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The 1860 Formation of the Augustana Synod
~ An Account by Mr. Thomas N. Holmquist
~ An Account by Mr. Thomas N. Holmquist
Mr. Thomas N. Holmquist puts forth a riveting, informative, and easily understood account of the step-by-step Swedish development of the Augustana Lutheran denomination in North America in his 1994, Pioneer Cross, Swedish Settlements Along the Smoky Hill Bluffs.
The Swedish Lutheran Galesburg Colony that arrived in the Smoky Valley that would establish the settlements of Salemsborg and Freemount was fully connected to the very beginnings of the formation of the Augustana Synod in 1860, more so than the Olsson Colony of Värmland Lutheran Swedes who arrived in Lindsborg fresh from Sweden.
Found in Chapter 2 of Mr. Holmquist's book "By Faith Alone" is the subheading "The Rise of the Augustana Synod," where he gives this most important information on how the Augustana Synod was formed, starting on page 29.
The Swedish Lutheran Galesburg Colony that arrived in the Smoky Valley that would establish the settlements of Salemsborg and Freemount was fully connected to the very beginnings of the formation of the Augustana Synod in 1860, more so than the Olsson Colony of Värmland Lutheran Swedes who arrived in Lindsborg fresh from Sweden.
Found in Chapter 2 of Mr. Holmquist's book "By Faith Alone" is the subheading "The Rise of the Augustana Synod," where he gives this most important information on how the Augustana Synod was formed, starting on page 29.
"The Rise of the Augustana Synod"
"As the 1850s ended, a significant population of Swedish born people were living in many communities of Illinois and the surrounding states. The Swedish Lutheran churches were growing and new ones were founded each year. Ten years earlier, when the Swedish population was small and its churches were few, Pastor Esbjörn had aligned the Swedish Lutheran churches with the Americanize Norwegians to give his fledging churches some stability. This predominantly Norwegian group was called the Synod of Northern Illinois. However, by 1860, the Swedish and Norwegian members of the Synod increasingly were disagreeing on matters of policy, doctrine and leadership.
"Eric Norelius, in Minnesota, questioned the validity and wisdom of having joined with the Norwegians in the first place. He was fermenting for an all Swedish Synod. Erland Carlsson and T. N. Hasselquist were much more at ease with the Americanization, the Norwegians, and any changes that needed to be made. They felt that compromise could re-establish harmonious relations with the Norwegian members of the Synod.
"The most significant problem in the Synod centered around Esbjörn and Illinois State University. Esbjörn was teaching the theology classes from the Swedish Lutheran point of view. The foreign language stressed was Swedish and not Norwegian. Not surprisingly, the Norwegians showed little interest in the school and even less financial support for the professorship of Lars Esbjörn. Indignant, Esbjörn resigned his professorship at Illinois State which underscored the rapidly growing tensions between Swedes and Norwegians.
"Not only was a rift developing between the Swedes and Norwegians, but the Norwegians were showing great strain among themselves. The Swedes too were disagreeing over Synod affairs. Esbjörn was fully supported by Norelius. Hasselquist and Carlsson agreed with each other on most points but usually disagreed with Esbjörn and Norelius. The Synod of Northern Illinois began to unravel.
"Finally, a convention was called to deal with the problems of the growing rift in the Synod of Northern Illinois. The delegates convened at Jefferson Prairie, Wisconsin, on June 5, 1860. Twenty-six pastors and fifteen laymen were present for the meeting. The majority of the delegates were Swedish, as were the majority of the congregations in the Synod. All the prominent Lutheran pastors were in attendance, including Esbjörn, Norelius, Carlsson, Hasselquist, Andrén, and Jonas Swensson.
"In a move strongly supported by Esbjörn and Norelius, the Swedish delegates to the convention soon decided to withdraw from the Synod of Northern Illinois and form their own synod. Esbjörn still felt snubbed by the lack of support from the Norwegians for losing his professorship at Illinois State University. The delegates set to work, drew up a new constitution and prepared for the future under the umbrella of a new Augustana Synod. The Swedish delegates abandoned the school at Springfield to the Norwegians and established the new Augustana Seminary in Chicago.
