The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-06-06
Formal Opening Was
Held This Morning
a. the Tabernacle
Lutherans We're Given He Welcome to the City This Aft
ernOOn by Sec. 81 Of Commercial Club

Representatives Of nearly 100000
communicates Of three different de-
nominations OF Norwegian Lutheran
churches are meeting in this city, as
the United Norwegian Lutheran
church of America. the first session
having been held this morning at the
tabernacle at the corner of Second
avenue and Fifth street and there was
an attendance Of over 1900 at the first
meeting or opening services and at
least 1000 more are expected to be in
attendance this afternoon.
In fact, the estimate is that there
will be about $500 people attending
this conference during the ten days of
it's duration.
Welcomed by stine.
This afternoon Sec. Charles P. stine
of the Fargo Commercial club gave
the Lutherans hearty welcome in.
Fargo on behalf of the entire city, He
said that this would be helpful and
profitable convention and said that
Fargo people were delighted to have
the opportunity to entertain such a
distinguished gatherlng.
The conference is known as the
United Lutheran churches and there
are three bodies represented.
The opening services were according
to the usual liturgy of the Lutheran
church of Norway.
Rev. S. o. Rondesvedt of Dawson,
Mimi, delivered an appropriate and
very impressive opening sermon on the
Purifying Fire Of the Holy Spirit. He
emphasized the necessity of this fire
being kindled in the hearts OF men by
the Holy Spirit from the time of the
first Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit
appeared In a special measure and
manner.
THE Holy fire has been burning,
purifying the hearts of men ever
since" said DR.. Rondesvedt. 'Its
progress is at times checked. but will
not be extinguished. Christianity is
power. Quench not the Spirit.
aIt Is this Are from above that is
now burning down the fences of bar
riers between the Norwegian lutheran
church bodies in this country. 1t is
clarifying the vision, so that many can
now look upon each other as brethren
who have stood separated in different
bodies. Let us pray for the uniting
OF Norwegian Lutheran forces in this
land, 'in union is strength"
Rev. j. Granskou of Lake Mills, Ia,
opened and closed the service with
l,rayer. President Dahl then declared
this twenty third annual convention Of
the United Norwegian Lutheran
church of America opened in the name
of the Triune God. He said, "It is
the second time in the history of the
United church that this body has held
its annual convention outside of Min
nesota, having met once at Des
Moines Ia, and now at Fargo, N. ID.
We are moving westward. We are
thankful that our people are subduing
the earth here on the prairies of the
northwest, and wish them all welcome.
Welcoming pastors, professors, dele
gates from prairies and woods, and
especially from dusty streets of the
large cities, who possibly need this
western fresh air most of all.
MANY expected finer auditorium
but the building was put up in four
days. It has good ventilation and sew
eral advantages, as compared with the
churches of st. Paul and Minneapolis.
Committees Named.
Several committees were appointed.
namely: Committee of tellers,
Pastor o. Al. Norem, Rev. ]. B. Rein
@rt n. q, Mehlen, Rev. A. o. Lange-
hosgh, and Delegates John Stenland
az Harvey, N. D.; C. S. Thompson of
wisconsin; p. skurdahl OF West
Union, N. D.i John Larson of Clarks-
field, MINI.
Rev. M. H. Hegge Of Stoughton,
wis. was named as postmaster, and
=. Waldeland, chaplain, will have
charge of the mail in connection with
the Augsburg publishing house. locat-
ed in corner of the tabernacle.
Rev. csranslxou was appointed to as
sist the president in taking down
names. ETC.. during the convention.
Assistant clerks to read reports were
Rev. q. S. Froiland and the Rev. g.
A. Larson.
Professor Aasgaard, in the absence
of the local pastor, gave the address
of welcome to the members of the
convention.
Prof. J. A. Aasgaard is president OF
ConcorIia college, Moorhead, one OF
the largest institutions of the church
body, having 800 students and prop
erty valued at 100000.
NSonraxy afternoon a statue in honor