Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-15
FORTIETH YEAR OF IOWA SWE
DISH LUTHERAN CONFER
ENCE OBSERVED.
PROMINENT VISITORS
More Churchmen Here To-day Spleen.
did Dinner and Luncheon
Spread Last Night - Dr..
Ranseen Speaks.


the Lutheran church, were: Rev. c.
J. Bengtson, of Rock Island, ILL.,, as
sociate editor Of Augustana, the Off
cial church paper Of the Augustana
Synod of which the Iowa conference
is an integral part; Rev. G. o. Morland,
of Madrid; Rev. A. Theo. Ekblad, Phi.
D., treasurer of Augustana college ana
Theological Seminary, Rock Island,
and solicitor for the S25O,OO0 jubilee
fund to be raised for that institution;
Rev. o. w. FERN, of Davenport, Ia,
treasurer of the Augustana Synod,
ministerial >aid fund society and also
Alfred Norquist and Mrs. F. V. Han
son, of Red Oak, Iowa, and Miss Anna
Lindgren, of Des Moines.
Book Store.
A Swedish book store, under the
management Of A. G. Anderson, mana
ger of the Augustana book concern,
Rock Island, ILL.,, is occupying part
Of the spacious basement of the Luth-
eran church. Several thousand books
are on display. Mr.. Anderson is an &C
commodating and obliging man and is
at the service of those who may wish
to purchase Swedish literature, wheth-
er secular or religious.
Dinner and luncheon were served
yesterday in the church basement to
all of the visiting clergymen and lay
delegates in attendance, numbering
somewhat over 100 people. The meals
served were compliment to the cult
nary abilities of some of Ottumwa's
Swedish cooks. They were served
gratis by Sister Matilda Jorgeson, as
sisted by Mrs. E. Ramer, Mrs. ]. M
Swenson, Mrs. Charlie Johnson, Mrs
Victor Kendall, Mrs. Gust Blomgren,
Mrs. Pete Paulson, Mrs. Albert Gus
taveson, Mrs. John Johnson, Mrs. Ed
ward Criner, Mrs Alex. Peterson, Mrs.
Edward Nelson, Mrs. Paul Larson, Mrs.
Annie Lindstrom Mrs. e. l.. Higgins,
Mrs. John Erland, Miss Mary Johnson
and Mrs. Swan Sandstrom.
Thursdays Session.
At yesterdays (Thursday) after
noon session, no business was trans
acted. A practical discussion of the
subject, "The Church Of Christ" oc-
cupied the conference from o'clock
until o'clock. Rev. j. A. Ghristen-
son, from Kiron, Iowa, opened the dis
cussion by an able outline Of the sub
ject. The speaker forcibly proved
that the Church of Christ exists for
two Improbable reasons, plain to
every unprejudiced mind Firstly, be-
cause man needs God and, secondly,
because God wants man. 1t Is the in
stitution within which man can come
close to God to tell his needs and God
can in special way approach man to
grant his grace and salvation through
the Redeeming Blood of Jesus CHRIST.
Several speakers followed with brief
addresses on the same theme. Among
them Rev. M. G. Ranseen, D. D., of
Chicago ILL.,, A. Badine, lay delegate
from Alta, Rev. J. A. Mattson, FIT
Dodge, Rev. ]. A. Catlson, FIT. Dodge,
Rev. j. A. Holmen, Essex, P. Lofgren,
Dayton and August Lindquist, of Char.
iton, lay delegates to the conference.
The keynote of the discussion was
struck by Rev. ]. A. Holmen, of Essex
in stating the fact that the Church OF
Christ was not human institution
but divine one In other words, the
work of God. The church Of God be
ing the work of God 1t is thus in con
sequence the workshop" Of the Lord
in which each member has his sep
arate work and duty to perform, being
also daily through prayer and the con
slant use of the word of God and tbs
sacraments better fitted for doing
such works as are pleasing in the
sight of God.
\ Fortieth Anniversary.
1880 o'clock to celebrate the forfeit
anniversary of it's organization.
large audience, which filled every
available space, listened to the excel
lent addresses delivered.
Rev. A. Norrbom, of Sioux City, ant
Rev. c. ]. Sodergren, D. D., of Bur
lington, conducted the Liturgical par
Of the beautiful Lutheran evening
service.
The strong and powerful responses
). of the congregation during the open
ing and closing part of the service
We're grand. An outsider must admi
that the Swedish people do love tt
sing and do enter with spirit and win
into the congregational part of thu
services
) The first speaker of the evening
was Rev. Joseph A. Anderson, o
, Boone, the newly elected presiden
and the oldest pastor in point of serv
ice within the conference. Rev. An
derson in happy and interesting
t strain, gave an exhaustive account o
the gradual growth and development
l Of the conference during it's life O
l forty years. At it's organization it hal
but 900 members, 6 pastors and
congregations. The formal organize
ton took place at Princeton, H., ii
June, 1868. During the twenty foI
), lowing years no year passed withou
: the organization of several Swedisl
Lutheran congregations.
f The Iowa conference now consist
: of rs congregations with II churcl
!. buildings, having membership Q
r $4,000 baptized persons. All of it
church, property including tn
Orphans Home at Stanton, and tn
s Home of Aged, at Madrid, is valued a
Y s5S4,S15, on which rests today an il
/. debtedness of only S27, 900. When w
e consider the fact that the majority c
$ the members of the conference durin
the first twenty years VI it's existenc
i were Swedish emigrants, it must b
. admitted that a spirit of glad and viii
y ing sacrifice for all forms of religion
and charitable work has CONSTANT