The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-24
Swedish Institution at Lindsborg May
Be Taken to Kansas City.

Mcpherson, Kan, Jan. 24.-Negotia-
tons are pending for the removal or
Bethany college at Lindsborg, Kan,
to Kansas City. The management has
realized for some time that the college
has outgrown Lindsborg, and a new
location more suitable to the capacity
of the college has been sought for. DR..
c.. Swensson, the founder and promoter
of the college, has been a power, both
from a financial and a political point
of view.
From its infancy Bethany college
grew. and with it its debt. but through
his untiring energy and shreWdneSS OF
management DIT. SWensSOn placed the
college out of debt two years ago, and
at the same time brought 1t up TO rank
with the first educational institutions
in the state Between Bethany of
LindsbOrg and Augustine college OF
Illinois there grew up a rivalry until
Bethany is leading Augustine. -Four
years ago, Augustine, seeking to retain
the first place, offered DR.. SWensson OF
Bethany the presidency of Augustine,
but the offer was declined. DR.. Swens-
son has ambitions to have Bethany at
the head of all institutions of the SWed-
ish Lutheran church in America, ana
it lis thought that for this purpose he
viii work to remove to Kansas City.
The location of the new Swedish
mission university at Mcpherson, Kan,
is also another factor to be considered
in removing Bethany from Lindsborg.
as it is thought that the proximity of
this new institution may detract from
the Lindsborg school Nothing definite
can be learned yet as to the exact
plans or terms upon which the change
is to be made.
IindsbOrg. Kan, Jan 24-Dr-
SwenssOn president of Bethany col
lege. was seen in regard to the report
that Bethany college would be removed
! to Kansas City He said there mao
been talk about it ever since the Min
nesOta conference of Lutherans decided
4 to move the Ciustavns AdOlphus college
from St Peter to Minneapolis The
4 friends of the proposition claim Inal
+ Kansas City has no real college as yet,
/ that Kansas City is bound to grow and
/ become q milhon-pe ople-center' with
in short period of time; that th5
wealth of Kansas City would probably
/ literally endOw an institution already
wen and favorably known all over tbs
west if it became Kansas City IN
stitution. The friends of the presen'
site claim that this city is the true anC
/ greatest center of the Swedish Luth-
I Grams of the west. that LindSbOrg IS AZ
ideal college town; that social, climatic
[ and religious surroundings are the very
best and that the college would lose al
essential part OF its patronage by th'
removal They say that property
worth S175,000 would become practically
worthless by such a removal and tina
Bethany should ever remain at it,
birth place, Lindsborg. 1t is needles
TO say that the entire valley stands a.
q Unit against removal The Kansas
conference holds the deciding power
Tt meets in Kansas City. Mo. in April
All other colleges of the Swedish Luth
eran church have been moved at leas
once Bethany was founded in 1881 b.
Dr. Carl SwenssOn. 1t is now tn
largest UNCONVENTIONAL college in tn
state. having nearly 900 students en-
rolled