Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-04-03
TWO CHURCHES
! IN CITY HAVE
& - &
BEEN UNITED
Policy Of Consolidation Was
Adopted at Meeting Held
Last Night

The Zion and the Trinity Norweg-
ian Lutheran churches were definitely
amalgamated at q meeting held last
night by members of both conkrega-
.tionss This step follows a series of ne
gotiations between h two churches
and the First Lutheran church. the
latter adopting a somewhat different
solidation. agreeing that a union
would be desirable, but suggesting
methods other than those finally ac-
scepted.
At the meeting which was held, last
night .ein the Zion church. 1t was
brought out that the. .idea OF CONSOLE
dating the three Norwegian Lutheran
congregations in this city had been
.discussedffor a considerable time, and
fastened when Rev. \. j. Lohre. pas
tor OF :thehTrinity church, accepted a
call rom. Mayville-a fact which
meant that the Trinity church would
be left Hithout a pastor for, at least,
some time. a,-ie. .s -
Committees Elected.
The idea-o Of consolidating the three
congregations in Grand Forks belong
ing to the Norwegian Lutheran church
into one congregation has, been long
thought Of and much talked about.
When Rev. n. J.. Lohre in November.
1917. resigned to Acceptable call from
the consolidated congregation at May
vile. the subject assumed a more pro-
sressive aspect. The Trinity Ilnther-
an. being. left without a. pastor after
six months. requested the First 1u-
thcran and the Zion congregations to
take up the question of consolidation.
The request was gladly received and
promptly acted upon. Each of the
three congregations elected a COM
mittee Of four, which together with
the pastors I. as advisory members.
should constitute a joint committee of
methods and conditions Of e~consolida-
ton.
! The joint committee from the three
churches met and agreed to submit to
ticles for consolidation. The first of
these articles. stipulate that the three
congregations should consolidate into
one congrega ton using n church
and employing one pastor. whose
work should be divided equally be-
tween the two languages, Morse and
English. In the committee there
were two who voted against this ar
ticle: but no minority report was pre-
scented at the committee meeting.
The joint committees draft. of ar
IiCJcS " Co1tSOAluol JOu wdo OopSVO
unanimously by the Trinity and the
Zion congregations. The First I.u-
theran adopted an independent
resolution putting themselves on rec
ord as favoring one congregation with
two churches and two pastors; the one
using exclusively English and the
other exclusively Morse. .
Separate Plan Not Accepted.
This special resolution of the First
Lutheran was deemed by. the Trinity
and the Zion very impracticable and
pregnant with great danger for diff.
culties.
It has been possible to discern a
fear that the ministerial work might
suffer in various ways If the plan of
the First Lutheran, church were adopt
ed. and it wa especially emphasized
that the relations between pastors and
congregation members might not be
as intimate or. beneficial under the
proposal set forth in the separate res
olution as If the plan of one church,
one pastor and two languages were
adopted.
Experiments along the line suggest
ed by the First Lutheran church are
in progress in several cities notably
in Minot. n. D.. and Fergus Falls.
Mimi. and are being watched with
considerable interest.
Because Of the failure to agree on
vital points, the union Of all three
churches has been indefinitely post
poned. e y
Organization Perfectcd. j t.
The committee from the two con-
gregations was made up s 'follpws:4
Members from the Zion church. H. "A.
Fladlund. "A. Peterson, OH. Bridston
and A. stern from the Trinity, K. A..
Hofto, S. Paulson, H. Peterson and @.
S. Simonson.
The meeting for the consolidation.
was called to order by the president of
the committee, X. A. Hofto. who also
lead in devotion.
The following temporary organiza-
ton was affected. Rev. D. Stoeve,;
chairman o. S, sinonson, secretary.
The articles of the consolidation
were read. and explained one, By n
and adopted as a whole.
The combined congregation will be
called the Bethany Lutheran con
gregation.
/ After the acceptance of the con-