, 1909-10-06

T. SKAT RORDAlI,
DIR PHIL. * rHEOL.
1892 1900
(St. Ihou.., Tlacude)

loo. II jt'ff1' Z t'-f'tttt
She telegrams received here ON the 2Tth
inst. announce the death OF the Primote Of
denmark, Bishop Z. 5. B0rdam, which means
q ore; loss to the Danish Church.
Thomas Skat Rordam, a member Of q
rood and esteemed lineage which has sup
nlied the Lutheran Church in Denmork
with several prominent clergymen, was born
in q country parsonage on The 18th Febr
1882. Having passed his college eXamIna-
tions and being entered at the University Of
Copenhagen he finished his study OF diyIui-
tv In 1856. During this time he took q
great interest IN Oriental languages, and IN
England in 1857 he investigated some Sy
riac manuscripts to the effect that he pub
lshod in a Greek translation supplied with
notes i'm Latin the books of Judges and Ruth,
bv which he acquired the degree OF Doctor
Philo,opuim at the Danish University
He continued his theological and liuguls-
tic Investigations, and published IN 1866
"Historical infounaHious on the Holy Scrip
lures" and in 1868 tie book entitled The
Christian Doc,rne.'
In 1866 he applied for the situation as4u-
tor in Ethics 1T the Copenhagen Unl7er-
sity, but not Succeeding 10 obtaining it
he was ordained munster, working eleven
wears in two D.IrIeut country parishes, uu-
I'LL Ub III 1OoO WIS Itl4DNNN% A0 &'
He soon attracted q vast audience oI all
classes of people, who greatly appreciated his
manner OF preaching the gospel. His
preaching was plain and simple bat at the
same time suited to the most intelligent Of
the nopnlalion. His noble character, his
convincing personal testimonies, the pure
ey8r0elstjc tone Of his sermon, Away om
ing at Jesus Christ, cruclhed and risen, as
Saviour of mankind, were qualities which
for fifteen years greatly Influenced Nlte en-
cles of the public OF the DANISH capital. He
was a true '~spastor" end spiritual guide to
all those committed to his care. Crowds OF
Young people were confirmed 10y him. and he
was always able not only to recognize them
but also nj once to recall their names
In 1886 he was appointed Dean and in
1895 Bishop If Seeland, residing ia Cepeu-
hagen, and here his prominent qualities, has
indefatigablo efforts and wise, elrcumspec-
ton have been of the greatest significance
to the Danish Church.
Here shall only be mentioned his efforts
to remedy the awful conditions IN the Ilge
parishes in Copenhagen because OF The lack
of churches, and his infere.tlu the Church M
the West Indies. The capital had Increased ra-
III lly,Lut the increase Of numhers OF church
buildings and ministers had n t kept pace,the
consequence being that parishes with a pop
ulation from GO-70,O 600 were found with only
one church and two ministers. Ia fourteen
years Bishop Rordam consecrated about rs
churches il Copenhagen-only one OF when
was subsidized by public funds he had been
standing in front OF affairs IN two churches
in which buildings a lew months previously
public dancing and drinking had taken place.
The various improvements that have been
made lately in the Lutheran Church IN the
West Indies are chiefly due to bis interest IN
the work done here.
He almost died in harness the last Sun.
day in August he preached q sermon to an
assembly Of Danish Americans VISITING %
penhagen, and again he urged the old truth,
that true happiness here and on the o,Ler
side is found in Jesus only.
His principal work, however, IS his transIa-
ton of the New Testament into DANISH, tor
which be was honoured with the desIee OF
Doctor Theologie by the Copenhagen Uni
versity.
Thomas Skat Rordam stands among many