert,a of .Ottumwa, To-; Prof c.. W.
Foss, OF, Rock Island, AMI others, spoke
for the exclusive use of the English: lam
guage at the chapel exercises, which,
they argued, could in no way affect the
orthodoxy of the Lutheran church nor
exclude the Swedish language from the
school.
The Rev. L. G. Abrahamson, of Chica-s
go; Mr.. Wahlstrom, of st. Peter, presi-
dent of -Gustavus sAdolphus college; the
Rev. John Lundquist, of Chisagos city,
and others, spoke for equal considera-
ton. sse@@ -
The latter would probably have confined
himself to the use of Swedish entirely
If he had chrge of the chapel services,
sat least his address leaned in that direc-s
.tion and he came the nearest to being the
extreme pro-Swedish speaker of the
morning.
Just before the noon hour it was plain
that there was no chance for. vote be-
fore recess, so President Norlius shut off
debate and called for some minor matters
of business for consideration A long
communication Of sixty closely written
pages from Paul Gulander, of Johannes
burg, Transvaal, South Africa, was called
up and instead of being read was referred
to a committee consisting of the Rev
Messrs. "A. Hut Peter Sioblom and
Samuel Anderson, of Chicago. The Rev.
N1II OT16n rs &c ~.
Swedish settlers in the Transvaal and
wants a mission established by the synod
in America. South Africa is rather out
side of the sphere of American influence
and it is: hardly likely that the request
will be granted, although some financial
aid may be extended to him.
The vote on the question of sanctioning
the action of the faculty of Augustana
college in having the morning devotional
services conducted entirely in English re-
suited favorably.
The rule set by the faculty will here
after obtain in the synodical colleges.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The afternoon session of the synod
opened with prayer, and the discussion
OF the morning, regarding the use of the
English and Swedish languages at Au-
gustana college, Rock Island was con-
tinued. The question of combining the
morning devotional exercises of the COL
lege entirely to the Swedish language
was gone over, and several addresses
pro and con, were made. The matter
was finally decided by the Introduction
of the following resolution, which was
PASSED by a standing vote:
Resolved, That the arrangement made
by the board of directors of Augustana
college, with reference to the use of the
Swedish and English languages at morn
tY1Or &c how INV
resolved, further, that the synod express
thanks to God for the blessings which
have resulted from the work of the school
and pray for its continuance.
The election of a theological profess
sor for Augustana college was also a
fruitful subject of debate. Several nom
nations for the vacancy in the faculty
had been made, and a division of opin-
ion had resulted. President Norelius
called the matter up for consideration,
and, after debate, an understanding be-
coming difficult to arrive at, a motion
to lay on the table and postpone the
appointment of professor was made
and carried. The motion made provision
that the previous nominations for the
vacancy be not considered, and the sub
ject will be again presented with a clear
field of candidates.
The new English hymnal, recommend
ed for use in the Lutheran churches by
the faculty of Augustana college, was
the subject of another discussion Copies
of the volume were distributed and the
members of the synod were given an op-
portunity to examine the book which
is printed in words only. After some
debate, action was taken recommending
the book for uses In churches, and giving
the official sanction of the synod The
faculty Of Augustana college were given
authority, Wy vote to prepare and pub
lish music for use with the edition con-
tanning only words.
The auditing committee was appointed