Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-04-28
MESSIAH is SUNG
Beautiful Rendition of the lnspir-
ing Oratorio at Angus
tana College.
THE CHORUS DOES FINE WORK
Assisted by Soloists From Chicago
Closing Features of Found
ers' Day.

oI NdDle nall, AuSustdna colieSe. Ell
joyed the singing of The Messiah" by
the Handel Oratorio society last even
ing. The concert was the closing feat
ure of the celebration of Founders
day.
Assisting the society as soloists
were Mrs. Grace Wideny Mabee, So
prano; Mrs. Saltzmann-Stevens. alto;
William Clare Hall. tenor, and Gustaf
Holmquist, basso. Prof. f. +. Peter
son was musical director, and the in
telligence and thorOughness with
which this most difficult work was in
terpreted was a handsome tribute to
his painstaking abilities.
In the chorus there were $50 young
men and women. including many of
the leading voices of the city. The
Messiah" contains some inspiring pas
sages, and it was i'll these that effect
ually the singers displayed their
voices and familiarity with their text.
The audience followed the oratorio
with close attention, but frequently
there were outbursts of enthusiastic
applause at the conclusion of Il solo
or chorus number. but no encores
were permitted. While the perform
ance was not hurried. there were not
the delays that make entertainments
of such character tiresome. and the
audience was dismissed at Il reason
able hour. all who had attended being
proud of the work of the local vocal
lists and charmed at having had the
pleasure of hearing the distinguished
soluists from Chicago.
Exercises of the Afternoon.
The exercises held yesterday after
noon in Cable hall were arranged by
the Dung Peoples association of the
Rock Island district, the society hav-
ing previously held convention at
Grace Lutheran church ON Twenty
fourth street. The auditorium was
filled when the assemblage was called
to order by President Gustav Andreen
There was Il selection by the college
band, after which devotional eNer:
cises were conducted by Rev. o. v
Holmgrain. There was song by the
Ladies' quartet from Cambridge. The
address of welcome was delivered by
DIR. Andreen. The active participation
of the young people of the district in
the college anniversary was an aSsur-
ance that the labors of their fore
fathers for the perpetuation of their
native church was not in vain. 4 few
years hence they must take up the
burdens now shouldered by their
elders in the work of the church and
college. An eloquent tribute was paid
to Presidents Esbiorn. Hasselquist and
OLSON, whose influence endures to
this day. and is shaping the lives and
characters of the young people in the
synod. j. y. Hoberg. of CISCO. respond
ed. He is chairman of the Young PeO-
pies association of the district. He
expressed the earnest interest felt by
the young people in the welfare Of the
college and OF their appreciation of
the responsibility that would be theirs
in due course of time in reference to
its maintenance. "On the Sea" was
sung by the Wenncrberg Male chorus.
Life of DIR. HasseIquist
DR.. {. \. Evald, of Chicago. gave an
address ON The Life and Labors of
DIR. Il. y. Hasselquist." \ tribute was
paid to the abilities of DR.. HasselquiSt |
as preacher, pastor, writer. editor, |
teacher, college presi- |
dent and patriarchal president Of Au-
gustana synod. He arrived in America |
in 1851. having received ii call |
as pastor of the Swedish Luther
an church in Galesburg. He was the
first president of Augustana synod |
US6O-1S7O). and president of Angus
tana college in Paxton ana Rock Isl |
and from 1865 to 1891. He was the |
founder. in 1876. of the first Swedish |
political paper. "Hemlandet," which is |
still published as a republican weekly |
in Chicago. He took positive stand |
against slavery and secession. and |
gave a bent to the politics of the
which endures to
this day.
Honor to Whom Due.
Two songs were sung by the chapel |
choir. after which Prof. {. j. Solder |
gren gave an address. one of the gems |
of the day. on Honor to Whom Honor |
Is Due" He referred to the NANTES |
tations of the spirit Of greed. graft |
and lawlessne>s, irreverence. which |
extends from the home to irreVerencc |
to authority in every form. human !
and divine. If these tendencies cannot |
he checked. he said. it cannot he long |
before our country will suffer sober
ing humiliation. DR.. Sodergren con-
tinued:
I'VE recognize in the fathers the
wise founders and staunch supporters
of our institutions. the authors of our
various organizations. the wise franz
ers Of our constitution. the leaders of |
so many a laudable enterprise. the
faithful missionary laborers and the
able and practical educators. each in
his sphere. of all who came within the
wide range of their influence Many
of those who are in the land of the
dying a well as those who are in the
land of the living. did not have what
is called higher education. They |
performed the miracle of giving to
I hnir 1.hilLlren what tEn,. tL,nr,.nl-ns