THE HISTORY OF NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN LUTHERANISM, 1870-1890

Citation preview

THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

D ate____________ .Tims i _________ 19-5.1-

Fevoldj Eugene Lysno________________________ |____________O c to b e r 5» A uthor

1918

Birth Date

The H isto r y o f Norwegian-American Lutheranism, 1870-90 T itle o f Dissertation

T)i v i

n i fry __________________________ Departm ent or School

Ph-»P«___________________________ June_l_1951.. Degree

Convocation

Permission is herewith granted to the University o f Chicago to make copies o f the above title, at its discretion, upon the request o f individuals or institutions and at their expense.

T U HS '

3Number o f pages

Date filmed

I.

'- i - i

*-

Signature o f author

Extensive Quotation or Further Reproduction of This Material by Persons or Agencies Other than the University o f Chicago May N o t Be Made without the Express Permission of the Author.

Short T

it l e

:

I r r e g u l a r n u m b erin g

P a id

D

ate

^

I By

^

U]

O v e rsiz e d sh e e ts

®

thesis deposit O

b il l e d

______________________________________

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

[0]

THE U N IV E R S IT Y OF CHICAGO

THE HISTORY OF N0 RWEGIAH- AMERICAN LUTHERANISM, 1 8 7 0 - 9 0

A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE D IV IN IT Y SCHOOL. IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

nv EUGENE LYSNE FEVOLD

CHICAGO, JUNE,

IL L IN O IS 1951

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

PREFACE The h i s t o r y erab ly in v o lv ed .

o f N orw egian-A m erican L u th eranism i s

D u r in g t h e p a s t one hundred y e a r s

con sid ­

a number o f

s y n o d ic a l o r g a n iz a t io n s have b een brought i n t o b e in g in t h i s t r y by N orw egian im m ig ra n ts o f tio u sn ess

a nd d i v i s i v e n e s s

th e Lutheran p e r s u a s i o n ,

have

ch a ra cterized

s y n o d ic a l b o d ie s have

u n ion s, but

lo st

as o f to d a y th e r e

are

th eir id e n tity still

fiv e

for fa c ­

the r e l i g i o u s h i s ­

t o r y o f N o r w e g ia n -A m e r ic a n L u th e r a n s from t h e b e g i n n i n g . these

coun­

Many o f

t h r o u g h 4c h u r c h

separate

church

b o d ie s o f N orwegian L uth eran background i n A m erica— the E v a n g e l i ­ c a l L utheran Church, (the L i t t l e However,

Synod),

the

th e L utheran B re th re n ,

t h e m em bership o f

p r o x im a tely ten tim es b in ed .

L u th eran F ree Church,

Any e f f o r t

as

th e N orw egian Synod

and E i e l s e n ’ s S y n o d .

th e E v a n g e l i c a l L u th e r a n Church i s

large

as th a t o f the

r e m a i n i n g f o u r com­

t o d e a l i n a u n i f i e d way w i t h t h e h i s t o r y

N orw egian-A m erican L uth eran ism i s

ap­

c o m p l i c a t e d by t h e

of

number o f

c h u r c h b o d i e s w h i c h m u s t be c o n s i d e r e d . The a u t h o r ’ s a im i n h isto ry 90. the

d isserta tio n

is

to p r esen t

o f N orwegian-A m erican L uth eranism d u r in g th e p e r io d

He i s

concerned w ith e v e n ts ,

sy n o d ica l,

le v el.

th is

r a t h e r than th e

However, h i s

in terest

d iv id u a l syn od ical h is t o r ie s

problem s,

the 1870-

and d e v e lo p m e n ts a t

c o n g r e g a t io n a l or i n d i v i d u a l , is

not p r im a r ily in d e t a i l e d ,

bu t in the o v e r - a l l p ic tu r e

w egian -A m erican L utheranism d u r in g th e p e r io d chosen f o r ii

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

in ­

o f Nor­ stud y.

He h a s b e e n m o t i v a t e d b y a d e s i r e t o b r i n g t o g e t h e r ra tiv e

in

portant

as

l u c i d a nd s i m p l e

facts

church b o d ies

a manner a s p o s s i b l e

in to

th e m ost im ­

and m o s t s i g n i f i c a n t d e v e l o p m e n t s r e l a t i n g in volved .

tr y to avoid

to

the

He h a s c o n s c i o u s l y k e p t i n m in d a r e a d e r

l a r g e l y u n o r ie n t e d i n N orw egian-A m erican L utheran h i s t o r y to

one n a r ­

" b o g g i n g down" i n d e t a i l s

in order

concernin g in d iv id u a l

synods.

The d e v e l o p m e n t s w i t h i n i n d i v i d u a l s y n o d s a r e v i e w e d i n

rela tio n

to

the

t o t a l p ictu re

o f N orw egian-A m erican L uth eranism

in s o fa r as p o s s ib le . The tw o t h e m e s ,

or m o t ifs ,

It is

of

" c o n t r o v e r s y " and "union"

dom inate

the p e r io d .

a p e r i o d marked by i n t r a - s y n o d i c a l

ten sio n s

and by i n t e r - s y n o d i c a l c o n f l i c t s , b u t i t

c h a r a c te r iz e d by earn est

striv in g s

fo r u n ion .

are h e l p f u l in ty in g th e

syn od ical s t o r ie s

is

also

These

a period

two th em es

togeth er.

Thus,

h i s t o r y o f N orw egian-A m erican L utheranism d u r in g th e p e r io d 90 i s

to a co n sid e ra b le

efforts

d irected

en tirely

degree

a h isto ry

towards th e ach ievem en t o f u n io n .

the c a s e ,

of course,

for th is

able

g r o w t h and o f a v e r y c o n s i d e r a b l e

tio n

o f syn od ical r e s p o n s ib ilit ie s

ized

s y n o d i c a l work. In s e t t i n g

the

the

is

a lso

T his

and o f is

not

a p e r io d o f remark­

developm ent i n

and t h e

1870-

the assum p­

c a r r y i n g on o f o r g a n ­

o u t t o a c c o m p l i s h h i s aim t h e a u t h o r h a s o r g a n ­

iz e d h is m a ter ia l in F irst,

of con tro v ersies

the

the

f o l l o w i n g manner:

openin g ch ap ter s e r v e s

to o r ie n t

the r e a d e r to

s u b j e c t by p r o v id i n g a b r i e f r e v ie w o f Norwegian backgrounds

in the

n in eteen th cen tury,

m igration

o f th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f t h e movement o f

f r o m Norway t o A m e r i c a , a nd o f t h e h i s t o r y

o f N orw egian-

iii

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

Am erican L u th era n ism p r i o r the

nature

to 187 0 .

and d e v e l o p m e n t o f N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n i s m i n A m e r i c a

s o m e t h i n g m u s t h e known a b o u t t h e p a rticu la rly tim e

the

the r e l i g i o u s

im m igrant l e f t

to Am erica in t h e p r o c e s s Second,

od,

three

general co n d itio n s,

co n d itio n s,

h is hom eland.

w h ic h had d e v e l o p e d w i t h i n

o f the

in order to h e lp account fo r

ex istin g

are d evoted

to a c h a r a c te r iz a tio n

i n Am erica d u r in g our p e r i ­

o f th e most s i g n i f i c a n t a s p e c t s

church b o d ie s are d is c u s s e d

fo llo w in g c la s s if i c a t i o n :

in

trin e u isite

its

em p h asis upon th e

im portance

f o r m s a nd p r a c t i c e s

and i t s

t r a d it io n a l in

reten tion

some r e s p e c t s

nam ely, E i e l s e n ' s

th e y were

order,

em ph asizing the

C h ristian

life

any t e n d e n c i e s

rather

o f the w orship (2)

lea d ersh ip

o f t h e N orw egian Synod i n

c o n c e r n e d a b o u t c h u r c h o r g a n i z a t i o n and

im portance

o f an e x p e r i e n c e d

than pure d o c t r i n e ,

towards form alism

to be

found i n

of In

in

f a i t h and t h e

and b e i n g h o s t i l e

litu rg y

and w o r s h i p .

lesser

o r g r e a t e r numbers

in a l l

iv

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

to

However,

men a nd women who h a d b e e n i n f l u e n c e d b y t h e H a u g e a n R e v i v a l Norway w e r e

A

in our p e r io d

S y n o d a nd H a u g e ’ s S y n o d .

the a n t i t h e s i s

e m p h a s i s , b e i n g mu ch l e s s

as a p r e r e q ­

rep resen ted

b y tw o s y n o d s w h i c h h a d a common o r i g i n u n d e r t h e E llin ,g E i e l s e n ,

concern

th e Church o f Norway.

" l e f t w ing" group o f Haugean c o n v i c t i o n s ,

rep­

o f pure d o c ­

and t h e n e c e s s i t y o f c o m p l e t e u n i t y i n d o c t r i n e f o r u n io n or c o o p e r a t io n ,

of

accordance

(1 ) A " r i g h t w ing" g r o u p ,

r e s e n t e d by t h e N o r w e g ia n S y n o d , w h ic h was marked b y i t s fo r church o rd er,

emphases

o f m igration .

to g eth er w ith a d is c u s s io n

w ith th e

the

t h e C hurch o f Norway w ere t r a n s p l a n t e d

chapters

These

i n No rwa y a t

V arian t r e l i g i o u s

N orwegian L u th eran ch u r c h b o d i e s

t h e i r developm ent.

a nd mo re

in the

Norwegian L uth eran sy n o d s in A m e rica . r e p r e se n te d by th e

(3)

An i n t e r m e d i a t e

C o n fe r e n c e and t h e Norwegian A u g u sta n a S y n o d ,

b r i d g e d t h e g a p b e t w e e n t h e N o r w e g i a n Sy n od on t h e . the E ie l s e n

group,

f o l l o w i n g on t h e

oth er.

o n e h a n d an d

Members o f t h i s

group wanted

c h u r c h o r d e r and o r g a n i z a t i o n w i t h o u t d e s t r o y i n g c o n g r e g a t i o n a l freedom or l a y a c t i v i t y ; d o ctrin e

they d esired

and t h e C h r i s t i a n

life;

a balan ced

m ed iate

agreement h e r e . g r o u p was t h a t

and l e s s u n i t y

In f a c t ,

rev ea ls

more i n common t h a n g r o u p s o n e T h ird , tio n

in

the

top ic

of th is

in ter­

o f op in ion

o t h e r two g r o u p s .

t h a t g r o u p s two and t h r e e had

and t h r e e .

o f controversy r e c e iv e s

C h a p te r s V and V I .

of a b itter

a ch a ra cteristic

than in e i t h e r o f the

The h i s t o r y o f o u r p e r i o d

of

a l t h o u g h t h e r e was n o t

t h e r e wa s a g r e a t e r d i v e r s i t y

of s p ir it

upon b o t h

an d t h e y f a v o r e d r e t e n t i o n

t r a d i t i o n a l l i t u r g i c a l and w o r s h i p fo r m s , com plete

stress

Chapter V i s

in ter-3 y n o d ica l b a ttle

p a rticu la r a tte n ­

devoted to a d is c u s s io n

betw een th e

N o r w e g i a n S y n o d and

t h e C o n f e r e n c e w h i c h o c c u p i e d much o f t h e d e c a d e

o f the

sev en ties.

T h i s c o n t r o v e r s y h a d many d o c t r i n a l and p r a c t i c a l r a m i f i c a t i o n s , and t h i s

d isctissio n

g roups w hich i s d iscu ssio n ca tio n .

supplem ents

found in

cen tered about

In t h i s

the

C hapters

ch aracterization

I I and I V .

and I V ) .

of a ll,

same d e c a d e b o t h E i e l s e n * s

C h a p ter VI i s

the E le c t io n

the d iv is io n

th eo lo g ica l

S y n o d and t h e

on t h e i r h a n d s

C onfer­

(See C hapters

d e v o t e d t o th e most v i o l e n t

C ontroversy o f the e i g h t i e s .

tr a -sy n o d ic a l controversy in

The c h i e f

two

th e d o c t r i n e s o f a b s o l u t i o n and j u s t i f i ­

e n c e had i n t r a - s y n o d i c a l c o n t r o v e r s i e s III

o f these

controversy

T h i s was a n i n ­

i n v o l v i n g th e Norwegian Syn od, r e s u l t i n g

of th a t s y n o d ic a l body.

v

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

Fourth,

Chapter V II i s

th em e t o be c o n s i d e r e d , t h a t sion

d evoted t o th e second s i g n i f i c a n t

o f u n io n .

I t was l a r g e l y c o n f i n e d t o t h e

and c u l m i n a t e d s u c c e s s f u l l y

in

F ifth ,

i n C hapter V I I I under th e

the

title ,

furtherance

p resen ta tio n

"The S y n o d s a t Work,

1870 -9 0 ,"

is

p eriod ,

adopted a

C hapter is

d esign ed

same p u r p o s e .

o f the

a u t h o r ’ s purpose th eo lo g ica l

to d elve

con troversies

su c h as

t io n or th a t in v o lv in g e l e c t i o n ,

cou ld w e ll be

in ten siv e

study,

a u th o r ’ s purpose h as been t o issu es

p articip an ts b e lie v e in v o lv ed

been k ep t In m in d.

in to

an e x ­

o f the

p erio d .

th at con cern in g a b s o lu ­ the

so le

to p ic

for

in d e a l i n g w ith a c o n tr o v e r s y th e con sid er i t s

general nature,

a t s t a k e , and t o d e p i c t th e

ment o f th e c o n t r o v e r s y .

s u e s were

a u n it

as i n t e g r a t e d

Each o f th e m ajor c o n t r o v e r s i e s ,

c e r t a in the

and

d e a lin g w it h the

T his procedure

o f a summary a n d r e v i e w o f t h e

d iscu ssio n

a thorough,

as

o f the p e r io d as p o s s i b l e .

I t has n ot been the h a u stiv e

II-IV .

o f t h e a u t h o r ’ s aim t o p r o v i d e

o f the h i s t o r y

co n sistin g

to serve the

C hapters

ch a rita b le,

synods are d is c u s s e d

than In c o n n e c t io n w i t h th e d i s c u s s i o n s

in d iv id u a l synods i n

eig h ties

1890.

s y n o d ic a l a c t i v i t i e s —m issio n a r y ,

ed u cation al in n atu re— of a l l

rather

decade o f th e

th e f o r m a t io n o f t h e U n it e d Nor­

w e g ia n L u th e r a n Church o f A m erica i n

IX,

o f a d iscu s­

o f t h e p r e - 1 8 9 0 m o v e m e n t f o r u n i o n among N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n

L utherans.

in

It co n sists

R ather th a n the

an d a c t a s t h e y d i d ? ,

an d w h a t c o u r s e d i d t h e T h is means t h a t t h e

c o n tr o v e r s ie s — the m o tiv a tio n s

o f the

course

q u estio n , the

of d evelop ­

Why d i d

q u estion ,

controversy

" In tern al"

to a s ­

the

What i s ­

tak e?, has

aspects

co n tro v ersia lists,

vi

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

of

the

the

o rig in s

of th eir

d e a lt w ith in does

a n y d e t a i l e d wa y i n

th is

o f the

th e purpose language

co n tro v ersies, set

typ e

a necessary b a sis

" in tern a l” aspects

im portance

but he b e l i e v e s

for fu rth er

nam ely,

of these

as­

th a t in accom p lish in g

Furtherm ore,

w ould r e q u i r e

the p r iv a t e

prom in en t i n d i v i d u a l s .

to a b r ie f

of a

in the p rep aration o f t h is

p a p e r s and c o r r e s p o n d e n c e o f

The b u l k o f th e

con sid eration

a treatm ent

the i n v e s t i g a t i o n

syn od ical

h a d t o be c o n s u l t e d d i d n o t p e r m i t a n a l y s i s lea d s

The a u t h o r

i n v e s t i g a t i o n s more l i m i t e d

in n atu re.

o f source m a te r ia l not u t i l i z e d

d isserta tio n ,

l i k e — are not

f o r h i m s e l f he w i l l be p r o v i d i n g i n th e E n g l i s h

s c o p e a n d m or e i n t e n s i v e

o f the

and th e

d isserta tio n .

n o t in te n d th e r e b y t o m inim ize th e

pects

in

th eo lo g ica l p o sitio n s,

o f the

l i t e r a t u r e w hich

o f such so u r c e s.

n a tu r e o f the

T his

source m a teri­

a ls used. A l l prim ary so u r ce m a t e r i a l s Those used have

in clu d ed

(o rd in a rily d e ta iled

the p r in te d r e p o r t s

c h i e f l y the

books in

relig io u s

in the

(p a rticu la rly

and p a m p h l e t s o f t h e

the h e a t o f c o n tr o v e r s y ;

p e rio d ica ls

exten t,

some o f t h e

syn od ical reports for

a l l phases

the

o f the some

th e p r in t e d m inutes o f c o n fe r e n c e s

in c o n n e c t io n w it h the u n io n m ovem ent); p e r i o d , many o f w h i c h w e r e p u b l i s h e d the c o l l e c t e d

p u b l i s h e d w orks o f two

p r o m i n e n t l e a d e r s — G eorg S v e r d r u p and U, V , K oren ; a n d , lim ited

case of

o f f i c i a l sy n o d ica l p u b lic a tio n s, but a lso

p e r io d ic a ls p r iv a t e ly p u b lish ed ; and m e e t i n g s

N orwegian l a n g u a g e ,

o f s y n o d ic a l m eetings

and c o m p l e t e , p a r t i c u l a r l y

N o r w e g i a n S y n o d an d t h e C o n f e r e n c e ) ; p erio d ,

are in the

to a

N orw egian new sp apers o f th e d a y .

The

and s y n o d i c a l p e r i o d i c a l s have been u t i l i z e d

o f the

in v estig a tio n

and h a v e b e e n th e s o u r c e s

v ii

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

of

In fo r m a tio n most h e a v i l y

r e lie d upon.

T his h as been th e n a t u r a l

app roach in a d i s s e r t a t i o n w hich has been concerned w ith d e v e lo p ­ m e n t s on t h e

sy n o d ica l l e v e l .

m o tiv a tio n in su lt

the

One i n t e r e s t e d

in th e m atter o f

c o n n e c t i o n w i t h th e c o n t r o v e r s i e s would want t o c o n ­

c o llectio n s

o f p e r s o n a l p a p e r s o f t h e p rom in en t Norwegian

S y n o d l e a d e r s H. A . P r e u s and U . V« K o r e n , w h i c h a r e a v a i l a b l e the

l i b r a r y o f L uther C o l l e g e , D ecorah,

lead ers,

w hich are

cla ssified , cated the

the

lib ra ry ,

at S t.

O laf C o lle g e ,

In th e

N o rth field ,

M innesota*

o f L uth er T h e o l o g i c a l Sem inary,

S t . P a u l, M innesota,

d i s s e r t a t i o n w as c a r r i e d

on.

o f L uther C o l l e g e , D ecorah, Iowa, how ever, has a b e t t e r o f N orwegian n e w s p a p e r s , and i t

co llectio n

o f pam phlet l i t e r a t u r e

fa c ilities

u tiliz ed ,

a l s o has as com plete a

a s w i l l be

found.

Other l i b r a r y

w h e r e N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n s o u r c e m a t e r i a l s may

be f o u n d , h a v e b e e n t h o s e

of St.

O laf c o l l e g e ,

N o r t h f i e l d , M inne­

C o n c o r d i a C o l l e g e , M o o r h e a d , M i n n e s o t a , an d A u g s b u r g C o l l e g e

an d S e m i n a r y , M i n n e a p o l i s , M i n n e s o t a . F o l k e b l a d e t was h is

prom­

in the l i b r a r i e s .

co llectio n

sota,

U n fortu n ately

p r i m a r y s o u r c e m a t e r i a l s may b e f o u n d i n

where most o f th e r e s e a r c h f o r t h i s The l i b r a r y

lo ­

r e l i g i o u s h i s t o r y o f t h e p e r i o d would have t o be run

Most o f t h e s e lib ra ry

only p a r t i a l l y

an d p e r s o n a l p a p e r s o f many p e r s o n a l i t i e s

down I n a s m u c h a s t h e y a r e n o t a c c e s s i b l e

the

still

o f other

o f th e N orw egian-A m erican H i s t o r i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n ,

correspondence

in en t

t o be f o u n d i n

I o w a , and t h o s e

In

sin cere

c o n su lte d a t the

last-n am ed .

th a n k s and a p p r e c i a t i o n

m entioned l i b r a r i e s

Only th e new sp aper

to the

The a u t h o r e x p r e s s e s

staffs

o f the a b o v e -

for t h e ir u n fa ilin g h e lp fu ln ess

and c o o p e r a ­

tio n • v iii

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

The n a t u r e co n sid era tio n o d s, has

d isserta tio n ,

in v o lv in g as i t

does a

o f v a r io u s p h a ses o f th e developm ent o f s e v e r a l s y n ­

a l s o d i c t a t e d d e p e n d e n c e u p o n a n u m be r o f s e c o n d a r y

sources. object

o f th is

F o r tu n a te ly the

o f much s t u d y ,

been produced. stu d ies

N orwegian im m igran t group h a s b e e n the

and a nu mb er o f w o r k s o f r e a l w o r t h h a v e

S p e c i a l m ention

s h o u l d b e made o f t h e v a l u a b l e

p u b lis h e d over th e y e a r s under th e a u s p ic e s

gian-A m erican H i s t o r i c a l A s s o c ia tio n * N orw egian-A m erican S t u d ie s

o f the

Norwe­

The many v o l u m e s o f t h e i r

a nd R e c o r d s a r e a v e r i t a b l e

storehouse

o f a c c u r a t e and u s e f u l i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t N o rw eg ia n -A m erica n a . Books p u b l i s h e d u n d e r t h e i r

a u sp ices

authors have been e x trem ely h e l p f u l : L a r s e n , L a u r e n c e M. L a r s o n , e d it e d by th e

fo llo w in g

have been v a lu a b le H ellan d ,

and w r i t t e n b y t h e Theodore

C. B l e g e n ,

and C a r l t o n Q u a l e y .

in d iv id u a ls,

references;

fo llo w in g

Books w r i t t e n

v a r io u s ly p u b lish ed ,

selectin g

the p eriod

to be s a i d

1870 to

concernin g th e reason fo r

1890 f o r s tu d y .

N orw egian Am erican L u th eran ism up t o 1872 1926).

However,

in th e

au th or's

b e e n a more n a t u r a l t e r m i n a l d a t e 1890 i n v i t e s u n i f i e d

nessed the b o d ies,

in

appearance

the

h isto r ie s ied

lik ew ise

J . A . B e r g h , J . M. R o h n e , A n d r e a s

The p e r i o d p r i o r t o

1 8 7 0 h a s b e e n c o v e r e d r a t h e r w e l l i n J . M. R o h n e * s s t u d y ,

1870 to

or

and 0 . M. N o r l i e . A few words rem ain

C o.,

Karen

as

th is

(New Y o r k ;

op in ion ,

M acm illan

1870 w ould have

f o r h i s work s i n c e

treatm ent because

en titled

the p e r i o d

th e y e a r 1870 w i t ­

o f two N o r w e g ia n -A m e ric a n L u th e r a n c h u r c h

C onferen ce and th e

Norwegian A u gu stan a S y n o d .

independent synods e x a c t ly span the d isserta tio n .

A d istin ct

period

T heir

two d e c a d e s

in the h i s t o r y

ix

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

stud­ of

N o r w e g ia n - A m e r ic a n L u t h e r a n i s m comes t o a n end i n c u l m i n a t i o n o f t h e u n i o n movement i n t h e

1890 w i t h th e

form ation o f the U n ited

N orw egian L u th e r a n Church o f A m erica*

x

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

L IS T OF TABLES................................................................................................................. C hapter I.

FROM NORWAY TO AMERICA

.................................................................

p r e s e n t - d a y American L uth eranism o f N orw egian A ncestry N i n e t e e n t h C e n t u r y Norway A n a t i o n a l , p o l i t i c a l , and c u l t u r a l a w a k e n i n g I m p o r ta n t r e l i g i o u s movements N orwegian M ig r a t io n t o Am erica O r i g i n s , t r e n d s , and m o t iv e s Areas o f s e t t l e m e n t In America The i m m i g r a n t a n d h i s c h u r c h N orw egian -A m erican L u th era n ism t o 1870 H i s t o r i c a l resume The A m e r i c a n e n v i r o n m e n t II.

THE NORWEGIAN S Y N O D ......................................................................... The "Mind*1 o f t h e S y n o d The p r o m i n e n c e o f t h e s y n o d E m p h a s i s on p u r e d o c t r i n e U n ity in th e tr u th R e t e n t i o n o f t r a d i t i o n a l w o r s h i p forms The S y n o d ’ s A l l i a n c e w i t h L u t h e r a n C o n s e r v a t i v e s O rg a n iz a tio n o f th e S y n o d ic a l C o n fe r e n c e , 1872 P a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e S y n o d i n S y n o d i c a l Co n­ feren ce a c t i v i t i e s L a n g u a g e a nd n a t i o n a l l o y a l t i e s W ithdraw al Church O r g a n i z a t i o n and P o l i t y E a rly c o n s t i t u t i o n s — type o f p o l i t y A new c o n s t i t u t i o n — d i s t r i c t i n g t h e S y n o d The S y n o d a n d E d u c a t i o n H igher e d u c a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t i o n s o f th e Synod The p u b l i c s c h o o l c o n t r o v e r s y Other A s p e c t s o f t h e S y n o d ’ s D e v elo p m e n t Growth P erio d ica ls G eneral c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n o f the p e r io d

III.

HAUGEANISM:

EIELSEN’ S FRIENDS AND HAUGE'S SYNOD.

Haugeans in Am erica xi

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

Page

C h a p te r T e n s io n s i n E i e l s e n ’ s Synod R e s u l t i n g i n S ch ism A grow ing co n cern f o r o rd er The e m e r g e n c e o f a new l e a d e r s h i p S t r i f e c e n t e r i n g a b o u t t h e " O ld C o n s t i t u t i o n " The o r g a n i z a t i o n o f H a u g e ’ s S y n o d The E s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a S y n o d i c a l S c h o o l E a r ly a t t i t u d e s and e f f o r t s The C h i c a g o f a i l u r e Red Wi ng S e m i n a r y Other F e a t u r e s o f t h e D evelop m ent o f G a u g e 's Synod S tea d y growth S yn od ical p u b lic a tio n s S y n o d ic a l i n t e r e s t s du rin g th e e i g h t i e s IV.

THE MIDDLE GROUND: GIAN AUGUSTANANS

THE CONFERENCE AND THE NORWE­ 1 50

Common O r i g i n s The N o r w e g i a n s i n t h e S c a n d i n a v i a n A u g u s t a n a Synod The c o n f u s e d h a p p e n i n g s o f t h e y e a r 1 8 7 0 The C o n f e r e n c e The o r i g i n s o f A u g s b u r y S e m i n a r y The m i s s i o n o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e The e m e r g e n c e o f a new l e a d e r s h i p Internal s tr ife O r g a n i z a t i o n a nd d e v e l o p m e n t The D a n e s i n t h e C o n f e r e n c e The N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d A s m a ll synod Its co n stitu tio n I ts ed u cation al in s tit u t io n s An i n t e r e s t i n c h u r c h u n i o n H augeanism i n t h e N orw egian A u g u sta n a Synod S o m e t h i n g o f an A m e r i c a n s p i r i t Its p erio d ica ls V.

THEOLOGICAL WARFARE IN THE SEVENTIES

.................................

Introdu ction A b s o lu t io n - J u s t if ic a t io n C ontroversy H is t o r i c a l background The c o u r s e o f t h e c o n t r o v e r s y i n t h e s e v e n t i e s C onclusion of th e a b s o lu tio n c o n tr o v e r sy The "Open D e c l a r a t i o n " An a t t a c k u p o n t h e S y n o d R e a c tio n s produced by i t The W e e n a a s - p r e u s e x c h a n g e Other A s p e c t s o f t h e C o n t r o v e r s y The c o n t r o v e r s y i n t h e p e r i o d i c a l s R e l a t i o n s t o Norway and t h e N o r w e g ia n M i s s i o n S o ciety x ii

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

043

Page

C h a p te r C o n t a c t s on t h e l o c a l l e v e l The j u d g m e n t o f t h e M i n n e s o t a D i s t r i c t th e Synod V I.

of

THE ELECTION CONTROVERSY.................................................................

307

i n t r o d u c t i o n and Survey H i s t o r i c a l O rigins A s p e r h e i m ’ s a t t a c k on M i s s o u r i a n i s m S c h m i d t a nd t h e o r i g i n s o f t h e c o n t r o v e r s y Muus a n d t h e M i n n e s o t a D i s t r i c t m e e t i n g o f 1880 E f f o r t s to c o n fin e the c o n tr o v e r s y t o c l e r i c a l circles The d o c t r i n e o f a s s u r a n c e L e a d e r s h i p o f t h e two p a r t i e s R ep resen ta tiv e P r e se n ta tio n s o f D isp u ted D o ctrin es The e x t e n s i v e l i t e r a t u r e o f t h e c o n t r o v e r s y P o i n t s o f agreem ent and d i f f e r e n c e r e v e a l e d a t 1881 synod m e e tin g H. 0 . S t u b o n t h e " f o r m s " o f e l e c t i o n ( 1 8 8 1 ) The i s s u e s a s p r e s e n t e d b y O t t e s e n a n d S c h m i d t (1882-83) Some E a r l y R a m i f i c a t i o n s o f t h e D o c t r i n a l C o n t r o ­ versy W ith draw al from t h e S y n o d i c a l C o n fe r e n c e F r ic tio n in syn od ical a f f a i r s I n c r e a s i n g prom inence o f t h e d o c t r i n e o f c o n ­ versio n W idening R i f t s i n th e Synod C o n f e r e n c e s and m e e t in g s The D e c o r a h p a s t o r a l c o n f e r e n c e The A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n m e e t i n g a t Red W i n g , 1 8 8 5 The s e m i n a r y R e p e r c u s s i o n s from a p a s t o r a l c o n f e r e n c e a t Zumb r o t a , 1886 E s t a b l i s h m e n t o f an A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s e m i n a r y The W i t h d r a w a l o f t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s V II.

THE P R E - 1 8 9 0 UNION MOVEMENT......................................................... I n t e r e s t i n U nion P r io r t o 1880 A w id esp rea d d e s ir e f o r u n io n E f f o r t s i n fu rth e ra n ce o f u n io n d u r in g the sev en ties P a s t o r P . A. R a s m u s s e n 's L e a d e r s h i p The C o n f e r e n c e s o f t h e E i g h t i e s The S t . A n s g a r f r e e c o n f e r e n c e , 1 8 8 1 S v e r d r u p a nd c h u r c h u n i o n Subsequent fr e e con feren ces The j o i n t m e e t i n g s

x iii

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

575

Page

C h a p te r A n ti-M isso u ria n L ead ership The C r y s t a l l i z a t i o n o f p l a n s f o r U n i o n An i m p o r t a n t c o m m i t t e e m e e t i n g The j o i n t m e e t i n g a t S c a n d i n a v i a , W i s c o n s i n , 1888 The w i t h d r a w a l o f H a u g e ’ s S y n o d The U n i o n o f 1 8 9 0 V III.

THE SYNODS AT WORK, 1 8 7 0 - 9 0 .........................................................

445

Home M i s s i o n s Areas o f a c t i v i t y S y n o d i c a l s u p e r v i s i o n and s u p p o r t S p e c i a l home m i s s i o n p r o j e c t s F o r e i g n M i s s i o n I n t e r e s t and s u p p o r t Growth o f i n t e r e s t The N o r w e g i a n S y n o d The C o n f e r e n c e - - t h e Z i o n s o c i e t y The N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d H a u g e ’ s S yn od— t h e China M i s s i o n S o c i e t y C h aritab le I n s t i t u t i o n s The Homme i n s t i t u t i o n s ( i n d e p e n d e n t ) M a r t i n L u t h e r C h i l d r e n ’ s Home ( S y n o d ) B e l o i t C h i l d r e n ’ s Home ( U n i t e d C h u r c h ) D e a c o n e s s homes and h o s p i t a l s E d u cation al A c t i v i t i e s I n t e r e s t in the f i e l d o f r e l i g i o u s ed u cation The a c a d e m y m o v e m e n t Normal s c h o o l s The L a n g u a g e P r o b l e m .........................................

4S3

B I B L I O G R A P H Y ......................................... .......................................................................

504

IX.

A REVIEW OF THE PERIOD,

1870-90

xiv

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

LIST OF TABLES T a b le 1. 2.

Page M em bership o f N o r w egian -A Jn erican L u th e r a n Church B odies in 1946.

2

S y n o d i c a l O r g a n i z a t i o n s among N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n s , 1 8 7 0 - 9 0 and 1950

39

xv

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

CHAPTER I

FROM NORWAY TO AMERICA P r e s e n t - d a y American L u th era n ism o f Norwegian A n c e s t r y The s t a t u s

o f p r e s e n t - d a y A m erican L u th e r a n is m o f Norwe­

g i a n a n c e s t r y was d e te r m in e d u n i o n was e f f e c t e d .

i n 1 9 1 7 w he n a n i m p o r t a n t c h u r c h

In t h a t y e a r th e g r e a t m a j o r i t y o f N orw egian -

A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n s w e r e u n i t e d i n o n e c h u r c h b o d y whe n H a u g e ’ s Synod,

t h e U n i t e d C h u r c h , and t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d j o i n e d t h e i r

forces

t o form t h e N orw egian L u th era n Church o f A m e rica .^

tio n

By a c ­

o f t h e b i e n n i a l c o n v e n t i o n o f t h e NLCA i n

t h a t b o d y was su b stitu tio n

1 9 4 6 t h e name o f 2 changed t o the E v a n g e l i c a l Lutheran Church. The

o f t h e word ’’E v a n g e l i c a l ” f o r

’’N o r w e g i a n ” w a s n o t i n ­

t e n d e d t o b e a r e p u d i a t i o n o f t h e b o d y ’ s Norwegian h e r i t a g e r a t h e r was t o b e a r e c o g n i t i o n NLCA’ s A m e r i c a n i z a t i o n a s of its

(s o m e t h o u g h t , b e l a t e d )

fa r as la n g u a g e,

the

a c t u a l c o n s t i t u e n c y i n many l o c a l i t i e s ,

but

o f the

r a c i a l background and i t s

p o ten tia l

The c o m p l e t e names o f t h e u n i t i n g b o d i e s w e r e : Hauge’ s Norwegian E v a n g e l i c a l Lutheran Synod i n A m erica, t h e U n it e d Nor­ w e g i a n L u t h e r a n Church o f A m e r i c a , a n d t h e Synod f o r t h e N o r w e g ia n E v a n g e l i c a l L u t h e r a n Church i n A m e r i c a . The g r o u p s w e r e , and a r e , p o p u l a r l y r e f e r r e d t o a s H a u g e's Syn od, t h e U n it e d Church, and th e Norwegian S y n o d , o r s im p ly th e S y n o d . F o r th e sake o f b r e v i t y and c o n v e n ie n c e t h e p o p u la r d e s i g n a t i o n s w i l l be u s e d In t h i s d i s s e r ­ ta tio n . The a b b r e v i a t i o n NLCA w i l l b e u s e d t o r e f e r t o t h e N o r ­ w e g i a n L u t h e r a n Church o f A m e r i c a . 1946

^ A n n u a l R e p o r t , t h e N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n Ch u rc h o f A m e r i c a , ( M i n n e a p o l i s : A u g s b u r g P u b l i s h i n g H o u s e , 1946 ) , " p . 4?fe'. 1

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission

2 a p p e a l t o t h e unchurched, are c o n c e r n e d # con tin u ed r e c o g n itio n o f i t s

In f a c t ,

n a tio n a l h erita g e

the

to in su re

a

1946 c o n v e n t io n

recommended t h e a d o p t i o n o f t h e f o l l o w i n g s t a t e m e n t as a p a r t o f the

synod’ s co n stitu tio n :

founded b y t h e

grace

N orw egian 'p ion eers

"The E v a n g e l i c a l L u t h e r a n C h u r c h w a s

o f God t h r o u g h t h e

i n A m e r i c a . ,f

z e a l a nd l a b o r s

The 1 9 4 8 c o n v e n t i o n

o f the

fo llo w e d the

r e c o m m e n d a t i o n . ' 1'

B a p t i z e d m em bership o f t h e E v a n g e l i c a l L u th eran 2 C h u r c h I n 1 9 4 8 w a s 7 7 2 , 1 6 3 , i n c l u d i n g 1 4 , 8 1 1 m e m b er s i n C a n a d a . B esid es

th e E v a n g e l i c a l L u th er a n Church f o u r o t h e r Norwe­

g ia n -A m erica n Lutheran church b o d i e s , a l l r e l a t i v e l y are in

ex isten ce

fo llo w in g ta b le giv es

the

status

tod ay. w hich,

T h eir r e l a t i v e for th e

of a ll fiv e

size

is

s m a ll in s i z e ,

i n d i c a t e d by th e

sake o f u n ifo r m ity o f s t a t i s t i c s ,

bod ies

as o f 1946:

TABLE 1 MEMBERSHIP OF NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN LUTHERAN CHURCH BODIES IN 1 9 4 6 Church Body

B a p t i z e d Membership

E v a n g e l i c a l L u t h e r a n C h u r c h ............................................ L u th e r a n F ree Church. . . . . . . . . . . . . The N o r w e g i a n S y n o d o f t h e A m e r i c a n E v a n g e l i c a l L u t h e r a n C h u r c h (The L i t t l e S y n o d ) ................................................................................................. L u t h e r a n B r e t h r e n ....................................................................... E v a n g e l i c a l L u th eran Church in A m erica ( E i e l s e n * s S y n o d ) ...................................... . . . . . WT .

7 0 0,67 4 5 5 ,2 2 5 9,3 6 7 2,7 5 7 1,390*

P . Solem ( e d . ) , L u th era n A lm anac, 1949 ( M in n e a p o lis : Augsburg p u b lis h in g H ouse, 1 9 4 8 ) , p . 1 3 . These f i g ­ u r e s a r e p r o v i d e d by t h e N a t i o n a l L u t h e r a n C o u n c i l .

•^ A nn u al R e p o r t , t h e E v a n g e l i c a l L u t h e r a n C h u r c h , 1 9 4 8 ( M i n n e a p o l i s : A u g s b u r g P u b l i s h i n g i f o u s e , 194 8 ) , p p . 3 3 , 4 9 4 . ^A n n u a l R e p o r t , t h e E v a n g e l i c a l L u t h e r a n C h u r c h , 1 9 4 9 ( M i n n e a p o l i s : A u g s b u r g P u b l i s h i n g H o u s e , 1 94 9 )," p . 5 2 9 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

3 The L u t h e r a n F r e e C h u r c h , E i e l s e n ’ s S y n o d , r e n were a l l

in e x is te n c e

church un ion o f t h a t y e a r .

in

and th e L utheran B r e t h ­

1917 b u t d i d n o t p a r t i c i p a t e

The N o r w e g i a n S y n o d o f t h e A m e r i c a n

E v a n g e l i c a l Lutheran Church, p o p u la r ly r e f e r r e d t o a s Synod, was o r g a n iz e d i n S y n o d who r e f u s e d

to be a lo n g in th e un ion o f that

it

1917, b e lie v in g

it

w as e f f e c t e d on a

d o c tr in a l b a sis W hile

synods in th a t in

there are

ex isten ce,

today f i v e

N orw egian -A m erican Lutheran

an a n a l y s i s o f t h e

sta tistics

f o r 1946 r e v e a l s

t h a t y e a r th e E v a n g e l i c a l Lutheran church r e p r e s e n t e d ap ­

p r o x i m a t e l y 91 p e r c e n t o f t h e i r It

the L i t t l e

1918 by a m i n o r i t y group o f th e Norwegian

t o be c o m p r o m i s i n g a n d u n i o n i s t i c i n fa lse

in the

i s u n d erstan d ab le

that

com bined b a p t i z e d m em b ersh ip.

the p rop on en ts

o f c h u r c h u n i o n among

N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n s r e g a r d t h e U n i o n o f 1 9 1 7 a s a m e m or a­ b le

accom plishm ent. In o r d e r t o approach th e t o p i c

proper p e r sp ec tiv e

it

t o be c o n s id e r e d w ith th e

w i l l be n e c e s s a r y t o ta k e

a glim pse

in to

the

c o u n t r y o f N or way i n t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y and t o make a h a s t y su rvey o f the The o r i g i n s

h isto ry

o f N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n i s m up t o 1 8 7 0 .

and d e v e lo p m e n t o f N orw egian -A m erican L u th era n ism can

n o t be u n d e r s to o d

apart

N or wa y o u t o f w h i c h t h e

f r o m some k n o w l e d g e

o f the

c l e r g y and l a y m e n o f t h e

situ a tio n

in

im m igrant c h u r c h e s

came a n d b y w h i c h t h e y w e r e i n f l u e n c e d . ^Fo r a c r i t i c i s m o f t h e E v a n g e l i c a l L u t h e r a n C h u r c h , t h e n t h e NLCA, b y a l e a d e r o f t h e L i t t l e S y n o d , s e e S . C« Y l v i s a k e r , "Grace a n d T r u t h , " i n G r a c e f o r G r a c e , e d . S . C* Y l v i s a k e r , C. A n d e r s o n , a n d G. 0 . L i l l e g a r d ( M arikato, M i n n . : L u t h e r a n Sy n od Book C o . , 1 9 4 3 ) , p p . 2 0 7 - 1 1 . The ELC i s d e p i c t e d a s b e i n g g u i l t y o f g r o s s d o c t r i n a l e r r o r s and o f " f l a g r a n t u n i o n i s m . "

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

4

N i n e t e e n t h C e n t u r y Nor way A N ation al,

P o litica l,

and C u l t u r a l A wakening

At t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y Norway w as a d e p e n d e n c y o f Denmark. teen th century.

That had b een h e r s t a t u s

Prom 1 8 1 4 t o

sin ce

the

six ­

1 9 0 5 N o r w a y was u n i t e d w i t h S w e d e n

u n d e r o n e c ro w n i n

a u n i o n w h i c h was f o r c e d u p o n t h e N o r w e g i a n s .

Out o f t h e w a r f a r e

o f the

came t h e T r e a t y o f K i e l ,

early years January 1 4 ,

o f the n in e t e e n t h cen tu ry 1 8 1 4 , b e t w e e n Denmark a nd

S w e d e n , b y w h i c h Norway w a s c e d e d t o S w e d e n * sp irit,

exp ressin g i t s e l f

in a d esire

a w a k e n e d among t h e N o r w e g i a n p e o p l e , mark c o u l d n o t c r e a t e of the

f r a m e d and a d o p t e d , ence

b e a r i n g t h e d a t e May 1 7 ,

However,

for

1814."*'

No rw ay w as The i n d e p e n d ­

1814 th e pow ers o f Europe

in b e h a l f o f Sweden, w it h th e r e s u l t

that

t h e E i d s v o l d c o n s t i t u t i o n was r e c o g ­

Norway was t o b e an i n d e p e n d e n t s t a t e u n i t e d

t o S w e d e n -under

The e x a c t r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t h e t w o c o u n t r i e s was

s o m e w h a t u n c e r t a i n a nd t h e

cause

of d isagreem en t.

t i o n a l i s m f r e q u e n t l y was m a n i f e s t i n p r o t e s t s

servance

consent

and P r i n c e C h r i s t i a n F r e d e r i c k w a s

i n t h e War o f

by th e T r e a t y o f M oss, w h i l e

one r u l e r .

the

assem bly c o n se q u e n tly

b y w h i c h a new c o n s t i t u t i o n

exerted th e ir in flu en ce

n ized ,

and t h e y c o n te n d e d t h a t D en­

A rep resen ta tiv e

o f Norway w a s a s s e r t e d ,

e le c te d k in g.

f o r in d e p e n d e n c e , had been

a new u n i o n f o r No r wa y w i t h o u t

p e o p le o f Norway.

convened at E id sv o ld ,

A grow ing n a t i o n a l

•^■Norway's c e l e b r a t i o n o f Ju ly 4 .

to,

N orwegian n a ­ o r de m an ds u p o n ,

o f May 17 c o r r e s p o n d s

to our o b ­

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

5 the Sw edish k in g .

1

As t h e n i n e t e e n t h n a tio n a listic a l s o be

and p o l i t i c a l a w a k e n i n g , e v i d e n c e s

seen in

G je r se t puts

c e n t u r y p r o g r e s s e d Norway e x p e r i e n c e d a

it

o f w hich c o u ld

l i t e r a r y and c u l t u r a l m ovem ents. th is

The h i s t o r i a n

way:

T he g r e a t l i b e r a l n a t i o n a l m o v e m e n t i n No r wa y i n t h e n i n e ­ t e e n t h c e n t u r y was n o t a p o l i t i c a l s t r u g g l e a l o n e , b u t a d i s ­ t i n c t attem pt o f th e n a t io n 's g en iu s to r e a s s e r t i t s e l f a f t e r c e n t u r i e s o f p a r t i a l i n a c t i v i t y a nd f o r e i g n t u t e l a g e . The N o r w e g ia n h i s t o r i c a l s c h o o l , t h e c o l l e c t i o n and s t u d y o f f o l k ­ t a l e s , a r t , and t r a d i t i o n s o f t h e p a s t , t h e Landsmaal m ove­ m e n t , " t h e r e a l i s t i c l i t e r a r y school], a n d , f i n a l l y , t h e o r g a n i ­ z a t i o n o f a L i b e r a l p o l i t i c a l p a r t y w h ich overcame a l l r e ­ a c t i o n a r y o p p o s i t i o n , a nd m a i n t a i n e d N o r w a y ' s r i g h t s t o l e a d h e r own f r e e and s o v e r e i g n e x i s t e n c e , a r e p h a s e s o f a d e v e l o p ­ ment i n w h ich a l l v i t a l f o r c e s o f th e n a t i o n were c o n c e n t r a t ­ ed .3 An i m p o r t a n t f e a t u r e way e x p e r i e n c e d was t h e freeh o ld ers, the y e a rs

o f the p o l i t i c a l

aw akening w h ic h Nor­

t h a t t h e N orw egian 4 th e b S n d e r , were t a k i n g i n p o l i t i c a l a f f a i r s . In

fo llo w in g

1814

in crea sin g in t e r e s t

the b a t t l e

b e t w e e n t h e b i n d e r on t h e

one

h a n d , many o f whom h a d b e e n i n f l u e n c e d b y t h e H a u g e a n r e l i g i o u s aw akening,

and t h e o f f i c i a l s

o f the

c r o w n and t h e

■4cnut G j e r s e t , H i s t o r y o f t h e M acm illan C o ., 1 9 1 5 ) , I I , "417-51.

state-church

N orwegian P e o p le ‘

(New Yor k*

^L a n d s m a a l w a s a new N o r w e g i a n l a n g u a g e , d e v e l o p e d i n t h e s p i r i t o f n a tio n a lis m , p a r t i c u l a r l y by Ivar A asen, c o n s is t in g o f a s y s t e m a t i z a t i o n o f t h e v a r i o u s N o r w e g i a n d i a l e c t s and c l o s e l y c o n n e c t e d t o O ld N o r s e . A ttem pts to in tr o d u c e i t as the l i t e r a r y a nd o f f i c i a l l a n g u a g e o f No rwa y a s a r e p l a c e m e n t f o r t h e o f f i c i a l D anish-N orw egian p r e c i p i t a t e d a c o n f l i c t . I b i d . , pp. 498 f . ^I b i d . , p .

522.

^The b i n d e r w e r e t h e f r e e h o l d e r s , n o t t h e p e a s a n t s , o f the n a t io n . A few w ere w e a l t h y b u t as a c l a s s t h e y were n o t , as o r d i n a r i l y t h e i r farms w ere s m a l l . A l a r g e and d e p e n d e n t p e a s a n t c l a s s , w h i c h owned n o l a n d b u t l e a s e d fr om t h e b i n d e r , was c o m ­ p o s e d o f t h o s e known a s t h e h u s m a e n d . I b i d . , pp." '6cJ6 f .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

6 c l e r g y on t h e

o th e r began to shape u p .

The p u r p o s e s o f t h i s

d is­

s e r t a t i o n w i l l n o t be s e r v e d by t r a c i n g t h e p o l i t i c a l c o n f l i c t s o f th e n in e t e e n t h c en tu r y , b u t the an a w a k e n e d l a i t y

fa ct of th is

and e n t r e n c h e d o f f i c i a l d o m

s h o u ld be k e p t i n m in d .

betw een

i n church and s t a t e

A r e f o r m movement d e v e l o p e d i n Norway,

on e a s p e c t o f w h i c h i n t h e l a t t e r mand f o r c h u r c h r e f o r m .

part o f the

c e n tu r y was t h e d e ­

T h i s n a t i o n a l a nd p o l i t i c a l a w a k e n i n g i n

No rw ay u n q u e s t i o n a b l y c o n t r i b u t e d can’s ap p reciation

co n flict

of h is

grea tly

t o th e N orw egian-A m eri­

h erita g e.^

I m p o r t a n t R e l i g i o u s M ovem en ts W h i l e No rw ay w a s e n j o y i n g a p o l i t i c a l and n a t i o n a l i s t i c aw akening, i t m ents.

a lso

felt

the i n f l u e n c e

P a r t i c u l a r l y two r e l i g i o u s

o f p o w e r fu l r e l i g i o u s move­

movements o f

the n i n e t e e n t h

c e n t u r y h a d an i m p o r t a n t i n f l u e n c e u p o n N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n L u t h e r ­ anism , had,

t h e Haugean R e v i v a l and th e

and s t i l l h a s ,

J o h n so n ia n A w akening.

a Lutheran s t a t e - c h u r c h .

As s u c h t h e

Norwaychurch

w as

c o n t r o l l e d by t h e k i n g and by a n e c c l e s i a s t i c a l d e p a r t m e n t o f

the

state;

b ly ,

however,

had e x t e n s i v e

t r o l o f the

church.

D uring th e

after

1814 th e

leg isla tiv e 2 la st h a lf

s t o r t h i n g , or Norwegian a s se m ­

powers i n c o n n e c tio n w ith th e

of the

con-

e ig h t e e n t h century r a tio n a lis m

•^Henrik V o l d a l , " F o r h o l d e n e d e r v i kom f r a — i N o r g e , ” N o r s k L u t h e r s k e M e n i g f o e t e r i A f l i e r i k a , -*-84:5--1.9:L6 , e d . 0 . M. N o r l i e i M i n n e a p o l i s ”: A u g s b u r g P u b ' l i s h i ' n g H o u s e , 1 9 1 8 ) , I , 2 0 . 2 i v a r W e l l e , Norges K i r k e h l s t o r i e (O slo : L u th erstiftelsen s F orlag, 1948), p . 192.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

7

wa s a p o w e r f u l i n f l u e n c e

in

p a rticu la rly in flu e n tia l

among t h e

th e

la tter

t h e N o r w e g i a n - D a n i s h church.-*educated c la s s e s

and t h e

clerg y ,

fr e q u e n tly con cern in g th em se lv e s w ith a g rea t v a r ie t y

of sec u la r m atters

to the

n eg lect o f th e ir

sp iritu a l resp o n sib ili­

tie s.

R a t i o n a l i s m , h o w e v e r , was p r o b a b l y l i t t l e

la ity ,

an d some o f t h e

For the

I t was

common p e o p l e

church le a d e r s

z e a l o u s l y com batted i t . ^

P on top p id an 's e x p o s it io n

C a t e c h i s m r e m a i n e d t h e norm f o r

u n d e rsto o d by the

o f L u th er's

j u d g i n g w h a t w as r e l i g i o u s

Sm all tru th .®

The H a u g e a n R e v i v a l . — A r e l i g i o u s m o v e m e n t o f p o w e r an d ex ten siv e

in flu en ce

the

lay preacher,

great

layman o f

et, ic a l

a w a k e n i n g a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e name o f

Hans N i l s e n H au ge

farm b a c k g r o u n d and o f l i m i t e d

o f God t o b e g i n h i s years,

was t h e

fillin g

w itn essin g

the r o le

in 1796,

o f a zealou s

(1771-1824). ed u cation ,

felt

and f o r a p e r i o d

an d f e a r l e s s

Hauge,

a

ca lled of eig h t

relig io u s

proph­

h e b r o u g h t a m u c h -n e e d e d and v e r y p e r s o n a l m e s s a g e o f e v a n g e l ­ C h ristia n ity

ag a in st

the

to a l l

o f Norway.

ra tio n a lism ,

form alism ,

s t a t e - c h u r c h and i t s in h igh p la c e s

p astors,

an d l o w .

I t w a s an e f f e c t i v e and s p i r i t u a l

and a g a i n s t

I t was a c a l l

a ll

protest

le th a r g y o f the

forms o f w ic k e d n e ss

to repentance

and c o n v e r -

The p e r i o d 1 7 5 0 - 1 8 1 4 i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d a s t h e p e r i o d o f " t h e E n l i g h t e n m e n t " b y T o n d e r N i s s e n , De N o r d l s k e K i r k e n s H i s t o r i c (C h ristia n ia : T h . S t e e n s F o r l a g s - E x p e d i ’t i o n , 1 ^ 8 4 ) , p p . 4 4 5 - 8 5 . ^W elle,

op.

c l t . , pp.

144-46.

In 1737 B i s h o p E r i k p o n t o p p i d a n , a p i e t i s t , p u b l i s h e d an e x p l a n a t i o n o f L u t h e r ' s S m a l l C a t e c h i s m e n t i t l e d , S a n d h e d t i l Gudf r y g t i g h e d (T r u th u n t o G o d l i n e s s ) . I t c o n s i s t e d of'V5'9' q u e s t i o n s arid a n s w e r s , a l t h o u g h a b b r e v i a t e d e d i t i o n s w e r e a l s o u s e d . Its u s e i n Norway f o r i n s t r u c t i o n a l p u r p o s e s w a s s o e x t e n s i v e t h a t p r o b a b ly no o t h e r b o o k , b e s i d e s th e B i b l e , h a s e x e r t e d so p o w e r f u l an i n f l u e n c e u p o n t h e N o r w e g i a n p e o p l e . I b i d . , p p . 125 f . Subse­ quent r e f e r e n c e s to P o n to p p id a n ' s E x p la n a tio n o f L u th er 's Sm all C atech ism w i l l be i n d i c a t e d b y the term C a te ch ism . T his i s in

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

sio n .

A relig io u s

resu lt.

r e v i v a l o f f a r - r e a c h i n g p r o p o r t i o n s was t h e

He h a d h a r d l y e n t e r e d u p o n h i s w or k o f h o l d i n g r e l i g i o u s

m e e t i n g s b e f o r e h e met t h e b i t t e r and s t a t e .

In co n seq u en c e

of th is

1 8 0 4 i m p r i s o n e d on t h e d o u b l e Act o f in gs

1741 i n

that he,

op p osition

of o fficia ls

o f church

g r o w in g o p p o s i t i o n he was i n

charge

of v io la tin g

the C o n v en ticle

a laym an, had h e ld p u b l i c r e l i g i o u s m e e t ­

a n d t h e M o n o p o l y Law o f 1 7 9 7 i n t h a t h e h a d e n g a g e d i n

g a l com m ercial e n t e r p r i s e s . was k e p t i n

p rison

of v io la tin g

others

t o do l i k e w i s e ,

c lerg y .

The p e n a l t y

clu d in g

im p o se d was t h e payment o f a f i n e

of gain in g

the

an d c o s t s .

w as s p e n t i n r e t i r e m e n t , b u t h e h a d t h e

the

frien d sh ip

some p r o m i n e n t c l e r g y m e n ,

work became e v i d e n t

o f encouraging

and o f u s i n g h a r s h la n g u a g e a g a i n s t

life

he

a f t e r w h i c h t i m e h e was f o u n d

t h e named C o n v e n t i c l e A c t ,

The r e m a i n d e r o f h i s sa tisfa ctio n

Except fo r a very b r ie f r e s p it e

for ten y ears,

g u ilty

ille ­

as

o f form er o p p o n e n ts,

the b e n e f i c i a l f r u i t s

an d t h e a n t i c i p a t e d

in ­ of h is

fa n a tic ism d id not m a te r i­

a l i z e .1 The n e c e s s i t y

fo r repentance

theme i n a l l o f H a u g e * s p r e a c h i n g .

an d c o n v e r s i o n was a m a j o r He s t r e s s e d

the n e c e s s i t y o f

con form ity w ith a p r a c t ic e fo llo w e d by o th er a u th o r s. See E r ic P on topp idan . sandhed t i l G u d frygtigh ed (S tavanger: L . C. K i e l l a n d , 1881) . 'S/ye l i e , o p . c i t . , p p . 1 4 9 - 9 2 ; J . Magnus R o h n e , N o r w e g i a n A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n i s m up' t o 1 8 7 2 (New Y o r k : M a c m i l l a n Co.'," "192'6j, p p . '10-14". A s t a n d a r d " 'but' ' r a t h e r o l d b i o g r a p h y o f Hauge i s t h a t b y A . C. B a n g , e n t i t l e d , Hans N i l s e n Hauge o g h a n s S a m t i d ( 2 n d e d . ; C h ristian ia: N. A n d e r s e n s ' F o r l a g , "18'9o ) 7 B ang r e c o r d s i n c o n ­ s i d e r a b l e d e t a i l t h e s t o r y o f H a u g e 1s n u m e r o u s t r i p s t h r o u g h o u t Norway, w h ich o c c u p i e d th e g r e a t e r p a r t of h i s tim e and e f f o r t s d u r in g the p e r io d 1 7 9 7 -1 8 0 4 . I b i d . , pp. 112-420. The m o s t r e c e n t s t u d y o f Hauge i s b y Magnus N o d t v e d t , p r e p a r e d a s a P h . D . d i s ­ s e r t a t i o n f o r t h e XJ. o f C h i c a g o : "Hans N i e l s e n Haug e a n d t h e R e ­ b i r t h o f Norway" ( U n p u b l i s h e d P h . D . d i s s e r t a t i o n , D i v i n i t y S c h o o l , U n iv e r s it y o f C hicago, 1 9 5 0 ).

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

9 a changed l i f e a lly

as f a r a s th e

in d iv id u a l is

exp erien ced C h r is tia n it y ,

the p o s s e s s io n C h ristia n ity

and

from r e g e n e r a t e d

e m p h a s is upon t h e b e l i e v e r * s

concept o f the m ents.

life

awaken t h e

ungodly l i v e s ,

church,

o p p osition

attend

its

p ietists groups, type

o f the

Hauge p l a c e d g r e a t

and i n

clerg y

or c i r c l e s , that

c r i t i c i z e d b y Hauge

towards

and t o r e v i t a l i z e the

it

follow ers

is

q u ietistic,

in i t s

o f the

from w i t h i n .

type

to

As w i t h

o f Hauge m e t i n s m a l l in

co n tra st to

in tro sp ectiv e,

a

a nd w h o l l y

and p r a c t i c a l i n i t s

at­

Hauge h i m s e l f d e m o n s t r a t e d h i s

p r a c tic a l b u sin ess

a b o u t e a r n i n g a good l i v i n g ,

is

He s e t o u t t o

e v e r y - d a y work and o c c u p a t i o n s w i t h w h i c h men

g e n e r a l l y were p r a c t i c a l ,

as d o c t r in e

amuse­

for th e ir

lay a c t i v i t y

fo r d ev o tio n a l purposes,

com petence and i n g e n u i t y i n

Co m bi ne d w i t h h i s

th eir

t o be l o y a l t o th e s t a t e - c h u r c h ,

m u st be o c c u p i e d i n t h i s w o r l d .

Haugeans

in

B u t Hauge* s move me nt w a s n o t s e p a r a t i s t i c ;

o f p r io r period s

toward th e

and l e g a l i s t i c

reason

t h e i r a t t i t u d e towards

o t h e r - w o r l d l y Haugeanism was a c t i v i s t i c titu d e

and f o r t h i s

and d e a d o r t h o d o x y .

follow ers

serv ices

of p ietism

liv es.

a nd b e c a u s e h e was a l a y p r e a c h e r h e a r o u s e d t h e

i n w h i c h he w a s e n g a g e d . he encouraged h i s

t r a d i t i o n a l forms o f

o f others

The c l e r g y w e r e b i t t e r l y

som nolence,

b itter

C h ristian

upon

and t h e

sa n ctifica tio n ,

H augeans o f t e n were c e n s o r i o u s

of a p erson ­

th e danger of r e l i a n c e

o f orthodox d o c tr in e

apart

concerned,

a ffa irs,

in d u strio u s,

t o o much s o ,

a nd

and c o n c e r n e d

in t h e o p i n i o n o f s o m e .

p i e t i s m w a s Hauge *s L u t h e r a n o r t h o d o x y ,

concerned.

proper p la c e .

He s t r e s s e d t h e v a l u e

far

o f pure d o c t r i n e

H ow ever, he was n o t a t r a i n e d

and he was n o t c o n c e r n e d a b o u t a n y p r e c i s e

as

th eologian ,

and s y s t e m a t i c

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

ex p o si­

10 tio n

o f d o ctrin e,

o f the

L utheran

He d e s i r e d t o "be f u l l y

f a it h con tain ed

o f m in im iz in g the

Haugeans r e v e a l e d la y

p reach in g,

th e ir d esire

to

in th e C atech ism .

im portance o f t h e

d o x L u t h e r a n s -was I m p l i c i t , th eir

if

lo y a l to the

sacram ents

not

expressed,

low -chu rch sym path ies

in th e ir

o p p osition

p o l i t y w h ic h w ould perm it th e

and i n

con gregation

in H augeanism .

The

in t h e i r c o n c e p t o f i n w o r s h i p and

th eir to

The p o s s i b i l i t y

as h e l d b y o r t h o ­

to form alism

sim p lify th e r i t u a l ,

ex p o sitio n

advocacy o f a

order i t s

own

a ffa irs•1 The H a u g e a n R e v i v a l made a d e e p i m p a c t u p o n t h e p eo p le. person

The e x t e n t o f i t s o f Ha uge h i m s e l f ,

and by th e

effectiv en ess

in flu en ce

by h is

a p p a r e n t way w ere

o f th e Haugean l a y p r e a c h e r s .

the

N orwegian p e o p l e

th eir p a rticip a tio n sp irit

in flu en ced .

sp iritu a lly ;

the

the

p riv ileg ed

state-ch urch

cla sses

clerg y .

in

B esid es

it

a ls o h elp ed

betw een the

c h u r c h and s t a t e ,

who i n

Not o n l y d i d H augeanism

develop in g str u g g le

b i n d e r and e n t r e n c h e d o f f i c i a l d o m ,

p

I t was t h e

i n s o c i a l and p o l i t i c a l a f f a i r s .

h elp ed p r e c ip it a t e

z e a l and

t h e r e w e r e many o t h e r s

i n f l u e n c e d by H augeanism .

common p e o p l e who w e r e c h i e f l y arouse

e x p l a i n e d by th e

numerous w i d e l y - r e a d w r i t i n g s ,

t h o s e who a v o w e d l y b e c a m e H a u g e a n s a less

is

Norwegian

stim u la te

The H a u g e a n

b etw een the

common p e o p l e

w hich in c lu d e d

and

the

Hauge w a s a n t i - c l e r i c a l p a r t l y b e c a u s e h e

1A . C. B a n g , Den N o r s k e K i r k e s H l s t o r i e ( C h r i s t i a n i a : G y l d e n d a l s k e B o g h a n d e l N o r d i s k P o r l a g , 1 9 1 2 ) , p p . 4 4*6-5 1; M. 0 . Wee, H a u g e a n is m ( S t . P a u l , 1 9 1 9 ) , p p . 5 3 - 6 0 ; R o h n e , o p . c i t . , pp. 9 - l4 ; W e lle , op. c i t . , pp. 158-62. % ang, 3W e lle ,

De n N o r s k e K i r k e s H i s t o r i c , p p . 4 4 6 f . op.

c it.,

pp.

19 0 f .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

11

w as a b o n d e , relig io u s p eop le

and t h e

c l e r g y were o f t h e

aw akening h e lp e d i n c r e a s e

in p u b lic

life,

p arliam en tarian b a t t le s However,

in flu en ce

life

in

from th e Haugean R e v i v a l .

