Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-03-15
SWEDEN.

The lack of preachers in the north
ern part of Sweden is becoming so Sc
rious as to be little short of public
calamity. In the diocese of Herno
sand the bishop has often permitted
laymen TO preach in order that sery,
ices Of some kind may be offered
And of the regular pastors who are
still serving. no less than 81 are more
than sixty-tive years old, so that they
cannot serve much longer Why is ii
so difficult to get young men to serve
as ministers? The pay is not liberal.
But this is not all The most serious
trouble is that an intelligent and at
the same time conscientious young
man Of our day finds it exceedingly
difficult to square his conscience with
the dogmatic demands of the orthodox
church. Strange though 1t may
sound, there is many young Swede
who cannot enter che ministry of the
state church OF Sweden for con
science sake.
The Swedish steamship companies
running regular lines have raised
their rates 20 per cent, making to-
tai raise of so per cent since the be-
ginning of the war. The regular lines
are in a difficult position. The tramp
steamers are free to charge as much
as they please, aud in some instances
they have raised their rates 400 per
cent during the war The regular
lines are not free. They have to sup
ply the industries Of the country at
rates which the industries can stand.
Not only the running expenses are
much higher than before. but the in
surance rates have gone up by leaps
and bounds on account Of the risks
caused by the warships Of the beilger-
ents.
Sweden imports about five tons Of
saeeharine annually. This CORE
spends TO s025 tons Of raw sugar or
1850 tons OF refined sugar. The value
of the latter is about $4,000. 1t
takes 20.S0O tons OF sugar beets to
produce that much sugar In turn. it
takes 1850 acres to produce 1890
tons of beets. II domestic sugar had
been used in place Of the five tons Of
sacchariiie the government tax on It
would have been s1IS,500. These fig
ures were taken from report made
by a special committee Of experts.
The king and the queen have CON
scented to act as protectors of the
Swedish Red Cross, and the duchess
OF Vastergotland has accepted tue po-
sition of first honorary member of the
organization. The president, Prince
Carl, trrned over to the organization
$1,000 which he cleared on the sale
OF b>ok on The Royal Family" A
donation of S2,700 has also been re-
eeived from a person who has with.
held his name from the public.
The Swedish sugar trust has de.
cided to pay about 81 per acre more
than the rates fixed in the contracts
between the sugar beet growers and
the trust. The trust had to take this
step on account of the increased cost
Of fertilizers caused by the war.
A city charter was granted to the
municipality OF Trollhattau at the be-
ginning OF the new year. The event
was hailed with great Joy By the peo-
pie. aud New Years night was spent
in public demonstrations of different
kinds. The newborn city has a pop
ulation OF $4,000
Prot Gilbert Murray OF Oxford uni
versity, noted authority On Greek lit
erature, viii go to Sweden TO lay the
British view Of the war before stu
dents at the invitation OF the Swedish
Union OF Student societies. His mis-
sion probably viii extend TO Norway
and Denmark
Sweden will be permitted 20 import
larger supplies Of coal from Great
Britain than hitherto. under a fresh
arrangement with the British govern
ment. In return. Sweden has consent
ed TO export certain articles. including
pit props, to Great Britain. Sweden
also will transmit goods for Russia.
The suburb OF Bromma was incor-
porated into the city Of Stockholm at
the beginning of the year. making the
population OF the capital about 400. 900.
a dispatch from Stockholm saws
Swedish importers have been notified
that export Of wooden goods from Ger
many viii BE- stopped soon owing to
lack OF raw material
The railway department has ordered
400 new railway cars from Swedish
factories.
II is reported that an arrangement
of the trouble between Sweden and
Great Britain regarding Atlantic par.
cel-post traffic soon will be completed.
1t is also understood that the British
Russian parcelpost mail held up by
Sweden and now stored at Gothen.
burg. viii be released as soon as the
Swedish-American line steamship
Stockholm, now en- route to New York,
has passed the British isles.
Joseph Kallman. shipping broker
in Gothenburg, donated 81, 200 to the
lheboat fund Of the press OF Cothen.
burg.