Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-23

manent scale. The immigrants
had very little pleasure at that time
Most of them were very poor in world
-ly possessions, but they possessed a
healthy spirit, heart of gold. and a
great love for the beautiful things in
life, especially song and music Songs
.cf the Northland helped to tighten the
burden of toll and privation. Quartets,
choruses and singing clubs were o.
ganiZed in many Swedish communi-
ties. and in this way the Swedish
, American singing societies in this
country were developed From a mod
est beginning they developed into a
giant organization, one of the largest
! in the United States.
Ayrian Quartet Formed in 1885.
1.-THE Ayrian quartet was organized
in 1885 by Charles Carlstedt, VIII
Chester, Adolph Hult, Charles Brun-
strom and AXel Westman Three of
these gentlemen are with us tonight
+ Messrs. Brunstrom, Hult and Carl
stedt. The quartet was the nucleus
for the Svea Male chorus On Aug. 90,
1887. these men. with the able cooper
alton of Professor Stolpe and Pro-
lessor Young, organized the Svea
chorus with a charter membership of
IA. 1t was duly incorporated in 1897
Professor Wilhelm Lung was the first
director. Great interest was taken in
Swedish song at that time and the
chorus developed so rapidly that in
1891 only four years after its organ
ization it was able to take an import
ant part in the great Scandinavian
saengerfest at Minneapolis. When the
American Union of Swedish Singers
was formed the Svea became a mem
Der thereof ard has taken an important
part in every convention held by that
organization
Mr.. Londberg commented on the
good fortune of the chorus in getting
able and interested leaders. Among
others he mentioned Axel E. Nelson
and Professor Bergquist, the present
director. Under the latters leader
ship he said the chorus has made
, greater progress than ever before in
its history. Membership today is 35
/, active and Is passive members. OF
the falthfulness on part of the mem
bers the speaker said: I'VE have
> three members with us tonight who
have been presented with jewels for %
years of faithful service-Gust Carl
son, Victor Carlstedt and Charles
Carlstedt, and | understand there will
be several more distributed in the not
far distant future. With such faithful
workers any organization will sue
ceed
1T Is only proper to say a word OF
appreciation of our president, Charles
Brunstrom. He was along in the
work in its very beginning, and he is
still at it. We hope he will be with us
many more years
1.-THE Svea Male chorus Is doing anf
has been doing a great and noble
work. The public scarcely appreciates
what it means to have such an organ
ization in community. Not only does
a chorus like this furnish entertain
ment Of the highest order, but 1t also
takes an active part in charitable an(
philanthropic work. The Swedish
Americans Of this vicinity have rea
son to be proud of this organization
for what it has accomplished durint
the last Is years not only in the fieldl
mentioned but in preserving for tn,
present and for future generations tn,
beautiful songs and music of the LANE
Of the midnight sun
Let US love the great and glorious
L. S. A. with all our hearts; let III
also cherish that land in the far nortl
for the priceless gifts we have re
ceived from it, those gifts that enabl
us TO become better citizens and bette
men"