H is

o f t h e common

and Haugean l e a d e r s were in fo r needed refo rm s.

c la ss.1

the m i d s t

of

p

t h e i m p r e s s i o n must n o t be g a in e d t h a t

no v i t a l r e l i g i o u s

P ietistic

the

p riv ileg ed

there

was

Norway i n t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y a p a r t L a stin g in f lu e n c e s both o f the

m o v e m e n t and o f O r t h o d o x y h a d b e e n p e r p e t u a t e d

con gregation s

and by a s i g n i f i c a n t

had not g iv e n

in to r a tio n a lis m .

the r e c e p tiv e

s o i l i n w h ic h Haugeanism c o u ld ta k e r o o t . ^

ea rlier in the

elem en t o f the c le r g y w h ich In f a c t

th ese

H a u g e a n i s m came t o A m e r i c a w i t h t h e

in flu en ces

provided

e a r l y im m igran ts.

T h e s e H a u g e a n s b r o u g h t t o A m e r i c a c o n v i c t i o n s a nd a t t i t u d e s

form u­

lated

cre­

out of t h e ir exp erien ce

in Norway.

The same t e n s i o n s

a t e d b y t h e H a u g e a n R e v i v a l i n No rwa y w e r e d u p l i c a t e d the

c h ie f d ifferen ce

petuated

b ein g

t h a t i n America th e

l o n g e r and w i t h d i v i s i v e

t e n s io n s were p e r ­

resu lts.

The J o h n s o n i a n A w a k e n i n g . — I n t h e m i d d l e c e n t u r y No r wa y e x p e r i e n c e d

a second r e li g io u s

sig n ifica n ce.

its

fessor

G isle

as a t e a c h e r

It receiv es Johnson in

name f r o m i t s

of the n in e t e e n t h

aw akening o f deep lead in g s p i r i t ,

Pro­

( 1 8 2 2 - 9 4 ) , who came t o C h r i s t i a n i a U n i v e r s i t y

1848.

1I b i d . , p.

in A m erica,

The J o h n s o n i a n A w a k e n i n g d o m i n a t e d t h e

162.

^I b i d . , pp . 1 9 1 , 194; G j e r s e t , op. c i t . , p p . 404 f . ; T . C. B l e g e n , N o r w e g i a n M i g r a t i o n t o A m e r i c a , t h e A m e r i c a n T r a n s i t i o n ( N o r t h f i e l d , M inn.: N orw egian-A m erican H i s t o r i c a l A s s n . , 1940), p. 101. T h i s w o r k by B l e g e n w i l l h e n c e f o r t h be r e f e r r e d t o a s The A m e r i c a n T r a n s i t i o n . ^ B a n g , Den N o r s k e K i r k e s H i s t o r l e , p . 4 4 7 ;

Rohne,

p . 9.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

op.

c i t .,

12 decade

of the

fiftie s.

It

aw akening th ro u g h H auge. tin u a tio n

’’f o u n d I t s

in th e

I t was n o t a new m o v e m e n t , b u t a c o n ­

and e n l a r g e m e n t up on t h e w o r k o f Hauge a n d h i s

f o l l o w e r s . ”^

I n many r e s p e c t s

Haugean R e v i v a l e x c e p t t h a t and t h a t t h r o u g h i t

sig n ifica n tly

it

th is

im m ediate

a w a k e n i n g was s i m i l a r

reached a w ider v a r i e t y

to the

o f people

H a u g e a n p r i n c i p l e s made an i m p a c t u p o n t h e

state-church i t s e l f .

u la rly

fru ctify in g s o il

The r e v i v a l b e g a n among t h e

i n f l u e n c e d a segm ent o f the

clergy

t h o s e who s t u d i e d t i n d e r J o h n s o n a n d h i s

le a g u e , p r o f e s s o r C arl Paul Caspar! f l u e n c e d t h e c u l t u r e d a nd o f f i c i a l R e v i v a l had had l i t t l e

effect.

o f Norway, p a r t i c ­

T his r e v i v a l i n ­

u p o n whom t h e H a u g e a n

However, o p p o s i t i o n

ment i n c l u d e d t h a t

o f some o f t h e

o ld er

o v e r - a ll in flu en ce

was d e e p and w i d e s p r e a d ,

and

lik e-m in d ed c o l ­

(1814-92)• cla sses

students

clerg y .

to the move­

But J o h n so n ’s

p a rticu la rly

in

the

decade 1 8 5 0 -6 0 .^ J o h n s o n was t h e p r o p o n e n t o f ’’o r t h o d o x p i e t i s m . ” v o c a te o f Lutheran o r th d o x y , h e , th e t r a d i t i o n a l Lutheran d o c t r in e A . Hammers, w h o , broke w ith

the

as the

lead er

fo r exam ple, o f b ap tism

The p i e t i s t i c

% ee,

a g a i n s t p a s t o r G ustav

o f a co n tem p o ra ry r e v i v a l movement,

the n e e d f o r

C h r i s t i a n i t y and th e danger o f r e l i a n c e ex tern a ls.

s tr o n g ly defended

s t a t e - c h u r c h and form ed a s e c t . ^

Haugean s p i r i t he s t r e s s e d

op. c i t . , p.

^ W elle,

op.

5Ib id .,

p.

type

And i n t r u e

an e x p e r i e n c e d u p on f o r m s ,

and l i v i n g

rites,

and

o f C h r i s t i a n i t y he cham pioned

42.

c i t . , pp.

An a d ­

212-14,

216,

218 f .

219.

^Bang, pen Norske K ir k e s H i s t o r i c , p p . 460 f .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

13 te n d e d t o be

le g a listic

Through th e

and s t e r n . ^

J o h n s o n ia n Awakening a b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g

d e v e lo p e d betw een th e Haugeans clerg y .

However,

in

term s

lim itin g p u b lic

of h is

stand a g a in s t

it

the

lim ited

G rundtvig

t h e s t a t e - c h u r c h was t u r n e d

portance

of,

i n a m ore

a n d m ore r e ­

J o h n so n ia n Awakening t o o k a v i g o r o u s

G r u n d t v i g i a n m o v em en t, w h i c h h a d become s o and t h r o u g h t h e i r

in flu en ce

(1783-1872),

th at

o f the

p ra ctica lly

had e n jo y ed in Norway.

an o u t s p o k e n o p p o n e n t

s p ir itu a l stagn ation ch u rch ly type

it

op p osition

a young D an ish t h e o lo g i a n ,

n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y emerged as

o f a more

la y p reach in g,

where a r e a l n eed f o r O s a t i s f i e d n e i t h e r group."

b e c a m e more a p p r e c i a t i v e

o f the

p o w e r f u l i n Denmark,

ism and o f

in regard to

tim e o f H auge.

th e Haugean e m p h a s is .

The l e a d e r s

ended th e

rea lly

in flu en ce

d irectio n ;

to,

the

a d v o c a c y o f an " e m e r g e n c y p r i n c i p l e , "

c o u l d be shown t o e x i s t ,

p ie tistic

grad u ally

la y p reach in g to s it u a t io n s

Through J o h n s o n 's

S.

had been m o d e r a tin g s i n c e

John son 's m ed ia tin g p o s it io n

expressed

cep tiv e

state-church

The t e n s i o n b e t w e e n t h e t w o camps h a d b e e n

l e s s e n i n g an d f e l l i n g s

it

o f Norway and th e

in th e

ea rly

in

c h u r c h and a s t h e

advocate

the

Some G r u n d t v i g i a n i n f l u e n c e

im ­

was

b r o u g h t t o b e a r upon Norway, p a r t i c u l a r l y th r o u g h P r o f e s s o r s B. H ersleb

and S t e n e r J .

■^Welle, o p . 2Ib ld ., p. 3Ib id ., p p . 457 f .

Stenerson

c i t . , p.

the

of r a tio n a l­

o f C h r i s t i a n i t y w hich s t r e s s e d

sacram ents.

N. P .

svend

o f C h ristia n ia U n iv ersity .

219.

221.

pp. 2 1 6 ,

220;

B a n g , Den N o r s k e K i r k e s H i s t o r i e ,

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

14 Through t h e s e

professors

an a n t l - r a t i o n a l i s t i c

and c h u r c h l y i n ­

f l u e n c e was e x e r t e d upon N o r w e g ia n t h e o l o g i c a l s t u d e n t s ,

th e most

i n f l u e n t i a l o f whom w a s p a s t o r W i l h e l m A . W e x e l s . 1 However,

the i n f l u e n c e

t o be r a t h e r l i m i t e d b e c a u s e Denmark and b e c a u s e came t o a d o p t .

p a t r i o t i s m and h i s

movement i n Denmark.

through th e about the ation

in flu en ce

in t o a broad n a t io n a l,

life

on b e h a l f o f

in to

church l i f e .

death, 2 o p p o sitio n .

G r u n d tv ig became t h e o f the

dox c i r c l e s .

cu ltu ra l,

folk

in flu e n c e both

o n e p o w e r f u l me an s o f being

G r u n d t v i g was c o n c e r n e d

c h u r c h , a nd h e e x e r t e d h i s

and j o y f u l C h r i s t i a n i t y ,

con sid erab le

s t r o n g D anish

church in o p p o s itio n t o the p erp etu ­

the in t r o d u c t io n

o f a prob ation a f t e r

view

o f De nm ar kj

o f G rund tvig.

crea tio n o f a fo lk

o p tim istic

o f G rundtvig*s

f o l k h i g h s c h o o l m o v e m e n t w h i c h came i n t o

in sp ira tio n

lay p a r tic ip a tio n

developm ent in

t h e o l o g i c a l v ie w s w hich G rund tvig

of a clerica lly -d o m in a ted

flu en ce

of it s

G rund tvigian ism sought t o

t h e s e c u l a r a nd r e l i g i o u s was t h e

course

i n Norway was

e x t e n s i v e h i s t o r i c a l and c u l t u r a l i n t e r e s t s ,

G rund tvigian ism develop ed

in flu en ce

o f the

o f certa in

Under t h e

o f G rundtvigianism

in ­

o f more d e m o c r a c y and more He w as t h e

s p o k e s m a n f o r an

w hich e x p l a i n s

the

teach in g

a G ru n d tv ig ia n d o c t r in e w hich provoked

advocate

o f a n u n o r t h o d o x and l i b e r a l

S c r i p t u r e s w h i c h s u b j e c t e d h im t o a t t a c k f r o m o r t h o ­ He g a v e a n e x a l t e d

p o s i t i o n t o th e A p ostles*

Creed,

^ W e l l e , o p . c i t . , p p . 1 9 6 - 2 0 2 ; R o h n e , o p . c i t . , p p . 16 f . Q E d v . L eh m ann , G r u n d t v i g ( C o p e n h a g e n : Jesperson & Pios F o r l a g , 1 9 2 9 ) , p p . 176-7"9"; J . J . Raun, " D a n i s h L u t h e r a n s i n Amer­ i c a , t o 1 9 0 0 ," (U n p u b lish ed ph . D. d i s s e r t a t i o n , Departm ent o f Church H i s t o r y , U n i v e r s i t y o f C h i c a g o , 1 9 3 0 ) , p p . 7 - 3 0 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

w h ic h ,

t o g e t h e r w it h t h e words

o f b a p tism a u th o r ity to

th is

sitio n .

of in stitu tio n

f o r th e

and t h e L o r d ’ s s u p p e r , c o m p r is e d t h e su p e r io r

to

th a t

o f th e w r i t t e n

a u th o r ity

p h a s iz e d by G r u n d tv ig b e c a u s e g iv e n by C h r ist h im s e lf , w ith b a p tism .

of a b e lie f

in

its

and e s p e c i a l l y b e c a u se

D e sp ite r a tio n a lism ence.

its

ch u rch as th e ir

t h e suprem e

th e a d m in is t r a t o r

o r ig in a l p le a su r e

th e H augeans

po­

o f t h e A p o s t l e s ’ C r e e d w a s em­

G r u n d tv ig s t r e s s e d

and o f t h e

in r e la t io n

to an i n f e r i o r

a n tiq u ity , of its

as

c o n n e c tio n

im p o r ta n c e

s a c r a m e n t s , o f w h ic h b a p t is m was u n c o n d i t i o n a l l y ta n t,

r,l i v i n g W o r d , ” an

sc r ip tu r e s,

’’l i v i n g W ord” t h e B i b l e w a s r e l e g a t e d The a b s o l u t e

sa cra m en ts

o f th e

th e m o st im p o r-

o f th e

sa cra m en ts.

in G r u n d tv ig ’ s a t t a c k

•1

on

o f N orw ay c o m b a t t e d G r u n d t v i g i a n i n f l u ­

c h u r c h l y a n d s a c r a m e n t a r i a n e m p h a s i s an d i t s

som ew hat

h u m a n i s t i c a p p r e c i a t i o n o f th e j o y o f l i v i n g w e r e a l i e n t o H augean p p ie tism . H o w e v e r , I t w a s l e f t t o J o h n s o n an d C a s p a r ! t o d e a l t h e d e a t h b lo w t o

th e

in flu e n c e

o f G ru n d tv ig ia n ism

C a s p a r i w a s one o f t h o s e who made v a l u a b l e t o r ic a l stu d ie s

c o n c e r n in g th e

o r ig in s

in N orw ay.

c o n tr ib u tio n s

to h i s ­

o f th e A p o s t l e s ’ C reed ,

r e v e a l i n g t h a t G r u n d tv ig ’ s p r e s u p p o s it io n s ab o u t th e

age

o f th e

A p o s t l e s ’ C reed w ere i n c o r r e c t . Some G r u n d t v i g i a n th e e a r l i e s t p a s to r s tio n

o f th e

le a n in g s

i n A m e r i c a who p a r t i c i p a t e d

N o rw eg ia n S y n o d .

g ia n ism p r e c i p i t a t e d

w e r e e v i d e n t am ong a f e w o f in

th e

o r g a n iz a ­

T h e ir t e n d e n c ie s to w a rd s G r u n d tv i­

som e d i f f i c u l t i e s

i n A m erica d u r in g t h e

•^Lehmann, o p . c i t . , p p . 1 6 0 - 7 3 ; H a l K o c h , G r u n d t v i g (C o ­ penhagen: G y ld en d a isk e B o g h a n d e l, 1 9 4 4 ) , p p . 9 3 - 1 0 ^ / 1 5 8 - 7 1 . ^ F o r a c o n t r a s t o f o u t l o o k and e m p h a s i s G r u n d tv ig ia n ism s e e V o ld a l, o p . c i t . , p . 2 5 .

in H a u g ea n ism and

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

16

1

fiftie s.

The c h a r g e o f G r u n d t v i g i a n i s m w as fr o m t i m e

resu rrected p on en ts

and d i r e c t e d

lo n g a f t e r

a g a in st

th ere

t h e N o r w e g ia n S y n o d h y i t s

w as a n y r e a l

D u r in g a p e r io d o f c o n f l i c t w it h in L u th era n g ro u p , e a r ly e ig h tie s

th e

ju stific a tio n

op­

it .2

fo r

a n o t h e r N o rw eg ia n -A m erica n

C o n fe r en ce , d u r in g th e

referen ces

t o tim e

la tte r

se v e n tie s-a n d

t o G r u n d tv ig ia n t e n d e n c ie s w ere a g a in

3

m ade.

in our p e r io d ,

in flu e n c e

1 8 7 0 -9 0 ,

G r u n d t v i g i a n i s m h a d no a p p r e c i a b l e

upon th e N o r w e g ia n L u th e r a n s

D u r in g th e

fiftie s r e lig io u s

when t h e

p o w e r fu l,

an oth er

came i n t o

N orway fr o m S w e d e n .

c o m m u n ic a t e d c h i e f l y

Known a s New E v a n g e l i s m ,

to o

and t o o

tio n .^

e m p h a siz e d th e

sa lv a tio n ,

le g a lis tic su b je c tiv e

The i n f l u e n c e

o f perhaps a l e s s

th e H augeans,

o b je c tiv e

rea cted

an e m p h a sis

was

and an o r ­

work o f C h r is t

a g a i n s t w hat was r e ­

on c o n v e r s i o n and s a n c t i f i c a ­

an u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f f a i t h

and j u s t i f i c a ­

o f New E v a n g e l i s m w i t h i n E i e l s e n ’ s S y n o d i n

A m erica c a u s e d f r i c t i o n ■'"Rohne, o p .

it

it

n atu re

o f C a r l O la f R o s e n iu s .

o f p ie tism ,

th a n t h a t w h ic h c h a r a c t e r i z e d

p e r f o r m e d f o r m an’ s

tio n

o f a som ew hat s i m i l a r

th ro u g h th e w r it in g s

th o d o x y w h ich s t r o n g l y

garded as

J o h n s o n i a n A w a k e n in g w as

in flu e n c e

New E v a n g e l i s m w as a c o m b i n a t i o n so b er typ e

o f A m erica . 4

and w as e v e n t u a l l y

c i t . , pp.

112 -2 2 ,

c o n tr ib u to r y

t o a sch ism

14 7 f f .

2 l n f r a , p p . 280 f . 3 In fra , p. 202, 4

V o ld a l, h o w e v e r , s u g g e s t s t h a t perh ap s G r u n d tv ig ia n i n ­ f l u e n c e i n A m e r ic a w as g r e a t e r t h a n a p p e a r s on t h e s u r f a c e , op. c i t . , p. 27. 5 W e l l e , o p . c i t . , p . 2 2 0 ; C a r l F . W i s l o f f , " R o sen iu s og l a e r e n om v e r d e n s r e V t T ’e r d l g g j o r e l s e ," F a s t G r u n n , N o. 2 ( 1 9 4 9 ) , pp. 9 6 -9 8 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

17

in

1 8 7 6 .1 The J o h n s o n i a n A w a k e n in g e x e r t e d a s i g n i f i c a n t

upon th e

in flu e n c e

d e v e l o p m e n t o f N o r w e g ia n L u t h e r a n i s m i n A m e r i c a .

A l­

t h o u g h som e o f t h e N o r w e g ia n S y n o d l e a d e r s h a d s t u d i e d u n d e r C a s p a r i and J o h n s o n ,

i t w a s A u g u s t W e e n a a s , who a r r i v e d

la te

in

th e

1 8 6 0 ’ s and w as s u c c e s s i v e l y

th e

S c a n d i n a v i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d and t h e C o n f e r e n c e , who came t o

A m e r i c a im b u e d w i t h t h e

sp ir it

a p r o m i n e n t c l e r i c a l member o f

o f th e

J o h n s o n ia n A w a k e n in g .

p r o m in en t l e a d e r s

o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e , w h i c h was o r g a n i z e d i n

such as Sverdrup,

O fte d a l,

o f th e

s p i r i t o f th e

fr ie n d ly g r a tio n to rs

a ttitu d e

in

and J o h n so n a l s o h e l p e d

se r v ic e

e m p h a sis

in

t h e A m e r ic a n c h u r c h e s .

i n N orw ay i n f l u e n c e d t h e a t t i t u d e s

came t o A m e r i c a .

N o r w e g ia n -A m e ric a n crea te

a m ore

t h e C h u rc h o f N orw ay t o w a r d s t h e

t o A m e r i c a and w e r e o f g r e a t a s s i s t a n c e

fo r

1870,

and G u n n ersen , b r o u g h t a good m easure

J o h n s o n i a n A w a k e n in g i n t o

church l i f e C a s p a r i

O th e r

As V o l d a l p u t s

it:

i d e a o f m i­

in p r o c u r in g p a s -

T h i s new r e l i g i o u s o f many c l e r g y m e n who

,rT h e r e came fr o m t h e u n i ­

v e r s i t y a s u c c e s s i o n o f w e l l - e d u c a t e d , s t r o n g - w i l l e d men w i t h an o p e n m in d f o r v iv a l fo r

la y a c t iv it y

and t h e

great s ig n ific a n c e

th e i n d i v i d u a l and f o r t h e

o f th e r e ­

c o n g r e g a t i o n . ”^

T r a n s f e r o f r e l i g i o u s em phases t o A m e r ic a . - - S i n c e w ere d i s t i n c t

c le a v a g e s w ith in th e

way d u r in g t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y , ^ In fra ,

pp. 106,

L u th eran s t a t e - c h u r c h it

th ere o f N or­

c o u l d n o t be e x p e c t e d

108.

K. J o h n s e n , " F o r h o l d e n e h e r - - i A m e r i k a , ” No r s k L u t h e r s k e M e n ig fa e te r i A m e r i k a , 1 8 4 5 - 1 9 1 6 , p . 3 5 . " • ^Rohne, ^ V o ld a l,

op. c i t . , pp. 65, op.

c it.,

p.

221.

26.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

th a t

18 w hen N o r w e g ia n i m m i g r a n t s w o u ld com e p o s s e s s e d r e lig io u s tic u la r

em ph ases

tim e w ere

m ig r a tio n . c le a v a g e o f th e

came t o A m e r i c a d u r i n g t h a t p e r i o d t h e y

o f a sin g le

fou n d w i t h i n tr a n sp la n te d

r e lig io u s

t h e C h u r c h o f N orw ay a t a n y p a r ­ t o A m erica n s o i l

in

th e p r o c e s s

b etw een th e s t a t e - c h u r c h c l e r g y and a s i g n i f i c a n t Of c o u r s e , many l a y m em bers

th e m se lv e s w ith th e v ie w p o in t

L u th e r a n ism o f th e

s t a t e - c h u r c h and th e

r e v iv a listic

H augean e m p h a s i s .

f r e e A m erica to h o l d t h e s e to sp eak ,

a d h eren ts

in d e p e n d e n tly .

H ow ever,

and l e s s

em p h a ses t o g e t h e r u n d e r one r o o f ,

so

c le r g y w ere s t i l l

and d e f i n i t e

o p p o sin g v ie w p o in t .

a n tip a th ie s

p e r io d

an e x a m p l e o f t h e

h ig h tow ards

The w ay i n w h i c h t h e

a c t i v i t y w as a m a tte r o f su ch b i t t e r

is

orth od ox

i m m i g r a n t s who came t o A m e r i c a when t e n s i o n s

o f th e

N o r w e g ia n c o n f l i c t

co n tro v ersy

o f N o r w e g ia n -A m e ric a n Lu­

tra n sfer

o f an u n r e s o l v e d

to A m e r ic a .^

th e

f a c t t h a t many l a y i m m i g r a n t s

n o t c o m m itted t o

e ith e r

q u ite

T hose

ap p aren t.

c h u r c h ly ,

in

A m erica d u r in g t h e e a r l i e s t

th eran h i s t o r y

B oth v ie w p o in ts

W it h n o s t a t e - c h u r c h

b r o u g h t w i t h th em s t r o n g f e e l i n g s

la y

se c tio n

church i d e n t i f i e d

n e w e r , m o re f r e e

b e tw e e n t h e H augeans and t h e s t a t e - c h u r c h

p r o b le m o f

of

o f t h e tw o em p h a ses o r g a n i z e d and d e v e l o p e d

T h ose

r e p r e se n ta tiv e s

of th e

o f th e c le r g y .

w ere b r o u g h t t o A m erica — t h e t r a d i t i o n a l ,

in

The v a r i o u s

The H a u g e a n R e v i v a l i n p a r t i c u l a r p r o d u c e d a d e e p

la ity .

fo r m a l,

o u tlo o k .

p o sitio n

to

th e e x c l u s i o n

t o A m e r i c a w e re o f th e

o t h e r was

i m m i g r a n t s w ho came t o A m e r i c a a f t e r t h e

J o h n s o n i a n A w a k e n in g h a d e x e r t e d i t s

in flu e n c e

in

N orway

-*-Por a d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e c o n t r o v e r s y a b o u t " L aym en’ s A c t iv it y " see R ohne, op . c i t . , pp. 1 5 8 -7 9 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

19

w itn e sse d at

le a st

r e n ts w ith in

t h e C hurch o f N orw ay.

curred p r io r to perhaps

a p a r t i a l h a r m o n iz a tio n

o f th e

I f t h a t h a r m o n iza tio n had o c ­

t h e b e g i n n i n g o f N o r w e g ia n m ig r a t io n

t h e r e w o u ld h a v e b e e n m ore p e a c e a n d l e s s

am ong N o r w e g ia n L u t h e r a n s i n A m e r i c a . a n tip a th ie s

w ere

tw o m a j o r c u r ­

c a r r ie d

t o A m e rica ,

co n tro v ersy

As i t w a s , t h e - u n r e s o l v e d

t o A m erica n s o i l .

The v a r i o u s f o r c e s w h i c h h a d made t h e m s e l v e s s t r o n g l y f e l t I n r e l i g i o u s l i f e i n N orw ay d i d n o t r u p t u r e t h e N o r w e g ia n L u th eran C hurch. As f a r a s o r g a n i z a t i o n g o e s i t r e m a in e d i n ­ t a c t on t h e b a s i s o f L u t h e r a n d o c t r i n e ; b u t d i s t i n c t g r o u p s h a d d e v e lo p e d w i t h i n i t w i t h w e l l m arked t e n d e n c i e s o f t h e i r own. When o u r p e o p l e came t o A m e r i c a , t h e s e g r o u p s b eca m e m ore d i s t i n c t , and d i f f e r e n t c h u r c h b o d i e s w e r e t h e n o r g a n i z e d . B u t n e a r l y a l l o f t h e s e s t i l l r e m a in e d L u th eran i n p o i n t o f d o c t r i n e , and t h e d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n th e m , a s i d e fr o m m in o r d o c t r i n a l d is a g r e e m e n ts , w ere o f t e n la r g e ly c o n fin e d to a d i v e r g e n c e i n v i e w s r e g a r d i n g C h r i s t i a n l i f e and w ork i n t h e church. N o r w e g ia n M i g r a t i o n t o A m e r ic a O r ig in s, T rend s, The b e g i n n i n g s

and M o t i v e s

o f N o r w e g ia n m i g r a t i o n t o A m e r i c a d a t e

fr o m t h e y e a r 1 8 2 5 w hen t h e s m a l l N o r w e g ia n s l o o p fifty fiv e

to n s,

nam ed t h e

passengers

year. th e

th an

" R e sto r a tio n ” (R e sta u r a tio n ) , c a r r y in g f o r t y -

and a c r e w o f s e v e n ,

S ta v a n g e r and a r r i v e d

of le ss

set

s a i l from t h e

c ity

of

i n New Y o r k h a r b o r o n O c t o b e r n i n t h o f t h a t

In 1925 th e one h u n d red th a n n iv e r s a r y o f th e a r r i v a l o f

" s l o o p e r s " was t h e

o c c a sio n

fo r th e

c e le b r a tio n

N o r w e g ia n -A m e ric a n C e n t e n n i a l f e s t i v i t i e s . th era n

g rotip o f i m m i g r a n t s , h o w e v e r ,

a tio n s

w it h a s m a l l group o f Q uakers in

o f e la b o r a te

T h is w as n o t

a Lu­

b u t in s t e a d had c l o s e S tavan ger.

D e sp ite

a sso c i­ th e

■4cnut G - j e r s e t , "The H i s t o r i c a l B a c k g r o u n d o f N o r w e g ia n A m e r ic a n L u t h e r a n i s m , " L u t h e r a n H e r a l d , XVI ( 1 9 3 2 ) , 6 5 0 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

20

im p o r ta n c e o f th e e c o n o m ic m o tiv e in

1825, ill-tr e a tm e n t

g ia n a u t h o r it ie s

o f th e

w as a l s o

in

e x p la in in g t h e ir m ig r a tio n

Q uakers a t t h e h a n d s o f th e

a s ig n ific a n t fa cto r

in t h e i r

Norwe­

c o m in g t o

A m e r ic a ,^ F o r some y e a r s

a fter

th e

a r r iv a l o f th is

fir s t

sm a ll b o a t­

l o a d o f i m m i g r a n t s N o r w e g ia n m i g r a t i o n w as o n l y a t r i c k l e . e r a liz in g ,

th e p ro g ress

a s f o l l o w s on t h e b a s i s tio n

o f th e

to p ic

o f N o r w e g i a n i m m i g r a t i o n c a n b e s u m m a r iz e d o f C a r lto n C. Q u a le y 's

o f N o r w e g ia n s e t t l e m e n t

in

ca refu l in v e stig a ­

th e U n ite d

S ta tes:

I n t h e p e r i o d 1 8 2 5 - 5 0 m i g r a t i o n t o A m e r i c a w as r e l a t i v e l y n if ic a n t n u m e r ic a lly , b u t a s te a d y The p e r i o d 1 8 5 0 - 5 5 w i t n e s s e d n o t be c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e

la r g e m ig r a tio n

th e

and l a s t

la te

n in e tie s

came i n

th e e i g h t i e s

im ­

The l a t e

and e a r l y n i n e ­

a g a in w it n e s s in g a d e c l i n e .

The t h i r d

fir st

years

of

p

N orw ay h a s c o n t r i b u t e d h e a v i l y The o n l y n a t i o n t h a t h a s of its

1866,

The s e c o n d a n d g r e a t e s t

g r e a t w a v e o f m i g r a t i o n came d u r i n g t h e

th e tw e n tie th c e n tu r y .

share

th a t began in

can­

The p e r i o d 1 8 6 6 - 7 4 w i t n e s s e d t h e

saw a c o n s id e r a b le d e c l i n e .

w ave o f N o r w e g ia n i m m i g r a n t s

p o t."

i n n u m b e r s w as s h o w n .

g r e a t w ave o f N o rw eg ia n m i g r a t i o n t o A m e r ic a .

se v e n tie s

tie s ,

in c r e a se

in sig ­

a m uch l a r g e r m i g r a t i o n , b u t i t

m e d i a t e l y a f t e r t h e C i v i l W ar. fir st

G en ­

p o p u la tio n

t o t h e A m erica n

seen a p r o p o r tio n a te ly

" m e ltin g la r g e r

l e a v e t h e h o m e la n d f o r A m e r i c a i s

^T. C . B l e g e n , N o r w e g ia n M i g r a t i o n t o A m e r i c a , 1 8 2 5 - 6 0 ( N o r t h f i e l d , M in n .: N o r w e g ia n -A m e ric a n H i s t o r i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n , 1 9 3 1 ), pp. 2 4 -2 6 . T h i s i s t h e s t a n d a r d w o r k on N o r w e g ia n m i g r a ­ t i o n to A m erica . ^ C a r l t o n C. Q u a l e y , N o r w e g i a n S e t t l e m e n t i n

th e U n ite d

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

21 I r e la n d ." * ' g ia n s

The m o t i v e s

t o A m erica w e r e ,

m o tiv e w it h The t o p i c

its

c o n sid e r a b le s tu d y . caused such a flo o d

ity

in

th e

fie ld

s u c h l a r g e num bers

o f Norwe­

o f c o u r s e , many a n d v a r i e d , b u t t h e e c o n o m i c

r a m if ic a t io n s seem s t o have been m ost im p e llin g .

o f m o tiv a tio n

r a th e r exten d ed

th a t brought

f o r N o rw eg ia n m ig r a t i o n h a s b e e n g iv e n

To h e l p

o f m ig r a n ts

q u o ta tio n is

s u m m a r iz e t h e v a r i o u s to

fr o m t h e

fa cto rs

come t o A m e r i c a t h e p e n o f th e

th at

fo llo w in g

a c k n o w le d g e d a u t h o r ­

in c lu d e d :

I t was no a c c i d e n t t h a t N o r w e g i a n e m i g r a t i o n , i n a u g u r a t e d i n 1 8 2 5 , s w u n g u p w a rd i n t h e l a t e t h i r t i e s a n d e a r l y f o r t i e s , f o r t h a t p e r i o d w i t n e s s e d an u n u s u a l c o n j u n c t i o n o f f a v o r i n g c ir c u m sta n c e s: a s h a r p i n c r e a s e in t h e a g e - g r o u p from 2 0 t o 3 0 ( p e o p l e i n whom t h e d e s i r e f o r a d v e n t u r e m i g h t b e e x p e c t e d t o j o i n h a n d s w i t h o t h e r m o t i v e s ) ; an u n p r e c e d e n t e d s t i r o f r e l i g i o u s an d p o l i t i c a l d i s c o n t e n t a n d a g i t a t i o n am o n g t h e b fin d e r ; s e v e r e p r e s s u r e o f u n f a v o r a b le b a s i c e co n o m ic c o n d i ­ t i o n s b r o u g h t to a s h a r p p o i n t b y s p e c i a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f undue s e v e r i t y ; num erous c o l l a t e r a l i r r i t a t i o n s t h a t ad d ed t o t h e i r k s o m e n e s s o f t h e s e b a s i c and s p e c i a l c o n d i t i o n s ; and f i n a l l y t h e a r r i v a l o f " A m e r ic a l e t t e r s " a n d r e t u r n e d Im m i­ g r a n t s , t h e i n f l u e n c e o f r e l a t i v e s , t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f "Amer­ ic a b o o k s," th e b e g in n in g s o f a s p i r i t e d c o n tr o v e r s y a b o u t e m i g r a t i o n — t h e s e and o t h e r f o r c e s c o n s p i r i n g t o b r i n g i n t o a c t io n th e m a g n e tic p u l l o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s . D isc o n te n t becam e f o c u s e d : e m i g r a t i o n w a s a c u t t i n g o f t h e G o r d ia n k n o t . The i n f l u e n c e o f l e t t e r s , b o o k s , a g e n t s , p r o p a g a n d a , a n d many oth er s p e c ia l f a c t o r s i s tr a c ed in o th er c h a p ter s o f th e p r e s ­ ent book. S u f f i c e i t t o r e p e a t h e r e th a t c e r t a i n fu n d a m en ta l c o n d i t i o n s seem t o h a v e g i v e n r i s e t o an e m i g r a t i o n v i e w p o i n t i n t h e m in d s o f many N o r w e g i a n s , in th e f o l l o w i n g p e r io d s N o r w e g i a n c o n d i t i o n s n a t u r a l l y c h a n g e d i n many r e s p e c t s ; N o r ­ w ay w as t o e x p e r i e n c e an e x p a n s i o n o f i t s e c o n o m i c l i f e ; a g r i c u l t u r e an d i n d u s t r y w e r e t o make p o s s i b l e t h e m o re a d e ­ q u a t e s u p p o r t o f i t s p e o p l e ; l a i s s e z - f a i r e w as t o g i v e way tfl v i g o r o u s p r o g r a m s o f e c o n o m i c a n d s o c i a l r e f o r m ; t h e b o n d e r w e r e t o p r o c e e d from v i c t o r y t o v i c t o r y ; b u t m e a n w h i l e t h e e a r l i e r im m ig ra n t p io n e e r s h a d c u t th e pathw ay t o t h e W e st b r o a d and c l e a r . As t h a t r o a d w as more and more t r a v S ta te s (N o r th fie ld , a te oh, 1 9 3 8 ), p . 5 .

M in n .: N o r w e g ia n -A n e ric a n H i s t o r i c a l A s s o c i ­ T h is i s a v a lu a b le d e t a i l e d s t u d y .

^ B le g e n , N o rw eg ia n M i g r a t i o n t o A m e rica , p.

1 8 2 5 -6 0 ,

22.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

22

e r s e d , i t ‘becam e e a s i e r a n d m ore n a t u r a l f o r s u c c e e d i n g g e n e r a ­ t i o n s t o c o n t e m p l a t e i t s u s e i n t h e e f f o r t t o im p r o v e t h e i r c i r c u m s t a n c e s .1 A reas o f S e ttle m e n t The m a j o r i t y o f t h e in

th e v i c i n i t y

ta r io .

" slo o p e r s" e s t a b lis h e d a s e t tle m e n t

o f R o ch ester,

New Y o r k ,

on t h e s h o r e s

The c o l o n y came t o be known a s t h e

R e la tiv e ly

fa r m l a n d s

th e c h i e f a t t r a c t i o n

o f th e M id w e st.

o f Lake On­

’’K e n d a l l s e t t l e m e n t " .

f e w N o r w e g ia n i m m i g r a n t s w e r e t o

fa r e a s t , how ever, as fe r tile

i n A m e rica

s e ttle

p e r m a n e n tly so

f o r them w a s t o b e t h e

In f a c t ,

t h e New Y o r k s e t t l e ­

m ent b eg a n t o b r e a k up in

1 8 3 4 w hen s i x

f a m i l i e s m oved t o t h e p o x

R iv e r r e g io n

in

n e a r th e

o f O ttaw a, w e s t o f C h ic a g o .

T h i s w as t h e

s e c o n d N o r w e g ia n s e t t l e m e n t

a fe r tile

Illin o is ,

m other c o lo n y f o r

c ity

n o rth ea stern

Iow a,

The s t o r y o f N o r w e g ia n s e t t l e m e n t m o v em en t n o r t h w e s t w a r d . is

e p ito m iz e d as

" . . .

I llin o is

t o I o w a and M i n n e s o t a ,

D a k o ta s,

N e b r a sk a , M on tan a,

r e g io n s e lse w h e r e

an d s o u t h e a s t e r n M i n n e s o t a .

o f th is

o f a gradual

N o r w e g ia n s e t t l e m e n t

fr o m n o r t h w e s t e r n New Y o r k t o fr o m i o w a and M i n n e s o t a t o

th e

t h e P a r W e s t , C a n a d a , and s c a t t e r e d

in A m erica .

By 1 8 7 0 , t h e p o i n t o f d e p a r t u r e gen eral areas

fo r th is

d isse r ta tio n ,

th e

o f N o r w e g ia n s e t t l e m e n t i n W i s c o n s i n and io w a t h a t

h a v e p e r s i s t e d u n t i l th e p r e s e n t w ere p r e t t y w e l l m arked o u t . th e

and

in n o rth ern I l l i n o i s ,

i n A m e r ic a was t h a t

The p r o g r e s s

fo llo w s:

th e U n i t e d S t a t e s

s u b s e q u e n t N o r w e g ia n s e t t l e m e n t s . 2

O th er s e t t l e m e n t s w ere so o n e s t a b l i s h e d so u th ern W isc o n sin ,

in

1 8 7 0 ' s t h e n o r t h w e s t w a r d m o v i n g f r o n t i e r was i n ^I b i d . , p p . ® Q u a le y ,

op.

175 f . c i t . , p.

^ I b id ., pp.

In

th e n o r th w e s t-

51 f .

13.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

23 e r n p a r t o f M in n e so ta and i n to

th e

D a k o ta s.

1865 had seen th e p io n e e r in g o f th e

s o t a , w h ile

fr o m 1 8 6 6 t o

N o r w e g ia n s e t t l e m e n t fille d

in

an d t h e

in th e

se ttle r s

w ent in t o

D a k o ta ),

th e

in

th e

lo c a le

th e

in to

began to pour in t o

s o u t h e r n p a r t o f D ak ota T e r r i t o r y

o f R o lv a a g 's

fa m o u s n o v e l , G i a n t s

an d w hen t h e

M ontan a, and b e y o n d . came i n t o

In th e

th e

(S o u th th e E a r th ,

P a n ic o f 1 8 7 3 .

a d v a n c e was r e n e w e d i n

th e

as th e la te

par­

la n d

n in e tie s,

t o n o r th w e s te r n N o rth D a k o ta , e a s t e r n

A f t e r 1 9 0 0 an e x t e n s i v e

a r e a o f N o rw eg ia n

b e i n g i n n o r t h e a s t e r n M o n ta n a .1

f o l l o w i n g p a r a g r a p h D r . Q u a ley l o c a t e s

o f N o r w e g ia n s e t t l e m e n t

g e o g r a p h ic

w ent

was th e n o r t h e r n p a r t o f

T h e r e w as a l u l l i n m i g r a t i o n

f r o n t i e r had p r o g r e s s e d

areas

in

and Many

( N o r t h D a k o t a ) u p o n w h i c h N o r w e g ia n s e t t l e r s

converged.

boom e n d e d ,

s e ttle m e n t

sta te.

g r e a t l a n d boom o f t h e e i g h t i e s many m ore s e t t l e r s

D ak ota T e r r i t o r y

th e

areas o f

th e park r e g io n

th e n o r th w e ste rn p a r t o f th e

s o u th e r n D ak ota T e r r i t o r y , b u t i t

tic u la r ly

la r g e

o f M in n e ­

w e s te r n and s o u th e r n c o u n t i e s w ere

d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d b e t w e e n t h e C i v i l War a n d t h e D u r in g th e

fr o m 1 8 5 0

sou th ern c o u n tie s

th e m id d le s e v e n t i e s

se ttle r s

t h e R ed R i v e r V a l l e y

The p e r i o d

a r e a w h ic h i s

th e m ajor

i n A m e r i c a an d c o n s e q u e n t l y d e s c r i b e s th e background fo r th e

te llin g

o f th e

s t o r y o f N o r w e g ia n -A m e r ic a n L u th e r a n is m : A l t h o u g h i s l a n d s o f s e t t l e m e n t w e r e e s t a b l i s h e d a t many p o in t s o u t s id e th e p r i n c i p a l a r e a o f s e t t l e m e n t , th e m a j o r it y o f th e N o r w e g ia n s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s s e t t l e d in th e u p p e r M i s s i s s i p p i and M i s s o u r i v a l l e y s . W ith th e Fox R i v e r s e t t l e ­ m e n t i n n o r t h e r n I l l i n o i s a s an a p e x , s e t t l e m e n t s p r e a d i n t o a f a n - s h a p e d a r e a w e s t w a r d , n o r t h w e s t w a r d , and n o r t h w a r d . The r i g h t e d g e o f t h e f a n w a s fo r m e d b y t h e s t a t e o f M i c h i g a n ; t h e l e f t e d g e , b y t h e n o r t h e r n c o u n t i e s o f I l l i n o i s , I o w a , an d N e b r a s k a ; an d t h e o u t e r e d g e , b y an i r r e g u l a r l i n e o f s e t t l e 1I b i d ., pp. 4 1 ,

9 6 -9 8 ,

112,

1 3 0 -3 4 ,

153,

163,

170.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

24 m erits e x t e n d i n g fr o m n o r t h e a s t e r n N e b r a s k a t h r o u g h w e s t e r n S o u t h an d N o r t h D a k o t a , e a s t e r n M o n ta n a , t h e p r a i r i e s o f A l ­ b e r t a , S a s k a t c h e w a n , a n d M a n i t o b a , an d t h e w o o d s an d m i n e s o f n o r t h e r n M in n e s o t a and W i s c o n s i n , t h a t m et t h e e a s t e r n o r r i g h t edge in th e n o r th e r n p e n in s u la o f M ic h ig a n .1 The I m m ig r a n t a n d H i s C hurch T h is d i s s e r t a t i o n t o A m erica .

N orway, a s i s

c e n t L u th era n . ta k en

fo r

as

p o p u la tio n

out

th a t in

fo r m a lly n e a r ly 100 per

it

is

s p e c i f i c a l l y r e p u d ia te d ,

a c tiv e ly

in te r e ste d

1875 o n ly 7 ,1 8 0 p e o p le

The s t a t e - c h u r c h ,

crea ted a lo y a lty

a d e e p im p r in t upon th e

church.

o f th e m o tiv e s

I m m ig r a n t ; i t

In A m e r ic a .

The e a r l i e r

th a t

c a u s e d th em t o m i g r a t e ,

th at

im m ig r a n ts

im p u lse if

in

g r e a t m a j o r it y o f im m ig ra n ts o f th e th e n in e t e e n t h

c e n tu r y w ere

''‘I b i d . , p . B le g e n ,

im m e d i­

in p a r ­

ir r e sp e c tiv e th e e i g h t i e s

many N o r w e g i a n s came t o A m e r i c a w h o se r e l i g i o u s

i n s o f a r as t h e y had any a t a l l ,

had

in th e h e a r t

c o n v ic tio n s

t i c u l a r b r o u g h t w i t h th em a d e e p r e l i g i o u s

q

th e p e r ­

out o f a t o t a l

t o L u th e r a n ism and h ad im p la n te d

a t e l y becam e e v i d e n t

tio n s,

th e

o ffi­

d e s p i t e m uch s p i r i t u a l i n d i f f e r e n c e

N o r w e g ia n i m m i g r a n t f i r m r e l i g i o u s

an d a f t e r ,

in

th e

o n ly th e M e t h o d is t s had o v e r a th o u sa n d a d ­

and d e a d n e s s , h ad l e f t

o f th e

is

o f 1 ,8 1 8 ,8 5 3 d id n o t fo r m a lly b e lo n g to th e s t a te -c h u r c h ,

and o f th e d i s s e n t e r s h eren ts. 2

w e ll-k n o w n ,

t o m e m b e r s h ip d o n o t a c c u r a t e l y r e f l e c t

o f th e p o p u la t io n

B le g e n p o in t s

c o n c e r n e d w i t h th e L u th eran im m ig r a n ts

S i n c e m e m b e r s h ip i n t h e L u t h e r a n s t a t e - c h u r c h i s

gra n ted u n le s s

c i a l fig u r e s cen ta ge

is

c o n v ic ­

w e r e f a r fr o m L u t h e r a n ,

s e c o n d and t h i r d q u a r t e r s

l o y a l L u th e r a n s .^

th e of

jn c h a r a c t e r iz in g

16.

N o r w e g ia n M ig r a t io n t o A m e r ic a , 1 8 2 5 - 6 0 , p .

17.

2 0 . M. N o r l i e ,

Den F o r e n e d e N o r s k L u t h e r s k e K ir k e i

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

A m eri-

25 t h e S c a n d i n a v i a n im m ig r a n t t o A m e r ic a S t e p h e n s o n s a y s can be

no d is a g r e e m e n t ab ou tth e

p la c e d

an i n d e l i b l e

fa ct

sta m p on t h e s o u l o f t h e i m m i g r a n t .

who m a i n t a i n e d a r e l i g i o u s

th ere

t h a t ”t h e L u t h e r a n C h u rc h

The im m ig r a n t c o u l d u s u a l l y f i n d

own.

th a t

a group o f h i s

e m p h a s i s and i n t e r e s t

.

cou n trym en

sim ila r

The f r a g m e n t e d s i t u a t i o n w h ic h came t o c h a r a c t e r i z e

g ia n - A m e r ic a n L u th er a n ism had th e p r a c t i c a l e f f e c t

. . ,,*L

to h is Norwe­

o f r e ta in in g

f o r L u t h e r a n i s m a g r e a t e r p r o p o r t i o n o f N o r w e g ia n i m m i g r a n t s t h a n was th e

c a s e w i t h im m i g r a n t s fr o m t h e

E ach r e l i g i o u s w ith in

e m p h a sis w i t h i n

t h e C h u rc h o f N orway w as d u p l i c a t e d

some N o r w e g ia n L u t h e r a n c h u r c h b o d y i n t h i s

w h ic h t h e im m ig ra n t c o u ld a f f i l i a t e hom e.

co u n try , w ith

and i n w h i c h h e

E a c h o f t h e v a r i o u s N o r w e g ia n L u t h e r a n b o d i e s

c la im e d to be a tr u e w o rth y

c h ild

o f a lle g ia n c e

o f r ig h t,

fo r

on t h a t b a s i s ,

a l l u s e d th e

an d e n o m i n a t i o n s

an d s e c t s

c o u ld

fee l

at

i n A m erica

o f t h e m o t h e r c h u r c h i n N orw ay an d a n d w i t h a c o n s i d e r a b l e sh ow

same c a t e c h i s m and i n e s s e n t i a l s a d h e r e d

t o N o r w e g ia n r i t u a l and p r a c t i c e . ^

th e

o th e r S c a n d in a v ia n c o u n t r i e s .

The r e s u l t w as t h a t n o n - L u t h e r ­

d id n o t have as la r g e

an a t t r a c t i o n

fo r

N o r w e g ia n i m m i g r a n t s a s t h e y d i d f o r t h e S w e d e s a n d D a n e s . ^

B le g en

p u ts

it

th is

w ay;

The v e r y s t o r m s and t u r b u l e n c e o f N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n ­ ism p r o b a b ly a c c o u n t f o r th e f a c t t h a t th e N o rw eg ia n s i n g r e a t e r d e g r e e th an th e Sw edes h a v e r e t a i n e d t h e i r L u th er a n f a i t h i n A m erica . The S w e d i s h A m e r i c a n s g r e a t l y o u tn u m b e r t h e i r N o rw eg ia n -A m erica n b r e t h r e n , y e t a p p r o x im a t e ly t w ic e a s ca (M in n e a p o lis: A ugsburg P u b l i s h i n g H o u se, f B e A m e r ic a n T r a n s i t i o n , p . 1 0 0 ; V o l d a l , o p .

1 9 1 4 ), p . 7; B le g e n , c i t . , p. 24.

-^-George M. S t e p h e n s o n , "The M ind o f t h e S c a n d i n a v i a n Im­ m i g r a n t , ' 1 S t u d i e s and R e c o r d s ( N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n ) , IV ( 1 9 2 9 ) , 6 8 . ^ John sen, o p .

c it.,

p . 28.

5I b id .,

p. 39.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

26 many N o r w e g i a n s a s S w e d e s a r e m em bers o f t h e L u t h e r a n c h u r c h in A m erica . . . . O f t e n w i t h i n a s i n g l e c o m m u n ity a N o r w e g ia n i m m i g r a n t c o u l d make h i s c h o i c e o f c h u r c h a f f i l i a t i o n am ong t h r e e o r f o u r N o r w e g ia n L u t h e r a n c h u r c h e s , w h e r e a s t h e Sw ed e who d i d n o t f i n d h i m s e l f c o n t e n t t o j o i n an A u g u s t a n a S y n o d c o n g r e g a t io n c o u ld n o t f i n d any L u th eran a l t e r n a t i v e u n l e s s he c r o s s e d th e b o u n d a r ie s o f la n g u a g e . N o r w e g ia n -A m e ric a n L u th e r a n is m t o

1870^

H i s t o r i c a l Resum& P e r io d o f u n o r g a n iz e d l a y a c t i v i t y sp e a k in g , p a s to r s ,^

to

1 8 4 5 .— G e n e r a lly

e m i g r a t i o n w as d i s c o u r a g e d b y N o r w e g i a n s t a t e - c h u r c h and t h e r e c o r d show s t h a t th e

d id n o th in g o f con seq u en ce w e g ia n im m ig ra n t t o t h i s

to m eet th e

cou n try.

C h u r c h o f N orw a y a s

s p i r i t u a l n e e d s o f th e N or­

In th e p e r io d p r io r

s p i r i t u a l l e a d e r s h i p w as a s s u m e d b y c o n s e c r a t e d H a u g e a n s t a m p , who a s s e m b l e d t h e p e o p l e F o r tu n a te ly ,

l a y p r e a c h e r had had p r a c t i c a l e x p e r ie n c e New Y o r k ,

s e ttle m e n t,

" s l o o p e r s ," w a s n o t L u t h e r a n i n c h a r a c t e r . Q u a k e r s o r o f Q u ak er s y m p a t h i e s . w ere i n t e r e s t e d

in r e l i g i o n ,

1843

le a d e r s

la y p r e a c h in g , in

o f th e

an d t h e

th e h o m e la n d .^

com posed o f th e

o r ig in a l

A num ber o f th e m w e r e

The r e m a i n d e r ,

a ffilia te d

la y

to

f o r r e l i g i o u s m e e tin g s .^

th e p e o p le w ere accu sto m ed t o

The K e n d a l l ,

such

in s o fa r as

w ith a v a r ie t y

th ey

o f d en o m i-

^ B l e g e n , The A m e r ic a n T r a n s i t i o n , p p . 1 7 2 f . p The s t a n d a r d a u t h o r i t y f o r t h i s e a r l y p e r i o d i n N o r w e g i a n A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n c h u r c h h i s t o r y i s J . M agnus R o h n e , N o r w e g ia n A m e r ic a n L u t h e r a n i s m u p t o 1 8 7 2 . A n o t h e r h e l p f u l and r e l i a b l e s o u r c e o f i n f o r m a t i o n i's~ j . a . B e r g h ’ s Den n o r s k l u t h e r s k e K i r k e s H i s t o r i e 1 A m e r ik a ( M i n n e a p o l i s : A u g s b u r g p u b l i s h i n g H o u se ', 1 9 1 4 ) . ^R ohne, o p . ^ John sen,

c i t . , p. 45.

op.

c i t . , p.

29.

5I b id .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

27

n a tio n s.

The H a u g e a n la y m a n O le O l s o n H e t l e t v e t , w ho cam e w i t h

th e o r ig in a l p a r ty , and l a t e r

p rea ch ed in t h e K e n d a ll s e t t le m e n t

fo r

came t o b e o n e o f t h e w e l l - k n o w n and r e s p e c t e d

p rea ch ers in

a tim e

la y

t h e L u th era n c o m m u n itie s o f I l l i n o i s . ' * '

The s e c o n d N o r w e g ia n c o l o n y i n A m e r i c a , t h e F o x R i v e r se ttle m e n t in

in L a S a lle

im p o r ta n c e

im m ig r a n ts.

I llin o is ,

and b e c a m e f o r a t i m e I t w as h e r e

to o k th e le a d in th e

cou n ty,

absence

in

s p i r i t u a l needs o f th e

n e n t and f o r c e f u l o f t h e s e w as E l l i n g E i e l s e n , in

N o r w e g ia n

t h a t a num ber o f l a y p r e a c h e r s

o f any o r d a in e d L u th eran p a s t o r s .

p rea ch er o f r e p u ta tio n

p red ecessor

th e r e a l c e n te r fo r

I llin o is

in m in is te r in g t o th e

su p ersed ed i t s

th e h o m e la n d .

s e ttle r s

The m o s t p r o m i ­

a H augean l a y

He h a d e x p e r i e n c e d

op­

p o sitio n

and p e r s e c u t i o n

in Norway, and c o n s e q u e n t ly h e was an a g ­

g r e ssiv e

opponent o f th e

s t a t e - c h u r c h c l e r g y and t h e t y p e

th e r a n ism w h ic h t h e y r e p r e s e n t e d . m ent in sh ip ,

p h a sis. hou se

C om in g t o t h e F o x R i v e r s e t t l e ­

1 8 3 9 , he im m e d ia t e ly assu m ed e f f e c t i v e

and t h e

s e t t l e m e n t b e c a m e known f o r

T here E i e l s e n b u i l t

o f L u­

th e f i r s t

its

r e lig io u s

le a d e r ­

s t r o n g H a u g e a n em­

N o r w e g ia n L u t h e r a n m e e t i n g

i n A m e rica .* * S e v e r a l o t h e r s e t t l e m e n t s h a d s p r u n g up i n n o r t h e r n

n o is

and s o u t h e r n W is c o n s in

in

th e l a t e

th ir tie s

I lli­

and e a r l y f o r t i e s ,

M uskego s e t t l e m e n t In s o u t h e r n W is c o n s in b e i n g one o f t h e m o s t p r o m in e n t,

and i n

d a in e d p a s to r s d ir e c te d

th ese

c o m m u n itie s, t o o ,

In th e

absence

of or­

lay m en r o s e

s p ir itu a l ^■Rohne, o p .

t o t h e c h a l l e n g e o f t h e e m erg en cy and 3 a ffa ir s. The l a y l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e M u s k e g o c i t . , pp. 30 f .

^ I b id ., pp. 3 9 -4 1 .

^ I b id ., pp. 4 4 -4 8 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

28 s e t t l e m e n t r e p r e s e n t e d a m ore m o d e r a t e t y p e o f H a u g e a n i s m ; not m a n ife st E ie ls e n ’ s s tr o n g a n t i - c l e r i c a l b e n t. se ttle r s ly

w e r e m ore c h u r c h l y i n t h e i r

tow ard s th e

le a d e r sh ip in

p a sto ra l o f f ic e .

t h e M u sk ego c o m m u n it y w a s r e j e c t e d ,

C la u s L» C l a u s e n ,

a young D a n ish s c h o o l t e a c h e r ,

H is o r d i n a t i o n

d e sp ite h is

and m ore

in v e c tiv e s

th a t r e su lte d

in

th e c le r g y ,

of

t o be t h e i r 1 8 4 3 . E ie lse n ,

s u r p r is in g ly enough

had ta k e n a s i m i l a r

step

R ohne’ s e x p la n a t io n

o f w h a t w o u ld s e e m t o b e a t o t a l l y u n e x p e c t e d

step is th is

th is:

’’A b o u t t h e

ra th er stra n g e a c t

in c lu d in g th e

sh o u ld have

sa cra m en ts, e x c e p t

is

th a t

th e

same p o p u l a r stro n g

h ig h and d r y s u b m itte d

s tr o n g p ro p o n en ts o f la y

d id n o t o b v ia te th e need fo r p a s ­

th e

r e sp o n sib ility

fo r a d m in iste r in g

in em ergency s i t u a t i o n s .^

S y n o d ic a l o r g a n iz a t io n .--W ith 1Ih id .,

1843.

t h a t C l a u s e n be o r d a i n e d b e c a m e t o o

th a t la y preach ers

t o r s , who a l o n e

O cto b er 3 ,

T h e r e w as g e n e r a l a g r e e m e n t among a l l N o r w e g ia n

L u th eran im m ig r a n ts,

th e

p a rt,

a l s o , who, r a t h e r th a n be l e f t

t o o r d i n a t i o n . ”^

p r e a c h in g ,

e a r lie r ,

o n ly r e a s o n t h a t can be adduced fo r

on E i e l s e n ' s

s e n t i m e n t w h ic h r e q u ir e d fo r E ie lse n

a fo r tn ig h t

fo r

a n d t h e M u sk e g o

th e c a l l i n g

o c c u r r e d on O ctob er 1 8 , a g a in st

fr ie n d ­

C o n se q u e n tly , E i e l s e n ’ s b id

p r o c e e d in g s

d id

The M u sk e g o

in c lin a tio n s

la y m e n i n s t i t u t e d

p a sto r.

it

pp. 4 7 -4 9 ,

th e o r d in a t io n

o f th e

tw o

5 6 -5 8 .

2 l b i d . , p p . 61 f . The v a l i d i t y o f E i e l s e n ’ s o r d i n a t i o n w as c o n s t a n t l y c a l l e d i n t o q u e s t i o n b y h i s o p p o n e n t s , f i r s t b y C l a u s e n , who r e g a r d e d h im s i m p l y a s a ’’l i c e n s e d ” l a y p r e a c h e r , and l a t e r b y J . W. C. D i e t r i c h s o n , t h e f i r s t N o r w e g ia n L u t h e r a n p a s t o r from N o r w a y , and o t h e r s . I t w as c o n t e n d e d t h a t E i e l s e n had n o t b een p r o p e r ly c a l l e d nor e x a m in e d . I b i d . , p p . 6 2 , 67 f . , 115 f . 3 John sen, o p . c i t . , p . 29; B ergh, op . c i t . , p . 1 1 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

29 la y m e n , E i e l s e n

and C la u s e n ,

in

1843 o r g a n iz e d

N o r w e g ia n -A m e ric a n L u th e r a n s can b e y e a r s w ere b u sy w it h t h e

c h u r c h w o r k among

s a id to have b egu n .

o r g a n iz a tio n

The n e x t

o f c o n g r e g a tio n s.

H ow ever,

t h e man w ho a c c o m p l i s h e d m ore o f an o r g a n i z a t i o n a l n a t u r e t h a n e ith e r

o f th e

D ie tr ic h so n ,

tw o a f o r e - m e n t i o n e d w as t h e R e v e r e n d J . W. C. th e

fir st

o r d a in e d L u th er a n c le r g y m a n t o

N orw ay t o m i n i s t e r t o h i s 1 8 4 4 a n d made t h e W isc o n sin ,

p o p u lo u s

about f i f t y

D ie tr ic h so n ,

tic e

se ttle m e n t

r a th e r h ig h c h u r c h ly in h is

in t o th e

and d o m i n e e r i n g p e r ­

co n cep ts

of lit u r g ic a l prac­

c e r ta in

church l i f e

o f h is

o f th e

v ie w s.

N o r w e g ia n

o f A m e r ic a , and d u r in g th e s h o r t p e r io d t h a t h e s e r v e d

i n A m erica he v e r y e n e r g e t i c a l l y b a sis

h ea d q u a rters.

b a c k g r o u n d , was r a t h e r t y p i c a l o f

He w as a s t r o n g - w i l l e d

H i s a im w a s t o b r i n g o r d e r

in

o f K o s h k o n o n g i n Dane C o u n t y ,

and c h u r c h o r d e r and a G r u n d t v i g i a n i n

L u th eran s

He a r r i v e d

m i l e s w e s t o f M uskego, h i s

o f a r isto c r a tic

sta te-ch u rch p a sto r s. so n a lity ,

countrym en i n A m e r ic a .

come from

o r g a n iz e d

o f th e d o c tr in e , d is c ip lin e ,

th e Church o f N orw ay. 1 tw een E i e l s e n

c o n g r e g a tio n s

and l i t ' a r g i c a l p r a c t i c e s

As o n e m i g h t e x p e c t ,

and D ie t r ic h s o n

on t h e

a sp ir ite d

occu rred , b oth b e in g

of

c la sh b e­

str o n g -w ille d

men a n d r e p r e s e n t i n g s o e m p h a t i c a l l y a s t h e y d i d t h e t w o e x t r e m e s o f H a u gean ism and s t a t e - c h u r c h C h r i s t i a n i t y . t i v e l y h ig h -c h u r c h ly

o r i e n t a t i o n was a n a b o m i n a t i o n

who i n t h e m a t t e r o f f o r m s , lo w -c h u r c h ly .

D ie tr ic h so n ’ s r e la ­

r ite s,

to E ie lse n ,

a n d c e r e m o n i e s w as d e f i n i t e l y

T h o s e who k n ew b o t h s a i d t h a t t h e y c o u l d n o t h a v e

^-Rohne, o p . c i t . , p p . 6 5 - 7 8 . D i e t r i c h s o n w as i n A m erica fr o m 1 8 4 4 t o 185(3^ e x c l u d i n g o n e y e a r , 1 8 4 5 - 4 6 , w h i c h h e s p e n t i n Norway. 0 . M. N o r l i e ( e d . ) , N o r s k l u t h e r s k e P r e s t e r i A m e r i k a , 1 8 4 5 - 1 9 1 5 (2 n d e d . ; M i n n e a p o l i s ”: A u g s b u r g P u b Y i s h i n g H o u s e , 1 9 1 5 ) , p. 96.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

30 w orked t o g e t h e r ,

even

if

t h e y had b e e n

one i n f a i t h . ' 1'

c la sh o f p o in ts

o f v i e w C l a u s e n , who a l s o was u n a b l e 2 f e l l in l in e w ith D ie t r ic h s o n .

E ie lse n ,

The " f r i e n d s c a l o r g a n iz a tio n , terested

in

o f E ie ls e n " w ere t h e

a lth o u g h E i e l s e n

o r g a n iz a tio n . o b sc u r ity ,

th e

"O ld C o n s t i t u t i o n , "

m e e tin g w as h e ld a t w h ic h tim e

to e f f e c t

a sy n o d i-

o r i g i n a l l y had b e e n l i t t l e

p a r t i c u l a r l y th e d a te

in ­

and f o r m u l a t i o n o f

b u t on A p r i l 13 and 1 4 ,

at J e ffe rso n p r a ir ie

th e

to w ork w ith

The o r i g i n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s

are h id d e n in s o -c a lle d

fir st

In t h i s

church body l a t e r

1846,

a

i n R ock C o u n t y , W i s c o n s i n ,

o ffic ia lly

known a s t h e E v a n •Z

g e l i c a l L u t h e r a n C h u rc h I n A m e r i c a , th ose

c o n stitu tin g th is

th e m se lv e s

u n r e str ic te d

la y

or th e E l l i n g i a n s .

on t h e i r

a c tiv ity ,

e x p e r ie n c e d C h r is t ia n it y , m e m b er sh ip ,

lo y a lty

Members o f t h i s

syn­

l o y a l t y t o H a u g e a n is m , s t r e s s i n g

th e n e c e s s it y th e C h r is tia n

to th e

C a te ch ism

lo w -c h u r c h p o in t o f v ie w e x p r e s s e d fo r m s, dead c e r e m o n ie s ,

M ore o f t e n

group have been r e f e r r e d to a s E ie ls e n * s

Synod, E i e l s e n ’ s F r ie n d s, od p r i d e d

came i n t o b e i n g .

and t h e

in

f o r c o n v e r s i o n a n d an life

and r e g e n e r a t e

in d o c tr in a l m a tters,

church and a

an a b h o r r e n c e o f o u t w a r d

c l e r i c a l garb o f th e s t a t e -

c h u r c h .^ in

1853 u n d er th e

u n iv e r sity -tr a in e d

le a d e r sh ip o f se v e r a l r e c e n tly -a r r iv e d

and e p i s c o p a l l y - o r d a i n e d p a s t o r s and C. L.

