Evening star., 1926-05-30
ADVERTISEMENT
May q, 1926.

Il with records OF those TO whom
America owes mighty debt OF graft
tude, and one which we cannot too
often emphasize 1t is brought to us
today with special significance. AS we
welcome to our shores a gallant SWed-
ish descendant of the great Aasa dy-
nasty OF 1iberators, the Crown Prince
of Sweden, bearing the name, Gustav
Adolph. which is emblazoned with
glory, through the work Of the great
Swedish liberator, Gustav Adolph, three
centuries ago.
The Crown Prince and his gracious
consort, Crown Princess Louise.
great-granddaught of the beloved
Queen Victoria, have come to pay
Swedens debt to great American,
John Ericsson who is golden link i'll
the indissoluble chain which binds
America and Sweden. And in naming
our distinguished guest for his great
ancestor, let us remember to eliminate
the Latin efforts to change Gustav
Adolph into "C,ustavus Adolphus. We.
the friends and beneticiaries 1t the
heroic sacrifices OF Sweden's mighty
leader Of Professionalism. the great Gus
tav Adolph. should respect his right to
be known bv the honest. sturdy SWed-
ish name bv which he was christened,
Gustav Adolph,
For chronological order let us go
back a century before Gustav Adolpn
saved the Protestant cause IN Europe.
a victory which directly affected Amer
ica and her colonization. In beaut1-
ful and romantic district OF Sweden
there is one OF the Oldest copper mines
in the world. 1t is situated at Falun, IN
Dalecarlia About 400 years ago
Young man. inspired with love for God
and his country. might have been seen
looking into this open mine He was
filled with anxiety for his beloved co,'n-
try. mingled with holy purpose to re-
deem ii from the hands OF cruel tN-
rant. the Danish King. Christian II.
The young man himself. Gustav \asa
by name. was being pursued and driven
TO seek concealment. as he was direct
descendant OF the ancient king, oi
Sweden. 1t was an hour when the Nor
die spirit OF liberty was atlame. lhe
spirit of persecution was at that mo-
ruent testing. yea. i'll veritable fiery
who were engaged in the same battle
for liberty. not only i'll Britain and the
Netherlands. but wherever the spiritual
pioneers. who were to build America,
could find refuge from religious perse-
cution and prepare themselves for their
work of aiding America i'll the fulfill
ment oi her divine destiny.
! Gustav Nasa suffered terribly but as
a spiritual pilgrim. diynely ordained
for a mission, he never lost faith in God.
He was ever hopeful, resolute. devout.
he remembered how the miners had
fought. in days Of old. for their country.
He would rouse them SO that they
would go forth again to battle. Don
ming a peasant costume. he became one
of themselves. gaining their love and
trust. through his religious and patri-
otto zeal and bright. winning manner.
He told them OF the horrors OF the OPP
pressions being enacted by King Chris
tan, the Nero of the North. Time after
time his life was saved from the re-
venge OF the oppressor's agents, usually
through the divine ingenuity of patri-
was under the protection of God.
Once. while this ancestor of our pres
ent visitor was concealed in hay
wagon. the cart was surrounded by the
enemy soldiers, who thrust their sharp
pixies into the straw. Pierced i'll the
side, Gustav endured the pain. without
a groan OF sound to betrav his pres
ence Often he was in want for food,
with no place where it was safe to ask
| for shelter. After bitter trials and dis
appointments. the peasant miners at
last were reused to fight ior the cause
of God. to free their country from auto
cratic and ecclesiastical despotisn. TN
der the leadership OF Gustav \asa,
Fired by his intense enthusiasm, the
Swcdes assembled around his banner III
formidable numbers. Their courage
and hardihood struck fear into the
hearts of the Danish oppressors. On
one occasion a Danish general asked
how large force of Swedes could be
supported in SO wild a country. a
Swede, hearing the remark, said that
the Dalecarlians were content to drink
water and, if need be, eat bread made
of the bark Of tree. Whereupon the
Dane said. "A people who can eat aVood
and drink 7eutey the devil himself cam
not subdue.'
1t is we'll for us today to ponder the
spiritual endurance which animated and
sustained these Protestant pioneers, for
from this stock have sprung men and
women who have enriched our national
life and helped nightly i'll keeping
American ideals pure and ,1ndefiled.
There is no doubt but that William
Tvndale, whose first installment of his