Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-07
ROOSEVELT HELD
WITHOUT A PEER
Former President Lauded by
Bishop Won Scheele, Kings
Representative.
FOR HIS FEARLEssNEss
Dramatic Incidents Mark Historical
Session Held at Augustana Col
lege This Morning.

Bishop Won Scneele, representative ol
the king of Sweden and the Swedish
state church, declared this morning at
the historical session of the jubilee
that Roosevelt was without parallel
in the characters of history. There
is something about him that is differ
ent from every other great character
in history" said the bishop. He is
perfectly open and honest, fearless in
stating his convictions, and detests
hypocrisy / honor him for his vir-
tues and what he has done for the
world"
Continuing, the bishop said that he
had met both Roosevelt and Taft, the
latter only few days ago. Both, he
said, had given him evidence Of the
high regard in which they hold the
Swedish-American people as citizens,
and 1t gave him pleasure to repeat
their tributes.
President Taft told me-" said the
bishop. that he was proud TO num-
Der Swedish people as American cid-
zens."
Announces Royal Edict.
while we feel keenly the loss to
the homeland of the many immigrants
who come to this country, neverthe-
less we have come to regard 1t In a
different light than formerly, and re.
alize that It is for the best. And to
prove that we sympathize with you,
the king Of Sweden has commissioned
me to show evidence Of our kindly
feeling toward you during this jubilee.
The first evidence Of this kindly feel
ing which I have the pleasure OF an
nouncing is the fact that the king has
issued a royal edict that in every
church in Sweden there shall be taken
up a collection for the New York i'm
migrant home Of the Augustana
synod"
Session il Dramatic.
This mornings historical session
was exceedingly dramatic. It was
opened by DR.. C. NJ. Esbjorn Of New
Haven, Conn, son of Professor L. P.
Esbjorn, founder of the synod. DR..
Esbjorn gave an extended review of
the history of the synod, and after.
wards acted as chairman of the ses-
sion. He had just completed his his
torical sketch when Bishop Won Scheele
entered the stage door and assembled
the platform. DR.. Andreen met him
and escorted him to the center OF the
platform, where DR.. E. Norelius, pres
ident of the synod. stood.
IN an instant the bishop had thrown
his arms around Dr. Norelius, and the
two white-haired church patriarchs
stood in the center of the platform for
almost a minute in each others en-
brace. the bishop all the while patting
Dr. Norelius on the back The entire
audience arose to its feet and ap-
plauded.
NOrelius Pays Tribute.
DR.. Norelius was also on a program
for a speech, but instead, to every
ones surprise, he walked up to Rev.
G. Peters and John GRANDSON, the
two pioneers who were present wien
the synod was organized. and led them
to the center of the platform.
I'VE three men, said DR. Norelius.
ARE the only three survivors of those
who laid the foundations of this syn
cd. This man." pointing to John Err
landson, ''is deaf and cannot hear
Rev. Peters, is totally blind. / have
Jared a little better than the others,
but 1, too, am infirm. Yet none of us
regrets that we have laid our best
days and our best powers in this work
We are glad that we have been deem
ed worthy of being tools in the Mas
ters hands. All three of us now stand
at the brink of the grave, and yet we
are ready whenever we are called"
He then shook the hands of each
and babe them farewell, saying that
it was possibly the last time they
would ever be together on earth. The
scene was extremely touching. and
there were few eyes in the audience
that were not wet with tears Bishop
Won Scheele could control himself no
longer, but rushed from his chair to
the little group in the center of the
platform, and .affectionately embraced
GRANDSON and Peters.
Sons and Daughters Session.
This afternoon the sons and
daughters of Augustana held their
session. The following program was
carried out:
III EQuCdIiOu-f1Ou ". ". SCHULTZ,
st. Paul, MINI.
IN Science Mrs. K. T. Anderson,
Rock Island, Ill.
In Medicine-Dr. Joseph Wester-
lund, Cambridge, Ill.
In Law and Static. B. Ander-
son. Esq, Chicago. III.
In Journalism and Literature
Consul G. N. Swan, Sioux City. Iowa
In Charity Work-Rev. c. A.
Hultkrans. st. Paul, MINI.
In the Church and Theology-Rev.
P. NJ. Lindberg, Omaha, Neb.