C l a u s e n a n o t h e r s y n o d w a s o r g a n i z e d u n d e r t h e n a m e, t h e N o r w e g ia n ■^Bergh, o p .

c i t . , p p . 46 f .

^R ohne, o p .

c i t . , pp. 62,

89.

5 I b i d ., pp. 96-1 0 6 . ^ F o r an e x p o s i t i o n o f i t s t u t i o n , " ib ic L , p p . 1 0 7 - 1 1 .

p r in c ip le s see

th e

"Old C o n s t i ­

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

31 E v a n g e l i c a l L u th er a n C hurch o f A m e r ic a . b o d y w as s u b s e q u e n t l y

c h a n g e d t o T he S y n o d f o r t h e

g e l i c a l L u th e r a n C hurch i n A m e r ic a . as th e

The name o f t h i s

It

N o r w e g ia n S y n o d , o r t h e S y n o d .

i z a t i o n had b een a ttem p ted

in

is

church

N o r w e g ia n E v a n ­

o r d in a r ily r e fe r r e d

An e a r l i e r

to

sy n o d ic a l organ­

1851 by c o n g r e g a tio n s s e r v e d by C.

L . C l a u s e n and tw o o t h e r p a s t o r s , H . A . S tu b a n d A* C. P r e u s , b u t th e

c o n stitu tio n

a d o p ted a t t h a t tim e was d o c t r i n a l l y u n a c c e p ta b le

to th e

p a s t o r s who h a d m ore r e c e n t l y a r r i v e d i n a s m u c h a s

ta in e d

c e r ta in

G r u n d tv ig ia n e le m e n t s .

1851 was r e p u d i a t e d ,

T hus,

T h i s g r o u p w as e x t r e m e l y p a sto rs

cra ted ,

fo rtu n a te

o f t h e sa m e c a l i b e r , w e r e

(1 8 5 1 ), (1 853).

H. A . S tu b

N« B r a n d t

p

to p r o v id e

ed th e r i g h t w in g .

in

J . A. O tte se n

I t was

to th o se

1 8 5 3 . -I-

fo u n d in g . th ese

e a r ly

d e e p ly c o n s e ­

(1 8 5 0 ),

(1 852),

b e lie v e d

o f h ig h

im p o r ta n c e

lo y a lty

to th e t r a d it io n a l r i t u a l ,

H. A . P r e u s

and U . V , K oren

th e H augean l e f t w in g o f

c h a r a c t e r i z e d by i t s

whom i t

in

N o r w e g ia n S y n o d a b l y r e p r e s e n t ­

o p p o sitio n to u n r e s tr ic t e d

r e la tio n

ta k en in

th e Synod w it h a v ig o r o u s

( 1 8 4 8 ) , A. C. P reu s

(1 8 5 1 ),

con­

and who, a lo n g w it h l a t e r a r r i v a l s

I f E i e l s e n ’ s Synod r e p r e s e n te d

its

of its

in r e c e iv in g in

N o r w e g ia n -A m e ric a n L u th e r a n is m , t h e

doxy,

d ate

fr o m N orw ay who w e r e v w e l l - e d u c a t e d ,

and e x t r e m e ly c a p a b l e ,

le a d e r s h ip :

a c tio n

a n d a new o r g a n i z a t i o n w a s e f f e c t e d

The S y n o d r e g a r d e d t h e y e a r 1 8 5 3 a s t h e

years

th e

it

d o c tr in a l o rth o ­

la y a c t iv it y ,

its

t o be h e r e t i c a l ,

an d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y g i v e n t o c e r e m o n ie s,

th e

e x c lu siv ism th e

p a sto r,

p la c e its

and p r a c t i c e s

of

•^ I b i d . , p p . 1 1 2 - 3 5 . ^The d a t e i n p a r e n t h e s e s i s i n e a c h i n s t a n c e t h e d a t e o f a r r i v a l in th e U n ite d S t a t e s . I b i d . , p p . 9 3 , 1 1 4 , 116 f . , 127 f .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

32 th e

C h u rc h o f N o r w a y . In t h e p e r io d p r i o r t o

1870 th e r e was a t h i r d

N o r w e g ia n L u t h e r a n s who w e r e a t t r a c t e d Synod nor E i e l s e n * s grou p go b a c k t o broke

synod.

w it h h im .

At t h is

a b r ie f

o f th is

N o r w e g ia n

in te r m e d ia te of E llin g E ie lse n

T h e y w e r e P a u l A n d e r s o n an d O le

t i m e A n d e r s o n h a d b e e n so m ew h a t e f f e c t e d

A m e r i c a n an d R e fo r m e d i n f l u e n c e s , A fter

to n e ith e r th e

1 8 4 8 w hen tw o y o u n g a s s o c i a t e s

o ff r e la tio n s

A ndrew son.

The o r i g i n s

group o f

and h i s

and s o m e w h a t u n c e r t a i n

by

L u t h e r a n i s m w as s u s p e c t .

a ffilia tio n

w ith

th e l i b e r a l

F r a n c k e a n S y n o d , A n d e r s o n and A n d r e w so n i n 1 8 5 1 h e l p e d o r g a n i z e th e syn od o f N orth ern I l l i n o i s , i n c l u d i n g N o r w e g ia n s, E n g lish -sp e a k in g . w ith d r e w t o la te r

fo m

sw edes,

an d G e r m a n s , some o f whom w e r e

H ow ever, in th e

a c o s m o p o lita n L u th eran g r o u p ,

1 8 6 0 t h e S w e d e s an d N o r w e g ia n s

S c a n d in a v ia n A u gu stan a S yn od .

th e N o r w e g ia n s a m ic a b ly s e p a r a t e d

r e n b u t w ere u n a b le fe c tin g

a sep arate

w as t h a t

fr o m t h e i r

The C o n f e r e n c e

t o a g r e e among t h e m s e l v e s w hen i t N o r w e g ia n s y n o d i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n .

fo r th e

The r e s u l t

Syn od and t h e

came

N o r w e g ia n -D a n ish E v a n g e l i c a l L u th era n

o u tlo o k o f t h i s

a p o in t

as e it h e r

came t o e f ­

n a m e l y , The N o r w e g i a n - D a n i s h A u g u s t a n a S y n o d a n d

C hurch i n A m e r ic a , p o p u l a r l y r e f e r r e d t o as

sen ted

S w e d ish b r e t h ­

i n 1 8 7 0 tw o new N o r w e g ia n L u t h e r a n c h u r c h b o d i e s

In to e x is te n c e ,

r e lig io u s

Ten y e a r s

th ir d

th e C o n fe r e n c e .^

g r o u p o f N o r w e g ia n L u t h e r a n s r e p r e ­

o f v i e w t h a t w as i n t e r m e d i a t e b e t w e e n t h a t E llin g ia n s.

o f th e

la tte r

The

H ow ever,

tw o g r o u p s .

i t w as n o t s o u n i f i e d In f a c t ,

o f th e in

sp ir it

c o n sid e r a b le d iv e r -

•^See i n f r a , p p . 1 5 0 - 7 7 , f o r a d e t a i l e d d i s c u s s i o n o f t h i s m i d d l e - o f - t h e - r o a c L g r o u p an d t h e o r i g i n s o f t h e N o r w e g i a n - D a n i s h A u g u sta n a sy n o d and t h e C o n f e r e n c e .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

33 s ity

In e m p h a sis

1870 Is in

e v id e n c e

c o u ld b e fou n d w i t h i n o f th a t.

it.

T he s p l i t

H ow ever, t h a t r u p t u r e w h ic h o c c u r r e d

1 8 7 0 w as n o t p r o d u c e d b y b a s i c d i s a g r e e m e n t s

t h e v a l u e o f H a u g ea n ism . o f d if f e r e n t v ie w p o in ts

R a th er,

as t o

a b o u t t h e am ou nt o f l i t u r g y

W h il e m em bers o f t h i s

d o c tr in e

i t was ev o k ed by th e

and by p r o b le m s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h e f f e c t i n g S w ed es.

o c c u r r in g in

or

e x iste n c e

to be u sed

a s e p a r a t i o n from th e

group w ere a p p r e c ia t iv e

o f c e r ta in

e m p h a s e s i n b o t h t h e S y n o d and E i e l s e n * s S y n o d b u t w e r e u n w i l l i n g to

g o t h e w h o l e w ay w i t h e i t h e r

group,

m ore n e a r l y t h a t o f t h e E l l i n g i a n s c o n tr o v e r sie s

w ith th e

th e ir b a sic

th a n o f th e

N o r w e g ia n S y n o d ,

o r i e n t a t i o n was

Synod,

in d o c t r in a l

fo r e x a m p le , th e

S c a n d i­

n a v i a n A u g u s t a n a n s , o r t h o s e who s te m m e d fr o m t h a t g r o u p , a n d t h e E llin g ia n s

f r e q u e n t ly fo u n d th e m s e lv e s

i n c l u d e d t h o s e who s o u g h t t o s t r e s s

in

a g reem en t.

b oth d o c tr in e

w ho w e r e s y m p a t h e t i c a d v o c a t e s o f l a y a c t i v i t y h a v e an o rd ered ch u rch l i f e

and o r g a n i z a t i o n ,

A m erica n L u th er a n c h u r c h b o d i e s

and th o s e o f th e

d id n o t l i v e

th e p e r io d p r i o r t o

1870,

th e v a r io u s to g eth er

lie s t

o f term s

in

to be

exp ected

in v ie w o f th e d i f f e r e n t r e l i g i o u s

th in g s

and l i f e ,

th o se to

who, w it h tr a d i­

and c l e r i c a l garb r e t a i n e d .

I n te r -s y n o d ic a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s .--T h a t

th ey rep resen ted

group

b u t who d e s i r e d

th e e x c e p t i o n o f a s m a ll m i n o r i t y , w a n te d th e' u s e t io n a l lit u r g ic a l p r a c tic e s

T h is

N o r w e g ia n -

on t h e

fr ie n d ­

and t h e r e a f t e r , was t e n d e n c i e s w h ic h

and t h e im p o r ta n c e w h ic h t h e y a t t a c h e d

to

th o se

th a t s e p a r a t e d th em . T h a t E i o l s e n w as a c o n t r o v e r s i a l f i g u r e

has been in d ic a te d ;

h is

fr o m t h e

sta rt

la y le a d e r s h ip had been r e p u d ia te d by th e

m o d e r a t e H a u g e a n s o f M u s k e g o , W i s c o n s i n ; h e and C l a u s e n w e r e u n -

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

34 a b le

t o a g r e e ; he and h i s

f o l l o w e r s w ere s u b j e c t e d

t a c k s b y p a s t o r D i e t r i c h s o n w h en h e a r r i v e d in

th e K oshkonong, W is c o n s in ,

d isse n sio n a r o se , h is

ty p e

se ttle m e n t*

p a r tic u la r ly

o f le a d e r sh ip

over th e

a g a in in

R asm ussen i n

W ith in h i s

from h i m .

1856 becam e th e i s s u e

th e

a t­

le a d e r sh ip own s y n o d

c o n tr ib u te d to th e d i f f i c u l t i e s .

an o u t s t a n d i n g y o u n g a s s o c i a t e . com pany.

t o assum e

f,0 1 d C o n s t i t u t i o n , "

P a u l A n d e r s o n and O le A n d r e w s o n s e p a r a t e d C o n stitu tio n "

to sev er e

but

In 1848

The " o l d

o v e r w h ic h E i e l s e n

and

P a s t o r P . A* R a s m u s s e n , p a r t e d

cou rse

o f tim e becam e one o f th e m o st

p r o m i n e n t l e a d e r s am ong N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n s . In t h e tr o v e r sie s

fo r tie s

w ere

s e n 1s S y n o d ,

c a r r ie d

and f i f t i e s

th e

c h ie f in t e r -s y n o d ic a l con­

on b e t w e e n t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d a n d E i e l ­

a l t h o u g h m e m b er s o f t h e

N o rth ern I l l i n o i s

Synod k e p t

up a c o n s t a n t a t t a c k upon th e p a s t o r s o f t h e N o rw eg ia n S yn od i n 1 th e e a r l y 1 8 5 0 ‘ s . Among t h o s e m a t t e r s w h i c h p r o v o k e d d i s c u s s i o n and i l l - f e e l i n g

b etw een E i e l s e n * s

a f t e r D i e t r i c h s o n 1s d e p a r t u r e a tta ck s th e

on p a s t o r s

q u e stio n

th e

of

co n cep t o f th e

A p o s t le s ’ C reed, A fter

1850 w ere E i e l s e n * s

and c o n g r e g a t i o n s f o r

o f th e v a l i d i t y

G r u n d tv ig ia n ism

in

g r o u p and th e N o rw eg ia n S yn od

la c k

o f E ie lse n * s

and p e r s i s t i n g

le a v in g E ie ls e n ’ s Synod,

a t e d w i t h h im j o i n e d b a t t l e

of s p ir itu a lity ,

o r d in a tio n ,

some o f t h e S y n o d p a s t o r s , church a s r e l a t e d t o

c o n tin u e d

th e

a co n tro v ersy

th e t h ir d

d iv e r g e n t v ie w s

a r tic le

as to

over

o f th e

la y a c t i v i t y .

P . A. R asm ussen and t h o s e

w ith

a lle g e d

a s so c i­

th e Synod over la y a c t i v i t y ;

s a t i s f a c t o r y agreem en t was r e a c h e d , r e s u l t i n g

in

a

R asm ussen ’ s

q

jo in in g th e

Synod i n

^■Rohne, o p .

1862. c it.,

But l a y a c t i v i t y pp.

1 4 0 -4 2 .

c o n tin u e d to be a

^I b i d . ,

p.

179.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

b u rn in g i s s u e

in

th e r e l a t i o n s

and b o t h E i e l s e n ' s

b e t w e e n t h e S y n o d on t h e o n e s i d e

Synod and t h e S c a n d in a v ia n A u g u sta n a n s

on th e

o th er. In t h e

course

Synod and E i e l s e n ' s

o f tim e r e l a t i o n s b e tw e e n t h e

S y n o d i m p r o v e d a s t h e S y n o d fo u n d o t h e r a n d

m ore c h a l l e n g i n g o p p o n e n ts to m o d era te.

and t h e e a r l y E l l i n g i a n

s p i r i t began

I n 1 8 6 6 P r e s i d e n t H. A . P r e u s o f t h e S y n o d r e p o r t e d

th a t th e a t t i t u d e

o f t h e E l l i n g i a n s h a d becom e

The R e v e r e n d B . J , Muus o f t h e o ld E llin g ia n

N o r w e g ia n

Synod in

" le ss

f a n a t i c . ' 1^

1870 o b s e r v e d t h a t

th e

s p i r i t had c o n s i d e r a b l y m o d e r a te d ,^

in th e

decade

o f th e

six tie s

th e N o rw eg ia n S y n o d 's

c h ie f

op p on en t w as th e S c a n d in a v ia n A u gu stan a S y n o d .

T h e ir d o c t r i n a l

d i f f e r e n c e s , a c c o r d i n g t o H. A , P r e u s ,

in v o lv e d

th e

to p ic s:

observance o f Sunday, s l a v -

ery,

Lay a c t i v i t y ,

r e g e n e r a tio n

d o c tr in e

by th is

th e

t h r o u g h t h e W ord, a n d c h i l i a s m .

o f a b so lu tio n

and t h e d i s p u t e

a b so lu tio n ,

c a r r ie d

d is s e r ta tio n .^

t h a t w as p a r t i c u l a r l y over In to

fo llo w in g

I t w as th e

a bone

o f c o n te n tio n ,

and b e y o n d t h e p e r i o d

The c o n t r o v e r s y i n v o l v i n g t h e s e

becam e h e a t e d ; a c c u s a t i o n s an d c r i t i c i s m s ,

b itte r

covered tw o s y n o d s

and u n r e s t r a i n e d

•^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e S y n o d , 1 8 6 6 , p . 1 7 . For th e sake o f b r e v i t y a l l fu tu re r efe r e n c e 's to s y n o d ic a l r e p o r ts in t h i s d i s ­ s e r t a t i o n w i l l a p p ea r i n t h e form u s e d h e r e i n s t e a d o f In t h e l e n g t h y fo r m o f t h e o r i g i n a l l a n g u a g e . ^ B . J . M u u s, " E l l i n g i a n e r n e s K v a r t a ls m ^ d e I Goodhue C o . , M i n n . , ,f K i r k e l i g M a a n e d s t i d e n d e , XV ( 1 8 7 0 ) , 9 7 - 1 0 7 . H en ceforth t h e a b b r e v i a t i o n K . M." w i l l ' t i e " u s e d t o r e f e r t o t h i s p e r i o d i c a l . ^H . A . P r e u s , S y v F o r e d r a g o v e r de k l r k e l i g e F o r h o l d b l a n d t d e N o r s k e i Atnerflca " ( C h r i s t i a n i a : ' H . J .' J e n s e n , 18 '6Y ), p p . 115 f t . in fr a ,

^The A b s o l u t i o n C o n t r o v e r s y i s pp. 2 4 4 -2 7 3 .

d isc u sse d

in d e t a i l ,

with peimission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

36 in e x p r e ssio n ,

came fr o m t h e

a r t ic le s w r itte n

b y H. A. P r e u s

t h e N o r w e g ia n S y n o d ' s a b e r r a tio n s

p e n s o f men i n b o t h c a m p s .

c r itic ism

in regard to th e

th e ir

resen tm en t

c o n te n d in g th a t

fa lse

On t h e

sought to prove t h e ' f e l s i t y

d iffe r e n t and th e Preus

to

lik e .

in th e

A u g u sta n a n s' d o c t r in a l

o th er hand,

such as th e

to th e

o f th e S yn od,

in flu e n c e

o f th e a s p e r s io n s charges

th a t

cast

o f th e T hey

on t h e i r d o c ­

t h e y w e re R eform ed , i n ­ d isu n ite d in

d o c tr in e ,

t h a t t h e y h a d b een m i s r e p r e s e n t e d by

l e c t u r e s w h ic h he had d e l i v e r e d in

w h ic h had b e e n p u b lis h e d

o f q u e s tio n ­

f o r much o f t h e d i f f i c u l t y .

th e a u t h o r it y o f th e B ib le , T hey c la im e d

th e ir

th e A u g u sta n a n s

o f t h e d o c t r i n a l d o g m a tism

M i s s o u r i S y n o d w as r e s p o n s i b l e

to

and u n -L u th e r a n p r a c t i c e s ,

th e S y n o d 's s u b j e c t i o n

tr in a l p o s itio n ,

gave e x p r e s s io n

fe llo w s h ip p in g w ith church groups

a b le L u th eran c o n v i c t i o n s . 1 expressed

o f th e

p e r io d

above m e n tio n e d q u e s t i o n s ,

d o c tr in a l in d iffe r e n c e , th e ir and t h e i r u n i o n i s t i c

in t h i s

Several

N orw ay i n

1867

in book fo rm ,

and t h e y c h a r a c t e r i z e d O N o r w e g ia n S y n o d a s b e i n g p a s t o r - d o m i n a t e d .

and th e

E i e l s e n ’ s S y n o d and t h e S c a n d i n a v i a n A u g u st a n a S y n o d d i d n o t b ecom e i n v o l v e d o th er.

in

any s i g n i f i c a n t c o n t r o v e r s i e s w it h e a c h

T h e ir o u t lo o k and e m p h a sis w ere a c t u a l l y

e sp e c ia lly E ie lse n 's

a s a new a n d m o r e m o d e r a t e group,

q u ite

sim ila r ,

s p i r i t began to p r e v a il in

a lth o u g h l a r g e l y a g a in s t E i e l s e n ' s

p erson al

1 P r e u s , o p . c i t . , p p . 97 f f . ; E . A . P r e u s , "Augustsnasynoden," K . M», V I ( 1 8 6 1 ) , p p . 7 9 - 8 7 , 1 7 9 - 8 6 , 3 4 2 - 5 0 ; S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , th e Synod, 1870, p . 1 4 . 2 0 . J . H a t l e s t a d , H i s t o r i s k e M e d d e l e l s e r om Den n o r s k e A ugu stan a-S yn od e (D eco ra h , Iow a: D ecorah P o s te n s B o g tr y k k e r i', 1 8 8 7 ) , p'p. 2 0 5 " " ? ., 2 0 8 f f . ; E m i g r a n t e n , S e p t e m b e r 3 0 , 1 8 6 7 , i n w h i c h an a r t i c l e b y T . N . H a s'selq u i's't' a p p e a r s •

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

w ish e s,

and b o t h s y n o d s r e g a r d e d t h e N o r w e g ia n S y n o d a s t h e i r

n a t u r a l op p o n en t* The r e l i g i o u s t h e r e w ere

situ a tio n

i n 1 8 7 0 .3-— A t t h e e n d o f

f o u r sy n o d s r e p r e s e n t i n g N o r w e g ia n -A m e ric a n L u th e r a n ism

E i e l s e n ’ s Synod, th e

N o r w e g ia n S y n o d ,

w e g ia n -D a n is h A u gu stan a S yn od . en joyed a p o s it io n th a t

1870

th e C o n feren ce,

A t t h a t tim e

o f d o m in a n c e ,

th e

and many j o i n e d

and t h e

Nor-

N o r w e g ia n S y n o d it

in

th e b e l i e f

i t w as t h e N o r w e g ia n L u th e r a n C hurch i n A m e r ic a . 2

In 1870

th e N o r w e g ia n -D a n is h A u g u sta n a Synod was th e s m a l l e s t a n d w e a k e s t o f th e

fo u r.

synods

in

g a n iz e d

A c c u r a te p a r o c h i a l r e c o r d s w ere n o t k e p t b y a l l

1870,

and t h e

a c t u a l c o n s t i t u e n c y o f t h e new b o d i e s

in t h a t y e a r w as f o r a tim e u n c e r t a i n .

e stim a te d

th a t th e

and th e

w hereas p a r o c h ia l r e p o r t s

fo r

1872 r e v e a l t h a t th e

many

c o m p e titio n

f o r m em bers b y t h e s e

c o m m u n itie s g o e s w it h o u t s a y i n g .

s ig h tto see

and 2 1 , 9 3 6

Synod num bered 3 3 5 c o n g r e g a t i o n s and 7 7 , 4 1 5 s o u l s

T h a t t h e r e was u n d e s i r a b l e in

is

a n d a m e m b e r s h ip o f a b o u t

r a p i d l y - g r o w i n g C o n f e r e n c e n u m b e r e d 156 c o n g r e g a t i o n s so u ls

or­

N o r w e g ia n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d a n d E i e l s e n ’ s S y n o d

t o g e t h e r h a d a b o u t 100 c o n g r e g a t i o n s 1 0 ,0 0 0 s o u ls ;

By 1872 i t

th e

tw o

or

th ree

church s p ir e s

w here one w o u ld be

e n o u g h ,” i s

th e p e r io d .^

fr a g m e n ta tio n

T h is

”l t

synods

i s n o t an a t t r a c t i v e

p o i n t i n g to w a rd s h e a v e n

t h e com m ent o f o n e h i s t o r i a n produced d u p lic a t io n

of

of e ffo r t,

3-See T a b l e 2 , p . 3 9 . 2B ergh ,

op. c i t . , p.

198.

N o r l i e ( e d . ) , N orsk L u th e r s k e p r e s t e r 1 A m erlk a , 1 8 4 5 1 9 1 5 , p p . 27 f . ; S y n o d i c a 1~‘Re p o r t , t h e C o n f e r e n c e , 1 8 7 5 , p . 1 0 4 ; S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , th e' S y n o d , 1 8 7 5 , p . x i v ' . 4 B ergh, op . c i t . , p . 199.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

58

and i n many i n s t a n c e s w h e r e a s e t t l e m e n t w as b r o k e n up i n t o v e r y s m a ll c o n g r e g a tio n s ,

i t was

t o m a in ta in

c o n g r e g a tio n .^

a v ir ile

In 1 8 7 0 ,

i m p o s s i b l e f o r a n y one o f t h e g r o u p s

p r io r t o th e d iv is io n

o f th e S c a n d in a v ia n

A u g u s t a n a S y n o d , e a c h N o r w e g ia n L u t h e r a n g r o u p h a d i t s c a l as

its

v e h ic le

M a a n ed stid en d e lis h e d

o f e x p r e ssio n .

e r ) w as b e g u n a s t h e

in

1869 B udb aereren

n a m e ly

(T he M e s s e n g ­

o r g a n f o r E i e l s e n ’ s g r o u p , w i t h O s te n H a n s o n

and 0 . A. B er g h as e d i t o r s .

The N o r w e g ia n p a s t o r s

n a v ia n A u g u sta n a Synod had in

a ssiste d

in th e S c a n d i­

1866 b egun p u b l i c a t i o n

w ith a change o f e d it o r s h ip

o v er as e d i t o r ,

t im e w e l l - e s t a b ­

te a c h e r s a t L u th er C o lle g e ,

L a u r . L a r s e n and F . A . S c h m id t,

c a l;

The N o r w e g ia n S y n o d ’ s K i r k e l i g

(M o n t h l y C h u r c h T i m e s ) w as b y t h i s

and w a s e d i t e d b y t h e

own p e r i o d i ­

in

of a p e r io d i­

1 8 6 9 , w h e r e b y A. W een a as t o o k

by 0 . J . H a tle s ta d

and J .

O lse n ,

th e

name w a s c h a n g e d fr o m D en n o r s k e L u t h e r a n e r ( The N o r w e g ia n Lu2 t h e r a n ) t o L u t h e r a n e r e n ( The L u t h e r a n ) . D u r in g th e c o n f u s e d h a p p e n in g s

o f 187 0 b o t h t h e C o n fe r e n c e and t h e N o r w e g ia n -D a n ish

A u g u sta n a Synod e l e c t e d e d i t o r s C on feren ce

th a t

succeeded

in

fo r L u th era n eren , but

e sta b lish e d

in

1861,

was t h e

g a in in g c o n t r o l o f th e p a p e r . 3

The e d u c a t i o n a l s i t u a t i o n le g e ,

it

in

1 8 7 0 w as t h i s :

lo c a te d a t D ecorah,

L u th er C o l­

Iow a , and c a p a b ly

g u i d e d b y P r e s i d e n t L a u r . L a r s e n w a s t h e N o r w e g ia n S y n o d ’ s e d u ­ c a tio n a l I n s titu tio n .

E i e l s e n ’ s Synod had in t h e p a s t i n i t i a t e d

■^For a g o o d p i c t u r e o f t h e d e p l o r a b l e e f f e c t s o f s u c h d i v i d e d e f f o r t s s e e A. C. P r e u s ’ p r e s i d e n t i a l a d d r e s s t o th e s y n o d i c a l c o n v e n t io n o f th e Synod In 1 8 6 1 . S y n o d ic a l R e p o r t, th e Synod, 1861, p . 9. p ^B ergh,

op.

c i t ., p.

197.

3

R ohne, o p .

c it.,

pp. 238 f , .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

TABLE 2

SYNODICAL ORGANIZATIONS AMONG NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN LUTHERANS, 1 8 7 0 - 9 0 & 1 9 5 0 a End o f 1 8 7 0 E ie lse n 's

Synodb

End o f 1 8 9 0 ( 1 8 4 6 ) - ^ — ’— --------------- E i e l s e n ' s

Today

S y n o d -----------------------------E i e l s e n ' s

H a u g e 's Synod

( 1 8 7 6 )s \

N o r w e g ia n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d ^ (1870)0 C o n feren ce

/ '

L u t h e r a n F r e e C hu rch (1897) . Lut he r a n B r e th r e n

/ s '

^

( 1 8 7 0 ) c ------------------------------- - ^ U n i t e d

C hu rch

Synod

(1900)

( 1 8 9 0 ) d --------------' - - E v a n g e l i c a l L u t h e r a n ^ C hu rch (1 9 1 7 ) e

A n t i -Mi s s'our i a n s (1887-88) N o r w e g ia n S y n o d

w

( 1 8 5 3 y- -----------------------------N o r w e g ia n S y n o d ^ -------------------------L i t t l e

aD a t e s i n p a r e n t h e s e s

are d a te s

of o r ig in

or o f s e p a r a t io n

N o r w e g ia n Synod (1 9 1 8 )

from a p a r e n t b o d y .

^Names o f o r g a n i z a t i o n s u s e d h e r e a r e t h e more a b b r e v i a t e d , p o p u l a r d e s i g n a t i o n s , r a t h e r th an th e o f f i c i a l s y n o d ic a l nam es. CA c o n t i n u a t i o n o f a s e c t i o n in

o f t h e S c a n d i n a v i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d w h ic h w a s fo r m e d

1860.

^Two n o t a b l e c h u r c h u n i o n s h a v e b e e n e f f e c t e d — i n 1 8 9 0 and 1 9 1 7 ; c a t e d by t h e b r o k e n l i n e s . eU n t i l 1946 t h i s ( NLCA).

s y n o d w as known a s

th ey are i n d i ­

t h e N o r w e g ia n L u t h e r a n C hurch o f A m e r ic a

40 a b o r tiv e

e d u c a tio n a l v en tu res

o f an oth er p r o je c t w ere t o

ev en tu a te

doom ed t o in

a n d w a s now i n

in

1879.

ed a t M a r sh a ll, W isc o n sin , n a v ia n A u gu stan a Synod in

o f Red W ing S e m in a r y i n

A u g s b u r g S e m in a r y h a d b e e n e s t a b l i s h ­

by t h e 1869.

N o r w e g ia n s e c t i o n in

consequence

o f th e S c a n d i­

of th e

o f 1 8 7 0 t h e N o r w e g ia n -D a n is h A u g u sta n a Synod r e t a i n e d th e M a r sh a ll s c h o o l p r o p e r ty , o f an a c a d e m y . w ith

H ow ever,

th e ir p ro fesso r,

tin u e

th e e x is t e n c e

th roes

f a ilu r e ; b u t her e d u c a tio n a l e f f o r t s

th e e s t a b lis h m e n t

Red W in g , M i n n e s o t a ,

1870 i n t h e

i n w h ich i t

p r a c tic a lly

th e

A u gu st W een aas,

tr ib u la tio n s co n tro l o f

c o n tin u e d th e o p e r a tio n e n tir e

s t u d e n t b od y w ent

i n t o th e C on feren ce

o f A u g sb u rg S e m in a ry as a C o n fe r e n c e

to

con­

sc h o o l.

The A m e r ic a n E n v i r o n m e n t The c h u r c h * s in

w h ic h th e

p ro b lem s

c o n se r v a tiv e

i n f l u e n c e . — The new e n v i r o n m e n t

N o r w e g i a n i m m i g r a n t fo u n d h i m s e l f p r e s e n t e d d i f f i c u l t

o f a d ju stm en t

f o r h im .

N ot o n l y d i d h e s p e a k a f o r e i g n

l a n g u a g e , b u t h e b r o u g h t w i t h h im a d i s t i n c t i v e age.

A lth o u g h a n x io u s

necessary to

t o make t h e

e n a b l e h im a n d h i s

home i n A m e r i c a ,

th e

h e had changed h i s o f h is h e r ita g e c la ss h is

f a m i l y t o p r o sp e r and t o be a t

shed h i s

g e o g ra p h ic l o c a t i o n .

la n g u a g e, h is

p r e v a ilin g cu stom s

in

n o r c o u l d he i f

c u lt u r a l h a b itu s

t h a t he had no d e s i r e

d is tin c tio n s

and h e r i t ­

a d a p t a t io n t o h i s e n v ir o n m e n t

im m ig r a n t d i d n o t w a n t t o ,

he had been s o i n c l i n e d ,

c u ltu r e

T here w ere

to

Norway,

and c u l t u r e ,

as e a s i l y

tr a n sp la n t;

as

c e r ta in a s p e c ts th e

f o r exa m p le.'*'

and h is r e l i g i o n

sy stem o f H ow ever, w ere d ea r

•*-john A» F a g e r e n g , " N o r w e g ia n S o c i a l and C u l t u r a l L i f e i n M i n n e s o t a , 1 8 6 8 - 9 1 ; An A n a l y s i s o f T y p i c a l N o r w e g ia n N e w s p a p e r s " ( U n p u b l i s h e d M. A . t h e s i s i n S o c i o l o g y , U n i v e r s i t y o f M i n n e s o t a , 1 9 3 2 ) , p p . 56 f .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

41 t o h im and w e r e n o t r e a d i l y f o r g o t t e n th en , in

t h e N o r w e g ia n i m m i g r a n t e x p e r i e n c e d

te n sio n s

I n e v ita b ly ,

and c o n f l i c t s

a new and s t r a n g e e n v i r o n m e n t , w i t h m o d i f i c a t i o n s

a l a d a p ta tio n

t o h i s new e n v i r o n m e n t b e i n g t h e

s o r T h eod ore C. B le g e n d e v o t e s v o lu m e

to th e

w ith a l l

to p ic

th at i t

a lie n

so c ia l,

ten d ed

I t w as t h e n a t u r a l t h i n g

in te lle c tu a l,

it

h u n d r e d s o f s i m i l a r com pact c o m m u n itie s

la n d

la n g u a g e

c o u ld n o t l i v e

o f th e

ten d ed .

w as f o u n d n e c e s s a r y i n

a s e t t i n g w h ic h i n c l u d e d of fo r e ig n -la n g u a g e -sp e a k ­

of

t h e l a n d w as E n g l i s h ,

and t h e

im m i­

w ith o u t any c o n t a c t w ith th e p e o p le o f The b u s i n e s s

to w n s and c i t i e s ,

a cted n ecessa ry b u sin e s s , th e p u b lic

i n an

o f S w e d e s , D a n e s , and G erm ans.3

t o w h ic h t h e y had com e.

fic ia ls

I t made

B u t s u c h N o r w e g ia n s e t t l e ­

T hey a p p ea red in

in g im m ig r a n ts, p a r t i c u l a r l y

to do.

and s p i r i t u a l f e l l o w s h i p s

In some i n s t a n c e s

m e n ts w ere n o t u n iq u e .

gra n ts

and a u t h o r i t a t i v e

t o d e v e lo p com pact s e t t l e m e n t s

o r d e r t o a v o i d e c o n o m ic e x p l o i t a t i o n .

th e

p ro fes­

p

e n v ir o n m e n t.

N e v e r th e le ss,

r e s u lt.'* '

in v o lv e d . 0

t h e A m e r ic a n M i d w e s t .

p o ssib le

an i n t e r e s t i n g

a n d an e v e n t u ­

o f t h e t r a n s i t i o n r e q u ir e d o f th e im m ig ra n t

N o r w e g ia n i m m i g r a n t s in

o r su p p la n te d .

s c h o o l s w h ich t h e i r

The E n g l i s h l a n g u a g e ,

p e o p le and p u b lic

w i t h whom t h e

spoke E n g l i s h . c h ild r e n ,

th e

im m ig r a n ts

I t w as t h e

o f­

tra n s­

la n g u a g e

f o r th e m ost p a r t ,

of

a t­

"how ever com pact th e N o r w e g ia n -

•* I b i d . , p p . 1 5 6 - 3 8 . o 3 l e g e n , The A m e r ic a n T r a d i t i o n . *Z

L . M. L a r s o n , The C h a n g in g W est and O th e r E s s a y s ( N o r t h f i e l d , M in n e so ta : N o r w e g ia n -A m e r T c a n ' H i s t o r i c a l As s o c i a t ' i o n , 1937) , p . 7 3 .

with permission o f the copyright owner Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

A m erica n s e t t l e m e n t s , Through la n g u a g e th e

came a h o s t o f

I m m ig r a n t w as n o t

because h is

i m p i n g e d u p o n th e m i n

o f th e

sta tic j

sy n th etic

co n ta cts

it

effect

w as

a score

and i n f l u e n c e s .

" d y n a m ic,

as h i s

o f w a y s." l

c h a n g in g ,

L ife

fo r

g r o w in g ,"

t r a d i t i o n a l way o f l i f e

and

e n v i r o n m e n t m e t and r e a c t e d u p o n o n e a n o t h e r . ^ So t h e i m m i g r a n t l i v e d i n a N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n d o m a i n , n o t q u i t e f o r s a k i n g t h e p e o p l e h e came f r o m , n o t q u i t e a s t r a n g e r to t h e p e o p l e h e came t o . He was on t h e b r i d g e o f t r a n s i t i o n . He w as m a k in g h i s w ay i n t o A m e r i c a n l i f e , i n s h o r t , he w as a N o r w e g ia n A m e r i c a n .® The c h u r c h o f t h e

th is th e

tr a n sitio n . fa ith

fa ith

of h is

fa th ers.

church

lo y a lty

d iffe r e n t.

th e

o f th e

tr a d itio n a l

to

E v en t h o s e

tra n sfer

sy stem th e

i t s e l f .4 sy stem

th e y c o u ld n o t t r a n s ­

N or w as t h e

of

op.

4 I b id ., p. c it.,

I m m ig r a n t i n

f r e e d o m and d e m o c r a c y N o r ­ sy stem o f p o l i t y

■^Blegen, The A m e r ic a n T r a n s i t i o n , p . 7 8 . 81.

and c e r e m o n ie s

o f e c c l e s i a s t i c a l o r g a n iz a tio n

I n an a t m o s p h e r e

® S tep h en so n ,

church

c l e r i c a l le a d e r s

th e r i t e s

w e g ia n -A m e r ica n L u th e r a n s a d o p te d a d e m o c r a t ic

5 I b id ., p.

th e

c o u l d b e f o u n d f o r t h e p o l i t y and o r ­

c a r e fu lly

sta te-ch u rch

fa ith ,

t h e new A m e r i c a n e n v i r o n m e n t

C h u rc h o f N orw ay t o A m e r i c a k n ew t h a t

h o m ela n d .®

t o A m erica th e

c o m p le te ly u n in flu e n c e d by i t s

C h u rc h o f N o r w a y .

fa v o r o f r e e s t a b lis h in g of h is

tr a n sp la n t

to

H e r e , w here t h e r e was s e p a r a t i o n b e tw e e n

no p l a c e

who e n d e a v o r e d m o s t

fer

to th e

In one n o t a b l e r e s p e c t

and s t a t e ,

g a n iz a tio n

o f th e

He w a n t e d t o

im m ig r a n t c o u ld n o t e s c a p e

w as v a s t l y

in

o f L u t h e r a n i s m a s h e h a d known th e m i n N o r w a y .

H ow ever, d e s p it e h i s

e n v ir o n m e n t.

in v o lv ed

The a v e r a g e i m m i g r a n t w a n t e d t o r e m a i n t r u e

and p r a c t i c e s

o f th e

im m ig ra n t w as i n t i m a t e l y

of

^I b i d ., p . 7 2 .

169.

p p . 70 f .

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission

43 a c o n g r e g a t io n a l- s y n o d ic a l typ e d e s p it e come fr o m an e p i s c o p a l l y - o r d e r e d fr o m a l a n d w h e r e t h e r e

th e

f a c t t h a t t h e y had

sta te-ch u rch .

H ow ever,

c o m in g

w as p r a c t i c a l l y no c o n g r e g a t i o n a l s e l f -

g o v e rn m e n t, t h e y w ere a t

fir s t

b ilitie s

e s t a b l i s h m e n t and s u p p o r t o f c o n g r e g a t i o n s

in v o lv e d

under th e

in

th e

ill-p r e p a r e d

ic a n

c o n g r e g a tio n a l l i f e

e n v ir o n m e n t o f fr e e d o m ,

r e str a in ts

th a t

t o becom e a p p r e c i a t i v e c o u l d be d e v e l o p e d

and t h e y c a p i t a l ! z e d

to th e

w h o le p r o b l e m o f t h e

in

on t h e

of h is

w ere a h e r i t a g e - c o n s e r v i n g

in flu e n c e ,

f e a r e d w o u ld b e a t o o o f change v a lu a b le

N o r w e g ia n h e r i t a g e .

t h e A m er­ la c k o f

r a p id A m e r ic a n iz a tio n ,

id e a s

c h u r c h e s, w h ile

le st

c u l t u r a l and r e l i g i o u s v a l u e s

l a n g u a g e w o u ld mean t h e

a d o p tio n

a lo n g w it h

th e

ex erted

on

The c h u r c h e s

r e t a r d in g what c le r g y m e n

t h e m in d s o f many t h e d i s c o n t i n u a n c e

r e lig io u s

o f th e

im m ig r a n t's t r a n ­

th e L u th era n c h u r c h e s w ere a p o w e r fu l i n f l u e n c e

b e h a lf o f th e p r e s e r v a t io n

in

H o w ev er, N orwe­

by fo r m in g s e v e r a l s e p a r a t e L u th eran c h u r c h b o d i e s .

In r e l a t i o n s itio n

a s su m e t h e r e s p o n s i ­

v o l u n t a r y s y s t e m p r e v a l e n t i n A m e r i c a . - 1-

g ia n L u th eran im m ig r a n ts w ere q u ic k e ffe c tiv e

to

in

th e

process

s h o u ld b e

lo s t.^

o f t h e u s e o f t h e N o r w e g ia n

o f A m e rica n m a t e r i a l i s m

and f a l s e

a d o p t i o n o f A m e r ic a n s p e e c h . ^

co n cern ed p r im a r ily about m a in ta in in g in

The

a s pure

1L a u r . L a r se n i n 1870 w r i t e s o f t h i s p ro b lem i n a s u p p l e ­ m ent t o th e n ew sp a p er F a e d r e la n d e t o g E m ig r a n te n , J a n u a r y 1 3 , 1 8 7 0 . S v e n O f t e d a l o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e d e a l s w i t h t h e same p r o b l e m i n "En F r i M e n ig h e d ," K v a r t a l - S k r i f t , V ( 1 8 7 9 ) , 45 f . ^"Den L u t h e r s k e K i r k e s Opgave i d e t t e L a n d ," B v a n g e l i s k L u th ersk K ir k e tid e n d e , V II I (1 8 8 0 ) , 7 3 3 -3 6 . H enceforth' th e ab­ b r e v i a t i o n E « L» K . w i l l be u s e d t o r e f e r t o t h i s p e r i o d i c a l . 3 S e e , f o r e x a m p le , January 2 5 , 1881, e n t i t l e d f o r de N o rsk e i A m e r ic a " .

an a r t i c l e i n t h e n e w s p a p e r S k a n d i n a v e n , " N o g le Ord om B e t y d n i n g a v n o r s k e ' S k 'o le r

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission

44 a fo r m a s p o s s i b l e

th e

t r a d i t i o n a l L u th eran

w e r e one o f t h e s t r o n g e s t w e g ia n c u l t u r a l h e r i t a g e

fa cto rs in

th e

g e n e r a l.- * -

" th e c h u r c h was t h e c h i e f u n i t erected

in

in

th e

fa ith

an d p r a c t i c e ,

p r e se r v a tio n o f th e

N or­

L . M. L a r s o n r e m a r k s t h a t s y s t e m o f d e f e n c e s w h i c h was

t o s t e m t h e a d v a n c e o f an u n f a m i l i a r a n d p o s s i b l y h o s t i l e

c u ltu r e ." 2 R e la t io n s w it h o t h e r L u th eran b o d ie s th ir d

q u a r t e r o f th e n i n e t e e n t h

L u th eran ch u rch b o d ie s M isso u r i Synod. tr ic t tiv e ly

synods,

c e n tu r y th e

in A m erica w ere t h e

The G e n e r a l S y n o d ,

o r g a n iz e d

in

1820,

in

A m erica . — in

th e

tw o m o s t p r o m i n e n t G e n e r a l S y n o d and t h e

a fe d e r a tio n

of several d is ­

was r e p r e s e n t a t i v e

l i b e r a l L u th e r a n ism , h a r b o r in g w i t h i n

its e lf

o f a com para­ a m in o r ity

p a r t y w h i c h a d v o c a t e d an " A m e r ic a n L u t h e r a n i s m , " a c o n f e s s i o n a l l y in d iffe r e n t by i t s

ty p e o f L u th e r a n is m w h ic h had b een l a r g e l y

A m e r ic a n e n v i r o n m e n t .

str o n g o p p o s itio n to

th is

About th e m id d le o f t h e c e n t u r y

l i b e r a l w i n g was e x p r e s s e d b y t h e m ore

n u m e ro u s c o n s e r v a t i v e

e lem en t in

in

th e d i s r u p t i o n

th e

six tie s

le d

to

M i s s o u r i S y n o d was o r g a n i z e d i n W. W a l t h e r a s

in flu e n c e d

th e G e n e r a l S yn od , w h ich f i n a l l y o f th e

1847 un der

o r g a n iz a tio n . th e

le a d e r sh ip

The o f C. P .

t h e German E v a n g e l i c a l L u t h e r a n S y n o d o f M i s s o u r i ,

O h i o , and o t h e r S t a t e s .

It

came i n t o

b e in g as th e r e s u l t

o f th e

•^For a s p e c i f i c e x a m p le r e f e r t o C a r l t o n c . Q u a l e y ' s a r t i ­ c l e e n t i t l e d , "A T y p i c a l N o r w e g ia n s e t t l e m e n t : S p r i n g G r o v e , M in ­ n e s o t a , " N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n S t u d i e s and R e c o r d s , IX ( 1 9 3 6 ) , 6 5 . S p e a k i n g o f t h e N o r w e g ia n L u t h e r a n c h u r c h w h i c h w as t h e c e n t e r o f t h e s o c i a l and r e l i g i o u s l i f e o f t h i s s o l i d l y - N o r w e g i a n c o m m u n it y , he s a y s t h a t i t " u n d o \ i b t e d l y a c c o u n t s i n l a r g e m e a s u r e f o r t h e p r e se r v a tio n t h e r e o f t h e N o r w e g ia n l a n g u a g e and c u s t o m s . " ^The n e x t d e fe n c e in p o in t guage n e w sp a p e r. L . M. L a r s o n , o p .

o f t i m e w as t h e N o r w e g ia n l a n ­ c i t . , p. 74.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

45 new German i m m i g r a t i o n o f t h e n i n e t e e n t h con servative

in

its

of in terest

th eran s

to th ese

I t was u l t r a ­

L u t h e r a n o r t h o d o x y and b r o u g h t i n t o t h e

s tr e a m o f American L u th e r a n is m a s t r o n g It is

century.

to note

the

reaction

co n fessio n a l r ea ctio n .^ o f N orw egian American Lu­

two I n f l u e n t i a l g r o u p s a n d t h e

type

o f em phasis

they each rep resen ted . The N o r w e g i a n S y n o d d e v e l o p e d a d e e p a f f e c t i o n M issou ri

Synod.

That

synods enjoyed c lo s e

is

to

say,

made to

la tter

champion o f c o n s e r v a t i v e ,

bonds b etw een t h e

c lerica l

tw o w e r e

the

its

the l a t t e r

u ca tio n

part

th e o lo g ic a l students sin ce

o f the

it

to

d id not e s t a b l i s h

sev en ties.

A par­

i n f l u e n c e was e x e r t e d upon t h e Synod by t h e

consequence

of th is

o f the Synod’ s p a s t o r s .

M issou rian

th e o lo g ic a l students

and i n 1 8 5 9 L a u r . L a r s e n w e n t o N o r w e g i a n s on t h e f a c u l t y t h e r e .

a number o f y e a r s

M is s o u r i Synod in

D efin ite

L ou is,

C o n co rd ia Sem inary f o r

effectiv e

tw o

The S y n o d f e l t

orthodox L uth eranism .

The N o r w e g i a n S y n o d c o n t i n u e d t o s e n d i t s

own s e m i n a r y u n t i l

o f the

e s t a b l i s h e d when t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d

C on cord ia Sem inary in S t .

t o S t . L ouis t o r e p r e s e n t

the

was t h e a g g r e s s i v e a n d u n ­

arrangem ents w ith M iss o u r i t o sen d I t s

ticu la rly

lead ers

f e l l o w s h i p w i t h one a n o t h e r .

drawn t o M i s s o u r i b e c a u s e t h e y ield in g

the

for

a ssista n ce

given in th e

ed­

The m o s t i n f l u e n t i a l o f t h e

lead ers,

C. P . W. W a l t h e r o f C o n c o r d i a S e m i n a r y , was 3 in p a r t i c u l a r h i g h l y r e g a r d e d by th e N orw egian s. And W a l t h e r i n

■^A. R . W e n t z , The L u t h e r a n C h u r c h i n A m e r i c a n H i s t o r y ( 2 n d e d .; P h ilad elp h ia: U n ite d L utheran P u b lic a t io n H ouse, 1 9 3 3 ), pp. 129, 198-226, 179-85. 2B e r g h ,

op.

c i t . , p.

A testim on y to

the

145. in flu en ce

of W alther and th e h ig h

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

46 t u r n r e g a r d e d t h e "Norwegian S y n o d a s W ithout a doubt liz e

the

L u t h e r a n s y n o d . ” '*'

the M i s s o u r i Synod h e l p e d s t r e n g t h e n and c r y s t a l ­

character

ca sio n s

"a g e n u i n e

o f t h e s m a l l e r N orwegian Synod.

On many o c ­

N o r w e g i a n S y n o d s p o k e s m e n w o u l d r a p t u r o u s l y and e l o q u e n t l y

e x p r e s s t h e i r r e s p e c t f o r , and i n d e b t e d n e s s t o , t h e M i s s o u r i 2 Synod. B u t , as B er g h p o i n t s o u t , t h e t i e s w i t h M is s o u r i a l s o brought g r ie f

to

th e N orwegian Syn od,

l a t t e r became i n v o l v e d i n

d o c tr in a l con troversies

w ould perhaps o t h e r w is e have b e e n in tim ate

rela tio n s

cause

a lien a tin g i t

of

in

w ith t h is to

p a r t i c u l a r l y in th a t

sp a r e d .^

fr o m w h i c h i t

The N o r w e g i a n S y n o d ' s

German g r o u p w e r e o n e c o n t r i b u t o r y

a certain

degree

from b o t h t h e C h u r c h

Norwa y a n d o t h e r N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n s y n o d s . ^

references the

fact

not

share

the

in s u c c e e d in g pages

of th is

Frequent

d isserta tio n w ill reveal

t h a t th e o t h e r N orw egian -A m erican Lutheran groups the s y n o d 's

enth usiasm f o r M isso u r i,

b u t , on t h e

did con­

t r a r y , were d e f i n i t e l y h o s t i l e . The G e n e r a l S y n o d was g e n e r a l l y v i e w e d w i t h s u s p i c i o n N orw egian-A m erican L u th e r a n s .

The a t t i t u d e

adopted towards

by

Pastor

e s t e e m i n w h i c h he wa s h e l d b y t h e S y n o d may be f o u n d i n " H j a e l p e n f r a M i s s o u r i s y n o d e n , ” F e s t s k r i f t t i l Den n o r s k e S y n o d e s J u b i l a e u m (D ecorah, l a . : Den n o r s ' W S y n o d e s F o r l a g , l 9 0 S ) ‘, p p . 13'6—3 8 . F u t u r e r e f e r e n c e s t o t h i s t i t l e w i l l be a b b r e v i a t e d F e s t s k r i f t .

p.

^ Syn odical R eport,

the syn od ,

^See,

th e words

fo r exam ple,

1864, p.

20.

o f H. A. P r e u s i n

Ib id .,

13. 3 BergJi,

op.

c i t . , pp. 146,

173,

^I b l d . , p . 1 8 9 ; f o r an e x a m p l e th e M is s o u r i Dynod a g a i n s t a t t a c k from w egian p e r i o d i c a l s o f the S ca n d in a v ia n ”Domme om M i s s o u r i s y n o d e n , ” K. M . , XIV

187-89. o f the Synod's d e fe n c e o f b o t h the S w e d is h andN or­ A ugustana Synod s e e (1869), 110-12.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

47 Pau l Anderson i s

an e v i d e n c e

F r a n c k e a n S y n o d a nd h i s

o f this.-*-

part in th e o rg a n iza tio n

N orthern I l l i n o i s were r eg a r d e d theranism , Illin o is o f the

H is b r i e f te n u r e i n t h e

p a rticu la rly

by t h e

as e v i d e n c e s

o f th e Synod o f

of h is

Norwegian Synod.

Lu­

The N o r t h e r n

S y n o d was a member o f t h e G e n e r a l S y n o d .

Franckean Synod f o r a d m itta n c e

u n stab le

The a p p l i c a t i o n

i n t o th e G e n e ra l Synod a t a

la te r date,

1 8 6 4 , was t h e o c c a s i o n f o r t h e d i s r u p t i o n o f t h e Q la tt e r body. The p a r t i c i p a t i n g N o r w e g i a n s , t o g e t h e r w i t h some Sw edish b r e t h r e n , lib era l

did fin d th e

and c o n f e s s i o n a l l y

w ithdrew to o r g a n iz e occu rred, the

the

lax

grace

to t h e ir

th em selves

and G e n e r a l Synods and t h a t

had so u g h t t o h o ld

th em c a p t i v e . * ^

1859 had run a s e r i e s

of a rticles

"Glim pses i n t o

the

as

a con trast,

o f statem ents

1

-‘- S u p r a , p . 3 2 . ^"De S v e n s k e V (1860), 166. ^Rohne,

op.

2

W entz,

og Norske c it.,

p.

i

op.

a set

o f very fa v o r ­

The G e n e r a l S y n o d ' s

L u t h e r a n O b s e r v e r , made r e p l y ;

a n d on t h e b a s i 3

O ttesen in

G e n e r a l S y n o d ," w h ich were v e r y d e ­

the M i s s o u r i S y n o d .^

rep ly ,

from t h e h e r e t i c a l N o r th e r n

the Synod's p e r i o d i c a l e n ­

ab le

p u b lica tio n ,

When t h i s

f a ls e h o o d in w hich th e d e v i l

and t h e n ,

about

1860 th e y

joy th a t

The R e v e r e n d J . A . in

too

God h a d d e m o n s t r a t e d h i s

r o g a to ry in n a tu re, a rticles

and i n

Norwegian S y n o d 's p e r i o d i c a l e x p r e s s e d

i n f r e e i n g them from t h e n e t o f

titled ,

lik in g ,

S c a n d in a v ia n Augustana Synod.

t h e i r b r e th r e n had s e p a r a te d Illin o is

Synod o f N orth ern I l l i n o i s

in

reference

to th is

made by m e m b er s o f t h e ;

c i t . , pp.

Nordre

Illin o is

Gen-

221 f . s y n o d e n , " K. M . ,

164.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

48 e r a l Synod, the

ed ito r

o f K i r k e l i g M aanedstidende

"Here we a g a i n h a v e p r o o f fr o m t h e judgment and i t s

o ver the fa ith

is

camp o f t h e e n e m y t h a t

G e n e r a l Synod as d e n y in g t h e

in

G e n e r a l C o u n c i l and h e l d i t s

1867.

the

L u th eran Church

G en eral Synod w ith d rew t o f i r s t regu lar

con ven tion

The R e v e r e n d U . V . K o r e n o f t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d a t t e n d e d

t h a t m e e t i n g h u t wa s d i s a p p o i n t e d it

our

c o r r e c t . " ' 1'

The c o n s e r v a t i v e w i n g o f t h e form th e

comm ents :

as h is

op in ion th at w h ile

in what he o b s e r v e d ,

the m otives

o f the

G e n e ra l C o u n c il c o u ld n o t be q u e s t io n e d

exp ressin g

l e a d i n g men i n

th e y were n o t e s t a b o

l i s h i n g t h e new o r g a n i z a t i o n Synod was n o t s a t i s f i e d orthodox.

on a s o u n d b a s i s .

th at the

The N o r w e g i a n

G e n e r a l C o u n c i l was s u f f i c i e n t l y

3

However, Augustana Synod,

Pastor la ter

0.

J. H atlestad

the f i r s t

of the

Scan d in avian

p resid en t o f the

N orw egian-

D a n i s h A u g u s t a n a S y n o d , was a s t r o n g s u p p o r t e r o f t h e C ou n cil,

but he was n e v e r

G eneral C o u n cil, G eneral C ou n cil,

able

to get h is

own s y n o d t o

General join

the

upon n o t in g H a t l e s t a d ' s c o n n e c t io n s w i t h the the e d it o r

"We d i d n o t b e l i e v e

o f the

S y n o d 's p e r i o d i c a l comments;

t h a t t h e N orw egian s e c t i o n

o f the A ugustana

S y n o d c o u l d s o e a s i l y w o r k t o g e t h e r w i t h an o r g a n i z a t i o n w h o s e L utheran s ta n d p o in t

is

so u n clear

and w a v e r i n g .

^ " G e n e r a l s y n o d e n , " K. M«, V ( 1 8 6 0 ) , ib id ,

2U . V . K o r e n , "D et F & r s t e M#de a f X III (1868), 3 3 -4 4 . 5 » K l r k e k r o n i k e , ” i b i d . , XVI ^ " K ir k e k r o n lk e ," ib id .,

'th e General C o u n c il,'"

(1871),

XV ( 1 8 7 0 ) ,

52 f .

378-81.

13.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission

49 E i e l s e n ’ s S y n o d was n o t i n t e r e s t e d

in c u l t i v a t i n g r e l a ­

t i o n s h i p s w i t h o t h e r American L utheran ch urch b o d i e s , reason the E llin g ia n s In g e n e r a l ,

were

commended b y H. A. P r e u s

and n o a t t e m p t

count c o n ta c ts betw een p a s to r s on a p e r s o n a l l e v e l , on t h e

lev el

of it s

rep resen ta tiv e

in

i s b e i n g made t o t a k e

t h e s i t u a t i o n w as t h i s : le a d e r sh ip but not

in to

The N o r w e g i a n S y n o d ,

on t h e

rela tio n s

la y

l e v e l , was m ain­

w ith th e

le a d e r had t e n t a t i v e l y a f f i l i a t e d

but had r e a c te d a g a in s t

th e N orthern I l l i n o i s these

a ffilia tio n s,

ac­

synods

conserva­

The g r o u p o f w h i c h P a u l A n d e r s o n w a s

l i b e r a l Lutheran g ro u p s,

that

1870.^

a nd l a y m e n o f t h e v a r i o u s

t a i n i n g and n u r t u r in g r a t h e r c l o s e t i v e M isso u ri Synod.

an d f o r

the

w i t h t h e m ore

and G e n e r a l S y n o d s ,

and t o g e t h e r w ith a

g r o u p o f S w e d i s h L u t h e r a n s w i t h whom t h e y h a d f o r m e d t h e S c a n d i ­ n a v i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d w e r e m o v i n g i n a more c o n s e r v a t i v e fessio n a l d irectio n . in

E i e l s e n ’ s Synod a p p e a r e d l i t t l e

and c o n ­

in terested

d e v e lo p in g a s s o c i a t i o n s w i t h o th e r Lutheran s y n o d s ,

w hether

N orwegian or o f o th e r n a t i o n a l b a c k g r o u n d s . C o n ta c ts w i t h n o n -L u th era n American d e n o m i n a t i o n s . - - A nu mber o f A m e r i c a n d e n o m i n a t i o n s w e r e e a r l y a c t i v e g a i n a d h e r e n t s among t h e

Norwegian im m ig r a n t s .

These

w i t h A m erican d e n o m i n a t i o n s were v e r y p r o n o u n c ed i n settlem en t

in I l l i n o i s .

B legen d e s c r ib e s

N orwegians w i t h American churches as

the

in seek in g contacts

t h e Pox R iv e r

contacts

an i n t e r e s t i n g

to

o f the

chapter

"that

•^ S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e s y n o d , p p . 13 f . O sten Hanson e a r l y i n t h e s e v e n t i e s r e f u t e d a c h a r g e made b y a * W e e n a a s t h a t l e a d i n g p a s t o r s o f E i e l s e n ’ s Synod were f r i e n d l y t o w a r d s t h e G eneral Synod. " T i l Hr. P r o f e s s o r A» W e e n a a s , ” B u d b a e r e r e n , V ( 1 8 7 4 ) , 123 f . Weenaas b e l a t e d l y c o n c e d e d h i s e r r o r i n " T ilb a g e k a ld e lse , ” i b i d . , V III (1877), 177.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

50 in v o lv es,

among o t h e r s ,

the Q uakers,

the B a p t i s t s ,

th e M e t h o d i s t s , and t h e E p i s c o p a l i a n s . " d iscu ssio n in

o f Norwegian c o n t a c t s w i t h

Illin o is,

he s t r e s s e s

the

fact

1

In th e

those

that th ese

gian im m igran ts,

less

often

B legen »s

found t o t h e

tiv ely

in effectiv e

in

corroborate

the

co m m e nt s

t h a t A m erican d e n o m i n a t i o n s were r e l a ­

among N o r w e g i a n i m m i g r a n t s d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d s

o f mass m i g r a t i o n . ^ w rote

among t h e N o r w e ­

s u c c e s s f u l than m igh t have b e e n

ob servation s

effect

esp ecia lly

d e n o m in a tio n s were

in g a in in g adherents

a n ticip a te d .2

course o f h is

groups,

not p a r tic u la r ly e f f e c t iv e certa in ly

t h e M or m ons ,

For exam p le,

1887 t h a t M e t h o d i s t s ,

the

Reverend 0 .

B a p tists,

H atlestad

C o n g r e g a t i o n a l i s t s , Ad­

v en tists

and U n i t a r i a n s h a d b e e n w o r k i n g p e r s i s t e n t l y and p e r s e -

v erin g ly

in o rd e r t o w in th e N orwegians

th at,

on t h e w h o l e , h i s

ism s i n c e

t h e ir churches but

countrym en had b e e n r e t a i n e d

on ly a r e l a t i v e l y

L u th e r a n Church in

for

order to

for L utheran­

few had b e e n p e r su a d e d t o jo in

oth er c h u rch es.4

leave

However,

wh e n t h e N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n c h u r c h e s w e r e s l o w t o make t h e tio n

to the use

to the

o f the E n g lis h

la ter tra n si­

l a n g u a g e t h e r e w e r e many d e f e c t i o n s

American c h u r c h e s . The N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n s y n o d s

iou s

the

American d e n o m in a t io n s ,

n o t as

regarded th e v a r ­

f r i e n d s w i t h whom t h e y c o u l d

3 - B l e g e n , The A m e r i c a n T r a n s i t i o n , p .

105.

^ Ib id ., pp. 105-50. The Mormons made l i t t l e h e a d w a y among N orw egian 'im m igrants i n W i s c o n s i n , Io w a , and I l l i n o i s . T h e y made t h e i r c h i e f i m p a c t t h r o u g h m i s s i o n a r i e s who w e n t d i r e c t l y t o N o r ­ way. H o w e v e r , t h e y w e r e m or e e f f e c t i v e among D a n e s and S w e d e s t h a n among N o r w e g i a n s . I b i d . , pp. 1 1 5 , 1 1 7 . ^Johnsen,

op.

4H a t l e s t a d ,

c i t . , p. 39.

op.

c it.,

p.

250.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

51

have as

s p ir itu a l fello w sh ip

or cooperate

c o m p e t i t o r s who w e r e g u i l t y

C onsequently,

the

i n common e n d e a v o r s , b u t

o f prom ulgating s e c t a r ia n e r r o r s .

N orwegian L uth eran p a s t o r s ,

e s p e c ia lly those

t h e Norwegian Sy n o d , warned t h e i r f l o c k s a b o u t t h e d a n g e r s h eren t in its

g iv in g heed to non-Lutheran p r e a c h e r s .

1866 s y n o d i c a l m e e tin g warned i t s

J . Muus o f t h e S y n o d r e f e r s

accorded

secta ria n preachers

c o n g r e g a t io n s m ost e a r n e s t l y

t o the

in

in ­

The S y n o d a t

a g a i n s t h e a r i n g s e c t a r i a n and h e r e t i c a l preachers.'*' B.

of

The R e v e r e n d

ready r e c e p tio n

som etim es

those o u t-o f-th e -w a y

com m unities p w h ic h were n o t p r o v id e d w i t h a d e q u a te p a s t o r a l s e r v i c e s . Norwegian L u th er a n l e a d e r s r e g a r d e d th e M e t h o d is t s m ost a g g r e s s iv e

and d a n g e r o u s

American d e n o m in a t io n s .

