Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-06-08
FESTIVITIES OF THE NORWEGIAN
EVANGELICAL SYNOD.
IOWA CITY Is PREPARING
Series of Public Meetings From the
18th to the 24th-Luther College
Observation-Disclosures of Wis
itors Expected From Many
Quarters.

DEBORAH, Iowa, June 2.-This city
is a scene of unusual hustle and
preparation. Its people are making
ready to welcome several thousand
visitors who will come to take part in
the semi-centennial jubilee of the
Lutheran church of America, com
monty known as 'the Norwegian
synod"
This synod was organized at Kosh-
konong, Wis, in February, 1853; and
until 1890, when several smaller
church bodies united to form the
United Lutheran church, it was the
largest church organization among the
Norwegians of America. At the meet
ing in Minneapolis a year ago, it was
resolved to raise a large thank-offer-
ing and to hold a jubilee this year.
Very naturally DEBORAH was chosen as
the place of meeting, for DEBORAH has
for more than forty years been. so to
speak, the capital of the synod. Here
is its college and publishing house;
Luther college and the Lutheran
publishing house. The treasurer of
the synod lives in the city, and the
president resides in the immediate
vicinity.
The meeting will be in session from
June Is to "a, and will be held on the
Lutheran college campus, where the
college gymnasium is being enlarged
to three times its former size, in order
that it may serve as an auditorium
for the immense gathering. Thursday
morning, June Is, the meeting will
open with divine services. Professor
Laur Larsen, who for forty-two years
was president of Lutheran college,
will deliver the sermon. Sunday,
June 81, is the date fixed upon for the
special jubilee services. Addresses
will be delivered by the president of
the synod, Rt. Rev. V. Koren, by
Rev. o. P. Vangsness, formerly of
Minneapolis, now of Story City, Iowa.
and by Rev. |. A. Ottesen and Rev.
H. A. Stub, two of the clergymen who
took part in the organization of the
synod.
An attractive musical program has
the evening will be given up to a
sacred concert. A large male choir
and a mixed chorus will sing, while
instrumental music will be furnished
by the Luther college band, which
numbers upwards of seventy-five
members and is noted as one of the
very best bands of the middle west.
The clergymen, delegates, and other
visitors in attendance upon the meet
ing are expected to number 5000 or
more These will be lodged in the
homes of DEBORAH, Calmar, and the
surrounding country communities.
The Luther college dormitories and
dining hall will be turned into a
hotel, where the one time college boys
may revive the days of long ago. The
West DEBORAH public school will serve
as ladies' hall. Breakfast and supper
will be provided at the lodgings, while
dinner will be served at numerous
lunch counters on the college campus,
as we'll as in the college dining hall.
A bus line will be established be
tween the college and the city. For
the benefit of all who lodge in Calmar,
the Milwaukee road will run extra
trains daily, and a special rate of %
cents for the round trip will be in
effect.
On the evening before the opening
of the synod occurs the forty-third
commencement under the, new presi-
dency, and the graduating class,
which numbers twenty-seven, is the
largest in the history of the college.
DEBORAH with its historic assOcia-
tons and scenic advantages, its col
lege, bluffs, its ice cave, pulpit rock,
dugway, mill spring. and last, hut not
least. its devastating and death-deal-
ing "dry rum" is indeed picturesque.
Little wonder that the brave Chief
DEBORAH and his bold Winneshieks
chose for their home this kettle-like
valley with its murmuring river and
its encircling walls of birch and pine
clad bluffs.