The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1914-05-14
THOUSANDS COMING
NOrwegians From All Parts of Ameli-
ca To Attend Big Three-day Cele-
bratiOn on State Fair Grounds.

On May 1918 the Minnesota State
Fair Grounds will be the scene Of q
great festival of International mo-
ment-the centennial anniversary OF
the completion of the Constitution Ot
Norway. Conducted in conjunction
with similar celebration at Chris
tiana, the capitol of the Norwegian
fatherland, it is. expected that scores
of thousands of patritic Norwegian
Americans will gather at Hamline tt
take part in the festivities.
On Saturday, May 16, the day viii
be given over to the reunion OF
Provincial Societies, where persons
from the same county of province in
Norway may visit and exchange
"reminiscences. On Sunday, May II
services will be held at which repre-,
sentative of the Church of Norway
will deliver an address. Exercises Of
patriotic and sacred nature will bf
held throughout the day. A chorus OF
many hundred voices will furnish
music. On Monday, May II, civic
celebration will be held at which
prominent Norwegians in the public
life of America and Norway will deli7'
err addresses. Among the speakers
will be Governors, Senators, Members
of Congress, Consular and Diplamatlt
Representatives of Norway, Mayors
Churchmen, Editors, and other notice
persons of Norwegian descent.
The grounds and buildings at the
Minnesota State Fair Grounds have
been chosen for this celebration, be-
cause of the unparalleled facilities
afforded in the accommodation OF
great crowd. The many thousands OF
NorwegiansFwho will gather at Ham:
line from all parts of the Unitec
States to celebrate the Centennial SC
dear to the hearts Of that race Will
find every possible convenience ar:
ranged for them. 1t will be festival
not forgotten soon by all who take
part in it. p.
AS has been said; the seventeenth
of May, 1914, is the centennial ami
versary of the completion of the Con-
stitution of Norway. Norway had
until 1914 been united with Denmark
under the same king since. 1880, but
on account Of the alliance Of the Dam
ish king with Napoleon, during the
wars that led to the overthrow OF the
latter, Denmark was by the Treaty OF
Kiel forced to cede Norway to Sweden.
This high-handed act of the powers
reused the Norwegians to safeguard
their rights as q people. A conven,
ton was called which met at Eds vold
in the spring of 1914. The result OF
the labors of this assemblage was the
Constitution, signed on May 17eh,
which declared Norway to be free
and independent kingdom, and estab.
lished a representative government
for the country.
Under this Constitution Norway has
since flourished and progressed in
manner that is common knowledge
everywhere. Though at first entering
into a union with Sweden and being
ruled by the same kings in common
with that country, a separation was
effected in 1905, ana the nation is now
pursuing her desting separately under
her own king and democratic constl-
tuition, which has remained the su-
preme law of the land, in all essentials
unchanged these hundred years.
It is this celebration which is tic
be conducted so strikingly in Chris
tiana and at the Minnesota State
Fair Grounds.