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<> Remembering the Augustana Synod Legacy <>
<> Remembering the Augustana Synod Legacy <>
Losing their foundational Swedish identity,
the beloved Augustana Lutheran Synod congregations of 1,269 and members of 629,547 were joined to the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) in 1962.
the beloved Augustana Lutheran Synod congregations of 1,269 and members of 629,547 were joined to the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) in 1962.
Their "Augustana Lutheran Synod," 1860 - 1962
The events of the Augustana Lutheran Synod were constantly affecting the spiritual and secular lives of Bethany Lutheran Church members like Lydia, Emil, their families, and friends. The conferences of the Synod were key to the management of their congregations.
Lindsborg's Bethany Lutheran Church would host six (6) of these Augustana Lutheran Synod Conferences: In 1875, the year in which the Church building (which was completed in 1874) would be dedicated with the founding pastor Olof Olsson presiding conducting a large choir for the ceremony; in 1881, the year when Bethany College was founded by second pastor Carl Aaron Swensson who would be presiding; in 1892, the year when the Augustana Women's Missionary Society was founded with Rev. Swensson presiding; and in 1904, 1919 and 1939, when Bethany Lutheran Church and Lindsborg were celebrating their foundings -- in their 35th year, in their 50th year and in their 70th year respectively with Dr. Rev. Alfred Bergin presiding at all three conferences.
This Synod, first called the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod in North America, was established in 1860 by a group of eleven or so Swedish Lutheran pastors which included Erland Carlsson, Lars Paul Esbjörn, Tuve Hasselquist, Eric Norelius, and Jonas Swensson at the Jefferson Prairie Settlement near Clinton, Wisconsin, would be eventually named the Augustana Lutheran Evangelical Church and referred to later as the Augustana Lutheran Synod and/or the Augustana Lutheran Church.
Note that the "Augustana" name was chosen at that first meeting of the Synod. It is Latin. It translates to Augsburg, a city in Germany, and birthplace of a most important Lutheran document to the Protestant Reformation, that of the Augsburg Confession!
The Synod was made up of an assembly of Swedish Lutheran clergy, pastors of churches from different parts of the country, which would meet periodically at appointed churches to attend to the concerns, needs and business matters affecting its various church congregations. These meetings were called conferences. In these early years, there was no official headquarter location for the conferences to take place.
Among ministering to social concerns overseas in Africa, China and India where its missionaries served, this growing Swedish American Lutheran Synod was first, and originally, committed to local social and educational service at home which found it supporting hospitals, orphanages, homes for the aged, and educational institutions.
Nine years after its founding, the Synod accepted Lindsborg's Bethany Lutheran Church as a member into its body in 1869. In 1884, it would "adopt" Lindsborg's Bethany Lutheran College as its "child."* Lindsborg's Bethany Home for the Aged established in 1907, the Synod would also adopt in 1911, the time in which the Home was accepting residents.
In 1910, the Augustana Synod, celebrating its fiftieth (50) year anniversary, compiled a book titled "The Augustana Synod 1860 - 1910," and in 1911 it compiled another book titled "Minnen från Jubelfasten" loosely translated "Memories from Jubilee." These were both published by the Augustana Book Concern in Rock Island, Illinois, home to Augustana College and Theological Seminary located on the shores of the Mississippi River and just west of neighboring Moline, Illinois.
In our day and age now, we can actually read The Augustana Synod 1860 - 1910 from our computers and even have it read to us. Below is the "digital" book for you to review. It is fascinating to just browse a bit. Just click on it to begin.
Lindsborg's Bethany Lutheran Church would host six (6) of these Augustana Lutheran Synod Conferences: In 1875, the year in which the Church building (which was completed in 1874) would be dedicated with the founding pastor Olof Olsson presiding conducting a large choir for the ceremony; in 1881, the year when Bethany College was founded by second pastor Carl Aaron Swensson who would be presiding; in 1892, the year when the Augustana Women's Missionary Society was founded with Rev. Swensson presiding; and in 1904, 1919 and 1939, when Bethany Lutheran Church and Lindsborg were celebrating their foundings -- in their 35th year, in their 50th year and in their 70th year respectively with Dr. Rev. Alfred Bergin presiding at all three conferences.
This Synod, first called the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod in North America, was established in 1860 by a group of eleven or so Swedish Lutheran pastors which included Erland Carlsson, Lars Paul Esbjörn, Tuve Hasselquist, Eric Norelius, and Jonas Swensson at the Jefferson Prairie Settlement near Clinton, Wisconsin, would be eventually named the Augustana Lutheran Evangelical Church and referred to later as the Augustana Lutheran Synod and/or the Augustana Lutheran Church.
Note that the "Augustana" name was chosen at that first meeting of the Synod. It is Latin. It translates to Augsburg, a city in Germany, and birthplace of a most important Lutheran document to the Protestant Reformation, that of the Augsburg Confession!
