The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-17
FORM new .'l| CHURCH
The Gjertsen Faction Of Trinity
Church Walked Out.
ORGANIZES A NEW SOCIETY

Rev. NJ. Falk, Gjertsen Will serve as
Pastor for the Present,
| at Least.
Once more there is a division In the
| Trinity Norwegian Lutheran church. One
hundred Of the Rev. NJ Falk Gjertsen' 8
stanchest friends left the church in body
| Wednesday night and, marching across the
street to St.. Peters Danish Lutheran
church, formally organized an Independent
congregation. 1t will probably exist as a
separate body. Rev. M. Falk Gjertsen
VII! be the temporary pastor.
the secession took place after the read
ing of the minutes of the annual meeting
| and of set Of resolutions adopted by the
seceders to which ITO names were at
tached.
Caustic Resolutions.
These resolutions follow:
Inc Undersigned members of Trinity church
do hereby present to the annual meeting Of
the congregation the following complaint and
! declaration:
1t Is plain to ALL that there are two strong
~ defined parties within the congregation.
Our sincere view of the situation is. that one
| of these parties with the professors Of Augs-
burg seminaryCa at its head, consists or those
these professors, and follow them in every
thing that they prescribe. 1t is against this
party In the congregation that this COM
plant Is presented. We complaint:
F1rst-That they, under the leadership and
influence Of these professors privately and
publicly have circulated slanderous false
hoods about the former pastor of the church,
Rev. M. Falk Gjertsen.
Second-About their conduct at the congre
gational meetings, that they, when people on
our side have expressed themselves, have
broken out in loud revilings and shown to US
their bitterness. LET all bitterness and
wrath and snger, and clamor and evil speak
ing, be put away from you with all malice"
(Eph. w., 3D. H.. Sis E.
Third-Of their improper agitation in the
| congregation, when even the theological pro-
fessors have stopped down to go around in
the houses and unblushingly tried to enlist
votes for their candidate for minister, even
If they thereby should cause dissension in
the family.
Fourth-Of the despotic conduct of the pro-
fessors in the congregation. Their talk about
the freedom and revival Of the congregations
may have deceived some, who only at dis
lance have had opportunity to watch them !;
| but to us, who have had to be with them and
| to work with them for many years, 1t has
become plain, that for them the freedom Of
the congregations consists in doing their bid
ding, and the revival of the congregations in
giving literally to them and their school. At
Augsburg seminary they have it so arranged
that the congregations, which have built the
school and support it, have nothing to say
as regards the management and administra-
ton Of the school. And as they have made
the people powerless in the administration
of the seminary so they have endeavored to
make this congregation powerless in its own
affairs and tried to rule over it. /.
There can only be peace in the church as
long as their imperiousness meets with no
opposition. We have had opportunity to
watch and test their conduct and life amongst
us and find that it harmoniZes very little
with their public utterances at meetings and
in their papers, but that they are like those
of whom the Savior says, that they bind
heavy burdens and grievous to be borne,
and lay them on mems shoulders, but they
themselves will not move them with Of
their fingers (Nhath. xiii, A.
1t is enthusiastically Sverdrup~lke to
plead with eloquence the cause of liberty and
! of the people while they are in the minority
| and then to rule with despotic autocracy
when they have the power. .-..s-. q
Whereas, We have no hope of a change In
! the conduct of these men, but are con-
WINGED that they hereafter, as heretofore,
will be an Ishmae, whose hand is against all,
and ..-..... f-. .....- ..
Whereas we do not wish to give up our in
! dependence as Christians and free and
| Independent congregation, according to Gods
| word DANES ILL.,, "A and 1G; I. Cor. viii, %:
| BE not We the servants of menu, and
| Whereas, we feel that it is destructive to
! our spiritual life to continue longer in strife
| with these people DANES ill.,, IA and 16: But
! If you have bitter envyings and strife in your
| hearts, glory not and lie not against the
| truth; for where enVylng and strife rs, there
| is confusion and every evil work'D, and
| Whereas, we wish to avoid law suits about
! the church property before the civil courts
| which would become unavoidable according tt
our knowledge of these people and their many
| law suits before the courts to the injury anG
dishonor of Gods church, and as we remem
Der the words Of our Savior (Math. ", 40
| "And if any man will sue thee at law, anG
| take away thy coat, let him have thy cloal
| ALSO" and the<'words Of Paul I. Cor. vi.
| 81: "But brother goeth to law with brothe
and that before unbelievers'D; now, there
fore, there Is utterly fault among you, be
cause you go to law with one another. VIII!
do We not rather. take wrong? Why do y,
not suffer- yourselves to be defrauded? ant
although we represent a majority and tn
working strength Of the congregation, VIII,
have done the hardest work for the church
! We prefer, in the name of Jesus, to say
peace and not strife" and to step aside an,
out and dissolve our connection with Trinit.
church.
Signal for Departure.
When this resolution had been real
Karl Paulson, the late secretary, picket
up his hat and overcoat and walked out
this act being the signal for the Gjertse,
! party to leave. -.s
When the Gjertsen meeting had bee1
called to order, E. Bjorhum was elected
chairman, and M. Paulson, secretary. Tn
following were authorized to draft a con
stitution for the new church: Loren
Petersen, P. L. Oplo, Andrew Johnson
Karl Paulson and Lars Solem. 1t was de
cided to conduct the customary service
and Sunday school at Anderson's hall
Franklin and Twenty sixth avenues s.
Trinity Church Election.
When seceders had departed the Trinit,
congregation completed the annual cleo
ton in peace. The designations and othe
vacancies in the board Of deacons and tn
board Of trustees were filled by the election
of the following: Board Of deacons, H
Rasmussen, J. J. Berge, G.. e. Larson, H
Bredeson, o. Risvold, s. Coons; trustees
]. NJ Mikkelson, Theodore Olson, Kar
Erickson
At the regular monthly meeting, to b.
held Feb. 5, the congregation will cleo
pastor. It is understood that the Rev
Gustav Oftedal of Buxton, N. D., broth
II err Of Professor Oftedal Of Augsburg sem