Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-06-17
THE AUGUSTANA SYNOD
Notes from the FortyFourth Annual Meeting at Paxton
By o The Tribune
By the Editor Of The T riht.ne

MO one at all interested in the growth
1 Y and development ofreligious senti
ment as we'll as secular culture among
the Swedish-Americans could attend
the meeting at Paxton and not feel
deeply impressed with the great i'm
portance of that little city and it's con-
tingent of Swedish families have been
to the same, especially in the days OF
it's infancy, 1868 Is. The Swedish peo-
pie of Paxton today still bear the i'm
press of the earnest work laid down
by the church fathers in connection
with the establishment of the Angus.
tana College and Theological Semi
nary at that point and the furnishing
condition of the local church, due
principally, perhaps, to the loyalty
and unanimity of its members, is the
direct fruit Of the good foundation
work of the early founders.
The settlement of Swedes in and
around Paxton began when it was de.
cided to locate Augustana college here.
The board of directors Of the college
had been authorized to select 8 suisa-
BILE territory for a Swedish colony
where also the ollege was to belocated.
After inspecting various locations in
the states OF Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin
and Minnesota the board finally &C
cepsed the offer of the Illinois Centra!
Railroad Company to settle on its
lands and chose Paxton as a suitable
place for the college In 1858 settlers
began to purchase lands near the town
and in June OF the same year there
was already q suhciens number OF
people to start congregation. Or
ganlzation was effected with D.. Has
selquist, the president Of the college,
as president. In 1864 the number
of members was ninety two. OF the
original founders only one is at pres
ent member, Mrs. NJ. G.. Johnson.
In 1865 a building belonging to the
college in which the congregation held
it's services was bou yht for $500 and
transformed into church. The church
steadily increased In membership and
in 1872 the present edifce was erected
which is so feet long, exclusive OF
tower, ~ feet wide and 20 feet high.
The total cost was about sll 600. In
the 70's some OF the members Withdrew
aad organized separate congregations
in Rankin and FArmersville. In Sep
tember, 1875, the college was moved to
Rock Island, I'll. DR.. Hasselquist's 8
successor was Rev. n. T.. Winquist,
who was pastor from 1875 to 1873; the
next pastor OF the chuech was Rev.
August Ed gren. In 1883 a splendid
pipe organ was placed in the church.
In 1888 the 25sh anniversary of the
founding of the church was celebrated
in fitting mann:r. During the min
istry of Rev. Edgren two new congre-
cations were organized from the mem
bers of the church, viz: one in CIar-
ence and one in Gibson City. In 1888
Rev. Edgren moved to Evanston, Ill.
and DR.. E. P. Olson, the present pas
tor, took his place. During the period
of 40 years the congregation has had
but four pastors. Many needed i'm
provements have been made and the
different branches of the church work
have been organized so as to be more
efficient. The Sunday school at the
present time has a membership of 4O0
scholars. The Ladies' Aid Society
has been divided into several sections;
the city section is the oldest and has
13O members. A Luther league with
over 100 members was recently organ
lied. The present membership is It's
of whom 1856 were commandments. In
his historical sketch OF the congrega-
tiQn the pastor stated the remarkable
fact that about 98 per cent OF the
Swedish population of the community
are loyal supporters of the Swedish
churches. What an object lesson to
other communities where the Swedish
neople are in the majority, but where
the total church affiliating membership
is but a fraction of the whole!
The meeting of the Synod is vel at
teDded by representative men of the
church. Owing to the large growth oil
the Synod it was found necessary a
few years ago to limit the number ol
delegates because no church building
was able to contain the number o1
delegates Or congregation strong
enough to entertain them when enc
was allowed each congregation. Nov
representation is apportioned among
the seven converences constituting the
Synod, and delegates are elected By
the conferences. AS it is the gather
ing is large one, about 25O minister:
and laymen being in attendance.
Thursday evening at 7:45 the bril-
liantly lighted and beautifully decora
ted church was filed with q devou
audience. Rev. Tn. Kjellgren, o.
Minnesota, and DR.. G.. A. Brandelle