The Synod was made up of an assembly of Swedish Lutheran clergy, pastors of churches from different parts of the country, which would meet periodically at appointed churches to attend to the concerns, needs and business matters affecting its various church congregations. These meetings were called conferences. In these early years, there was no official headquarter location for the conferences to take place.
Among ministering to social concerns overseas in Africa, China and India where its missionaries served, this growing Swedish American Lutheran Synod was first, and originally, committed to local social and educational service at home which found it supporting hospitals, orphanages, homes for the aged, and educational institutions.
Nine years after its founding, the Synod accepted Lindsborg's Bethany Lutheran Church as a member into its body in 1869. In 1884, it would "adopt" Lindsborg's Bethany Lutheran College as its "child."* Lindsborg's Bethany Home for the Aged established in 1907, the Synod would also adopt in 1911, the time in which the Home was accepting residents.
In 1910, the Augustana Synod, celebrating its fiftieth (50) year anniversary, compiled a book titled "The Augustana Synod 1860 - 1910," and in 1911 it compiled another book titled "Minnen från Jubelfasten" loosely translated "Memories from Jubilee." These were both published by the Augustana Book Concern in Rock Island, Illinois, home to Augustana College and Theological Seminary located on the shores of the Mississippi River and just west of neighboring Moline, Illinois.
In our day and age now, we can actually read The Augustana Synod 1860 - 1910 from our computers and even have it read to us. Below is the "digital" book for you to review. It is fascinating to just browse a bit. Just click on it to begin.
Source: Internet Archive, San Francisco, California
* * *
This is the 1911 book belonging to my great grandparents Ernst and Selma Sohlberg. The title reads: "Minnen från Jubelfesten" loosely translated "Memories from Jubilee"
This is the 1911 book belonging to my great grandparents Ernst and Selma Sohlberg. The title reads: "Minnen från Jubelfesten" loosely translated "Memories from Jubilee"
and the rest on the cover translation is
"Program, Sermons and Speeches at Augustana Colleges and Augustana-Synods"
"Fifty Years - The Jubilee"
"5 to 15 June 1910"
"Program, Sermons and Speeches at Augustana Colleges and Augustana-Synods"
"Fifty Years - The Jubilee"
"5 to 15 June 1910"
Listed below are the Swedish Lutheran pastors who served the Augustana Synod from its beginnings in 1860 to its end in 1962 when the Augustana Synod merged with other Lutheran synods to form the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) at which time it lost its Swedish identity forevermore!
The Augustana Synod Swedish Lutheran Pastors
Tuve Hasselquist 1860–1870
Jonas Swensson 1870–1873
Eric Norelius 1874–1881
Erland Carlsson 1881–1888
Sven Peter August Lindahl 1888–1891
P. J. Svärd 1891–1899
Eric Norelius 1899–1911
L. A. Johnston 1911–1918
Gustaf Albert Brandelle 1918–1935
Petrus Olaf Bersell 1935–1951
Oscar A. Benson 1951–1959
Malvin H. Lundeen 1959–1962
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Jonas Swensson 1870–1873
Eric Norelius 1874–1881
Erland Carlsson 1881–1888
Sven Peter August Lindahl 1888–1891
P. J. Svärd 1891–1899
Eric Norelius 1899–1911
L. A. Johnston 1911–1918
Gustaf Albert Brandelle 1918–1935
Petrus Olaf Bersell 1935–1951
Oscar A. Benson 1951–1959
Malvin H. Lundeen 1959–1962
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- Jonas Swensson -
Augustana Synod Pioneer
- First Secretary and second President of the Synod -
Source: "Forget-Me-Not." 1902
He was the father of Rev. Dr. Carl Arron Swensson, Bethany College Founder and second President.
Rev. Dr. Jonas Swensson and his wife are buried in Andover, Illinois on the grounds of the Jenny Lind Chapel,
Mother Church of the Augustana Lutheran Synod.
- The Jenny Lind Chapel -
Rev. Dr. Jonas Swensson and his wife are buried in Andover, Illinois on the grounds of the Jenny Lind Chapel,
Mother Church of the Augustana Lutheran Synod.
- The Jenny Lind Chapel -
Courtesy of the Jenny Lind Chapel Museum
To learn more about the Augustana Synod, go HERE to The Augustana Heritage Association, 2000 - 2016.
For a concise detailed description on the founding of the Augustana Women's Missionary Society, go HERE.
For a concise detailed description on the founding of the Augustana Women's Missionary Society, go HERE.
* * *
World War I American Red Cross members of the Augustana Lutheran Church
World War I American Red Cross members of the Augustana Lutheran Church
My great grandmother Selma Sohlberg is in this photograph. See the X for her location.
*Source: Emory Lindquist 1975 book, Bethany in Kansas, the history of a college, page 11
Other sources: Wikipedia: Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church; Augustana College; Augustana Heritage Association website
Other sources: Wikipedia: Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church; Augustana College; Augustana Heritage Association website
* * *
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.
