Morris tribune., 1910-07-08
TIDINCS FROM
SCANDINAVIA
Interesting News From Sweden,
Norway and Denmark
WAS A NOTABLE GATHERING

Recent semi-Centennial Celebration OF
Swedish Lutherans at Rock Island,
TII.-Norwegian Journalist Describes
Visit to Home of Bjornson-Emper-
or of Russia to Visit Denmark Some
Time in August.
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X SWEDEN. X
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The recent semi-centennial celebra-
ton which was held by Swedish Luth-
Grams at Rock Island, ILL.,, was perhaps,
the most notable gathering of Swed-
ish-Americans that has ever been held
in this country. In sense it was an
international gathering, for there were
present representatives from the
Swedish government in the persons of
Bishop Won Scheele and Rector Magnit-
icus Schuck of the University of Up
/ sala. 1t is significant thing that the
king of Sweden sent official represen-
tatives to this meeting and shows that
in Sweden they regard the Augustana
synod as a branch of the state church
| of Sweden. The Lutheran church in
America is, however, totally indie
pendent of the state church in Sweden,
while the two churches entertain the
same faith. Through the Augustana
synod and it's many colleges and the
mother institution at Rock Island the
Swedish language has taken new life
in America. The pastors of the Au-
gustana synod speak the Swedish Ian
guage perfectly, although in many
churches the two languages are used.
In other words, the Augustana synod
stands prepared to take care of its
own English missions in America. The
Denkmann family, through its dona-
ton Of a $150,000 library to Augustana
college and the raising of a jubilee
fund amounting to not less than $780,
600. has placed the college in posi-
ton to do university work and the
time will soon come when full unlver-
sity courses will be established. There
were over 10000 people present at the
celebration and greetings were cabled
10 both President Taft and King Gus
tat V. of Sweden. Bishop ScheeIe has
announced that after his death his
valuable library will be sent to Au-
gustana college. ..>,
The Swedish+Amerfcan Male Chfops,
which is now touring Sweden, Is have
ing a splendid success and is being
enthusiastically received wherever II
appears. The appearance Of Swed-
ish-American Male Chorus in Sweden
will do much to further cement the
friendship between America and the
land of the midnight sun. While the
Swedish songs that are being rem
dered create much enthusiasm the
singing of the old war songs of Amer
lea bring forth ripples of applause and
wherever the boys who carry the Stars
and Stripes in their hands appear there
is no end of cheering. The Swedish
American singers have shown one
thing to the old fatherland. They have
MOI forgotten the old songs and they
sing these songs in America and they
are we'll received. So many thousands
of SWedes have emigrated to this
country that it is but natural that
they have brought some of their tradi |
tons and customs with them. Some |
thing that the SWedes have brought |
to this country in generous measure !
are the Swedish songs and they have /
proven so popular Of late years that !
they are in great demand on all pub
lie occasions There is vim and a
snap to Swedish chorus work which !
cannot be excelled by any other ma
tionality and the appearance of the |
Swedish-American Male Chorus in the
principal cities of Sweden is, there
fore, of great interest to people on
both sides of the Atlantic.
Colonel RooseVelts Stockholm
speech. is still theme for much com.
ment in the Swedish papers. The ex
president hit the nail square on the
head when he told the Swedes that
they should not follow in the wake of
the French people and decrease their
families. His words of advice in this
respect became all the more piquant
because of the fact that the propagan-
da of decreasing the Swedish laboring
mems families had been started by
Hinke Bergegren, the ardent socialist
leader. There have been many lee
lures delivered against the large fam
ily'' in Sweden by leading socialists
and sociologists, but Roosevelt's fear
less utterances have plainly placed a
lamper on their propaganda. The cur
tailment of the large family is
lteme which has been receiving great
deal of attention lately in Sweden and
Colonel Roosevelt struck delicate,
but practical theme, and his words
have aroused no end of healthy in
.erchange Of ideas on this great ques-
lion.
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The editor of Gudbrandsdalen' re-