The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-06
KANSAS NEWS.
Augustana Mission Doing Much
Work at LindsbOrg.
The Financial Subject Proves
the Most PerpIexing.
WANT ALL DEBTS PAID
Contributions for Missions Dur
ing the Year $4,000.
Glass of Twenty-Five Men Or
dained for the Ministry.

I.indsborg. Kas., June Saturday
was educational and mission day at
Augustana synod. The question of
more financial support for Augustana
College and Theological seminary
was fully discussed The board of
directors was instructed to collect the
amount due by each conference in or
der that the college debt may be pald.
The endowments now amount TO
about $4,000. President Andreen s
salary was increased to 81, 900 year
The following were elected members
of the board of directors: Dr.. l. G.
Abrahamson, Chicago; Rev +. NJ
Lindberg, Omaha; U. G. Swan, Sioux
City, and A. G. Anderson, Rockford.
In the matter of home missions,
steps were taken to secure Superln-
tendent of missions. Final action VIII
be taken next year. DR.. C w. FOSS.
of Rock Island, was elected to spend
the summer among the conferences in
the interest OF the work. Rev. FOgel-
strom, of Omaha, suggested the i'm
portance of establishing an institution
for the training of the missionaries.
The home mission field of the Au-
Eustana synod embraces the United
States and Canada. Most of the work
is done by the eight conferences into
which the synod is divided. It is only
the territories that lie outside of the
bounds Of the conferences that are
under the direct control and superVi-
sion of the synod. These territories
are Utah, Idaho, Montana, Alaska.
Alabama, and Florida. The chief sta
lions in Utah are Salt Lake, Santa
quin, Provo, Eureka, ogden, Bing-
ham, and Park City. Two pastors,
Emmanuel Reidberg and o. A. Elm
They are assisted by one lay preacher
and one deaconess. The chief stations
in Idaho are Idaho Falls, Shelley, Po-
catelIo, Payonte, and Boise City. The
field is in charge of Rev. c. E. Beng
ston.
The mission stations are grouped
around three centers-Butte, Helena
and Anaconda-and are in charge of
Rev. J. z. Shipp, Rev P. A. Fair and
Rev H. Lind respectively. Rev. J. E.
Hedberg has charge of the field in
Alabama. The stations are Thorsby,
Fruithurst, Birmingham, and Silver
Hill The work in Florida, at Pierson.
Upsala, and other places, has been
temporarily committed to Rev. E. J.
Werner.
The synod also conducts an immi-
grant mission in New York and Bos-
ton. The synod and its conferences
together have supported in whole or
in part during the year 355 missions
and III missionaries.
Contributions for missions during
the year amount to about $4,000.
sunday afternoon tWenty-nine young
men were ordained for the ministry
Addresses We're made bV DR. e Nor
Lindberg. of Rock Island Ill, and DR.
l. A Johnston, of st. Paul In the
evening large young peoples meet
ing was held in the auditorium with
addresses by DR.. Evald, of Chicago.
and Rev. c. J. Petri, of Minneapolis
Ihis afternoon the synod will visit DR.
Carl Swensson's grave.
In conclusion with the exercises these
interesting facts were brought out:
The church was organized August 10
1869 with u members. OF these, only
one is living The church membership
now is zoos.
The first pastor of the church was
pr .. Olson, afterward president of
Augustana college and Theological
seminary Rock Island. Ill He died in
The first church was built in 1859 and
was 36x24 feet. Since then the church
edifce has been enlarged three times.
untll IL now has a seating capacity of
over 1'oOO, contains a magnificent pipe
organ, three altar pieces and is beyond
DOUBT one of the finest churches in the
synod.
The late DR.. Carl Swensson became
pastor of the church July, 1879. and
served continuously until his death las
February. Mrs. Anna SwenssOn has
been organist in the church for "a
treasurer % years.
Both DR.. Olson and DR.. Swensson
took an active part in politics and pub
nc a1alrs- Or. Olson was the first
county, and served one term in the
Kansas state legislature. DR.. SwenssOn
was also a member of the state Iegisla-
ture and took an active part in state
and national campaigns. Both men
We're authors of note and have made
valuable contributions to the church
literature of the day
The Bethany Lutheran church hos
been generous in its donations to
church and educational work During
the 30 years of its history it has con-
ributed $f,130.42 to the home mission
$2,6lS.S4 to foreign missions, $24, $40 80 to
colleges and Christian education. and
$6,S49.07 to other worthy causes. To
this should be added fully $4,000 that
the congregation has given to Bethany
college in the form of donations, sub
scriptions and receipts from festivals.
making the total contribution s164.
SS997. When it is remembered that the
members came here as pioneers and
that there are no wealthy men in the
church, these figures tell an interesting
story.
In addition. the church has always
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