The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-06-30
Pretty Exercises Were Held in
Belgrade Saturday

IL Jill hohhdIo DCih6 III oIIChouhSC,
and the program Saturday afternoon
being attended by about three hun
dred people. The weather was ideal,
and the spot where large part of
the program was held was very
picturesque, being the evergreen
park on the Carl Landgren place.
The affair proved home coming
event for the Swedish people, as
many former residents of the locality
who had moved to nearby towns
were in attendance.
The Swedish Lutheran church of
Belgrade was organized in 1871 by j.
Ljungberg, now of Bookings, S. D.,
formerly a resident of Hebron, who
served as a lay preacher in the To-
cality.
Saturday morning at ten o'clock
the program opened with a jubilee
service, led by Rev. o. ]. Arthur, pas
tor of the Swedish Lutheran church
Rev. G. Peterson of Hinckley deliv-
cred a splendid sermon, and special
music was furnished by quartet,
composed of John Nyquist, Gust
Person, Mrs. A. J. Wentworth, Miss
Florence Johnson, with w. A. John
son acting as accompanied, all peo-
pie of this city.
Dr.. P. A. Mattson Preached.
Dr. P A. Mattson of Cannon Falls
preached the jubilee sermon. He rs
president of the Swedish Lutheran
Conference of Minnesota and is an
eloquent and forceful speaker. The en-
tire company then repaired from the
church to the park where an elabor-
ate dinner was served by the Ladies'
Aid society, and social time was
enjoyed
At three o'clock the historical pro-
gram was given. In front of the
the large audience sat a group of
charter members of the church, and
other old settlers of the neighbor-
hood, among the charter members
being Mr.. and Mrs. John A. Peterson,
Mrs. Lolita Kron, John Quick, Mr.. and
Mrs. G. l.. Farm. Musical numbers
were furnished by a large jubilee
chorus, directed by w. Johnson, or
ganist of the Mankato Swedish Luth-
eran church, and vocal solos were
rendered by Miss Florence Johnson
and D. NJ Jones. Mr. Jones also
donated the use of a piano during
the celebration.
G.. l.. Farm, who has been record
ing secretary of the congregation
since 1872, gave historical sketch
ly interesting. 1t was in the Swed-
ish language, and by request of the
people will be published in Swedish
weekly. Two addresses were given,
the first by Dr. Mattson, who talked
especially to the young people, his
topic being Retain That Which is
Committed Unto Thee" He urged
the young folks to true faith and
loyalty to their native land in peace
as well as war, his talk proving elo-
Quent and interesting.
Address BY Torngren.
Alfred TOrngren, editor The Fair
mont Independent spoke on the mis-
sion of the Pioneer" recounting in
cidents of the past. He stated that
he had been born and raised on the
property where the picnic and cele-
bration was being held, and he dwelt
on the wonderful development of the
community. His father had come
there in the fifties being the first
Swede in Belgrade. In 1858 he had
gone south where he remained until
the outbreak of the war, when he
determined to go home and join the
army. After being detained as pris-
oner in the south, and encountering
other difficulties he at last reached
home and enlisted, serving until the
close of the war, when he returned
to settle in Belgrade. Through his
influence other Swedes came to Bel
grade to settle, and were first affil-
lated with the church of st. Peter.
Finally, through the efforts of Mr..
Torngren the Belgrade church was
organized, and had proved social
center for all ever since. The speaker
paid special tribute to G.. L. Farm,
whom he said had been a mighty
power for good in the church and
community and to John Peterson who
was ever willing to assist from the
early days. After Mr.. Torngren's
splendid grafton a picnic supper was
enjoyed in the park, and the evening
program opened at eight o'clock
Special music added to the pleas
ure in the evenings program and two
interesting addresses were given
one by Rev. G. Peterson of Hinckley
and one by Harry Johnson of this city
whose mother had attended the Bel
grade church for many years.
Sunday morning the jubilee cele-
bration was brought to close by a
splendid program of special music,
and an interesting sermon by Rev. G.
Peterson.
From Mondays Daily.
Miss Olga Gustafson went to Min