The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26

found that there were in. 1878 thir-.
teen Scandinavian churches and mis-
sions in this city, most of them small
and struggling hard for existence.
To-day there are fifty-four religious
organizations among the Scandina-
VANS while hundreds and mayhap
thousands are members of the Eng
disappearing churches. Of the fifty
four congregations and missions re-
ferred to, tWenty-four are Lutheran,
but they include the larger share of
the church-going people among the
gregations in the other denominations
are quite small. These smaller de-
nominations number about a dozen, If
the Salvation Army may be called a
denomination. There are among the
Adventists one Scandinavian society;
among the Baptists, 4; the Christians,
l; the Congregationalists, q; the Dis
ciples, 2; Episcopalians, 8; Lutherans,
"a; Methodists, 4 Presbyterians, l.;
Salvation Army, q; Swedish Mission
Friends, Z; Unitarians, 2.
Almost an endless number of So
cieties and organizations have been
formed by the Scandinavians since
they were strong enough to organize.
The churches were first, but then came
the workingmen, the military, musical,
literary, dramatic, athletic and secret
organizations.
In the world Of fraternal societies
the Scandinavians were most active.
Their first attempt was Scandal lodge,
No. 6, Knights of Pythias, followed by
Nora lodge. The knights of Pythias
in time combatted the idea Of the
members segregating themselves in va
rious nationalities, as result Of which
Scandal was merged with Monitor
lodge, and Nora lodge threw its doors
open to all. 1t was the same way
90
A. Q. U. W., organized in 1877 by
thirty-nine Scandinavians, but opening
it's doors to the world in 1882. Frithjof
grove of the Druids, organized in 1878
by fifty Scandinavians, had the same
history as the old Scandal lodge, and
united with Mistletoe lodge in 1884.
Odin grove is, it is understood, largely
Scandinavian to this day.
While the above have lost their
Scandinavian color, their places have
been taken by others, as, for instance,
the Sons of Norway, with four pros
porous lodges in this city; the Danish
Brotherhood, and the Independent
Scandinavian Workingmen's associa-
ton, rapidly growing benevolent or
der.
It Is rather odd that the Swedes
should have no distinctively fraternal
order. Norden and the Swedish Broth
ers are both secret, but they are part
of no national organization.
Very few of these societies contained
the germ of permanency. or the num-
Der organized outside of the church in
the seventies but three are still in
existence, Norden, the Swedish Broth
ers and DANA society. Company c. Of
the Second regiment, M. N. G., lived
but three years. 1t was a. striking
proof Of the loyalty and patriotism
Of the scandinavians of the early days,
however, for it was organized in 1871,
when there were probably less than
two hundred men Of Scandinavian ex-
traction in the city. Scandal Singing
society merged with Norden in 1873,
after an existence of one year. Oliver
Larson organized the famous Scan
dinavian Singing chorus in 1873, and
this was the true parent of the half
dozen or more singing societies now
in existence, such as observation-disclosures
Orpheus, Apollo, Viking, Kjerulf and
others. The once famous Norwegian
infantry company, and the Swedish
guards, which made brilliant displays
on all public occasions, were formed
in the early eighties, but were wiped
out by the law prohibiting any other
military organizations than those OF
the national guard
1t is rather strange that the Scan.
dinavians Of twenty-five years ago, tho
proportionately much smaller par
of the population than to-day, hello
correspondingly more Offices Thus
in 1878, A. G. Haugan, DR.. Kar
lBendeke and John w. Anderson sal