The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-06-06
Epoch Making Convention
Of Norwegian Lutheran
Church Under Way
SESSIONS WILL
BE IMPORTANT
Many Problems of Great
Moment to Church Will
Be Disposed OF

Before an improvised altar, with
the great white cross looming up
against the Stars and Stripes, which
formed the background Of the set
ting, the Norwegian church of Am
erica this morning opened its special
convention at o'clock. over 1.500
delegates being on hand when Pres
ident H. G. Stub called the gathering
to order.
The convention. the first since the
three great Lutheran bodies, the
United, the Synod and the Norwe-
gian, Joined hands a year ago, bids
fair to. become epoch making in that
the body win dispose of a group of
important questions affecting the
work of the denomination in the
United States and Canada during the
balance of the war period. "
While sessions viii be in the Nor
wegian language, every feature of
the convention was thoroughly. Am
erican in spirit as the gathering was
called to order. American hags only
being displayed. while the patriotic
appeal of President Stub. that fea-
lures his annual report to the con-
yention, given at the afternoon ses-
sions. was received by the conven-
tion with great enthusiasm.
Opening Sermon.
The opening sermon was delivered
by the Rt. Rev. J. Norby, president
of the eastern district of the general
church body.
The speaker had chosen as his text
the words OF st. Paul to the Bphe-
slams. (5:85-27), dwelling with spe-
ciaI emphasis on the words, Christ.
loved the church" It was pointed
out that in these times OF stress and
special difficulty the church must
find strength and comfort in the fact
that Christ loves the church.
Rev. AZ J. Boe, Blair, Wis, assisted,
conducting the ritualistic part Of the
service.
Following the close OF the service
the committee on credentials report
ed that 413 lay delegates had arrived
and 161 pastors.
Pres. DR.. H. q. Stub declared the
convention organized, whereupon he
appointed the following tellers: Rev.
o. T. storaasli, Clarkneld, Minn,,;
Rev. Jos. Johnson. Boston, Mass;
Rev. L. A. Mathre. Vancouver. B. c.;
Rev. r. NJ. F,ieldstad. Emmons,
Mimi; Rev. o. ]. Nesheim. Lisbon.
NJ D.: Rev. E. salveson,- Barnesville,
Mimi; Representatives Lansrud Of
Kenseth. Ia; Stambush of St. Paul.
and EriclS Bsse. DeForest, Wis.
The following committee on special
reports was elected. one member
from each district of the church:
Rev. j. o. Tweten, Lee. nl.: Hon. Ole
Nelson, Slater Ia; Rev. d. Kvaase,
Minneapolis; Rev. B. Reitan, Mora,
Mimi; Rev. A. J. Eikeland. Hatton,
N. D.: Prof. j. s. Norgaard, Canton,
s. D.; Rev. L. o. overhein, Big TIM
ber. Mont; Rev. Jens Roseland, Sill
verton. ore.
Consolidate Two Institutions.
One of the most important issues
that will come before the convention
will be that of fixing the location Of
the Augustana Lutheran Normal
school, which will be placed either at
Canton, S. d., the present home of
the Augustana college, or at Sioux
Falls, S. D.. the present home of the
Lutheran Normal school.
Under the recommendation made
by the Lutheran educational COM
mission. of which Rev. H. G. Stub is
president, and L, w. Boe, secretary,
those two institutions are to be con-
solidated' to take place at the close
ct the 191s-1s1s school year, thus
giving the two schools another year
on the present basis. The ingtitu-
tions. formerly owned by the inde-
pendent units OF the present allied
Lutheran body, are but 20 miles
apart, and the educational commits
sion sees no need Of the continuance
OF both schools.
In recommending the consolidation
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