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~ An account on the Messiah Lutheran Church formation from Rev. Dr. Alfred Bergin's 1909
"Pioneer Swedish-American Culture of Central Kansas"
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Messiah Lutheran Church:
"The Faith of Our Fathers In The Language of Our Children"
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~ An account on the Messiah Lutheran Church formation from Rev. Dr. Alfred Bergin's 1909
"Pioneer Swedish-American Culture of Central Kansas"
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Messiah Lutheran Church:
"The Faith of Our Fathers In The Language of Our Children"
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As stated in the first section on the Messiah Lutheran Church, the formation of an English-speaking Lutheran church from the Swedish-speaking Bethany Lutheran Church in Lindsborg became a critical matter for the community.
The information on this matter was first recorded in Swedish by Bethany Lutheran Church third pastor Dr. Alfred Bergin in 1909 in his "Lindsborg, Bidrag Till Svenskarnas och Den Lutherska Kyrkans Historia i Smoky Hill River Dalen" which was translated in 1965 by his daughter Ruth Bergin Billdt to Pioneer Swedish-American Culture in Central Kansas.
In this English translation on page 136 finishing on page 138 is the following:
The information on this matter was first recorded in Swedish by Bethany Lutheran Church third pastor Dr. Alfred Bergin in 1909 in his "Lindsborg, Bidrag Till Svenskarnas och Den Lutherska Kyrkans Historia i Smoky Hill River Dalen" which was translated in 1965 by his daughter Ruth Bergin Billdt to Pioneer Swedish-American Culture in Central Kansas.
In this English translation on page 136 finishing on page 138 is the following:
"The English Language within Bethany Church and the Beginning of the Messiah Church"
"The English language problem has been thrust upon us by the College. It has not as yet developed within the congregation as such. The greatest number of students are not at present of Swedish parentage, and some of the professors have inter-married with other nationalities, or are unable to speak the Swedish language. Sixteen youths have been confirmed in the English language in the history of the church, and those within the last two years.
"It is to accommodate the students and professors at the College and a few others who do not understand the Swedish language that we have found it necessary to use the English language at some of our services. These services have been held at the College.
"One service using the English language on Communion Sunday began back in 1885.
"Dr. Swensson wrote in 1894: "We tried having English services during the fall of 1894 especially for the student body. They were well attended, but they proved a hindrance to our regular church services, so from now on they wil be held Sunday afternoons in the College chapel."
"The first English communion service was held January 19th, 1902, and since then we have held two evening communion services during the year. The last four years we have had an English service the first Sunday evening of each month.
"The English language is used in the Young People's Bible Class. The children who are in the confirmation class and so desire are instructed in the English language. The Luther Leagues use both languages. Very little English is used in the Sunday School.
"Shortly after the annual meeting in 1906, at one of the meetings of the Male Chorus in Room 106 at Bethany College, a movement was started to organize an English-speaking Lutheran congregation in Lindsborg. There was a lively interest aroused even to holding a few meetings in the City Hall. A committee met with the pastor of the congregation, and at his request to have a written document of what was discussed and decided upon, the following document was presented:
"It is to accommodate the students and professors at the College and a few others who do not understand the Swedish language that we have found it necessary to use the English language at some of our services. These services have been held at the College.
"One service using the English language on Communion Sunday began back in 1885.
"Dr. Swensson wrote in 1894: "We tried having English services during the fall of 1894 especially for the student body. They were well attended, but they proved a hindrance to our regular church services, so from now on they wil be held Sunday afternoons in the College chapel."
"The first English communion service was held January 19th, 1902, and since then we have held two evening communion services during the year. The last four years we have had an English service the first Sunday evening of each month.
"The English language is used in the Young People's Bible Class. The children who are in the confirmation class and so desire are instructed in the English language. The Luther Leagues use both languages. Very little English is used in the Sunday School.