They,

through a seam en’s m is s io n

com p etitors

fo r exam ple,

s o u g h t t o win c o n v e r t s

o f the

H. A . P r e u s r e f e r s

in February,

f o u n d among t h e

The N o r w e g i a n S y n o d ' s p e r i o d i ­

c a l r a t e d them as t h e m o s t s i g n i f i c a n t

fe c tiv e n e ss.^

the

c o n d u c t e d i n New Y o r k a n d t h r o u g h t h e

M e t h o d i s t Home M i s s i o n a r y S o c i e t y .

o n ly the E l l i n g i a n s . ^

t o be

as

1866,

•*~ S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e

to

sects,

excep tin g

th eir r e la tiv e

ef­

the e a ste r n m i n i s t e r i a l c o n fe r -

Synod,

1866, p.

107.

. J . Muus, " C h r i s t i a n i a og a n n e k t e r e d e M e n ig h e d e r i M i n n e s o t a , " K. M . , X I I ( 1 8 6 7 ) , 5 4 . 3 (I B l e g e n , The A m e r i c a n T r a n s i t i o n , p . 1 1 8 ; C. S . E v e r s o n , " S j o m a n d s m l a s l o n e r i ' 1 'New' y ' o r k , " I n F e s t s k r i f t , e d . H. H a l v o r s e n , p. 308. 4 Laur. L arsen. " F o r e d r a g o v e r de k i r k e l i g e F o r h o l d b l a n d t d e N o r s k e i A m e r i k a , " K. M . , V I ( 1 8 6 1 ) , 4 9 . The S y n o d f r e q u e n t l y r e f e r r e d t o th e E l l i n g i a n s as s e c t a r i a n s . See sharp e x p r e s s io n s o f H. A . P r e u s i n S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e S y n o d , 1 8 6 5 , p . 1 3 . 5 S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e S y n o d , 1 8 6 6 , p . 17; P r e u s , Syv F o r e d r a g , p p . 7i f m e n t i o n s " t h e i r e f f e c t i v e n e s s i n New Y o r k C i t y and C h i c a g o ; a l s o s a y s t h a t C a t h o l i c s h a d n o t y e t b e g u n

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

52 ence o f the

Norwegian Synod met w i t h a group o f S c a n d in a v ia n

M ethodist m in is t e r s Synod p r e s e n t ,

i n M ilw aukee.

three

from t h e

There were n in e

such d o c t r i n a l q u e s tio n s

the p a s t o r a l o f f i c e , d o ctrin e And i n

the

of p erfection ,

o f the

church,

b ap tism o f c h ild r e n ,

the

c o n t a i n e d an a r t i c l e

by P a s to r

o f C hicago,

can b e

n om ination s

s a id in g e n e r a l th a t w hatever r e l a t i o n s

on t h e

concerned were

eve

o f the

p er io d w it h w hich t h i s

o f a s t r a i n e d a nd c o m p e t i t i v e

h elp account fo r the chur ch, b o d i e s

tory u n fold s

d isserta tio n

typ e.

in trod u ctory chapter to

n a t u r e a n d number o f N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n

to b e fou n d in America in

each

1870.

We a r e now r e a d y

o f them i n d i v i d u a l l y i n m or e d e t a i l a s

in th e p eriod

s t u d y them in t h e i r

the

in A m erica had w ith non -L u th eran d e ­

I t has been the purpose o f t h i s

to d isc u ss

the nature

and t h e L o r d * s S u p p e r w e r e d i s c u s s e d . ' * "

Norwegian L u th era n c h u r c h e s

is

as

of

i n w h i c h he p o i n t e d o u t f u n d a m e n t a l 2 b e t w e e n L u t h e r a n s a nd M e t h o d i s t s .

d ifferen ces It

A ccordin g to th e m in u tes

concept o f s in ,

1870 K i r k e l i g M aanedstidend e

C. J . P e d e r s e n

o f the

S c a n d in a v ia n A ugustana Synod, and

e ig h t r ep resen tin g the M eth od ists. the m eetin g

pastors

1870-90,

rela tio n

th eir h is ­

b u t we s h a l l a l s o w a n t t o

t o one a n o t h e r and t o

the m ajor d e ­

v e lo p m e n ts a f f e c t i n g N orwegian L u th eran ism i n Am erica d u r in g t h a t same p e r i o d . m i s s i o n w o r k among N o r w e g i a n s , t h a t E p i s c o p a l i a n s h a d e n j o y e d l i m i t e d s u c c e s s w i t h th e y o u n g , t h a t N orw egian B a p t i s t s w ere i n ­ fr e q u e n tly found. Ib id . ■*"J. B . F r i c h , " F o r h a n d l i n g e r i e t M#de med M e t h o d ! s t e r n e I M i l w a u k e e f r a 1 2 t e t i l 1 5 d e F e b r . , 1 8 6 6 , ” K. M . , X I ( 1 8 6 6 ) , 161-74, 193-205, 225-46. p C» J» P e d e r s e n , " F o r s k j e l m e l l e m L u t h e r a n e r e og M e t h o d i s t e r , " i b i d . , XV ( 1 8 7 0 ) , 8 1 - 8 7 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

CHAPTER I I

THE NORWEGIAN SYNOD The

"M ind"of th e

Synod

Prom inence o f th e The N o r w e g i a n S y n o d came gin n in g I t

wa s a b l y l e d

a p o sitio n

o f preem inence

in to b ein g

among t h e

tio n

Synod*s p o s i t i o n

d u rin g the cerned.

However,

tow ards

eig h ties

as a s e r io u s

and i n i n f l u e n c e .

the

clo se

ch allen ger

t h e Syn od became

of

the

situ a ­

o f p r o m i n e n c e was m a i n t a i n e d

of

the

Synod's

d isserta tio n

sev en ties

con­

and c o n t i n u i n g

C onference

preem inence.

is

emerged

D uring t h a t

in

1 8 9 0 t h e U n i t e d Ch u rch came i n t o b e ­

scene

church groups;

no l o n g e r d i d t h e

o f N orw egian-A m erican L utheranism as

it

s o many y e a r s p r e v i o u s l y . W hile

of its

the

r a p i d l y assumed

c o m p l e t e l y o c c u p i e d w i t h an e n e r v a t i n g

in g th rou gh th e un ion o f th r e e Synod d om inate

Prom t h e b e ­

T h a t was t h e

t h e y o u n g an d a g g r e s s i v e

th eo lo g ica l controversy,

had f o r

and i t

tw en ty y e a r p e r io d w ith w hich t h i s

through th e

p eriod

and th e

1853.

N orw egian-A m erican L utheran

size

1870,

in

an d w e l l - o r g a n i z e d ,

church groups both in in

Synod

the

le a d e rsh ip ,

recogn ized acknow ledge

facts, its

t h e S y n o d was

Synod's

su p erior

and th e th e

oth er

preem inence

the

object

size

efficien cy

and i n f l u e n c e ,

of

its

synods were in in

the

o f attack

th in g s

the a b i l i t y

organ ization

were

no m e a s u r e w i l l i n g o f the

fr om a l l

sp irit.

quarters

to

In f a c t ,

an d f o r many

53

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

54

reasons.'*'

The a t t a c k s

o rig in a ted

in

advocate

the f e a r ,

was r e g a r d e d b y i t s the

portance

of

T h i s was

the

su sp icio n ,

o f the

As s u c h t h e

true

of its

pastors.

In t h e

b u t b y and l a r g e

began,

flo u rish in g .

what gave

presage

w hile

fu ll

However,

fu ry in

in 1868 over

s i t u a t i o n wa s

and

and E l l i n g i a n s

as th e decade

and s t r i f e ,

o f b ein g serio u s d iffe r e n c e s

fu ture.

grow th,

the ranks o f th e

o f op in ­

synod t o

The s t o r m b r o k e o u t i n

effectiv e

the

o f the e i g h t i e s

th e E l e c t i o n C o n tr o v e rsy o f the e i g h t i e s .

t r o v e r s y r e ta r d e d the

the

o f firm c o n v ic t io n s

th e C onference

appeared w ith in

a sto rm y and t r y i n g

fou n d in g.

p e r m e a t e d and m o u l d e d t h e e n t i r e

in d ica tio n s

ion about d o c tr in e

its

the p a s t o r s were o f th e

p a r t i c u l a r l y w e re b e s e t by i n t e r n a l d i s a g r e e m e n t s S y n o d wa s

its

T h e r e w e r e some d e f e c ­

C ontrib utory to th is

sev en ties,

sin ce

t h a t o f C. L. C l a u s e n

in flu en ce

in

o f i n t e r n a l u n i t y and a g r e e m e n t

of s e v e r a l lik e-m in d ed p astors whose

im­

life.

degree

such as

of sla v ery ,

strong w i l l ,

Synod

C h r i s t i a n i t y and t h e

t h a t had p r e v a i l e d th r o u g h the y e a r s

same m in d a n d s p i r i t .

Synod.^

o f C h r i s t i a n i t y and t h e

S y n o d ’ s s t r e n g t h and a f a c t o r

rem arkable

from the f o l d ,

lea d ersh ip

S y n o d was t h e

opponents as b e in g d a n g ero u sly i n d i f f e r e n t

esp ecia lly

issu e

type

seem t o have

th a t the

and d o g m a t i c o r t h o d o x y .

a v i t a l C h ristia n

g r o w t h v/as t h e in purpose

in g en eral,

n e c e s s i t y o f an e x p e r i e n c e d

A source

tio n s

or the

o f an i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z e d

champion o f a s t e r i l e

tow ards

on t h e s y n o d ,

T his

work, and i n f l u e n c e

its con­ of

the Synod. ^Infra, Larsen,

C h a p . V.

2 S u c h a s H. A . P r e u s , TJ. V . K o r e n , and 3 . J . M u u s .

J.

A. O t t e s e n ,

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

Laur.

55

Em phasis

on Pure D o c t r i n e

C ha m p io n o f o r t h o d o x y . — The S y n o d w a s a l w a y s t h e a r d e n t advocate

a nd d e f e n d e r

ab le proponent th eran synods

of

correct d o ctrin e.

o f Lutheran o r th o d o x y . i n A m erica d e s i r e d

but never

t h e Synod d i d

so.

w illin g to p oin t

t o be con sid ered

io n ,

th eir

h isto ric

tim e

of the

sisten tly

is

a ll

its

d e ta ils as

o f u ltim ate

o f the Synod.

and a g a i n

o f w hich,

and m or e t h a n in

o t h e r sy n o d s were g u i l t y . 1

o f pure d o c t r i n e i n

fundam ental c o n v ic t io n

erature

in d o c t r i n e ,

Lutheran c o n f e s s i o n s

reitera ted

same e x t e n t t h a t

And t h e S y n o d was a l w a y s a n x i o u s

countrym en in

p reserv a tio n

o rth o d o x and

o f t h e t r a d i t i o n a l Lu­

s o a v o w e d ly and t o t h e

out e r r o r s

in d efa tig ­

The o t h e r N o r w e g i a n Lu­

regarded th em se lv e s a s l o y a l proponents theran f a i t h ,

I t was t h e

That

by Synod p a s t o r s

th eir

o p in ­

That th e found i n

the

im p o r ta n c e was a

con viction

can b e fou n d

a nd l a y m e n i n

the

lit ­

t i m e , b u t p r o b a b l y n o w h e r e more f o r c e f u l l y a n d p e r ­

than in th e

c o n v e n tio n s by the

serm on s and r e p o r t s d e l i v e r e d

R e v e r e n d Herman A* P r e u s ,

N o r w e g i a n S y n o d fr o m 1 8 6 2 t o 2 ym ou s w i t h o r t h o d o x y .

1894.

p r e s id e n t o f the

H i s name i s

•4?he s m a l l b o o k b y H. A . P r e u s , illu s t r a t iv e of th is a ttitu d e .

to sy n o d ica l

p ra ctica lly

Syv F o r e d r a g ,

synon-

p assim i s

2 Herman a . P r e u s > b o r n i n 1 8 2 5 , a g r a d u a t e o f C h r i s t i a n a U n i v e r s i t y i n N o r w a y , came t o A m e r i c a a s a y o u n g p a s t o r i n 1 8 5 1 . He s e r v e d a s p a s t o r o f t h e s p r i n g P r a i r i e , W i s c o n s i n , p a r i s h , 1 8 5 1 94. One o f t h e o r g a n i z e r s o f t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d i n 1 8 5 3 , h e t o o k th e le a d in r e o r g a n i z i n g th e o r i g i n a l c o n s t i t u t i o n o f 1851 i n order to d e le t e c e r t a i n G rund tvigian t e a c h in g s . From t h e v e r y f i r s t a l e a d e r o f t h e S y n o d , he s e r v e d as i t s p r e s i d e n t f o r a g e n e r a t i o n , from 1862 u n t i l h i s d e a t h i n 1 8 9 4 . 0 . M. N o r l i e e t a l ., Wno's Who Among p a s t o r s i n a l l t h e N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n S y n o d s o f

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

56 In 1864, o f pure d o c t r i n e

f o r exam ple, to the

preus

d eleg a tes

in s t r e s s i n g th e

assem bled

c o n v e n t i o n t o l d t h e m t h a t memb ers o f t h e d octrin e

in order t o g a in

dred,

learn t o

sist

to

others

fa llen th en ,

in to is

p lea sin g Preus

in

g a in in g the

tru th ,

and t o

Synod must p u r s u e pure

life,

t o be a b l e

a necessary p rereq u isite

w itn essin g ,

an alyzes

the r e l i g i o u s

situ a tio n

o f E u r o p e an d e x p r e s s e s

d isp leasu re

tra d itio n a l fa ith .

Nor i s

to

as­

Correct d o c tr in e ,

fo r a savin g f a i t h ,

and e f f e c t i v e

k in ­

sh ow t h o s e who h a v e

t r u e way o f s a l v a t i o n . ' * '

life,

from th e

for the sy n o d ica l

s a l v a t i o n f o r th e m s e lv e s and t h e i r

le a d a sound C h r is tia n

e r r o r the

im portance

in

the

in the

a Go d-

same m e s s a g e

Lutheran c o u n t r i e s

over evid en ces

of d efectio n

he happy about th e

" so -ca lled

L u t h e r a n C h u rc h " i n A m e r i c a ,

r e f e r r i n g t h e r e b y t o c e r t a i n American

Lutheran sy n o d s,

General Synod, the

the B u ffa lo

such as th e

Synod,

a ll

o f whom w e r e a t

Iowa S y n o d ,

and

odds w i t h t h e M i s s o u r i

A m erica, 1845-1927 (M in n ea p o lis: Augsburg P u b li s h i n g H ouse, 1 9 2 8 ) 7 p . 46&j h e n c e f o r t h d e s i g n a t e d as W h o 's w h o . The f o l l o w i n g i s a p a r t i a l c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n o f H. A . P r e u s b y an o b s e r v a n t c o n t e m p o r a r y , J . A . B e r g h : . . H. A . P r e u s i s a w e l l - b a l a n c e d p i l o t , w h o , w i t h a p o w e r f u l h a n d and a c l e a r e y e , g u i d e s t h e s h i p o f th e ch u rch toward th e d e s i r e d g o a l . He i s l o g i c a l in h is th ought, o r d e r ly in h is sp eech , f r ie n d ly but d e ­ c i s i v e i n h i s d e p o r tm e n t, and i s o r th od o x to th e v e r y t i p s o f h i s fin g ers. He b e l o n g s t o t h a t c l a s s o f N o r w e g i a n t h e o l o g i a n s who have c o m p le te ly broken w it h th e old r a t io n a l is m w ith o u t at th e same t i m e b e i n g t o u c h e d b y t h e J o h n s o n i a n a w a k e n i n g , h e n c e d o e s n o t v a l u e h i g h l y t h e Haugean movem ent. Haugeans d id n o t a lw a y s come u p t o h i s s t a n d a r d o f o r t h o d o x y , a n d f o r P r e u s i t was p u r e d o c tr in e th a t i s o f g r e a t e s t im portance. A cco rd in g ly , he has a sh a rp ey e f o r e v e r y e r r o r , a c t u a l or im a g in e d . F o r h im i t b e ­ comes t h e g r e a t o b j e c t o f t h e N o rw e g ia n Synod t o g a t h e r t h e Lu­ t h e r a n C h r i s t i a n s a b o u t th e r e v e a l e d t r u t h and d e fe n d i t a g a i n s t every error. No d e v i a t i o n c a n b e t o l e r a t e d . " Q u o t e d b y J . M. Rohne, o p . c i t . , p . 1 1 7 . •*~ S y n o d l c a l R e p o r t ,

the Synod,

1864, p.

11.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

57

Synod. w hich,

But Preus has o n l y words o f p r a i s e

fo r the M issou ri Synod,

he s a y s , h a s e x e r t e d s u c h a b e n e f i c i a l i n f l u e n c e

N orwegian Synod.^

The f r i e n d l y r e l a t i o n s

N o r w e g i a n S y n o d and t h e M i s s o u r i S y n o d ,

th at e x iste d

upon t h e betw een the

th e m ost p o w e r fu l A m erican

e x p o n en t o f u lt r a - o r t h o d o x L utheranism , have p r e v i o u s l y b een p m en tion ed . The i n f l u e n c e o f M i s s o u r i u p o n t h e p a s t o r s o f t h e S y n o d w a s p r o n o u n c e d and w a s much more e x t e n s i v e t h a n

its

in flu ­

e n c e upon Synod la y m e n . A r e v e a l i n g Index o f the to d octrin e sio n s a t

is

the

la rg e

p lace

sy n o d ic a l con ven tion s The c e n s o r i o u s n e s s

w ill. goin g

a t t a c h e d by t h e Synod

t h a t was g i v e n t o d o c t r i n a l d i s c u s ­ and a t p a s t o r a l c o n f e r e n c e s . ®

o f the

S y n o d l e a d e r s p r o v o k e d much I l l -

Members o f o t h e r s y n o d s r e s e n t e d a d o g m a t i s m s o that

a ll

a n tip a th ies p reservation

q u e stio n a b ly L utheran.

again st

C onsequently,

t h e Synod were d e v e l o p e d ,

o f p u r e d o c t r i n e w as

constantly

thorough­

e x c e p t t h o s e who s a w e y e t o e y e w i t h t h e

were r e g a r d e d as

was

im p ortance

in volved

Synod strong

and b e c a u s e

all-im p o rta n t

to the

the

Synod,

it

In t h e o l o g i c a l c o n t r o v e r s y .

L o y a l t y t o R e f o r m a t i o n p r i n c i p l e s . — The S y n o d l e a d e r s sa id

th at th e ir

a ttitu d e

toward d o c t r i n e had been a d op ted ou t o f

t h e i r con cern f o r rem aining l o y a l t o th e th e Lutheran R eform ation o f th e (Form al p r i n c i p l e ) p le).

W ritin g in

six teen th

and J u s t i f i c a t i o n

tw o g r e a t p r i n c i p l e s century:

by F a i t h

1890 o f t h e S y n o d ’ s g o a l s ,

•*~I b i d . , p p .

11-13.

of

The Word A l o n e

(M aterial P r in c i­ or aim s,

Pastor

^S u p r a , p p . 4 5 f .

®For a l i s t o f t o p i c s d i s c u s s e d o v e r t h e y e a r s H alvorsen ( e d .) , op . c i t . , pp. 1 1 1 -1 5 .

see

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

58 U. V . K oren ,

lo n g prom inent in th e a f f a i r s

le n g th d evelo p ed the a c t i o n s had in th e lo y a lty

to

con tin u e

those

preus,

in

to

and h e

to th e

a nd r u l e

of so u ls."

in

observance

itse lf

str ic tly to

of its

p o sitio n

the

and d o c t r i n e ,

alone f o r t h e sake

involved

th ese

only p e r f e c t

th a t in the

In th e

con tro v ersies

i t had b een m o tivated by a

such c o n t r o v e r s ie s

its

t h e Synod h a d h e l d

t h e Word o f God , p r o v i n g b y i t of its

the

correctness

opponents, h avin g

o f th e church and th e w r it in g s

d o c t r i n e was t h e

He

as t h o s e d e a l i n g w i t h s l a v ­

o f Sunday, and a b s o l u t i o n

in c o n tr a s t t o th a t

and

and t h a t man i s

o f Jesus C h rist." ^

Preus’ in siste n c e

shown b y th e c o n f e s s i o n s that

it

C ost what i t

fo r u p h o ld in g the above-nam ed L utheran p r i n c i p l e s .

the

fathers

tim e s t a t e d t h a t

orthodox c h a r a c te r ,

for f a i t h

Synod h a d b e e n

m ain tained th a t ery,

su ch w ould

th e Synod must h o l d f a s t t o t h o s e p r i n c i p l e s

same a d d r e s s we n o t e

concern

that

G o d ’ s Word c l e a n a nd p u r e

" t h a t Go d’ s w r i t t e n Word i s

by grace

i n w hich th e

o f the

sa lv a tio n

w h ic h g i v e t h e h u t h e r a n Church i t s

source

u n con d ition al

s y n o d i c a l m e e t in g of 1869 p r e s i d e n t

Synod’ s g o a l "to p r e se r v e

w i l l , he c o n t i n u e d ,

ju stified

em phasized

con tro v ersies

t h e h o n o r o f God a nd t h e

inerran t

some

c a s e . ’1'

address

p r in c ip le s b ein g

at

S y n o d ’ s p o i n t o f v i e w and

p a s t b e e n d e te r m in e d by i t s

rev iew in g the

had been th e

th a t the

p rin cip les,

t o be th e In h i s

theme

o f the Synod,

t r a d i t i o n a l Lutheran

1U . V . K o r e n , "Hvad d e n n o r s k e S y n o d e h a r f r e m d e l e s v i l , " Sam lede s k r i f t e r a f D r. t h e o l . U. Koren (D e co r a h , I o w a : L u th era n p u b l i s h i n g H o u se , 375-455. 2 S y n o d ic a l R e p o r t, the sy n o d , 1 8 6 9 , p p . 9

o f the fa ith .

In

v i l l e t og Koren, e d . Paul 1911 ) , I I I , f .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

59 the

course

of th ese

had n o t r e c e i v e d

con troversies

its

r i g h t f u l em ph asis,

t h o r i t y o f the B ib le b een f u l l y way o f

the d o c tr in e

of

nor had t h e b i n d i n g a u ­

recogn ized ,

a c c o r d in g to Preus*

th in k in g .^ S in ce

t h e Word o f God was r e c o g n i z e d

as supreme a u t h o r i t y

a nd a r b i t e r i n m a t t e r s

of d o ctrin e,

it

be a g r e e m e n t a b o u t i t s

p r o p e r use*

The s l a v e r y

to

ju stifica tio n

was i m p e r a t i v e

that

controversy,

t h e b e g i n n i n g o f o u r p e r i o d , p a r t i c u l a r l y had c e n t e r e d

tio n about p r in c ip le s

of B ib lic a l in terp reta tio n .

an e v i l b u t n o t i n

itse lf

were op p o sed t o American s l a v e r y . ca u se t h e y were c o n v in c e d t h a t that

sla v ery

the r e a l

is not

issu e

Word o f G o d . ,f2

it

a sin ,

q u estion that

even though t h e y

They ad op ted t h a t p o s i t i o n b e ­ is

the

n ecessa rily a sin .

in the

p rior

atten­

On t h e

o f s l a v e r y t h e Synod l e a d e r s t o o k t h e u n p o p u la r p o s i t i o n s l a v e r y was

there

t e a c h i n g o f the B ib le So p r e u s

controversy concerned

The R e v e r e n d G l a u s L.

contended th a t

'*the m a j e s t y o f t h e

C lausen,

i n cham pioning the

p o p u la r a t t i t u d e m a i n t a i n e d by N orw egian L u th e r a n s by l a b e l l i n g slavery

a sin ,

p reta tio n p oin t

r a n up a g a i n s t an i n s i s t e n c e

o f S c r i p t u r e w h ic h would n o t t o l e r a t e h i s

of v iew .

D uring t h i s

s t a n t l y m ain tain ed th a t th e th o rity of

upon a l i t e r a l

the B ib le

in ter p r e te d .0

in

co n tr o v e rsy the

and t h e p r i n c i p l e s

1868 C la u s e n f e l t

1I b id . , pp.

11 f .

more p o p u l a r

Synod l e a d e r s

fundam ental i s s u e

in ter­

con­

concerned the

au­

a c co r d in g to w hich i t

com pelled to

2I b l d . , p.

leave th e

is

Synod

12.

^I b i d . , p . l l j u . V . Koren, o p . c i t . , p . 4 4 5 . K. L a r s e n , L aur. L a rse n , p io n e e r C o lle g e P r e s id e n t " (N o r th fie ld , M inn.: Nor­ w egian-A m erican H i s t o r i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n , 1 9 3 6 ), p. 179.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

60 because

of Its

p o sitio n

in th e

sla v er y co n tro v ersy .^

D uring t h r e e c o n s e c u t i v e the d o c t r i n a l d i s c u s s i o n s p rin cip les

th is

to p ic

con viction s

The t h e s e s that th e

are

and t h e

in

the

lig h t

th at d octrin e

a nd a d o p t e d

in

and i t

is

year

for th e

itse lf,

lig h t

tra d itio n , are

set

fo r t h the

ex eg esis

of

t h a t th e H oly S p i r i t

the

must be a l l o w e d

to

church f a t h e r s ,

not b in d in g .0 were d i s c u s s e d

in

1870 c e r t a i n

and s e t

forth :

o f a S c r i p t u r a l p a s s a g e m u s t b e made a c c o r d i n g

o f the

the purpose

count,

in n er

the o b scu re

fo rth a certa in

to,

inasm uch as

analogy o f f a i t h ,

t h e New,

d iscu ssed

and t h a t S c r i p t u r e

e x eg e tic a l p rin cip les

Every e x p o s i t i o n to the

gu id in g p r in c ip le s

found i n S c r i p t u r e

speak fo r i t s e l f

sp ecific

o f them were

d isc u sse d the f i r s t

through S c r ip t u r e ,

reason,

T w enty-nine t h e s e s

t h e d i s c u s s i o n was c o n t i n u e d d u r i n g t h e t w o s \ i c c e e d i n g

con ven tion s.

speaks

of

were p r e s e n t e d t o th e c o n v e n t io n o f 1 8 6 9 ,

but inasm uch as o n l y t h i r t e e n that year,

1869-71,

were d e v o t e d t o a c o n s i d e r a t i o n

of S crip tu ra l in ter p r e ta tio n .^

d ealin g w ith

S crip tu re

sy n o d ica l con ven tion s,

the

Old T e s t a m e n t m u s t b e e x p l a i n e d

passages

of S crip tu re

s h o u l d be i n t e r p r e t e d

c lea r e r p a ssa g es, passages e x p l i c i t l y

d octrin e

are

t o be t h e b a s i s

a p a s s a g e where i t

is

for

settin g

in terp retin g

on ly i n c i d e n t a l l y r e f e r r e d

and c o n t e x t o f a p a s s a g e m u s t b e n e c e s s a r y to study

by

the

o rig in a l

taken In to text

in

ac­

the

^H. F r e d S w a n s o n , The F o u n d e r o f S t . A n s g a r ( B l a i r , N e b . : The L u t h e r a n p u b l i s h i n g H o u s e ’, 1 9 4 9 ) , ~ pp'. 1 5 4 - 6 8 . Q " S k r i f t p r i n c l p e t e l l e r de r e t t e R e g l e r f o r S k r i f t e n s U d l a g g e l s e ." rz

S y n o d ic a l R eport,

the

Synod,

1869, pp. 2 5 -6 1 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

61 H e b r e w a nd G r e e k l a n g u a g e s . 1 cu ssed in

1871,

terp reta tio n th at the

The t e n r e m a i n i n g p r i n c i p l e s ,

d e a l m ain ly w ith the

of S crip tu re,

each p assage has

in essen ce

sh o u ld n o t be ta k en i n I t was

m ation th a t

its

settin g

fo r th the

a liter a l

devotion

caused the

itse lf

to the

in d ica tes

Formal p r i n c i p l e

the m o t to p l a c e d

"It i s w r it t e n ."

Synod u s e d John 8 ; 3 1 ,

p o sitio n nam ely the p a s ­

o f the

R efor­

S y n o d t o be s o c o n c e r n e d a b o u t i n s u r i n g

S ig n ifica n tly ,

was g e g r a p t a i ,

that

in ­

sen se.^

a g r e e m e n t as t o c o r r e c t and u n i f o r m p r i n c i p l e s g esis.

liter a l

o n l y on e S p i r i t - i n t e n d e d m e a n i n g ,

l i t e r a l one, u n less S crip tu re

sage

advocacy o f the

d is­

of B ib lica l exe­

in t h e s e a l o f th e Synod

The o f f i c i a l p e r i o d i c a l o f t h e

32 a s i t s

m otto:

" if you c o n tin u e

i n my

word, you are d i s c i p l e s ,

a n d y o u w i l l know t h e t r u t h , a n d t h e g t r u t h w i l l make y o u f r e e . " The S y n o d p a s t o r s w e r e s o d o g m a t i c

and u n y i e l d i n g i n that

in

a ll

th eir

orthod oxy b eca u se th e y were convinced

th e o lo g ic a l d isp u tes

p o s i t i o n was t h e o n ly c o r r e c t

in w h ic h t h e y were

p o s itio n because i t

t h e Word w h i c h h a d b e e n i n t e r p r e t e d g e tic a l p rin cip les

lo y a l to

w a s b a s e d on

accord in g to e x e -

alth ou gh b e lie v in g

th e Formal P r i n c i p l e ,

them selves

su b stitu tio n

o f an i n t e l l e c t u a l accep ta n ce

of

the

Synod,

1870, pp.

2 S y n o d ic a jL R e p o r t ,

the

Synod,

1871, pp. 2 3 -5 0 .

op.

c it.,

p.

fearin g

a lo g ica lly

^ S y n o d ic a l R eport,

3Koren,

as

o b j e c t e d t o what th e y r e ­

g a r d e d aa a t o o m e c h a n i s t i c a n d w o o d e n u s e o f S c r i p t u r e , the

th eir

w h ic h w o u ld p e r m it o n l y one i n t e r p r e t a t i o n .

T h eir t h e o l o g i c a l opp onents, fu lly

lite r a lly

in volved

25-56.

384.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

62 d evelop ed

t h e o l o g y f o r an e x p e r i e n c e d

In h i s

d iscu ssio n

o f th e Synod’s l o y a l t y to the

m en ta l R eform ation p r i n c i p l e s ju stifica tio n and t o stant

the

by f a i t h

champion o f

th at p rin cip le ju stifica tio n

K or en r e f e r s

in r e l a t i o n

co n tro v ersies

o f the

to

the

ch ief

a rticle

by f a i t h a l o n e .

to the p r in c ip le

m ost p r e c io u s

treasure

of S crip tu re,

o f the

Only t h i s

in

in d isso lu b le

seq u en tly , fica tio n

it

is

in i t s

teach in gs

about s i n ,

revealed

con n ection w ith t h is

p u rity u n less grace,

to preserve

g iv es

nam ely

God t h e

out th a t

by f a i t h , w h i c h i s a sin cere

the

accept­

i n S c r ip t u r e w hich ch ief d octrin e. the d o ctrin e

one a l s o h o l d s

con version ,

he r e l a t e s

Koren p o i n t s

o f God’ s Wo r d, ' i n v o l v e s

not p o ssib le

of

C h ristian f a i t h ,

d octrin e

of ju stific a tio n

ance o f o th e r im p ortan t d o c t r in e s stand

to the doctrin e

An u n c o m p r o m i s i n g and c o n ­

f u l l h o n o r due h i m i n m a n ’ s s a l v a t i o n . lo y a lty

tw o f u n d a ­

other S cr ip tu ra l d o ctrin es

tim e.

the a l l - s u f f i c i e n c y

to

fa ith .1

Con­

of ju sti­

fa s t to the S c r ip tu r a l

t h e me ans o f g r a c e ,

fa ith ,

and s a n c t i f i c a t i o n . 2 Koren s a y s d octrin e at a ll

con cern in g

ju stifica tio n

w i l l h a v e no p e a c e

c la im e d t h a t t h e y were j u s t a s

d o ctrin e

of

ju stifica tio n

The

co n tro v ersies

about

was s o d e e p l y

for th is

for i t has

and reg a rd ed as f o o l i s h n e s s

The N o r w e g i a n Sy n o d h a d v e r y

the

Synod

one who z e a l o u s l y c o n t e n d s

t i m e s b e e n d e e m e d an o f f e n c e

b y sorae.'^ ponents

th a t the

little

peace,

jea lo u sly

but i t s

concerned about

by f a i t h a l o n e a s was t h e

synod.

a b s o l u t i o n and e l e c t i o n ,

in w hich the

in volved ,

in to

a ls o brought

1I n f r a ,

p p . 183 f . ,

^Koren,

op. o i t . , pp. 39 0 -4 5 3 .

op­

c o n s id e r a t io n the

381 f . 5 Ib ld . , p. 431.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

65

d octrin e

of ju stific a tio n . U n it y i n t h e T ruth C o rrela tiv e w ith th e

t r i n e was i t s

in sisten ce

Syn od's

em phasis

on p u r i t y

on u n i t y i n t h e t r u t h .

It

d ep lored the

fragm ented s t a t e

o f N orw egian-A m erican L uth eranism as

any o th e r group,

but i t

there

p ersisten tly

rejected

of doc­

g r e a t ly as

any s u g g e s t i o n

c o u l d be a n y e x t e r n a l c h u r c h u n i o n e x c e p t on t h e b a s i s

f u l l d o c tr in a l agreem ent. p rin cip le

A l l t h e N orw egian L uth eran sy n o d s

i n s i s t e d upon t h a t p r e r e q u i s i t e

c o n s t a n t l y and e m p h a t i c a l l y o f d octrin e before

there

t h a t m i g h t be a p r e l u d e s ta n d o f any o f

in sisted

2B e r g h ,

the

type

in regard

convention

of in

But none s o a ll

p oin ts

of coop eration

The S y n o d t o o k t h e

th e N orwegian synods

In a d d r e s sin g the 1870 Infra,

on a g r ee m e n t i n

c o u l d e v e n be to u n ion .

t o union.**

that

strictest

to u n io n ism .^

o f t h e S y n o d H. A .

Preus

C h a p s. V and V I . op. c i t . ,

p.

191.

^ " U n i o n i s m " h a s an u g l y c o n n o t a t i o n as f a r a s c o n s e r v a t i v e L utherans are c o n c er n e d , b e c a u se i t r e f e r s to th e p r a c t i c e o f h a v i n g r e l i g i o u s f e l l o w s h i p w i t h t h o s e w i t h whom on e i s n o t i n d o c t r in a l agreem ent. R elig io u s fe llo w sh ip in volves prayer fe llo w ­ s h i p a n d p u l p i t and a l t a r f e l l o w s h i p . T h o s e who t a k e t h e s t r i c t ­ e s t sta n d a g a i n s t u n ionism a l s o regard c o o p e r a tio n in th e p r a c t i ­ c a l w o r k o f t h e c h u r c h a s u n i o n i s t i c whe n i t i n v o l v e s g r o u p s who are not d o c t r in a lly a g reed . D r . M. Reu d e s c r i b e s u n i o n i s m i n t h i s way: "We may s a y t h a t we f i n d u n i o n i s m w h e r e v e r t h e a b s o l u t e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e S c r i p t u r e s and t h e i r u n a m b ig u o u s n e s s w i t h r e f e r ­ ence to a l l fu n d am en tal d o c t r i n e s i s , in th e o r y o r i n p r a c t i c e , t r e a t e d w ith i n d i f f e r e n c e , w herever wrong v ie w s o f B i b l i c a l d o c ­ t r i n e s a r e t o l e r a t e d ( e v e n t h o u g h on e may p e r s o n a l l y c l i n g t o t h e c o r r e c t d o c tr in e ) fo r th e purpose o f e s t a b l i s h i n g f e llo w s h ip w ith a c h u r c h t o w h i c h on e p r e v i o u s l y r e f u s e d i t , a n d w h e r e o n e f i n d s a f o r m u la o f u n i f i c a t i o n w h ic h e x t e r n a l l y u n i f i e s th e two g r o u p s , b u t w h ic h i s d i f f e r e n t l y i n t e r p r e t e d b y e a c h o f t h e two g r o u p s a n d , t h e r e f o r e , d o e s n o t i d e a l l y and t r u l y u n i t e t h e m . " M. R e u , In t h e i n t e r e s t o f L u th era n U n i t y (Columbus: L u t h e r a n B o o k Con­ c e r n , 1 9 4 0 ) , p p . So' f .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

64 d ea lt

w ith th e

H igh P r i e s t l y fo llo w : w ill

top ic

o f u n ion ism , talcin g h i s

prayer.

Some o f t h e m a i n p o i n t s o f h i s

On t h e b a s i s

o f union w ith C h r is t

and b e l i e v e

G od's w i l l

that

m ated.

The c a u s e

fa llen cost

in to m an ifold

is

the church is

for present d is u n ity

truth,

of tru th .

there

that

but through th e

errors.

in f a i t h ,

Concern f o r t h e

for u n ity .

the

over d if fe r e n c e s , u n io n istic

t h o s e who c a l l that

is

o f view

it

in sp irer preus

a ll

C h ristian s

do

s e d u c t i o n have u n ity at

the

p r e s e n t o n l y where

sch ism l i e s

o f God

w ith those

th ey c o n stitu te

must n o t o c c u r a t th e

the m a jo rity .

t o p r e s e r v e and

un ion,

in th e se

words:

cost

of truth.

o f s u c h ■unity a s t h a t w h i c h g l o s s e s

i n t h e w o r l d a nd i n A m e r i c a , e v e n among L utherans.

he

E xp ressin g the

on u n i t y In s p i r i t

su ccin ctly

sets

con viction

a n d a common

f o r t h t h e Synod p o in t

"We w o u l d r a t h e r be f e w a nd h a v e God and

t h a n b e many I n n u m b e r s

[ b u t ] w i t h o u t God's

and s h i e l d .

P u ttin g th ese p r in c ip le s S y n o d ic a l R eport, p.

a lso

then speaks o f vario u s m a n ife s t a tio n s

sp irit

a fa lse

lig h t

is

i t m u s t b e n o t o n l y an o u t w a r d u n i t y , b u t

th em selves

Word w i t h u s ,

Word a s

for

even i f

any c h u r c h u n io n n o t b a s e d

fa ith

th erefore,

s h o u ld b e consum­

t r u t h must c h a r a c t e r i z e e f f o r t s

a s p ir it u a l u n ity ;

o f the

B ut i t

not d e s i r e is

a nd a l w a y s

produced by th e S p i r i t

The g u i l t

who a r e n o t r i g h t - b e l i e v i n g ,

The d e v i l i s

d ev il's

God d o e s

w hich i s

t h r o u g h t h e Word o f G o d .

a lso

that

The u n i t y w h i c h God d e s i r e s

u n ity

striv e

is

is

p resen tation

church;

one.

an e x t e r n a l u n i o n o f b e l i e v e r s

not p o sse ss the

h is

there

be a u n i o n o f t h e t r u e members o f C h r i s t ' s

we c o n f e s s

to

t e x t from C h r i s t ' s

the

in to

Synod,

p ra ctice,

t h e Synod ad op ted

1870, pp. 8-16;

q u otation ,

15.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

65 a p o li c y o f ex clu siv isr a as over a g a in s t th e theran sy n od s. in the

T his

em phasis

truth expressed

o t h e r N o r w e g i a n Lu­

on t h e n e c e s s i t y f o r

itse lf

in p e r s i s t e n t

com plete u n i t y

and s e v e r e

criticism

o f t h o s e who w e r e g u i l t y o f w h a t t h e S y n o d r e g a r d e d a s d o c t r i n a l errors

and a r e f u s a l t o h a v e r e l i g i o u s

produced sev e r e the

ten sion s

f e l l o w s h i p w i t h them .

i n N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n c o m m u n i t i e s when

L utheran churches r e f u s e d

to have

c o o p e r a t io n and f e l l o w s h i p

w i t h o n e a n o t h e r and i n s t e a d e x i s t e d a s R eten tion

com p etito rs.

o f T r a d i t i o n a l W orship P o m s

The N o r w e g i a n S y n o d e n d e a v o r e d t o p e r p e t u a t e s o i l the use rite s,

to

o f tr a d itio n a l vestm ents,

and c e r e m o n ie s o f t h e

church r i t e s its

p ra ctices,

the use

Church o f Norway.

s i s t e n t l y wore the

o f t h e Church o f N o r w a y 's

pastors, la r.

clerica l

co n sistin g

serv ice,

tio n ed ,

it

in c lu d in g the

f o r m s an d r i t e s ^-A rticle

o f the I,

recommends litu rg ica l

r i t u a l d a t i n g from The S y n o d p a s t o r c o n ­

sto le,

and w h i t e

con gregation

in

flu ted

the

ch antin g o f c o l l e c t s

No m a t t e r i n w h a t o f f i c i a l

wa s s t r e s s e d

in

to

garb u sed by N orwegian s t a t e - c h u r c h

o f a b l a c k g ow n,

A aronic b e n e d i c t i o n .

p.

from 1688.-*•

On S u n d a y m o r n i n g s h e l e d h i s

litu rg ica l

In r e g a r d

co n stitu tio n

in order to p reserve u n ity

1 6 8 5 an d t h e a l t a r - b o o k d a t i n g

on A m e r i c a n

litu r g ic a l p ra ctices,

a paragraph o f th e Synod's

con g reg a tio n s,

It

co l­

tra d itio n a l and o f t h e

c a p a c i t y he

fu nc­

t h a t h e was p e r p e t u a t i n g u n c h a n g e d t h e Church o f Norway.

par.

4;

H. H a lv o r s e n

2

T his (e d .),

c h u r c h ly em phasis p estsk rift,

199.

^ J . M. Rohne i n t e r e s t i n g l y d e s c r i b e s t h e c u s t o m a r y o r d e r o f s e r v i c e and o t h e r t r a d i t i o n a l r i t e s an d p r a c t i c e s , i n c l u d i n g th e d u t i e s o f the K lo k k er, the la y a s s i s t a n t t o th e p a s t o r in

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

66 o f the Synod, rites

its

form al w orsh ip ,

and p r a c t i c e s

E ielsen

o f the

a nd h i s a d h e r e n t s ,

its

r e s p e c t f o r the

state-ch u rch , who,

" experien ced" C h r i s t i a n i t y , were

tra d itio n a l

provoked a tta c k s

from

as cham pions o f a " l i v i n g " in r e b e l l i o n

again st

and

the ty p e

of

C h r i s t i a n i t y r e p r e se n te d by th e s t a t e - c h u r c h o f th e m other c o u n try . They were d e f i n i t e l y ch an tin g,

opposed

and t o o t h e r f o r m a l a s p e c t s

and w ere t h e a d v o c a t e s the

to th e u se

S y n o d was t h e

o f a free

advocate

o f c le r ic a l garb,

o f the t r a d i t i o n a l w orsh ip

and in f o r m a l s e r v i c e . ^

o f o rd er and c h u r c h l i n e s s

t o t h o s e who f e a r e d a nd d e t e s t e d f o r m s a n d f o r m a l i t y . t h e Synod a d o p t e d an a t t i t u d e stra in ed

la y a c t i v i t y ,

E llin g ia n s.

of u n frien d lin ess

e sp e c ia lly as

W ith in th e

in

contrast C onsequently,

towards u n r e ­

C o n fe r e n c e an d t h e N orwegian A u g u sta n a

w o r s h i p fo rm s and p r a c t i c e s ,

in regard to t r a d i t i o n a l

r a n g i n g b e t w e e n t h e two a t t i t u d e s

Synod and t h e E l l i n g i a n s .

E sp ecia lly

C o n f e r e n c e a n d among t h e m o r e r e c e n t l y a r r i v e d Norwegian A u gu stan a Synod was t h e r e the

Always

i t was p r a c t i c e d by t h e

Synod w ere t o b e fo u n d v a r y i n g em ph ases

r e p r e s e n t e d by th e

to

litu r g ic a l p ra ctices,

rites,

in the

le a d e rs of the

sym pathy f o r and l o y a l t y

and v e stm e n ts

found i n t h e

to church

o f N orw ay.2 le a d in g the w orship and c o n g r e g a t io n a l s i n g i n g . 80-88.

Op. c i t . ,

pp.

^ P a r . 6 o f E i e l s e n ’ s "Ol d C o n s t i t u t i o n , " o u t s p o k e n i n i t s o p p o s i t i o n t o c h u r c h c e r e m o n i e s and c l e r i c a l g a r b , i s q u o t e d , In fra, p. 110. The c o n s t i t u t i o n a d o p t e d b y H a u g e ’ s S y n o d i n 1 8 7 6 a l s o r e j e c t e d t h e u s e o f c l e r i c a l garb (p a r . 7 ) , bu t t h e a t t i t u d e o f H a u g e ’ s S y n o d w a s t o b e much more m o d e r a t e on t h i s p o i n t t h a n was t h e c a s e w i t h E i e l s e n . In fr a , pp. 2 Infra,

pp.

152,

159 f . ,

184-86,

209,

238 f .

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

67

The S y n o d ’ s A l l i a n c e w i t h L u t h e r a n C o n s e r v a t i v e s O rgan ization

o f the S y n o d ic a l C on feren ce,

B r i e f r e f e r e n c e h a s a l r e a d y b e e n made t o tw een th e ica n t its

1872

the

contacts be­

N o r w e g i a n S y n o d and t h e M i s s o u r i S y n o d and t o

in flu en ce

p o licy

of

o f the

l a t t e r upon t h e

f o r m e r . ' 1'

C o n s is te n t w ith

c u l t i v a t i n g a s s o c i a t i o n s w it h th e m ost

rep resen ta tiv es

the s i g n i f

con servative

o f L u th er a n ism in A m erica th e N orwegian Synod in

1872 p a r t ic ip a t e d

in

the

organ ization

o f the

S y n o d ic a l C onference,

a fellow sh ip

o f L u t h e r a n s y n o d s o f w h i c h t h e M i s s o u r i S y n o d was p m o st p o w e r f u l and i n f l u e n t i a l . Upon i n v i t a t i o n o f t h e Ohio Synod, r e p r e s e n t a t iv e s

o f the M isso u ri,

Ohio, W is c o n s in ,

w e g i a n S y n o d s m e t i n C h i c a g o on J a n u a r y 1 1 , in g days

to d is c u s s

te r n a l u n ion . H. A. p r e u s , Sch m id t.

o f the

of effectin g

fo llo w ­

some t y p e

of ex­

The N o r w e g i a n S y n o d w a s r e p r e s e n t e d b y P a s t o r s J.

A. O t t e s e n ,

for the

P . A. R a s m u s s e n , a n d P r o f e s s o r F . A.

of

problem i n v o l v e d , h in d er the

loose

fed eration ,

con ferrin g synods.

in g the e d it o r

p rises

p o ssib ility

and t h e

The m o s t i m p o r t a n t o u t c o m e o f t h e m e e t i n g w a s a p r o p o s e d

co n stitu tio n ion ,

the

1871,

and N o r ­

r a t h e r th a n the o r g a n ic u n ­

In m aking h i s

the s y n o d i c a l p e r i o d i c a l r e f e r s p o in tin g out th a t d if f e r e n c e s

N orwegian S y n o d ’ s p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n

in as

report

in

o f th e m eet­

to the

language

langu age w i l l

coop erative

f u l l a n d r i c h a way a s w i l l be p o s s i b l e

enter­

fo r the oth er

■LS u p r a , p p . 4 5 f . ^ I t i s t h e o p i n i o n o f t h e a u t h o r t h a t J . M. Rohne o v e r ­ e s t i m a t e s th e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f the d a te 1872 in t h e h i s t o r y o f N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n i s m w hen h e r a n k s i t i n i m p o r t a n c e w i t h t h e d a t e s 1 8 9 0 and 1 9 1 7 when i m p o r t a n t c h u r c h u n i o n s w e r e

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

68 synods in v o lv e d , a l l less,

he

is

o f w hich a re

p r e d o m i n a n t l y Ge rm an .

N everthe­

e n t h u s i a s t i c about the proposed allia n ce.'* '

in h is

re­

p o r t t o t h e s y n o d i c a l m e e t i n g o f 1 8 7 1 P r e u s commended t h i s m a t t e r to the

Synod’ s c o n s id e r a tio n ,

a c 4t. 4i o n .

2

but i t

was d e c i d e d t o p o s t p o n e

A nother m e e tin g o f r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s

of the

four synods

m entioned above, t o g e t h e r w ith

two o t h e r s , was h e l d

Indian a,

a t w h ic h t i m e some s l i g h t

N ovem ber 1 4 - 1 6 ,

1871,

i n P o r t Wayne, a ltera ­

tio n s

i n t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n w e r e made a nd o t h e r m a t t e r s w e r e d i s 3 cussed. In i t s f i r s t i s s u e f o r th e y e a r 1872 th e S y n o d 's p e r i o d i ­ c a l p u b lish ed

the p rop osed c o n s t i t u t i o n

Wayne m e e t i n g .

The

co n fessio n a l b asis

an S y n o d i c a l C o n f e r e n c e was s t a t e d the B ib le tio n

and t h e

as a lt e r e d by th e P ort f o r the E v a n g e l i c a l L u th er ­

to be the

c a n o n ic a l books

c o m p l e t e L u t h e r a n Book o f C oncord

o f t h e S y n o d i c a l C o n f e r e n c e was i n t e n d e d t o

ward e x p r e s s i o n

o f the

concerned, m u tu ally to

ex istin g

of

The f o r m a ­

fu rth er the

out­

s p i r i t u a l u n ity of the synods

s t r e n g t h e n one a n o t h e r i n f a i t h ,

to

further

consummated. Op. c i t . , p . 2 4 0 . The c o n s e r v a t i v e i n f l u e n c e o f M i s s o u r i h a d a l r e a d y made i t s i m p a c t u p o n t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d ; o n l y a h e i g h t e n e d d e g r e e o f an a l r e a d y e x i s t i n g f e l l o w s h i p a n d c o o p e r a t i o n was p r o d u c e d , and t h e o f f i c i a l a f f i l i a t i o n i n t h e S y n o d i c a l C o n f e r e n c e w as o f s h o r t d u r a t i o n . •^"Forslag t i l O p r e t t e l s e n a f en S y n o d a l k o n f e r e n t s m ellem l u t h e r s k e S y n o d e r , " K. M«, XVI ( 1 8 7 1 ) , 1 7 5 - 7 7 . T his i s the i s s u e o f K . M. f o r May 1 5 , 1 8 7 1 . The Ju n e 1 i s s u e d u p l i c a t e s p a g e n u m b e r s o f t h e May 1 5 i s s u e . 2

S y n o d ica l R eport,

th e Synod,

1871, pp.

^ P . A. S c h m i d t , " S y n o d a l k o n f e r e n t s m B d e K. M . , XVI ( 1 8 7 1 ) , 3 5 9 - 6 1 .

17, i

79.

P o r t ’Wayne ,"

^The B ook o f C o n c o r d , d a t i n g f r o m 1 5 8 0 , i n c l u d e s t h e f o l ­ low in g: The T h r e e E c u m e n i c a l C r e e d s , A u g s b u r g C o n f e s s i o n , A p o l o g y o f th e Augsburg C o n f e s s io n , the S m alca ld A r t i c l e s , L u th e r 's S m a ll C a t e c h i s m , L u t h e r ’ s L a r g e C a t e c h i s m , and t h e F o r m u l a o f C o n c o r d .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

u n ity

in d o ctrin e

togeth er in the

and p r a c t i c e ,

f o r common g o a l s ,

common t a s k s .

a nd t o make i t

The c o n s t i t u t i o n

S y n o d ic a l C onference

in w hich the

t o e n a b l e member s y n o d s t o work

is

only

stip u la ted

component synods h ave n o t g i v e n i t

The C h u r c h C o u n c i l o f t h e 1872 c o n v e n tio n

feren ce.

there

four not v o t in g . were

in

the

about the

course

o f the

the

about

scrip tio n

im p lica tio n s

to the e n t ir e

o b lig a tio n s,

t h e S y n o d i c a l C on­

con gregation s for,

prospects

a clo ser

t o many i n

given ,

a t the co n v e n tio n . a ffilia tio n

were

in d ica tes for

S y n o d ic a l C on feren ce’ s sub­

o f the

Synod f o r a p p r o v a l .

N orwegian Syn od,

as

proposal to

E xp ression s

th e M i s s o u r i Synod i n d i c a t e that

pecuniary

annual m e e tin g ’s

o f su b m ittin g the

a f f ilia t io n w ith

the

not

Doubts had b e e n e x p r e s s e d ,

o f the

jo in in g in stea d

o f the

is

B ook o f C o n c o r d , 2 a b o u t p o s s i b l e

and l o y a l t y t o , of

vote

but the v o te

and ab ou t th e a d v i s a b i l i t y

tak in g a c tio n about

feren ts

join

o f the

d iscu ssio n ,

exam ple,

tra ctiv e

that i t

a d v isa b ility

largely d isp e lle d .

spect

au th ority

Synod p r e s e n t e d a p r o p o s a l to

The a f f i r m a t i v e

t h a t t h e y were

the

sp ecific

o f a n n u a l m eetings.'*'

1 1 1 v o t i n g members r e g i s t e r e d

Some f e w d o u b t s ra ised

a l l m atters

The c o n s t i t u t i o n was a d o p t e d w i t h o n l y one d i s s e n t i n g

v o te , w ith but

to th e e f f e c t

cooperate

th a t as to a u th o r ity

a d v iso r y as regards

P r o v i s i o n w a s made f o r t h e h o l d i n g

the

p o ssib le to

of re­

that

sy n o d were v e r y a t ­ rep resen ta tiv es

-*-’’K o n s t i t u t i o n f o r d e n e v a n g e l i s k - l u t h e r s k e i N o r d a m e r i k a , " K. M«, X V I I ( 1 8 7 2 ) , 9 f .

to

Synodalkon-

2The C h u r c h o f Norway f o r m a l l y s u b s c r i b e d o n l y t o t h e e c u m e n i c a l c r e e d s , t h e A u g s b u r g C o n f e s s i o n , and L u t h e r ’ s S m a l l C atech ism . The S y n o d d i d l i k e w i s e , s t a t i n g i n i t s c o n s t i t u t i o n t h a t t h e r e m a i n i n g sy m b o ls o f t h e Book o f Concord were n o t i n ­ c lu d e d b e c a u s e t h e y were f o r t h e m ost p a r t u n f a m i l i a r t o t h e c o n ­ g reg a tio n s. ( A r t . I , p a r . 3 ) , H. H a l v o r s e n ( e d . ) , o p . c l t . , p. 199.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

70

the

s y n o d i c a l C o n f e r e n c e m e e t i n g t o he h e l d i n M i l w a u k e e

fiv e

pastors

and f i v e

Synod r e q u e s t e d tio n before Syn od's

its

la y m en , w i t h a l t e r n a t e s , were c h o s e n .

d eleg a tes

to b r in g the d o c t r i n e

th a t m eeting fo r d is c u s s io n ,

o p p o n e n ts had a c c u s e d

from t h e

six

tiv es

of

favorable

langu age

adopted.

th a t took p la c e .

in i t s

for in c r e a s in g i t s

T hen p r o p o s i t i o n s d e a l i n g w i t h t h e

of

o f the

He e x p r e s s e s

cou ld have been p r e se n t;

of the

of

and

ju stifi­

o f t h e N orwegian

the w is h t h a t th e Syn od's o p ­

for,

C o n f e r e n c e , a nd A u g u s t a n a n s —

he s a y s ,

"old -L uth eran e n lig h te n m e n t,"

th a t o p p o rtu n ity .^

they so so re ly

and t h i s

A Norwegian t r a n s l a t i o n

on j u s t i f i c a t i o n

No. 4 , and th e

use

one who r e p o r t e d t h i s m e e t i n g f o r t h e r e a d e r s

church paper.

theses

on t h e

in a m atter t h a t brought jo y to

p o n e n t s — E l l i n g i a n s , m em b ers o f t h e

the

d octrin e

p r e p a r e d b y P r o f e s s o r S c h m i d t on b e h a l f

the h e a r t

little

Some t h e s e s

wor k w i t h y o u n g p e o p l e w e r e d i s c u s s e d

Synod d e l e g a t i o n were d i s c u s s e d

o f the

seventy d eleg a tes

im p r e s s i o n upon th e r e p r e s e n t a ­

L utheran C hurch's r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s

cation ,

S y n o d ic a l C onference

th e N orwegian Synod, e s p e c i a l l y b e c a u s e o f t h e s t i m u l a t ­

in g d o c tr in a l d iscu ssio n s

E n glish

away

th at d o c tr in e .^

i n 1 8 7 2 , a t t e n d e d by a b o u t

s y n o d s , made a m o s t

ju stific a ­

th e Synod o f h a v i n g f a l l e n

t r a d i t i o n a l Lutheran t e a c h in g abou t

i n M ilw aukee

of

The

i n a s m u c h as many o f t h e

The o r g a n i z a t i o n a l m e e t i n g o f t h e h eld

in J u ly ,

the Synod,

gave j u s t

o f the d isc u ssio n

was p u b l i s h e d u n d e r t h e

t r a c t was e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y

^-S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

m eeting

need a

title

of

Tract

commended t o t h e members

1872, pp. 6 8 -7 5 .

2 » S y n o d a l k o n f e r e n t s e n i M i l w a u k e e , " K. M«, X V I I 238-40.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

(1872),

71

of

th e Synod f o r

th e ir rea d in g .^

P a r t i c i p a t i o n o f th e Synod i n C onference A c t i v i t i e s in d eleg a tes

subsequent years to the

t o o k an a c t i v e m eetin g h eld the

in

these

1874 w r o te :

b r in g w ith

"It i s

them t h e

as p r e s id e n t

of

One

im p ossib le

are u n ite d

a g ift

o f God's g r a c e

and ho w t h e s e y e a r l y

that

it

cap acity

A.

begun by th e 1877.

in terest

in th e

The R e v e r e n d B . J . M u u s , p r e s i d e n t

m eetin g , w rote

o f the Synod, in

in

g iv in g

some d e t a i l a b o u t

1 " T r a k t a t No. 4 , "

served 1876-

At t h e task of

The N o r w e g i a n S y n o d

o f the m e e tin g o f

o f the

n e w l y - f o r m e d M in­

a r e p o r t about the

the

I b i d . , XVIII

^ " S y n o d a lk o n fe r e n c e n ," E.

that

s u p p o r t o f a Negro m i s s i o n

S y n o d ic a l C onference by d e c i s i o n

nesota D is tr ic t

is

Preus

188 1 -8 3 .3

Book o f Concord i n t o E n g l i s h . ^

showed c o n s i d e r a b l e

in

gath erin gs

m e e t i n g o f 1 8 7 7 P r o f e s s o r S c h m i d t was e n t r u s t e d w i t h t h e the

the

w ith ou t r e c o g n iz in g

the S y n o d ic a l Conference d u rin g the p e r io d in

at

to p a rticip a te

greatest b l e s s i n g . H e r m a n

and L a u r . L a r s e n s e r v e d

tra n sla tin g

and t h e y

of those p resen t

annual m eetin gs

e a c h t i m e how g r e a t

organ ization s

sent

o f the S y n o d ic a l C o n fe r e n c e ,

the m e e t in g s .

S yn od ical C on feren ce's

m o re f u l l y

77,

in

th e N orwegian Synod r e g u l a r l y

con ven tion s

part

S yn od ical

Negro m i s s i o n (1873),

L» K . ,

I

1878

and e n t h u s i -

47 f .

(1874),

524.

® I b i d . , I l l ( 1 8 7 6 ) , 507; N o r lie ( e d . ) , Norsk L u th ersk e P r e s t e r i Amerika, 1 8 4 3 -1 9 1 5 , p . 1 0 2 . A f t e r 1 8 7 9 t!he S y n o d i c a l C o n feren ce met o n ly i n a l t e r n a t e y e a r s . ^H. G. S t u b , E . L . K . , IV ( 1 8 7 7 ) ,

" S y n o d a l k o n f e r e n c e n s Mode i 535 f .

F t . W ayne,"

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

72

a stica lly tr ic t.^ sion

advocated i t s The o t h e r

su p p o rt by the

two d i s t r i c t s

con gregation s

o f the

of h is

d is­

Synod s u p p o r te d t h i s m i s ­

a lso . L a n g u a g e and N a t i o n a l L o y a l t i e s At t h e S y n o d i c a l C o n f e r e n c e m e e t i n g o f 1 8 7 6 a p r o p o s a l t o

esta b lish

a join t

s y n o d was t o un d er the

t h e o l o g i c a l s e m i n a r y w as a d o p t e d .

d isso lv e

its

c o n tr o l of the

proposal a lso

advocated

lish -sp ea k in g

stud en ts

Synod w ould be

in v ited

w o u l d be t h r e e

separate

that

sem inary so conference

the at

the

its

proceeded to in terested

because

of

Synod a t t h a t

tim e.

It

it

the

but

the of

-*-B. J . T/Iuus,

not

d i s c u s s i o n w h i c h w as in terest

rev ea ls

that

the s t r o n g

in making th e

and s i g n i f i c a n c e

e x is t in g w ith in forces

the

of language

Synod's a f f i l i a t i o n

a n a t u r a l and s a t i s f y i n g o n e .

of

s e m i n a r y was d i s c u s s e d

the Synod,

and t h e n e x t y e a r t h e

"F ra S y n o d a l k o n f e r e n c e n , " i b i d . ,

V (1878),

694-97 . ^ " S yn od alk on feren cen ,"

is

S y n o d ic a l C onference

attitu d es

th ree d i s t r i c t m eetin gs

so

one a n o t h e r i n v a r i o u s

in to

S y n o d ic a l C onference

There

same l o c a t i o n

T his d i s s e r t a t i o n

of th is

In 1877 t h e p r o p o s a l f o r a j o i n t in

the

gives

and n a t i o n a l i t y w e r e h i n d r a n c e s w ith the

own.

th e N orw eg ia n Synod i s

the i n s i g h t

in

as w e l l .

by t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d , w h i c h

the f o r t u n e s

p r o p o s a l w hich n e v e r m a t e r i a l i z e d , produced w it h in

a ll

and b e n e f i t

carry out plan s o f i t s

in fo llo w in g

The

and t h e N o r w e g i a n

sem inary th er e

sem in aries but

T h i s p r o p o s a l was r e j e c t e d

sem inary

o f a sem inary f o r Eng­

same l o c a t i o n ,

to lo c a te

join t

c o u ld be e s t a b l i s h e d .

estab lish m en t

th ey cou ld m u tu a lly support

w ays.^

that a la r g e ,

Each German

ib id .,

III

(1876),

505.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

73 C h u r c h C o u n c i l r ec o m m e n d ed t o ad op tion , or e a s t

provided th a t

g e n e r a l m e e tin g o f th e Synod i t s

s u c h a s e m i n a r y s h o u l d n o t be l o c a t e d

o f C h i c a g o and t h a t

Synod’s n eed s.^

the

su ita b le

c o n s i d e r a t i o n be g iv e n to

t o t h e Synod i n r e g a r d

The m a j o r i t y r e p o r t r e c o m m e n d e d a d o p t i o n that

the

q u i r e d mon ey was a t h a n d .

n ot r e g a r d th e tim e

as

a jo in t

su ita b le

Those

u tiliz e

ences

l a n g u a g e and n a t i o n a l i t y ,

t o be

to

jo in t

The s e c o n d

s e m in a r y were

They b e l i e v e d

and s p i r i t w a s a more i m p o r t a n t

an xiou s

sem inary b u t d id

o f one s t r o n g s e m i n a r y w h i c h w o u l d b e s t

teach in g resottrces.

w e i g h t w as b e i n g g i v e n

rep o rt conceded the

was p r e c i p i t a t e d .

in f a i t h in

the r e ­

s e m i n a r y s h o u l d n o t be

in fa v o r o f the p r o p o s a l f o r a

availab le

or s o u th o f

f o r m aking a d e c i s i o n .

