The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1912-06-08

saying he was glad to see so many OF
his countrymen in this country.
Big Consolidation Planned.
TO the annual convention Of the
United Norwegian Lutheran church OF
America, now held at Fargo, many
delegates have come on account OF
their interest in the uniting OF the
three Norwegian Lutheran church bod
les, namely, the United church, the
Norwegian synod and the Hauge sy-
nod. The question came up towards
the close of Friday afternoons session.
The report OF the joint committee,
which came to an agreement at Madi-
son. Wis, last Feb. 22. was read by
the president. Rev. DR. Dahl. This
committee had been working faithfully
and at their last meeting which was
an eight-days' session, reached an
agreement in stating their doctrinal
votes. This was a great step forward
towards peace and a harmonious union
after a long and bitter strife-a thirty
years war. People have been looking
for peace. The members OF this COM
vention we're anxious to give express
sion to their approval of the work Of
the committee, and by trial vote
only one may" was heard, by a Chi
cago delegate. When standing vote
was taken only one man rose to vote
against the resolution. It was, how
ever, announced by Rev. Tiller OF Chi
cago that the said delegate voted
against the expressed wish of the con-
gregation which he represented.
The Norwegian Lutheran synod is
divided into six districts, one OF which
has held its convention and decided
in favor of the joint committees re-
port; the other five districts will un-
doubtedly take action at their conven-
tions, one Of them being in session at
present in lola, wis. The said synod
holds its national convention every
third year, but IL action is taken by all
district conventions favorable towards
union, il will be equivalent to action
takensby the synod's national conven-
tion. 1t is expected that the joint COM
mittees report will be ratified. a. new
committee will probably be elected TO
present plans according to which an
organic union of these synodical bod
| les may be effected. How soon such
union may be erected it is difficult
now TO state.
Mission Reports.
Reports on home and foreign mis-
sions were presented yesterday after
noon. The United church Is doing mis-
sionary work in China and Madagas-
car. In China said church owns and
operates six mission stations. and on
Madagascar eight central stations. be-
sides a number of sub-stations. S.
Netland and o. s. Nestegaard, jr., who
went to China in 1890, were the first
! ones to create interest in the work
among the Norwegians in America on
their way from Norway to China. The
Norwegian American Lutheran China
mission was organized in 1890, and in
the same year Daniel Nelson and fam
fly went to China, selling his farm in
Iowa to pay their way out. He took
UP work in Hanl1ow. These societies
received more than 80 per cent OF their
contribution from the United church
people, and in 1903 at the United
church convention in Duluth, the So
ciety was dissolved and the work turn
ed over to the United church.
Steps have been taken to open a
theological school by four mission
boards, namely; United Church OF
Hauge synod, China Mission society
and Finlands- China Mission board
This might be an argument for uniting
the Norwegian Lutheran forces in this
country also to carry on the work OF
the church.
New Missionaries.
Miss Elsa Frelland, daughter OF
Prof. o. G.. IRELAND, graduate of ST
Olaf college, and Miss Martha Kulberg
a graduate of the Union Missionary
Training Institute OF Brooklyn. N. Y.
will be sent as missionaries to China
In connection with the report on home
missions, it was emphasized that $50
churches had received aid from the
mission board, and that it was not the
missionary pastor that received the
aid. but the congregations whom he
serves, and these congregations were
urged to become self-supporting as
!, soon as possible.
Rev. N. Peterson of Northfield
Mimi, has been secured to travel in
the interest Of missions. He will
preach and lecture. giving information
to the congregations visited by him
and receive offering for home and for
Il eign missions.
The hospital work in Minneapolis By
the Venerable Rev. j. Sether was high
ly commended. He is doing q faith
full work, visiting regularly eight hos
pitfalls IL minneapolis The Hauge
synod also contributed $3.50 towards
the support of this work. 1t was rec
commended that the field secretary be
employed to work for the English and
Norwegians, and that the two treas
uries be merged into one treasury 70,
the English mission work of the Unitef
church. The amount of $1,000 was
asked for English work.
Report on Schools.
II Professor Aasgaard, as secretary oi
the board Of regents reported in re-
gard to the schools. Special commit.
tees were elected to act upon each oi
the important reports read before the
convention and action will be taker
taken favoring the several recommen.
dations If deemed advisable by this
convention. "A check was turned in by
Mr. Thorson of Elbow Lake, MINI, al
the first contribution for the gooc
work to continue.
Nominating committee.
Al committee OF ave has been elected
to nominate twenty -seven candidates
(only one from each district), nine 81
whom were to be elected as a commit.
tee of nominations to nominate al
committees and officers during con,
| lvention, except vice president, secre,