Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1909-06-11
.LUTHERANs' WORK
Church Did immense Work, Says
Ri. Rev. I. n. Dahl.
THE PAST YEARS BIG RECORD
Secretary's Report shows That More
Than 10000 Have Been Bap-
tixed During the Past
Year.

4 Des MONIES, iowa, Juno 1.-THE
main feature of the opening session
OF the Norwegian Lutheran confer.
ence session in addition to the thirty.
three congregations which were ad-
mitted, was the, annual report OF the
president of this church body, the
Right Rev. T. H. Dahl, D. D. During
the year the president has attended
twenty-four meetings OF committees.
twenty-eight district meetings, be
sides a large number OF congrega-
tons. He has dedicated twenty-seven
churches, travelled $4,000 miles and
answered 1900 letters. Besides this
he has given personal advice to a
large number Of pastors and congre-
| cations.
In his report the president COM
mented on conditions at the various
educational institutions and institu-
tions Of charity. He referred in q
touching manner to the way in which
st. Olaf college had been prevented
from serious results taking place dur
Ing the time number Of the students
OF that institution were suffering from
smallpox. He also commented on the
fact that the president of the institu-
ton had been compelled to leave for
an extended vacation in order to seek
| to regain his shattered health. He
expressed the hope that the church
body would allow the president Of st.
Olaf his whole salary during his va
cation. which will probably be at least
one year.
Twenty-three young men will grad
uate from the theological seminary
and apply for ordination to the min
istry after this convention. One Of
these has accepted a call as mission
airy to the foreign field Of this body
in China. A number OF pastors from
other church bodies have applied to
be admitted to the United church at
this convention. All Of these have
been required to meet with the theo-
logical faculty and the ordination COM
mittee for examination. Thus far the
faculty and this committee have rec
commended but four of the applicants
to be admitted. =
"A large number Of religious meet
inga and missionary meetings have
been held in the various districts, be-
sides two great missionary meetings.
An important part Of the presidents
report was his reference to the meet
ing which was held in Madison, Mimi,
having as an object the creating of
great enthusiasm for, and interest in
parochial schools in the various con-
gregations. There has been an effort
made In recent years TO get every con-
gregation to have parochial schools,
and this effort is commended by all
OF the leaders Of the United States.
The presidents report mentioned
the following pastors. who have pass
ed away during the year: Reverend
Benedix Bondahl. Glynden, Mimi; @.
A. Roren, Longmont, Colo; j. j.
Skrondal Everett, Wash.I N. Gull
brandsen, La Crosse. Wis; s. j. Bre-
vik, Minneapolis, MINI; A. Megrunb,
Shelly, Mimi; A. N. Kleven, Mime
sofa, Mimi. Two pastors Reverends
J. B. Nestand and X. o. Hildahl have
lost their wives In commenting on
the work done by the various chart
table institutions the president said
that 1853 orphans had been cared for
at these institutions.
The past year in the Lutheran
church work shows that 525 pastors
in the United States minister to
1,451 congregations, having 2S2,135
souls There are 16G,645 confirmed
members, 3s,547 services having been
conducted, and 1853 services have
been conducted in English, 1880
persons have been baptized and 1910
have been confirmed during the past
year.
New officers were elected with the
exception Of the president, who is not
to be chosen at this session, as fol-
lows: Rev. N. J.. Ellerstad, OF Chi
cage, vice president; Rev. ]. G. Rose
land. OF Chicago, secretary; Erik
Waldeland, Minneapolis, treasurer.
Lars W. Doe, president OF the
Waldorf college at Forest City, and a
member Of the Thirty-third general
assembly, is slated for the presidency
Of tho St. Olaf university at North
field, MINI, the largest school under
the control OF United Norwegian
Lutheran church.
| y,+s 55A I