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"Sweden held its greatest place in history when respect for the scriptures was shown by the monarch,
namely under Gustaf Adolf [1611-1632] whose whole life was directed by the word of God."
-- Pastor Olsson
namely under Gustaf Adolf [1611-1632] whose whole life was directed by the word of God."
-- Pastor Olsson
<> Remembering the Augustana Synod Legacy <>
"He Gave God Glory "
The Story of Olof Olsson
(1841 - 1900)
by
Rev. Bror Carlsson
"He Gave God Glory "
The Story of Olof Olsson
(1841 - 1900)
by
Rev. Bror Carlsson
By kind permission, on December 8, 2017, Mr. Alf Brorson has granted that this book, his condensed version of his father's book, be shown in its entirety in order to share this enlightening story of the founder of Bethany Church and of Lindsborg to the community of today.
This is the very condensed version by Mr. Brorson of his father's, Rev. Bror Carlsson's, 350 page manuscript which was finished on November 5, 1955, with a plan for publication which, unfortunately, did not occur. However, Rev. Carlsson in 1984 was able to have his manuscript copyrighted.
It was first translated from Swedish to English by Pastor Martin Ringstrom of Lindsborg and was titled originally as Jag Sökte Icke Mitt, i.e. I Did Not Seek My Own. It is about the Augustana Lutheran Synod from 1860 to 1900, and his dear friend "in history," Swedish Värmland Pastor Olof Olsson (1841-1900). It was published as He Gave God Glory, The Story of Olof Olsson by Smoky Valley Historical Publications, A. John Pearson, Editor, in 2001 with the sponsorship of the Smoky Valley Historical Association.
Rev. Carlsson who had been a former pastor of the Church of Sweden, dedicated his 350 page manuscript, which was to be a published book, to "the Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church with Gratitude and Respect."
This is the very condensed version by Mr. Brorson of his father's, Rev. Bror Carlsson's, 350 page manuscript which was finished on November 5, 1955, with a plan for publication which, unfortunately, did not occur. However, Rev. Carlsson in 1984 was able to have his manuscript copyrighted.
It was first translated from Swedish to English by Pastor Martin Ringstrom of Lindsborg and was titled originally as Jag Sökte Icke Mitt, i.e. I Did Not Seek My Own. It is about the Augustana Lutheran Synod from 1860 to 1900, and his dear friend "in history," Swedish Värmland Pastor Olof Olsson (1841-1900). It was published as He Gave God Glory, The Story of Olof Olsson by Smoky Valley Historical Publications, A. John Pearson, Editor, in 2001 with the sponsorship of the Smoky Valley Historical Association.
Rev. Carlsson who had been a former pastor of the Church of Sweden, dedicated his 350 page manuscript, which was to be a published book, to "the Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church with Gratitude and Respect."
As a former Värmland Church of Sweden pastor, Olof Olsson was destined to found
Lindsborg's Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Bethany Church on August 19, 1869.
Here is the story!
INTRODUCTION Pages i - x
-- Contents, Translator's Foreword by Pastor Martin Ringstrom, Forward by Alf Brorson
-- Contents, Translator's Foreword by Pastor Martin Ringstrom, Forward by Alf Brorson
| he_gave_god_glory_i_-_x.pdf |
Foreword by Alf Brorson
page ix
My father, Bror Carlsson, was a pastor of the Church of Sweden. At the time of his death he left a manuscript dedicated to "the Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church with Gradtitude and Respect." The manuscript entitled I Did Not Seek My Own contains 350 pages of typewritten material and deals with "The Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church in the U.S. A. during the years 1860-1900 with particular attention to a Värmland native, the pioneer pastor, Olof Olsson."
My father had the opportunity to trace Olof Olsson's life both in Sweden and abroad. He had become interested, as a pastorial colleague expressed it with astonished reservations, in "the career of Pr. Olof Olsson, the remarkable pastor from Värmland."
My father finished his work on the manuscript on November 4, 1955, at the Jösse Ny parsonage, Värmland. After that, various circumstances prevented its final editing and publication. I have tried many years later to complete my father's work. I have retained the original design of the manuscript as nearly as possible but have condensed its contents.
As a result, I Did Not Seek My Own (In English as He Gave God Glory) has become the portrait of a genuine human being, Pr. Olof Olsson.
He could have been my father.
page ix
My father, Bror Carlsson, was a pastor of the Church of Sweden. At the time of his death he left a manuscript dedicated to "the Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church with Gradtitude and Respect." The manuscript entitled I Did Not Seek My Own contains 350 pages of typewritten material and deals with "The Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church in the U.S. A. during the years 1860-1900 with particular attention to a Värmland native, the pioneer pastor, Olof Olsson."