A thorough d i s c u s s i o n

a t t r a c t e d by the p r o s p e c t

east

th eo lo g ica l

m i n o r i t y r e p o r t re c om m e n d ed t h a t a j o i n t esta b lish ed .

problem .

should b e g in u n t i l

The f i r s t m i n o r i t y

of esta b lish in g

to t h is

o f t h e p r o p o s a l on c o n ­

sem inary sh o u ld n ot be l o c a t e d

C h i c a g o and t h a t no b u i l d i n g o p e r a t i o n s

d esira b ility

the

The E d u c a t i o n a l C o m m i t t e e p r e s e n t e d o n e m a j o r i t y

an d two m i n o r i t y r e p o r t s

d itio n

south

c o n s id e r a tio n th an d i f f e r ­

and t h e y f e l t

to th e m atter

th a t oneness

that

of n a tio n a lity .

t o o much They were

s t a n d b y C. F» W. W a l t h e r a n d t h e M i s s o u r i S y n o d and

a ssociated

with, th em i n

^S yn od ical R eport,

s u c h an u n d e r t a k i n g . T h e y a r g u e d

the Synod, 1 8 7 8 , p .

50.

2S y n o d ic a l R ep o rt, th e Synod, 1 8 7 8 , p p . 51 f. The m a j o r i ­ t y r e p o r t was p r e s e n t e d b y P r o f e s s o r s F . A« S c h m i d t , L a u r . L a r s e n , and T . N. Mohn, an d P a s t o r s J . A. T h o r s e n and A. K i t t e l s b y ; t h e f i r s t m i n o r i t y r e p o r t b y P a s t o r E . W u l f s b e r g and lawman H. S t e e n s l a n d ; t h e s e c o n d m i n o r i t y r e p o r t b y p a s t o r L . M. B i o r n ; a n i n t h member o f t h e c o m m i t t e e , l a y m a n P . L a n g e m o , d i d n o t v o t e .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

74 that

one l a r g e

sem in ary w ould p r o v id e

lo g ic a l tra in in g that

it

sitio n

a b e t t e r b alan ce

in

th eo­

t h a n w o u l d b e p o s s i b l e w i t h many s m a l l o n e s

would f a c i l i t a t e to th e u se

the b l e n d i n g o f n a t i o n a l i t i e s ,

o f the E n g lis h

langu age,

a nd t h e

the

and tran­

in terch an ge

of

i d e a s ♦-*Those opposed r e s o r t e d l a n g u a g e a nd n a t i o n a l i t y concerned about the the

Synod's

that i t

to

an a r g u m e n t b a s e d on

con sid era tio n s.

effect

that

fin a n cia l a f f a ir s ,

needed to be put in o r d e r . h eld

ch iefly

T h e r e w e r e t h o s e who w e r e

s u c h an u n d e r t a k i n g w o u l d h a v e on w hich,

But t h e

it

was c o n t e n d e d ,

te llin g

fir st

a r g u m e n t was t h a t w h i c h

w o u l d b e u n n a t u r a l and d i f f i c u l t

to

try

w e g i a n and German e l e m e n t s

in

t h a t c h u r c h w o r k among t h e

N o r w e g i a n i m m i g r a n t s w o u l d be b e s t a d ­

vanced i f

t h e N o r w e g i a n s h a d t h e i r own s e m i n a r y ;

natu ral for a l l

Norwegian L u th er a n s

for

the

The

f e a r w as e x p r e s s e d

N orw egians

la n g u a g e would be tio n

in

such an u n d e r t a k in g .

to b le n d Nor­

view o f

mother to n g u e ,

and Germans t o

given

the

combine

that n e ith e r su fficien t

and t h e r e was t h e

p r o m i n e n t men on t h e

o f one

frictio n

expressed that the

fa cu lty

a c lo se r degree

th at

^As t i e s

sem inary than

at

in

such a p r o j e c t .

s u c h an i n s t i t u ­

Germans h o l d

to t h e ir

t h e N orw egian s w ould M o r e o v e r , h a v i n g s o many

in stitu tio n

w o u l d be

cen tra liza tio n .

apt to

The h o p e was

o f u n i t y w ith the orthodox p art

C h u r c h o f Norway c o u l d b e n u r t u r e d . ^ •^ I b i d . , p p .

a jo in t

prom inence

others.

and t h e d a n g e r o f

w o u l d be more

th e Norwegian n o r th e E n g l i s h

fear

the

it

forces

t e n a c i t y w i t h w hich th e

come u n d e r t h e d o m i n a t i o n o f

produce

to have

I t was a r g u e d

it

was p o i n t e d

out

that

52-58.

w ith the M isso u ri

Synod had become c l o s e r

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

of

the

75

t h e p r o j e c t was n o t

in accord w ith

b u t r a t h e r was c o n t r a r y t o t h e m . that

the

idea o f a jo in t

the

g en era l w ish es

o f the

The o p i n i o n was a l s o

s e m i n a r y w as g o o d , b u t

la ity

expressed

t h e p r o p o s a l was

prem ature.1 The o u t c o m e o f was d e f e a t e d ,

the d i s c u s s i o n

129 v o t i n g a g a i n s t

m i n o r i t y r e p o r t w as a d d p t e d ,

it

was t h a t t h e m a j o r i t y r e p o r t

and s e v e n t y

184 v o t e s

for

s u p p l e m e n t a r y p r o p o s a l was a l s o p a s s e d , ty,

req u estin g

m atter

for

the

sister

a cou p le

w ith com m ittees

ad d ition

of years

The f i r s t

and s i x a g a i n s t .

n in ety -fiv e

to postpone

and p r o v i d i n g

votes

A

to sev en ­

t a k i n g a c t i o n on t h i s

f o r a com m ittee

t o work

.from t h e o t h e r s y n o d s . ^

H aving tak en the

synods

for i t .

th is

actio n ,

of a " th eoretical"

t h e S y n o d made p r o v i s i o n

departm ent to th e

se m in a r y w hich had b een e s t a b l i s h e d

for

" p ractical"

in M adison, W is c o n s in ,

in

18 7 6 .3 W ithdraw al The N o r w e g i a n S yn o d s e v e r e d S y n o d ic a l C onference restore the

the

E lection

in

1883,

its

tak in g

r e la t io n s h ip w ith the

that

step

in an e f f o r t

i n t e r n a l p eace w h ic h had b een v i o l e n t l y c o n tr o v ersy .4

gap b e t w e e n t h e Supra, p. 46 .

D espite

the

a ffin ity

d isr u p ted by

o f the

orthodox

S y n o d a n d t h e C h u r c h o f Norway had b e e n w i d e n i n g .

^ S y n o d ica l R eport,

the

Synod,

1878,

pp.

58-64.

3S y n o d ic a l R eport, the Synod, th e sy n o d , 1 8 7 8 , pp.~54-66'.

1876,

p. 78; S yn od ical

2I b id ., p. 64. R eport,

4 in fra ,

to h elp

pp. 337-43.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

76 f o r on e a n o t h e r

irresp ectiv e

peace w ith t h e i r

countrym en in

P r e s i d e n t H . A* P r e u s , C onference m eetin gs

in the

th eir

own s y n o d was e v e n s t r o n g e r *

on e o f t h e b e s t

frien d s

o f the S y n o d ic a l

e n t i r e S y n o d , recommended t o t h e

o f th e Synod t h a t

be s e v e r e d T h e

o f n a t io n a lit y the d e s ir e t o r e s to r e

r e la tio n s w ith th e

w ith draw al occu rred w it h

1883 d i s t r i c t

S y n o d ic a l C onference

little

op p osition

in

that y e a r .2 Church O r g a n i z a t i o n and P o l i t y E a r l y C o n s t i t u t i o n s — Type T he of

its

co n stitu tio n

of the

was a d o p t e d I n i t s

tio n placed

a greater

degree of

th a n had p r e v i o u s l y b e e n th e autonomy o f th e

fin a l

lo ca l

form i n

au th ority

case,

1853 a t

in s e v e r a l r e s p e c t s .

a t h o r o u g h r e v i s i o n w as u n d e r t a k e n ,

stitu tio n

the

Synod a d o p te d i n

f o u n d in g was fou nd w a n t in g

q u en tly ,

of P o lity

it

a nd t h e

1868. in

the

the

Conse­

rev ised

T his

tim e

con­

co n stitu ­

con gregation

sp ecifica lly

guaranteed

con gregation :

In r e s p e c t to th e i n d i v i d u a l c o n g r e g a t io n s the syn od m e e t i n g I s o n l y an a d v i s o r y a s s e m b l y . I f , th e r e fo r e , a con­ g r e g a t i o n b e l i e v e s t h a t a d e c i s i o n i s c o n t r a r y t o t h e Word o f God, o r f i n d s t h a t i t i s n o t u s e f u l t o i t u n d e r i t s s p e c i a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s , th e c o n g r e g a t i o n ough t t o so r e p o r t t o the church c o u n c il, s t a t i n g the reason fo r I t s a c t io n . I f no s u c h r e p o r t i s s e n t in w i t h i n s i x months a f t e r t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e S y n o d ’ s d e c i s i o n , t h e d e c i s i o n i s r e g a r d e d a s a d o p t e d by the c o n g r e g a tio n .3 •^ S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , p en d ix, p . x x v i. ^i n f r a , p . 341, The ent-'

Iowa D i s t r i c t ,

th e Synod,

1 8 8 3 , Ap-

n. 4.

3A rt. I I , par. 13. e co n stitu tio n is

H alvorsen ( e d . ) , op. p r i n t e d , p p . 1 93 - 9 7 7

c l t . , p.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

195.

77 The c o n s t i t u t i o n

o f 1 8 5 3 had. s t a t e d

t h a t th e S y n o d ’ s p o l i t y was

t o be " s y n o d i c a l - p r e s b y t e r i a l . T h e p rovid e

f o r pure C o n g r e g a t io n a li s m ,

co n g reg a tio n a l-sy n o d ica l, p ro v isio n

th a t the

sp o n sib ility co n sists tio n ,^ gates

of

as i s

The S y n o d ’ s p o l i t y was s t i l l

ev id en t,

f o r e x a m p le , from t h e

church c o u n c il sh o u ld have th e r e p f o r e x a m i n i n g m i n i s t e r i a l c a n d i d a t e s . J The s y n o d

those

c o n g r e g a t io n s w hich have

from c o n g r e g a t i o n s

Clergym en n o t s e r v i n g The a d m i n i s t r a t i v e

and p a s t o r s

in p a r is h e s

c o u l d n o t be v o t i n g m e m b e r s .

o f th e Synod p r o v id e d f o r w ere

laym en,

the p r e sid e n t of th e

in g

ex o ff ic io

o n e o f t h e c l e r i c a l memb ers

the

c o u n cil,^

The c h u r c h c o u n c i l w a s t o

Syn od, was

to work f o r t h e

in th e

in te r im betw een s y n o d ic a l m e e tin g s,

d u ties

in regard

exam in ation o f m i n i s t e r i a l

u n til

th e tem porary e x e r c is e

^■Rohne, o p . ^ H alvorsen

c i t . , p, (e d .),

3 l b i d . , A rt.

II,

4 I b i d ., A rt. 5I b i d . , A rt.

Synod b e ­ of

Synod’ s g o a ls

and h a d s t i p u l a t e d

o f ed u cation al i n s t it u t io n s ,

can d id ates,

a s y n o d ic a l m e e tin g , and th e

composed

out thed e c is i o n s

a tta in m en t o f the

su p ervision

a

and t h e p r e s i d e n t

carry

o f the

to th e

lay d e le ­

serv in g c o n g reg a tio n s.^

t r e a s u r e r , and a church c o u n c i l ,

and t h r e e

p u te s upon r e q u e s t ,

adopted the c o n s t i t u ­

s y n o d i c a l m e e tin g s w ere t o be

o fficers

secretary,

o f three p astors

the

did not

syn od ical

V o t i n g me mb ers o f

p resid en t,

new c o n s t i t u t i o n

the m ed iation o f d i s ­ o f church d i s c i p l i n e

su p ervision

o f th e Synod’ s

130.

op. par.

c i t . , A rt. p.

193.

I I , . par.

9, p.

194.

Ill,

1, p.

195.

par.

1,

Ill,

par. 7c,

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

p.

196..

78 fin an ces A New C o n s t i t u t i o n — D i s t r i c t i n g A th ird ed c o n s t i t u t i o n volved

co n stitu tio n of 1868.

1876 s u p e r se d e d th e a b o v e -m e n tio n ­

I t was n e c e s s i t a t e d b y t h e

changes

in ­

i n d i v i d i n g th e N orw egian Synod i n t o t h r e e d i s t r i c t s .

T h e r e w as n o d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n the

in

o f th e Synod

w ith th e c o n s t i t u t i o n

o f 1868, b u t

g r o w t h o f t h e S y n o d made n e c e s s a r y a r e o r g a n i z a t i o n ,

and i t

w a s f o u n d t h a t s o many c h a n g e s w o u l d be i n v o l v e d t h a t a w h o l e new o c o n s t i t u t i o n was n e e d e d . I n 1 8 7 2 a c o m m i t t e e was a p p o i n t e d t o stu d y the q u e s tio n as in to d is tr ic ts .®

t o w h e t h e r t h e S y n o d s h o u l d be s u b - d i v i d e d

The c o m m i t t e e h a d no r e p o r t f o r t h e

convention

o f 1 8 7 3 , b u t t h e r e w a s some d i s c u s s i o n a b o u t t h e p r o p o s a l a n y w a y , and p r o v i s i o n w a s made f o r t h e

appointm ent o f a n o th er c o m m itte e ,

w h i c h w a s c o m p o s e d o f some o f t h e Synod. the out,

D uring th e n e x t

th ree years

f lo o r o f s y n o d ic a l convention s e ssen tia lly

the

t h r o u g h c o m m i t t e e w o r k a n d on a new c o n s t i t u t i o n w as w o r k e d

same i n p r i n c i p l e

1 8 6 8 , b u t m aking p r o v i s i o n f o r q u ired .

l e a d i n g c l e r i c a l members o f t h e

as t h e

and a f t e r b e i n g a p p r o v e d a g a i n t h e n e x t y e a r ,

d istricts

of

the r e o r g a n iz a t io n a l changes r e ­

The c o n s t i t u t i o n w a s a c c e p t e d b y t h e

o ffic ia lly .4

con stitu tion

conven tion o f

1875,

i t went i n t o e f f e c t

The c o n s t i t u t i o n d i d n o t s p e c i f y t h e number o f

in t o w hich the

1 I b id _ 1 , A r t .

Synod s h o u l d be d i v i d e d ,

Ill,

par.

7, p.

196.

2,lV o r t S y n o d e m B d e , w E .

L. K ., I l l

5S y n o d lca l R eport,

S yn od , 1 8 7 2 , p p . 80

the

leavin g that

(1876), 414. f.

4 S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e Synod, 1 8 7 5 , p . 88; S y n o d i c a l Re­ p o r t , the Synod, 1 8 7 6 , p . 5 4 . The 1 8 7 6 c o n s t i t u t i o n i s p r i n t e d in H alvorsen ( e a . j , op. c i t . , pp. 1 9 9 -2 0 5 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

79 w ith in the

ju risd ictio n

o f any s y n o d i c a l meeting.-*-

The e n t i r e

Synod w ould h e n c e f o r t h m eet o n ly e v e r y t h i r d y e a r , w i t h t h e d i s p t r i c t s m e e t i n g s e p a r a t e l y e a c h o f t h e two i n t e r v e n i n g y e a r s . T he d i s t r i c t s the

goals

cep tio n

were a d m i n i s t r a t i v e u n i t s ,

o f the

in to

o b lig a ted

force

work f o r

Synod, and e n t r u s t e d w i t h su c h d u t i e s

th e Synod o f t h o s e

pastors

r e a c h e d i n d i v i d u a l l y by a l l

of d isc ip lin e .^

o f the d i s t r i c t s

tr ic ts,

has the

w ith the

fo llo w in g b ou n d aries;

to

create

same

three

T he W i s c o n s i n ,

D i s t r i c t was t o b e c o m p o s e d o f a l l c o n g r e g a t i o n s e a s t sissip p i

and S t .

C roix R i v e r s .

The i o w a ,

above th e w estw ard.

so u th er n row o f c o u n t ie s

from t h e

o fficia ls

rep resen ta tiv es

o rg a n ize.

six -y ea r

Io w a D i s t r i c t .

the

electio n

(e d .),

2 I b id ., A rt.

Ill,

op.

P . A« R a s m u s s e n ; 5 B. J . Muus.

c i t . , A rt.

par. 2,

5 I b i d . , A r t . V, p a r .

1,

4 I b l d . , A r t . V, p a r . 5 , ^ S yn odical R eport,

the

p.

pp. p.

sepa­

o f sy n o d ica l t h e n met

p r e s i d e n t s were c h o s e n f o r

E astern D i s t r i c t ,

^H alvorsen

lin e

o f the n e w ly -c r e a te d d i s t r i c t s

TJ. V . K o r e n ; M i n n e s o t a D i s t r i c t ,

drawn

composed o f th e r e m a in d e r

A fter the

The f o l l o w i n g d i s t r i c t

term s;

o f the M is­

south o f a lin e

o f M in n e so ta and e v e r y t h i n g n o r t h o f

ra tin g i t

or E a s t e r n ,

i n M i n n e s o t a a nd e x t e n d i n g

The M i n n e s o t a D i s t r i c t w a s

state

d is­

or W estern, D i s t r i c t ,

in clu d ed ev ery th in g w est o f th e M is s is s ip p i

to

A de­

as one r e a c h e d a t a g e n e r a l s y n o d i c a l m e e t i n g . 4 The s y n o d i c a l m e e t i n g o f 1 8 7 6 v o t e d

o f the

as t h e r e ­

and c o n g r e g a t i o n s r e s i d i n g

w i t h i n t h e i r b o u n d a r ie s and th e e x e r c i s e cisio n

to

II,

par. 4,

Iowa D i s t r i c t ,

p.

199.

200. 201 f .

202.

Synod,

1876,

pp.

54-58.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

Rasm ussen,

80 Thus, t r i c t s w as to

its

the so

in

1876 th e d i v i s i o n

consummated.

o f t h e Synod i n t o t h r e e

The n e e d f o r s u c h a d i v i s i o n

g r o w t h and e x p a n s i o n .

But s in c e

the

been

ch a ra cteristic

fou rth d i s t r i c t ,

in i t s

ea rly y ea rs.

the P a c i f i c D i s t r i c t ,

The new c o n s t i t u t i o n Synod was w e l l - o r g a n i z e d

Synod as a w hole as had Not u n t i l

1 8 9 3 w as a

added.'*'

and -managed s i n c e

o f great

the

at

l a r g e , and i t s

it

The

leadership a t

the

The s y n o d i c a l c h u r c h c o u n c i l o c ­

im portance as f a r a s

syn od ical govern­

m e n t was c o n c e r n e d , a nd a l t h o u g h i t w a s s u b j e c t e d t o from t i m e t o t i m e ,

of

t h e r e was n o l o n g e r

p r o v e d a d e q u a te and e f f e c t i v e .

s y n o d i c a l l e v e l was f o r c e f u l . cu pied a p o s it io n

testifies

general convention

S y n o d w as now h e l d o n l y e v e r y t h i r d y e a r , c lo s e ly k n it a fello w sh ip w ith in the

d is­

g e n e r a lly h e ld the con fid en ce

recom m endations t o

criticism o f the

Synod

s y n o d ic a l m eetings u s u a ll y

c a r r ie d heavy w eig h t.^ The S y n o d and E d u c a t i o n In stitu tio n s

o f H ig h er L earning

Luther C o l l e g e .--T h e h i s t o r i e s Am erican Lutheran syn od s are

o f th e major N orw egian -

i n t i m a t e l y entw in ed w ith c e r t a i n

However, d id not a c c e p t th e o f f i c e ; c o n s e q u e n tly , th e v i c e - p r e s i ­ d e n t , J . B . P r i c h o f La C r o s s e , W i s c o n s i n , s e r v e d u n t i l t h e n e x t d i s t r i c t m e e t i n g when h e was c h o s e n p r e s i d e n t o f t h e E a s t e r n D is t r i c t . ^H alvorsen

(e d .),

op. c i t . , p.

205.

^ " K irk eraad et, ” in F e s t s k r i f t , ed . H alvorsen , pp. 2 0 6 -0 8 . U n d e r t h e new c o n s t i t u t i o n 'the c h u r c h c o u n c i l was i n c r e a s e d t o e i g h t members: th e p r e s id e n t o f th e syn od , th e p r e s id e n t s o f the d i s t r i c t s , a l a y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e f r o m t h e s y n o d a t l a r g e , a nd a l a y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e from e a c h d i s t r i c t . See C o n s t it u t io n f o r 1876, A rt. V I, par. 1. I b id ., p. 202.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

81 ed u cation al in s t it u t io n s , t h a t occu pied a p la c e N orwegian Synod. larger ate

i t was L u th er C o l l e g e ,

of c e n t r a l im portance and in f lu e n c e

Sin ce

in 1861.

The p r i m a r y r e a s o n

w a s t o t r a i n men f o r t h e m i n i s t r y . made i t

evid en t

for

m i s s i o n wa s t o i n c l u d e

its

of life

that

under th e

t h a t was n o t

au sp ices

its

th at tim e.

sc h o o l in to b ein g.

fo r fou n d in g the s c h o o l

so le

church.'*’

Io w a i n

1862 th e

Synod

reason fo r e x is te n c e ,

the e d u c a t io n

of the

to Decorah in n o r th e a s te r n sin ce

the

L u th e r C o l l e g e was

However, in

so n a g e a t H alfw ay C reek , n e a r L a c r o s s e ,

th ere

in

con tin u ed t o p erp etu

t r a d i t i o n and emphases o f t h e Sy n o d .

esta b lish ed

Iowa,

1 9 1 7 whe n t h e S y n o d b e c a m e a p a r t o f a

church o r g a n iz a tio n L uther C o lle g e has

the

Decorah,

o f men f o r a l l w a l k s O rigin atin g in

W iscon sin ,

a par­

i t was m ov e d

1 8 6 2 and h a s b e e n m a i n t a i n e d

Great s a c r i f i c e s

w e r e made t o b r i n g t h e

I n 1 8 6 5 t h e M ai n b u i l d i n g w a s d e d i c a t e d ;

the

c o s t o f $ 7 5 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 was b o r n e b y a s m a l l g r o u p o f p i o n e e r c o n g r e ­ gation s

and i n d i v i d u a l s . 2

th at e x isted the

in the

and a f f e c t i o n

Synod was r e m a r k a b l e .

for,

L uther

The s c h o o l was t r u l y

apple o f the Synod’ s e y e .^ Laur. L arsen,

the

The p r i d e i n ,

S y n o d and i t s

Sem in ary In S t .

rep resen ta tiv e

on t h e

fa cu lty

L ou is, M isso u ri,

served

as t h e

C o l l e g e from th e d a t e D uring t h a t p e r io d ^K. L a r s e n , 2 I b i d . , p. O iesten

a young p a s t o r prom inent

of its

origin u n t il

c i t . , pp.

137,

the a f f a i r s

of

o f C oncordia p r e s id e n t o f Luther

1902 when he r e s i g n e d .

o f ap p roxim ately f o r t y y e a rs op.

in

140 f . ,

h e made a d e e p 156 f .

169.

3 H. A . P r e u s r e f e r r e d t o L u t h e r C o l l e g e a s . • S y n o d ic a l R ep ort, th e Synod, 1874,

”V o r S y n o d e s p. 13.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

im p a ct upon th e d e v e lo p m e n t

o f the

c a r e f u l le a d e r s h i p L uther C o lle g e em ph asized a th orou gh c l a s s i c a l orthod ox Lutheran sen, h is

fa ith .

ch a ra cterizes lead ersh ip as

pean m o d el,

in to

change

in to

an A m e r i c a n l i b e r a l a r t s

use

of E n glish ,

tu tio n s, fected

in the

our p e r io d ,

out o p p o sitio n w hich f e l t

same way t h a t i t

firm l o y a l t y

took place sch o o l,

co lleg e

the

n ecessita ted

organ ization

Some o f t h e s e p a rticu la rly

sp irit

a t L uther under b u ilt

esp ecia lly

the

the

on a E u r o ­

in

certa in

of cla sses,

in

changes

an i n c r e a s e d

among A m e r i c a n i n s t i ­

im p o rta n t changes were e f ­ the

e ig h tie s , but not w ith ­

co lleg e

eig h ties

in term s o f

to r e ­

T he d e v e l o p m e n t

c o n s e r v a t iv e elem en t o f t h e

of

to the

w h i c h n e v e r t h e l e s s w as

g ain in g of r e c o g n itio n

C ontroversy o f

co lleg e,

and

from a L a t i n

from t h e m o s t

th at

The E l e c t i o n o f the

in th e

and t h e l i k e .

in

i n t o a s c h o o l w hich

o r i g i n a l c h a r a c t e r a nd p u r p o s e . " ^

offered ,

c a p a b l e and

t h e h i s t o r i a n Karen L ar­

that

an A m e r i c a n c o l l e g e

true

courses

its

ed u cation

developm ent

"the

Under h i s

d evelop ed

H is d a u g h te r ,

main

in

to

the

sch ool.

Synod,

w ould a l s o be c h a n g e d .2 hampered t h e d e v e lo p m e n t

fin a n c ia l support,

han dicapp ed o th e r p h a ses

of

in

the

t h e S y n o d ’ s w o r k a nd

a c t i v i t y .3 Such prom inent V. Koren,

lead ers

who s e r v e d p a r i s h e s

of in

t h e S y n o d a s H. A . P r e u s

s o u t h e r n W i s c o n s i n and n o r t h e a s t ­

ern Iowa, m a in ta in e d a deep p e r s o n a l i n t e r e s t a clo se

o f f i c i a l w atch o v e r i t s

th ey recogn ized

the in f lu e n c e

“S c . L a r s e n ,

op.

2I b i d . , pp.

248-55.

^ Ib id ., p.

c it.,

a ctiv ities that i t p.

and U.

in th e

co lleg e

and

and. d e v e l o p m e n t s i n c e

e x e r t e d w ith in the

188. 3 I b ld ., p.

243.

145.

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission

Synod.^

85

Another type academ ic paper.

of in flu en ce

in stru ctio n ,

stem m in g from t h e c o l l e g e ,

was w i e l d e d , t h r o u g h t h e

apart

o fficia l

from

sy n o d ica l

In 1868 K i r k e l i g M a a n e d s t i d e n d e , renamed E v a n g e l i s k

Luthersk K irk etid en d e fa cu lty of

the c o l l e g e

i n 1 8 7 4 , w as p u b l i s h e d

in Decorah w ith

servin g as th e e d i t o r i a l s t a f f .

the c h i e f e d i t o r i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y

r e s t e d upon L a r s e n .

However, T his a r ­

r a n g e m e n t was m a i n t a i n e d u n t i l 1 8 8 9 when t h e S y n o d made t h e o f the

t h e o l o g i c a l sem inary r e s p o n s ib le

fo r the

the

ed ito rsh ip

fa cu lty o f the

p erio d ica l. St.

Q l a f ’ s s c h o o l . — The i n s t i t u t i o n

o f t i m e was t o d e v e l o p

in to

the

la rg est

w hich in

N orw egian-A m erican L uth eran

co lleg e

and one o f

t h e b e s t known L u t h e r a n s c h o o l s

has i t s

o rig in s

our p e r io d w i t h i n

in

R evealin g th at h is adequate

Reverend B.

the

concern for e d u c a tio n

ed u cation al op p ortu n ities J . Muus t o o k t h e l e a d

the c o u r s e

in

con stitu en cy

the

country

of the

Synod.

e x te n d e d beyond a s s u r i n g

f o r embryo c le r g y m e n a l o n e , in

gettin g

St.

the

O la f’s School in ­

c o r p o r a t e d as a c o - e d u c a t i o n a l academy a t N o r t h f i e l d , M in n e s o ta , 2 on N ov e m be r 6 , 1 8 7 4 . Muus, o n e o f t h e l e a d i n g p a s t o r s o f t h e Synod, had e a r l i e r w ith h is

parsonage in

records are s i l e n t first

attem pted to

esta b lish

Goodhue C o u n t y , M i n n e s o t a ,

as t o w hether i t

t h r e e -m o n t h term w hich began

^Laur. L a rsen , H alvorsen , pp. 2 1 8 -2 0 .

an a c a d e m y i n c o n n e c t i o n a lth o u g h the

was d i s c o n t i n u e d in January,

a ft e r the

1870, or n o t.^

At

"V ort K i r k e b l a d , ” I n F e s t s k r l f t , e d .

o

L a s t y e a r (1949) a f i n e h i s t o r y o f the c o l l e g e a p p ea r e d in com m enoration o f th e c o l l e g e ’ s s e v e n t y - f i f t h a n n i v e r s a r y : W. C. B e n s o n , H i g h o n M a n i t o u ( N o r t h f i e l d , M i n n . : S t . O laf C ollege p ress '1 9 4 9 ) . ® I. F. G rose,

"The B e g i n n i n g s

of St.

O laf C o l l e g e , ”

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

84 any r a t e , pressed

H. A . P r e u s a t t h e s y n o d i c a l c o n v e n t i o n o f 1 8 7 0 e x ­

regret

o f in ad eq u ate St. Synod;

it

t h a t Muus h a d h a d t o g i v e u p t h e supp ort o f the

o la f's

sch ool.'*’

S c h o o l was n o t

was a p r i v a t e

an o f f i c i a l u n d e r t a k i n g o f t h e

Lutheran I n s t i t u t i o n ,

b y S y n o d men a n d d e p e n d e d u p o n t h e support

i n means and s t u d e n t s .

d a t e d June 1 8 , Syn od's

aims w h ich t h e to provid e

Synod had a s

of both sexes

In 1 8 7 8 ,

con gregation s

its

th a t w h ile

own,

for

on t h e

referrin g to

St.

fo r the

p ra ctica l

h ap p in ess

over the

courages th e port

these

follow in g r e so lu tio n :

life

for

o f the

in stitu tio n s

The S y n o d a t i t s tio n

in regard

M innesota,

to

S t u d i e s a nd R e c o r d s , V ( 1 9 3 0 ) , lit®.

was

L utheran

S c h o o l a n d Monona A c a d ­ in

1876,

the

"The S y n o d e x p r e s s e s

its

and en­

t o make u s e o f a n d t o s u p ­

in th e fu tu re." ®

1874 m e e t i n g h a d ta k e n no s p e c i f i c

the o f f e r

b u sin essm an ,

O l a f was

confirm ed

p r o g r e s s and grow th o f th e a c a d e m ie s

con gregation s d i l i g e n t l y

fin e

t o work f o r

goal of S t.

fou n d ation O la f's

a lette r

th e s c h o o l was n o t th e

emy, w h ic h had b e e n opened i n M a d iso n , W i s c o n s i n , Synod a d o p ted t h e

was d i r e c t e d

o f th e Synod fo r

had b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d

a h ig h er ed u cation

young p eo p le fa ith .2

it

but i t

W r i t i n g t o t h e Synod in

1 8 7 5 , Muus s t a t e d

foratal p o s s e s s i o n ,

p r o je c t because

ac­

o f so me p r o p e r t y made b y a N o r t h f i e l d ,

H a r o ld T h o r e s o n , upon c o n d i t i o n

t h a t an

N orw egian-A m erican H i s t o r i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n ,

^• S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

theSynod, 1 8 7 0 ,

p. 19.

2S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

theSynod, 1 8 7 5 ,

p . 114.

th eSynod, 1878, p . " 48 5 r.

p. 72.

^S y n o d ica l R eport, c l o s e d In~Y58Y. in fra ,

Monona Ac ade my

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

85 academy be

located

w ith th e r e s u lt

there.**'

th at the

o rig in a l fin a n cia l

Muus t h e n t o o k t h e i n i t i a t i v e

s c h o o l o p e n e d on J a n u a r y 8 ,

s u p p o r t came fr o m t h e

from M uus’ c o n g r e g a t i o n s ,

v illa g e

and from t h o s e

1875.

o f N . A. Quammen, a n e i g h ­

T h o r n b j o r n N. Mohn, a y o u n g c l e r g y m a n ,

in

sch ool,

fir st

o f the

of St.

the

years,

On N o v e m b e r 6 ,

retirin g

1878,

the

in

course

o f the E le c tio n

fa c ilities

of St.

O la f were p la c e d

1899,

the A n t i-M is s o u r ia n s

S t e p s were t a k e n in the

1886 th e fir st

grees.

fir st

co lleg e

to

at

cla ss

graduates,

In 1889 th e

the

synod.

lea d ers.

departm ent

co lleg e

three

to

the

th e o lo g ic a l students

•^ S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

the

Synod,

received

a nd

In 1890 th eir de­

O laf C o l l e g e . 5

C i v i l War t h e N o r w e ­ t o the

1874, p.

^C. A. M e l l b y , S t . O l a f C o l l e g e M i n n e s o t a , 1 9 2 5 ) ,' p .' 2 5 .

campus.

academy,

l e v e l was b e g u n .

s c h o o l ’ s name was c h a n g e d t o S t .

g i a n Synod h a d s e n t i t s

B o t h Muus

D uring th e p e r io d

to the

in number,

Luther S e m in a ry . — S in ce p r io r

field ,

the y e a r o f h i s

o p e r a t e d a s e m i n a r y on t h e

on t h e

a

the d i s p o s a l o f th e

elem en t in

add a c o l l e g e

for

C ontroversy o f the e i g h t i e s

and Mohn w e r e p r o m i n e n t A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n 1886-90

o la f C ollege

"Old Main" was d e d i c a t e d . ^

In th e

A n ti-M isso u r ia n s, the d is s id e n t

was p l a c e d

s e r v e d a s p r i n c i p a l and p r e s i d e n t

O l a f ’ s S c h o o l and t h e n o f S t .

to t a l of tw en ty -fiv e d eath .^

and he

The

of N o rth field ,

b orin g p a s t o r .2 charge

h im self

sem inary o f

96.

Through. F i f t y Y e a r s

g

(N orth-

Benson, op. c i t . , pp. 2 4 -2 6 , 9 6 -9 8 . D uring t h e s e y e a r s w h i l e h e w a s p r e s i d e n t o f t h e s c h o o l Mohn was a l s o p a s t o r o f S t . John’ s c o n g r e g a tio n in N o r t h f i e l d . 4 " i n d v i e l s e a f den nye S k o l e b y g n i n g f o r S t . O l a f ’ s S c h o o l i N o r t h f i e l d , M in n .," E . L. K . , V ( 1 8 7 8 ) , 7 2 7 - 3 0 . ^Benson,

op.

cit.,

pp.

48-59.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

86 t h e M isso u r i Synod, ment d i d not

located

in S t .

L ou is.

s a t i s f y many members o f t h e

However, Synod.

th is

arrange­

Both, t h e N o r w e ­

g ia n - A n g u s t an a Synod and th e C o n f e r e n c e had t h e o l o g i c a l s e m i n a r i e s of th eir

o w n , and t h e E l l i n g i a n s w e r e

ta b lish ed .

At S t .

stru g g lin g

L o u i s t h e a t m o s p h e r e wa s German, a n d t h e

g i a n s t u d e n t s had l i t t l e

op p ortu n ity to

w h ic h t h e y would be u s i n g as p a s t o r s . i c a l l y prepared fo r s e r v ic e environm ent.**p ro v isio n

fa cu lties

cu ltiv a te

Norwe­

th e language

They were n o t b e i n g s p e c i f ­

in Norwegian c o n g r e g a t i o n s

in

s u c h an

The N o r w e g i a n S y n o d , h o w e v e r , h a d made some s p e c i a l

for i t s

F . A* S c h m i d t ,

to g e t one e s ­

students,

and o .

as a t d i f f e r e n t

tim es

Asperheim s e r v e d a s i t s

o f M is s o u r i Synod s e m i n a r i e s ,

L o u i s an d A s p e r h e i m i n

S p rin g field ,

Laur. L a r s e n ,

rep resen tatives

on

L a r s e n and S c h m i d t i n S t .

Illin o is,

where

the

so -ca lled

,,p r a c t i c a l ,, s e m i n a r y w a s l o c a t e d . in in g i t s

1876 th e Synod to o k th e

own t h e o l o g i c a l s e m i n a r y .

r e t i c a l ’1 d e p a r t m e n t feated,

A m otion t o t r a n s f e r

b u t t h e d e c i s i o n was t a k e n t o e s t a b l i s h

com m issioned to

soon as p o s s i b l e .

ca rry out the d e c i s i o n

Asperheim as p r o f e s s o r s .

son fo r m e rly u sed

the

"theo­

a " p ractical"

The Ch u rch C o u n c i l wa s

a n d t o e n g a g e F . A. S c h m i d t

The p u r c h a s e o f p r o p e r t y i n M a d i ­

a s a n o r p h a n s ’ home was a u t h o r i z e d . 2

■^H. G. S t u b , p.

s te p s towards e s t a b l i s h ­

f r o m S t . L o t i i s t o M a d i s o n , W i s c o n s i n , was d e ­

s e m in a r y i n M adison a s

an d 0 .

first

"L uth er-S em inar, ” F e s t s k r i f t ,

ed. H alvorsen ,

145.

2 S y n o d l c a l R e p o r t , the Synod, 1 8 7 6 , p p . 78 f . The " p r a c ­ t i c a l " c o u r s e was p r o v i d e d f o r t h o s e s t u d e n t s who l a c k e d a c o l l e g e e d u c a t i o n o r t h e p r e r e q u i s i t e c l a s s i c a l t r a i n i n g , and who on a c ­ c o u n t o f a more a d v a n c e d a g e o r o t h e r s p e c i a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s w e r e h i n d e r e d fr o m a c q u i r i n g i t . The " t h e o r e t i c a l " c o u r s e r e q u i r e d a s a p r e r e q u i s i t e a c l a s s i c a l t r a i n i n g , i n c lu d in g the a b i l i t y t o u se th e a n c i e n t la n g u a g e s o f the S c r i p t u r e s .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

87 The d e c i s i o n s in

o f the

the F a l l o f 1876 the

Synod were

" p ractical"

q u ick ly

ca rried o u t,

and

t h e o l o g i c a l sem inary began i t s

work i n M ad ison , W is c o n s in ,

w i t h S c h m i d t a nd A s p e r h e i m a s p r o f e s ­

so r s.1

critic

in

A sperheim ,

a severe

of

the M is s o u r i Synod,

resign ed

1 8 7 8 a nd was s u c c e e d e d b y H. G. S t u b , who h a d b e e n a p a s t o r i n

M in n eap olis

sin ce

1 8 7 2 .^

The S y n o d w a s n o t i n t e r e s t e d d is c u s s e d by the cisio n

to

M adison,

S yn od ical C onference,

transfer it s effectiv e

p o sitio n .^

in

" th eo retica l"

the

jo in t

sem inary b e in g

and i n 1 8 7 8 made t h e d e ­

s e m in a r y from S t .

L ouis

to

i m m e d i a t e l y , and a u t h o r i z e d a t h i r d p r o f e s s o r i a l

W ith t h i s

step

th e N orw egian Synod f o r t h e

fir st

tim e

F . A. S c h m i d t , b o r n i n 1 8 5 7 i n G e rm an y, a p r o d u c t o f t h e M i s s o u r i s y n o d , th rew in h i s l o t w i t h the N orw egians w hen, h i g h l y r e c o m m e n d e d b y C. F . W. W a l t h e r , h e b e c a m e one o f t h e o r i g i n a l p r o f e s s o r s o f Luther C o lle g e in 1 8 6 1 . In 1872 he l e f t L u t h e r t o become th e N orwegian S y n o d ’ s t h e o l o g i c a l p r o f e s s o r a t C o n co rd ia S e m i n a r y , S t . L o u i s , w h e r e h e r e m a i n e d u n t i l 1 8 7 6 w he n h e be c a m e p r o f e s s o r a t th e Synod’ s sem in ary i n M adison, W is c o n s in . He w as a s to r m c e n t e r i n the E l e c t i o n C o n t r o v e r s y , b eco m in g one o f the c h i e f l e a d e r s o f t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s and s e r v i n g a s t h e o l o g i c a l p r o f e s s o r f o r the A n ti-M is s o u r ia n Sem inary. A f t e r th e U nion o f 1 8 9 0 h e s e r v e d a s t h e o l o g i c a l p r o f e s s o r and p r o f e s s o r e m e r i t u s o f t h e s e m in a r y o f the U n it e d Church. He d i e d i n 1 9 2 8 . N o rlie e t a l , Who’ s Who, p p . 5 1 7 f . Ole B. A sp e r h e im was born i n Norway i n 1 8 4 6 . He s e r v e d a s p a s t o r i n t h e S y n o d , 1 8 7 2 - 7 5 , was N o r w e g ia n p r o f e s s o r a t t h e M is s o u r i S y n o d ’s " p r a c t ic a l" sem inary in S p r i n g f i e l d , I l l i n o i s , 1 8 7 5 - 7 6 , and was p r o f e s s o r a t t h e S y n o d ' s s e m i n a r y i n M a d i s o n , W iscon sin , 1876 -7 8 . He was p a s t o r o f t h e S y n o d ’ s s e a m e n ’ s m i s s i o n i n New Y o r k , 1 8 7 8 - 8 0 , r e t u r n i n g t o Norway i n 1 8 8 0 . Ib id . , p. 32. 2 Han s G e r h a r d S t u b , b o r n I n 1 8 4 9 i n M u s k e g o , W i s c o n s i n , t h e s o n o f p i o n e e r p a s t o r H. A« S t u b , was f o r many y e a r s p r o m i n e n t a s p a s t o r , p r o f e s s o r , e d i t o r , and o f f i c e - h o l d e r i n t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d . He s e r v e d t h e s y n o d a s p r e s i d e n t 1 9 1 0 - 1 7 , and h a v i n g b e e n a c t i v e i n u n i o n n e g o t i a t i o n s , h e was i n 1 9 1 7 e l e c t e d f i r s t p r e s i d e n t o f t h e N o r w e g ia n L u th e r a n Church o f A m e r i c a , s e r v i n g a s s u c h u n t i l 1925. He w as i n t e r e s t e d i n i n t e r - L u t h e r a n r e l a t i o n s h i p s a n d w a s p r e s i d e n t o f the N a t io n a l Lutheran C o u n c il, 1 9 1 8 -2 1 . I b i d . , p . 563. ^ S yn od ical R eport,

the

Synod,

1878,

pp.

64-66.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

88 had a co m p lete

t h e o l o g i c a l sem inary o f i t s

At th e professor,

ow n.

same t i m e t h a t S t u b h a d b e e n

ca lled

a c a l l had a ls o been ex ten d ed to P r o fe s s o r S t e ll h o r n ,

a member o f t h e M i s s o u r i S y n o d w h o t a u g h t i n i n p t . Wayne,

In d ian a.

Synod l e a d e r s were i n

not

accept

it

favor o f h is

the

lo ca ted

sem inary.

o f v iew .

bers.

in t o the

However,

i n M adison u n t i l 1 8 8 8 .

eig h ties

sem inary any lo n g e r , a gain began to

the

a d j a c e n t t o M inne­

w as a t u r b u l e n t and t r y i n g

C ontroversy as the

S c h m i d t was

Schm idt

f a c u l t y was s p l i t

an A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n w h i l e S t u b

in

in crease

in

size .

The f r i c t i o n

d w i n d l e d g r e a t l y In num­

1885 c e a s e d t o

h a r m o n y was r e s t o r e d ,

F rich o f L a cro sse, W iscon sin , sh ip

In th a t

t o M i n n e a p o l i s , and i n

s t u d e n t body u n t i l i t

after

but

S tellh o rn d id

and Y l v i s a k e r w e r e o f t h e M i s s o u r i a n p e r s u a s i o n . extended

reasons,

of

The w o r k o f t h e s e m i n a r y was d i s r u p t e d a n d

h an d icap p ed by th e E l e c t i o n p oin t

the c h o i c e

18 7 9 .1

in R o b b in s d a le , w hich Is

The p e r i o d o f t h e

one f o r t h e

its

in

was t e m p o r a r i l y t r a n s f e r r e d

a p o lis.

in

fa cu lty

sem in a r y was l o c a t e d

n e x t y e a r was

selectio n .

located

The R e v e r e n d J o h a n n e s Y l v i s a k e r was a d d e d

t h i r d member o f The

year

c a ll.

co lleg e

la rg ely for n a tio n a lis tic

the

the

its

C onsiderable o p p o sitio n to

S t e l l h o r n was e x p r e s s e d ,

as th e

as t h e o l o g i c a l

lectu re a t the

and t h e

stu d en t body

In 1888 the R everen d J . B .

was c a l l e d

to

fill

the p r o f e s s o r ­

l e f t v a c a n t by Schm idt.^

•^-Johannes T . Y l v i s a k e r , b o r n i n Norway i n 1 8 4 5 , h a d a l o n g and h o n o r a b l e c a r e e r a s o r o f e s s o r a t L u t h e r S e m i n a r y fr om 1879 to 19 1 7 . N o r l i e e t a l . , ~ Who’ s Who, p . 6 5 0 . 2 H. G. S t u b , ’’L u t h e r - S e m i n a r , " i b i d . , p p . 1 4 8 - 5 0 . J . B. F r i c h s e r v e d a s p r e s i d e n t o f t h e S y n o d ’ s E a s t e r n D i s t r i c t from 1876 to 1888. F o r many y e a r s h e , t o g e t h e r w i t h H. H a l v o r s e n , w a s

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

89 In 1895 the sem in ary b u i l d i n g i n

R obbinsdale burned.

A f t e r a few y e a r s o f tem porary a r r a n g e m e n ts, th e was l o c a t e d

i n new q u a r t e r s

in S t .

The p u b l i c

as

on t h e

School C ontroversy

and p r o b l e m s

the le a d e r s

elem en tary l e v e l as w e l l

Its its

relig io u s

su b jects

as i t

for,

sch ools

T h i s w as t h e

adopted w h e r e v e r p o s s i b l e ,

the

Prom t h e

teach in g

of

very e a r l i e s t

the Am erican p u b l i c to in the

sch o o l,

litera tu re

of

to e s t a b l i s h a system o f p a r o c h ia l,

in w hich b o th s e c u l a r

c o u ld be t a u g h t by t e a c h e r s

g reg a tio n .

re­

m em bership w i t h r e l i g i o u s

atm osphere.

was r e f e r r e d

I t was t h e i r d e s i r e

or c o n g r e g a tio n a l,

ou tlook

Norwegian Synod e x p r e s s e d t h e i r d i s ­

and d i s l i k e

"common s c h o o l , "

the day.

a relig io u s of the

s a tis fa c tio n w ith , or

of

concerned about

and an e d u c a t i o n a l a p p r o a c h t h a t p e r m i t t e d

secu lar su b jects in p eriod

in ten sely

on t h e

le v e l of h igh er ed u ca tio n .

q u ir e d a thorough i n d o c t r i n a t i o n truths

1899

P au l.

The N o r w e g i a n S y n o d w a s a l w a y s e d u cation al p o lic ie s

sem inary in

and r e l i g i o u s

em ployed by th e

lo ca l

con­

s y s te m t h a t th e M i s s o u r i Synod had and i t

stron gly

commended i t s e l f

to

the

Synod l e a d e r s . B u t when i t sch ools

came t o a q u e s t i o n a b o u t t h e .Am eri can p u b l i c

N orwegian-.American la y m e n , by and l a r g e , r e f u s e d t o

i n t h e p a th s where t h e Synod c le r g y m e n d e s i r e d lon ged d is c u s s io n

in v o lv in g

the r e l a t i v e

m erits

to of

lea d .

fo llo w

A pro­

t h e common

s c h o o l a nd t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n a l s c h o o l wa s c a r r i e d on i n b o t h s e c u l a r e d i t o r o f a c h i l d r e n ’ s p a p e r , B o r n e b l a d , and w h i l e on t h e t h e o ­ l o g i c a l f a c u l t y h a d an a c t i v e p a r t i n e d i t i n g t h e o f f i c i a l s y n o d i cal p erio d ica l. B . A s k e v o l d , ”En k o r t B i o g r a p h i a f P r e s t e r o g p r o f e s s o r e r ," in F e s t s k r i f t , ed . H alvorsen , p . 38 7.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

90 a nd r e l i g i o u s peak in

the

p erio d ica ls.

sev en ties,

T his

controversy,

w hich rea ch ed i t s

has been a b ly and i n t e r e s t i n g l y d i s c u s s e d

b y P r o f e s s o r s L a u r e n c e M. L a r s o n a n d T h e o d o r e whom h a v e

g i v e n due a t t e n t i o n

a nd t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e troversy;

con seq u en tly, the

fo r a rather 1 versy.

the

t o have

a vailab le

th eir

sch o o ls,

o f the

d istrict

sch o o ls.

ob viate

th eir

As

the n e c e s s i t y

but n o r m a lly t h e y were

life

o f the

church.

the of

1 8 3 0 ’ s and 1 8 4 0 ’ s , g l a d l y made u s e

in

T his

of

were o r g a n i z e d ,

order

to p r o v id e

the p u b lic

p u b lic

sch ools.

in f lu e n tia l fig u res

school b u ild in g s, o f Synod p a s t o r s

hold in g

churches,

and t e a c h e r s

I t r e j e c t e d r a p id A m eri­

be t a u g h t

p o ssib ility

attendance

no l o n g e r b e n e c e s s a r y .

the

c o n g r e g a t i o n a l s c h o o l s were

ed u cation al p o lic y .

so th a t

in

O ft e n t h e y were p e r i p a t e t i c s ,

c a n iz a tio n , urged th a t r e l i g i o n

sch o o l system

contro-

were v e r y

In 1858 a c o n fe r e n c e

con­

"common s c h o o l "

supplem entary to th e

or p a rso n a g es.

a nd c o n s i d e r e d t h e

in th e

sen d in g c h ild r e n to

in farm h ou ses, p u b lic

guage,

in volved

con gregation s

school session s

adopted a d e f i n i t e

o f Synod l e a d e r s

authors

own s c h o o l s

Som etim es

both o f

to th ese

lea rn E n g lish ,

The p a r o c h i a l s c h o o l t e a c h e r s o f t e n in the

issu es

reader i s r eferred

ch ild ren

in stru ctio n .

intended to

relig io u s

N orwegian im m ig r a n ts ,

some o f t h e m e s t a b l i s h e d r elig io u s

t o t h e prom inence

com plete d i s c u s s i o n

The f i r s t an xiou s

of the

C. B l e g e n ,

in the

N orwegian

la n ­

o f expand ing th e p a r o c h ia l

a t American p u b lic s c h o o l s w ould

touched o f f

som ethin g o f a c o n t r o -

^ L a u r e n c e M. L a r s o n , " ' S k a n d i n a v e n , P r o f e s s o r A n d e r s o n , a n d t h e Y a n k e e S c h o o l , ' " The C h a n g i n g W e s t a n d O t h e r E s s a y s , p p . 1 1 6 - 4 6 ; T h e o d o r e C. B l e g e n , The A m e r i c a n T r a n s i t i o n , p p . 2 4 1 - 7 6 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

91 versy,

b u t a more m o d e r a t e m i n i s t e r i a l d e c l a r a t i o n

gether w ith the

coming o f t h e

d iscu ssio n

o f the

m eetin g o f

18 66 an e x t e n s i v e

C i v i l War,

school q u estio n .

in

1859,

postponed a thorough

H ow ever, f o l l o w i n g the

controversy

to­

over th e

Synod

sch ool q u estion

g o t underw ay.^ One o f H» A. P r e u s ’ p r i m a r y o b j e c t s , b o t h a s as p resid en t ed u cation ,

the

to fu rth er the

p a r t i c u l a r l y through th e

a l sch o o ls. to

o f t h e S y n o d , was

The f o l l o w i n g b r i e f

cause

estab lish m en t

excerpt

s y n o d ic a l convention o f 1871 i s

fr o m h i s

p a s t o r a nd o f C h ristian

o f con gregation ­ annual rep ort

ty p ica l:

I t i s h e a r t - r e n d i n g t o w i t n e s s t h e i n d i f f e r e n c e w h i c n many p a r e n t s a n d c o n g r e g a t i o n a l memb ers m a n i f e s t i n r e g a r d t o t h e C h r i s t i a n i n s t r u c t i o n and e d u c a t i o n o f t h e i r c n i l d r e n . They c a n s h o w a s y m p a t h e t i c c o n c e r n f o r t h e i r b o d i l y n e e d s a nd t e m ­ p o r a l w e l f a r e b u t a t t h e same t i m e s e e m t o be w h o l l y b l i n d an d i n d i f f e r e n t a s t o w h e t h e r t h e i r c h i l d r e n ’’a r e b r o u g h t up i n t n e n u r t u r e and a d m o n it io n o f th e L o r d , ” o r w h e th e r t h e y a r e s y s t e m a t i c a l l y p o l l u t e d and c o r r u p t e d b y an e d u c a t i o n i n s c h o o ls w here, in o p p o s it io n to th e s p i r i t o f C h r is t, a p u ffe d up , h u m a n istic , i n d if f e r e n t , y e s , perhaps even C h rist-d en y in g , s p i r i t i s dom inant, to g e th e r w it h a d a i l y in tim a te a s s o c i a t i o n w ith u n g o d ly com rades.” The c l e r g y lic

sch o o l because

a nd u n s u i t e d course, part

o f t h e Synod w e r e h o s t i l e they regarded I t as

to th e needs of the

t o t h e American p u b ­

irrelig io u s,

in efficien t, 3 N orw egian p i o n e e r s . They, o f

came f r o m a c o u n t r y i n w h i c h r e l i g i o u s

and p a r c e l o f t h e p u b l i c s c h o o l s y s t e m

i s m was t h e

state r e lig io n

inasm uch as L u th er a n ­

o f Norway.

The s c h o o l q u e s t i o n w a s ^B legen,

i n s t r u c t i o n was

often

on t h e

The A m e r i c a n T r a n s i t i o n , p p .

^ S y n od ical Report, th e Synod, ^ L . M. L a r s o n , "*s k a n d i n a v e n , th e Yankee S c h o o l , ' ” o p . c i t . , p . 1 1 8 .

agenda o f

syn od ical

244-57.

1871, pp.

17 f .

P r o f e s s o r Anderson,

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

and

92

m eetin gs.

For e x a m p le , t h e

eig h ty -n in e

th eses,

school q u estio n , at i t s

annual rep o rt

p r e p a r e d b y H. A.

1873 i n c l u d e s

P reus, d e a lin g w ith the

a lt h o u g h th e r e had n o t b een tim e t o d i s c u s s

1 8 7 4 c o n v e n t i o n t h e S y n o d u s e d as

sion

some t h e s e s p r e p a r e d by B .

tio n

o f k e e p in g th e young p eo p le

con sid eration ;

for

and a g a in

in

a b a sis

for i t s

d iscu s­

J . Muus; t h e n e x t y e a r t h e fo r the

1876 th e

th e m ;

ques­

c h u r c h was t a k e n u n d e r

c o n g r e g a t i o n a l s c h o o l was

d i s c u s s e d . ' 1' Such f a m i l i a r and f r e q u e n t l y i n g were

the fo llo w ­

h eld

need to be

aroused to the

im p ortan ce

of e s ta b lis h in g co n gregation ­

a l sch ools

in w h ic h t h e

p la ce.

The a d v a n t a g e a n d n e c e s s i t y

the p u b lic

sch ools

is

n eed lessly

subject

th eir

attendance

at secu lar

c a n be t a u g h t . is

than

cause

p u b lic

program in

61-71;

for,

where t h e r e

the

not

it

C h r i s t i a n i t y h a s no

o f k eep in g r e l i g i o n However, C h r is t ia n s

out of ought not

The a n s w e r

is

to e s ta b lis h

con­

in w h ich b o t h C h r i s t i a n i t y and s e c u l a r s u b j e c t s situ a tio n

in

regard in g c o n g r e g a tio n a l sc h o o ls

a cco rd in g to th e p r e s id e n t o f sch ools

I n many p l a c e s

school is

in

s c h o o l o u g h t t o be

c h ild r e n to the dangers a s s o c ia t e d w ith

sch o o ls.

o f C h ristian

forw ard.

Too o f t e n ,

recogn ized .

But th e

f a r from g o o d ,

the

The E n g l i s h p u b l i c

o f n e c e s s ity because

g r e g a tio n a l sch o o ls

C ongregations

f U l l elem en ta ry e d u c a t io n a l req u irem en ts

c h ild w i l l be m e t. case

1876:

as

d iscu ssio n

used only in

in

id eas

in the

o f the

expressed

repeated

is

one

Synod,

seems t o be g o i n g b ack w ard s,

rather

th ere

are

it

h a p h a z a r d l y o p e r a t e d when t h e

sessio n .

con gregation s.

the

is

no c o n g r e g a t i o n a l s c h o o l s .

The n e e d i s

Those p a s t o r s ,

fo r a sounder s c h o o l school teach ers,

^ S y n od ical R ep o rts, the Synod, 1873, pp. 18 7'5 7~pp'« 6 7 - 7 5 ; 1 8 7 6 , pp'. 4 5 - 4 7 .

25-35;

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

1874,

and pp.

d e l e g a t e s who a r e the

cause

aware o f

of C h ristian

the

e d u c a t i o n on t h e

for sy n o d ica l d e lib e r a tio n s As t h e

of

the p u b l i c

of

the

op p osition

to

lo ca l

rev ea ls,

type

sch ools

some c o n g r e g a t i o n a l s c h o o l s strong lay

o f the

took the

were e s t a b l i s h e d .

lead

in

alth ough

T h e r e was some

ta k en by the s y n o d .

The

Knut L a n g e l a n d and

the o p p o s i t i o n

and p r o v e d v e r y

A N orwegian new spaper e n t i ­

in M in n e a p o lis,

a g g ressiv ely

t o o k up

school

U n iv ersity

o f W i s c o n s i n was t h e m ost v e h e m e n t i n d i v i d u a l cham pion

th e American p u b l i c

a lso .

for

the p u b l i c

of

cause

a g ita tio n

was n o t v e r y e f f e c t i v e ,

the p o s i t i o n

B u d stik k en , p u b lish ed

and n o t w a i t

t h a t w ould ren d er u n n e c e s s a r y

i n f l u e n t i a l in m oulding l a y o p in io n . tled

lev el

th e Synod's

C hicago newspaper S k a n d in a v en , under e d i t o r s Svein N ils s o n ,

s c h o o l s must push

and r e s o l u t i o n s

above d i s c u s s i o n

co n g reg a tio n a l sch ools any u se

fa ilin g s

P r o f e s s o r R asm us B. A n d e r s o n o f t h e

s c h o o l among N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n s

O p p o sitio n to th e

S y n o d p r o g r a m was b a s e d on f i n a n c i a l

tio n s,

of q u a lified

ten tio n

the d e a r th that

necessary,

a fu lly

d islik e

d evelop ed

in A m erica. con sid era­

p aroch ial sch oolteach ers,

the

system o f p a r o c h ia l sc h o o ls

fo r M issourian

in flu en ce,

con­

was u n ­

and p a t r i o t i s m

towards

t h e new h o m e l a n d . ^ H. A* P r e u s that

in

18 8 8 sum m arized t h e s i t u a t i o n when he s t a t e d

fo r tw en ty y e a r s he had been sp e a k in g in b e h a l f o f C h r is t ia n

s c h o o l s but had been as a v o i c e an e v a l u a t i o n

o f the

p a roch ial

cry in g in

the w ild e r n e s s .^

s c h o o l s i t u a t i o n made i n

1903,

^ S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e S y n o d , 1 8 7 6 , p p . 46 f . 2 L . M. L a r s o n , ” ' S k a n d i n a v e n , P r o f e s s o r A n d e r s o n , Yankee S c h o o l , ' " i b i d . , p p . 124 f . , 1 4 6 . ^ S yn od ical R eport,

M innesota D i s t r i c t ,

th e Synod,

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

And after

and t h e 1888,

p. 91.

fifty

years

o f the Synod’ s h i s t o r y ,

reveals

that a g ita tio n

p a r o c h i a l s c h o o l s had p ro d u ced meager r e s u l t s . was g e n e r a l l y h e l d n o t in

session

f o r a m o n t h o r two w h e n t h e p u b l i c

(vacation B ib le the

fa ilu re

were

n ecessity

o f e s t a b lis h in g con gregation al

to pay t e a c h e r s

of

sch o o l)•

situ a tio n

in g n ess

R eligiou s

the

school

s c h o o l was

Two m a j o r r e a s o n s

con gregation s

for

fo r the

to recogn ize

the

s c h o o l s an d t h e i r u n w i l l ­

a d eq u ately.

As e a r l y a s 1 8 6 5 s t e p s ha d b e e n t a k e n t o h e l p m e e t t h e n e e d f o r p a r o c h i a l s c h o o l t e a c h e r s b y e s t a b l i s h i n g a tw o y e a r n o r ­ mal course a t L uther C o lle g e ;

four y e a r s

t e r m was e x p a n d e d t o t h r e e y e a r s , tr a in in g for p u b lic not

sa tisfa cto ry ,

esta b lish ed

b ein g

but i t

Separate

the

le n g t h o f the

the i n t e n t i o n

sch o o l te a c h in g as w e l l .

This

to provid e

a r r a n g e m e n t was

was n o t u n t i l 1 8 8 9 t h a t t h e S y n o d f i n a l l y

a normal s c h o o l,

South D akota.

it

la ter

w hich was l o c a t e d

cla sses

in Sioux p a l l s ,

f o r norm al s t u d e n t s had been d i s ­

c o n t i n u e d a t L u t h e r t h r e e y e a r s e a r l i e r when t h e n o r m a l t e a c h e r , H. G. R o a l k v a m , a ca ll

January,

1886,

gave up h i s

p o sitio n

and a c c e p t e d

as a p a r i s h p a s t o r . 2 In terest

h igh

in

sch o o ls,

In the e s t a b lis h m e n t

o f Lutheran a c a d e m ie s,

g r e w t r e m e n d o u s l y In t h i s

of

the

be

found in C hapter V I I I .®

p.

191.

p eriod .

or

A b r ie f d iscu ssio n

a c a d e m y m o v e m e n t among N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n s w i l l

■*-f,Den k r i s t e l i g e

B a r n e s k o l e , ,r i n

O Laur. L arsen, " in dberetning t i l the Synod, 1 8 8 7 , p . x v . ® ln fra,

pp.

F e s t s k r i f t , ed. H alvorsen , Syn oden,'1 S y n o d ic a l R eport,

483-53.

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

95

Other A s p e c ts

o f the

S y n o d 's D evelopm ent

G r o w th The N o r w e g i a n S y n o d e x p e r i e n c e d a v e r y h e a l t h y a n d s a t i s ­ f y i n g g r o w th from t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g . 1853,

it

numbered s i x p a s t o r s

th irty -eig h t tim e o f i t s

con gregation s tw en ty -fifth

p o i n t where i t so u ls.^

in

on i t s

roster,

an n iversary,

1878,

it

570 c o n g r e g a t i o n s ,

and a p p r o x i m a t e l y

94,166

p eriod

e x p la in e d by th e w ith draw als

1878-90 i s

g regation s su ltin g

fr o m t h e

from t h e E l e c t i o n

p roxim ately b itter

Synod t h a t

on e-th ird

The r e d u c t i o n

occurred in the

516 c o n g r e g a t io n s , in

size

o v e r the

of pastors

m em bership.^

ter,

of

the

support o f

la te

a nd c o n ­

ap­

a ctiv ities

the

and 1 2 4 , 3 6 7

C o n t r o v e r s y , whereby th e Synod l o s t

The S y n o d ’ s home m i s s i o n

as

the

re­

c o n t r o v e r s y had a g e n e r a l l y n e g a t iv e

u n d ertak in gs

By t h e

eig h ties,

of i t s

to g e th e r w ith th ose

so u ls.1

h a d grown t o

Synod i n c l u d e d 143 p a s t o r s , so u ls.®

fou n d in g,

who w e r e s e r v i n g

a nd an e s t i m a t e d 1 1 , 4 0 0

numbered 137 p a s t o r s ,

1890 th e

In th e y e a r o f i t s

Furtherm ore,

that

same

e f f e c t upon grow th .

are d isc u sse d in

other synods.

a la ter

chap­

Such o t h e r s y n o d i c a l

foreign m issio n s,

the developm ent

^■’’S y n o d e n s V e k s t , ” i n F e s t s k r i f t , e d . H a l v o r s e n ,

p.

107.

