The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-06-16
From Tuesdays Daily.

EndOW1ng Its schools and other in
situations with million dollars will
be the mark set by the annual con-
ference of the United Norwegian
Lutheran church, opening in St.
Paul June Is. The matter has been
generally discussed for several
months past and the leaders regard
the plan not only as feasible but
necessary. In their opinion the
church will take steps to collect
that amount, the work to be COM
pleted in 1915, to commemorate the
silver jubilee of the organization of
the church.
1t lis proposed that if the entire
amount is obtained that 100000
shall be set apart as "a permanent
endowment fund for ST. Olaf col
lege, Northfield; 100000 for United
Church seminary, ST. Anthony Park;
100000 for the church extension
fund.- 100000 for the clergymen's
annuity fund, and the remainder
for the other educational institutions
of the church.
With more than 100000 members
the task does not strike the lead
ers as formidable one In the past
year there have been raised without
any particular effort two large funds,
aggregating $4,000, in addition to
the large amounts for the mainte-
nance of the schools and missions.
Fund for Building Mohn Hall.
Professor A. Bogstad will report
to the conference that the fund for
building Mohn hall, the ladies' dor
mitory at st. Olaf college, prac-
tically has been raised and contracts
let for modern building to cost
$4,000 1t is hoped that the new
building will be completed by the
opening of the school year in Sep
TENDER. The conference year ago
authorized the persons interested in
the school to collect funds, but
made no appropriation.
The other fund completed during
the year is the annuity fund for
superannuated clergymen, for which
a committee, with Rev. A. Ofstedal
as chairman, has obtained 100000.
This fund will enable clergymen to
retire upon an annuity of $500 a
year.
One of the more important Ques-
tions before the conference will be
the proposition to divide the organi-
zation into four or five districts.
With more than 1900 congregations
and about 1000 clergymen entitled
to admission, the annual session of
the United church usually is an un-
wieldy affair. Two years ago a d.
vision into districts with a provision
for triennial meetings of the church
was decided upon, but the PROPOSE
tion created such antagonism that a
year ago it was decided to refer the
matter to a vote of the. congrega-
lions. At last accounts the congre-
cations favoring division had a
slight majority, but not enough to
warrant the officers in predicting
that the division plan will win.
Filling of Theological Chair.
Another matter which is consider
ed exceptionally important is the fill
ing of the new theological chair
which has been established at the
United Church seminary, ST. An
thony Park. At present there are
four regular professors at the semi
nary besides instructors. The sal
aries are paid from the income of a
fund of $125,OOO. This fund has in
creased recently sufficiently to war
rant the establishment of another
professorship. The regular profess
sors are elected for life, and as this
new position is for life term, great
care will be taken in the choice.
The leading questions with ref
erence to the English branch of the
work of this church body will be
when action lis taken on
the proposed adoption of a graded
Sunday school system, and also the
adoption of the proposed new Eng
lish hymnal which has been worked
out by a committee elected at a
previous convention.
Committee on Church Union.
The committee on church union
will report the results of its con-
ferences with like committees from
the Hauge Norwegian Lutheran
synod and the Norwegian Lutheran
synod While the negotiations may
not result in an amalgamation of
any of the bodies, it is believed that
certain lines of religious effort will
be undertaken jointly by the United
church and Hauge synod. The olive
branch will continue to be held out
to the Norwegian Lutheran synod,
whose conferences Withdrew last fall
from the joint meetings. The Nor
wegian Lutheran Free church also
is a body of Lutherans with which
closer relations are desired. 1t is
possible that overtures will be re-
newed on the theory that a more
tolerant spirit exists in both bodies
than in 1893 when the friends OF
Augsburg withdrew from the young
United church and formed what
later became the Norwegian Lu-
theran Free church.
The United church is the largest
Norwegian organization, secular or