The Iola register., 1901-11-15
KNIGHT OF
NORTH STAR
A Distinguished Honor for
DR.. SwennsOn
President OF Bethany College at Lins-
borg has been Decorated by
King of Sweden
WAS A COMPLETE SURPRISE
two Others are in the
United States
1t is Only Given For Service to the
Crown or TO the Founders ofan
Institution

Lindsborg, Kas., Nov. l2.-Bishor
Scheele conferred upon Dr. Carl
Swensson, president of Bethany col.
lege, the degree of knight of the
North Star at 1870 O'Clock today.
Bishop Won Scheele was specially
commissioned by King Oscar II OF
Sweden to confer this degree of
knighthoood upon DR.. Swensson. In
company with number of others
Governor Stanley is TO receive the
degree OF doctor of laws this after
noon.
The comforting of knighthood upon
DR.. Swensson was an exceedingly sim
pie ceremony. At the conclusion of
the morning programme Bishop Won
Scheele arose, apparently to pro-
nounce the benediction, as announced
in the programme. Bishop Won
Scheele stood little in advance of
the group, including the members of
the faculty in academical robes, the
delegates and other invited guests in
the gallery back of the rostrum. In
front the audience stood awaiting the
benediction from the representative Of
royalty. The bishop then commanded
DR.. Swensson to arise, and !said to
him:
'ln the name of my gracious mon
arch, confer upon you the knight
hood OF the Royal Order of the North
Star in recognition of your wide
scholarship, your thorough training
and your Office a president of Beth
any college, but especially in recog-
milton of your noble personality and
the cause you have served so we'll"
THE END OF THE CEREMONY.
Bishop Won Scheele then took u
step forward and affixed the insignia
of the order upon the robe of Presi-
dent Swensson. In doing so the
bishop added his personal congratu-
lations, and in words of appreciation,
spoke of his dear friend Swensson.
This ended the ceremony.
Headed by DR.. Swensson and the
bishop, the delegates and Idignitaries
present, the clergy, faculty andialumni,
proceeded to the presidents Office
wheae he received congratulations
DR.. Swensson is the first American
born Swede to be honored with this
order.
To the audience the conferring Of
the degree upon DR.. Swensson came
as a complete surprise. They did not
know that King Oscar had instructed
Bishop Won Scheele TO bestow upon
DIR. Carl Swensson. the president OF
Bethany college since it's organiza-
tion twenty years ago, the badge of a
knight of the Order of the North Star.
They all knew what it meant, though.
King Oscar had seen tit to reward DR..
Swensson with membership in an
order where distinguished service for
the crown or some achievement .oflEa
scholarly character, such as the found
lhS VI lHSbiAuglOua VI ltdIuluSs are luc
only passport OF, admission. = Founded
by King Frederick the First, in l74S,
it has preserved its high character.
Only two others in the United States
wear the badge of the order, Or. l..
q. Abrahamson Of Chicago and NJ.
WahlstrOm of st. Peter, Mimi, both
founders of institutions of learning.
Preceding the address of Bishop
Won Scheele, DR.. l.. q. Abrahamson
of Chicago read the official order of
King Oscar of Sweden directing
Bishop Won Scheele to come to Amer
lea as the representative Of the king.
Bishop Won Scheele talked for an
hour and half. He preteded his
lecture with an expression of gratii-
cation upon the welcome accorded
him in the United States, especially at
Bethany college. Then he delivered
u formal lecture upon the subject,
christianity and Culture. " The
programme concluded with the con-
ferring of knighthood upon DR..
SWensson.