The Ely miner., 1912-05-31
FOUNDER|SPRESENT
DR.. ERIck NoRELlUs SPEAKS AT
SEMl-cENTENNIAL OF GUSTA-
vUs ADoLPHus COLLEGE.
EBERHART AND VINCENT
Governor and University of Minnesota
President on Program Of
Exercises at st.
Peter.

st. Peter.-Gustavus Adolphus col
lege is celebrating the fiftieth ami
versary of its founding. Nearly
thousand visitors were in st. Peter to
attend the semi-centennial ceremonies
and prominent educators from all
parts OF the country are present.
Gustavus Adolphus college stands as
monument to the thrift and indus
try of the Scandinayians of the North
west. Started as parochial school
at Red Wing in 1862 it has grown
and prospered until it ranks among
the leading sectarian educational i'm,
stitutions of the state. -'1--
DR.. Noreiius Speaks. ---5 81
Observance of the semi-eentennial
began when the founder, Rev Erick
Norelius of Vasa, Mimi, delivered
reminiscent address in the Swedish
Lutheran church. He said, in part:
Looking back today, we are re-
minded that fifty years ago, counted
from November, 1862, our college had
its origin in a small, nameless school
started at Red Wing by myself in COM
pliance with a resolution of the Min
nesota conference. Many thought
that time the most unpropitious in
which school could be founded 1t
was a gloomy and dreadful period for
all the inhabitants of our land, and
particularly so for the people of Min
nesota. We were then in the midst
OF the great Civil war. None could
see how this fearfully bloody struggle
was to end. And this was not all.
Our poor immigrants and settlers, who
had been making their homes on the
western borders of our state, were in
. still greater plight. Many of them
had enlisted in the army as volun-
teers, and more had been drafted in
order to meet the enemy in the South.
st. Peter Shelter From Indians.
But in the fall of 1862 those that
remained were savagely attacked by
the Sioux Indians, who rose in rebel
lion, burned their houses, drove away
their stock and killed scores of them.
The savages extended their brutal in
vasion far down into the county in
which we are now assembled. ST.
Peter became haven, and sheltered
hundreds of the distracted settlers.
Under such adverse circumstances
there seemed small prospect of estab-
fishing a successful institution of
learning. And yet, in that same year,
a school was started from which Gus
tavus Adolphus college has sprung.
That primitive school had no endow-
ments, no real estate, no buildings, no
name. The Swedish Lutheran church
at Red Wing opened it's school gratuit-
ously, and was it's principal, its only
teacher, and its treasurer The duties
OF the latter were not enormous.
immigrant Fathers Missed Schools.
"Our immigrant fathers, who left
their old homes and settled in this
western wilderness, could not easily
forget the privileges and educational
advantages to which they had been
accustomed, they did not feel content
ed. They were, therefore, quick to
realize the necessity of organizing
congregations and establishing
schools. At their meeting in West
Union they sanctioned my undertak-
ing, and today We have a great and
prosperous institution. It's success
has been due to the fact that it was
placed on a sound foundation, that
foundation which is described in the
verse: The fear of the Lord is the
beginning Of wisdom"
Rev. ]. A Krantz, president of the
Minnesota conference. also delivered
an address at the morning service,
and in the afternoon Governor A. o.
Eberhart and DR.. George E. Vincent
will speak. At night the members of
the Lyric male chorus held their re-
union.