"Shortly after the annual meeting in 1906, at one of the meetings of the Male Chorus in Room 106 at Bethany College, a movement was started to organize an English-speaking Lutheran congregation in Lindsborg. There was a lively interest aroused even to holding a few meetings in the City Hall. A committee met with the pastor of the congregation, and at his request to have a written document of what was discussed and decided upon, the following document was presented:
Lindsborg Kansas
Jan. 23, 1906
Jan. 23, 1906
To Dr. Alfred Bergin, Pastor of Bethany
Church, and to the Bethany Church Council
of Lindsborg, Kansas
Honored Body: --
For some time quite a few of the young English-speaking people of Bethany Church and several ardent church workers who, for various reasons, have not joined any church, have contemplated the advisability of organizing an English Lutheran Church.
We assure you that this is not a sudden conspicuous notion, but an earnest, heartfelt desire which had its birth in the hearts of sincere church workers, even years ago.
The main reason for desiring an English Lutheran Church, or Church Extension of kind, is because of the language. English is the recognized language of our country. Several members of the Swedish churches have joined said churches temporarily on account of family relations. In some homes, however, only parts of the family have pledged themselves members of the church while the other members of the same family have hesitated because they could not understand the language sufficiently. We have every reason to believe that English is, and will be, the dominating language in America.
We are fully convinced that a people can worship God as devoutly in English as in any other tongue. We know that many children in the Sunday Schools of the Swedish churches and members of the young peoples' society, prefer English to Swedish, and the day is not distant when it will be a question of using English in their church work or a decided indifference will be manifested for the greatest and only true source of all temporal and eternal happiness--the Kingdom of Christ.
We cannot see why Bethany College should, in any way, suffer ill consequences, but, on the contrary, we believe it will grow stronger and better than heretofore in accordance with the rules and regulations laid down by the Kansas Conference an Augustana Synod.
We hope and pray that said church can be organized and caused to grow and prosper and we believe it can if the true Christian spirit prevails between the pioneer churches of this city and especially the pioneer members of Bethany College and those who desire an English Lutheran Church.
We declare before God and to all Christians, right minded people that there is no malice or intrigue against Bethany Church, its present pastor or any church or individual, connected with the proposed movement. The direct cause for the immediate consideration of this question emanates from the conclusions arrived at when the matter was indirectly sounded at the annual meeting of the Bethany Church on January 12th. It seems, at that time, and at previous, semi- public occasions, several members have expressed themselves in favor of less English in place of giving it more prominence.
It is the earnest desire of all interested in this movement to have the consent and cooperation of Dr. Bergin, Bethany Church Council and all who are interested in the building and preparation of the Christian Church.
We believe the solution of this problem will not be difficult, since all interested are willing to see conditions in the right light. There is no intention of taking a premature step in any direction. We believe an English Lutheran Church can be organized in such a way as to work in harmony with the Swedish Lutheran Church and in no way conflict with other churches in our community.
May the highest and noblest of all ambitions be the ultimate victory of Christ's Church for time and eternity.
Church, and to the Bethany Church Council
of Lindsborg, Kansas
Honored Body: --
For some time quite a few of the young English-speaking people of Bethany Church and several ardent church workers who, for various reasons, have not joined any church, have contemplated the advisability of organizing an English Lutheran Church.
We assure you that this is not a sudden conspicuous notion, but an earnest, heartfelt desire which had its birth in the hearts of sincere church workers, even years ago.
The main reason for desiring an English Lutheran Church, or Church Extension of kind, is because of the language. English is the recognized language of our country. Several members of the Swedish churches have joined said churches temporarily on account of family relations. In some homes, however, only parts of the family have pledged themselves members of the church while the other members of the same family have hesitated because they could not understand the language sufficiently. We have every reason to believe that English is, and will be, the dominating language in America.
We are fully convinced that a people can worship God as devoutly in English as in any other tongue. We know that many children in the Sunday Schools of the Swedish churches and members of the young peoples' society, prefer English to Swedish, and the day is not distant when it will be a question of using English in their church work or a decided indifference will be manifested for the greatest and only true source of all temporal and eternal happiness--the Kingdom of Christ.
