The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-10-18

The seven men Of the congregation
filled the offices Of deacons and trus-
tees.
At q meeting held July Is, 1883
Articles Of Incorporation were adopt
ed by the congregation. the charter
being granted by the Dakota Terri
torial government Oct. Is. 1883. The
charter bears the signatures of G. A.
Goranson. student pastor at that
time, John F. Hendrickson and Peter
Johnson.
Some years elapsed before the
newly organized congregation could
maintain regular pastor. It Is be-
lieved that Rev. Cavallin visited the
congregation frequently and that
students from Augustana Seminary
had charge Of the work during the
summer months. A number OF meet
ings were held during the years 1884
and 1885 for the purpose OF calling a
pastor, Revs. p. J. Svard, E. J. Wer-
ner and Cavallin presiding at the
different meetings.
Two Students Were Here
Records show that Student Theo-
dore Kjellgren served the cOngrega-
ton for a time In 1885 and that he
was succeeded by Student A. A. Wes-
teen in 1886.
The minutes Of a special meeting
called on March q. 1887, with Rev. O
]. Siljestrom in charge, state that the
congregation decided to request the
Mission Board of the Minnesota Con-
ference to station q pastor In Bis
marck to serve not only the congre-
CATION here but also the large sur.
rounding mission field.
Although the records from 1887 to
1897 are not available, an interview
with Mrs. M. Spongberg Of Wilton
reveals that Rev. M. Spongberg, the
first pastor, arrived in the summer OF
1889. His family came about Christ
mas time Of that year.
The first pastor held services IN
the building then standing near the
site OF the present church. Rev
Spongberg and his family lived in q
three-room building behind it.
Mrs. Spongberg said that they did
not reside In Bismarck long, since
Rev. Spongberg moved his family to
Wilton to the farm where she now
lives with son.
Rev. Spongberg served wide ter
ritory including Braddock, Washburn,
Underwood and possibly other con-
gregations besides Bismarck. Mrs.
Spongberg was not certain as to the
exact number of years her husband
served the congregation.
A sister Of Mrs. Edward Nelson was
confirmed In Bismarck in 1895 by
Rev. Shipp No church records men
ton Rev. Shipp and how long he
served here or who succeeded him Is
not known.
Request Sum OF $50
The minutes of meeting Of the
congregation on March 20, 1897, show
a decision made to request sum OF
$50 from the conference to aid In
maintaining pastor together with
the Sunne congregation at Slaugh-
ter. Rev. A. @. Olson arrived In
July, 1898, and remained until 1900
to serve both these congregations.
It Is recorded that In 1899 Rev. Oh
son devoted half his time to mis-.
! sionary work. Officers Of the church
at that time included Olaf Frank
lund. Daniel Sundquist and Ola1
PETERSON as deacons and trustees
Carolina E. PETERSON as organist ir
1899 and Mr.. Sundquist as janitor
! There was Sunday school class o.
| AZ pupils and the adult church mem.
bership was 80.
Rev. Oson left in 1900. There an
no records for 1O-year period, anc
Mrs. spongberg again supplies some
information.
| Mrs. Spongberg states that Rev
Gulstrom succeeded Rev. Olson ane
that he must have remained at leas,
five years as he proved up on claim
before leaving. Rev. Udden alse
served the Bismarck congregation bu
the years he served are not known
DR.. J. Moody was here for shor
time in 1907 and after that there wa!
a vacancy for four years.
The pastorate Of Rev. E. r. Afsol
began in June, 1910, and he submitted
his first report In February, 1911. Fo
IS years he was to serve what h,
termed the "little flock" Of the FRS
Lutheran church Of Bismarck ant
the Maria Lutheran church Of: Brad
dock. There was . membership Q
II adults and eight children upol
Rev. Alfson's arrival.
Through the boundless energy an,
devoted efforts Of Rev. and Mrs. Alt
son and their children, the work o
the church was revived, new mem
bers were added, former organiza
tions within the church were re
newed and new ones begun, none
was raised and plans for building
new church soon were under way.
i Young and Old Help
Young and old members lent thei
time, energy and means 70 fulfill I'll
hope Of building . Swedish Luthera
church In Bismarck.
il Considerable money was raise
through subscription and there wer
generous gifts from persons outsic
the church. Business firms and pro
leasional persons Of Bismarck con
tributed. There alao were contribu
tionS from residents OF Braddocl
U&~k~~ 1PssAs,n