Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-06
REPEATS A TEXT
OF so YEARS AGO
President Gustav Andreen Uses
Quotations of Father in
Baccalaureate.
SHOWS NEED OF PRAYER
Address Marks Formal Opening of
Jubilee Exercises at Augustana
College.

Using the identical text on which
his father preached a sermon at the
organization of Augustana synod and
Augustana college, just so years ago
yesterday. DR.. Gustav A Andreen,
president of Augustana college, opened
the 5Oth jubilee anniversary of the
college and synod yesterday morning
with a powerful baccalaureate sermon.
The text was chosen from the fourth
chapter of Nehemiah, telling of the
building of the walls around Jerusalem
and of the perils from hostile foes
that beset the workers Fifty years
ago, Rev. A. Andreen, father to Prest-
dent Andreen and one of the organ
izers of the synod, preached sermon
on the same text, pointing out the
dangers that assailed the weak but
momentous undertaking, and urging
all to work in harmony and unity. The
sermon was delivered at the meeting
held at Clinton, Wis, at which the
synod and college were organized.
Yesterday Presiden Andreen likened
the Augustana synod to the walls of
Zion which have been builded, eX-
tended and fortified during the last so
years He pointed out the need OF
workers to man the walls and fill the
breaches that are threatened, and
urged the graduates to respond to the
call of duty. The forefathers. he said,
had responded to the call and We honor
them today for the work they have &C
compnshed. It now remains for the
younger generation to take up that
work and carry it still further.
Great Crowds Attend.
approximately 5000 people attended
the three sessions held in the jubilee
auditorium yesterday. The baccalau-
reate exercises of the morning ushered
in the jubilee. The graduates of the
various departments gathered in the
college chapel, then proceeded in pro-
cession across the campus to the audi
torium, the college graduates in the
lead While the pipe organ played,
the graduates marched down the aisles
in two files, taking seats directly in
front Of the platform.
After hymn 1872. Praise the Lord,
Each Tribe and Nation" had been
sung by the audience. Rev. Joseph An
derson, president of the Iowa confer
ence, and Rev. ]. A. Krantz, president
Of the Minnesota conference, carried
out the Lutheran ritual. Then the
Handel oratoria chorus. consisting of
80 voices, rendered Gounod's "Credo" |
under the direction of Mrs. Edla Lund (
Miss Nellie Freeman, Walter Pearsona
and George H. Ryden rendered the .
solo parts. The chorus is the largest |
that has sung in the tri-cities for many |
years, and the manner in which it rem |
dered the famous Gounod masterpiece |
vas scarcely less than inspiring.
At the conclusion of the "Credo," |
the entire assembly of 1900 people |
arose and sang hymn No. 11S:
"Our father, merciful and good,
Who dost to Thee invite us,
Oh! Cleanse us in our Saviour's blood, |
And to Thyself unite US.
Send unto us Thy holy word,
And let it guide us ever;
Then in this world of darkness, Lord /
Shall naught from thee us sever:
Grant us, o Lord, this favor!"
President Andreen's baccalaureate |
sermon then followed. He said in part: /
a Day of Thanksgiving.
Graduates of 1910: AS we are
gathered here today on the 5Oth ami
versary of the founding of our insti- /
tuition and of our work as a synod, we
desire to begin with thanksgiving to
God for the guidance AID mercy which |
He has shown our fathers and US, the !
children, during this half century. !
When our fathers were gathered in |
the small church near Clinton. Wis, |
just 80 years ago today, their hearts |
quailed at the momentous step they
were taking. They were but a hand /
full of ministers and laymen with a
few churches. scattered here and !
there in Illinois. Minnesota and few /,
more states. How dared they set |
about an undertaking which seeming /
ly was beyond their strength? And /
furthermore they were surrounded by /
hostile elements which endeavored to |
dissuade them from undertaking this |