Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-03

love their Lord and offer themselves a
living sacrifice in his service. The
type Of religion represented here is Of
the quiet, undemonstrative kind which
shows its faith by it's works.
1t is a matter for gratitude that in
the providence OF God this congrega-
ton has come into a position of far
reaching and powerful influence in the
midst of the land Several things
have contributed TO this. Among these
is the fact that it has become the cen
tee Of the English movement of the
churches Of the Augustana synod; an
other fact is its close connection with
AUgustana college and theological
seminary. The unseen hand has guild
ed this agency during this transition
period so that It has been an effective
instrument for the extension of the
kingdom.
Thirdly. This memorial is an occa-
sion for reconsecration to the service
of the Master. BY reviewing the his
tory of this quarter Of a century it is
seen how good the Lord has been to
this work, how he has blessed and
prospered it. 1t has been a continuous
triumph. AS we gather around this al
tar today it is fitting that we give our
selves anew to the service of Christ.
There remains much to be done The
great field has only been outlined, a
few stakes here and there have been
set; the work Of development, the gath,
ering of the harvest remains to be
done. Let us have faith in God, faith
in ourselves, faith in the work. "Hith-
erto hath the Lord helped U.S." but
there are greater things" yet to be
accomplished. For the greater things"
we need the enduement of the divine
spirit, the girding OF divine power, the
renewal Of faith and a deep consecra.
ton Of ell we are and have to the work
Of the Lord.
DIR FOss GIVES HISTORY.
Dr. c. w. Foss, one of the five char.
ter members now living, gave a most
graphic and interesting history Of rne
church since its organization and in
substance told these facts:
T Shortly after Augustana college
came into existence, professors and
instructors in the newly inaugurated
school Of learning awoke to reaiiza
ton Of the fact that the children OF
Lutheran worshipers were fast stray
ing from the fold because OF the fact
that they were unable to understand
the language of the church. Without
hesitation decision was made to build
up a new congregation and in it speak
the language of the new land. Ac
cordingly, on Feb. 2, 1883, a band Of
Augustanans, with the families anC
pupils in the school, met in the office
Of the president Of the college anC
there held the first service Of the
English Lutheran church. Two years
later Edgewood Baptist church was
utilized and, until the coming of the
first stated pastor, services continued
there. During the first years men who
daily expounded educational theoTie:
presided on Sundays at the church
meetings. The Rev. G. w. Sandt
. professor Of English is Augustana col
lege, was the first pastor, serving il
addition TO his college duties. Hi:
| successor was DIR. F. F. Bartholomew
both il the school work and in the
church pulpit The Rev. Mr.. Shue!
was the first stated pastor and it wa'
in his regime that the church build
ing went up. He was followed by the
Rev. J. L. Murphy, who served unit
1900 In that year the Rev. c. L
Hofsten was called and he remained
for seven years, being succeeded b,
the Rev !. o. NOthstein, present pas
tor.
CHURCH HAS $40 MEMBERS.
Today the church has an enrol
ment Of 296 adult members and a tOta
list of $40. Dr. and Mrs. c. W. Foss
Mr.. and Mrs. Joshua Hasselquist ant
T Professor G. /. Z. Esbjorn are tn
only charter members living.
It was only at the end of the civi
war that Swedish immigration becam
marked Previous to that time tn
immigrants were few and settlement
small. As the numbers in this Cour
try augmented. seed of the relgiO
of the immortal Martin Luther wa