My father had the opportunity to trace Olof Olsson's life both in Sweden and abroad. He had become interested, as a pastorial colleague expressed it with astonished reservations, in "the career of Pr. Olof Olsson, the remarkable pastor from Värmland."
My father finished his work on the manuscript on November 4, 1955, at the Jösse Ny parsonage, Värmland. After that, various circumstances prevented its final editing and publication. I have tried many years later to complete my father's work. I have retained the original design of the manuscript as nearly as possible but have condensed its contents.
As a result, I Did Not Seek My Own (In English as He Gave God Glory) has become the portrait of a genuine human being, Pr. Olof Olsson.
He could have been my father.
FOUR CHAPTERS TOTAL
First Two Chapters
Page 1
A HUMBLE SERVANT OF THE LORD
Pages 2-19
"GOD HAS SO CREATED A HUMAN BEING THAT NO TIES ARE STRONGER IN HIS HEART THAN THE TIES OF HOME"
Find these chapters in file below:
First Two Chapters
Page 1
A HUMBLE SERVANT OF THE LORD
Pages 2-19
"GOD HAS SO CREATED A HUMAN BEING THAT NO TIES ARE STRONGER IN HIS HEART THAN THE TIES OF HOME"
Find these chapters in file below:
| he_gave_god_glory__1st_2_chapters.pdf |
From page 16: On God's Word and Swedish Kings Gösta and Gustaf Adolf:
Olof Olsson gave credit to the former kings of Sweden for an important role in the battle for God's word: "The Swedes must have God's word, otherwise they are lost."
"All true history must give recognition to old King Gösta, who with true Swedish honesty and sincerity respected the Scriptures and wished to establish and build a free and prosperous kingdom based on the solid and unshakeable foundation of God's word.
"Sweden held its greatest place in history when respect for the scriptures was shown by the monarch, namely under Gustaf Adolf whose whole life was directed by the word of God."
--Lectures and Addresses (The Swedish people's armor for the defence of the Gospel. Festival address given at Wahoo, Nebraska, February 25, 1893.
Olof Olsson gave credit to the former kings of Sweden for an important role in the battle for God's word: "The Swedes must have God's word, otherwise they are lost."
"All true history must give recognition to old King Gösta, who with true Swedish honesty and sincerity respected the Scriptures and wished to establish and build a free and prosperous kingdom based on the solid and unshakeable foundation of God's word.
"Sweden held its greatest place in history when respect for the scriptures was shown by the monarch, namely under Gustaf Adolf whose whole life was directed by the word of God."
--Lectures and Addresses (The Swedish people's armor for the defence of the Gospel. Festival address given at Wahoo, Nebraska, February 25, 1893.
From page 16: On the Church of Sweden not accepting his resignation forcing Pastor Olsson to appeal to the King is written:
By December, 1868, Olof had decided to immigrate to America.
But under the leadership of Bishop Sundberg the Karlstad diocese decided not to accept Olof Olsson's resignation.
Olof did not give up. Just as the Apostle Paul appealed to Caesar, so Olof appealed to the King, who on February 19, 1869, granted his request for release from service within the Church of Sweden. The Karlstad diocese, therefore, was required to release Olof Olsson from his Eksharad's pastorate and did so on March 23 of the same year.
Olof's emigration was preceded by an exchange of letters to and from America. In a letter to T.N. Hasselquist, the first president of the Augustana Synod, Olof wrote: "Thank you for the kind letter which I received a long time ago. The reason I did not answer it sooner is that I was advised and warned on all sides not to journey to America.
It is not difficult to understand that I became indecisive as a result of these persistent warnings. I have, nevertheless, decided to come to you in the name of the Lord. I have recently sent my resignation from service in the diocese to the cathedral chapter.
By December, 1868, Olof had decided to immigrate to America.
But under the leadership of Bishop Sundberg the Karlstad diocese decided not to accept Olof Olsson's resignation.
Olof did not give up. Just as the Apostle Paul appealed to Caesar, so Olof appealed to the King, who on February 19, 1869, granted his request for release from service within the Church of Sweden. The Karlstad diocese, therefore, was required to release Olof Olsson from his Eksharad's pastorate and did so on March 23 of the same year.
Olof's emigration was preceded by an exchange of letters to and from America. In a letter to T.N. Hasselquist, the first president of the Augustana Synod, Olof wrote: "Thank you for the kind letter which I received a long time ago. The reason I did not answer it sooner is that I was advised and warned on all sides not to journey to America.
