Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-06-27
Hundreds Of Lay and Cleric.
al Delegates Here For
Session; Reports are Pre-.
sented and Services Held
at Auditorium This Morn
ing.

The first convention of the North
Dakota district of the Norwegian
Lutheran Church Of America opened
in the auditorium this morning shortl!
after 10 O'Clock, with hundreds OF
ministers and lay delegates in attend
ance. DR.. Fl. G. Stub of st. PAUL. pres1-
dent of the national church organlza-
tion. was present in the hall from the
heginning, as was also Rev. !. ID.
ylvisaker. of Fargo. president OF the
North Dakota district.
An altar and a pulpit as we'll as an
organ had been installed on the stage
of the auditorium. and reEular re-
ligious services were held here before
the formal opening of the convention.
Rev, T. Tiornhom of Hatton was at
the organ throughout the services.
Rev. o. T. Ness of Mekinock led the
nrayer and spoke the henediCtion and
Rev. A.. ]. Hulteng of this city, wee
president Of the North Dakota district,
preached the sermon with Matthew:
21 1881. as his text. AT the close OF
his sermon Mr.. Hulteng expressed his
rratihcation that it had finally been
decided to hold North Dakota district
meetings. and he felt certain that they
would contribute much to the progress
of religious work.
Appointments Are Made.
Shortly before II O'Clock Rev. |. ID.
Ylvisaker formally declared the con-
vention opened and announced the
following appointments:
o. P. Stavaas of Hillsboro. j.. G.
Hielmvik of Buxton and l.. NJ. Hal
LANCER of Portland. to be committee
on credentials reporting to the con-
vention at the opening of the after
noon session.
G. Davik, Minot: NJ. B. Lokkesmo,
Ray; o. A. Hofstad, Lisbon: Theodor
Gustafson, Hatton, and Albert Han
son. Fillmore. to be tellers.
Rev. H. B. Thorgrimson of this city
and o. j. Nesheim of Lisbon were APP
pointed official readers of the con-
vention. Rev. A. G. Larsen of DriscoU
will be the assistant chairman of the
meetings, and Rev. A. Eggen of Mo-
hall will have general supervision OF
hall arrangements. etc. Rev. T. Torn
HON was appointed chaplain. =
Reads Annual Reports.
When the afternoon session opened
at 2:3O the district president read his
annual report in which he said:
"It is with a profound feeling of
gratitude to God and our church peo-
pie that we can say our church did
not falter when sacrifices recently
were demanded. Our people sent their
sons out to the front ranks on the
battlefield, and they were glad to give
t1Gly HlOHGt " lie 6INdl oui
church followed closely upon the sol
diers in the field to teach fortitude
and to give comfort to the men who
were wounded or about to die.
"In our own state there is much
restlessness and ~uneasiness. Many diff
ficult problems await their solution
In the political field tension and ever
excitement prevail. Although tn
church as such is interested in every
thing that helps humanity along am
although it's members clearly realiz
their duties as citizens of the state
ministers and congregations must b
careful so that they do not unthink
ingly violate the fundamental princi
pie of church and state as separat
entities"
Mr.. Ylvisaker's report also touche'
upon the question of an extended us
of the English language in Norwegian
churches. and he said that it wa
necessary to use the native tongue Q
the young people in order to kee
them within the church: also, the dis
trict president advocated that som
Sunday morning services be %conducte
in the English language; as it is nov