Decorah-posten og ved arnen., 1921-11-22
DEDICATION ADDRESS OF TIKI
KOREN LIBRARY.
Or. O. Z. Brandt. -

Slutt lily HCdDt, vi oOu, " iSoi
thy name. Amen
Fellow Lutherans: In Christ Be-
loved: Grace and peace be unto you
from God. our Father, and wi Lord,
Jesus Christ. Amen"
In placing on this stately structure
the inscription "Koren Library" the
main purpose has not been so much
to honor Ulrik Wilhelm ,Koren as to.
honor that for which his name stands.
He has well earned all the personal
tribute embodied in the inscription.
He did not merely select the site
for Luther College; but, among its
founders, he was PRIMUS INTER
PRARES in maintaining it, as he had
been. in determining its general
character and aim. Yet, why should
particularly the library Of this institu-
ton bear his name? IF we should say.
Because the library rs the life center
of the higher school - eve as the
higher school is the life center of the
church -" Our reply would be en-
dorsed by most educators of our age;
for the best education is the one
which we gain by our qwp endeavors.
If we should. add. Because among
our pioneers Koren was pre-eminentiy
the lover of books. the most acute
scholar, and the most versatile in
point of literary interests we might
count on practically universal agree
ment among our people. For instance,
the hymn. the translation of which
we have in Number Eleven Of the
Hymnary. is the only Norse-American
hymn which has been incorporated
into the new hymn book of the
Church of Norway. Yet the true and
innermost reason for the selection of
his name must be that his represents
the spirit which should govern the
use Of this treasury of books and
historic monuments. VIZ do not
primarily refer here % his we'll known
hatred of sham in matters educational.
1t was almost as intense as his hatred
of the naughty heathenism of modern
science falsely so-called." Like Dean
Swift he detested the people who dealt
with books as snobs do with social
celebrities - learn their names and
boast their acquaintance. Only that
knowledge of the best books which is
gained by actual study could pass
with him as a true test and token of
a liberal education. But Koren typi-
fees something more than the mere
spirit of honest research in the quest
of truth. What we have in mind may
be expressed best by his favorite
prayer, the beautiful one of Psalm
SO: IL: Unite my heart, Oh God, to
fear thy name"
With tender reverence to set on
high the name of God. that is, God as
he has made himself known, was the
one supreme goal of Koren's en-
deavor. All the interests of his heart,
hitherto scattered, must be joined to-
gether into a throne for God. Indeed,
how could he but yearn to have his
heart united about such worship of
enforcement? Had not God himself
come to him in his work as the Holy
One. setting iniquities in the light of
his cou~ntenance? Had he not above
all come to him as Jesus TO trans
form the crushing sense of guilt into
the uplifting assurance of pardon?
Must not all other joys which might
attract the heart merge in this triumph
of being right with God? Must not
every fear which might distract the
heart vanish before the supreme dread
OF getting i'll wrong with God again.
1t was the Bible as interpreted TO
him by Gods prophet. Luther. - in
which God thus had come to Koren,
> Yaa gnmppnine fra mango ooh bibs
I9tteS in extenso benne Sr. 9ranSfs
Gale BED SnbpieIien af aoren 9ibIios
~tetsbpsning bed Sutber college bcn
14he Oftober. Der bIen / oct SeSts
~referat. fem itrar efier itoS | "@os
item, hun YlaSs til ct tort 8eIlme al
Salerne. Sr. Sranbts Snbpiellestas
lie, Der iiomerfet Jig baabe peb Tin
iiGlbeu nafre SoruL lin trrffenbe
aaratteriitif al De 10 Ytenb. for bpem
neutrality-suspicious. iiGr bill Itaa iom
ct Grerigt @inbe for fouimeube SIeas
Ter. % for ben Suberlieheb. bporu,co
oeil blep leperet. sioroc ct bpbf Snbs
trbf pau Silhsrerne, % hi er fuIot
eni9 /, at Der bsr aipes ct fisrre Vu,
bitfim a~nlebnina fiji at IGic ben
"Secorab sYoi:cn"s 8ep.