Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-05-22

tees for a reunion to all its former mem
bers The Augustana military band will
also be greatly augmented. These musical
organizations will furnish the music during
the two weeks celebrations, besides the
solo numbers on the program.
The history of the Augustana synod is a
most interesting and fascinating one. From
humble beginning it has grown until 1t has
become the greatest body in the general
council of which it composes one-third, and
a great power for the enlightenment of
, the Swedish Lutherans in America. 1t has
united the scattered Swedes of this ooun-
try as no other organization. Little did
the founders of the synod who met in the
little church at Clinton, Wis. in 1860 re-
alze that the organization of which they
were laying the foundation would assume
such enormous proportions and develop in
the manner which 1t has. Little did they
realize what an influential part IL was to
play in the history of the Swedes In Amer
lea and the Lutheran church. 1t has
proven to be a mighty power in uniting the
Swedes in this country and In establishing
system of schools and colleges founded
on Christian principles, where their children
might obtain thorough education.
1t is often forgotten that the Swedes
WIZ oiiiOlS inc early settlers OF THIS con-
tinent and that they had churches estab-
lished here as early as 1888. But the
Gloria Del" church at Philadelphia and
the odd Swedes church" at Wilmington,
Del, are still witnesses of their earliest
church work in this country. Among the
immigrants that arrived from the old
country in 1858 were several pastors, and
Immediately upon landing they established
churches where they might worship. The
immigrants were religious people and
could not conceive of settlement without
a church. Their churches prospered as
long as they had their pastors among
them, but gradually their ministers dmin-
ished in number, some returning to the
old country and others died. Having no
other way of getting ministers for their
congregations, they petitioned the king to
send them pastors, but the troublesome
times in the old country at that time made
1t impossible for the king to grant their
petition and they were compelled to get
along without any clergy. on this account
the churches were gradually closed and
finally went over to the EpiscopalIan
church, in whose possession some still re-
main. Such was the first chapter in the
history of the Swedish Lutheran church in
America.
The second general exodus of Swedes be-
gan in the forty-fourth and forty fifth
years of the last century, when several
families arrived from the southern part OF
Sweden and settled in Sheboygan, Wis,
and New Sweden, la. A beginning mad
been made and several other families fol-
lowed, but did not settle close to those
that had come before, but scattered
throughout widely separated parts of the
new country. Their experiences IN
strange land with strange language and
customs were varied. They spent months
at sea, tossed about In small sailing yes
sells. suffering all manner of hardship5
from storms, sickness and sometimes from
hunger and thirst Hundreds died on the
way. But their miseries were not at an
end when they landed. Then began the
tiresome and often dangerous travel over
the endless prairies. In canal boats and
prairie sehooners they found their way to
settlements I'm Illinois and other western
states. In 1854 came the terrible cholera
year. 1t is estimated that about two
thirds of the immigrants that arrived that
year persisted in the plague. Many literally
walked about and died. Serious times were
coming At first men worked for 10 cents
q day, while the women worked at 10 and
% cents day. One of them wrote in No
vember OF the above year: Twenty three
of our small company have died; the rest
are unable TO work; our means are gone
and winter is at hand" Three years later
came the financial crisis and many OF the
settlers who had a little Of their savings
in the banks lost ALI they had.
The eastern and central states next re-
ceived several groups OF immigrants.
We find them settling in Sugar Grove
and jamestown. along the borders OF Penn
sylvania and New York; at Chicago, And
over. Rock Island. Moline, Galesburg. III. !;
at Burlington. Ia, and Cbisago lake, Min
nesota. At this time no organized church
work existed among the immigrants, but
the lack of a shepherd was keenly felt In
New Sweden. Ia. the settlers organized a
congregation as early as lS4S. Being with
out minister they appointed one OF their
own TO serve as pastor. Soon trouble arose
and tho existence or not OF the congrega-
ton was serious But at this juncture
Revs. Esbjorn and HazzelQuist came and
succeeded in restoring order and harmony.
These two men became the pillars OF the
church work from now on. Aetuated by q