The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-04
SVEN 0FIEDAL RESIGNS
SURPRISE TO AUGSBURG FOLK
They Refuse to Consent to His With
drawal and Ask Him to
Reconsider.

Professor Sven Oftedal has rendered his
resignation from Augsburg seminary,
with which he has been connected since
1873 The resignation was unexpected
and caused the greatest surprise to the
members Of the Free church, who were
gathered in this city to participate In the
exercises at Augsburg seminary. Inc
board promptly refused to accept the res
ignation and has requested Mr.. Oftedal
to reconsider his action. Yesterday
resolution requesting Mr.. Oftedal to con-
tinue with the seminary was unanimously
adopted by a joint meeting Of the clergy
and laity of the Free church.
There is no intimation from Mr.. Ofte-
dal that he will yield to the requests. He
will have enough time in which to con-
slider the resolutions, as the resignation
is not to take effect until next September.
At the annual conference of the Free
church next summer it will be known
whether his decision to retire is final.
Professor Oftedal has been the chief
figure in Augsburg seminary for nearly
thirty years, and what the institution is
now is largely due to him. In addition to
his work at the seminary he has devoted
much time to the crusade against the in
temperance and the saloon evil. For ten
years he was a member of the board of
education, four of which as president.
| When the library board was authorized,
| he was one Of the original members and
rendered much valuable service as chair
| man of the library committee. The
| branch library system was adopted at his
| suggestion. What his plans for the fu-
ture may be he has nothing to say.
Augsburg Exercises Closed.
| The final exercises of the dedicatory
festivities at Augsburg were held In the
| chapel last evening. Addresses were
made by a large number of the clergy
men, with songs by the Augsburg students
! and the program of the evening proved a
very entertaining one.
! The exercises brought together about
! as many members Of the church as the
annual meetings and the event will stand
as one of the big ones in its history.
The attendance of visitors from the out
side was larger than expected. The fol-
lowing clergymen were present:
! Elias Aas, Christiania, Mimi; o. N. Bergh.
Audubon, Mimi; o. l.. Christensen, Pesh-
tigo, Wis; o. Rahle. Aitkin; o. ]. Edwards,
| Northwood, N. D.; p. NJ Fosse, Cloquet,
Mimi; E. d.. Gynild, Willmar; N. Halvorsen,
Wanamingo, Mimi; President e. P. Harbo
| Duluth; H. %. Helsth, Sank Center; E. o.
| Larsen, Lemond, Mimi; A. ]. Logeland, Cum
| berland, Wis; George e. Larson, st. Paul
Johan Mattson, Madelia; Chr. Mohn, Lake
Lillian, Mimi; M. NJ. Midthun, New London
! Mimi; M. B. Michaelson, Mankato; sNikola
Nilsen, Minot, n. D.. S. F. Odland, Maple
Bay, Mimi; Gustav Oftedal, Buxton, N. D.
j. Mortensen, Lamberton, Mimi; O. II. o.
son, Carpio, N. D.; Ole Paulson, Blanchard
vile, Wis; P. Steen, Wahpeton, N. D.; J. S.
| Strand, Dawson, Min; T. Tekse, Amery,
Wis; c. NJ. Tollefso, La Crosse, Wis; o. L.
Torvick, Abercrombie, N. D.; Carl S. Wang,
| Rugby, N. D.; o. o. Void, Fertile, Iowa
Chr. Ytrehus, Hillsboro, N. D.; H. Ostgulen
! Warren, MINI. Mines. Aas, Mortenson.
| Dahle, Gynild and Larson. we'll as Others
! accompanied their husbands to the meeting.
Among the leading laymen present
were Silver Larson, Madelia; NJ L. Hos
! son, Montevideo;. Ole Jacobsen, Monte
! video; Otto Hansen, Waseca; Sivert Lar
sen Audubon, Mimi; J. B. Nygaard, Will
mar; Charles N. Nilsen, Hills, Mimi; A.
| N. Ostmo, Northwood, MINI.