Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-09-01
Fifteen HUNDRED OR MORE
PRESENT AT OPENING OF
NATIONAL. GATHERING.
FIVE HUNDRED JOIN IN
MARCH TO FAIR GROUNDS
Nineteen Parish Banners Borne in
Procession of Natives of Stavanger
and Their lettings
to Continue Three Days in Big
Tent Erected at Fair Grounds.

Fully 1900 natives Of Stavanger,
Norway, and its vicinity. and their
descendants. from many parts Of the
United States. registered today for
OF the Stavanger Laget (Society)
which began this morning to con-
tinue turnout today, Thursday and
Friday. Many visitors in the city
arc believed not to have registered.
Threatening weather early In the
day probably kept many from driv-
ing here from nearby towns. es-
pecially Story City. Others are ak
pected to arrive tonight and to-
morrow. one party Of ten automobile
loads Of delegates from Des Moines
en- route to the city having stopped
with friends today near Gilman.
The streets and business houses
are prettily decorated with flags and
bunting In honor Of the visitors.
The first session Of. the Convention
was held at IL o'clock In the auto
Fair Association at the fair grounds,
Arrangements had been made to seat
1000 persons and when the meeting
was called to order 1900 or 1,S00
persons were seated.
Parade to Fair Grounds.
About 500 visitors marched to the
fair grounds shortly after 10 o'clock
this morning, the parade marking
the opening Of the national meeting
The marchers were divided into
groups, each made up Of Norwegians
from q particular neighborhood In
Stavanger. Amt. The banner of the
neighborhood or church district. as 1t
may DO more properly called, was
borne at the head Of each group.
Nineteen banners. Of silk with gold
lettering and -colored uictures
Of church edifiees and symbolic fig
ures. designated the nineteen church
districts represented. In some In
stances the groups following banners
were large in others from three or
four TO half q dozen marchers ap-
peared.
The parade was headed by a squ/l
Of police. tho soldiers home band
ana officers Of the laget in auto
mobiles. Tho route was west in
Church street from the court house
to Second street, north to Main and
east to the grounds.
Mayor Wilson Extends Welcome.
President G. J. Eastvold, Of North
field, Mimi, presided at the morning
meeting and will be In charge OF the
program turnout tho convention. The
program opened with selection by
tho band and the singing Of "Ameri-
ca" Mayor J. J. Wilson extended
a welcome to the visitors for the
city, speaking Of the Norwegian as
q good citizen In his adopted land.
The singing Of America" by these
natives Of another land, with UNI
mistakable feeling, attested the love
OF the people OF Stavanger for their
adopted country.
President Eastwood responded to
the address OF welcome, speaking in
English. Tho rest OF the morning
program was In the native tongue. /
With the accompaniment Of the
Follinglo Farm orchestra, and led by
Professor Lasseson, Of Litchheld.
Mimi. the assembly sang q Norweg-
Ian hymn, and the morning lesson
was read and the invocation pro-
nounced by Rev. o. J. Hylland, OF
strum. Wis. President Eastvold
made the opening address, following
another song, and the principal adj
| dress Of the morning session was de-
| livered by Rev. p. Tangjerd, Of st.
Paul. A vocal selection by Professor
Lassesson and music by the orches-
ira closed the session.
Eagle Grove Pastor Speaks.
At the afternoon session, begin
ming at o'clock, Rev. H. o. Holm.
D. D., Of Eagle Grove, delivered the
principal address. Devotional sxer-
cises opened the meeting, followed
by songs, led by Professor Lassen-
son. Rev. Mr.. Hylland then read
greeting from friends In Norway.
Tonight's gathering will be at the
tent, with addresses by Rev. L. Har-
risville. Of Chicago, and Prof. Oscar
Olsen. of Sioux Falls. s. D.. and a
concert by tho band.
Rev. o. L. Wigdahl, Of Ruthven,
will be the principal speaker at
-