[The 1860 institution was known as Augustana College and Theological Seminary. Both the college and seminary moved to Paxton, Illinois in 1863, and then to Rock Island, Illinois, in 1875. Becoming a separate institution in 1948, the Seminary returned to Chicago in 1967, but the College remained in Rock Island. Go HERE, to learn more.]
"Pastor Esbjörn was awarded the Presidency of the Augustana Seminary and also the position of Professor of Theology. T. N. Hasselquist became the first President of the Augustana Synod while still retaining his pastorate at First Lutheran in Galesburg.
"Esbjörn assisted his friend Erland Carlsson in Chicago. Through the first formative years these eminently able men provided great strength and leadership assuring the success of this new synod and the Swedish Lutheran Church in the United States.
"By the year 1862, Pastor Lars Esbjörn had lost his position of preeminent leadership in the Augustana Synod, and younger, stronger men were taking over the yokes of responsibility and leadership. His time had passed. The years of toil and hardship had taken its toll, but one final blow still remain . . . For these reasons, Esbjörn decided to take a leave of his work here in America and return to his native land . . .
"The Lutheran Church and the first Swedish immigrants took root and grew in the new world largely as a result of the great courage, and dominant faith, hard work, and pioneering spirit of this great man. All those Americans whose heritage is Swedish, remain forever in his [Lars Esbjörn's] debt.
"The Augustana Synod met to choose new leaders to succeed the retiring Lars Esbjörn. The Synod chose Erland Carlsson to be the new synod president. T. N. [Tufve Nilsson] Hasselquist was chosen as a temporary President of the Augustana Seminary until a new theologian could be found in Sweden to take the position. Hasselquist remained in that "temporary position" until his death in 1891.
"When called to serve as seminary president, Hasselquist resigned from his position at First Lutheran in Galesburg. This church was one of the most prominent in the Synod. The pastor chosen to occupy this pulpit would also inherit great prestige and power. Many applied for this coveted position, but instead of choosing one of the senior pastors of great reputation, First Lutheran chose one of the most promising of the young pastors serving in the synod. The name of the successful candidate was A. W. Dahlsten."
"Eric Norelius, in Minnesota, questioned the validity and wisdom of having joined with the Norwegians in the first place. He was fermenting for an all Swedish Synod. Erland Carlsson and T. N. Hasselquist were much more at ease with the Americanization, the Norwegians, and any changes that needed to be made. They felt that compromise could re-establish harmonious relations with the Norwegian members of the Synod.
"The most significant problem in the Synod centered around Esbjörn and Illinois State University. Esbjörn was teaching the theology classes from the Swedish Lutheran point of view. The foreign language stressed was Swedish and not Norwegian. Not surprisingly, the Norwegians showed little interest in the school and even less financial support for the professorship of Lars Esbjörn. Indignant, Esbjörn resigned his professorship at Illinois State which underscored the rapidly growing tensions between Swedes and Norwegians.
"Not only was a rift developing between the Swedes and Norwegians, but the Norwegians were showing great strain among themselves. The Swedes too were disagreeing over Synod affairs. Esbjörn was fully supported by Norelius. Hasselquist and Carlsson agreed with each other on most points but usually disagreed with Esbjörn and Norelius. The Synod of Northern Illinois began to unravel.
"Finally, a convention was called to deal with the problems of the growing rift in the Synod of Northern Illinois. The delegates convened at Jefferson Prairie, Wisconsin, on June 5, 1860. Twenty-six pastors and fifteen laymen were present for the meeting. The majority of the delegates were Swedish, as were the majority of the congregations in the Synod. All the prominent Lutheran pastors were in attendance, including Esbjörn, Norelius, Carlsson, Hasselquist, Andrén, and Jonas Swensson.
"In a move strongly supported by Esbjörn and Norelius, the Swedish delegates to the convention soon decided to withdraw from the Synod of Northern Illinois and form their own synod. Esbjörn still felt snubbed by the lack of support from the Norwegians for losing his professorship at Illinois State University. The delegates set to work, drew up a new constitution and prepared for the future under the umbrella of a new Augustana Synod. The Swedish delegates abandoned the school at Springfield to the Norwegians and established the new Augustana Seminary in Chicago.
