The Mankato free press., 1923-10-12
DANISH CHURCH
SIXTY YEARS OLD
Notable Celebration At
yCIark,,s Grove Today
Little Group Minnesota Pio-
neers Made Up First
Organization
IAssociated Press Ddspatchl

NldI -lTIONCs oSSoOSA AAb
Celebration OF the sixtieth anniver-
sary of the First (Danish) Baptist
church here today brings to mind
several significant facts redoundins
TO the credit of this church.
Not only is it the mother church
OF many Danish Baptist churches
in this and other counties in Min
nesota and Iowa, but within the
walls OF the original church build
ing, which was OF logs. as organized
The first cooperative creamery In
Minnesota, thus giving a vigorous
start to what has become one of the
greatest tate-wide organizations
il tie country.
This first cooperative creamery
in Minnesota was organized Janu g.
ary 2S, 1890. But even before that
the Clarks Grove Danish congrega-
ton had given evidence OF its lively
interest in things practical, as well
as things of the spirit, for in 1877
the meeting out Of which grew the
-rmers' Mutual Insurance assocla =
ION of Bath, now one OF the
STRONGEST IN COuhtss "9S
held in a humble log church.
Had Inspiring Influences
1t was recalled today by many at
tending the celebration that IN 1917
me agricultural department Of the
ed TO the late III. p. Jensen, one OF
the original organizers OF the coop
erative creamery. a beautiful ceru-
fcate in recognition Of the vital step
taken in January 1890.
AS a mother of churches the
Clarks Grove Baptist church was
me inspiring influence in establish :
Jig congregations in Albert
Lea, Alden, Blooming Prairie, KaG-
son. Storden, also in Brown and
Martin counties in this state, in Ce-
dar Falls and Gilmore City, Ia, and
in Oldham, S. D. From among It's
membership score OF consecrated
men have gone forth as pastors or
missionaries.
1t was in 1868 that three young
couples, with their pastor. Rev. l..
.Jorgenson, moved to this place from
Raymond, Wis, their household
goods in big lumber wagon
drawn by a team Of oxen. They
walked most of the way and when
they reached Geneva Lake they de-
cided to settle. Before that summer
had passed they were Joined by two
more families from Wisconsin.
Oraanized Church In 1853
On October IL. 1868, the little
group of pioneers gathered in the
home of Mr.. and Mrs. Niels Larsen
and proceeded TO organize church.
In the intervening time all OF the
fifteen charter members have died,
but the church they f2unded has
grown to become one or the out
standing rural churches of MInneso-
Ia. if not the entire middle west.
OF the first candidates for baptism
two are still members Of the con-
gregation, Mrs. Niels Lawson. who
lives here and Miss Sina Nelson OF
Hlbert Lea.
In the spring of 1866 log build
ing was erected, 16 by 20 feet in
size, and served as the first place
of worship as we'll as a center for
community meetings. Here the
sturdy Danish pioneers met regular :
", bringing candles to be lighted
during the singing of the hymns
ard extinguishing them while the
sermon was being preached. Fol-
lowing the original pastor. Rev.
Mr. Jorgensen. Rev. Jens Hendrix
SCu ann ~. huht G~t' 'NN 80
congregation, and by their earnest
efforts many were won TO the
Christian life.
Log Church Replaced
The log church has been replac-
ed by an imposing brick structure,
which was built during the pastor
ate of Rev. Nels Nelson, now OF
Selma. Calif 1t is valued at $4,000,
and alongside stands $1,000 par
scnage. The church now has a mem
bership of 40S and in the interven-
ing years 1882 have been number
ed on it's rolls, 800 of whom were
baptized upon the field" A strong
Sunday school is maintained, under
Ieadership af Andrew Hanson, and
women of the congregation are ever
:,ctive in good works.
During the 60 years OF its life
this rural center OF Christian work
has expended s220.431,l7, consider
able Of this going to missions, and
in the recent campaign OF the
Northern Baptist conference the
Clarks Grove congregation pledged
itself for $20,6S5.7S toward the en-
lurged missionary, program. While
the world war continued thirty -four
Young men and women of the church
were in the United States service,
and on its memorial flag are several
gold and silver stars.