We cannot see why Bethany College should, in any way, suffer ill consequences, but, on the contrary, we believe it will grow stronger and better than heretofore in accordance with the rules and regulations laid down by the Kansas Conference an Augustana Synod.
We hope and pray that said church can be organized and caused to grow and prosper and we believe it can if the true Christian spirit prevails between the pioneer churches of this city and especially the pioneer members of Bethany College and those who desire an English Lutheran Church.
We declare before God and to all Christians, right minded people that there is no malice or intrigue against Bethany Church, its present pastor or any church or individual, connected with the proposed movement. The direct cause for the immediate consideration of this question emanates from the conclusions arrived at when the matter was indirectly sounded at the annual meeting of the Bethany Church on January 12th. It seems, at that time, and at previous, semi- public occasions, several members have expressed themselves in favor of less English in place of giving it more prominence.
It is the earnest desire of all interested in this movement to have the consent and cooperation of Dr. Bergin, Bethany Church Council and all who are interested in the building and preparation of the Christian Church.
We believe the solution of this problem will not be difficult, since all interested are willing to see conditions in the right light. There is no intention of taking a premature step in any direction. We believe an English Lutheran Church can be organized in such a way as to work in harmony with the Swedish Lutheran Church and in no way conflict with other churches in our community.
May the highest and noblest of all ambitions be the ultimate victory of Christ's Church for time and eternity.
Fraternally yours,
Samuel Thorstenberg,
A. A. Abercrombie,
H. G. Johnson,
H. C. Bernhardt,
F. Levine.
---committee
Samuel Thorstenberg,
A. A. Abercrombie,
H. G. Johnson,
H. C. Bernhardt,
F. Levine.
---committee
This was ratified January 28, 1906 at the meeting in the City Hall, where the following persons were present: G. E. Eberhardt, A. A. Abercrombie, G. N. Malm, B. G. Gröndal, C. V. Rosberg, J. W. Bengtson, Samuel Thorstenberg, H. G. Johnson, A. Pihlblad, J. Moren, E. T. Petrson, J. R. Lynch, H. C. Bernardt, F. Irvin, Holmgren and Prof. Nyquist.
It was decided to table the question for the time being due to the drive to reduce the debt of the Bethany College. Shortly before Christmas 1907 the same committee came to the pastor and requested that he present to the Church Council the request to organize an English Lutheran Church. The pastor presented the request to the Church Council which, after a long and serious discussion concerning all the phases of the request, recommended that such a church be permitted to be organized according to the following decision:
Resolved, that if such a congregation be organized which accepts the constitution of our congregation and asks admission into our Synod, the Church Council recommends that said English-speaking congregation be accepted into the Augustana Synod.
This was without a doubt the only way to handle the situation here, and we hope the future will prove that the Church Council acted wisely.
It was decided after conferring with the pastor that they who desired to organize the new congregation request their membership papers from the Bethany Church and immediately begin organizational plans. January 15, 1908, The Evangelical Lutheran Messiah Church of Lindsborg, Kansas, was organized with a membership of thirty-nine communicant members and thirty-eight children. The congregational constitution recommended in New Britain, Connecticut, was adopted with its liberal interpretation concerning Secret Societies.
