The Mankato free press., 1902-06-27

The handsome new pipe organ
which Col Gustaf Widell and family
have donated to the Swedish Lutheran
church was properly dedicated Sun
day afternoon with concert and ad-
dresses His excellency, Gov. Van
SAINT, honored the occasion with his
presence, as Col Widell is a favored
member of his staff.
A congregation of fully five hundred
people filled the large church to its
capacity. The program that had been
prepared was almost excellent one,
and was greatly enjoyed by all pres
ent. The music was all of high
order, and the addresses were tc the
point.
The front Of the interior Of the
church, the pulpit, altar and chancel,
were beautifully decorated with flags,
palms and cut flowers. The platform
was occupied by Gov. Van SAINT, Col.
and Mrs. Widell, Mr.. and Mrs. A. o.
Eberhart, DR.. J. S. Carlson Of state
university Minneapolis, and Rev. A.
E. Ericsson, pastor of the church.
Opposite these sat the musicians.
The pipe organ occupies place at
the rear of the audience, in the gal
lery, from which its fine tones float
out and fill the church. ItIis a beau
tiful instrument, manufactured at
New Ulm, and costing 81. 900. VIM. A.
johnson will be the orgsnist. He has
had eight years experience and is
well qualified to handle the instru-
ment.
The program opened with an organ
solo, 'Triumphal March, - by
Reintze. DR.. Reinhold Lagerstrom,
director of Gustaf Adolphus college
conservatory of music, was organist
for the occasion and handled the in
strument with great adeptness. It's
fine tones were brought ont in way
that made the congregation proud to
own so fine an instrument.
A violin and cello duet "Der Trou
badour," by Verdi, was played by E.
Rosenberger and G. G. Aamold, with
Prof. A. o. Peterson as accompanist
This long and pleasing selection was
we'll executed.
A quartet composed of Prof. Travis.
Roy Holmes, A. o. Eberhart and
Evan Hughes sang Remember Now
Thy Creator, by Rhodes, in manner
that would have won hearty
applause, had the printed pro-
gram not requested the audience to
refrain from outward signs of ,ap-
provaL
Gov. Van SAINT then advanced and
gave an excellent address. He con-
graduated the members of the church
on the acquisition of the fine organ,
which was so much needed. We wor
ship by means of music as well as by
words, and for many years the sweet
tones of this organ will bring good
to the church He was glad that
Mankato had a citizen 80 public
spirited as to make so fine gift, and
he congratulated Col. Widell for his
splendid act. The organ would re-
main as a memorial to his name long
after he had passed away. He who
does good with his wealth is good
citizen and one to be admired and
Gov, Van SAINT said that he wished
that he could speak to the congrega-
tion in its own language. 1t had not
always been possible for the Swedish
people to holG worship as quietly and
as now. That they could
do this now was largely due to their
happy land and their old king, Gusta-
fus Adolphus He was rare man, and
not only great general and king
but true Christian. When he was
fighting battles, he daily assembled
his troops for prayer, and he forbid
Iooting and swearing. Every one of his
soldiers was Christian and gentle
man. He could not be compared with
who died in a drunken
1ebauch, with Caesar, who was. assas
sinated on account of his ambition,
Dr. with Napoleon, who fought to
crafty his ambition and died in
exile. Gustafus AdoIphus died glori
ously in battle, with shouts of victory
ringing in his ears. He was a far
seeing statesman, and fought for the
of others. He brought freedom
not only to Sweden but to Germany
and made that mighty power possi
BILE, and made religious liberty possi-
BILE.
Gov. Van SAINT said that there was
one man that Gustavus Adolphus
could be compared with, and that was
our own beloved Washington. An
other instance of this kind is when
America went to war on behalf of
Cuba for humanity's sake. Cuba is
free. and the blood thirsty Spaniard
has been driven from the continent
forever.
America owes a great debt of graft
tude to the Swedish people for their
tK CI IA