Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-06-13
NORWEGIAN CHURCHES
ARE NOW UNITED
Norwegian Lutheran, United Norwe-
gian Lutheran and Hauge Nor
wegian Lutheran Church
Bodies Merged Into One.
NEARLY $4,000 PEOPLE
TOOK PART IN THE WORK
Was Biggest Church Demonstration
Ever Held by Norwegians
i'm the World, 5000 Con-
gregatiOns Interested.

/
The greatest church demonstra.
'tion ever held by Norwegians and
ose of Norwegian descent in the
" ID. not excluding Norway, was
held in st. Paul Saturday, says the
Pioneer Press.
The occasion was the uniting of
three branches of the Norwegian
Lutheran church which have been
severed for twenty-seven years.
The procession was led by the
members Of the Hauge Norwegian
Lutheran synod, with those of the
Norwegian Lutheran synod, and
United Norwegian Lutheran church
following. They marched down
Sixth street to Washington. and
thence to Fifth street and the Audi
torium.
When the head Of the procession
turned in to the Auditorium, others
were still forming in line at the Ar
mory, American flags waved though
out the line of march.
At the Auditorium the marchers
were greeted by the jubilee chorus of
1000 voices, accompanied by the Lu-
ther- college band, and promptly at
10 A. M. the ceremonies began
which united the three great synods.
At the same time church bells in
5000 congregations throughout the
United States began ringing a recog-
milton Of the union.
Nearly $4,000 persons endeavored
to enter the Auditorium to take part.
The exercises were to open in the
Auditorium at 10 A. M. At $3.50
the doors were locked except to the
pastors and official delegates, who
were in the parade from the Armory.
When the Auditorium was reach
ed the sight which greeted the mar
chers was inspiring from patriotic,
religious and musical standpoint.
In front of them just above the
stage were two huge American flags.
Beneath the flags was the great jubi-
lee chorus of approximately, 1000
voices, composed of young people in
church choirs from all parts of the
country. To the right, below the
stage was the famous Luther Col
Ilege concert band of 60 instruments
from Decorah, Ia, whicn is known
in all parts of this country and Nor
way.
The galleries were filled AID many
were standing. Ten minutes before
the appointed time everything was
in readiness for the beginning of the
experimenting program. The vast
audience, led by the jubilee chorus
aad accompanied by the Luther Col
llege band, arose and sang the TIE
Deum in Norwegian, I'VE Praise
Thee o Lord"
The audience remained standing
while the Rt. Rev. T. H. Dahl. D. D.,
who after fifteen years has been
president of the largest of the three
united bodies, read the psalm 130.
After this the Rt. Rev. H. G. Stub,
ID. d. offered prayer. He prayed
not only for Gods blessing on the
union which was about to take place,
but he prayed also for Gods blessing
upon this united nation, which is
now engaged in a great conflict.
After the addresses Rev. Mr.. East
void mentioned DR.. Dahl as tcmpor-
ary chairman. He was elected by
The convention unanimously. Prof.
M. o. Wee of the Hauge Synod was
elected temporary secretary.
Rev. ]. c. Roseland introduced the
following patriotic resolution, which
was adopted amid great demon
Istration:
"Inasmuch as our Nation has been
drawn in this regrettab!e world war,
and inasmuch as our government has
appealed to all our citizens TO give IT
our loyal support in this our national
crisis and inasmuch as the co1sti-
Ituency of this convention is chiefly
of foreign extraction and of the Lu-
theran faith, therefore be 1t hereby
resolved by this gathering of approx
limately 10000 to 10000 Norwegian
Lutherans from the various states OF
1.-The Union and Canada, in convention
assembled at the st. Paul Auditori-
|um, st. Paul, Mimi. that we most
cordially pledge the President OF the
United States and the Government
Iour most loyal support, praying that
1.-The God OF Nations may guide them
u