The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-10-28

navian population the Lutheran
churches have been prominent in the
religious work. None of the Lutheran
churches have done more than the
Norwegian Lutheran and of these none
more than the Pontoppidan Norweg-
ian Lutheran.
For the past thfrty-one years this
church has been active in Fargo and
during that time It has been in the
front rank in promoting the cause of
the christian religion In the community.
Beginning with a necessarily small
membership II now has an enrolment
of $50, younL and old, all Of whom
are enthusiastic and active in the
work
During the past six years the Point
oppidan church has been unc r the
present pastor, Rev. s. Romsdahl and
1t has been during that time that the
society has witnessed it's greatest de-
velopment. 1t has Increased materi-
ally in membership and from a flnan-
cial standpoint is well fixed, owning all
commodious and pretty church and all
fine, comfortable parsonage Reverend
Romsdahl is very active, not only in
his church but in religious affairs of
the city in general. vt is largely to
his splendid efforts that the church
is now holding a place in the, front
rank with the other denominations of
Fargo
The Early Historical Events.
The history of the Pontoppidan Nor
weSian Lutheran church, while not
containing many events Of a sensa-
tional nature, is most interesting from
a point Of development and healthy
growth and spiritual achievement. This
church was organized by the Rev.
Christian Void, who came to the city
in 1878. At that time Fargo was AL
very small village. Like most COM
munities in this great northwest coun-
try it's pioneer population was COM
posed largely of the hardy Scandina-
vians. who found the climate more like
that of their native land than any
place else in the United States So
when Reverend Void landed in Fargo
1t was not long before he found
Gratifying following, though necessar-
lily small, as most OF the Norwegians
were of the Lutheran faith.
After getting his flock around him
1.-THE good preacher soon sat to work on
a place of worship He did not have
to labor long until the building was an
accomplished fact Reverend Void re-
manned and labored with the Fargo
Icongregation until 1884 when he was
lcalled to other fields and was succeed
ed by the Rev. j. III. Brono who serv-
ed until 1908 with the exception of
the year from 1891 to 1892. Reverend
s-&~
did much toward developing the church
during the years he served. After his
departure Reverend Romsdahl took
charge of the pulpit and has since
remained in constant charge The fact
that while II Is quite an old church it
has had only three pastors is one of
the evidences of the loyalty Of the
congregation to their minister and Ii
has been without doubt this loyalty
that has been one of the factors in
bringing this church up to it's present
high standard OF efficiency. s
Suffered in Fire Of 1893.
Like a number Of the other churches
of the city, the Pontoppidan church
suffered the loss of its place of wor-
ship in the great fire of June II, 1893,
when the greater part of the city was
laid low by the devastating element.
To the congregation this loss was
keenly felt. Hard times were on the
land at that time and money was
scarce. However, these things did not
discourage for any great length of time.
The embers had no more than cooled
until the first shock was over and the
pastor and his followers were actively
engaged in planning a new building
which soon became reality.
This building is the one still in use
by the society 1t stands at the corner
of Fourth street and Fourth avenue
north and is one of the largest frame
church buildings in the city. 1t is
quite large and comfortable and If at
tractively furnished and VII probably
serve the congregation for some time
to come, although the recent years
hava so increased the congregation
that it will only be a matter OF time
until larger edifice will have to be
erected to accommodate it.
The Church Organizations.
The Pontoppidan Norwegian Luth-
eran church is well organized There
are in addition to the regular church
society, several. affiliated and subordi-
nate organizations that play an i'm
portant part In the workings of the
church body as a whole, the Ladies'
society and the Young Peoples society.
The church is governed and the
business is transacted by two boards
THE board of trustees and the board
of deacons and deaconesses. The
board Of trustees is composed of the
following members; X. M Hagen,
Nelius Berg, John Skiold. Ludwig
Skiold, "A. 8. Anderson, Lars Sundfor,
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