Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-11-02
big CROWDS HEAR HIM

Rev. Waldenstrom, Noted Swedish
Clergyman, Speaks to Large
+ Gatherings in Willmar.
! Seldom, if ever, has such a large
audience been present at the Willmar
opera house as that which gathered
last Friday evening to listen to Rev.
z. Waldenstrom, the noted Swedish
statesman and preacher. Long be-
lore seven O'Clock large crowds con-
gregated in front of the opera ho Use
and Is miru,es after the doors had
been thrown open every seat in the
large hall was occupied and although
q number Of chairs we're brought in
yet it was impossible to accom- m I'd ate
all. Those who cam late had to te
contented with standing room and as
the time wore on even this became
filed with eager listeners L. is esti-
mated that more than 900 people we're
pres ent.
After having offered a fervent
prayer askirg Gods blessing on the
meeting Rev. N Frykman, of Mamre,
introduced the speaker of the evening.
he chose for his text the first FIVE ver-
ses OF the thirty third Psalm.
l. Rejoice in the Lord O ye right
eous: for praise is ccmely for the
upright.
2. Praise the Lord with harp; sing
unto him with the psaltery a4d an in
st' ument of ten strings.
3 Sing unto him new song; play
skillfully with loud noise.
For the word of the Lord is
right; ID all his works are done In
truth.
He loveth righteousness and
Judgment; the earth is full If the good.
ness of the Lord.
he spoke on ttem in q quiet, yet
earnest and convincing manner ana
this, added to his imposing presence
and far reaching voice, did not fail
to make deep impression upon the
vast throng of people present.
Rev. Waldenstrom is one of the
most interesting personalities in Swe-
den. Fitted by nature for q preacher
he early entered upon a career as such
and for more than 25 years he was
connected with the high or state
church OF Sweden. Being of d thought
full and of reflective turn of mind he
ssdled deli gently the condition Vt the
{church and its relation to the people.
He found to his sorrow that the church
was not what it was intended to be.
In his opinion there was a great deal
among its leaders and q great deal o1
conse equent dissatisfaction and aver.
sion among its supporters and follow
ers, the common people. After much
deliberation he decided to leave the
church and having taken this step he
allied himself with the forces opposed
TO the establisa aed state church and
ever since he has been the ST. onges1
and ablest leader of this movement
1t is due mainly to his efforts that the
Swedish people today enjoy so much
rel gious liberty. He has always
been a champion OF the rights of the
people and has always had their in
terests at heart. He is at present serv'
ing his ninth successive term in the
second chamber of the "Rigsdag" as
Representative from Gehe, his home
city, and as q statesman he has won fol
himself an enviable reputation by his
sanity, practicability and untirine
energy.
He is at present on a leave of ab'
sence from his duties as professor in
theology at the Gehe university: De-
string to learn something in regard to
the condition of the Swedes in this
country he has Travelled through a
number of states and Canada. He
will continue his tour until the latter
part of Decemo Der, when he expects to
sail for his native land.
On Saturday forenoon Rev. P. Wal
denstrom delivered q most instructive
and interesting lecture at the Mission
church on "Sweden''. Although We
would like to print his lecture in full
we have neither the time nor space re-
quired thereto but shall content our
selves with noting just few points
made by the speaker in the course o1
his lecture.
l. He, regarded the natural scenery