Willmar tribune., 1916-06-28


Her Amerika er vi nu hjemme,
Lad os bill Landet til are og Gavn;
Her vii vi leve og ofre og virke,
Her slaar vi Ring omkring Skole og
Kirke,
like Norge, men her er wort Yrke,
Her vii vi hadre Forfadrenes Navn!"
Thus run the first and last stanzas
Of a poem written by G. K. Solberg
and read the first time at the Mime
apol1s Tronderlags banquet, May IA,
1916. 1t speaks Of love for the old
motherland where the cradle rocked,
and at the same time breathes deep
loyalty to America and It's institutions,
the home by adoption.
The Tronders Norwegian-American
whose native places or antecedents are
found in Trondhjem's province of Nor
way, held their 1916 reunion at Will
mar last Saturday and Sunday. It was
one of the most successful meetings
the organization has had since it's in
ception at Fergus Falls in 1908.
There were approximately six hundred
visitors here, and they had good
time, and left the city we'll pleased
with the entertainment that had been
accorded them.
The reunion had less set programs
than previous similar conventions
which have met here. The order Of
the meetings was arranged after the
arrival Of the members and were
therefore more or less informal in
character. Like the Stavangerlaget
which met here last year, the Sunday
meetings we're distinctly religious in
nature.
Three solo1sts of note were here to
intersperse music among the speeches,
viz: C. Ferdinand Barene, Tenor of
Yankton, Prof. John D0bdal, violinist
of Chicago; and Miss Bertha Ask, pi-
aniste OF Minneapolis. Normaendenes
Sangf0rening of Willmar, the leader
Of which, Olof Sundt, is himself an en-
thusiastic Tronder, contributed selec-
greatly appreciated. Sunday after
noon the Citizens Military Band of
Willmar, gave splendid open air con-
cert at the auditorium park for the
benefit of the visitors.
The first session opened Saturday
afternoon at three O'Clock, when the
president, Consul S. O. Hanger, of
Yankton, S. D., opened the meetings.
The members marched in procession
from the headquarters at the CONNER
cial Club rooms to the Willmar Semi
nary, where Saturdays sessions were
held. The silk banner was carried by
Mr.. Fredrik Kavlt of Minneapolis. The
business session was held when the
annual reports were heard and officers
elected. Consul Hanger was re-elect-
ed president, and as secretary-treasur-
er, Prof. I. Dorrum of Fergus Falls was
reelected.
Among other directors and officers
elected, Mr.. Sivert S. Glarum Of Will
mar was honored by the selection as
one of the vice presidents. Tronder.
laget issues a handsomely printed year
book, which will contain the reports
and illustrated articles.
Saturday evenings session was an
enjoyable one, a number of speeches
being interspersed by selections Of the
soloists.
Sunday morning regular services
were held at the Park Auditorium anG
were conducted by Rev. ]. N. Ander
sen of the local Synod church ant
Rev. E. G. Ristad of Fergus Falls
There were no forenoon services II
the Lutheran churches OF the city ant
very large crowd was in attendance
at the park. Rev. Ristad preached
over the text of the day, (The Ricl
Man and Lazarus), and made a mos
powerful and impressive discourse
Misses Sophia Tallakson and Evelyl
Grindeland sang two duets at the ser
vices.
In the afternoon there was g. cOncer
on the grounds by the Citizens Mill
tary Band. AS the rain approached
} the crowd went into the auditorium
whese 1mpromptu program was cal
, ried out. Rev. D. C.. J0rdahl of Ridge
way, Ia, spoke Of old memories fron
his boyhood days In the land OF tn
Midnight Sun.
, Rev. E. E. Gynild of Willmar was tn
next speaker called on and he spok
of the traits of the Tronders. TIL
chairman also called on a gentlema
i from North Dakota and on Secretar
4 Dorrum for short talks.
i The evening was devoted to mus
Il cal program in which Prof. D6pda
the violinist, Miss Bertha Ask, p1a1
iste and c. Ferdinand Barene, teno
Il took part There were short speeche
by Mayor Wellin and Hon. L.
Thorpe.
\ The publication in the Willmar Tril
une of the following letter has bee
i requested:
To the Honorable Mayor and the Con
Il mercial Club of the City Of Wilma:
Il Minnesota:
Il Gentlemen:
II Tronderlaget wishes to express II
Il cordial thanks and it's obligations
the Honorable Mayor and the Con
mercial Grub of the City OF Willma
for the splendid reception it has r
ceived at its annual convention.
i We appreciate your efforts and yor
assistance to make the convention
success, and we have thoroughly e1
joyed your beautiful city.
i We also wish to express our sincei
thanks to the citizens Of Willmar wh
have 50 Hospitality opened their home