^ ’’U d d r a g a f D i s t r i k t e r n e s p a r o e h i a l r a p p o r t e r f o r A a r e t 1 8 7 8 , ” S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , Iowa D i s t r i c t , th e S y n o d , 1 8 7 9 , p . x x x i v . The t o t a l g i v e n T o r t h e number o f 's o u l s r e p r e s e n t s t h e ' a d d i t i o n o f t h r e e f i g u r e s w h i c h are a p p r o x i m a t i o n s ; th e number o f c o n g r e g a ­ t i o n s i n c l u d e s c o n g r e g a t i o n s s e r v e d by Synod p a s t o r s b u t w h ic h had n o t f o r m a lly j o i n e d the Synod. p. 74;

^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t s , t h e S y n o d , 1 8 9 1 : E astern D i s t r i c t , I o w a D i s t r i c t , p p . 1’18', 1 2 0 f . ; M i n n e s o t a D i s t r i c t , p . 9 8 . ^ In fra , pp.

368-70,

p a rticu la rly n.

4,

p. 370.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

96 o f ch a rita b le

in stitu tio n s,

movement ar e d i s c u s s e d

and t h e

in the

f u r t h e r a n c e o f th e academy

same c h a p t e r .

p erio d ica ls M e n t i o n s h o u l d b e made o f t h e m otion

Synod’ s in t e r e s t

o f t h e p u b l i c a t i o n and r e a d i n g o f r e l i g i o u s

In 1869 the Synod a p p o in te d a P u b l i c a t i o n s Its

and t r a c t s

lis h in g b u sin ess o f D ecorah,

The S y n o d i t s e l f

I n 1 8 7 7 , a nd i n

to

to the S yn od .2

B esid es

1874) , s e v e r a l m agazines

were e d i t e d

went I n t o the pub­

1878 th e L utheran P u b l i s h i n g House

the

Synod, E v a n g e lisk Luthersk K irk etid en d e

p rio r

of relig io u s

I o w a , was i n c o r p o r a t e d , w i t h a B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s w h i c h

was r e s p o n s i b l e the

serio u sly .

litera tu re.

C om m ittee, which t o o k

t a s k o f p r o m o t i n g t h e p r i n t i n g a nd d i s t r i b u t i o n

books

in the p r o ­

a nd p a p e r s

o f f ic ia l p erio d ica l of (K i r k e l i g M a a n e d s t i d e n d e of a relig io u s

nature

a nd p u b l i s h e d b y members o f t h e S y n o d , a l t h o u g h n o t

b ein g o f f i c i a l

sy n o d ica l p u b lic a tio n s,

Synod’s c o n stitu en cy .®

in

the

in

sev en ties

order to

serve the

t h e S y n o d c o m p i l e d and

C hap ter V III. p L&ur. L a r s e n , " L u t h e r a n p u b l i s h i n g H o u s e , " ed . H alvorsen , pp. 211-13.

in F e s t s k r i f t ,

^Among th e m m i g h t b e m e n t i o n e d t h e f o l l o w i n g : O pbyggelsesb l a d f o r l u t h e r s k e K r i s t n e (A D e v o t i o n a l M a g a z i n e f o r L u t h e r a n C h r i s t i a n s ) , b e g u n b y P a s t o r ^ ' P . A. R a s m u s s e n In 1 8 7 7 ; a m o n t h l y 1 8 8 2 , i n 1 8 8 3 i t b e g a n t o a p p e a r a s a b i - w e e k l y ; i n 1 8 8 4 i t s name w a s c h a n g e d t o Q p b y g g e l s e s - o g M i s s i o n s b l a d (D e v o t i o n a l and M i s s i o n M agazin e). L u t h e r s k s k o l e b ' l a d ( L u t h e r a n S c h o o l Magaz i n e ) , p u b l i s h e d m o n t h l y d u r i n g X8S0 and l8 '8 1 b y P a s t o r N. B r a n d t and P r o ­ f e s s o r H. R o a l k v a m t o aw ake n i n t e r e s t i n p a r o c h i a l s c h o o l s and a s an o r g a n f o r p a r o c h i a l s c h o o l t e a c h e r s . Nodtvungent Forsvar ( N e c e s s a r y D e f e n c e ) was p u b l i s h e d f o r a y e a r b e g i n n i n g i n M a r c h , 1 8 8 2 , u n d e r t h e e d i t o r s h i p o f p a s t o r H. H a l v o r s e n a s a s p o k e s m a n f o r the M isso u r ia n p o s i t i o n in the E l e c t i o n C o n tro v ersy . Borne B la d ( C h i l d r e n ’ s M agazine) began t o app ear t w ic e m on thly in 1875 u n d e r t h e e d i t o r s h i p o i r P a s t o r s J . B« F r i c h a nd H. H a l v o r s e n ; i n 1 8 9 0 P a s t o r 0 . P . W u l f s b e r g became e d i t o r . Bud o g H i l s e n . E t d a n s k -

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

97 p u b lish ed

its

own h y m n b o o k . 1 G eneral C h a r a c ter iz a tio n

The d e c a d e o f t h e splen d or" B erg h .2

( en G l a n s p e r i o d e ) ,

ference,

but i t

sp irit

H owever,

tiv itie s

the is

S y n o d "a p e r i o d o f

ch a ra cteriza tio n true

own i n t h a t

th at

it

o f J . A*

was f r e q u e n t l y

ch ief r iv a l,

co n flict to

its

the

Con­

an d was g r o w ­ l e a d e r s was

o f h a r m o n y and c o o p e r a t i o n w h i c h p e r m e a t e d t h e S y n o d . eig h ties

was marked b y p r o l o n g e d s t r i f e C o n tro v ersy dom inates

eig h ties,

was f o r t h e

P articu la rly s a tis fy in g

the decade o f the

E lectio n

a ll

It

P eriod

con troversy w ith i t s

was h o l d i n g i t s

i n g and p r o g r e s s i n g .

it

to use

T h in g s were g o i n g w e l l .

engaged in r a th e r b i t t e r

the

seven ties

o f the

pu sh in g in to

q u ite

d ifferen t,

and I n t e r n a l d i s s e n s i o n .

th e h i s t o r y o f th e Synod in

the background a l l

and e f f e c t i n g ,

aspects

was t o b e

for

The the

o t h e r p r o b le m s and a c ­

alm ost i n v a r i a b l y in a d e l e t e r i o u s way,

o f t h e S y n o d ’ s w ork and d e v e l o p m e n t . ^

l u t h e r s k M e n i g h e d s b l a d ( M e s s a g e an d G r e e t i n g . A D an ish -L u th eran C o n g r e g a t i o n a l pa per )", p u b l i s h e d 'by a g r o u p o f D a n i s h ' p as to r s' " and l a y m e n , u n d e r t h e e d i t o r s h i p o f P a s t o r M. F . W i e s e , b e g a n t o a p p e a r b i-w eek ly in 1890. T h r e e s m a l l m i s s i o n p a p e r s made t h e i r a p p e a r ­ ance in our p e r i o d ; M i s s i o n s v e n n e n , b e g u n b y P a s t o r H. J . G. K r a g i n 1 8 8 8 ; L u t h e r s k s e n d e b u d , p u b l i s h e d b y p a s t o r s on t h e P a c i f i c C o a s t , e d i t e d by pa s to r " if . C h r i s t e n s e n , b e g i n n i n g i n 1 8 9 0 ; M i s s i o n s l a e s n i n g , a supplem ent t o th e s y n o d i c a l p e r i o d i c a l , e d i t e d b y P a s t o r E. W u lf s b e r g , b e g i n n i n g in 1 8 9 0 . J. B. W ist, "pressen e f t e r b o r g e r k r i g e n , " in N orsk-A m erikanernes F e s t s k r i f t , 1 9 1 4 , e d . J . B. W ist (D ecorah , Iowa! Symra Company, 1 9 1 4 ) , p p . 1 9 1 - 9 4 ; J . J o h a n s e n , "Andre B l a d e , " i n F e s t s k r i f t , e d . H a l v o r s e n , p p . 2 2 1 - 2 6 . ^ V a r io u s hym nals were u s e d by N o rw e g ia n L u t h e r a n c o n g r e g a ­ t i o n s i n A m e r i c a , G u l d b e r g ' s , L a n d s t a d ’ s , and H a u g e ’ s . Now t h e S y n o d a d d e d i t s own t o t h e c o l l e c t i o n . Bergh, op. c i t . , p. 258. 2I b id . ^The E l e c t i o n

C ontroversy i s

d iscu ssed

in

chap. V I,

307-574.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

pp.

CHAPTER I I I

HAUGEANISM:

EIELSEN’ S FRIENDS AND HAUGE' S SYNOD Haugeans

i n A m erica

>

-

The p o w e r f u l i m p a c t made b y t h e H a u g e a n R e v i v a l u p o n n i n e ­ teenth

c e n t u r y Norwa y h a s b e e n n o t e d p r e v i o u s l y . - * -

em p h a sis and s p i r i t Am erica w i t h

r e p r e s e n t e d by H augeanism were b r o u g h t t o

the e a r l i e s t

sumed l e a d e r s h i p

N orw egian im m ig r a n ts .

a v e t e r a n and a g g r e s s i v e

fo rcefu l p erso n a lity , strong.

and h i s

H is p e r s o n a l i t y

upon h i s

fia n tly

cham pioned s u c h p r i n c i p l e s

is

name o f H a u g e a n i s m h i s as

the

to be

sim ple and in fo r m a l,

and f o r m a l i s m ;

la y a c t i v i t y ,

both in p u b lic

an d i n p r i v a t e ,

to

organ­

fo llo w in g ,

which fo u n d

s y n o d was f o u n d e d : exp erien ce

and a s e p a r a te d

in ­

life;

in c o n tr a s t t o r it u a lis m

the p r a c tic e is

of its

group r a th e r d e ­

s o m e t h i n g t o be e x p e r i e n c e d , w h ic h

a s p i r i t u a l aw akening, c o n v e r s io n ,

w orship i s

f o l l o w e r s was

c h a r a c t e r and d e t e r m i n e d t h e

in th e c o n s t i t u t i o n upon w h ich h i s

C h ristia n ity

E i e l s e n wa s a

Synod from t h e d a t e

in

vo lv es

lay p reach er.

shaped th e

iza tio n

exp ression

In t h e

c o u n t r y i n 1839 was E l l i n g

in flu en ce

e m p h a s is w h ic h marked E i e l s e n * s 1846.

The man who a s ­

o f t h e m ost a r d e n t Haugean e le m e n t i n A m erica

im m e d ia t e ly upon h i s a r r i v a l i n t h i s E ielsen ,

The r e l i g i o u s

o f C h ristia n testim on y,

be e n c o u r a g e d a n d s u p p o r t e d . ^

1S u p ra, p p . 7 - 1 1 . Am erica

^ S. S . Gjerde (M inn eap olis:

a n d p . L j o s t v e i t , The Hauge Movernent i n The Ha ug e I n n e r M i s s i o n F e d e r a t i o n , 1 9 4 1 ) , 98

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

99

One s y m p a t h e t i c b i o g r a p h e r o f E i e l s e n in carnation form ative

of op p osition

c h a r a c t e r i z e s hi m a s

t o d e a d o r t h o d o x y an d f o r m a l i s m i n

type

f o r some w e r e a d v o c a t e s o f Haugeanism

a b o u t h i s b a n n e r , how­

a more m o d e r a t e and r e s t r a i n e d 2 t h a n he r e p r e s e n t e d . They were n o t p ersu a d ed

t h a t h e was t h e t y p e ated.

the

p e r io d o f N orw egian-A m erican L u th er a n is m ." 1

Not a l l H a u g e a n s i n A m e r i c a r a l l i e d ever,

"the

of

o f H a u g e a n w i t h whom t h e y w a n t e d t o be a s s o c i ­

E i e l s e n was a v e r y c o n t r o v e r s i a l f i g u r e

in th e e a r ly h i s t o r y

o f N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n i s m , much t o o c e n s o r i o u s and c r i t i ­ ca l of p astors, fello w sh ip ,

in d iv id u a ls,

and c o n g r e g a t i o n s o u t s i d e h i s

t o o a n t i - c l e r i c a l and n e g a t i v e

s u i t many*^

E sp ecia lly la ter

im m igrants

t h o s e who m i g r a t e d a f t e r much o f and t h e s t a t e

the

in h is

em ph asis, t o

o f Haugean p e r s u a s i o n ,

t e n s i o n b e tw e e n Haugeanism

c h u r c h i n Norway h a d b e e n o v e r c o m e ,

E i e l s e n and h i s

own

sy n o d w hich was n o t a t t r a c t i v e

f o u n d m u ch i n

t o them .

Over t h e

pp. 92, 155. T h is book d e a l s w i t h l a y movements s i n c e a p o s t o l i c t i m e s , w i t h p a r t i c u l a r e m p h a s i s up on l a y w i t n e s s i n g b y H a u g e a n s in A m erica. I t i s n o t a n n o t a t e d , and i t i s n o t u n b i a s e d . A lthough t o o e u l o g i s t i c i n t h e i r p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e l a y movement, th e a u ­ t h o r s a p p e a r t o h a v e an a c c u r a t e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e s p i r i t o f t h e l a y movement t h r o u g h t h e i r p e r s o n a l a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h i t . A g o o d s h a r e o f t h e b o o k I s d e v o t e d t o b r i e f s k e t c h e s o f many p e r ­ s o n a l i t i e s , b o t h p a s t o r s f r i e n d l y t o t h e H a u g e a n l a y moveme nt an d l a y l e a d e r s , and t o b r i e f a c c o u n t s o f t h e many H a u g e a n i n n e r M iss io n S o c i e t i e s th a t have been o r g a n iz e d in A m erica. ■^■Clarence J . C a r l s e n , " E l l i n g E i e l s e n , p i o n e e r Lay P r e a c h ­ e r and F i r s t N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n P a s t o r i n A m e r i c a , " (M inn eap olis: U n p u b l i s h e d M a s t e r ’ s T h e s i s , G r a d u a t e S c h o o l , U. o f M i n n e s o t a , 1952), p . 198. 2 The m o d e r a t e H a u g e a n s o f t h e p i o n e e r M u s k e g o , W i s c o n s i n , s e t t l e m e n t a r e an e x a m p l e o f t h o s e who r e j e c t e d h i s l e a d e r s h i p , Supra, p. 27. ®P» A . R a s m u s s e n , (1870), 250.

" O g s a a f r a N o r d a m e r i k a , " K. M. , XV

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

100 years

several in d iv id u a ls,

synods,

severed

u n sa tisfa cto ry sa tisfa ctio n th e

th eir

rela tio n s

exp erien ces

w ith the

some o f th e m l a t e r

o f one t y p e

a crisis

old lead er

of the o r ig in a l

th a t d isru p ted E i e l s e n ’ s 1876.

In te r n a l d is­ and w i t h

group e v e n t u a l l y

f o l l o w i n g and p r o ­

Only a v e r y s m a l l rem nant r e m a in e d

t o p e r p e t u a t e E i e l s e n ’ s S y n o d on t h e b a s i s

sy n o d ica l c o n s t it u t io n .

As a m a t t e r o f f a c t ,

ties

in the

other

group a f t e r

o r ig in a l syn od ical c o n s titu tio n

d u ce d H a u g e ’ s Synod i n w ith t h e i r

and h i s

or an oth er.^

g e n e r a l l a c k o f o r d e r and o r g a n i z a t i o n

p recip ita ted

the

w ith E ie ls e n

prom inent i n

Norwegian L u th eran b o d i e s

H a u g e a n s f o u n d t h e i r w ay i n t o in A m erica.

E i e l s e n ’ s Synod, Hauge’ s Synod, th e

By t h e

a ll

end o f t h e

C onference,

seven

and t h e N o r ­

w egian A u gu stan an s, a l l so il

the b e s t

c l a i m e d t o b e p e r p e t u a t i n g on A m e r i c a n 2 in H augeanism . There were i n d i v i d u a l s s y m p a th e t ic

t o w a r d s H a u g e a n i s m who b e c a m e memb ers o f t h e w e ll.^

N ev erth eless,

i t was H a u g e ' s s y n o d , w h i c h , b e f i t t i n g

name, was t h e m o st f a i t h f u l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e A m erica and w h ic h , number o f greatest

"the

N orwegian Synod as

con seq u en tly,

its

o f Haugeanism i n

had g a t h e r e d i n the

greatest

frien d s

a ttra ctio n

o f H a u g e , " and w h i c h c o n t i n u e d t o b e t h e 4 f o r Im m igrants t y p i f y i n g t h a t s p i r i t .

^ S u p ra, p p . 33 f . M. L a r s o n , "The L ay p r e a c h e r C h a n g i n g W e s t and O t h e r E a s a y s , p . 1 6 7 . tion ed

i n p i o n e e r T i m e s , " The

^ P a s t o r s p . A . R a s m u s s e n and N. T . Y l v i s a k e r c a n b e memas exa m p les.

^T . B o th n e , Kort H d s lg t o v er d e t L u th ersk e K ir k e a r b e id e b l a n d t N o r d m a e n d e n e 1" A m e r l k a ( C h i c a g o ' : ' Knut T a k l a s F o r l a g ~ , 1 8 9 8 ) , p p . 6^ 5 f . R e fe r e n c e t o th e t i t l e w i l l be a b b r e v ia t e d as Kort U d s i g t .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

101

T ensions

In E i e l s e n ' s

Synod R e s u l t i n g in Schism

A G rowing C oncern f o r Many f a c t o r s w hich e x i s t e d

entered

betw een th e

in to

O r de r

p r o d u cin g the v i o l e n t antagonism

N o r w e g i a n S y n o d a n d E i e l s e n 1s S y n o d

f r o m t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g , b u t f u n d a m e n t a l among t h e m was t h e m a t t e r o f church order*

As t h e s y n o d e m b o d i e d t h e c o n c e p t o f c h u r c h

order in th e e a r l i e s t

p eriod

f o u n d a t i o n s were b e i n g l a i d co n stitu ted

in

N o r w e g ia n A m erican L u t h e r a n is m when

(p rior to

a group marked by t h e i r

a nd p r e s e r v a t i o n o f s p i r i t u a l

life

1870),

so t h e E l l i n g i a n s

concern f o r the and a d i s t a s t e

developm ent

f o r what i s

as­

cham pion o f u n r e s t r i c t e d , u n r e g u l a t e d

la y

s o c i a t e d w i t h an o r d e r e d c h u r c h l i f e . * * ’ E i e l s e n was th e a ctiv ity .

He a n d h i s a s s o c i a t e s

a s p ir it u a l p r ie s t , has the and t o l e a d to a sp e c ia l

th at every C h r istia n ,

a u t h o r i t y and r i g h t t o

as

preach p u b lic ly

in p u b l ic p r a y e r w ith o u t any form al or e x t e r n a l c a l l o ffice ,

•' I t i s 'e no ug h t h a t h e con tin u ed

in sisted

g en era lly a sse r tin g , is

ca lled

b y G o d . ”2

t o be t h e s p o k e s m e n f o r

H a u g e 's Synod i t

was o f

a s H. A.

Preus r e p o r t s ,

The H a u g e a n s i n A m e r i c a

la y a c t i v i t y ,

alth ou gh in

a mo re o r d e r e d a n d b e t t e r - r e g u l a t e d t y p e

"hi. R o a l k v a m s p e a k s o f t h e e m e r g e n c e o f t w o s h a r p l y d e ­ fin e d te n d e n c ie s in t h i s e a r l y period * One r e p r e s e n t e d b y t h e Synod was c o n c er n e d w i t h t h e d e v e lo p m e n t o f church o r d e r in a s t r o n g , o r th o d o x L utheran a tm o sp h e r e ; th e o t h e r , r e p r e s e n t e d by E i e l s e n ' s F r i e n d s a n d t h e N o r w e g i a n s o f t h e A u g u s t a n a S y n o d , was c h i e f l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h s p i r i t u a l e d i f i c a t i o n ( o p b y g g e l s e ) a n d was s o m a r k e d b y a f r e e r a t t i t u d e i n r e g a r d t o c h u r c h o r d e r , a nd among th em l a y a c t i v i t y f l o u r i s h e d . "Den n o r s k - a m e r i k a n s k l u t h e r s k e K irk e i de s i d s t e 25 A a r ," L u t h e r a n e r e n , I I ( 1 8 9 6 ) , 7 0 6 . 2 H. A. P r e u s , S y v F o r e d r a g , p p . 8 6 f .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

102 t h a n t h a t w h i c h c h a r a c t e r i z e d some

of E ielsen ’s a c tiv ity .

Haugeans c o n t in u e d

o f th e r i g h t o f laym en t o

to e x h o r t, in g s, in

in

and t o p r e a c h in

church s e r v i c e s ,

o p p osition t o ,

Synod’s p o s itio n to

the

o ffice

exh ort.

to be advocates

’’p r a y e r m e e t i n g s , ” i n l a y m e n ’ s m e e t ­

and in o t h e r p u b l i c a s s e m b l i e s , b u t n o t

or co m p e titio n w ith ,

in

the r e g u la r pastors.'*'

The

was t h a t o r d i n a r i l y o n l y o n e who h a s b e e n c a l l e d

o f p a s t o r can p u b l i c l y p r e a c h ,

Only where a s i t u a t i o n

ju stified

pray,

lead

in p ra y er,

o f r e a l need e x i s t s

assum ing s u c h p a s t o r a l d u t i e s .

is

and

a la y m a n

Such a s i t u a t i o n

of

n e e d e x i s t s w h e n no p a s t o r i s a v a i l a b l e , w h e n a p a s t o r t e a c h e s fa lsely , is

o r when a c o n g r e g a t i o n

is

so o c c a s i o n a l l y ser v e d t h a t i t 2 in danger o f s p i r i t u a l s t a r v a t io n . The p r o b l e m o f l a y a c t i v i ­

t y p osed a q u e s t io n o f church o r d e r . g a n i z e d and o r d e r e d c o n g r e g a t i o n a l in

je o p a r d y by th e em phasis

The S y n o d and t h e E l l i n g i a n s

issu e

o f lay a c t iv it y ,

f e l t ' t h a t an o r ­

and s y n o d i c a l l i f e

o f E i e l s e n and t h o s e

him .

A ll o f the

The S y n o d

was p l a c e d

lik e-m in d ed w ith

f o u g h t t o o t h and n a i l o v e r t h e

p a r t ic u l a r ly in the

decade o f th e s i x t i e s .

N orw egian L uth eran s y n o d s , e x c e p t the Norwegian Syn od,

took a fa v o r a b le

a ttitu d e

towards

la y a c t i v i t y .

However, th e

^ S e e , f o r e x a m p l e , P r e s i d e n t A» E . Boyum’ s c h a r a c t e r i z a ­ t i o n and d e s c r i p t i o n o f l a y a c t i v i t y a s i t e x i s t e d in H a u g e ’ s S y n o d i n 1 8 8 3 i n ’’B e r e t n i n g om A a r s m ^ d e t . . . 1 8 8 3 , ” B u d b a e r e r e n , XV ( 1 8 8 3 ) , 1 1 4 f . 2 p r e u s , Syv F o r e d r a g , p . 8V. Preus s e t s f o r t h the Synod p o s i t i o n on t h e b a s i s o f a s e t o f t h e s e s a d o p t e d b y i t s s y n o d i c a l con ven tion in 1862. Ib id . , p. 92. ^ ’’Towa rd t h e q u e s t i o n o f l a y a c t i v i t y t h e a t t i t u d e o f t h e s e f o u r b o d i e s [‘E i e l s e n ’ s S y n o d , C o n f e r e n c e , H a u g e ’ s S y n o d , N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a n s l wa s a l m o s t i d e n t i c a l . A l l made u s e o f s u c h t a l e n t s a s w e r e f o u n d among t h e l a i t y , t h o u g h l a y a c t i v i t y was p r o b a b l y u n d e r more p o s i t i v e c o n t r o l i n t h e C o n f e r e n c e t h a n i n t h e o t h e r t h r e e c h u r c h e s . ” L . M. L a r s o n , "The Lay P r e a c h e r

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

103 com p letely u n r e str ic te d the

early years

those

synods

and o f t e n

a n ti-clerica l

g a v e way t o a m or e

favorab le

o r d e r ly type

a ffa irs.

of

of w itn e s s in g in

to I t .

One o f E i e l s e n ’ s w e a k n e s s e s lack of ap p reciation

lay a c t i v i t y

a s a s y n o d i c a l l e a d e r was h i s

o f the need f o r ord er

He w as n e v e r much i n t e r e s t e d

in

and s y s t e m

in

org a n iza tio n ,

sy n o d ica l not even

in the

f o r m a l and s y s t e m a t i c e s t a b l i s h m e n t

o f c o n g r e g a t i o n s .•*■

He w a s

l o o k e d upon as

o f the

b eliev ers

the

sp iritu a l

( de T r o e n d e ) , w h e r e v e r

w ere no r e a l s y n o d i c a l t i e s lea d ersh ip .

H is

a nd f o r

r e a s o n were

th is

follow ers

of a person al alleg ia n ce

lea d er

th ey were

fello w sh ip

lo ca ted ,

b eyond the power o f h i s attached

th em selves

c om m on ly c a l l e d

of

but there own p e r s o n a l

t o him p e r s o n a l l y ,

" E llin g ia n s. ”

was b o u n d t o p r o d u c e c o n f l i c t s

T his

type

of per­

s o n a l i t i e s a nd s t r i f e w h e n e v e r t h e q u e s t i o n o f o r g a n i z a t i o n came p up. K v a r t a l- S k r if t , th e p e r i o d i c a l o f the Augsburg Sem inary p r o ­ fessors, E ielsen * s

in e d i t o r i a l i z i n g a b o u t th e ranks seems

to put i t s

s p l i t w hich d e v e lo p e d in

fin ger

on t h e w e a k n e s s

th at a c ­

com panied a l a c k o f ch u rch o r d e r : in P ion eer T im e s,” p . 167. C e r ta in p a s t o r s In th e C onferen ce a c ­ c e p te d th e r e s t r i c t i v e "emergency p r i n c i p l e ” a d v o c a te d by P r o f . O i s l e J o h n s o n , much l i k e t h e S y n o d p o s i t i o n . Supra, p . 13. ■^C. 0 . B r o h a u g h and I . E i s t e i n s e n , E l l l n g E l e l s e n s L l v o g V irksom hed (C h ica g o : "Skandinavens” B o g tr y k k e r i, 1 8 8 3 ), p . 7 £ . 2 ”K v a r t a l s k r l f t 1 8 7 7 , " K v a r t a l - S k r i f t , m ( 1 8 7 7 ) , 13 f f . I t w as E i e l s e n ’ s g o a l t o r e s t r i c t m e m b e r s h i p i n t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n s o f h i s s y n o d t o c o n v e r t s and t h o s e "on t h e way t o c o n v e r s i o n , ” t h e r e b y i n v i t i n g t h e c h a r g e t h a t h e was i d e n t i f y i n g t h e i n v i s i b l e church w ith h i s church body. H. A . P r e u s , S y v F o r e d r a g , p p . 84 f . The e x p r e s s i o n , "on t h e way t o c o n v e r s i o n , ” a p p e a r s I n p a r a g r a p h t w o i n t h e "Old C o n s t i t x i t i o n . ” R o h n e , o p . c i t . , p . 1 0 7 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

104

. . . e a c h t i m e M s f r i e n d s g r e w t o g r e a t e r nu mb er s a n d t h e q u e s t i o n o f an o r g a n i z a t i o n came u p a s p l i t d e v e l o p e d . And t h a t [ o c c u r r e d ] b e c a u s e a n o r d e r l y d e v e l o p m e n t o f a s y n o d presu p poses ordered co n g reg a tio n s as a fo u n d a tio n . But o r d e r e d c o n g r e g a t i o n s r e s t i n g o n t h e Word o f God and t h e s a c ­ r a m e n t s w i t h t h e m a r k , "God k n o w s h i s o w n , " a r e c o n t r a r y to E l l i n g *s p r i n c i p l e o f a g r o u p o f b e l i e v e r s g a t h e r e d a b o u t h i m w i t h t h e m a r k , "We know o u r o w n . " l Many o f

t h e memb ers o f E i e l s e n * s S y n o d came t o s e e

need fo r a g r e a te r degree g r o w an d p r o s p e r

commensurate w i t h t h e

p resen tin g th em selves. o f g i v i n g up t h e i r There

o f o r d e r and o r g a n i z a t i o n i f

synod.

con viction s

T h e r e was

the

tio n a l,

a sy n o d ica l

as

a r i s i n g sen tim en t in

v isio n

future p a sto rs

who w e r e was

favor o f g e t t i n g

t h a t o f the

other sy n o d s.

o f l e a d e r s h i p an d t h e s h o r t ­

c o n s t i t u t i o n came t o b e m o r e g e n e r a l l y

The mor e f a r s i g h t e d

in stea d

type

in a w e l l -

"Old C o n s t i t u t i o n , " b o t h d o c t r i n a l an d o r g a n i z a ­

rea lized . for

Far from i t .

tow ards l a y a c t i v i t y a l s o

o f E ielsen * s

com ings o f

to

o p p o r t u n i t i e s which were

about la y a c t i v i t y .

o r g a n i z e d on a b a s i s m ore n e a r l y l i k e The d i s a d v a n t a g e s

were

T h i s d i d n o t mean t h a t t h e y w ere i n f a v o r

c o u l d be f r i e n d l i n e s s

organ ized

it

the

s a w t h a t t h e y n e e d e d t o make p r o ­

in th e

same m a n n e r a s

the other

synods

o f d e p e n d i n g f o r t h e i r p a s t o r a l s u p p l y upon l a y p r e a c h e r s "awakened" b u t u s u a l l y

to r e s u l t

in

t h e o lo g i c a lly u n train ed .

the e s t a b lis h m e n t

o f a t h e o l o g i c a l sem inary,

w h i c h m a r k e d an i m p o r t a n t s t e p i n t h e p r o c e s s o f w hich s e p a r a te d

the E l l i n g i a n s

T his

c lo s in g the

gap

from t h e o t h e r Norwegian L u th e r a n

groups in A m erica.

1»K vartalsk rift

1877," K v a r t a l - S k r i f t , I I I

(1877),

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

16.

105

The E m e r g e n c e o f a New L e a d e r s h i p A c a r e f u l stu d e n t o f th e o u t t h a t th e. t r o u b le w h ich

life

fin a lly

o f E llin g E ie ls e n p o in ts

le d

t o a sc h ism

o f t h e E l l i n g i a n s b eg a n t o brew as e a r l y

as

in

th e ranks

1 8 6 6 w hen some o f h i s

c o n g r e g a tio n s e x p r e sse d th e d e s ir e

f o r an o r g a n iz a t io n

lik e

o f oth er syn od s,

w ere r e f e r r e d

’’new s t y l e

E l l i n g i a n s . ”^ c a lle d

and,

as a r e s u l t ,

I t was among som e o f t h e y o u n g e r p a s t o r s

New T e n d e n c y g r a d u a l l y made i t s e l f e v i d e n t .

th is

g r o u p w as $ s t e n H a n s o n ,

nent

le a d e r

h is

o r d in a t io n he r e f u s e d to a c c e p t th e

by E ie lse n fir st

fo r

a tim e

a so-

The l e a d e r o f

n e v e r th e le ss. 0 e d ito r s

1868.

D o n a tistic

H a n so n and P a s t o r O le A . B e r g h w e r e

o f th e s y n o d ic a l p e r io d ic a l e n t i t l e d

I t w as a f t e r B u d b a e r e r e n h a d b e e n i n

in tro d u c ed . 4

B udbaereren

make i t s m o n t h l y a p p e a r a n c e

t h a t c o m p la in t s w ere r a i s e d

p h a s i s was b e i n g

c o n tr o v e r sia l,

’’o l d c o n s t i t u t i o n , ” b u t h e w as o r d a i n e d rt

(The M e s s e n g e r ) , w h i c h b e g a n t o D ecem ber,

th a t

an a b l e man d e s t i n e d t o b e a p r o m i g i n H a u g e ’ s S y n o d f o r many y e a r s . E ven a t t h e tim e o f

seco n d paragraph o f th e

th e

to as

th a t

th a t

in

c ir c u la tio n

a new d o c t r i n a l em ­

B udbaereren c a r r ie d a la r g e

am ou nt

^ C a r lse n , op. c i t . , p . 1 7 4 . p j^ ste n H a n so n w a s b o r n i n N orw ay I n 1 8 3 6 , i m m i g r a t e d i n 1 8 5 1 , fa r m e d f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s , a n d w as o r d a i n e d i n 1 8 6 1 . From 1 8 6 1 t o 1 8 9 8 , t h e t im e o f h i s d e a t h , h e w as a p a s t o r i n G oodh ue C o u n ty , M in n e s o ta . He w a s p r e s i d e n t o f H a u g e * s S y n o d 1 8 7 5 - 7 6 a n d 1 8 8 7 -9 3 . N o r l i e e t a l . , Who * s Who, p . 2 1 9 . 3

n E . 0 . Mors t a d , E l l i n g E i e l s e n o g d e n * E v a n g e l i s k - l u t h e r s k e K irk e 1 A m erik a ’ ( M i n n e a p o l i s : F o l'k e b la d e 'ts T r y k k e r i , 19 1 7 ), p . 30b. T h is T s a s y m p a th e tic b io g r a p h y w h ic h c o n t a in s a g o o d am ount o f v a l u a b l e I n f o r m a t i o n . 4I b id .,

p. 304.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

106 o f d e v o tio n a l lit e r a t u r e , fr o m t h e w o r k s o f t h e and h i s

c lo se

in c lu d in g

f r i e n d s w ere d i s s a t i s f i e d

th e r e p r i n t s

The p i e t y e m p h a sis in

a le tte r

o f a r tic le s

R o se n iu s.

E ie lse n

w ith B udb aereren a s

sa tisfa c to r y ,

be t o o much l i k e

d ated February 10,

it

p a r t i c u l a r l y w ere th e y d is a p p o in t ­

fr o m R o s e n i u s a n d o t h e r s o f a s i m i l a r

o f R o s e n iu s was q u i t e seem ed t o

1869 a s e r i e s

fa m o u s S w e d i s h p i e t i s t

was e d i t e d b y H anson and B e r g h ; ed in

in

d o c tr in a l

th e orth o d o x y o f th e

1876,

had a lr e a d y o c c u r r e d , E i e l s e n w r o te

but h is

a fter

a sc h ism

to fr ie n d s

in

e m p h a sis.

S y n o d .^

in h i s

ranks

N orw ay s u g g e s t ­

i n g t h a t t h e y e s t a b l i s h a p e r i o d i c a l t h e r e w h i c h c o u l d be u t i l i z e d b y A m e r ic a n E l l i n g i a n s o t r o l o f B udbaereren.

sin c e

t h e New T e n d e n c y w a s i n c o m p l e t e

A q u a r t e r l y m e e t in g o f E i e l s e n ’ s Synod h e l d C o u n t y , M i n n e s o t a , f r o m F e b r u a r y 27 t o M arch 3 , q u ite p la i n ly th e e x is t e n c e th a t tim e .

s a id c o n c e r n in g f a i t h ,

th e

he to o k l i t t l e

th e d is c u s s io n .^

p a r t in

I n G oodhue

1870, r e v e a le d

o f tw o f a c t i o n s w i t h i n

A lth o u g h E i e l s e n w as n o t s a t i s f i e d

con-

th e

synod a t

w i t h m uch t h a t w as

t o p ic under d is c u s s io n ,

it

appears

th a t

P a s t o r B# J« Muus o f G oodhue C o u n t y , o n e o f t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d ’ s m ost p r o m in en t an o b s e r v e r

and g a v e

le a d e r s,

a tte n d e d p a r t o f th e m e e tin g as

a ra th er d e ta ile d

rep ort about i t

in h is

synod’ s organ.

Muus c o u l d r e p o r t t h a t h e was w e l l - p l e a s e d

th e d i s c u s s i o n

c e n t e r i n g a b o u t ’’ j u s t i f y i n g an d s a n c t i f y i n g

rem a rk in g t h a t

it

w as

" sc r ip tu r a l,

3-I b l d . , p p . 3 0 9 f . s u p r a , pp“ 15 f . ^ I b id ., p. 319.

c le a r ,

fa ith ,”

and e d i f y i n g , u n q u e s -

For a b r i e f r e f e r e n c e ^ Ib id .,

w ith

to

R o sen iu s

p. 305.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

see

107 t i o n a b l y th e m ost p le a s a n t t h a t I have h ea rd d u r in g th e

tim e t h a t I h a v e h a d t h e m is f o r t u n e

v ic in ity .” p h a sis

from t h e E l l i n g i a n s

He c o u l d

and s p i r i t .

fin d h a r d ly a tr a c e T h e ir o l d

t o be i n t h e i r

o f th e o ld E llin g ia n

c o n c e p t o f c o n v e r s i o n a s b e i n g som e­

t h i n g s e l f - w r o u g h t was n o l o n g e r t a u g h t , h e s a i d , th e

o r d e r t o p erform h i s

not r e fr a in

d u tie s

and h i s

of grace,

c o n n e c tio n w ith th e

in

one h a s t o p r e a c h ;

never p u b lic ly preaches; preach, As t h e s e E ie lse n

effect

in

to p ic

sat

Muus c o u l d

t h a t on t h i s

oc­

o f l a y a c t i v i t y he r e p o r t e d

th at to c o n fess

one can s e r v e fa ct,

it

is

C h r ist does n ot

C h r ist w e l l i f

one

n o t r i g h t t h a t a l l sh o u ld

o r t h a t one sh o u ld p e r m it e v e r y o n e and o t h e r

b e in g a b e ­

f r i e n d s w e r e n o t n u m b e r ed among t h e m eans

t h a t jtfsten H a n so n h a d s t r e s s e d m ean t h a t

e ffic a c io u sly .

from a b i t i n g rem ark t o t h e

c a sio n E llin g

t o p r e a c h in h i s hom e.

"new” i d e a s w e r e e x p r e s s e d ,

Muus o b s e r v e d t h a t

in a corn er l i s t e n i n g w ith o u t sa y in g a n y th in g .

c o n c l u d i n g e v a l u a t i o n was t o

th e

a g r e a t en cou ragem en t in th e 1 E llin g ia n s•

lig h t

Muus c o u l d n o t be

effect

th a t

th e m e e tin g had been

ju d g e d an i m p a r t i a l c r i t i c

p e a r e d t o o n e who knew th em w e l l f r o m f i r s t - h a n d in

e n c y ” among t h e E l l i n g i a n s m e a n t ,

th e

appearance

of course,

■ ^ " E l l i n g i a n e r n e s K v a r t a ls m f id e K. M .j XV ( 1 8 7 0 ) , 9 7 - 1 0 7 .

i

o f th e

H is o b s e r v a t io n s r e v e a l

c le a v a g e w h ic h had d e v e lo p e d w i t h i n E i e l s e n * s

M u u s’ o b v i o u s p l e a s u r e

M uus1

o f th e p a s t h i s t o r y o f th e

E l l i n g i a n s , b u t h e was a k e e n o b s e r v e r . th e

n o r was t h e r e

c u s t o m a r y e m p h a s i s on t h e n e c e s s i t y o f a p a s t o r ' s

lie v e r in

em­

Synod as

it

ap­

co n ta cts. o f a "new t e n d ­

th a t he b e lie v e d

Goodhue C o . , M i n n . , ”

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

t h a t t h e y w ere m o v in g i n t h e d i r e c t i o n p o sitio n . p h a sis

T h ere w ere c e r t a i n

in E i e l s e n ' s

o f t h e S y n o d 's d o c t r i n a l

s im ila r itie s

b e t w e e n t h e new em­

S y n o d , w h ic h h ad b e e n i d e n t i f i e d w i t h R o s e n iu s

New E v a n g e l i s m , a n d t h e d o c t r i n a l o r t h o d o x y o f t h e N o r w e g ia n Synod,

or th e M isso u r i S yn od.

g ia n p a sto r

o f th e day as

M ^ rstad q u o t e s a w e ll- k n o w n Norwe­

fo llo w s :

p h en o m e n o n t h a t t h a t w h i c h i n

" it

is

a h ig h ly n o tew o rth y

Sw ed en d e v e l o p e d m ore a s a l a y m a n ' s

m o v e m e n t u n d e r t h e name o f New E v a n g e l i s m w as u n f o l d e d w i t h t h e o l o g i c a l l e a r n i n g and s t r i c t of

O ld L u t h e r a n i s m .

tiv e ,

.

.

b e e n d o n e f o r m a n 's s a l v a t i o n ;

th a t h is

in ste a d

sy n o d 's e a r l i e r

c o n s i s t e n c y u n d e r t h e name

New E v a n g e l i s m e m p h a s i z e d t h e

c o m p le te d w ork o f C h r i s t ;

G o s p e l e m p h a sis

it in

th a t

in siste n c e

and t h e

n e c e ssity

s c u r e d by t h e

in tr o d u c tio n

ex a m p le , t h a t

t h e new d o c t r i n e

sen se,

it

one.

on r e p e n t a n c e ,

o f new d o c t r i n e . p e r m itte d

edge.

is

g iv e n e ss

even w h ile

fo r s a n c tific a tio n

it

o b scu red th e

p e r m itte d

was b e i n g o b ­ sta ted ,

fo r

t h a t he

tru e rep en ta n ce

and

f a c t t h a t t h e w ay

n o t o n l y a w ay o f k n o w l

la w .2

regard s any d ilig e n c e B u d b a e r e r e n was

a c c u s e d o f p r o m o tin g a n tin o m ia n is m th r o u g h i t s w r itin g s

a

one t o a c q u i r e G o d 's f o r ­

im p e n it e n t and t h a t i t a s bondage to th e

life

one t o b e l i e v e

th e way o f a l i v i n g f a i t h ,

He c o n t e n d e d t h a t

c o n v e r sio n ,

E ie lse n

w as s a v e d w i t h o u t h a v i n g a c t u a l l y e x p e r i e n c e d

o f sa lv a tio n

rep resen ted a

E ie lse n b e lie v e d

of a s a n c tifie d

The n e w d o c t r i n e

ob jec­

e m p h a siz e d what h ad a lr e a d y

of a le g a lis tic

liv in g fa ith ,

a sa v in g f a i t h .

in A m erica

p u b lic a tio n

o f th e

o f R o se n iu s. % 8r s t a d ,

op. c i t . , p . 3 11.

2 I b ld « , pp. 3 1 7 , 320 f .

3

" T il

'B u d b a e re r en s» L a e s e r e ," B u d b a ereren ,

IX ( A u g u s t ,

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

In 1877,

a f t e r H a u g e * s S y n o d h a d come i n t o b e i n g ,

s i x men

ad d ressed a l e t t e r to th e s y n o d ic a l m e e tin g , e x p r e ssin g d i s s a t i s l f a c t i o n w i t h t h e New T e n d e n c y and w i t h B u d b a e r e r e n * a p r e s e n t a t i o n o f d o c tr in e , and t h e

p a r t i c u l a r l y c o n c e r n in g a w a k e n in g , c o n v e r s i o n ,

p la c e

th ey s a id ,

o f th e

la w i n

th e

life

o f th e b e l i e v e r .

h a d s t r e s s e d m an *s p a s s i v i t y

B udbaereren,

in c o n v e r s io n .

They f e l t

t h a t an o v e r - e m p h a s i s h a d b e e n p l a c e d o n t h e G o s p e l a t t h e o f th e

Law, r e s u l t i n g

e x p r e sse d th e

o p in io n

in

th at

accord w ith th e E llin g ia n H auge»s S y n o d .1 h is

if

had n o t b e e n th e

th e b a s ic in

v ie w o f th o s e b e lo n g in g t o th e

T he t h r e a t e n e d d id n ot o c c u r . w ere

To t h e

H auge*s Synod r e p r e s e n t e d

to th e

six , but

th e s y n o d ic a l c o n s t i t u t i o n

p o si­

but

S p e a k in g o f th e p o i n t o f

New T e n d e n c y , t h e y s a i d :

b u t n o t in th e m s e lv e s .

sc h ism

.

"T hey

.

in th e n e w ly -o r g a n iz e d H auge*s Synod t h e New T e n d e n c y

a v e r a g e N o r w e g ia n -A m e ric a n L u th e r a n a group w h ic h s t r e s s e d

and a m o r e l e g a l i s t i c

ty p e

c o n v e r sio n ,

o f C h r istia n

life

to

1 8 7 7 ) , 3 3 —3 6 . The e d i t o r c o n t e n d s t h a t R o s e n i u s g i v e s t h e la w i t s p r o p e r e m p h a sis i f h i s s u p p o s e d ly a n tin o m ia n s t a t e m e n t s a re seen in c o n te x t. B e c a u s e t h e v o lu m e n u m b e r s o f B u d b a e r e r e n d o n o t c o r r e s p o n d w i t h t h e c a l e n d a r y e a r u n t i l V o l ." X!l ( 1 8 7 9 ) , t h e m o n th a s w e l l a s t h e y e a r w i l l b e u s e d t o i d e n t i f y t h e v o lu m e num ber i n r e f e r e n c e s p r i o r t o 1 8 7 9 . ^ o rsta d , 2I b id .,

op.

c i t . , pp. 3 2 2 -3 4 .

p. 345.

In

o f th e rece n t d is s e n s io n

The c h a r g e s d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t

over-d raw n .

sa n c tific a tio n ,

cause

o f d o c tr in e .2

fo r th e m se lv e s,

T hey

a r u p tu r e w o u ld o c c u r w i t h i n

and th e y a g a in p r e s e n t e d t h e i r

a lte r a tio n s

new p r e s e n t a t i o n

want C h r is t

of sa n c tific a tio n .

P r e s i d e n t A . E . Boyum r e p l i e d

c o n te n d in g th a t

expense

su ch t e a c h i n g s w ere n o t r e j e c t e d

tr a d itio n ,

answ er d id n o t s a t i s f y ,

tio n ,

th is

a m in im iz a tio n

fa ith ,

5I b ld .,

p. 353.

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

a

110 degree

n o t f o u n d In t h e o t h e r

synods, d e sp ite

m i g h t s t e m fr o m some s m a l l g r o u p w i t h i n But i t

is

charges

th a t

t h e H a u g e a n camp i t s e l f .

t r u e t h a n an i m p o r t a n t s e g m e n t o f H a u g e ' s S y n o d was

d r a w in g c l o s e r t o w e ll as

th e

its

siste r

synods

in i t s

d o c t r in a l e m p h a sis,

in p r a c t ic e . S tr ife

c e n t e r in g a b ou t th e

Much o f t h e c r i t i c i s m

" o l d C o n s t i t u t i o n ’'

d ir e c te d a g a in st E ie ls e n 's

Synod

b o t h f r o m w i t h o u t a n d w i t h i n w a s p r e c i p i t a t e d b y t h e fa m ed C o n s titu tio n ," fea tu res

as

th e

o f th e

o r ig in a l sy n o d ic a l c o n s titu tio n .

"Old C o n s t i t u t i o n " w e r e

was p a r t i c u l a r l y

R ohne’ s t r a n s l a t i o n

T hose th r e e

A l t h o u g h many

su b jected to a tta c k ,

p a ra g ra p h s o n e , tw o , and s i x

c ism and c e n s u r e .

"Old

it

th a t provoked c r i t i ­

paragraphs are in c lu d e d h e r e

in

fo r c o n v e n ie n t r e f e r e n c e :

1 . W hereas w e , t h e u n i t e d o n e s , h a v e b y th e g r a c e o f our L ord J e s u s C h r i s t u n i t e d and j o i n e d o u r s e l v e s t o g e t h e r i n t o an o f f i c i a l c h u r c h b o d y i n t h e L u t h e r a n C h u r c h , b e i t h e r e b y f i r m l y r e s o l v e d and d e c i d e d , t h a t t h i s o u r c h u r c h b o d y s h a l l f o r e v e r c o n t i n u e t o b e , j u s t a s i t now i s , i n c o n f o r m i t y t o t h e g e n u i n e L u t h e r a n f a i t h an d d o c t r i n e , a n d b u i l t o n G o d 's Word i n t h e H o l y S c r i p t u r e s i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e A p o s t o l i c and A u g s b u r g A r t i c l e s o f F a i t h , w h i c h t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e Word' ' a r e t h e r u l e f o r o u r ch u r c li o r d e r , and f o r o u r f a i t h and c o n ­ f e s s i o n , a s l i v i n g m em bers u n d e r o u r s a v i o r J e s u s C h r i s t , who i s t h e H ea d o f o u r c h u r c h . 2 . i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e o r d e r an d m e th o d w h ic h t h e H o l y S c r i p t u r e s t e a c h and c o n v i n c e , t h a t n o t h i n g common o r u n c l e a n c a n e n t e r t h e New J e r u s a l e m ( R e v . X X I . 2 7 , e t c . ) , n o o n e o u g h t t o b e a c c e p t e d a s a member o f o u r b o d y , e x c e p t h e h a s p a s s e d t h r o u g h a g e n u i n e c o n v e r s i o n o r i s on t h e w ay t o c o n v e r s i o n , s o h e h a s a n o t i c e a b l e s o r r o w f o r h i s s i n s , a n d h u n g e r and t h i r s t a f t e r r i g h t e o u s n e s s , fr o m w h i c h m u s t f o l l o w a n i m p r o v e ­ m ent i n h i s c o n d u c t a s a t e s t i m o n y o f th e l i v i n g f a i t h ' s a c t i v i t y i n s o u l and h e a r t , a b o u t w h i c h t h e S c r i p t u r e s w i t n e s s so e x p r e s s ly th a t th e y are th e in e sc a p a b le n e c e s s it y f o r ev er y t r u e member o f t h e t r u e c h u r c h b o d y . 6 . W ith p o p i s h a u t h o r i t y a n d a l s o t h e common m i n i s t e r i a l g a r b we h e n c e f o r t h h a v e a b s o l u t e l y n o t h i n g t o d o , s i n c e t h e r e i s n o p r o o f I n t h e New T e s t a m e n t t h a t J e s u s o r h i s d i s c i p l e s

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

I ll have u sed or e n jo in e d it * On t h e c o n t r a r y , we c a n r e a d i n M a t t , x x i i i , 5 , Mark x i i , 3 8 , a n d Luke x x , 4 6 t h a t J e s u s c h a s ­ t i s e d t h o s e who w e n t a b o u t i n l o n g c l o t h e s and p e r f o r m e d ( a c t s o f ) p i e t y t o b e w e l l t h o u g h t o f b y m en. E x p e rien ce a ls o t e a c h e s , t h a t b o t h m i n i s t e r and h e a r e r ( w o r s h ip e r ) o f t e n p la c e a b l i n d c o n f i d e n c e i n t h e d e a d c h u r c h c e r e m o n i e s and c l e r i c a l g a r b , a n d t h r o u g h t h i s d o aw ay w i t h G od’ s command b e c a u s e o f t h e i r cu stom (M a tt, x v , 6 ) . Paragraph on e, g e n u in e L u th e r a n s , e q u a lit y w ith abu sed

of a ll,

in

se e k in g

appears to

th e B ib le a s is

to e s t a b l i s h th e E llin g i a n s

p l a c e m an-m ade c o n f e s s i o n s

a u th o r ity .

m a n ife stly D o n a tis tic ,

t h a t c h u r c h m em b ersh ip b e r e s t r i c t e d t h e w ay t o c o n v e r s i o n . " to

P aragraph tw o,

ch u rch c e r e m o n ie s

in sistin g

to con verts

Paragraph s i x ,

in

its

r ite s,

and c er e m o n ie s

o f a b so lu tio n ,

in

have been d ir e c te d

o f th e

a d d itio n ,

it

does "on

ou tsp ok en o p p o s it io n

lo o se ly -o r g a n iz e d

is

u n n ecessary.

was t h e t w e n t i e t h w h ic h c o n ­

is

In d iv id u a ls,

co n troversy.

b o t h an e v i d e n c e

n atu re o f E ie ls e n 's

to be r e g u la tiv e

Y e t I t made n o p r o v i s i o n

th a t u n ifo r m ity about

som e o f t h e p a r a g r a p h s a p p e a r t o

a g a in st c e r ta in

T h is c o n s t i t u t i o n

l y in te n d e d

as

la y in g - o n o f hands d u r in g th e s e r v i c e

w i t h whom E i e l s e n h a d e n g a g e d i n

th e

th e m ost

and t h o s e

o f human o r i g i n

A n o th e r p a r a g r a p h t h a t was c r i t i c i z e d dem ned t h e p r a c t i c e

on an

and c l e r i c a l g a r b w a s i n c o m p a t i b l e w i t h t h e

A u gsb u rg C o n f e s s i o n , A r t i c l e V I I , w h ic h h o ld s tr a d itio n s ,

as

p

som e o f t h o s e

, o f,

group.

and a c a u s e

fo r,

I t was a p p a r e n t ­

o f b o th c o n g r e g a tio n s

and th e

synod.

f o r th e p r a c t i c a l governm ent o f e i t h e r ;

The N o r w e g i a n t e x t o f t h e "O ld C o n s t i t u t i o n " may b e f o u n d in B ergh , op . c i t . , p p . 2 7 -3 2 . An E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n a p p e a r s i n R ohne, o p . c i t . , p p . 1 0 7 - 1 1 0 . Rohne s a y s o f h i s t r a n s l a t i o n : "At t h 9 g r e a t r i s k o f d o i n g v i o l e n c e t o t h e E n g l i s h l a n g u a g e - - t h e o r i g i n a l d o e s v i o l e n c e t o th e N o r w e g ia n — I s h a l l t r y t o r e t a i n i t s q u a in t and f a u l t y d i c t i o n . " I b i d . , p p . 106 f .

p

For e x a m p le ,

p a r . 6 appears to be d ir e c te d

a g a i n s t J . W.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

112 it

d oes n o t p r o v id e f o r o f f i c e r s ,

m e e tin g s,

a sy stem

of p o lity ,

or any o f th e e le m e n ts n e c e s s a r y f o r s u c c e s s f u l o r g a n iz a tio n and a d m in istr a tio n .

As a m a t t e r o f f a c t ,

c o n fe ssio n o f f a it h

it

w as more a p o l e m i c a l

th a n a r e a l c o n s t i t u t i o n .

L ead ers in th e N or­

w e g ia n Synod r e p e a t e d l y p o in t e d

out th e

C o n s titu tio n ,"

cau sed d is s e n s io n w ith in E ie ls e n 's

own r a n k s .

P e r io d ic a lly i t

In 1 8 5 6 h e

l o s t h i s m ost a b le

R asm ussen, c h i e f l y

because

"Old C o n s t i t u t i o n "

c o n ta in e d erron eou s

in p a ra g ra p h tw o ,^

as

sh o r tc o m in g s o f th e

th e

th e l a t t e r

"Old

l i e u t e n a n t , y o u n g P« A«

becam e c o n v in c e d t h a t th e te a c h in g s, p a r tic u la r ly

New T e n d e n c y ,

le d by younger p a s t o r s ,

f o r g e d a h e a d i n E i e l s e n * s S y n o d , t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n w as a g a i n t h e o b ject

o f m uch c r i t i c i s m ,

and t h e r e w e r e s u g g e s t i o n s

th a t i t

be

r e v ise d . At th e synod m e e tin g h e ld b y t h e E l l i n g i s n s fiv e -m a n

c o m m itte e ,

i n c l u d i n g $ s t e n H a n so n , w as c h o s e n t o w ork

out a c o n g r e g a tio n a l c o n s t it u t io n g r e g a tio n s

o f th e

sy n o d ,^

T h is

ed i n B u d b a er e re n In F e b r u a r y ,

fu l co n stitu tio n . D ie tr ic h so n ; p a r, A nd erson , B ergh,

o f the 3

recom m en d ed t o t h e

w h i c h I t d rew u p and h a d

1 8 7 1 , was

N orwegian sy n o d ;

O p p osition t o 10 a g a i n s t H . A , op. c i t . , p. 33.

■^•Rohne, o p .

to be

con­

c o m m itte e w as d o m in a te d by t h e

New T e n d e n c y , a n d t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n

by con gregation s

in 1870 a

c i t . , pp. 142,

the

c o m p a ra b le t o t h a t it

p r in t­ used

was a p r a c t i c a l , u s e -

proposed c o n s titu tio n S tu b ; p a r ,

was

20a g a i n s t P a u l

153.

O

"U dd rag a f F o r h a n d l i n g e r n e p a a S y n o d e m o d e t f o r d e n E v a n g e l i s k - L u t h e r s k e K i r k e I A m e r i k a , a f h o l d t d en 6 t e , 7 d e , 8 d e , 9 d e o g 1 0 d e J u n i 1 8 7 0 i N o rw a y , L a S a l l e C o . , I l l s . , " B u d b a e r e r e n , I I (J u ly , 1 8 7 0 ), 19. ^"Udkast t i l

F o r s l a g f o r en M e n i g h e d s - O r d n i n g ," i b i d . ,

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

113 m a n ife s t a t th e

1871 a n n u a l m e e t in g , r e s u l t i n g in th e

o f a new c o m m it t e e w i t h t h e t a s k s titu tio n

o f r e w o r k in g th e p r o p o se d

o r p r e p a r i n g a c o m p l e t e l y new o n e .

c lu d e d E i e l s e n and o th e r s

a p p o in tm en t

o f th e

con­

T h is c o m m ittee

O ld T e n d e n c y . ' 1'

in ­

c o u ld be e x ­

as

p e c te d , th e

c o n g r e g a t i o n a l c o n s l t u t i o n p r e p a r e d by th e m b r e a t h e d p o ld E llin g ia n s p i r i t . S e v e r a l c o n g r e g a tio n s u t i l i z e d su b se ­

th e

quent is su e s

o f B udbaereren to

m ost r e c e n t p r o p o s a l, syn od m e e tin g i t

make known t h e i r

a n d m o s t o f th em r e j e c t e d

was fo u n d t h a t t h e

E i e l s e n ’ s c o m m itte e had l i t t l e th e e f f e c t

th a t th e

th is

fa c tio n

tim e .

c a l p la n s

in th e

its

At th e

th e 1872

p r e p a r e d by

la s t proposed

c o n g r e g a t i o n s w as a d o p t e d . ®

synod s u c c e e d e d

in g a in in g i t s

p o in t a t

The m e e t i n g o f 1 8 7 2 w as much p r e o c c u p i e d w i t h s y n o d i f o r th e e s ta b lis h m e n t r e c e iv e d

o f a s c h o o l , a n d th e p r o b le m o f a little

m i n u t e s o f t h e m e e t i n g do n o t c o n t a i n

proposed

to

jtfsten H a n s o n ' s m o t i o n t o

sy n o d c o u ld n o t recom m end t h e

sy n o d ic a l c o n s titu tio n

stitu tio n

it.

c o n stitu tio n

su p p ort,

c o n g r e g a tio n a l c o n s t it u t io n t o N e ith e r

r e a c tio n s

q u e stio n .

H ow ever,

th e

p a r tie s,

At l e a s t ,

any d is c u s s io n

d isc u ssio n

c o n g r e g a tio n a l c o n s t it u t io n s

tw o d e f i n i t e

a tte n tio n .

r e v e a ls

o f th e

th e con­

a s s o c ia t e d w it h th e th e

e x iste n c e

one l e d by $ s t e n H anson and t h e

of

o th e r by

E ie lse n . II

(F eb ru ary,

1 8 7 1 ," ber,

1 8 7 1 ),

1 33 -38 .

■L,,U d d r a g a f F o r h a n d l i n g e r n e i b i d . , I l l (J u ly , 1 8 7 1 ), 1 8 .

^ " F o r sla g t i l 1 8 7 1 ), 1 0 5 -1 1 1 .

.

.

• fr a 5 te

til

en M e n ig h e d s -O r d n in g ," i b i d . ,

9de J u n i

I ll

(D e c e m ­

® " R e f e r a t a f F o r h a n d l i n g e r n e v e d S yn od ein 8 d e t f o r d e n ' E v a n g e l i s k - L u t h e r s k e K ir k e i A m e r i k a ' . . . 1 8 7 2 , " i b i d . , IV (J u n e , 1 8 7 2 ), 1 0 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

114 The n e x t y e a r w i t n e s s e d t h e th a t le d ity

t o th e r e j e c t i o n

o f th e

synod.

o f th e

fir s t

step

in

th e d e v e lo p m e n t

’’O ld C o n s t i t u t i o n "

by th e m ajor­

The 1 8 7 3 a n n u a l m e e t i n g r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t t h e

in d iv id u a l c o n g r e g a tio n s

o f th e

synod sh o u ld ta k e

c o n s t it u t io n under c o n s id e r a tio n .

th e s y n o d ic a l

T h e ir r e a c t i o n s w ere t h e n t o be

c o m m u n ic a t e d t o t h e P a l l q u a r t e r l y m e e t i n g , w h e r e t h e m a t t e r w o u ld a g a in be d is c u s s e d

in p r e p a r a tio n f o r th e n ex t

At th e q u a r t e r l y m e e t in g h e l d

s y n o d i c a l m e e t in g .'* '

in M in n e a p o lis in

a p r o p o s a l r e c o m m e n d in g c h a n g e s

in th e

th e P a l l o f 1873

"O ld C o n s t i t u t i o n " w a s

s e c o n d e d by E i e l s e n h i m s e l f and a d o p t e d n e a r l y u n a n im o u s l y . g r a p h on e w a s a l t e r e d

so th a t

su b sc r ip tio n to

th e

Para­

L u th era n s y m b o li­

c a l b o o k s w as e x p r e s s e d i n t h e g e n e r a l l y a c c e p t e d w a y .

It

w as

r ec o m m e n d e d t h a t p a r a g r a p h t w o r e a d a s f o l l o w s : S in c e th e H o ly S c r i p t u r e s t e a c h and c o n v in c e t h a t C h r is ­ t i a n s s h o u ld n o t be s t r a n g e l y yoked t o g e t h e r w ith u n b e lie v e r s ( I I C o r . 6 : 1 4 , p a s s i m ) i t i s r e q u i r e d o f t h o s e w ho d e s i r e a d ­ m i s s i o n i n t o th e syn od t h a t t h e y s i n c e r e l y em brace t h e C h r is ­ t i a n f a i t h a n d p u r e d o c t r i n e , a n d a t t h e sa m e t i m e l e a d a C h r i s t i a n l i f e ; t h e sam e a l s o a p p l i e s f o r t h e i n d i v i d u a l who d e s i r e s a d m is s io n in t o any c o n g r e g a tio n in t h i s sy h o d , th a t h e i s b a p t i z e d , b e l i e v e s G od’ s W ord, a n d m a n i f e s t s C h r i s t i a n b e h a v io r . 2 T h is r e p r e s e n t e d

a r a th e r d r a stic

it

to

is

ever, tim e .

s u r p r isin g

see E ie lse n

E ie ls e n was not w h o lly

r e c a s t in g o f paragraph tw o, and

go a l o n g w i t h t h e p r o p o s a l .

c o n siste n t in h is

B udbaereren c o n ta in s a rep o rt o f h is

a ttitu d e

How­

at th is

atten d a n ce a t an oth er

•*-"Uddrag a f F o r h a n d l i n g e r n e v e d S y n o d e m B d e t f o r d e n ’ E v a n g e l i s k - L u t h e r s k e K ir k e I A m e r i k a ’ . . . 1 8 7 3 , ’’ I b i d . , V ( J u n e , 1 8 7 3 ) , 9 . . Q u a r t e r ly m e e t in g s w ere f o r d i s c u s s i o n and e d i f i c a t i o n ; a l l m a le m em bers o f t h e s y n o d h a d t h e r i g h t t o s p e a k a n d v o t e a t th em . U s u a l l y t h e y w e r e h e l d i n t h e P a l l a n d W i n t e r an d w e r e n o t n e c e s s a r ily in c lu s iv e o f th e e n t ir e synod. 1 8 7 3 ,"

2 " K v a r t a lm 6!d e t i M i n n e a p o l i s , i b i d . , V (N ovem b er, 1 8 7 3 ) , 9 0 .

fr a 5 te

til

9de

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

O k tob er,

q u a r t e r ly m e e tin g h e ld T he g r o u p i n

in P o lk C o u n ty ,

a t t e n d a n c e r ec o m m e n d ed some c h a n g e s

s t i t u t i o n , ” b u t th e

change s u g g e s te d

a n atu re

th a t

m e e tin g ,

c o u ld n o t v o te

ta in e d

fo r i t .

in th e

"Old C on­

f o r p a r a g r a p h tw o w as o f s u c h

T h e o r i g i n a l p a r a g r a p h w as r e ­

a lm o st unchanged w it h t h e r e v i s i o n w orked o u t a t M in n e a p o lis The r e s u l t w a s h a r d l y s e l f - c o n s i s t e n t .

q u a r t e r ly m e e tin g e x p r e sse d

tio n "

t h e same m o n t h .

