Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-07-03
THE N0RDLAND CONGREGATIONS
new CHURCH IS DEDICATED


tural wood and is the work of John
Dahlhoug. The building of the
structure has been under the super
vision of liver Lorentzon, who to-
gether with A. E. Borsheim, P. A.
Haganson, Peter Rufsvold and the
former pastor, Rev. Midthun, have
acted as building committee. The
interior has been very nicely fin
ished and seated. A new altar
piece has been provided, represent
ing Easter Morning. It was painted
by August Klogstad of Marinette,
Wis. This was the same subject
as that of the painting by the same
artist that was burned with the old
church. There still remains some
little work to be done on the ex-
terror Of the church and provision
is being made for a handsome new
bell. The old bell was broken in
it's fall at the time of the fire.
The present church council is COM
posed of Lars Wallen, Martin
Everson and P. A. Haganson, dea-
coans; and j. B. Johnson, P. J..
Rufsvold, Oscar Thorson, Ole Hen
drikson, Martin Hanson and Peter
Hagen, trustees. The Nordland
congregation was organized by Rev.
T. H. Dahl in 1868. The first
church building was ready for use
by June 16, 1876. Other ministers
who have served the congregation
were Rev. O. Hanson, 1878; Rev.
N. C. Brun, 1874; Rev. A. N. Kle-
ven, 1877; Rev. M. M. Midthun,
1892, and Rev: C.:E. Nordberp. TIE
present pastor, who took charge
last spring. The congregation for
merly affiliated with the United
Lutheran Church, but severed its
connection with the same in 1897
and later joined the Lutheran Free
church. Being located within a
mile of the Meeker county line, a
large number of the members live
in the township of Union Grove.
This vicinity is one of the garden
spots of the Park Region of Min
nesota. The Irving buttertown is
located but a short distance from
the church and is the natural center
of this fine country.
The Nordland congregation may
we'll be congratulated on the splen-
did church building that they have
erected. Very few country church.
es are erected that will equal it.
One Of the original members OF
the church who was a very much in
terested listener and participant al
these meetings, was Mrs. Marer
Hendrickson. She is ninety-foul
years of age and is the oldest per-
son of the congregation, if not OF
the community. She is very active
and her faculties Of speech, hear.
ing and sight are still unimpaired
She was born in Mo, Norway
and was one of the large party o1
colonists from that section of Nor
way who settled in this community
in 1868.
Mr.. Erick Elkjer, the Willma1
! photographer, was present at th'
dedication and succeeded in get
ting fine negative of the churcl
and the large group of people VIII
ATTENDED the same. Samples from
this may be seen at either Of th'
stores at Buttertown or at the home
of Anthony M. Anderson within {
few days.
Among those who attended tn
dedication from Willmar we notices
10. N. Elgeross, Sam Govig, An
ders Jonson, Mrs. T. O. Fixen, Mr.
and Mrs. Nels Hanson, Olga an
| Martin Hanson,
| The writer desires to extend &C
acknowledgement for many favors re
ceived from Israel j. Anderson an
wife: Mr.: Anderson has serve
continuously as secretary of tn
church since 1888 and as cantor o
"sanger" since 1872.