The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-10
Bishop Won SheeIe, Representa-
tive of the Lutheran Church of
Sweden Received by Swedish
Residents of Worcester
RECEPTION GIVEN
IN MECHANICS HALL
The Big Hall Filled With Former
Subjects Of King Oscar to
Whom the Bishop Delivered a
Message From the Loved
MonarCh-Banquet Later

Monarch-Banquet Later
The Swedish people of Worcester
filed Mechanics Hall to overlooking
last night, to do honor to Bishop Knut
Henning Gezelius Won Scheele, who
came to America bearing a message
from King Oscar to the Swedes in this
country. Never before had Worcester
Swedes an opportunity to see so dis
tinguished a prelate of the mother
Church of Sweden, and the visit was
an event in local, secular and church
ly circles.
The exercises were in the nature of a
tribute to the bishop who represented
the authority of the church and the
power of the king. The platform was
occupied by clergymen from Adjoining
cities and from the local churches. In
the rear was the big chorus, which had
been rehearsing for the event for
weeks. The exercises opened with an
organ prelude played by Prof Joshua
Larson of New Britain, CT.
Escorted by Rev. Eric ]. Nystrom
the bishop and Mrs. Won Scheele took
their places in the front of the
platform The bishop was dressed in
the official garb of the Swedish clergy
man with the star of the Order of the
North Star glittering on his breast. He
also wore a large gold cross suspended
by golden chain. Mrs. Won Scheele
was gowned in black velvet, trimmed
with jet The audience rising sang a
favorite Swedish psalm, which was fol
lowed by the reading of Scripture and
an invocation by Rev. ]. A. Anderson
of Orange
Rev. N. E. Kron of woburn Their
sang Jerusalem" in English Rev
Mr.. Kron is a well known singer and
has taken part in many singing festi-
walls as soloist His songs were tbs
only part of the exercises rendered in
English. The well trained chorus Their
sang psalm which was followed by al
address of welcome by Rev. e. ]. Nys
from.
He spoke of the honor to the Swedish
American citizens by the visit Of th'
bishop and the pleasure felt by all a
the kindly thought of King Oscar
While all the Swedish citizens of Wor
cester We're loya TO American institu
tons and custopns, still they woult
ever cherish the memory of the father
land and revere the words of King Os'
car.
He spoke of the numbers assembled
as a fitting tribute to Bishop vor
Scheele who represented the Swedish
church and the Swedish king.
Rev DIR. L. G. Abrahamson of Chica-
go, who accompanied the bishop to this
country, then read the credentials
signed by King Oscar, giving Bishop
Won Scheele authority to speak to the
Swedish churches of America and to
bring message to the people of regard
and good wishes. A bouquet of roses
uycc ar 70 Mra Sphppla nv
Miss Margaret Nystrom.
The bishop was then invested with
the sacred cloak or stole and coming
to the edge of the platform, with one
hand thrust in the inside of his coat, he
began an eloquent address. In his open
ing he spoke of the message he brought
to the Swedish population of America,
the significance of his visit, and the
bond of sympathy existing between the
mother church and her daughter church
in this country.
The bishop then called upon Rev DR..
Abrahamson to read the Kings pro-
clamation in regard to keeping the fast
days appointed ~ The church. He then
of Christ as king of the world, draw
ing lessons from his life. This part of
his address was in the nature Of
sermon.
In conclusion he spoke directly to the
Swedish population of Worcester. He
said he had heard of their numbers,
their loyalty to the church. and their
observance of the customs of the
fatherland The love for Sweden could
not interfere with their duties to this
country and to their city. He rejoiced
in. the opportunity to see so many
gathered in the hall, and he brought
to them the greeting of the King and
the church
At the conclusion of his address, de-
livered entirely without notes, the
chorus again sang. Then followed a
benediction and invocation by the
bishop, the audience rising and remain
ing with bowed heads until he had
concluded. The exercises concluded
with a psalm sung by the audience.
The visiting clergymen and their
wives, together with prominent Swed-
ish residents of this city then repaired
to the parlors of the Bay State House
where a reception was held, and an
was given those present of
meeting the bishop. A banquet was
served down stairs in the dining room,
followed by after dinner speaking. The
toasts responded to were: THE King, -
Henning Jacobson; THE Bishop" Rev
J. w Eckman; The Bishops Wife, >"
rev. =. j. JOHdHSoHs OWeQlSn Colony
of Worcester" Hjalmar Nilsson.
Among those present were: Bishop
and Mrs. Won Scheele; Rev DR.. and
Mrs L. q. Abrahamson of Chicago,
Prof. Joshua Larson, New Britain, CT,
Rev. c. T. and Mrs. Johanson of Bos-
ton, Rev and Mrs. ]. w. Eckman of
North Grosvenordale, Rev. G. Fors-
berg of Brockton, Hennig Jacobson Of
Cambridge, Rev. F. ]. Nystrom. Rob
ert Swenson of Worcester. Julius HUI
teen of Everett, Andreas Carlson of
Manchester, Axel Tode. Hjalmar Nils
son. Miss Christine Nilsson. Carl
Swenson, Mr.. and Mrs. ]. o. Emanuel
Trotz. Henry Trulson. Mr.. and Mrs.
A. P. Lundberg, Fred Lindstrom, Mrs.
Maria Peterson. Mr.. and Mrs. John
Jeppson, George Jeppson, Victor
Bergswall. August Nylen. Thure Lar
son, Alfred Elmere. Mr.. and Mrs. Will
liam Blom. DR.. n. P. Benson of Wor-
cester.
Bishop Won Scheele was seen by The
Spy reporter shortly after his arrival
at the Bay State House yesterday af-
ternoon. He occupied two Of the best
rooms on the parlor floor.
Tall. of commanding presence and Of
courtly bearing. the bishop is a man
who would attract attention anywhere.
His white hair and closely-trimmed
ex1r-a him n rranaro hfa m