It is not difficult to understand that I became indecisive as a result of these persistent warnings. I have, nevertheless, decided to come to you in the name of the Lord. I have recently sent my resignation from service in the diocese to the cathedral chapter.
Last Two Chapters
Pages 20-39
THE SONG OF MESSIAH PEARLS FORTH FROM THE PRAIRIE
Pages 20-39
THE SONG OF MESSIAH PEARLS FORTH FROM THE PRAIRIE
Pages 40-41
AT THE CROSS
Find these chapters in file below:
AT THE CROSS
Find these chapters in file below:
| he_gave_god_glory_last_2_chapters.pdf |
From page 33: On Pastor Olsson's thoughts on Christian theology:
In his desire to find meaning in all of life's changes Olof researched in many directions. There is no doubt that he was, from time to time, regarded with mistrust because of his openness to extensive study and research.
Olof professed to be "a Lutheran at heart" and his frequent references to Luther's "clear and consistent theological positions" confirms it. But he also confessed that "anyone who sincerely believes in Jesus as God's Son and the Savior of sinners is my brother and friend in Jesus Christ." He was always ready to extend the hand of friendship to a brother in the faith.
Olof was not a typical representative for a single interpretation. His thinking was not fenced in by "isms." Throughout his life he constantly sought to deepen his knowledge in relation to the position that "there is only one name and one proclamation and that is Christ."
But he thought on an idealistic level and consequently his thinking could constantly expose him to attack.
From page 37: On Pastor Olsson's thoughts on science:
God's Word was for Olof the highest and most unshakable of all truth. But he did not look upon Christianity as an exclusive educational system. He attempted to keep up with the science of his time insorfar as it was possible for him. "True faith stands in grateful union with true science and true art."
"No branch of knowledge has been so badly abused by its highest and most famous spokesmen as theology. In spite of these abuses, we do not reject the knowledge of God or the spirit of man.
"When will we be able to pay our debt of gratitude to natural sciences? The knowledge has grown and had changed our entire physical earthly life in an unbelievable manner. If many people abuse this knowledge so that they deny and ridicle the hope which makes human life worth living, we do not, therefore, reject the marvelous science, but we feel pity for its abusers."
-- To Rome and Home Again (1890)
In his desire to find meaning in all of life's changes Olof researched in many directions. There is no doubt that he was, from time to time, regarded with mistrust because of his openness to extensive study and research.
Olof professed to be "a Lutheran at heart" and his frequent references to Luther's "clear and consistent theological positions" confirms it. But he also confessed that "anyone who sincerely believes in Jesus as God's Son and the Savior of sinners is my brother and friend in Jesus Christ." He was always ready to extend the hand of friendship to a brother in the faith.
Olof was not a typical representative for a single interpretation. His thinking was not fenced in by "isms." Throughout his life he constantly sought to deepen his knowledge in relation to the position that "there is only one name and one proclamation and that is Christ."
But he thought on an idealistic level and consequently his thinking could constantly expose him to attack.
From page 37: On Pastor Olsson's thoughts on science:
God's Word was for Olof the highest and most unshakable of all truth. But he did not look upon Christianity as an exclusive educational system. He attempted to keep up with the science of his time insorfar as it was possible for him. "True faith stands in grateful union with true science and true art."
"No branch of knowledge has been so badly abused by its highest and most famous spokesmen as theology. In spite of these abuses, we do not reject the knowledge of God or the spirit of man.
"When will we be able to pay our debt of gratitude to natural sciences? The knowledge has grown and had changed our entire physical earthly life in an unbelievable manner. If many people abuse this knowledge so that they deny and ridicle the hope which makes human life worth living, we do not, therefore, reject the marvelous science, but we feel pity for its abusers."
-- To Rome and Home Again (1890)
CLOSING Pages 42-46
These are the graves of Pastor Olsson and his wife Anna's at the Moline, Illinois, Riverside Cemetery near the shore of the Mississippi River looking beyond to Davenport, Iowa. Their graves are about 4 miles east from Augustana College and Theological Seminary in Rock Island, Illinois, where Pastor Olsson was the College's third president.
Source: 2010 photograph by Fran Cochran
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Go HERE to Their Augustana Lutheran Synod, 1860 - 1962.
"He Gave God Glory" The Story of Olof Olsson: By Pastor Bror Carlsson, Revision and Layout by Alf Brorson, Translation by Pastor Martin Ringstrom, Illustrations by Petter Brorson, Göran Hagegård and Björn östlund; © 1984 by Bror Carlsson; © 2001, Revised Edition by Alf Brorson, Smoky Valley Historical Publications, A. John Pearson, Editor, and the Smoky Valley Historical Association, Inc.
* * *
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.
