Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1917-06-13
CHURCH UNION
IS ACCOMPLISHED
The Norwegian Lutheran Church of
America is Name of New Organiza-
tion Formed by Merger of the three
Old Church Bodies.

Old Church Bodies.
The Norwegian Lutheran church Of
America came into being at st. Paul on
June 8. 1917, thru the formal merger
of the three great synods of the church.
The union was effected without osten-
tation or any elaborate ceremonies.
The chief formality was the ratification
Of the new constitution and Of the
plans for administration of the numer-
GUS educational and charitable Organi-
Zations, which were agreed upon some
several synods
The first split in the church took
place II years ago, originating in dis
sensions in Norway. The Hauge Nor
wegian Lutheran synod was established
in this country in 1S46 and the Nor
wegian Lutheran synod in 1858. In
1890 the United Norwegian Lutheran
church was founded.
Communicates numbering 100000
were united under one church organi-
zation, thru the merger A number Of
schools and colleges also came under
the jurisdiction Of the new organiza-
tion, including st. Olafs at Northfield
and Concordia at Moorhead. Exten-
sive foreign and domestic missions will
be Joined so far as their management
is concerned.
The Rt. Rev. J. J. Eske, president of
the Hauge synod, DR.. H. G. Stub, head
of the Norwegian Lutherans, and Rt.
Rev. T. H. DAHL president of the
United synod, were active in bringing
the three branches together and in
drawing up plans for their union
Great festival services in connection
with the first national convention of
the new church were held on Sunday at
the st. Paul Auditorium. Two special
events in the morning service were the
singing by chorus Of nearly 1000
voices from the various church choirs
throughout the United States and the
music by the famous Luther College
Concert band Of Decorah, Iowa, under
the leadership of Professor Carlo A..
Sperati.
Norway Church Liturgy Used.
The opening prayer at the morning
! service was read by Rev. G. @. Pauls-
run. Rev. e. S. Thompson officiated at
the altar and chanted the liturgical
part Of the service. The complete lit
urgy Of the Lutheran state church of
Norway was used, and the officiating
clergymen wore the prescribed church
vestments. The festival sermon was
preached by Right Rev. II. G.. Stub,
D. D., who Saturday was elected first
president of the new church body.
First Service of New Church.
''This is indeed an inspiring moment
and festive OCCASION he said in his
sermon. eve are gathered to take part
in the first religious service ever con-
Quoted by the new church body to
which we now belong. Our joy is mix
ed with sorrow. We mediate upon
former days-even though we rejoice
at the new home which we have enter
ed, we are unable to forget the old
homes which we have left behind.
"Those memories will ever be tender
and sacred to us, and it is only right
and fitting that they should be so, but
we are looking into the future and the
great question which we ask ourselves
at this time is this: Is our new home
built upon solid foundation? Does
this new church body which we have
formed rest upon solid ground?
Gods Ties Called Strongest.
1--WE believe there can be no More
solid foundation than Moses and the
prophets than the word Of God. This
is the foundation upon which the
organization is built. These are the
ties which will unite us in the future
These are the strongest ties in the
world The ties of friendship are in
deed strong. The ties Of faith are in
deed strong, but the strongest ties in
the world are those contained in Gods
word. We believe in the divine in
.spiration of the word of God. We
shall continue to believe in this.
'sThere is only one means by which 8
is by listening to the word of Cod"
Communion Service.
ON Monday morning the convention
communion service was celebrated
when the pastors of the former faction!
Joined in the service without vestmen
and the chanting Of the lithurgy. Thi'
has been one Of the matters Of conten
ton in past years. The wearing O
vestments and chanting Of the liturg!
vii be question for each congregation
to decide.
New Church Incorporated.
Articles Of incorpation Of the Nor
wegian Lutheran Church of Americ'
were filed with the secretary Of stat
on Monday. Officers of the board o
nine trustees are Chairman Sigurd q
Holstad, Minneapolis; saeretary, Lar
w. Boe, st. Paul; treasurer, Fri
vno11o1o~1 Mippooro1io. ona o},dito,