The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-06-07

OF the work of the United church.
Said church body is the largest or
ganization Of Scandinavians outside
of the three Kingdoms of Sweden,
Norway and Denmark The United
Norwegian Lutheran church was
organized in 1890; three church bod
les agreeing in church doctrines and
church policy dissolved their organi-
cations and organized said United
church. Now there is a movement
on foot to further combine this United
church, which is holding its annual
N. D., with the Norwegian synod and
Hauges synod.
What was said in yesterdays Forum
in regard to the three bodies being
represented at this convention crept
into the report through a mistake of
one of the reporters, not familiar
with these various church bodies.
President Dahl said immigration
and culture has been moving west
ward; likewise the United church is
becoming stronger every year in this
westward movement. Fifty years ago
the Indians were roaming on these
prairies where now we are holding
this convention. Most of the churches
in the Red River valley have been
organized by Norwegian Lutherans.
In Minnesota, North Dakota and
South Dakota the United church has
10000 members, the Norwegian
synod has $4,000, Hauge's synod has
about $4,000 and the Free church
about $4,000.
The past year has been a prosperous
one for the church in a financial way.
as we'll as in an increase in member
ship. and good work has been done
through the thirty three boards and
committees the I20 officers as well
as the professors and pastors and
church members in their regular
work
The relation of the United church
to other Norwegian Lutheran bodies
has been good. Many district meet
| ing of a revival and missionary char
acter have been held. Twenty nine
churches have been dedicated; fifty
seven pastors have been transferred
from one pastorate to another; six
| pastors have been called away by
death during the year. They are:
Iver Andreassen, TS years old, hav-
: ing resigned four years before after
serving as pastor for thirty lone
/ years; Johan Olson, a years old, not
active during the last eight years,
having, however, been in the ministry
| thirty-s years; Johan A. Ofstedahl,
/ 54 years old, having been in charge
| of the church at Grafton for twenty
three years; Missionary j. p. Hog
stad at Fort Dauphin on Madagascar
So years old, having been mission
ary twenty-four years He was the
first Norwegian Lutheran pastor to GO
as a missionary to the foreign field
from America
Rev. Rolf K. F.jeldstad of Spring
field, Mimi, died at the age OF
1917 years after one and one
half hours sickness having been
in the ministry twenty seven years;
Rev. N. J. Ellestad, vice president OF
the United church during the last ter
years died at Seattle, SIS years old
having served as pastor for thirty
seven years. None of these six pas
tors have been in the service less thar
twenty three years. Let us be faith
full to the end"
The wives OF the following pastors
have also passed away during the
year: Rev. N. Tosseland, C. S. Salve.
sen. J. N. Midtlien.
The following pastors we're received
during the year: @. o. Rosing, o. ]
Wilhelmison, III. ]. Langaunet i
Lund, A. o. Utheim, N. Tosseland anC
A. L. Dahl. There are sixty vacan
churches, having no pastors. and ther,
is a need of pastors, but most congre,
cations want only pastors who ar,
able to speak good English. TIL,
tendency towards English is strongl!
felt in the United Church. Most o.
the candidates now being ordained us,
both languages, and the demand fo
English is so strong that it is a ques
tion of whether ii. should not be mad,
compulsory at the seminary and {
necessary requisite for ordination.
Il Question Of Union.
The question Of union was dwell
upon in the presidents report, ant
there was great rejoicing when it wa
reported that the committees of tn
United church and the Norwegian
synod had come to an agreement ii
doctrine between these organizations
: He said:
There was great rejoicing a1nonj
our people when the message cam
: from Madison, Wis, that the join
committee representing these tw
bodies had reached full agreement
God be praised for every sign whicl
! points to an answer of the prayer
which have been offered up for thi
great cause. A desire for agreement
peace and union has taken hold o.
the Norwegian Lutheran church peo
pie in this country more than ever be
fore. This is work of the Lord an
it is wonderful to our eyes. Wit
prayer to God for his guidance we vii
consider this great question at late
,, sessions of the convention
The president also emphasized tn
importance Of thorough religious in
struction given to the young peopls