The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-09-14


wegtans who have settled in this part
Of the country there has sprung up tn
the northwest an organization known
as the Sons Of Norway. Fargo has one
OF the strongest lodges ir this section
membership being enrolled ait the
present time OF $50 people OF Norweg-
ian birth or extraction.
This fraternity IL Incorporated in the
states of Minnesota, North and South
Dakota and wisconsin, and at the
present time has a membership of over
5000. and is growing rapidly.
The purpose Of the order ii to bring
Americans OF Norwegian birth and ex-
traction closer together. TO make Ii
more pleasant and homellke for those
recently from the old country; to fost-
er desire 10 become more familiar
with the language, traditions and liter
ature Of the mother country: to gather
the history Of the Norwegian settlers
and their descendants in America; to
enlighten the people through lyceums
and lecture courses; TO educate the
Norwegian Americans and make them
better American citizens Though the
field lis vast--tIere being about one
and three fourth million people of Nor
wegian extraction In America,-it Is a
work that will be Infinitely more valu-
able to future generations than the ma
jority, at.the present time, realize. Be-
side the literary historical and edu-.
cational work. the order also looks af-
ter the material welfare of its mem
bers. Every local lodge has a sick
benefit fund and nearly every member
CARRIES more or less insurance
Every local lodge has a historian,
whose duty 1t is to compile and keep
annals of the lodge; TO write biograph-
ical sketches Of the members, make
historical notes of the city and sur
rounding country, and gather facts
about the Norwegians in its vicinity.
The Fargo Lodge.
The Fargo lodge, known as Kringen
Lodge. No. rs, was established in
August. 1908, soon after the incorpora-
tion Of the order in this state. 1t
started out under favorable auspices
with an enrolment OF charter members
to the number Of twenty six. From this
start 1t has grown to it's present stand
ing, which gives 1t the distinction of
being one of the largest local bodies
in the organization.
Its members are made up OF the
prominent Norwegian business and
professional men Of Fargo who take a
pride In their lodge and the city. Re-
Gently these men have gotten together
on the proposition OF erecting a fine
lodge building on Broadway north of
the Great Northern railroad tracks.
Lots for this structure have already
been purchased and 1t will be only a
matter of a couple of years until the
edifice will be reality.
In following out one of the prime OBJ
tects of the order, that of education,
the local lodge has at various times
been the means Of bringing to the city
lectures, musicians and other noted
Norsemen, which have attracted the
attention, not only of the Norwegian
population, but a large percent Of the
other inhabitants as we'll
Since organization the lodge has met
on the first and third Mondays In Loyal
knights hall. where the lodge has q
complete equipment of regalia and the
other paraphernalia for the efficient
carrying on OF the work
The Insurance Department..
Whfle not by any means he prime
object of the order. the insurance de-
partment plays an important part by
providing the members a good class Of
life and accident insurance. This de-
partment started out on the fraternal
Insurance basis. but at the last general
meeting this plan was changed to con-
form to the methods OF old line COM
,panies. Since this change the depart
ment has developed rapidly and Is on a
9firmer basis than could be secured un-
der the old plan. The majority of the
members have taken out various
amounts of this insurance and the de-
,partment promises to be most pros
porous one.
The ofFicers.
The ofacers of Kringen Lodge are
among the leading Norwegian citizens
OF the city They are as follows:
Past President--C. @. Losness.
Presidents. B. Salverson.
Vice President-A. J.sMyhra.
Secretary-Th Thomas Hanson.
} Assistant Secretary--Ivar Krlstian-
SON
Regent--Frans Hoelstad.
Financial Secretary Maurice Han
son.
Treasurer-S. o. Erickson,
Historian. H Ulsalxer.
Marshal-Jorgen Holmvig
Assistant Marshal--C. Tronlsness.
Inner Guard--Adoiph Myhra~
Outside Guard-Andrew Olson
Trustees--O. G. Lindvig, Th. Ostbye
and Alfred Gabrieason-
The Daughters Of Norway.
The women have an auxiliary lodge
in connection with the Sons OF Nor