Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-22
GOLDEN ANNIVER SARY
OF PASTORATE AND MARRIAGE
Of Rev. DR.. v. KOren, the Venerable Pas.
tor of the Washington Prairie
Lutheran Church, COmmem.
mOrated on Sunday.


Sunday was day which will be
long remembered by the people OF
Washington Prairie and especially by
Rev. and Mrs V. Koren, the aged
couple who have lived together in
that vicinity for the past fifty years,
bearing together in their younger
days the trials and burdens of pioneer
life in an undeveloped country, and
now reaping the harvest of lives veil
spent in honor and integrity, holding
the respect and esteem of all with
whom they have come in contact durs
ing the half century which is past,
and accepting their congratulations
upon the reaching of this happy
event, together with heartfelt wishes
for many added years of health and
happiness
The two events which were com.
memorated were the fftieth anniver.
sary of the pastorate of Rev. Koren in
charge of this same church, and the
fiftieth anniversary of his marriage.
Fifty years ago yesterday Rev. Koreh
was candidate for the ministry in
Norway, being ordained by Bishop ],
L. Arup at Christiania and assigned
TO the pastorate of the churches of
Washington Prairie and Calmar, cali
having been sent to him from these
places in May of that year. He was
then theological student and in
structor i'll Nissen's school in Chris,
tiania, where he woed and welded his
cousin, Miss Elizabeth Hysing, OF
Larvik. Norway, Aug. l8, 1858. They
started for America and spent thirteen
long weeks upon the Atlantic ocean,
after landing going west to Wisconsin,
where they remained for time, DUR
ing which he organized the Norwegian
Lutheran Synod of America, later
moving to Iowa. He was the first
resident minister of the Norwegian
Lutheran church here, and for a long
time was the only one Besides build
1
spent much time in the neighborins
counties. preaching to and visiting
the Norwegian settlers. He has been
part OF the progress and development
of western civilization, and has had
much to do with the material as we'll
as spiritual progress of this section of
the country, through his position as q
minister and his characteristic enter.
prise and ambition. During his long
period in charge of the same congres
CATION he has always held the love
and esteem of all its members, who
,, on Sunday united with the friends of
this estimable couple in all parts of
the county in commemorating this
signal event in their lives.
The crowd in attendance was very
large, many coming from distance,
and the morning services were held
on the parsonage lawn, where a stand
bad been erected, upon which seats
were reserved for Rev. and Mrs.
Koren and the members present OF
the congregation which called Rev.
Koren to the pastorate, viz: Erik
Egge, Nels Norgaard, Erick Bake,
Washington Prairie; Ewind Thyke.
3 son YtterbO, Calmar; G.. o. Rustad,
Decorah Carl Sivesin and Knut o.
Gronlid, Glenwood as we'll as Gus.
tav Peterson, the old school teacher
| Ia.
livered an able sermon from the 103d
Psalm, after which basket lunch
was enjoyed, and in the afternoon the
crowd again assembled, with Rev. and
Mrs. Koren as guests of honor. Rev.
Koren showed to those present the de.
coration of Commander of the Order
of st. Olaf, which King Oscar con.
, ferred upon him during the Jubilee
Synod meeting, and speeches were
made by Rev. A. X. Sagen, of La
Crosse, Wis, and Rev. M. Borge, of
, Glenw ood, the latter ON behalf of
the friends of the aged couple present'
ing them with purse of money, con.
tanning something over $l7OO. The
, festivities concluded with music by
the visiting choirs and general res
newal of acquaintances and friend'
ships. together with many congratula'
, tions and good wishes showered upof
Rev. and Mrs. Koren. 1t was a most
; enjoyable event throughout, and ona
which will linger long in the memorr
, les of all who participated.