The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-07-10
Twelve HUNDRED ATT
TENDSTAVANCERLACET

City is Crowded With Visitors From
Several States Who Are Pleased
With MinOt's ReceptiOn-Three Day
Session Ends Friday.
1t is conservatively estimated that
there are fully 1900 Norwegian Amer
leans present at the annual gathering
of the Stavanger Laget, which reunion
opened in this city Wednesday for a
three days session. Eight hundred
had paid their dues up to Wednesday
noon and members Of the association
have been arriving yet today. There
are visitors from North Dakota, Min
nesota, Montana, South Dakota and
number of the other northwestern
states.
The sessions yesterday and today
were held in the high school auditori-
um. On Friday an old fashioned re-
union will be held at Riverside Park,
where each group representing the
various districts Of Stavanger, Nor
way, will be assembled under their own
separate banners.
The Stavanger Laget is reunion of
Observation-Disclosures who formerly
resided in certain district in Norway.
They get together each year and re-
new acquaintanceship and while they
have warm spot in their heart for
the land of their birth, they give
thanks to kind Providence for direct
ing their footsteps towards the land of
opportunity, America, the land of their
adoption. Each group representing
the various districts in Stavenger, has
banner, sent from their home land
by loving friends. Many of the ban
ners are beautiful works of art, embel-
lished with rare paintings.
The address of welcome Wednesday
morning was delivered by Rev. Mr..
Gullixson, the eloquent pastor of the
First Lutheran church of Minot. The
response was given by Rev. Eastvold,
president of the association, who paid
Minot many compliments. He referred
to Minot as clean, prosperous look
ing city and said the visitors were
pleased with the spirit with which our
citizens had received them. He refer
red to the beautiful high school audi
torium as the most beautiful assem-
blage room in which the Stavanger
LAget had ever met. He said they did
not meet IS Norwegians, but as true
American citizens and said that the
reunion. served to bring out memories
OF days Of long ago.
The opening song was America" !"
The morning prayer was given by B.
Herigstad, Of CooperstOwn, N. d..
father of States Attorney Heriestad.
Prof. Reimestad sings the cid Nor
wegian ballads, familiar among the
folks in the land of the midnight sun.
He is beautiful singer and his folk
songs bring forth tender memories Of
bygone days.
The speakers Wednesday afternoon
were 0. B. Herigstad of Minot and
Rev. Theo. Lund Of this city.
Mr.. Herigstads address, given in
English, pertained to the second gen.
GRAFTON Of Norwegians. He was born
here himself, like thousands Of other
sons and daughters of Norwegian par
entage, they are Americans first. They
showed this in the world war, where
thousands Of young Norwegian-Ameri-
cans gave UP their lives. Over 1900
young men filom the Stavanger asso-
citation fought in this war for America.
I'VE remember our parents and are
proud of them, because they became
such good American citizens. We may
grow away from the Norwegian Ian
guage, hut our parents have handed
down to their children the rich cul-
ture for which the Norwegians are
noted"
The address in Norwegian by Wal
demar Agar, we'll known editor, was
q masterpiece. The memory Of our
Home country makes us all the better
American. citizens, he said. He criti-
cized the legislation that compels one
to speak only The English language.
He said that all Norwegians were try
ing as hard as they could to master
the English language without any leg
islation.
r. A. Nestos of this city and Sever
Serumgard Of Devils Lake were the
speakers this afternoon. Tonight Rev.
Gullixson's choir from the First Lu-
/ theran church will sing some of their
Greig selections.
Tomorrow the visitors will be taken
for an auto ride about the city and out
into the country.
Election Of officers was held this
morning, the old officers being re-
elected as follows:
Rev. Eastvold, President.
Rev. Njaa, Vice President.
Mr.. Belleson, Of Jewell, Ia, Secre-
tary. 4
~ ~ q 4 -. e..