P a s t o r P . H . C a r l s o n , who h a d b e e n a t t h e M i n n e a p o l i s

t a c k e d on t o i t .

effect

Iow a, l a t e r

th a t i t

its

se n tim e n ts

in

d i d n o t deem many c o r r e c t i o n s

n e c e ssa r y b u t th a t th e a d d itio n

c o n ta in in g p r o v isio n s

T h is

a r e so lu tio n o f th e

to

th e

"Old C o n s t i t u ­

o f one or s e v e r a l p aragrap h s

fo r th e a d m in is tr a tio n

o f t h e s y n o d was

n e c essa ry ." * " By t h e

tim e o f th e W in te r q u a r t e r l y m e e t i n g e i g h t e e n c o n ­

g r e g a t io n s had e x p r e s s e d t h e m s e lv e s "O ld C o n s t i t u t i o n , " w h i l e

in

fa v o r o f changes in

th r e e w ere o p p o se d .

The d i s c u s s i o n

g e n e r a t e d som e h e a t , b u t m o s t o f t h e p a r a g r a p h s o f t h e stitu tio n "

w ere

"O ld C on­

a c c e p t e d u n c h a n g e d o r w i t h m in o r a l t e r a t i o n s .

P a r a g r a p h tw o, a s u s u a l , th e

th e

p rom p ted a l o n g d i s c u s s i o n , b u t f i n a l l y

p o l k c o u n t y r e n d e r i n g o f i t w a s a c c e p t e d w i t h some c o r r e c t i o n . ^ The 1 8 7 4 a n n u a l m e e t i n g i n s t r u c t e d

th e p a sto r s

o f th e

s y n o d t o m e e t i n M i n n e a p o l i s d u r i n g t h e m o n th o f J u l y " t o t a k e th e

s y n o d 1s c o n s t i t u t i o n u n d e r a d v i s e m e n t a n d t o b r i n g f o r t h a

proposal fo r

its

c o rr e c tio n

and fo r n e c e s s a r y a d d itio n s ;

m u lt a n e o u s ly t o w ork out a p r e l im in a r y d r a f t

fo r

and s i ­

a c o n g r e g a tio n a l

O k tob er,

^ •" K va rta lm fid et i p o l k C o u n t y , I o w a . F ra 27de t i l 1 8 7 3 ," i b i d . , V (F e b r u a r y , 1 8 7 4 ) , 1 2 9 .

P r a ir ie ,

^ " R e fe r a t a f K v a r ta lm S d e ts F o r h a n d lin g e r paa S p r in g W is .," i b i d . , p . 1 3 3 .

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

3 0 te

116 c o n stitu tio n , p a sto rs

p ress th e

c h a ir m a n .

n e x t a n n u a l m e e tin g .

th e

sy n o d 's

c o n v ic tio n s

sy n o d ic a l o f f i c i a l s . a s t o how t h i s

and a im s

H ow ever,

th a t i t

it

a b r i e f an d c l e a r

A m a jo r ity ,

p ossessed

and p r a c t i c e s

O th ers w ere

’’O ld C o n s t i t u t i o n ” i n s o f a r

as p o s s i b l e ,

by changes and a d d i t i o n s .

of

s o many s h o r t c o m i n g s an d add t o i t

in

of

a c c o r d in g to

ought t o be s e t

form .

c e p ta b le

w o u ld c l e a r l y e x ­

t h e r e w as a d i f f e r e n c e

w o u ld b e i n e x p e d i e n t t o t r y t o r e v i s e

th e sy n o d ’ s p r in c ip le s

a r e v isio n

and s p e c i f y t h e d u t i e s

s h o u ld be done • th a t

The

0sten

o n J u l y 1 5 an d c h o s e

T h e r e w as g e n e r a l a g r e e m e n t t h a t

B udbaereren, b e lie v e d

in

th e

"Old C o n s t i t u t i o n ” w as n e e d e d s o

o p in io n

it

at

a ssem b led i n M in n e a p o lis

H anson a s o f th e

f o r a d o p tio n

th a t

and t h a t

f o r t h an ew

favor o f r e t a in in g

d e sir in g

t o make i t

th e

ac-

p

A p p a r e n t l y a r e v i s e d d r a f t a n d a new d r a f t o f t h e c o n s t i ­ t u t i o n w ere p r e p a r e d a t , O ctob er

is su e

o f th e

or as

o f th e above

e sse n tia lly synods. o f th e

th e

th e S y n o d .”

su g g e stio n s.

c o n ta in in g o n ly tw e lv e H a n so n a n d t h o s e

o f,

o f h is same a s

sp ir it. th o se

N o r w e g ia n s y n o d .

3

The

a ’’p r e l i m i n a r y

T h is w as a f r u i t

I t was b r i e f and t o

a r tic le s,

I n many r e s p e c t s

of th e

th e p o in t,

o b v i o u s l y b e i n g t h e work o f T h is p rop osed c o n s t i t u t i o n

o f o th er w e ll-o r g a n iz e d

was

L u th era n

th e c o n s t i t u t i o n was n o t u n lik e

th a t

T h is M in n e a p o lis m e e tin g a l s o drew up a

-*-”V o r t S a m fu n d s A a r s m o d e , ” i b i d . , V I ^ ”Mc5det i M i n n e a p o l i s , ” i b i d . , V I ^ ’’U d k a s t t i l

t h i s m e e tin g .

syn od ’ s p e r io d ic a l p r in te d

D ra ft o f a C o n s titu tio n f o r fir s t

a r e su lt

K o n stitu tio n

fo r

(J u n e,

1 8 7 4 ),

12.

(O cto b er,

1 8 7 4 ),

80.

Synoden, ” ib id . ,

pp. 80 f f .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

117 s u g g e s t e d c o n g r e g a t i o n a l c o n s titu tio n ." * " The N o v e m b e r I s s u e

o f B udbaereren c o n ta in s

C o n s titu tio n w ith C o r r e c tio n s one p a r a g r a p h s .

and A d d it io n s ,"

T h is d r a f t was t h e

a b o v e -m en tio n e d s u g g e s t i o n s . th e

"O ld C o n s t i t u t i o n "

tu tio n .

it

ad o p ted

w as t h i s

as th e

as

d ra ft,

la tio n

of le t t e r s ,

tu tio n

issu e .

1875,

o f th e sec o n d o f th e

I t r e p r e se n te d th e d e s ir e

sy n o d ic a l c o n s t i­

o f H a u g e » s S y n o d .^

issu e

B o th E ie ls e n

to r e t a in

f u r t h e r r e v i s e d , w h i c h w as f i n a l l y

a r tic le s ,

o p p o sin g in n o v a t io n s .

c o n sistin g of fo r ty -

th e f o u n d a t io n o f th e

c o n stitu tio n

The A p r i l ,

fr u it

''The O ld C h u r c h

o f B u d b a e r e r e n c o n t a i n e d a n a c cu m u ­

and r e p o r ts

p e r tin e n t

to th e

and h i s w i f e

S i r i w ent

on r e c o r d a s

M in u tes

c o n s ti­

fro m a F a l l q u a r t e r l y m e e t i n g a t

T re m p ele a u V a l l e y ,

W isc o n sin ,

P r a ir ie ,

and a m e e tin g h e l d i n K enyon, M in n e s o ta ,

ca te

Illin o is,

th a t a l l

of th ese

a w in te r

q u a r t e r ly m e e t in g a t Long

g a t h e r i n g s w e n t on r e c o r d a s

in d i­

in fa v o r o f a

new c o n s t i t u t i o n .

H o w e v e r , t h e L ong P r a i r i e g a t h e r i n g w as n o t

prepared t o ch oose

b etw een th e d r a f t

tu tio n

an d t h a t o f t h e

r e v ise d

o f a c o m p l e t e l y new c o n s t i ­

"O ld C o n s t i t u t i o n .

The New T e n d e n c y w a s c o m p l e t e l y i n c o n t r o l annual m e e tin g . C o n stitu tio n "

U nder t h e

was u n a n im o u s ly s e t

was t e n t a t i v e l y a d o p te d in g ;

le a d e r sh ip

to be

in

of

a t th e 1875

$ s t e n H a n s o n t h e "O ld

a s i d e a n d a new c o n s t i t u t i o n fo rce

u n t il th e n ex t

annual m eet­

p r o v i s i o n w a s made f o r t h e p r i n t i n g o f 2 , 0 0 0 c o p i e s l" F o r sla g t i l

o f th e

M e n ig h e d s o r d n in g ," i b i d . , pp. 84 f .

^"D en g a m le K i r k e k o n s t i t u t i o n med R e t t e l s e r i b i d . , VI (N ovem ber, 1 8 7 4 ) , 9 4 - 9 7 . ^B udbaereren, VI

(A p ril,

1 8 7 5 ),

og T i l l a e g ,"

175 f f .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

118 n ew c o n s t i t u t i o n . ' * ' The W i n t e r q u a r t e r l y m e e t i n g h e l d i n M in n e so ta , F ebruary 7 - 1 0 ,

1 8 7 6 , c o n s i d e r e d w h a t c o u l d or o u g h t t o

b e done in v ie w o f th e ap p ea ra n ce That i s ,

a c e r t a i n group r e f u s e d

o f a " p arty" w i t h i n t h e s y n o d . t o go a lo n g w it h th e d e c i s i o n s

o f th e p r e c e d in g annual m e e tin g .

W h ile

u n i t y a t t h a t m e e t in g w h ic h a l t e r e d th e

synod,

c io u s ly ro o ted tio n "

it

"O ld C o n s t i t u t i o n . "

in th e sy n o d 's

g a th e r in g in le tte r

th e

r e je c tio n

o f a p o r tio n o f th e

fr ie n d s

in c lu d e

o f E ie lse n

T h is

in th e m in u te s

in C h ic a g o t o

in J a c k so n C o u n ty , w e s t e r n M in n e s o t a .

d a t e d D ecem ber 1 6 ,

a

lik e I t was

1 8 7 5 , a n d w a s s i g n e d b y L a a s e A a se and G e o .

The C h i c a g o g r o u p c o n s i s t e d

in c lu d in g M rs. E i e l s e n . who s t i l l h o l d f a s t

p a sto rs.

of

"O ld C o n s t i t u ­

o f R o sen ia n d o c t r i n e .

o l m s t e a d C o u n ty d e c i d e d t o

m in d e d a s s o c i a t e s

card i t

o r ig in a l c o n s titu tio n

T h e ir d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n was

alk s g e d i n t r o d u c t i o n

a d d r e s s e d by some

O lso n .

th e

th ere had b een e x t e r n a l

h a d becom e v e r y o b v i o u s t h a t som e s t i l l h e l d t e n a ­

to th e

and i n

O lm s t e a d C o u n t y ,

o f s i x men a n d som e w om en,

They e x p r e s s

t o th e

jo y th a t th ere

are

o th ers

"Old C o n s t i t u t i o n , " r e f u s i n g t o d i s ­

f o r a new h i g h - c h u r c h l y one s p o n s o r e d b y d o m i n e e r i n g They have s e p a r a te d

g r e g a tio n in

from P a s t o r J . Z . T o r g e r s o n ' s

C h i c a g o and r e f u s e

to p a r t ic ip a t e

con­

i n com m union t h e r e

o r i n any c o n g r e g a t i o n b e l o n g i n g t o a sy n o d w hose p r e s i d e n t ( $ s t e n H anson) h a s p u b l i c l y d e c l a r e d t h e fa lse

and h e r e t i c a l .

"Old C o n s t i t u t i o n "

They h a v e a s k e d E i e l s e n t o

to be

serve as th e ir

^Annual R e p o r t, H a u g e 's S yn od , 1 8 7 5 , p p . 5 9 , 4 7 . T h is w a s t h e f i r s t a n n u a l r e p o r t o f ~ H a u g e 1 s S y n o d t h a t w as p r i n t e d s e p a r a t e l y , and i t in c lu d e d th e d r a f t o f th e t e n t a t i v e l y ad o p ted c o n stitu tio n . I b i d . , pp. 5 0 -5 5 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

119 p a sto r but s t i l l c la im

have n o t h eard w hat he

in te n d s

to do.

They d i s ­

f e l l o w s h i p w i t h $ s t e n H a n s o n , whom t h e y c e n s u r e a s b e i n g u n ­

t r u e t o H a u g ea n ism . ’’O ld C o n s t i t u t i o n , " th e ir

fe llo w sh ip

They p a r t i c u l a r l y p r i z e i n s i s t i n g th a t

in

p a r a g r a p h tw o o f t h e

order to be r e c e iv e d

o n e m u st b e c o n v e r t e d o r on t h e w a y t o

in to

conver­

s io n .^ I t was d e c i d e d b y t h i s

g a th e r in g in

O lm s t e a d C o u n t y t o

s e n d a p a s t o r and a la y m a n t o J a c k s o n C o u n ty t o r a b id E llin g ia n s u n d ertak en ,

it

th ere

to th e ir s e n s e s .^

w as u n s u c c e s s f u l ,

fo r

C o n stitu tio n "

The l e t t e r sp ir it

and t h e

I f s u c h a m i s s i o n was

1876,

o r g a n iz e d th e m se lv e s

and c h o s e E i e l s e n

b r in g th e

i t was a t a m e e tin g h e l d

J a c k so n C ou n ty, M in n e s o ta , F eb ru ary 2 8 , E ie ls e n ’ s fo llo w e r s

try to

in

th a t a group o f

on t h e b a s i s

o f th e

"O ld

p r e sid e n t.

above r e fe r r e d

to

is

smug s e l f - r i g h t e o u s n e s s

in d ic a tiv e

o f th e

s e c ta r ia n

t o w h ic h a s m a ll b u t r a b id

se g m e n t o f E i e l s e n ’ s Synod was p ro n e and w h ic h t h e m a j o r i t y o f th a t

group d e s ir e d E a rly

to r e p u d ia te .

in 1876 E i e l s e n p u b lis h e d a " D e c la r a tio n "

C h ic a g o n ew sp ap er s k a n d in a v e n i n w h ic h he i n s i s t s report

o f th e

in r e p o r tin g proposed

t h a t th e

p r e c e d i n g sum m er’ s s y n o d i c a l m e e t i n g i s t h a t he and h i s

fr ie n d s

c o n stitu tio n a l a lte r a tio n s .

w ere

in

in th e o ffic ia l

in c o r r e c t

agreem ent w ith th e

He r e p u d i a t e s

th e

a lte r a -

^■"TJddrag a f F o r h a n d l i n g e r n e p a a K v a r t a l m S d e t f o r ’ E a u g e s n o r s k e v a n g e l i s k - l u t h e r s k e K ir k e i A m e r i k a , ’ a f h o l d t i O lm s t e d C o u n t y , M i n n . , f r a 7 d e t i l lO de F e b r u a r 1 8 7 6 , " B u d b a e r e r e n , V I I (May, 1 8 7 6 ) , 1 8 8 - 9 1 . ^I b i d . , p .

191.

^"H auges S y n o d es

sid ste

A a r s m o d e ," E . L . K « ,

III

436.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

(1 8 7 6 ),

120 t i o n s made a t t h e

la st

s in c e

c o n c l u s i o n t h a t h e h ad b e e n w rong i n h a v in g

come t o t h e

s y n o d ic a l m e e tin g , c o n f e s s in g th a t h e had

a g r e e d t o one r e v i s i o n * "Old C o n s t i t u t i o n . " ' * ’ p r e s e n t d u r in g a l l

He s a y s

t h a t he a d h e r e s t o

th e u n a lte r e d

L a te r he c o n te n d ed th a t he had n o t b een

o f th e d e l ib e r a t io n s

th u s had n ot been w itn e s s he had n ot e x p r e sse d h is

to

because o f i l l - h e a l t h

a ll

t h a t had t r a n s p ir e d ; p o p p o s i t i o n a t t h e t i m e *0

c o n se q u e n tly ,

In M ay, 1 8 7 6 , B u d b a e r e r e n b e g a n an a t t a c k on t h e s t i t u t i o n , ” c o n te n d in g th a t

it

of

t h a t m o n th p a r a g r a p h one was

"O ld C on­

c o n ta in e d h e r e t i c a l d o c t r in e s ,

c o u ld be proved by th e B ib le and th e

church fa th e r s .

cen su red .

and

In th e

The a t t a c k w a s

as issu e

suspended

u n t i l t h e O c t o b e r i s s u e w h en p a r a g r a p h tw o came i n f o r c r i t i c i s m , a lo n g w ith paragraph s i x . is

con ten d ed th a t th e

w ith S c r ip tu r e b le

The o l d a r g u m e n t s a p p e a r

"O ld C o n s t i t u t i o n "

as a u th o r ity ,

c h u r c h , and g o e s

too fa r

co n fu ses in

its

eq u ates th e

th e v i s i b l e

a g a in a s

it

c o n fe ssio n s

and th e

in v isi­

c o n d e m n a tio n o f c l e r i c a l

garb. The O r g a n i z a t i o n o f H a u g e ’ s Synod The new c o n s t i t u t i o n . — The m a j o r i t e m o f b u s i n e s s 1 8 7 6 a n n u a l m e e t i n g w as t h e tu tio n .

A c o n stitu tio n

ib id ., p.

c i t . , p.

th e

o f th e r e v is e d c o n s t i ­

c o m m i t t e e r ec o m m e n d ed some c h a n g e s

^ " E llin g E ie ls e n ," % l s "tem p orary govern m ent and r e p r e s e n t a ­ tio n ." The a r g u m e n t o f K r o g n e s s a n d t h o s e who r e f u s e d t o g o a l o n g i n t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f th e C o n fe r e n c e was t h a t t h e d e c i ­ s i o n s a t th e Andover m e e t i n g were perm anent.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

163 1) The N o r w e g i a n - D a n i s h A u g u s t a n a S y n o d h e r e b y d e c l a r e s I t s e l f t o be o r g a n i z e d . 2) T h is synod a c c e p t s as u n c h a n g e a b le a c c o r d in g t o t h e i r c o n t e n t s t h e d o c t r i n a l a r t i c l e s p r o p o s e d b y t h e c o m m it te e on co n stitu tio n . 3) I t i s d e l e g a t e d t o a com m ittee i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h R ev. C« L . C l a u s e n t o d e c i d e on t i m e an d p l a c e f o r a c o n f e r e n c e b e ­ tw een t h e s y n o d and R e v . C. L. C la u s e n and t h e p a s t o r s c o n ­ n e c t e d w i t h him j w h ic h m e e t in g i s t o be p u b l i c l y an nounced a t l e a s t fo u r weeks b e f o r e i t i s h e l d . Members o f t h i s c o m m i t t e e a r e t o be th e R e v s . W een a a s, H a t l e s t a d , and E g g e n . 4 ) To p e r f e c t t h e p r o p o s e d o r g a n i z a t i o n , I t I s n e c e s s a r y t h a t t h e r e b y a g r e e m e n t on t h e f o l l o w i n g p o i n t s ; a) T hat a c o m m it te e o f f i v e b e e l e c t e d t o c o n s t i t u t e th e s y n o d ’ s tem p orary governm ent and r e p r e s e n t a t i o n . b) T h is com m ittee m ust p r o p o se t o th e c o n f e r e n c e a S y n od ical c o n s t it u t io n . T h is com m ittee c o n s i s t s o f th e R e v s . Amon J o h n s o n , H a t l e s t a d , M i l l e r E g g e n , a n d M e s s r s . H. S t r a n d and G. G a b r i e l s o n . c ) As an i n e s c a p a b l e c o n d i t i o n f o r e n t e r i n g t h i s c h u r c h b o d y i t i s deemed n e c e s s a r y t h a t b o t h s i d e s a g r e e on t h e p r i n c i p l e t h a t q u e s t i o n s o f d o c t r i n e and c o n s c i e n c e a r e t o b e s e t t l e d o n l y a c c o r d i n g t o God’ s Word a n d t h e C o n f e s s i o n s o f o ur Church; a l l o t h e r q u e s t i o n s , h o w e v e r , where n o t h i n g t o t h e c o n t r a r y i s s t i p u l a t e d , a r e d e c i d e d by m ajority v o te . d) C o n c e r n in g c h u r c h r i t e s and c u s t o m s , i t i s h e r e b y d e c l a r e d t h a t t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n s h a v e f u l l r i g h t and f r e e ­ dom t o a r r a n g e t h e s e t h i n g s a s t h e y f i n d i t u s e f u l an d m ost i n a c c o r d w i t h p r o p r i e t y and good o r d e r . e ) F o r t h e s a k e o f u n i t y and o r d e r , t h e s y n o d o u g h t , by m a j o r i t y v o t e , to a g r e e upon a c e r t a i n l i t u r g y , w h ic h i s t o be u s e d a t t h e s y n o d ’ s c o n f e r e n c e s o r o t h e r m e e t i n g s .-*■ It is

evid en t

t h a t th e N orw egian -D an ish Augustana Synod

a c t u a l l y came i n t o b e i n g a t A n d o v e r . g a n i z a t i o n was n o t

com pleted a t t h i s

However, th e n e c e s s a r y o r ­ tim e,

f o r the

c o n stitu tio n a l

d e l i b e r a t i o n s were n o t b r o u g h t to a c o n c l u s i o n and p r o v i s i o n was made f o r t h e com m ittee.

s u p e r v i s i o n o f t h e new s y n o d b y m ea ns o f a d e s i g n a t e d It

is

a lso evid en t

th at

a concern for c o n fe r rin g w ith

t h e p r o m in e n t and s y n o d i c a l l y u n a f f i l i a t e d a sso cia tes

exp la in s

iR ohn e,

op.

the

fa ilu re

c it.,

to

C. L. C la u s e n and h i s

adopt a c o n s itu tio n a t

p p . 234 f .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

th at

164 tim e.1 tia lly

The N o r w e g i a n - D a n i s h A u g u s t a n a S y n o d h a d b e e n o n l y p a r ­ and i m p e r f e c t l y o r g a n iz e d a t A n d o v er, It

Illin o is,

the o r g a n iz a tio n o f the

g ia n -D a n is h Augustana Synod, b u t t o g e t h e r w ith th re e were r e c e i v e d

as a d v i s o r y members.

a nd t w o l a y d e l e g a t e s F orm ation o f

con tain s

1870.

s h o u l d be n o t e d t h a t A n d r e w s o n a nd S c h e i e w e r e n o t

among t h e p a s t o r s p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n

pastors

in

the

lay d e le g a te s

The s e c r e t a r y l i s t e d

eigh teen

a s m e m b e r s o f t h e new o r g a n i z a t i o n . ^

the C o n fe r e n c e .- - T h e

follo w in g n o tice

Norwe­

Ju ly is s u e

o f L u th er a n e r en

s i g n e d b y J . M u lle r Eggen a s

secre­

t a r y p r o te r n: C on feren ce-m eetin g. T he c o n f e r e n c e a u t h o r i z e d b y t h e A u g u s t a n a S y n o d 1s l a s t a n n u a l m e e t i n g i n A n d o v e r b e t w e e n t h e t e m p o r a r ily o r g a n iz e d N o r w e g ia n -D a n ish L utheran A ugustana S y n o d and P a s t o r C. L . C l a u s e n , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e p a s t o r s a n d c o n g r e g a t i o n s j o i n e d t o h i m , w i l l b e h e l d , I f God w i l l s I t , In S t . A n sgar, Iowa, b e g in n in g W ednesday, A ugust 1 0 th , a t 9 : 0 0 A.M .3 ^ h e d e s i r e o f W e e n a a s a nd o t h e r memb ers o f t h e S c a n d i ­ n a v ia n A ugu stan a Synod t o I n t e r e s t C la u s e n In t h e i r synod d a t e s from t h e tim e t h a t C la u s e n l e f t t h e N orw egian Synod i n 1 8 6 8 . They a r r a n g e d t o h a v e a c o n f e r e n c e w i t h h im w h ic h was h e l d i n C h i c a g o , F ebruary 2 4 -2 7 , 1 8 6 9 , w i t h te n A ugustana p a s t o r s p r e s e n t . They d i s c u s s e d s e v e r a l d o c t r i n a l t o p i c s and fou nd t h e m s e lv e s i n a g r e e ­ m ent. In w r i t i n g o f C lausen and h i s r e l a t i o n t o t h e i r gro u p , W e e n a a s r e m a r k e d t h a t i t s e e m e d t o b e a h i n t f r o m God t h a t C l a u s e n s h o u l d l e a v e t h e Synod a t t h e t im e when a N o r w e g i a n - D a n i s h s y n o d w a s on t h e v e r g e o f b e i n g o r g a n i z e d . To a v e r t C l a u s e n ’ s o r g a n i z a ­ t i o n o f a ne w c h u r c h b o d y and t o a c q u a i n t h i m w i t h t h e S c a n d i n a ­ v i a n A u g u s t a n a n s i t u a t i o n t h i s C h i c a g o c o n f e r e n c e w as c a l l e d . R e f e r r i n g t o t h e r e s u l t o f t h e c o n f e r e n c e , W e en a a s s a i d t h a t C la u s e n had d e c l a r e d h i s d e s i r e t o a f f i l i a t e w i t h them w h e n e v e r an i n d e p e n d e n t sy n o d s h o u l d be o r g a n i z e d . ”K i r k e - E f t e r r e t n i n g e r , n Den N o r s k e L u t h e r a n e r , I I I ( 1 8 6 9 ) , 5 7 - 5 9 . ^ P r o f e s s o r W eenaas; p a s t o r s H a t l e s t a d , K r o g n e s s , J . O ls e n , M u l l e r E g g e n , W a l d , N . O l s o n , Ruh, G r e e n , S c h e l d a h l , L y s n e s , D a h l , V i k r e , J a k o b s e n , J o h n s o n , P a u l s o n , G j e r t s e n , B r u n ; d e l e g a t e s H. S t r a n d and K l o v e . M u l l e r E g g e n , o p . c i t . , p . 9 6 . ^ L u t h e r a n e r e n , IV

(1870),

112.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

165 K rogness correct

contended th a t th e use inasm uch as t h e

o f t h e word " t e m p o r a r i l y 11 was i n ­

s y n o d i c a l m e e t i n g , upon m o t io n b y h i m s e l f ,

had s t r i c k e n

t h a t o r a s i m i l a r e x p r e s s i o n f r o m t h e p r o p o s a l made

b y W eenaas.

Krogness a l s o p o in te d out th at i t

a d d "and c o n g r e g a t i o n s no t a l k

about

join ed

c o n fe r rin g w ith C lau sen 's

the w e l l - s u b s t a n t i a t e d to p rovid e

to him ,"

p oin t

was e r r o n e o u s

to

inasmuch a s t h e r e h a d b e e n co n gregation s.

He m a k es

t h a t t h e above n o t i f i c a t i o n

served

f o r the h o ld in g o f a conferen ce but not o f a r e g u la r

synod m e e tin g . p ifteen

pastors

and th r e e

la y d eleg a tes

o f t h e N orw egian-

D a n i s h A u g u s t a n a S y n o d m e t w i t h C. L . C l a u s e n a n d B . St.

A nsgar,

Iowa,

were d i s c u s s e d ,

on A u g u s t 1 0 ,

nam ely,

and l a y a c t i v i t y .

as

The c o n f e r r i n g p a r t i e s w e r e s a t i s f i e d

of a co n stitu tio n .

to w hether a s y n o d ic a l typ e

ought to be a d o p te d . w ith s lig h t

o f op in ion

o f o r g a n i z a t i o n o r som e f r e e r f o r m

w h i c h wa s a d o p t e d .

I t p rovided fo r a

th eo lo g ica l teachers,

c o n g r e g a t i o n s a s such were n o t

H atlestad reports

th em selves

They n e x t p r o c e e d e d t o t h e

T h e r e was d i f f e r e n c e

t o be c o m p o sed o f p a s t o r s ,

and d e l e g a t e s , b u t t h e b ers

to p ics.

th a t they

I t was C l a u s e n ' s d r a f t o f a c o n s t i t u t i o n ,

a ltera tio n s,

"Conference"

Some d o c t r i n a l q u e s t i o n s

c o n c e r n in g th e G o sp el, the p a s t o r a l o f f i c e ,

were i n a g r ee m e n t a b o u t t h o s e d iscu ssio n

1870.

G jeld aker in

t h a t many p a s t o r s a t f i r s t

t o b e mem­ expressed

as o p p o sed t o s u c h a ty p e o f m em bership, b u t t h e y

•^ S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

Norwegian A ugustana Synod,

1870, p . 9.

^ " K on feren tsem od e m e lle m den n o r sk -d a n sk e A ugu stan a Synode o g p a s t o r C. L . C l a u s e n s a m t P a s t o r G j e l d a k e r , " L u t h e r a n e r e n , IV ( 1 8 7 0 ) , 132 f . The c o n s t i t u t i o n i s p r i n t e d i n t h e same i s s u e , pp. 141-44.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

166 afterw ards y ie ld e d ;

he c o n tin u e d unchanged

The q u e s t i o n o f t h e d i s s o l u t i o n

in h i s

o p p o sitio n .^

o f th e N orw egian-D anish

A u g u sta n a Synod was b r o u g h t up a t

a s p e c i a l m eeting o f the

an d d e l e g a t e s h e l d

on A u g u s t 1 3 .

H atlestad o f f ic ia t e d

man.

th at

was n o t

He c o n t e n d e d

the synod

f o r any o t h e r p u rp o se th a n t o

assem bled at S t .

w i t h C l a u s e n and G j e l d a k e r

On A u g u s t 16 when t h e

synod a g a in m et,

H a t l e s t a d w as no l o n g e r p r e s e n t a t t h e m e e t i n g ,

to its

d isso lv e

absence

J.

O lsen p r e s i d e d ,

requested

s h o u l d be added t o m eet,

n o r w as K r o g n e s s .

and t h e

group p r o c ee d e d

t h e N o r w e g i a n - D a n i s h A u g u s t a n a Synod i n o r d e r t h a t

m e m b er s m i g h t a f f i l i a t e

had e a r l i e r

w i t h t h e new o r g a n i z a t i o n .

that h is

H atlestad

p r o t e s t a g a in s t any such a c t io n

the m in u tes.^

The g r o u p t h e n p r o c e e d e d

a l o n g w it h C la u s e n and G je ld a k e r ,

a s The C o n f e r e n c e

N o r w e g ia n -D a n is h E v a n g e l i c a l L u th eran Church in A m e r ic a . were e l e c t e d , p resid en t, treasu rer.

w ith C lausen chosen a s p r e s id e n t ,

J . M u lle r Eggen as

secretary,

an d 0 .

J.

o f A u g s b u r g s e m i n a r y and t r u s t e e s

Weenaas w as d e s i g n a t e d e d i t o r

2I b i d . , p.

op. c i t . , p .

for

the

O fficers

P au lson as In clu d in g

fo r th e M arshall

o f L u t h e r a n e r e n and as

c o n t i n u i n g p r e s i d e n t o f Augsburg S em in a ry . ^ H atlestad ,

to

O lsen as v i c e

The n e c e s s a r y c o m m i t t e e s w e r e d e s i g n a t e d ,

the d ir e c t o r s Academy.

Ansgar

Any d e c i s i o n w a s p o s t p o n e d

u n t i l s u c h a tim e a s t h e d e l i b e r a t i o n s

In H a tlesta d * s

ch a ir­

c o n f e r w i t h C la u s e n and so p r o t e s t e d

a g a in s t any p roposed d i s s o l u t i o n . ^

s h o u l d be c o n c l u d e d .

as

pastors

A ll o f the

C onference’ s

217.

218.

3 ”Mode a f d e n n o r s k - d a n s k e A u g u s t a n a s y n o d e i S t . Mandag d e n 1 3 d e A u g u s t , ” L u t h e r a n e r e n , IV ( 1 8 7 0 ) , 1 4 0 f .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

Ansgar

167 d ecisio n s

assumed t h a t

it

had c o m p l e t e l y r e p l a c e d t h e

o r g a n iz e d N o rw eg ia n -D a n ish A ugustana Syn od.^ were l i s t e d

E igh teen p a sto r s

a s m e m b er s o f t h e n e w l y - o r g a n i z e d g r o u p ,

w i t h s e v e n a d d i t i o n a l a b s e n t e e s who w e r e e x p e c t e d t o t h e y became a c q u a i n t e d w it h tu tio n .

Only t h r e e

ceed in gs.

the a c t io n

o fficia l

The p r o c e e d i n g s

so r e c e n t l y

togeth er j o i n when

t a k e n an d t h e new c o n s t i ­

l a y d e l e g a t e s had a p a r t

lea d in g to the

in th e p r o ­

o r g a n i z a t i o n o f the

C o n f e r e n c e w e r e p a s t o r - i n s p i r e d an d - d o m i n a t e d . To t h e i m p a r t i a l o b s e r v e r

the d e c i s i o n

to d is s o lv e

the

N o r w e g ia n -D a n is h A u g u stan a Synod seems t o h a v e b e e n a r b i t r a r i l y ta k en and o f q u e s t i o n a b l e had not been c a lle d of d isso lv in g

the

for

leg itim a cy .

The S t . A n s g a r c o n f e r e n c e

th e purpose o f c o n s id e r in g the p o s s i b i l i t y

synod,

and t h e

c o n g r e g a tio n s o f th e synod had

n o r e a l p a r t i n t h e m a k i n g o f s u c h an i m p o r t a n t d e c i s i o n .

More

l a y d e l e g a t e s u n d o u b t e d ly w o u ld have been welcom ed a t th e S t . Ansgar m e e t in g ,

but

it

is

q u estio n a b le

w e r e a w a r e o f w h a t wa s t o b e d e c i d e d .

w hether th e

con gregation s

The d e l e g a t e s

present at

S t . A n s g a r h a d n o t b e e n s e n t t o t h e meeting w i t h a u t h o r i t y t o d i s ­ solve

the

synod.

A few p a s t o r s

fo r ty con gregation s

a c te d f o r the

b e c a m e known am on g t h e astonishm en t

en tire

con gregation s

synod.

out o f

When t h e a c t i o n

ap p aren tly a great d ea l o f

J. H atlestad ,

N orw egian -D an ish Augustana Syn od. —

after

c o n su lta tio n w ith fr ie n d s ,

l " K o n f e r e n t s e m o d e , 11 i b i d . , p p .

p

from t h r e e

and d i s q u i e t r e s u l t e d . ^

C on tin u ation o f the Pastor 0 .

and d e l e g a t e s

p u b lish ed

134-36.

S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , N orwegian A u gu stan a Synod, H a tlesta d Y o p . c i t . , p . & l9.

1870, p.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

10;

168 in

the September 5 i s s u e

o f t h e C h i c a g o n e w p a p e r S k a n d i n a v e n an

announcement o f the h o l d i n g o f a s p e c i a l m e e tin g o f th e A ugustana Synod. were

A l l p a s t o r s who d e s i r e d

more i n f o r m a t i o n s o t h a t provided th e d e s ir e d attendance a t

the S t .

tio n

th e i s s u e would be c l a r i f i e d . stressin g

b o d y s h o u ld be g reg a tio n s. evid en t

to

the

H atlestad

fact

th at those

Ansgar m e e tin g had assem b led f o r a c o n ­

not fo r a r e g u la r synod m e e tin g ,

s u c h a q u e s t i o n w o u l d come u p .

t h a t no s t e p

synod

o f Skandinaven a sked f o r

a c t i o n o f d i s s o l u t i o n had b e e n ta k en w it h o u t th e

know ing t h a t

is

The e d i t o r

c la rifica tio n ,

fe r e n c e w ith C lau sen , the

the

a sk e d to be p r e s e n t , and e a c h c o n g r e g a t i o n was i n v i t e d

s e n d o n e o r more d e l e g a t e s .

in

to rem ain i n

N orwegian

and t h a t

con gregation s*

I t w as h i s

conten­

s o i m p o r t a n t a s t h a t o f c r e a t i n g a new c h u r c h

ta k e n w i t h o u t th e kn o w led g e and c o n s e n t o f t h e

That S k an d in aven a d o p te d H a t l e s t a d * s from l a t e r

ex p ression s

con­

p o in t o f view

o f the e d i t o r . ^

The s p e c i a l m e e t i n g o f t h e N o r w e g i a n - D a n i s h A u g u s t a n a Synod convened in sin ,

in Septem ber.

gates

present.

S ch eie,

the C lin to n ch u rch , J e f f e r s o n p r a i r i e , W iscon­ There were

The p a s t o r s

Ruh, K r o g n e s s ,

s ix pastors

p r e s e n t were H a t l e s t a d ,

and L y s n e s .

Among t h e

p r e s e n t was t h e n o t e d D r . P a s s a v a n t o f t h e G eneral C ou n cil. co n stitu tio n still

c o n tin u e t o be

pp.

Andrewson,

a d v i s o r y members

P i t t s b u r g Synod o f th e

I t was s t r e s s e d a t t h i s m e e t i n g t h a t

and b y - l a w s

in e f f e c t

and f o u r t e e n l a y d e l e ­

fo r the so u n t i l

the o ld

o f th e S c a n d in a v ia n A u gu stan a Synod were N o r w e g ia n - D a n is h A u g u sta n a Synod and w ou ld s u p p l a n t e d by new o n e s t h r o u g h s y n o d i c a l

^• S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , 11-13.

Norwegian A ugu stana S y n o d ,

1870,

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

169 a c tio n .1

I t was d e c i d e d t o p r o c e e d w i t h t h e

c o m p letio n o f the

work o f o r g a n i z a t i o n w h ic h had b e e n b e g u n a t Andover by a d o p t i n g a new s y n o d i c a l c o n s t i t u t i o n . feren ce,

h e ld d u rin g the

A u g u sta n a Synod was tio n

The d e c i s i o n

summ er ,

wa s made t h e b a s i s

it

A lth ou gh the

w as s t i p u l a t e d

h a d b e e n made t o

d isso lv e

im m ed iately. ^

Concord the

the

that

for

the

at

given the

efforts

c o n s t i t u t i o n wa s

synod.

I t was

the n ex t

in view o f th e

en tire

syn od i­ w hich

t o go i n t o Book o f

H a t l e s t a d wanted h i s as

the

G eneral C ou n cil.

f o r r em in d s one

p rovision

o f the

Norwe­

fo r a s y n o d ic a l church

of three p a sto rs to the m e e tin g .

to the m eetin g H a tle s ta d ,

a tten tio n

summer an d t h e r e s u l t a n t

com m ittee reported

its

p r e s id e n tia l address

devoted con sid erab le

p reviou s

Ansgar m e e tin g s

ex a m p le.^

In h i s course,

fo r action

same c o n f e s s i o n a l b a s i s

g ia n S y n o d ’ s c o n s t i t u t i o n — in for

The c o n s t i t u ­

c o n g r e g a t io n s were

synod the

The s y n o d i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n p r o v i d e d

co u n cil,

ta lk ."

The c o n s t i t u t i o n m a k e s t h e

d o ctrin al b a sis

s y n o d t o be on t h e

" loose

t h e A nd over and S t .

of su ggestin g a lte r a tio n s

c a l m eetin g,

effect

as

fo r the c o n s t i t u t i o n a l d e l i b e r a t i o n s .

a d o p te d on O cto b er 1 2 . p riv ileg e

S t . Ansgar co n ­

in d i s s o l v i n g th e N orw egian-D anish

ch aracterized

p resented by H atlestad to

o f the

to

the d i f f i c u l t i e s

form ation o f the

and f o u r l a y m e n s t u d i e d

of

o f the

C onference,

a

t h e m a t t e r and

The r e p o r t , u n a n i m o u s l y a d o p t e d ,

sum-

■*Tn a f o o t n o t e t h e s e c r e t a r y i n s i s t s t h a t t h e o l d c o n s t i ­ t u t i o n o f th e S c a n d in a v ia n Synod r e m a in e d i n e f f e c t a f t e r t h e s e p a r a t i o n f r o m t h e S w e d e s b e c a t i s e no new o n e h a d b e e n a d o p t e d . The c o n s t i t u t i o n wa s s t i l l i n e f f e c t f o r t h e N o r w e g i a n s , j u s t a s I t was f o r t h e s w e d e s . Thus, th e C o n fe r e n c e ’ s c o n t e n t io n t h a t the N o r w e g i a n - D a n i s h s e c t i o n wa s e s s e n t i a l l y " c o n s t i t u t i o n - l e s s " was in correct. I b id . , p. 15. ^ Ib id . ,

p. 35.

5 l b i d . , pp. 4 1 -4 6 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

170 m arizes r a th e r w e l l th e a t t it u d e

o f the

N orwegian A u g u s t a n a n s :

W hereas t h e N o r w e g ia n - D a n is h A u g u stan a Synod was o r g a n i z e d a t th e m e e t i n g i n A n d o v e r , and t h a t n o t t e m p o r a r i l y , b u t p e r ­ m a n e n t l y and i n d e p e n d e n t l y ; w h e r e a s t h i s s y n o d h as a f i x e d c o n s t i t u t i o n , and i t p r e ­ s c r i b e s t h a t i t i s t h e p r e s i d e n t who s h a l l a s s e m b l e a s p e c i a l s y n o d i c a l m e e t i n g ( C h a p t . I l l , A r t . 8 ) , and t h i s d i d n o t p r e ­ ced e t h e m e e t i n g i n S t . A n sg a r; c o n s e q u e n t l y no s y n o d i c a l m e e t i n g was h e l d t h e r e l a s t A u g u st; w h e r e a s t h e p r e s i d e n t was n o t o n c e c o n s u l t e d w i t h c o n c e r n ­ in g th e n o t i f i c a t i o n g iv en f o r th e m eeting i n S t . A nsgar, a l ­ t h o u g h h e wa s a member o f t h e c o n f e r e n c e - c o m m i t t e e , a n d t h e s e c r e t a r y had d e s ig n a t e d o n ly a " c o n fe r e n c e -m e e tin g ” ; w h e r e a s " d i s s o l u t i o n ” i s n o t synonymous w i t h " o r g a n i z a ­ tion " ; whereas a "proposal f o r d iv is io n " but never a "proposal f o r d i s s o l u t i o n " has been p la c e d b efo re the c o n g r e g a t io n s ; w h e r e a s t h e r e h a s b e e n no s y n o d i c a l d e c i s i o n t h a t t h e o l d c o n s t i t u t i o n i s a b r o g a t e d and i t s p r o v i s i o n s a b o u t a l t e r a t i o n s in th e c o n s t i t u t i o n (C hapt. X I I , c f r . Chapt. I , A r t s . 2 -3 ) h a v e b y no m e a n s b e e n c o m p l i e d w i t h by t h e C o n f e r e n c e ; w h e r e a s t h e r e a r e s t i l l c o n g r e g a t i o n s and p a s t o r s who d e ­ s i r e t o rem ain i n and b e l o n g t o t h i s synod; w hereas a " c o n feren ce" can n e v e r fo rm u la te b in d in g p r o ­ v i s i o n s f o r th e synod; and w h e r e a s t h e d i s s o l u t i o n - d e c i s i o n made i n S t . A n s g a r c o n s e q u e n t l y was i n a l l r e s p e c t s an u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a t t e m p t t o o v erth ro w th e w hole s y n o d i c a l c o n s t i t u t i o n , - T herefore, a ) The d e c i s i o n made i n S t . A n s g a r b y so me p a s t o r s and a few d e l e g a t e s t o th e e f f e c t t h a t th e N o rw eg ia n -D a n ish A u g u s t a n a S y n o d i s d i s s o l v e d i s d e a d and p o w e r l e s s a n d n o t t o be h e e d e d . b ) As a c o n s e q u e n c e t h e r e o f a l l d e c i s i o n s [ m a d e j i n S t . A nsgar r e g a r d i n g t h e s y n o d ' s p o s s e s s i o n s a r e u n a u t h o r i z e d and in v a lid . But w h ile th e syn od r e c o g n i z e s the n e c e s s i t y o f g i v i n g t h i s d e c l a r a t i o n a b o u t th e d e c i s i o n , i t must e x p r e s s i t s deep r e g r e t o v e r t h e f a c t t h a t s e v e r a l d e a r b r o t h e r s w i t h whom i t e a r n e s t l y d e s i r e s t o s t a n d t o g e t h e r h a v e now t a k e n s o h a s t y a s t e p and h a v e s e p a r a t e d from t h e s y n o d . I t n ou rish es, th er e ­ f o r e , t h e h o p e t h a t some o f t h e m , a t a n y r a t e , w i l l r e t u r n to i t . l D espite siasm fo r th e

the p resen ce

o f P a s s a v a n t and H a t l e s t a d ’ s e n t h u ­

G e n e r a l C o u n c i l t h e s y n o d was n o t p r e p a r e d t o d e c i d e

- ^ I b id ., p p . 24 f . The l a n g u a g e and c o n s t r u c t i o n r e s o l u t i o n s a r e aw kw a rd i n c e r t a i n p l a c e s .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

of these

171

to

join

the

General C o u n c il.^

C ontinuance o f th e t h e o l o g i c a l

s e m i n a r y was d e c i d e d a g a i n s t , cia l

a ffa irs

o f the

L utheran, r a th e r been th e

academy i n t o

could u s e

by a r e f e r e n c e

p

o r d e r an d t o m a i n t a i n

d isagreem en t,

the

it

t o an i n q u i r y w h i c h h a d b e e n made i n t o o f the

N orwegian l i t u r g y

argument a g a i n s t

m a t t e r s was t h a t w ith le g itim a te

such a r e g u la t io n

con gregation al that

freedom .

and c l e r i c a l g a rb from m o st o f

such d iffe r e n c e s

should not i n t e r f e r e w ith t h e i r

as e x i s t e d

p ro b lem and n o t e s

th at

w egian a l t a r book f o r

serv ices

m en ts.^

C onference

A lthough th e

is

synod,

ia l

co n sistin g

llb id .,

pp.

28 f .

5Ib ld .,

pp. 3 2 -3 4 .

conclu d ed regard The s e c ­

d e v e lo p in g In

the J e f f e r s o n

P ra irie o f the Nor­

an d t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n

c a l L utheraneren, the own,

in

fello w sh ip .

p a r i s h a n d P a s t o r O l e A n d r e w s o n p r o m i s e d t o make u s e

of its

The

of litu rg ica l

The d i s c u s s i o n

r e t a r y co m m e n ts on t h e b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t

staff

the m atter.

s u c h a p r o p o s a l I s u n - L u t h e r a n and i n t e r f e r e s

w ith m utual p ro m ises

rela tio n to th is

of

synod sh o u ld s p e c i f y t h a t no c o n g r e ­

from p a s s a v a n t , and from s e v e r a l d e l e g a t e s .

o f the

to p r a c tic e

q u estion

was p r e c i p i t a t e d

s h o u l d be f o r b i d d e n b r o u g h t f o r t h much o p p o s i t i o n

essence

as a

t h e N o r w e g ia n l i t u r g y and c l e r i c a l g a r b and p a r t l y

The s u g g e s t i o n t h a t u s e

the p a s to r s ,

it

fin a n ­

academy, w h ich had

A d is c u s s i o n o f the

con sid erab le

p a r t l y by a p r o p o s a l t h a t gation

was v o t e d t o b r i n g t h e

than as a n o n - c o n f e s s i o n a l ,

case under W eenaas.

lit u r g y revealed

but i t

o f the

sacra­

claim ed ow nership o f th e p e r i o d i ­

n ev erth eless,

d esig n a ted

an e d i t o r ­

o f K rogness, H a tle s ta d , 2I b l d . , pp. 2 9 -3 2 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

and

172 L y s n e s #1

The N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d f o u n d i t s e l f g r o u p when i t The c o r e

had com p leted i t s

of its

o rgan ization

m i n i s t e r i u m was t h a t

i n an A m erican and R eform ed d i r e c t i o n a n ti-litu rg ica l.

T. Bothne

g a t io n s rem ained in p o in t

the

o f view o f t h e i r

says

th at

in Septem ber,

sectio n

A ugu stan a Synod w h ic h had been c r i t i c i z e d

of th e

for

Scandinavian

and w h i c h was d e c i d e d l y some o f t h e

old o r g a n iz a tio n ,

stron gest

not on ly because

p a s to r s , but because

t h e y d i d n o t want t o a f f i l i a t e

1870.

lea n in g too h e a v ily

they f e l t

C o n fe r e n c e had b e e n formed under s u c h q u e s t i o n a b l e that

t o he a s m a ll

th at

congre­ o f the the

circu m sta n ces

w ith i t . ^

The N o r w e g i a n S y n o d ' s p e r i o d i c a l e m p h a s i z e s t h e f a c t a d iv isio n

had d e v e l o p e d w i t h i n t h e

S c a n d in a v ia n A ugustana Synod

w i t h t h e a d v e n t o f l e a d e r s f r o m No rwa y who s t r e s s e d to t h e ir

N orwegian L u th er a n h e r i t a g e

had b een t h e A u g u sta n a n s' th eir

tendency to

free

tices.

The

o f th is

changed e m p h a sis.

th eir

lo y a lty

and t h u s r a n c o u n t e r

t o what

early d istin g u ish in g t r a i t ,

th em selves

that

nam ely,

from t r a d i t i o n a l L u th e r a n p r a c ­

f o u n d e r s w ere n o t c o n t e n t t o be p a s s i v e

in the

face

3

When t h e e d i t o r

attem pted to rep o rt

■^Ibid., p . 3 4 . Two i s s u e s o f L u t h e r a n e r e n a p p e a r e d i n N o v e m b e r , Ts7(3, o n e e d i t e d b y W e e n a a s f o r the' C o n f e r e n c e , t h e o t h e r e d i t e d by t h e t h r e e p a s t o r s m e n t i o n e d f o r t h e N o r w e g i a n D anish A u g u sta n a n s. H o w e v e r , t h e r e a f t e r L u t h e r a n e r e n w as p u b l i s h e d by t h e C o n fe r e n c e . ^ B o t h n e , o p . c i t * * P* 8 8 2 . p a s t o r M. P . Ruh, o n e o f t h e s i x p a s to r s p r e s e n t at th e J e f f e r s o n P r a ir ie m eetin g o f Septem ber, 1 8 7 0 , d i d n o t rem a in w i t h th e N orwegian A u g u sta n a n s , th r o w in g i n h i s l o t w i t h t h e C o n f e r e n c e , 1 8 7 0 - 7 5 , a nd t h e n w i t h t h e N o r w e g i a n Synod. N o r l i e e t a l . , Who' s Who, p . 4 9 9 . ^ ''A u gu stan a-syn od en s l l t e

A a r s m 8 d e , ,f K. M . , XV ( 1 8 7 0 ) ,

204.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

173 con cern in g th e composed th e Synod, he the

confused s it u a t io n e x i s t i n g

Norwegian e le m e n t o f th e S c a n d in a v ia n A ugustana

commented:

"O nl y s o much i s

o l d s t o c k who w i l l r e m a i n i n t h e

s y n o d , a n d t h e ne w r e f o r m e r s w i l l The C o n f e r e n c e d in

among t h o s e who h a d

clea r;

is

esp ecia lly

[N orw egian-D anish Augustana]

j o in the

v e r s io n o f the

L u t h e r a n e r e n d a t e d N ovem ber 2 9 ,

it

C onference.

developm ent. - - I n

1 8 7 0 , W een aas g i v e s

e n c e v e r s i o n o f th e h a p p e n in g s o f p r e c e d i n g months:

an a r t i c l e

the

C onfer­

The N o r w e ­

g i a n - D a n i s h A u g u sta n a Synod was t e m p o r a r i l y o r g a n i z e d i n Andover w i t h some

" p ro v isio n a l c o n s titu tio n a l reg u la tio n s"

p r o je c te d co n feren ce w it h C lausen, permanent o r g a n iz a t io n

the

in t e n t io n b eing th a t a

could be e f f e c t e d a t

f e r e e s were fo u n d to be d o c t r i n a l l y a g r e e d . reg u la tio n s

in

co n stitu tio n

t h a t tim e i f

the

con­

These p r o v i s i o n a l

f a c t a b r o g a t e d t h e o l d S c a n d i n a v i a n A u g u sta n a Synod

inasm uch as th e two were m u t u a lly c o n t r a d i c t o r y in

such im p ortant p o in t s the c o n s t i t u t i o n urer,

in view o f the

as t h e m a tte r o f a d m i n i s t r a t i v e

p ro v id in g for a p r e sid e n t,

a nd t h e t e m p o r a r y r e g u l a t i o n s

com m ittee o f f i v e m em bers.

That t h e

o fficers,

s e c r e t a r y , and t r e a s ­

p r o v i d i n g f o r an e x e c u t i v e o l d c o n s t i t u t i o n was n o t

f o r m a l l y a b r o g a te d seems t o h a v e b een th e o n ly err o r o f p roced ure com m itted a t A ndover.

Weenaas s a y s

th e th ree-m a n com m ittee r e s p o n s i b l e w ith C lausen,

for

w as u n f o r t u n a t e t h a t

arran ging the

Conference

o f w h i c h h e was c h a i r m a n , h a d n o t m e t , and t h u s

H a t l e s t a d had n o t been c o n s u l t e d , press

that i t

but he

( W e e n a a s ) , b e c a u s e o f tine

o f o t h e r b u s i n e s s , h a d i n s t r u c t e d E g g e n t o make t h e

stifted e

^"Den n o r s k - d a n s k e A u g u s t a n a s y n o d e o g d e t i K o n f e r e n t s , " i b i d . , XVI ( 1 8 7 1 ) , 1 2 3 .

S t . Ansgar

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

174 n e c e ssa r y arrangem ents. Because d o c t r in a l was n o t

o n ly d e s ir a b le but n e c e s s a r y ,

at Andover, t h a t con stitu tion .-*sever t ie s

Synod i n

B efore

that

at S t.

of

its

f o r a new

a c c o r d in g t o W eenaas.

con gregation s,

a nd c o n t r a r y t o

is

The c o n s t i t u ­

o n ly a p r o p o sa l subm itted

some p o p u l a r m i s c o n c e p t i o n s ,

con gregation s u n t i l

it

has met w i t h t h e i r

a p p r o v a l, w h ich cannot be accom plished u n t i l th e

n ext annual m eet­

H a t l e s t a d had no a u t h o r i t y t o c a l l a s y n o d i c a l m e e t i n g a t

Jefferson p ra irie

s i n c e h e w a s o n l y one

of the e x e c u tiv e

com m ittee

a p p o in ted a t Andover.

S i n c e Andrewson and S c h e i e w e re n o t

in

the

the

org a n iza tio n

of

A n d o v e r , t h e y h a d no r i g h t

to p a r tic ip a te

its

o f t h e manner i n w h ic h i t mak eup a s t o m e m b e r s .

a u t h o r i t y and m e a n in g .

in the J e ffe r s o n p r a ir ie

Weenaas t h u s i n s i s t s

m e e t i n g was i n v a l i d b e c a u s e o f t h e because

alon g

N o r w e g ia n -D a n is h A u g u sta n a Synod a t

m e e t in g as v o t i n g members.

of

adopted

own r e s o l u t i o n b e c a m e p a r t o f t h e new

A nsgar, he s a y s ,

n o t b i n d i n g upon t h e

in g .

taken

c o u l d b e d o n e i t w as n e c e s s a r y t o

Ansgar,

approved a t S t .

to th e

taken to c o n s id e r p r o p o sa ls

it

The p r e v i o u s l y - f o r m e d N o r w e g i a n - D a n i s h A u g u s t a n a

consequence

organ ization

is

s t e p s be

in v ie w o f the a c t i o n

w ith th e p r o v is io n a l c o n s t it u t io n a l r e g u la tio n s

at Andover.

tio n

a g r e e m e n t was r e a c h e d a t S t . A n s g a r ,

that th is

d e c i s i o n s made a t S t . was c a l l e d t o g e t h e r ,

Thus,

its

d ecisio n s

la tter

Ansgar,

a nd b e c a u s e

are w ith o u t

a

A s p e c i a l m e e t i n g o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e was c a l l e d ^W een aas r e f e r r e d t o t h e r e s o l u t i o n in g d e sig n a ted as 4b, su p ra, p . 163,

to

convene

o f th e Andover m e e t ­

^ A u g u s t W e e n a a s , ”E t Ord t i l F r e d , ” L u t h e r a n e r e n e n c e E d i t i o n ) , IV ( 1 8 7 0 ) , 1 6 1 - 6 5 .

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

(C onfer­

175

In M adison, W is c o n s in ,

January 3 ,

1871.

The s t a t e d p u r p o s e

m e e t i n g was t o d e a l w i t h p r o b l e m s p o s e d b y t h e a c t i o n

o f the

of the

Jef­

ferso n P r a ir ie m eetin g in

regard to the

a nd t o

f o r a c o n fe r en ce w ith p a s t o r s o f the

con sid er a request

N orw egian S y n o d . A

s m a ll group o f p a s t o r s

January 4 .

P resid en t

of i l l n e s s ,

and Johan O l s e n ,

p resen t because con seq u en tly,

s e m i n a r y and L u t h e r a n e r e n

C l a u s e n w as h i n d e r e d f r o m a t t e n d i n g b e c a u s e

of illn ess

P astor 0.

the v i c e - p r e s i d e n t ,

in h is

c o u l d n o t be

f a m i l y and p r e s s i n g p a s t o r a l work;

P a u l s o n was c h o s e n a s c h a i r m a n .

a n d a l a y m a n , Mr. K l o v e , s p e a k on b e h a l f o f t h e

and d e l e g a t e s m e t on

Andrewson

w e r e p r e s e n t a n d h a d an o p p o r t u n i t y t o

N orwegian A ngustanan p o i n t o f v i e w . ^

com m ittee

composed o f P a lk G j e r t s e n , M i l l e r Eggen,

p orted as

fo llo w s

A

a nd W e e n a a s r e ­

on t h e r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e tw o b o d i e s ,

and t h e i r

r e p o r t w as u n a n i m o u s l y a d o p t e d :

J

1) At t h e t i m e o f t h e i r s e p a r a t i o n [ f r o m t h e s w e d e s the N o r w e g ia n s r e g a r d e d t h e m s e l v e s as r e l e a s e d from th e o l d A u g u s ­ t a n a S y n o d ' s c o n s t i t u t i o n and j u s t i f i e d i n o r g a n i z i n g th em ­ s e l v e s a t a n y t i m e w h a t e v e r u p o n t h e b a s i s o f t h e i r own c o n ­ s t i t u t i o n , b e i n g bound o n ly by the o b l i g a t i o n s p r e s c r i b e d in t h e s e p a r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t , and f t h e y } t h e r e f o r e a c t e d a t t h e Andover m e e t in g i n a c co r d a n ce w ith t h i s u n d e r s t a n d in g . It f o l l o w s t h e r e f r o m t h a t t h e y o r g a n i z e d on t h e b a s i s o f t e m p o r a r y c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p r o v i s i o n s , whereby th e o ld A ugustana S y n o d 's c o n s t i t u t i o n w as i n f a c t a b r o g a t e d , a n d i n t h a t o r g a n i z a t i o n they a l l p a r t ic ip a t e d . 2) I f t h i s c o n s t i t u t i o n w a s t e m p o r a r y , t h e s y n o d , w h e r e v e r a nd w h e n e v e r a s s e m b l e d a s a s y n o d , was j u s t i f i e d I n a d o p t i n g a new c o n s t i t u t i o n a l o n g w i t h t h e d i s s o l u t i o n o f t h e t e m p o r a r y o r g a n i z a t i o n , w hich i s the m eaning o f th e d i s s o l u t i o n d e c i s i o n . 3 ) On t h a t a c c o u n t we m u s t h e a r t i l y d e p l o r e t h e f a c t t h a t i n d i v i d u a l s who p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h e f o r m u l a t i o n o f t h e d e c i ­ s i o n s In A n d ov er and t h e r e b y d e c l a r e d t h e m s e l v e s a t one w i t h us in t h e i r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f the r e l a t i o n to th e o ld A ugus­ t a n a S y n o d l a t e r s e p a r a t e d f r o m u s and o r g a n i z e d a new c h u r c h ^ ”B e k j e n d t g j o r e l s e , " i b i d . , IV

(1870),

176.

^ "K on feren tsem S d et i M adison," i b i d . , V (1 8 7 1 ) ,

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

35-39.

176 b od y.1 In a d d it io n ,

the

c o m m i t t e e ’ s r e p o r t i n c l u d e d an i n v i t a t i o n

synod o rg a n ized a t J e f f e r s o n p r a i r i e

to the

to meet w ith th e C onference

a t a l a t e r date in order to a d ju st the e x i s t i n g q u e stio n a b le tio n ,

if

p o s s ib le .

^

The a b o v e p a r a g r a p h s s u m m a r i z e r a t h e r w e l l

the C o n feren ce’ s a t t it u d e the

in terp reta tio n

H atlestad

situ a ­

and c o n s t i t u t e

o f events

an o f f i c i a l

statem ent o f

t h a t W e en a a s e a r l i e r h a d g i v e n .

0.

J.

a l s o was p r e s e n t a nd was p e r m i t t e d t o e x p r e s s h i m s e l f i n

reg a rd to the

com m ittee’ s r e p o r t .

V a r io u s e d u c a t i o n a l problem s w ere a l s o d i s c u s s e d a t t h i s m eetin g,

inasm uch as

it

r e p r e s e n t in g both synods

w as a g r e e d b e t w e e n c o n f e r r i n g c o m m i t t e e s that

s io n o f the M arshall p r o p e r ty , o b lig a tio n s,

the

the A ugustanans sh ou ld have p o s s e s ­ t o g e t h e r w i t h a c c r u e d d e b t s and

C onference a p p o in te d a seven-man com m ittee w it h

th e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f f i n d i n g a permanent l o c a t i o n

fo r the

C onfer­

e n c e ’ s sem in ary.3 The p r o c e s s fic u lt

o f s e p a r a t i n g f r o m t h e S w e d e s was n o t

so d i f ­

nor in v o lv e d b u t t h a t th e Norwegians c o u ld have a m ic a b ly

accom p lish ed i t

if

t h e y had b een o f one m in d .

As o n e w e i g h s t h e

a r g u m e n t s and c o u n t e r - a r g u m e n t s a s t o w h i c h g r o u p was r e s p o n s i b l e for mate

the d i v i s i o n

o f t h e N o r w e g i a n e l e m e n t a nd w h i c h w as t h e

s u c c e s s o r o f th e N orwegian s e c t i o n

t a n a S y n o d , he i s co n clu sio n .

o f the S ca n d in a v ia n Augus­

apt to d e sp a ir o f b e in g able to reach a d e f i n i t e

What d o e s b e c o m e e v i d e n t , h o w e v e r ,

t h e r e were s t r a i n e d r e l a t i o n s w i t h i n circu m stan ces

is

the

pp. 3 7 -5 9 .

^ Ib id . ,

fact

t h e N o r w e g ia n camp,

a s s o c i a t e d w i t h th e s e p a r a t i o n from th e

1I b i d . ,

le g iti­

pp. 39 f .

th at

and t h e

Swedes gave

5Ib id .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

177 op p ortu n ity for

the

two p a r t i e s

to

go t h e i r

sep arate w ays.

The C o n f e r e n c e The O r i g i n s

o f Augsburg Sem inary

H aving r e c e i v e d p e r m is s io n tio n a l June,

in stitu tio n 1869,

tim e i n the in

the

tim e

educa­

o f th e M oline s y n o d i c a l m e e t in g in

th e Norwegian e le m e n t o f th e A ugu stan a Synod l o s t

g ettin g

op eration the

at

to e s t a b lis h a sep arate

the

v en tu re un derw ay.1

o f two s e p a r a t e

same b u i l d i n g .

tu rb in g c o m p lic a tio n s.