[The 1860 institution was known as Augustana College and Theological Seminary. Both the college and seminary moved to Paxton, Illinois in 1863, and then to Rock Island, Illinois, in 1875. Becoming a separate institution in 1948, the Seminary returned to Chicago in 1967, but the College remained in Rock Island. Go HERE, to learn more.]
"Pastor Esbjörn was awarded the Presidency of the Augustana Seminary and also the position of Professor of Theology. T. N. Hasselquist became the first President of the Augustana Synod while still retaining his pastorate at First Lutheran in Galesburg.
"Esbjörn assisted his friend Erland Carlsson in Chicago. Through the first formative years these eminently able men provided great strength and leadership assuring the success of this new synod and the Swedish Lutheran Church in the United States.
"By the year 1862, Pastor Lars Esbjörn had lost his position of preeminent leadership in the Augustana Synod, and younger, stronger men were taking over the yokes of responsibility and leadership. His time had passed. The years of toil and hardship had taken its toll, but one final blow still remain . . . For these reasons, Esbjörn decided to take a leave of his work here in America and return to his native land . . .
"The Lutheran Church and the first Swedish immigrants took root and grew in the new world largely as a result of the great courage, and dominant faith, hard work, and pioneering spirit of this great man. All those Americans whose heritage is Swedish, remain forever in his [Lars Esbjörn's] debt.
"The Augustana Synod met to choose new leaders to succeed the retiring Lars Esbjörn. The Synod chose Erland Carlsson to be the new synod president. T. N. [Tufve Nilsson] Hasselquist was chosen as a temporary President of the Augustana Seminary until a new theologian could be found in Sweden to take the position. Hasselquist remained in that "temporary position" until his death in 1891.
"When called to serve as seminary president, Hasselquist resigned from his position at First Lutheran in Galesburg. This church was one of the most prominent in the Synod. The pastor chosen to occupy this pulpit would also inherit great prestige and power. Many applied for this coveted position, but instead of choosing one of the senior pastors of great reputation, First Lutheran chose one of the most promising of the young pastors serving in the synod. The name of the successful candidate was A. W. Dahlsten."
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Rev. Dahlsten would be the pastor who, with the help of church members, would eventually establish these first Lutheran congregations, the Swedish Kansas Smoky Valley churches of Salemsborg and Freemount located in their namesake communities which were to-be neighbors to Lindsborg that was founded with its Swedish Lutheran Bethany Church in the same year by Rev. Dahlsten's theology classmate of Sweden, Rev. Olof Olsson.
That year was 1869!
That year was 1869!
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Shown here are some of these foundational and historical Augustana Lutheran Pastors
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Shown here are some of these foundational and historical Augustana Lutheran Pastors
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Rev. Lars Esbjörn
(1808-1870) 
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Rev. T. N. Hasselquist
(1816-1891) 
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Rev. Erland Carlsson
(1822-1893) 
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Rev. Eric Norelius
(1833-1916) 
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Image sources for: Dahlsten: 1994 Pioneer Cross; Olsson: McPherson County Old Mill Museum;
Carlsson, Dahlsten, Hasselquist: 1909/1965, Pioneer Swedish American Culture in Central Kansas;
Esbjörn: Augustana College website; Norelius: en.wikipedia.org
Carlsson, Dahlsten, Hasselquist: 1909/1965, Pioneer Swedish American Culture in Central Kansas;
Esbjörn: Augustana College website; Norelius: en.wikipedia.org
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FOUNDERS OF THE AUGUSTANA LUTHERAN SYNOD
" A group of Swedish Lutheran pastors including Jonas Swensson, Lars Paul Esbjörn, Tuve Hasselquist, Eric Norelius, and Erland Carlsson pioneered development of the Augustana Synod."
-- Source: Wikipedia
" A group of Swedish Lutheran pastors including Jonas Swensson, Lars Paul Esbjörn, Tuve Hasselquist, Eric Norelius, and Erland Carlsson pioneered development of the Augustana Synod."
-- Source: Wikipedia
Source: Courtesy of the Augustana Heritage Association
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These shared selections of Pioneer Cross have been shown to author Mr. Thomas N. Holmquist for approval as of 9-12-22.
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