Evening star., 1926-11-07
SWEDISH SOCIETY
ACTIVE IN CAPITAL
Americans of That Descent
In City Number Nearly 800.
/ Have Social Center.
BY MARGARET r.. DOWNING.

BY MARGARET B. DOWNING.
The Swedes resident in the National
Capital number almost 500 and
though more than three-fourths are
Of Swedish descent only. all are en-
Enthusiastically committed to main
tanning their home traditions whilst
endeavoring TO be good Americans
and to establishing bonds of friend
ship and a closer intercourse with
each other
There have heen Swedes i'm Wash
.ington since 1t first became Fed
eral possession and those with tn
blood Of the Vikings coursing in thei
veins have been among the renowned
legislators Of this country beginning
with the first President of the Unite
States in Congress assembled. John
Hanson. Groups Of these people have
sbeen gathered for social intercourse
and mutual aid for the past 75 years
but the swedish Society OF the Order
OF Vase was organized in WashinGto"
on February IS, 19l0' Although 1t
was in the form OF a Masonic lodge
and held its initial as we'll AS subse-
quent meetings in the l. o. o. +.
Temple, on Seventh street near ID
street. the orga nization soon ex-
banded into a social as well as A
benevolent society and 1t was the
nucleus OF what IN now a. Swedish
community center. one of the largest
and most active Of the kind in this
section Of the country.
Location of Center.
This Swedish community center Is
located In a big rOomy brick house on
Fourth street. directly opposite the
east wing Of the District courthouse
and its densely wooded park. and it
contains the Swedish National LEth-
eran Church. the headquarters of all
the societies purely Masonic as we'll
as social. and a number Of subsidiary
organizations entirely supported by
Swedes. Many Of those who are in
charge of the various phases of this
work reside on the premises.
ST. Erk's is the name of this Ma
tional Swedish Lutheran Church and
it was dedicated formally on March
of this year with the Swedish Minis
ter Nine. Bostrom. and all the prom
inent Swedes of the city in at
tendance. On May 80 the Grown
Prince Gustav Adolphus and Princess
Louise attended a speciol service in
their honor. Rev. F. \. Anderson is
the pastor and practically all those
born in Sweden or of that descent in
Washington or the immediate vicinity
attend service there. The Swedish
and Norwegian legation staff are
regular attendants and special serv
the Swedish and Norwegian Ian
guages.
Carl Fl. STANCE organized the Swed
iSh Order Of Vasa in Washington,
and was it's first president and is now
again in charge Of its affairs. Other
charter members were Albin Nahl-
strom, Joseph c. Carlson, Knut Bjork-
land. John s. Allison. Mrs Carl
STANCE, Mrs. Constance HALIFAX and
Mrs. c. j. Brygger. Some of those
who have held the office of president
and are still active In the society are
knut Bjorkland, Gustav Larson. Carl
W. johnson, John A. Dysland. Mrs.
Carl STANCE, Mrs. Anna Smith ana
Mrs. Emma Sandberg.
The Washington society is consid-
cred a branch of a large district or
eanization. including all Of Maryland,
Pennsylvania and Ohio. in which the
Swedes have been enrolled for more
than 80 years and members of the
local wing hold positions also in the
district branch. Mr.. Johnson, who
resides in the Swedish community
house and is one of the active direc
tors of its work, has held many offices
In the local society and is now secre-
tary of the district and Of the Wash
ington society as well. Mr. STANCE is
the president of the Order of Easa and
Albin F. Wahlstrom the treasurer.
ElHSHSH'SpcdhuHS DltlSUh'
on March 1S. 1924. the Swedish So
ciety organized an Enslish-speakins
division and Jesse S Petersen, a
leader in this movement, began his
venture with some 90 members. The
older societies use Swedish alone in
their gatherings and it was deemed
time to begin an English speaking
branch. All members work in the
utmost harmony and use the same
nd IN oI y-it
each other. The officers of this new
branch or lodge are Henry HarneSk.
president, and Ivar Tidestrom. SeCre-
tary. Past presidents have been Mrs.
Esther Benson and George F.. Lund.
The most important event of the year
Is the banquet given in February, the
date selected after consultation with
the members of the Swedish legation
and all the affiliated associations of
the Order of Nasa. 1t is given at
some central hotel and besides the
Minister from Sweden and his staff
all those Of Swedish blood who are
Senators. members of the House and
other governmental officials are in
vited TO he guests Of honor.
This coming February. however, the
routine Of giving a banquet will be
changed and large delegation will
go TO Wilmington. Del, to assist in
the celebration Of the Booth anniver.
Christina in New Sweden, on Febru-
ary 13. 1927.
The celebration will last until the
twenty first and after a brilliant pro
gram in Wilmington. including the
unveiling of monument on the site
of old Fort Christina and the dediCa
tion Of the new Sweden Memorial
Park along the randywine. the fes
tivities shift TO Philadelphia, the
scene Of the memorable services of
John Morton. signer Of. the Decla.
ration of independence, Who was Of
Swedish descent.
II was Mortons vote which cast the
decisive ballot in that immortal Con
gress of July 4. 1875. urging inde-
pendence and complete separation
from Great Britain. The Swedish So
cietv Of Washington has been most
energetic in gathering funds to COM
nlete the John Morton Memorial
building in the Quaker City. which
will he filled with exhibits. historic,
industrial and racial. nd will he ii
vast and worthy Swedish American
museum
Aiding Memorial Chapel.
The Washington branch is also en-
gaged in promoting the speedy erec'
tion Of the John Morton Memorial
Chapel. to be unveiled on the one nun
dred and fftieth anniversary of the
patriots death. and 20 be erected in
PHILADELPHIA and destined to be ma
tjonal shrine for the Swedes. Look
ing further on, the society has plans