The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-21

IOWA
RIGHT REV. Y. K0REN
The First Norwegian Pastor West Of
the Mississippi Celebrates
His Jubilee.
A Record Almost Without Parallel
Golden Wedding Next
Month.
Correspondence Of The Journal.

DecOfan, Iowa, uJly 2U.-Y eSCerQay Lnere
occurred at Washington Prairie (seven
miles southeast from here) a unique event
of unusual interest. Rt. Rev. " Koren,
D. d., president of the Norwegian Luz
theran synod, together with his congre-
cation, held a festival to commemorate
the fact that it is fifty years since Rev.
and Mrs. Koren upon call from these same
congregations, entered the ministry, and
above all, to give thanks to God for his
protection, long suffering, and many bless,
ings during the past half century If
these festivities had been postponed until
the 18th of August, Rev. and Mrs. Korcn
might also had celebrated their golden
wedding; for that day will mark the ff-
tieth anniversary Of the day, when Miss
Elisabeth Hysing babe farewell to one
of the best homes of Norway and cast
her lot with the pioneers of Iowa to share
their hardships, priVations and suffering.
| No one knows better than she what 1t
| means Ito exchange the best of every
| thing that refinement and education can
| offer for the crude and barren log cabin
! of the frontier The advent Of this WON
an was a godsend and a blessing to the
homes Of northeastern Iowa, for while
\ her helpmeet was travelling about on foot
/ or horseback, 5rninistering to the settlers
4 in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa,
4 she was at home as the apostle OF cour-
age and good cheer, sustaining the pioneer
| mothers ana SpurrlnS them OH III Ine
struggle for refinement, education and an
| enduring failn What she has been tt
the women Of her sphere no pen can fully
portray. Fifty years is q long period 7o1
! time, and fifty years Of service in a fielc
| Of professional service is a very unusua
occurrence. More rarely is 1t found II
the ministry, perhaps, than elsewhere
and finally, when we amplify the state
ment SO as to make it say fifty years O.
i continual service in the same cOngrega
i lions, with the same helpmeet by his side
1T becomes a lot most uncommonly unique
i More wonderful still it will seem, Whel
we remember that Rev. Mr.. Koren wa
the first Norwegian minister to settl
west Of the Mississippi and that for year
The was alone in the territory OF south
ern Minnesota and northern Iowa. 1t !
Z the first time in the history of the Nor
s. wegian- American church, and, possibly
even in that Of the Scandinavian Ameri
} can church. that such an event has oc
Cured. This interesting festival was her
in a pleasant grove lying between tn
washington Prairie church and parson
Z age, in the heart of which had been ar
ranged a speakers platform, accommoda
lions for the choirs and seats for twenty
one hundred people The day was COZ
and pleasant, with a gentle breeze, an
overhead light clouds were hurrying D!
5 Something more than three thousand pee
> Mr.. Koren, stately and erect as genera
) of regulars entered the circle and occu
/ pied his chair. In a semicircle about tn
/ platform sat eight of the charter mem
E bers of the congregations Of fifty yeal
ago. The forenoon was devoted TO
4 Irregular divine service of Thanksgiving
f The singing was led by the Washingto
J, Prairie choir and Rev. V. Koren hinse
2 preached the sermon.
9 For his text he had chosen the WORD
J, of David in Psalm ciii, 1-5, and his top1
+ was the praise of God. He dwelt upo
. ''our duty to praise God and how W
8 should praise him. If we have learned
q know God thru Christ Jesus, we will al
+ proach him only with praise and thanks
: giving In a mastery manner he re
minded his hearers of the pioneer day
q and Of the progress that has been made
r how God has literally showered them wit
o blessings and that to God alone thanks
= giving is due, for from him alone 8
Z blessings flow. We should give THANH
to God not only in words but in dee
II and truth, by being, as it were, l1v1r
v monuments to his praise, and by helpir
II others to become similar monument
n The songs of praise In heaven must "
It gin here on earth.
IF In the afternoon the singing was IL
!. by the choirs from Glenwood and Ca
n mar. Addresses were delivered by X
Rev. A. H. Sagen, president of the cas-
4 ern district, of the Norwegian synod, al
q by Rev. M. Borge Of Glenwood TOWNSHIP
Both speakers sketched. the long al
4 glorious service of Rev. Koren to Il
church., and showed that the spirit whi'
4 induced him to leave Norway and t
:. brilliant future there open to him was
- reflection of that spirit and love viii
caused Christ to suffer death to save
E. mankind. At the close of his addres
r. Rev. Borge said that he was delegat
tn by Rev. Korens congregations to b
s. him to accept as a token of their 10
r. and gratitude, a gift which he proceed
er to hand to Rev. Koren, and which Re-
ed Koren Immediately presented to M
X Koren.
Z. Rev. Koren responded in a brief 9
- Il dress thanking his congregations for
al / love and patience and forbearance VIII
or Ethey had always shown him and VIII
nd had been of the greatest help to b
during all thete years. He closed
4 reading the two documents which W,
,ta. instrumental in bringing him to his p'
,al torate namely the call of the congret
IN ton, dated May 10, 1853, and the c
wo tihcate OF ordination from the bishop
all Oslo (Christiania). The ordination
The Cured July 81, 1863 and the certific
+ it was dated two days later.
The singing of a hymn, followed by
Lords Prayer, closed the service.
nm. addition to the speakers, there were pr
are emit a number of clergymen and prof
on sors from abroad. Among them were
ven Rev. s.. A. Torgerson Of Lake M
,ey.st Iowa: Professor Laur Larsen, D. D.; p
nth lessor Chr. A. Naeseth, Professor G.
Id Bothne, Professor George Markhus, z
LIB .,-,,, Ocoo,. e(llSoY, nd avs n