Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-05-30

organ costing $500 has just been in
stalled. Eight huge Corinthian pillars
help to hold up the great roof. The
interior is handsomely frescoed and is
equipped with the latest in electric
lights and effects. The pulpit is at
tached to one of the pillars. A clock
In the tower strikes the hours and it |
may be heard out into the country |
surrounding the church. Near the
church good sized chapel has been
erected where smaller gatherings may
be held, with a basement with the in.
evitable culinary equipment of the
modern church parlors.
One of the things that strikes one
as unusual is the way that the young
Americans of the third and fourth
generation talk Swedish, as we'll as
English. Crowds of young chaffeurs
standing about the church hill in the
evening awaiting to take their guests
to the various county homes almost in.
variably conduct their discussions in
'Smalandska. And we failed to note
any instance where these natives were
any the less loyal Americans because
they cherish the language Of their fore
fathers. Practically every house dis
played the flag on the front porch. The
flower of the youth of the southern
Chisago county have enlisted in the
navy and have been assigned to var
1ous battleships. Seventy five young
men organized at Lindstrom, and ten
dered their services. This was three
times the number that the whole state
OF Vermont with its Anglo-American
stock had furnished up to May 9. The
editor Of the Center City News sold his
paper In order to go, and has now OBJ
tanned commission as a lieutenant
and his assistant as an ensign. Frank
Porter, an uncle of Drs. Porter of
W1llmar and Atwater, and leading
member of the Chisago Lake church,
has two sons in the navy, one son in
the army, and one daughter trained
nurse in the Red Cross service; the Or
ganist of the church has a son in the
navy, etc.
The older people talked of the days
during the Civil War, when practically
every able bodied young man in the
settlement Joined the Union armies.
at one time to answer President Lin
coins call and special services were
held In the old church on the Occas.
ion. Among the middle aged men we
met were veterans from the Spanish
! American war.
Among the leading spirits of the
community is the pastor Of the Chi
sage Lake church, Rev. DR.. J. E. o.
lund, himself native Minnesotan, who
| has earned his way to the top of book
! learning as Phi. D., from the condi-
tons of the son Of an early pioneer
giant in stature and in mind. And
the pastor of such a conversation
needs to be strong person. Think
OF the almost daily occurrences CT
deaths, marriages or christenings in
such multitude. Among the auxil-
larry organizations, there are no less
than ten ladies' aid societies. During
the convention the ladies furnished
two meals day to the visitors in the
basement Of the chapel. The must
cal organizations include a band,
which gave daily concerts in the early
evenings on the church grounds. The
entertainment committees were we'll
organized. And in all this extra en-
tailed labor as directing host, Rev. o.
lund never lost his smile of welcome
and gave much time to provide for in
divfdual wants of the visitors.
Another Minnesota-bred American,
| who exerts a great influence in the
Chisago Lake community is MS. Nor
elius, editor of the Chisago County
Press of Lindstrom. The convention
number of his paper bore witness that
he falters not, neither in meeting the
duties of American citizenship in the
perilOus ways into which our country
has entered, nor in loyalty to the best
traditions Of the people who have
is son of the late DR.. Eric Norelius,
one of the founders of the Augustana
Synod. "Sig" as he is Familiarity
known, has edited the Scandinavian
news columns for the American Press
Association for many years.
One Of the interesting characters at
Center City is Judge Edward w.
Stark, Judge of Probate Court. His
genial ways as we'll as his droll humor
and decided opinions which he loves
to express with characteristic frank
ness while enjoying his smokes, makes
him beloved by all. Whether they
agree with Judge Stark or not on cur
rent questions, people in Chisago al
ways vote for him. Judge Stark is the
president Of the Chisago Lake Male
Chorus, which has the honor of being
the only rural society to affiliate with
the United Swedish Singers of Am
erica. They participated in the last
national sangfest at Omaha This male
chorus gave selections at one of the
sessions of the Conference, and most
of the members participated in the
production of the "The Vision of St.
john" which was very creditably rem
dered at the last Conference session.
Judge Stark has our thanks for many
favors extended. Other officials whom
we met in the quaint old courthouse
(erected in 1879 was County Attorney
Alfred P. Stohlberg, "a son of the late
District Judge P. H. St0hlberg), and
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