The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-18
A SCHOOL OF ART
Music and Painting Are Fea-
lures at Bethany.
LindsbOrg School Has Finest
Chorus in Country.
PLAN A $50, 900 ENDOWMENT
Swedish Lutheran Conference
Will Raise Big Fund.
Founded in 1879 by Prominent
Swedish Educator.

The outstanding feature of the big
five-state conference of Swedish Luth-
eran churches which will meet here
from March % to March 20, is the
proposition to raise $50, 900 additional
endowment for Bethany college at
Lindsborg.
Bethany college is one of the most
unique schools in the country The
town is the artistic mecca of Kansas.
In a town of only 1000 population the
college has maintained one of the
finest fine arts departments in the
west and a liberal arts course equal
and in many cases superior to colleges
much larger in enrolment and en-
dowment. The town has gained ma
tionaI reputation from the annual
spring music festival given under the
auspices of the college. Handlers
masterpiece, 1.-The Messiah is given,
which musicians and tourists from
all over this part of the country at
tend. Al this time the foremost sing
ers and musicians of the country play.
Schumann- Heink has sung there many
| times, the best symphony orchestras
of the country have played there, and
many singers of prominence have been
at Lindsborg. Alice Nielsen declared
after participating in one of the mu-
sic festivals, The great chorus in The
Messiah was wonderful. l say it in all
sincerity and will say it when l go
Metropolitan and Boston Opera com
panies I have never heard the equal
of the Lindsborg chorus, and remem-
Der l have heard some of the best
choruses in the musical centers of Eu-
rope" For years the Lindsborg mu-
sic depart pent has maintained its
reputation of being one of the best in
the country.
Music is indeed in the air there but
| there is almost as much enthusiasm
for painting and the other arts Biz
ger Sandzen is regarded by many as
one of the best landscape painters in
the middle west. One of his paintings
won first prize at the State Fair here
| last fall. Critics praise his peculiar
individuality of method and color
Also the school maintains special
| departments of home economics and
a fine commercial course. According
to the rep~~t of the state board of ed
ucation all other departments are in
! cluded in the curriculum and they are
thoroughly up to standard.
Foremost Swedish School.
Bethany is the best known of any of
the Swedish UNCONVENTIONAL colleges
in the country 1t was founded in
1879 by DR.. Carl A. Swensson, the
! greatest Swedish-American that this
country has produced. The Kansas
| Conference of the Swedish Lutheran
| church took charge of it in 1884 and
it has had a steady growth since then.
1t was fully accredited by the state
| board of education in 1899 and since
/ then all its departments have been
| strengthened and a domestic science
| course and a commercial course in
/ cluded. Rev. Ernest F. Pihlblad, D.
| D., is the present head of the insti-
tuition.
The campus resembles Washburn
campus although it is not so large.
/ The main building of the school is one
I nj @ Ia in iS Siy
stories high, 154 feet long and over
sixty feet in width. There is three
story dormitory housing nearly 100
girl students. The domestic science
| department is housed in the Swedish
pavilion which was at the St. Louis
/ fair, and was donated by w w
! Thomas, formerly minister to Sweden.
/ The auditorium, containing the
| gymnasium, is one of the best build
ings for musical purposes in the state
! 1t contains a concert room seating g.
! 600 persons, and is equipped with a
| $4,000 pipe organ. The fine Carnegie
! library is the most recent addition to
| the school.
Co-Operates With Town.
unique feature of the school is
/ the hold that it maintains on its stu
dents. At its big music festivals for
mer students from all parts of Kansas
/ flock back to Lindsborg and their
alma mater. Another feature-unus-
ual IN college tOWnS-lS the fine spirit
of community of town and college
Many of the townspeople are students,
! taking special courses in music or
other lines, and participating in the
| college activities and entertainments
According to the Rev. George A.
Anderson, pastor of the Swedish Luth-
eran church, which will be the host
! church to the big gathering, there is
little doubt that the conference will
come generously to the support of the
school which has been for years
/ proud monument to the advancement
and culture of the Swedish people in
/ America.
Ask fC the FREE souvenir with
25c worth of the new Half Shell