The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-06-04
STATE NEWS
NORWEGIAN
LUTHERAN UNION
United Norwegians to Con-
slider Consolidation With
Synod of Fargo.

OyIlOQ OF FARGO.
Fargo. N. D., June 4.-The United
Norwegian Lutheran Church of Amer
lea. the largest Norwegian church
body In this country. will hold it's an
nual national convention in this city
June 6 to 10. Rev. T. H. Dahl, D. D..
of Minneapolis. is president of the or
ganization. and Rev. Jens Roseland,
Chicago, is secretary. The vice pres
ident, Rev. N. ]. Edstad, died during
the year while in charge of missionary
activities along the Pacific coast, and
a successor will be elected at his con-
vention.
Two Branches Long Separated.
The question of greatest interest to
the pastors and delegates will be the
a~dVlsapllity of accepting or rejecting II
synod of the Norwegian Lutheran
church of America. The United
church and the synod have been sep
arated for 80 years owing to a diff
ference in the wording of the doctrine
on predestination.
wi years both bodies elected
committees for the purpose of endeav-
oIihs 10 form an agreement in doc
trlne. These committees reported to
the last annual conventions that they
mad beer able to agree on four of the
flVe points, but were unable to agree
on he fifth point. which dealt with
predestination. These conventions
elected a new joint committed. con-
slstlng of five pastors from each or
ganlzation. Representatives from the
United church We're Reverends Peder
Iang1erd. Gerhard Rasmussen of Gum
derson. II. Engh and NJ. H. Hegsc.
The members of the committee rep
resenting the Norwegian synod were
Reverends ]. Nordby, r. Malmin, ].
y: Jorgenson, G. 7. Lee and 1. D.
Yiviksaker.
Joint Committee Finally Agrees.
several meetings of the committees
We're held, the last meeting in Madi-
son, Wis, February. II to %. After
eight days of discussion, it was re-
ported thai the committee had reach
ca unanimous agreement. The report
OF the committee was sent to the pres
ldents of both organizations. The
port OF its national convention in Far
go; The Norwegian synod does not
mold a national convention this wear
put the five districts which
this body hold district conventions.
Ihese conventions either will vote up
on the report or decide to hold IL spe-
cial national convention some time in
July or August. President of both
bodies have already sent signed COM
munications to the official church pa
PerS giving their unqualified approval
OF the work of the joint committee.
Whlle the committee was not en-
powered to work OF a plan for union,
ana while the adoption of the COM
IlltteeS report by the convention will
not necessarily mean union in doc
!rlne Of these two bodies, it neverthe-
less is felt by every one that this will
ne the natural result. owing to the fact
n a the only thing which has kept
these W bodies apart has been this
dlfference in doctrine.
Nine-Tcntils of Laity for Union.
Among the laity in both organiza-
tions at least nine-tenths are in favor
or union. The probability is that the
majority of the pastors also are in ia.
Nor of such a step. The convention i'm
Fargo will brng together the largest
gathering of Norwegian Lutherans
ever assembled in this country.
Another matter which will come be-
lore the convention will be the adop-
ton of a plan for raising a jubilee
iuhd In commemoration of the 25th
anniversary of the organization of the
United church. The United church
was organized % years ago, and for
more than a year committees have
neen planning an elaborate celebra-
~ 'ht -cll ~NGTSdTN. me
amount of the proposed fund has not
peen definitely decided, but the COM
mittees hopes to raise $1,000, 900. OF
TINS fund it is planned to create en-.
downments for various educational in
stltutlons connected with the United
church, and also to create funds for
church activities in other directions.
already has been offered $4,000 by
m j: Hill. on condition that the
United church raise 5000, 900 for this
institution.
Norwegian Bishops May Attend.
Two bishops from the state church
oI Norway may attend the convention.
rms is the first time that the Luther
an bishops from Norway have ever
visited America. The Norwegian
Storthine tool action in this matter
TINS spring. and the news has been
heralded by h Norwegian church
Papers here with great JOY. They also
VIII visit gatherings and conventions
bodies in this country.
me convention will open with full
!iturgical service Thursday morning at
H. O'Clock. Nc program has been
printed. but the probability is that
three sessions will be held each day.
II is customary to hold an ordination
service Sunday. forenoon during the
convention. About 25 young men are
ordained each year to the ministry
at such a service. The Sunday after
noon and evening during each con-
v%ention is generally devoted to serv-
ices in the interest of home and for
eign missions.
The congregations connected. with
the United Norwegian Lutheran
CHURCH are scattered all over the
United States. and in addition to this
about 100 new congregations recently
nave been organized in the northwest
ern part of Canada. The stronghold
OF ms church body is in North Da-
kota. South Dakota, Minnesota. Wis
consin and Iowa. ~