The following members have to date left Bethany Church to join the Messiah Church:
Dr. H. G. Johnson, wife and two children
G. N. Malm, wife and three children
E. Malm, wife and one child
Samuel Thorstenberg, wife and two children
Andrew Monson, wife and one child
J. W. Bengston
M. L. Bengston
Mrs. Abercrombie
Roy and Enola Bengston
Gust Carlson
G. E. Anderson, wife and two children
Ruth Bengston
Peter Larson, wife and three children
Eva and Teckla Larson
Oscar Berglund
Ralph and Clarence Peterson
G. E. Eberhardt, wife and one child
Leroy Eberhardt
Arvid Anderson
Henry, Anette, Mildred Rosburg
Mrs. R. Wilbur
Mrs. W. Jukes
Amy Palmquist
Mrs. G. Anderson
The services are held in the College Chapel or the Swedish Pavilion. The hymnal and the handbook of the Augustana Synod are used. The president of the college is the pastor at present. Dr. Dorf was present at the organization meeting, several pastors in the Valley have been visitors, and Prof. Sadtler has been in charge of the service now and then.
Although the new congregation did not accept the constitution of Bethany Church as the Church Council requested, the Council did not oppose the admission of the congregation into the Kansas Conference. There is nothing the mother-church would rather see than that her child would grow and wax strong in the love and knowledge of God.
It was decided to table the question for the time being due to the drive to reduce the debt of the Bethany College. Shortly before Christmas 1907 the same committee came to the pastor and requested that he present to the Church Council the request to organize an English Lutheran Church. The pastor presented the request to the Church Council which, after a long and serious discussion concerning all the phases of the request, recommended that such a church be permitted to be organized according to the following decision:
Resolved, that if such a congregation be organized which accepts the constitution of our congregation and asks admission into our Synod, the Church Council recommends that said English-speaking congregation be accepted into the Augustana Synod.
This was without a doubt the only way to handle the situation here, and we hope the future will prove that the Church Council acted wisely.
It was decided after conferring with the pastor that they who desired to organize the new congregation request their membership papers from the Bethany Church and immediately begin organizational plans. January 15, 1908, The Evangelical Lutheran Messiah Church of Lindsborg, Kansas, was organized with a membership of thirty-nine communicant members and thirty-eight children. The congregational constitution recommended in New Britain, Connecticut, was adopted with its liberal interpretation concerning Secret Societies.
The following members have to date left Bethany Church to join the Messiah Church:
Dr. H. G. Johnson, wife and two children
G. N. Malm, wife and three children
E. Malm, wife and one child
Samuel Thorstenberg, wife and two children
Andrew Monson, wife and one child
J. W. Bengston
M. L. Bengston
Mrs. Abercrombie
Roy and Enola Bengston
Gust Carlson
G. E. Anderson, wife and two children
Ruth Bengston
Peter Larson, wife and three children
Eva and Teckla Larson
Oscar Berglund
Ralph and Clarence Peterson
G. E. Eberhardt, wife and one child
Leroy Eberhardt
Arvid Anderson
Henry, Anette, Mildred Rosburg
Mrs. R. Wilbur
Mrs. W. Jukes
Amy Palmquist
Mrs. G. Anderson
The services are held in the College Chapel or the Swedish Pavilion. The hymnal and the handbook of the Augustana Synod are used. The president of the college is the pastor at present. Dr. Dorf was present at the organization meeting, several pastors in the Valley have been visitors, and Prof. Sadtler has been in charge of the service now and then.
Although the new congregation did not accept the constitution of Bethany Church as the Church Council requested, the Council did not oppose the admission of the congregation into the Kansas Conference. There is nothing the mother-church would rather see than that her child would grow and wax strong in the love and knowledge of God.
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A 1910 photograph of Messiah Lutheran Church and Congregation
Beyond is Bethany College Lane Hart Hall
Photograph by B. G. Grondal was taken from the ground where Emil's and Lydia's home was to be built in 1940
A 1910 photograph of Messiah Lutheran Church and Congregation
Beyond is Bethany College Lane Hart Hall
Photograph by B. G. Grondal was taken from the ground where Emil's and Lydia's home was to be built in 1940
Source: "G.N. Malm -- A Man of Varied Interest" by Dr. Emory Lindquist / Photographer: B.G. Grondal
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Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since October 8, 2015 to Current Year
as indicated on main menu sections of
www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since October 8, 2015 to Current Year
as indicated on main menu sections of
www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