T his

no

A ctu a lly th ey undertook

s c h o o l s , b o t h o f w h ic h were l o c a t e d

s i t u a t i o n w as t o b e p r o d u c t i v e

N otice

th a t the

two i n s t i t u t i o n s ,

of d is­ an a c a d ­

emy a nd a t h e o l o g i c a l s e m i n a r y , w o u l d b e g i n t h e i r w or k S e p t e m b e r 1,

1 8 6 9 , was p u b l i s h e d b y Vtfeenaas i n t h e m i d d l e

The S c h o o l C o m m i t t e e a p p o i n t e d a t M o l i n e t o la tio n s

and t o d i r e c t

met in M ilw a u k ee, regu lation s

August 1 7 - 1 9 ,

fo r the

adopted te m p o r a r ily . accepted

for

ten

form u late proper reg u ­

o f the e d u c a tio n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s

1869.®

I n s t r u c t o r s were

A draft

of co n stitu tio n a l

c h o s e n and s t u d e n t s were

in accord w ith the d u t ie s

was c r e a t e d . 4

s t u d e n t s were p r e s e n t ;

•'- S u p r a , p p .

summ er.2

s e m i n a r y a n d a c a d e m y p r e s e n t e d b y W e e n a a s w as

the se m in a r y ,

t h e b o a r d when i t doors

the a f f a i r s

of the

im posed upon

When t h e s e m i n a r y o p e n e d i t s w ith in

a week i t

had e i g h t m ore.

157 f .

p

III

" M a r s h a l l A c a d e m y a n d S e m i n a r y , " Den N o r s k e L u t h e r a n e r , (1869), 128.

^Members o f t h e b o a r d w e r e P r o f . W e e n a a s , p a s t o r s J . O l s e n , 0 . J . H a t l e s t a d , a nd S . M. K r o g n e s s , a nd M e s s r s , D a n i e l G a b r i e l s o n and A. W r ig h t. O n l y W r i g h t was a b s e n t f r o m t h e M i l ­ waukee m e e t i n g . H o lla n d , Augsburg Sem in ar, pp . 3 8 , 42 f . 4Ib ld .,

pp. 4 3 -4 5 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

178 In th e course ro lled ,

of the

f i r s t h a l f - y e a r tw enty-one

e l e v e n o f whom w e r e i n t h e

s tu d e n ts had e n ­

t h e o l o g i c a l d e p a r tm e n t and t e n

1

in the p rep aratory departm ent.

The R a c i n e m e e t i n g o f t h e N o r w e g i a n s e c t i o n A ugustana Synod, h e l d h a s b e e n made e a r l i e r for

the

sch ools

it

la te

p

in

O ctober,

1869, to

w hich r e f e r e n c e

d e a lt w ith the q u estio n o f

was o p e r a t i n g .

o f the

co n stitu tio n s

C e r t a i n a l t e r a t i o n s w e r e made

i n t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a d o p t e d b y t h e S c h o o l Committee a c o u p le m onths e a r l i e r

in M ilw au k ee.

Among t h e m was t h e

of

ch oice o f

"Augsburg Sem inary" a s t h e t h e o l o g i c a l s e m in a r y ’ s n a m e M a t t e r s d e a lin g w ith

th e s e m i n a r y a p p a r e n t l y p ro v o k e d no g r e a t p r o b l e m s ,

b u t i t was o t h e r w i s e w i t h t h e a c a d e m y . at

th is

m eetin g r e v e a ls

s h ip betw een th e

g a in .^

A l l concerned had r e ­

o f th e r e c e n t ly - c o n s t r u c t e d M arshall s c h o o l-

fo r som ethin g l e s s But in c lu d e d in

an academy had t o be

the

than $ 4 ,0 0 0 as a r e a l f i n a n c i a l b a r ­ t r a n s a c t i o n was t h e s t i p u l a t i o n

operated in

Weenaas e x p l a i n e d t o a c r i t i c d itio n s

on

c o n f u s e d and a m b i g u o u s r e l a t i o n ­

sem in a r y and th e academ y.

garded the purchase b u ild in g

the ra th er

The d i s c u s s i o n c a r r i e d

o f p u r c h a s e was t h a t

con ju n ction w ith

o f t h e academy t h a t it

that

t h e s e m i n a r y . ’^ on e o f t h e

con­

s h o u l d b e an ".American a c a d e m y "

1I b i d ., p. 45. ^S u p r a , p .

158.

®The c o n s t i t u t i o n s a s a d o p t e d a t R a c i n e a r e p r i n t e d i n i b i d . , pp. 4 3 6 -3 9 . V alu ab le fo o t n o te s are in c lu d e d . 4 I b i d . , pp. 38 f . H ollan d in c lu d e s v a r io u s e s t im a t e s as to c o s t. ^ " P a s t o r H. A . P r e u s o g A k a d e m i e t i M a r s h a l l , " F a e d r e l a n d e t o g E m igranten (Jan . 6 , 1 8 7 0 ) , p . 4 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

179 I n w h i c h r e l i g i o n w o u l d n o t be a r e q u i r e d s u b j e c t . w as a c c e p t e d i n o r d e r t o h a v e a p l a c e sem inary.

There w e re b i t t e r

Preus o f th e

N orw eg ia n Synod and W e e n a a s .

a l a c a d e m y w as e v i d e n c e no r e a l i n t e r e s t

o f u n ionism .

Weenaas s ee m s t o h a v e h a d the

in h avin g f a c i l i t i e s

of the sem in a ry .

J.

p reu s1 c h ie f o b jectio n

op eration o f a n o n -c o n fe ssio n -

in or en th u siasm fo r

h e w as i n t e r e s t e d

" A m e r i c a n " a ca demy ^ b u t

necessary for

J . Anderson,

Paragrap h one o f t h e academ y c o n s t i t u t i o n

w egian s e c t i o n

t h e o l o g i c a l sem inary

£ i.e « ,

o f th e A ugustana Synod e s t a b l i s h e s

as soon as c ir c u m sta n c e s p e r m it."

f o r m u l a t e d by t h e as

follo w s;

to educate sch o o l,

"The a c a d e m y ’ s p u r p o s e i s

p a r tly to

teachers,

academy. reads;

"in con­

a n a c a d e m y on a com plete

co l­

The s t a t e m e n t o f p u r p o s e

s c h o o l C omm ittee was a l t e r e d

capable

opera-

Augsburg J th e Nor­

th e American p a t t e r n , w h ic h w i l l be exp an d ed i n t o lege

the

non-L utheran in background

a nd A m e r i c a n - e d u c a t e d , w a s c h o s e n p r i n c i p a l o f t h e

n e c t i o n v/ith t h i s

conduct th e

e x c h a n g e s b e t w e e n p r e s i d e n t H. A«

t o t h e M a r s h a l l academy was t h a t t h e

tion

in w hich t o

T his c o n d i t i o n

a t R acine

p a rtly ,

to read

and p r i n c i p a l l y ,

b o t h m a le and f e m a l e ,

f o r the p u b lic

i m p a r t t o y o u n g men a n d women t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t

know ledge r e l a t i n g t o

p u b lic e d u c a t io n ” (Par.

2).

The s c h o o l

C om m ittee’ s p r o p o s a l had in c lu d e d th e

statem ent

o f t h e a c a d e m y ’ s p u r p o s e was t o s e r v e

as a p r e p a r a to r y s c h o o l fo r

the

sem inary.

irresp ectiv e

structors

one a s p e c t

N o n - s e c t a r i a n c o - e d u c a t i o n w as p r o v i d e d f o r

paragraph th r e e , tio n

that

a t the

p u p ils

o f b o t h s e x e s t o be a c c e p t e d f o r

o f creed or n a t io n a lit y . academy be r e q u i r e d t o

in str u c ­

A proposal th at

su b scrib e

to

in

in ­

the d o c t r i n a l

^Weenaas, M in d e b la d e , p . 2 9 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

180 a rticles

o f the

synod was r e j e c t e d .

s a t is f a c t io n w ith

th e academy s e t u p as

t h o s e a ssem b led a t R acine v o t e d , c o n stitu tio n

T h e r e was c o n s i d e r a b l e d i s ­

p rior

it

w as m a t e r i a l i z i n g ,

to

adjournm ent,

that

s h o u l d b e a d o p t e d o n l y t e m p o r a r i l y a nd t h a t a t

a nd the le a st

on e o f t h e a c a d e m y t e a c h e r s m u s t be a Lutheran."*' K rogness,

la ter

Norsks L u t h e r a n e r , emy t e a c h e r s " tragic the

a Norwegian A u g u sta n a n , a s e d i t o r

ch aracterized

to su b s c r ib e

to

the

the d e c i s i o n

w ay t h a t w e e n a a s d i d ,

J. H atlestad d id not

acad­ as

in terp ret

s c h o o l b u i l d i n g was p u r c h a s e d i n

and he o b j e c t e d t o t h e

s c h o o l b y a L u th e r a n s y n o d on s u c h a l o o s e He s a i d

not to req u ire

synod’s d o c tr in a l a r t ic le s

fo r a Lutheran s y n o d . 0.

c o n t r a c t under w hich th e

o f Den

t h a t he c o u ld n o t promote

the

op eration o f a h ig h

co n fessio n a l b a s is .

support o f the

sch o o l in h is

l o c a l i t y under such c ir c u m s t a n c e s .3 The a t t e m p t t o sio n a l school

o p e r a t e M a r s h a l l A ca demy a s a n o n - c o n f e s ­

created ser io u s

p r o b le m s and c o n s i d e r a b l e

from th e v e r y b e g i n n i n g , and t h i s sion

o f the

revealed

in

con trib u ted

Norwegian A u g u sta n a n s i n 1 8 7 0 .

the e x is t e n c e

situ a tio n

issu e

o f op in ion in regard to When t h e

sp lit

it

to the d i v i ­

The R a c i n e m e e t i n g

o f much d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n

t h e sam e w a y t h a t

ill-w ill

w ith

revealed d e f in it e

th e s c h o o l d ifferen ces

church r i t u a l . occurred in

1870,

th e N orwegian A u g u sta n a n s

^"Mfide a f d e n n o r s k - d a n s k e A f d e l i n g a f A u g u s t a n a - S y n o d e n i R a c i n e , " L u t h e r a n e r e n , TV ( 1 8 7 0 ) , 3 0 - 3 2 ; H e l l a n d , A u g s b u r g S e m i n a r , p p .' 4 9 f . , 4 3 8 f . ^ " K irk e-E fterretn in g er,"

Den N o r s k e L u t h e r a n e r ,

184. 3 " K i r k e k r o n i k e , ” K. M . , XIV

(1869),

367.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

III

(1869),

181 gained p o s s e s s io n Sem inary,

o f the M arshall s c h o o l b u ild in g .^

d ep riv ed o f adequate q u a rter s

fic u ltie s,

p assed through a cou p le

but the s tu d e n ts r a l l i e d nary con tin u ed i t s ence h e ld

u n iv ersity .

M in n e so ta , were ter,

in

lead ersh ip ,

January,

and t h e s e m i ­

1871, a com m ittee

f i n d a new l o c a t i o n

I t was c o n s i d e r e d d e s i r a b l e

was a s t a t e

o f t r y in g years a t M arshall,

At a s p e c i a l m e e t i n g o f t h e C o n f e r ­

i n M adison, W is c o n s in ,

s e v e n me m b er s was a p p o i n t e d t o nary,

an d b e s e t by o t h e r d i f ­

around w een a a s'

ex isten ce.

Augsburg

to

lo ca te

M adison, W is c o n s in ,

con sid ered , w ith

the

ch oice

of

fo r the sem i­

in a c i t y where t h e r e and M i n n e a p o l i s , f a l l i n g upon th e

la t­

T h i s d e c i s i o n was r e a c h e d a t t h e s y n o d i c a l m e e t i n g o f 1 8 7 1 ,

At t h a t

t i m e a b u i l d i n g c o m m i t t e e w a s a p p o i n t e d , w i t h P a s t o r Ole

P au lson o f M in n ea p o lis A ugsburg's

s e r v in g a s chairm an.

str o n g e st advocates

the s c h o o l in e stim a b le

service

P a u l s o n was o n e o f

and s u p p o r t e r s , in th ose

and h e r e n d e r e d

ea rly years.

B u ild in g

o p e r a t i o n s h a d p r o c e e d e d t o s u c h an e x t e n t t h a t t h e s c h o o l was transferred

to M inneapolis

in

another t h e o lo g ic a l p r o fe s so r ,

the P a l l

of 1872.

In a d d it io n

Inasmuch as

t o W eenaas, was n e e d e d ,

e f f o r t s w e r e made t o o b t a i n t h e w e l l - k n o w n N o r w e g i a n p a s t o r J.

C. H. S t o r j o h a n n

fo r the p o s t .

te n d e d a c a l l t o him , bu t th e

The 1 8 7 1 a n n u a l m e e t i n g e x ­

C onference

r e c e i v e d no d e f i n i t e

l i t w o u l d a p p e a r t h a t t h e C o n f e r e n c e was n o t p a r t i c u l a r l y a n x io u s t o c o n t i n u e t o h a v e i t s s e m in a r y l o c a t e d in M a r s h a ll a n y ­ way. At any r a t e no r e a l f i g h t was p u t up t o r e t a i n th e b u i l d i n g . W e e n a a s s a y s t h a t when p r o f e s s o r A n d e r s o n c a l l e d on h i m w i t h an e v i c t i o n n o t i c e s i g n e d by 0 . Andrewson, he l e f t im m ed ia te ly w i t h h i s s t u d e n t s b e c a u s e he r e g a r d e d i t w i s e s t and m ost i n harmony w i t h t h e s p i r i t o f C h r i s t i a n i t y and t h e g o o d o f t h e s e m i n a r y . W eenaas, M in d eb la d e, p . 4 6 . The A n d o v e r m e e t i n g i n 1 8 7 0 w i t n e s s e d th e p a ssa g e o f a r e s o l u t i o n w h ich r e v e a l s t h a t the s a l e o f the a c a d e m y b u i l d i n g was c o n t e m p l a t e d . " K o n fe re n tse m B d e ," L uth eraneren , IV ( 1 8 7 0 ) , 1 3 5 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

182 r e f u s a l u n t i l 1 8 7 3 , when W e e n a a s a n d P a s t o r F a l k G j e r t s e n c o n f e r r e d w i t h him i n

Norway.

S t o r j o h a n n recommended t o them a young t h e o ­

l o g i c a l c a n d i d a t e named s v e n au th orized

O fted al.

th em t o e x t e n d t h e

c a ll to

S in ce

th e C onference had

some o t h e r

th eo lo g ica lly -

t r a i n e d a n d p r o p e r l y - q u a l i f i e d man i n t h e e v e n t o f S t o r j o h a n n ’ s refu sa l,

W e e n a a s and G j e r t s e n e x t e n d e d t h e

receiv ed h is

acceptance.

c a ll to

Through O ft e d a l the

O f t e d a l and

C o n f e r e n c e was

b r o u g h t i n t o c o n t a c t w i t h t w o more v e r y p r o m i s i n g y o u n g t h e o l o ­ gia n s,

G e o r g S v e r d r u p a n d S . R . G u n n e r s e n , who w i t h i n a y e a r w e r e

a l s o t o be added t o t h e a rriv ed

i n Am erica i n

sem inary th e

f a c u l t y o f Augsburg S em in ary.

O ctober,

1873,

The s t a t e m e n t largely a h isto r y

th at

the

C onference

"the h i s t o r y

o f A ugsbu rg Sem inary"

of th e C onference is

la ter,

in the

another.

to o v erestim a te

C o n f e r e n c e made t h e

in th e

life

they u su a lly

and d e v e lo p m e n t o f th e

The men o n t h e

centered

3

th e c e n t r a l p o s i t i o n w hich

o f t h e Lutheran F ree Church.

synod,

At

C o n feren ce w ould s ta n d o r f a l l w i t h A ugsburg.

I t would be d i f f i c u l t Augsburg o c c u p ie d

is

a n a c c u r a t e one.**

t i m e Gj e r m un d Hoyme a s p r e s i d e n t o f t h e

sta tem en t th a t the

and,

work a t t h e

n e x t month.'*' The M i s s i o n o f

one

and b eg a n h i s

O ftedal

C onference,

When s t o r m s b r o k e w i t h ­

about Augsburg i n

o n e way o r

se m in a r y f a c u l t y were p rom in en t i n

the

■ ^ Hell an d, A u g s b u r g S e m i n a r , p p . 6 9 - 9 0 . 2 B e r n h a r d t J . E l e v e n , "The H i s t o r y o f t h e N o r w e g i a n - D a n i s h E v a n g e l i c a l L u th e r a n Church i n A m e r ic a ," ( U n p u b lis h e d M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s , Graduate S c h o o l, U n i v e r s i t y o f M in n e s o ta , 1 9 3 0 ) , p . 1 6 . T his t h e s i s i s a c t u a l l y a h i s t o r y o f th e C onference a lth o u g h the t i t l e does not r ev e a l i t . ^ S yn od ical R eport,

the

C onference,

1887,

p.

16.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

183 management o f t h e d eterm in ative

in

a ffa irs

o f the

crea tin g

the

synod,

a n d t h e i r l e a d e r s h i p was

c h a r a c t e r and s p i r i t

o f the

synod*

A u g u st Weenaas c e r t a i n l y m ust be r e g a r d e d a s t h e r e a l fou nder o f Augsburg Sem inary d e s p i t e th e sch o o l to

s u c h men a s

Ole P a u l s o n .

g rea t in d eb ted n ess

He w a s i n i t s

o n l y p r e s i d e n t and manager but a l s o

so le

ea rly years not

th eo lo g ica l p rofessor.

More t h a n a n y o t h e r i n d i v i d u a l h e w as r e s p o n s i b l e drawal o f the When t h e sp irits

N orw egians

th a t u n d ertak in g;

greater general in flu e n c e . the C onference from w i t h o u t , who t o o k t h e

cause

p rob ab ly o n ly c .

to others

the

1 8 7 1 , Weenaas g i v e s

says,

the

first

goes its

issu e

an d h i s

wa s w e e n a a s

among

co n cep tio n o f the m is s io n

of

ru le,

from t h e N o r w e g ia n m other-

its

c h i l d r e n pure and u n a d u l t e r a t e d .

church e x p e r ie n c e s of its

and g u i d e .

a developm ent, but i t

c o n fe s sio n , w ith the B ib le It

is

fundam ental to th e

sound develop m en t t h a t pure d o c t r in e m a n if e s t s

la ck in g ,

it

c o n c e r n i n g Word a n d s a c r a m e n t , w h i c h i t

tran sm it to

f o r w a r d on t h e b a s i s

tr u ly C h ristian

ag a in st a tta ck

o f Lutheraneren f o r the year

a m agn ificen t h erita g e

organism th e

on ly so u r c e ,

and t o d e f e n d i t

an e v a l u a t i o n o f t h e s i t u a t i o n e x i s t i n g

true d o c tr in e

must a t a l l c o s t s As a l i v i n g

became n e c e s s a r y t o p r e s e n t

The N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n C h u r c h i n A m e r i c a , he

has r e c e iv e d

church,

C la u se n had

from th e N orw egian Syn o d ,

Norwegian-.Am erican L u th e r a n s conference.

L.

and h e a c q u i t t e d h i m s e l f w i t h a b i l i t y .

W ritin g in

the

he was one o f th e d o m i n a t i n g

When i t

p a rticu la rly lea d ,

fo r the w ith ­

fr o m t h e S c a n d i n a v i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d .

C o n f e r e n c e was o r g a n i z e d , in

o f the

life .

its

Where o n e o f t h e s e , d o c t r i n e

developm ent c e a s e s

or i t

as c h u r c h ’s

power i n a or l i f e ,

is

b e c o m e s p e r v e r t e d and o n e - s i d e d .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

184 I f pure d o c tr in e

is

over-em p h asized , th e

fo r m a lism , w hich e a s i l y the use on t h e

o f S crip tu re

lead s

to a r a t i o n a l i s t i c

I f the C h r is tia n l i f e

w i t h an a c c o m p a n y i n g i n d i f f e r e n c e

fin d in g ness,

itse lf

lo st;

the

is

situ a tio n

ch a racterizes

s e v e r a l years m ain tained a c lo s e

The l a r g e s t

o f M i s s o u r i mu ch more r e a d i l y t h a n i t s a scrib es

to t h is

th e Norwegian

r e la tio n s h ip w ith

circu m stan ce,

polem ical s p i r i t ,

its its

d ecisio n s

to

w ith the

in E ie lse n .

tru th .

good t r a i t s .

The r e a c t i o n

au th oritarian

th is p oin t

of it s

o f view cen ­

The s t r e n g t h o f E i e l s e n ’ s S y n o d h a s b e e n i t s th e C a tech ism as o v e r a g a i n s t

learn ed th e s e s

e m p h a s i s on t h e C h r i s t i a n l i f e .

and i t s

weakness has been i t s

the Synod’ s Its

l a c k o f c h u r c h -m in d e d n e ss and o r g a n i z a t i o n

t e n d e n c y t o become a ' ' p a r t y ."

I t s work h a s b e e n h i n d e r e d

o p p o s i t i o n t o N orwegian ch u rch p r a c t i c e s

an e d u c a t e d

attitu d e

id en tifica tio n

te n a c ity in h old in g to

by i t s

says

alignm ent w ith M iss o u r i the Synod’ s

even in regard to p e r ip h e r a l q u e s tio n s,

an d i t s

w o rld li­

inasm uch as th e Norwegian Synod h a s a d o p te d th e p e r v e r ­

super-orth od oxy,- i t s

ters

o f them,

German M i s s o u r i S y n o d , a m o s t u n f o r t u n a t e

Weenaas

and s e c t s ,

the th ree £ a c t u a lly

Synod, has

sitie s

for

among N o r w e g i a n L u­

church b o d ie s .

W eenaas,

the b a s is

in to p a rties

fourj e x iste n t

the

in

over-em p h asized ,

towards d o c t r i n e ,

church d i v i d e s

V iew ing th e

i n A m e r i c a , Weenaas

for

dead

litera lism

f i n a l l y dom inated by s e l f - r i g h t e o u s n e s s ,

or r a t i o n a l i s m .

th erans

in to

and t h e i m p o s i t i o n o f h y p e r - c o n f e s s i o n a l i s m

con greg ation s.

sound p r o g r e s s i s

church sin k s

an d i t s

fear of

clergy .

Weenaas g o e s on t o s a y t h a t t h e

C o n f e r e n c e h a s come i n t o

b e i n g i n r e a c t i o n t o t h e above d e s c r i b e d s i t u a t i o n .

It has

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

its

185 roots p a r tia lly a ffilia ted

in E llin g ia n lsx n In the p erso n s

w ith th e S ca n d in a v ia n Augustana Synod,

C o n f e r e n c e stemmed; t h i s p ecia lly

o f s o m e who w e r e

f a c t has

from w h ic h t h e

c r e a t e d some d i f f i c u l t i e s ,

es­

inasm uch as a c o u p le o f th e p a s t o r s have r e v e a l e d t h e i r

k in sh ip w ith E ie ls e n by th e ir church p r a c t ic e s ,

s tr o n g a n t ip a th y towards

b u t t h e y now s t a n d o u t s i d e

N orwegian

[in

the C onference

t h e N or w e g ia n A u g u s ta n a S y n o d , o f w hose e x i s t e n c e Weenaas d o e s not take n o tic e

in h is

ference w i ll f u l f i l l righ teou sn ess d o ctrin e, d octrin e life,

if

con trast,

its

purpose

and f a c t i o u s n e s s it

in to

and i f

articlej.-* -

striv es

it

is

aware o f t h e

the d e sir e d r e s u lt

rem ains s t e a d f a s t

to d ir e c t

In th e

ch u rch 's

T his

co n gregation al

te m p o ra l problem s

" reaction " has

in A m erica,

£in for

assumed o r ­

the b e l i e f

t h a t way i n t h e

esp ecia lly

that

free

in view o f th e

r e p r e s e n t e d by t h e N orw egian S yn od .

forth

th e C o n f e r e n c e ' s spokesman

the C o n feren ce's

N orw egian-A m erican L utheran r e l i g i o u s

lo y a lty

th e power o f pure

church-body b ecau se o f

above a r t i c l e W eenaas,

sets

as r e g a r d s

la ck o f ap p recia tio n

can b e s t be r ea ch ed i n

that e x is t s

tend en cy th a t i s

the

it

to the E llin g ia n

g a n i z e d form as a s e p a r a t e

tim e,

if

ea rn estly

c h u r c h o r d e r a nd o r g a n i z a t i o n } .

a t the

and be p r e s e r v e d from s e l f -

t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f a sou nd and f r e s h

no d o u b t ,

church se tu p

A c c o r d i n g t o W e e n a a s t h e C on ­

t o t h a t w hich i s

id en tified

concept scene.

of its

p lace

in

A p a rticu la r

w ith the m other-chu rch in

^•Weenaas, "Et B l i k p a a d e n n o r s k - l u t h e r s k e K i r k e i A m e r i ­ ca," L utheraneren, V (1 8 7 1 ), 1 - 6 . Answers t o t h i s a r t i c l e appear u n d e r t h e t i t l e , "Vor k i r k e l i g e S t i l l i n g b e l y s t o g f o r s v a r e t l i g e o v e r f o r e t n y l i g l e v e r e t V r a n g b i l l e d e d e r a f , " i n K» M», XVI ( 1 8 7 1 ) , 1 1 6 - 2 2 , and in su b seq u en t i s s u e s .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

186 N or w ay i s ence

ex p ressed .^

It

is

the

avowed i n t e n t i o n o f

t o g o t h e m i d d l e w ay b e t w e e n t h e p o i n t s

N o rw eg ia n Synod and E i e l s e n ’ s S y n o d .

its

in ten tio n

came i n t o

em p h a sis b o t h t o pure d o c t r i n e and t o t h e C h r is t ia n

p a rticu la r,

in rea ctio n

as r e p r e se n te d by the

ex isten ce,

to

g iv in g proper l i f e .2

The

,,M i s s o u r I a n i s m ,, i n

N orwegian Synod, f e e l i n g

e r k in s h ip w it h th e g e n e r a l p o in t o f v iew o f the E l l i n g i a n s w ith th a t

two

The C o n f e r e n c e e m p h a s i z e s

o f m a in t a in in g a b a la n c e d L utheranism ,

C o n f e r e n c e comes i n t o e x i s t e n c e

C onfer­

o f view o f the

N orw egian-A m erican L utheran sy n o d s w h ich f i r s t the

the

a great­ than

o f the Synod. The E m e r g e n c e o f a New L e a d e r s h i p

W ith Sven O f t e d a l ’ s a r r i v a l i n days as Up t o

th e dom inant f i g u r e

th is

t h e F a l l o f 1 8 7 5 W e e n a a s*

a t A ugsburg sem in a ry were num bered.

t i m e A u g sb u rg had b e e n a one-man s c h o o l .

g in n in g o f the next

s c h o o l y e a r O f t e d a l ’ s young f r i e n d s ,

S v e r d r u p a nd S v e n G u n n e r s e n ,

had j o in e d the f a c u l t y ,

not lon g b efo re

a new l e a d e r s h i p e m e r g e d .

relig io u s

o f v ie w were e s s e n t i a l l y

p oin t

By t h e b e ­ Georg

and i t

A lth ough h i s

was

sp ir it

and

th a t o f Sverdrup and

•*-C. L . C l a u s e n i n h i s p r e s i d e n t i a l a d d r e s s t o t h e a n n u a l m e e t i n g o f t h e C o i i i e r e n c e i n 1 8 7 1 s t r e s s e s t h e p o i n t t h a t t h e C on ­ f e r e n c e i n t e n d s t o t r a n s p l a n t t h e f a i t h a nd d o c t r i n e o f t h e m o th er-ch u rch w ith o u t change or a d u l t e r a t i o n , syn od ical R ep ort, the C on feren ce, 1 8 7 1 , p . 1 5 . W e en aa s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y c a l l e d A u g s b u r g t h e '*n a t i o n a l " s e m i n a r y , e m p h a s i z i n g t h e f a c t t h a t i t was t h e o n l y N or w e g ia n L u th e r a n s e m i n a r y t h u s f a r e s t a b l i s h e d i n A m erica. ^The m i d d l e - o f - t h e - r o a d p o s i t i o n i s c l e a r l y s e t f o r t h i n the in tr o d u c to r y e d i t o r i a l o f the f i r s t is s u e o f K v a r t a l - S k r l f t , e d i t e d b y S v e r d r u p and O f t e d a l , i n 1 8 7 7 . I t Is s e a t e d 'that th e C o n f e r e n c e w i l l be an u n d a u n te d w i t n e s s i n the f a c e o f b o t h t h e S y n o d ' s h i e r a r c h i c a l t e n d e n c i e s and E l l i n g ' s d i s r e g a r d o f s y n o d i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n ; i t w i l l f i l l i n t h e gap b e t w e e n t h e S y n o d and E ielsen . " K v a r ta ls k r ift 1877," K v a r t a l - S k r i f t , I I I (1 8 7 7 ), 19.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

187 O f t e d a l , W e en a a s was s u s p i c i o u s s t o o d them.

o f t h e m and n e v e r r e a l l y u n d e r ­

The s t r a i n e d r e l a t i o n s h i p s

t h a t develop ed w ith in

f a c u l t y p r o d u c e d an u n c o m f o r t a b l e s i t u a t i o n The d e a t h

o f We en aas* w i f e

r e t u r n from a t r i p t o

in

1873,

The p a r t n e r s h i p

a gen eration .

It

concerned.

made known t o hi m u p o n h i s

t o r e t u r n t o N or wa y w i t h h i s

a p p a r e n t l y Weenaas n e v e r r e a l l y

f u l and i n f l u e n t i a l

a ll

Norway, had b e e n a h e a v y b lo w t o him t h a t

p r o d u c e d i n him a s t r o n g d e s i r e fam ily;

for

the

took r o o t

in A m erica.

1

o f S v e r d r u p a n d O f t e d a l was t o b e a p o w e r ­

one i n

N orw egian-A m erican L u th eran ism f o r

s h o u l d be n o t e d

over

t h a t b o t h men came f r o m v e r y

p r o m in e n t N orwegian f a m i l i e s

w hich had produced e x t r e m e l y c a p a b le

and h i g h l y r e s p e c t e d l e a d e r s

i n b o t h c h u r c h and s t a t e .

of

O f t e d a l upon th e

1873,

stage

c o n s e q u e n tly , was

o f N orw egian-A m erican L u th era n ism i n

fr e ig h te d w ith s ig n ific a n c e

o f A ugsburg and o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e .

for

J o h n so n ia n Awakening a l t h o u g h t h e y w e re n o t s o

cip les

o f ( r i s l e J o h n s o n a s was W e e n a a s ,

the

state.

The f o r c e s

way, how ever,

Sem inar,

and t h e

l a t t e r movement

church-state

The c r y w a s f o r a f r e e

program was s i m p l i f i e d church c o u n c ils

to exp ress th em selves

^ H olland, p . 91.

fu lly d is ­

rela tio n sh ip

o f self-gov ern m en t church in

a free

o f c o n s e r v a tis m were d e e p ly e n tr e n c h e d i n N or­

organ ization o f lo c a l gregation s

the

T his

church m ight have a g r e a t e r d egree

and s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n .

future

and t h e y w e r e i n s y m p a t h y

w i t h t h e C h u r c h R e fo rm m o v e m e n t i n N o r w a y . r e p r e s e n t e d deman ds f o r r e f o r m s i n

the

B o t h men h a d b e e n i n f l u e n c e d

by th e

so th a t

The a d v e n t

to

two d e m a n d s :

and t h e r i g h t

in the

ca llin g

o f the

the

con­

of th eir p astors.

Georg S v e r d r u p , p . 6 4 ; H e lla n d ,

Augsburg

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

Jakob Sverd ru p , these

G e o r g ’ s e l d e s t b r o t h e r and t h e a r d e n t a d v o c a t e

r e f o r m s , was d e f e a t e d

of

by a c o m b i n a t i o n o f c l e r g y m e n and

p o liticia n s When t h e

tw o y o u n g p r o f e s s o r s t o o k u p t h e i r w o r k i n A m e r i ­

c a , t h e y b r o u g h t w i t h th e m t h e i r self-g o v ern in g itu a lly -a liv e in terests

church fr e e church,

in

a p e o p le ’ s church,

from c l e r i c a l d o m i n a t i o n ,

C laren ce

and aims a s

in terest

a

and a s p i r -

C a r l s e n w e l l sum m arizes t h e i r

fo llo w s:

S v e r d r u p and O f t e d a l , t h e y o u n g p r o f e s s o r s f r o m N o r w a y , were c o n te n d in g f o r p e r s o n a l C h r i s t i a n i t y , s p i r i t u a l awaken­ i n g , w i t n e s s i n g b y the l a i t y , e v a n g e lis m , a d em o cra tic m in ­ i s t r y , and a ch u r c h l i f e w h ic h f o l l o w e d as c l o s e l y as p o s s i b l e t h e p a t t e r n s e t f o r t h i n t h e New T e s t a m e n t . 2 S v e n O f t e d a l w a s a man o f g r e a t a b i l i t i e s , th at

the t h e o l o g i c a l p r o fe s s o r s h ip

for t h e ir

exp ression

ex a m p le, w ould h a v e ,

did not p rovid e

i n th e way t h a t sin ce,

d esp ite

the h is

m e n t s , he was n o t r e a l l y a s c h o l a r . ^

field

th eir

cu ltu red

cham pion.

circ le s,

H is e l o q u e n c e

op p ortu n ity for

accom p lish ­

O ftedal possessed

o r among t h e and h i s

the

of p o litic s ,

lin g u istic

w i n n i n g p e r s o n a l i t y w h i c h e n a b l e d h i m t o move a risto cra tic,

Bergh s u g g e s t s

a dyn am ic,

c o n fid e n tly in common p e o p l e a s

p r a c t i c a l b e n t made h i m a

^ H o lla n d , G eorg S v e r d r u p , p p . 29 f . Jakob S v e r d r u p was a clerg y m a n , a s w e l l as a n a t i o n a l p o l i t i c a l f i g u r e , b e in g chosen b ish op j u s t p rio r to h is d ea th . G e o rg ’ s f a t h e r , H a ra ld TJlrich S v e r d r u p , w a s a man o f many i n t e r e s t s , n o t e d b o t h a s c l e r g y m a n a n d member o f P a r l i a m e n t ; p e r h a p s h i s m o s t n o t e d w or k w as t h e p r e p a r a tio n o f a w id e ly - u s e d epitom e o f th e c a te c h is m . Both fou gh t fo r l i b e r a l i z a t i o n o f n a tio n a l law s. H arald Sverdrup had f i v e s o n s a nd t h r e e d a u g h t e r s ; a l l f i v e s o n s b e c a m e t h e o l o g i a n s and a l l th e d au gh ters m arried p a s t o r s . I b i d ., pp. 11-24. ^ C l a r e n c e C a r l s e n , The Y e a r s o f p u r C h u r c h ( M i n n e a p o l i s : L u t h e r a n F r e e C h u r c h P u b l i s h i n g Co.", 1 9 4 2 ) ' , p . I S O -. 5Bergh,

op.

c it.,

p.

229.

permission of ,he copyrigM owner. Flll1her r e g i o n proh« e O withou, permissi0.

valu ab le

asset

to Augsburg in

sp irited fig h te r ,

f i n a n c i a l and b u s i n e s s

he was s o o n i n v o l v e d i n

and O f t e d a l p o s s e s s e d p e r s o n a l t r a i t s q u ite

d issim ila r,

a ffa irs.

controversy.

A

Sverdrup

w h i c h i n many r e s p e c t s w e r e

b u t th e y worked t o g e t h e r

so w e l l b e c a u s e t h e y

h a d a common s p i r i t u a l v i e w p o i n t a n d a common c o n c e p t o f t h e i r t a s k as t h e o l o g i c a l in

the words

lead ers

o f B legen ,

amon g N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n s •

’’w a s an o r i g i n a l a n d i n c i s i v e

combined s c h o l a r s h i p w i t h

recogn ized

i n f l u e n c e upon h i s

Prom t h e

le a d e r a t Augsburg.

G u n n e r s e n , w a s an a b l e ,

t h i n k e r who

s i n g u l a r pow er as a w r i t e r and t e a c h e r .

He wa s a n a t u r a l l e a d e r w h o s e l o w e r s w as t r e m e n d o u s .

Sverdrup,

tim e

f r i e n d s and f o l ­

o f h i s a r r i v a l h e was t h e

The t h i r d new p r o f e s s o r ,

q u a lified ,

S v e n Rud

a n d c o n s e c r a t e d man, b u t h e

d i d n o t s o r e a d i l y a d a p t h i m s e l f t o t h e American s i t u a t i o n , after fu ture

a few y e a r s he r e t u r n e d t o Norway.

and

The o u t l o o k f o r t h e

o f th e C o n fe r e n c e was b r i g h t w i t h t h e a d d i t i o n o f t h e s e

a b l e y o u n g me n, b u t newer r e l i g i o u s

sp irit

A w a k e n i n g an d t h e esp ecia lly

in

who h a d l e f t

the f a c t

t h a t t h e y h a d i m b i b e d much o f

i n N or wa y r e s x i l t i n g

the

from t h e J o h n s o n i a n

C h u r c h R e f o r m M ovem en t f o r e s h a d o w e d d i f f i c u l t i e

con n ection w ith t h e i r r e la t io n to r e li g io u s N or w ay when a d i f f e r e n t

O f t e d a l had h a r d l y s e t t l e d

sp irit

lead ers

pr e d o m in a te d .- ^ -

i n A m erica b e fo r e he c l e a r l y

r e v e a le d where he s t o o d .

On J a n u a r y 2 0 ,

Skandinaven p u b lis h e d th e

’’ Open D e c l a r a t i o n , ” t o w h i c h t h e nam es

o f W e en a a s and O f t e d a l w e r e a p p e n d e d . criticism

o f the

1874,

th e newspaper

I t wa s an u n r e s t r a i n e d

N o r w e g i a n S y n o d p r e p a r e d b y O f t e d a l and a l s o

■ ^ I b i d . , p p . 2 2 8 f . , 2 4 1 f . ; B l e g e n , The Am eri can _ T r a n s i ­ t i o n , p . 5 3 2 ; He H a n d , ’’P r o f e s s o r G e o r g S v e r d r u p ' , ”' Sy m r a , ' V I I ( l 9 1 l ) , 69; H e lla n d , Georg S v e r d r u p , p a s s i m .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

190 s ig n e d by W een aas.^

if

its

p u r p o s e w as t o d i s p e l r u m o r s t h a t

O f t e d a l was a s e c r e t M i s s i o u r i a n , l y accom p lish ed i t s t a c t f u l docum ent, th e

p u r p o se ,^

and i t s

su ggests,

N orw egian Synod.

g r e a t e r sym pathy f o r t h e

It

the

at Augsburg.

gram f o r A u g s b u r g s e m i n a r y w i t h

th e Board o f D i r e c t o r s , b u t a l s o

vised

p lan

o f study c a lle d

contrast

to th e

were o f f e r e d , course.

stressed th at European

course.

" E x p l a n a t o r y R e m ar k s b y t h e

and a t h r e e

in S ep tem b er.

co lleg e

Greek s p i r i t

The r e ­

y e a r s ’ sem inary c o u r se

co lleg e

two c o u r s e s

and a " s c i e n t i f i c , "

h o w e v e r , was

"L atin S c h o o l,"

a nd t h e

p la n o f o r g a n i z a t i o n a d o p te d by

In t h e

a " cla ssica l"

the

"Pro­

f o r a one y e a r ’ s p r e p a r a t o r y c o u r s e ,

course,

The l a t t e r ,

to r ev ise

1874 th e

o r i g i n a l two y e a r s ’ p r e p a r a t o r y c o u r s e

y ea rs’ th eo lo g ica l

Board

D e p a r t m e n t s " was p u b l i s h e d .

at f a c u lt y m eetin gs h e ld

fou r y e a r s ’ c o lle g e

tu re

in A ugust,

In the F a l l o f

C ollege

in clu d ed not on ly a r e v is e d

F aculty" adopted

to

Synod i n Norway.

O fted a l p ro b a b ly a ls o h avin g a p a r t,

ed u cation al setup

T his

served

p r e l i m i n a r y s t e p s h a d b e e n t a k e n b y W e en a a s and t h e

o f D ir e c to r s, w ith

certa in ­

a p p e a r a n c e was r e g r e t t e d b y memb ers o f

Even b e f o r e S v e r d r u p a n d G unnersen a r r i v e d 1874,

it

The "Open D e c l a r a t i o n ” w a s n o t a

C onference as w e l l as by th e

produce

a s Weenaas

was a " G r e e k s c h o o l " i n

and t h e

and t h r e e o f study

I t w as

co n tra st to

the

s u p e r i o r i t y o f Greek c u l ­

im p ortance

o f the

language

of

■^The "Open D e c l a r a t i o n " i s d i s c u s s e d i n mo re d e t a i l i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e c o n t r o v e r s y b e t w e e n t h e C o n f e r e n c e a nd t h e Synod i n the s e v e n t i e s . I n fr a , pp. 273-79. ^Weenaas, M in d e b la d e , p . 5H e lla n d ,

in

or p r a c t i c a l ,

soon d i s c o n t i n u e d .

s t r e s s i n g the

a

81.

Georg S v e r d r u p , pp . 4 7 - 4 9 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

191 the

New T e s t a m e n t .

In th e sem in a ry th e

s tu d y o f the B ib le

chu rch h i s t o r y were e s p e c i a l l y p r o m in e n t, p la ced

on s y s t e m a t i c

m onious

in teg ra tio n

th eology.

w ith le s s

o f t h e p r e p a r a to r y and c o l l e g e d epartm en ts

They w anted to t r a i n in

a sp iritu a lly -m in d ed

t o u c h w i t h t h e memb ers o f

sired

to

avoid the s i t u a t i o n

la ity

o f t e n were n o n - c o o p e r a t i v e

s o m e t h i n g o f an o f f i c i a l It acute

d evelop ed . It

w as

in t h i s

serv ice

to

P eop led la rg e

the

field

and d e m o c r a t i c m i n i s t r y , con gregation s.

and w h e r e t h e c l e r g y

They d e ­ and

co n stitu ted

f i n a n c i a l p ro b lem s became v e r y o f a f i n a n c i a l nature

freq u en tly

f i n a n c i a l a r r a n g e m e n ts were v e r y h a p h a z a r d .

t h a t O f t e d a l w as t o

co lleg e

" sp irit."

caste.-*-

and c r i s e s

O rig in a lly

the

a certa in

e x t a n t i n No r wa y w h e r e p a s t o r s

was n o t l o n g b e f o r e

at Augsburg,

em phasis b e in g

The new p r o f e s s o r s w a n t e d a h a r ­

w ith th e t h e o l o g i c a l sem inary in order to c re a te

clo sely

and

a nd s e m i n a r y . ^

r e n d e r some o f h i s

fin est

The p a p e r F o l k e b l a d e t

P a p e r ) w as b e g u n b y O f t e d a l a s h e s u p e r v i s e d t h e

( The

fir st

i n g a t h e r i n g o f fu n d s f o r A ugsburg, and he o r g a n iz e d t h i s

in g a th e r in g as con tin u ed

its

a co n g reg a tio n a l, ex isten ce

as

a p e o p le ’s ,

by p o p u la r r e q u e s t ,

p roject.

even a f t e r

The p a p e r

the

fund­

r a i s i n g cam paign had b een c o m p le t e d .^ in tern a l S tr ife Appearance

o f two p a r t i e s . - - W i t h t h e a r r i v a l o f t h e

1 I b i d . , pp.

50-52,

new

114-16.

^As a n i l l u s t r a t i o n o f O f t e d a l ' s c o n c e r n a b o u t t h e d e b t o f th e C o n fe r e n c e and i t s in a d e q u a te f i n a n c i a l p o l i c i e s s e e , s v e n O f t e d a l , "Om S a m f u n d s g j e l d , " K v a r t a l - S k r i f t , I I ( 1 8 7 6 ) , 1 2 8 - 4 4 . ^ H ellan d ,

Georg S v erd ru p ,

p.

76.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

professors ference

A ugsbu rg became a c e n t e r o f c o n t r o v e r s y f o r t h e

itse lf,

w ith ou t,

however, a p p r e c ia b ly d im in ish in g the

w it h w hich t h e ru n n in g b a t t l e

w i t h t h e S y n o d was w a g e d ,

n a n t theme i n t h e b r i e f h i s t o r y flict.

Con­

o f th e C onference

is

zeal

A dom i­

that

o f con­

The C o n f e r e n c e w as t o h a v e a s t r i f e - r i d d e n h i s t o r y b e c a u s e

p ra ctica lly

from t h e b e g i n n i n g i t

in clu d ed w ith in

its

membership

men drawn t o g e t h e r c h i e f l y b e c a u s e t h e y w e r e n o t a t t r a c t e d b y e i t h e r the

N orwegian Synod o r t h e E l l i n g i a n s .

tr u th in the r a th e r the

Synod t h a t i t

ence b eliev ed

sa rca stic

There

is

some

comment o f p a s t o r U . V . K o r e n o f

r e a l l y was i m p o s s i b l e

and t a u g h t s i n c e

its

t o know w h a t t h e C o n f e r ­

members w e r e u n i t e d

c h ie f ly by

a h a tred o f the Synod. The C o n f e r e n c e u a l l y known a s t h e

came t o b e d i v i d e d

i n t o two p a r t i e s ,

Old T e n d e n c y a n d t h e New T e n d e n c y . ^

T e n d e n c y w a s r e p r e s e n t e d p a r t i c u l a r l y by t h e the C onference. o f the

lead ersh ip

W eenaas, of th is

C lausen,

party lin e s

were

and O f t e d a l w ere

o r i g i n a l founders

ea rly stages

lead ers

o f the

A m e r i c a f o r Norway b e f o r e

a s c l e a r l y dr a w n a s t h e y w e r e the

The O ld of

a nd G j e l d a k e r a r e g o o d e x a m p l e s

p a r ty in the

v e r s y a l t h o u g h W e en a a s h a d l e f t

even t­

la ter.

contro­ the

Sverdrup

o f t h e New T e n d e n c y , a n d a s

th e m ost

i n f l u e n t i a l p r o f e s s o r s a t A ugsburg were in a m ost a d v a n ta g e o u s p o sitio n train ed

t o c o m m u n i c a t e t h e i r p o i n t o f v i e w t o t h e men b e i n g for the m in is t r y .

■4j. V . K o r e n , "Om F r a s e r , S o f i s m e r o g H ^ i t r a v e n d e En A d v a r s e l , " E . L . K . , I I ( 1 8 7 5 ) , 5 8 0 .

Talemaader

^"Den ga m le R e t n i n g " a n d "d en n y e R e t n i n g . " I t appears t h a t t h e s e d e s i g n a t i o n s d a t e from t h e a n n u a l m e e t i n g o f t h e C on­ f e r e n c e h e l d I n Eau C l a i r e , W i s c o n s i n , i n 1 8 8 2 . "Den g a m l e o g nye R e tn in g ," L u th era n eren , XVIII (1 8 8 4 ), 1 5 9 .

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

193 T hese tw o p a r t i e s

cannot be accou nted f o r

o f any fundam ental d i f f e r e n c e s cred it ties,

the d i v i s i o n but

p a rties

to

two r e l i a b l e

in q u estio n ,

in d o c t r in e ,

co n flicts

betw een

h isto ria n s,

in sist

th a t that

Andreas K e lla n d , whose

Tendency, has t h i s

is

tem p ting t o

stro n g -w illed p e r so n a li­

s t e m m i n g fr o m e a c h o f t h e exp lan ation

a lth o u g h con ced in g th a t p e r so n a l f e e l i n g s some p a r t . 1

it

on t h e b a s i s

is

in ad eq u ate,

and a n t i p a t h i e s

sym pathies

lie

played

w i t h t h e New

to sa y :

I t i s n o t e a s y t o d e f i n e t h e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e s e two t r e n d s ; i t more o f t e n f o u n d e x p r e s s i o n i n a n e g a t i v e t h a n a p o s i t i v e way. One t h i n g s h o u l d b e k e p t c l e a r l y i n m i n d f r o m t h e o u t s e t , h o w e v e r , t h e men o f b o t h t r e n d s w e r e o r t h o d o x L utherans. The d i f f e r e n c e s w e r e o f a p r a c t i c a l , r a t h e r t h a n a t h e o r e t i c a l or d o c t r i n a l n a tu r e . T h a t t h e r e wa s a d i f f e r ­ ence in th e view o f C h r i s t i a n i t y as i t r e v e a l s i t s e l f in th e l i f e o f t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n an d t h e i n d i v i d u a l i s c e r t a i n . On the o t h e r hand i t can n ot b e d e n ie d t h a t p e r s o n a l sy m p a th ies and a n t i p a t h i e s a t tim e s p la y e d t h e i r p a r t .^ B e r g h , w h o w a s h i m s e l f a member o f t h e

Old T e n d e n c y , w r i t e s

as

fo llo w s: To t h e o u t s i d e r t h e s t r i f e g a v e t h e a p p e a r a n c e o f a p e r ­ s o n a l q u a r r e l, b u t develop m en ts d em on strated th a t b e h in d the app arent p e r s o n a l b a t t l e la y a fundam ental d is a g r e e m e n t .3 However, r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s concede

that th ere

tween th e

if,

m a n ife s t in g a dangerous

in t h e i r

^ergh,

the

in

op.

c i t ., p.

tow ards d o c t r i n e .

to th at represented

244; K e lla n d ,

Georg S v e r d r u p , p .

op.

c it.,

d octrin e

be­

New T e n d e n c y w a s That a

by th e Old T end­

in t r o d u c e d i n t o t h e C o n fe r e n c e by t h e

^H elland , ^Bergh,

d ifferen ces

op in ion s,

in d ifferen ce

somewhat a l i e n

e n c y was b e i n g

O ld T e n d e n c y s u c h a s B e r g h w o u l d

w e r e no e s s e n t i a l

tw o e v e n

new " s p i r i t , "

o f the

recen tly -

Georg S v e r d r u p , p .

68.

p. 244.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

68.

194 arrived p r o fe sso r s con fid en ce

is

in d u b ita b le.

and s e l f - a s s e r t i v e n e s s

That t h e i r

youthful s e l f -

would a l i e n a t e

some g o e s w i t h o u t

sayin g. To go i n t o p o ssib ility

the d e t a i l s

in th is

d isserta tio n .

to g e th e r w ith a b r ie f the p o in ts

o f view r e p r e s e n te d ,

Weenaas r e c e i v e d h i s

in g

at the

the

of

its

an im ­

contem porary s ta te m e n ts

of

w i l l be p r e s e n t e d h e r e .

involvem ent

a r r i v a l a nd

in

the

s t r i f e . — A ltbough

join ed w ith

"Open D e c l a r a t i o n , "

w i t h i n th e Augsburg f a c u l t y .

is

m a n ifesta tio n s,

new t e a c h i n g c o l l e a g u e s w i t h a l l

tim e o f t h e i r

con ten tiou s

in tern a l s t r if e

O n l y some o f

con sid eration

Augsburg S em in a ry 's

ness

of th is

It

frictio n

frien d li­

O ftedal in

sig n ­

soon d e v e lo p e d

s e e m s t h a t h e w as

su sp iciou s

t h a t t h e y were

d i v e r g i n g from th e C o n f e r e n c e ’ s o r i g i n a l s p i r i t O and s t a n d p o i n t . W ithin the f i r s t y e a r o f S v e r d r u p 's a r r i v a l a

h igh degree

of

again st

other

the

p u b lica tio n d iv isio n fe lt

o f the

in to

that

t e n s i o n h a d d e v e l o p e d , w i t h Weenaas s t a n d i n g a l o n e

it

three

f a c u l t y members.

"op en D e c l a r a t i o n "

the C on feren ce.

At t h e

same t i m e

had i n t r o d u c e d

the

the s p i r i t

of

A number o f C o n f e r e n c e p a s t o r s

was an u n f o r t u n a t e

docum ent.

It

contin ued

to be

s o m e t h i n g o f a t o u c h s t o n e b y w h i c h C o n f e r e n c e members c o u l d be cla ssified

accord in g to t h e i r

W e en a a s w i t h d r e w h i s h is

sign atu re

book e n t i t l e d W is c o n s in is m

a p p r o v a l or d i s a p p r o v a l o f i t . from i t w h e n i n

187 5 he p u b l i s h e d

I l l u m i n a t e d by H i s t o r i c a l F a c t s .

■^■A g o o d and a d e t a i l e d d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e f r i c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e two p a r t i e s i n t h e C o n f e r e n c e , e s p e c i a l l y a3 i t c e n t e r e d i n and was r e l a t e d t o A u g s b u r g S e m i n a r y , i s f o u n d i n H o l l a n d , A ugsburg Sem inar gjennem f e m t i a a r , p p . 1 3 5 - 2 0 4 . 2H e l l a n d ,

Georg S v e r d r u p , p . 6 4 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

195

As I n d i c a t e d e a r l i e r * 1- W e e n a a s h a d d e c i d e d Norway,

and i n 1 8 7 6 t h e C o n f e r e n c e

task o f s e le c tin g h is

successor.

t w o t r e n d s was p l a i n l y r e v e a l e d . Board o f D i r e c t o r s to the the

sh ou ld c a l l

vacancy created by h i s d esign ated p resid en t W eenaas, how ever, adding h is

At t h i s

tim e

faced w ith the the e x i s t e n c e

C onference

b e h a lf he p r e se n te d

th e recom m endations

a th e o lo g ic a l p rofessor to

r e s i g n a t i o n and t h a t Sverdrup

of

the

sch o o l,

i n m aking t h i s

but fo r

report,

fill

He s u g g e s t e d

the i n f l u e n c e

cou ld not r e f r a in

t h a t P a s t o r B o t o l f G j e l d a k e r be As t o t h e

the

o n l y one y e a r . 2

o f S v e r d r u p and O f t e d a l ,

him a s t h e o l o g i c a l p r o f e s s o r . ®

that

s h o u l d be

own p e r s o n a l r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s , w h i c h r e v e a l h i s

to r e s t r i c t

of

W e en aa s was c h a i r m a n o f t h e

o f A u g s b u r g , a n d on i t s

annual m eetin g o f th e

C onference

found i t s e l f

to return to

if

ca lled

ch oice

of

from d esire

p o ssib le.

to succeed a new S e m i n a r y

p r e s i d e n t , he p o i n t e d o u t t h a t S v erd ru p had th e y e a r p r e v i o u s l y been d esign ated h a r d ly be

filled

tr e a su r e r o f the C onference, so w e l l by anyone e l s e ,

mended G j e l d a k e r f o r

the

W e e n a a s f u r t h e r made t h e 1Supra, p .

he s a i d ,

p resid en cy o f the suggestion

a p o sitio n

that

could

and so he recom ­

Sem inary a s w e l l .

th a t O fted a l sh ou ld accep t

187.

^ S yn od ical r e p o r t ,

the C on feren ce,

1876, pp. 41 f .

® G j e l d a k e r was a s t r o n g r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e Old T e n d e n c y and a c r i t i c o f th e "new” A u g s b u r g . B o r n i n No rw ay i n 1 8 2 7 , h e was g r a d u a t e d fr om C h r i s t i a n i a U n i v e r s i t y i n 1 8 6 9 a n d m i g r a t e d t o Am erica i n 1 8 7 0 . He s e r v e d a s p a s t o r a t s i l v e r L a k e , I o w a , 1 8 7 0 7 6 , and a f t e r a b r i e f i n t e r i m a s p r o f e s s o r a t A u g s b u r g , s e r v e d a s p a s to r a t L y le , M innesota, 1 8 7 8 -8 2 . R e t u r n i n g t o No rw ay i n 1 8 8 2 , he d ie d in 1885. N o r l i e e t a l . , Who1s Who, p . 1 7 6 . A fter G je ld a k e r a r r i v e d in Am erica’ he a s s o c i a t e d h i m s e l f w i t h P a s t o r C . I.. C l a u s e n , who was a t t h a t t i m e s y n o d i c a l l y u n a f f i l i a t e d , and was o n e o f t h e f o u n d e r s o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

the

c a l l extended t o

t o be

its

pastor,

h im b y T r i n i t y c o n g r e g a t i o n o f M i n n e a p o l i s

i n w h ic h c a p a c i t y h e had b e e n t e m p o r a r i l y s e r v ­

i n g d u r i n g t h e p r e c e d i n g two y e a r s , haps be persu aded to

take

adding th a t

O fted a l could p er­

o v e r some o f t h e E n g l i s h

in stru ctio n

at

the Sem in ary.^ Sverdrup, e x p r e s s in g concern about the c i a l c o n d i t i o n and i t s ries,

made q u i t e

successor sh ou ld

in a b ility

to

pay i t s

a d iffe r e n t su ggestion .

C onference’ s fin a n ­

teachers t h e ir s a la ­

He r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t a

t o W e e n a a s s h o u l d n o t be c h o s e n and t h a t

get

along w ith o n ly th ree

In e n d e a v o r in g t o r e s o l v e variant p r o p o s a l s ,

the

th e C onference

professors ,2 t h e problem c r e a t e d by t h e s e

c o n v e n tio n adopted

som eth in g o f a com prom ise.

G j e l d a k e r was c h o s e n t h e o l o g i c a l p r o f e s s o r b u t n o t p r e s i d e n t . S v e r d r u p was c h o s e n t o was r e q u e s t e d

the

la tter

p o sitio n

f o r one y e a r .

to devote h im se lf e x c lu s i v e ly

to h is

O ftedal

work a s

pro-

fessor. G j e l d a k e r t o o k up h i s

work a t A ugsbu ry i n J a n u a r y ,

but rem ained at th e sem inary o n ly resu lted

In the

fa cu lty .

The i s s u e

d i v i d e d them w as t h e q u e s t i o n tio n .

a y e a r and a h a l f .

A cleavage

b r o u g h t up b y G j e l d a k e r w h i c h

of esta b lish in g

a co lleg e

G u n n e r s e n , who w a s r a t h e r d i s c o n t e n t a t A u g s b u r g ,

G jeldaker advocated such a s t e p , In o p p o s i t i o n . con ven tion

of

1877, h e ld in W illm ar, M in n eso ta , r e v e r se d

2I b ia ., p. 3H ellen d ,

C onference,

29. Georg S v e r d r u p ,

congrega­ a nd

b u t S v e r d r u p and O f t e d a l u n i t e d

The c o n g r e g a t i o n w a s n o t e s t a b l i s h e d . ^

•^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e

1877,

^ Ib id .,

1876, p. 42. p p . 57 f .

pp. 7 8 -8 0 .

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

The a n n u a l its

197 a ctio n

o f th e p reced in g year and v o ted

sh ip .

The m o t i o n , a d o p t e d b y a l a r g e m a j o r i t y ,

C onference, of

on t h e b a s i s

to elim in ate

o f the p a s t y e a r ’ s

f i n a n c i a l h a r d t i m e s , was u n a b l e t o

professors.

T his

q u e s t i o n w as

c i s i o n wa s

reached.

I t was s t i p u l a t e d u n til c a ll

it

covild be a r r a n g e d

M innesota,

experience

f o r one of

sh ou ld continue

them t o a c c e p t a p a s t o r a l

1

Johan O lsen ,

for G jeld ak er to r e c e iv e

w hich he a c c e p t e d .

sh ou ld a ccep t

a ca ll

con sid eration

the f a c t

that the

to a p a s to r a te ,

O lsen,

in exp lan ation

others,

t h a t he had ta k e n I n t o

to serve

as p r o fe sso r s.^

fr o m N o r ­

Bergh c o n t e n d s

o f t h i s m e e tin g in W illm ar, M innesota, in t o tw o h o s t i l e

in

1877,

camps.

o f d e s p a r a t e f i n a n c i a l n eed i n which A ugsburg

p e r i o d i c a l l y found p rofessors

of h is

t h a t G j e l d a k e r h a d come t o A m e r i c a t o s e r v e

C o n f e r e n c e was d i v i d e d The s t a t e

stated

p resid en t

a c a ll to

t h e o t h e r t h r e e men h a d b e e n c a l l e d

C onference

fr o m t h e t i m e

a de­

in o f f i c e

r ec o m m e n d a tio n t h a t G j e l d a k e r , r a t h e r t h a n one o f th e

way by t h e

and i n v i e w

su p p ort four t h e o l o g i c a l

the C o n feren ce*

arranged

as a p a s to r whereas

the

The man t o b e e l i m i n a t e d was n o t d e s i g n a t e d *

from some p a r i s h i n

L yle,

stated th at

th orou gh ly d iscu ssed b e fo r e

that a l l p rofessors

o f the C o n fe r en ce ,

one p r o f e s s o r ­

itse lf,

marked e i t h e r

or by a h e a v y burden o f d e b t ,

open u n d e r ly in g a n t i p a t h i e s .

by i n a b i l i t y

to pay i t s

brought out in to

E s p e c i a l l y was t h i s

true

in

the connec-

^ S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e C o n f e r e n c e , 1 8 7 7 , p p . 75 f . In h i s p r e s i d e n t i a l r e p o r t Johan o'lseh r a i s e d th e q u e s t io n a s t o w h e t h e r t h e C o n f e r e n c e d e s i r e d t o and r e a l l y was a b l e t o m a i n t a i n s o c o s t l y an e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n a s A u g s b u r g . Ib id . , p. 22.

p

S y n o d ica l R eport,

^Bergh,

op.

the C o n feren ce,

1878, p.

11.

c i t . , p. 244.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

t i o n w i t h a p r o j e c t f o r r a i s i n g an en d o w m e n t f u n d , gun i n

1 8 7 9 and c a r r i e d

on d u r i n g t h e

w h i c h was b e ­

early e ig h t ie s .

o ld er, b e tte r -e sta b lis h e d

con gregation s

the

some o f th e m " n o n - s u p p o r t o f t h e

Old T e n d e n c y ,

became

a nd f o r

a tem p tin gly e f f e c t i v e A u g s b u r g and i t s

criticism .* *

were

Many o f

serv ed by p a s t o r s

weapon a g a i n s t

teachers

were

its

b a d ly needed.®

I t was

felt

subjected

m ost c o n t r o v e r s i a l o f t h e s e

to

ference

in

every

type o f

and m i n i s t e r s w e r e

o f the was

classroom . the

and O f t e d a l . 4

were e n ­ Among t h e

ed itorsh ip

o f the

I t was p o i n t e d o u t

as w e l l as r e l i g i o u s . t h e New T e n d e n c y .

M oreover,

of its

professors,

convention e x p ressed to devote

the d e s ir e

th em selves

a nd o c c a s i o n a l l y th at i t s

more f u l l y

it

D u r in g more th an

e d u c a t i o n a l work a t A u g sb u rg s u f f e r e d b e c a u s e

a ctiv ities

m ig h t be a b le

the m in is t r y a t

Augsburg p r o f e s s o r s

a ctiv ities

wa s a p o w e r f u l s p o k e s m a n f o r the

the

ou tsid e

paper F o Ik e b la d et by Sverdrup t h a t t h e p a p e r was s e c u l a r ,

grow ing r a p i d l y

that

t o o many a c t i v i t i e s

the d iv e r s e

sem inary

U n f o r t u n a t e l y t h e new a n d l e n g t h e n e d e d u c a t i o n a l p r o ­

a t i m e when t h e C o n f e r e n c e w as

on e p e r i o d

of

teach ers.

gram r e d u c e d t h e nu mb er o f g r a d u a t e s p r e p a r e d f o r

gaged in

the

of

the

C on ­

p rofessors

t o t h e work o f t e a c h -

^ H e lla n d , Georg S v e r d r u p , p . 8 5 . T h i s p r o j e c t w as t h e o f much i l l - w i l l a n d d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n . p F o r a d i s c u s s i o n o f some p a r t i c u l a r l y b i t t e r a t t a c k s u p o n A u g s b u r g a nd i t s p r o f e s s o r s b y p a s t o r M a r t i n S h i r l e y and p a s t o r H. A» O p a a l s e e K l e v e n , o p . c i t . , p p . 5 1 - 5 9 . cause

^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t, th e c o n f e r e n c e , 1 8 7 8 , p p . 52 f . 4 I n t e r e s t i n g n ew sp ap er a r t i c l e s b y a p ro m in en t laym an, J . A« J o h n s o n , w h i c h a r e c r i t i c a l o f t h e A u g s b u r g p r o f e s s o r s ’ i n ­ volvem en t in s t r i f e , p a r t i c u l a r l y o f t h e i r e d it o r s h ip o f F o lk e B l a d e t , w i t h i t s s e c u l a r a s w e l l a s r e l i g i o u s e m p h a s i s , c a n oe "found i n S k a n d i n a v e n , J a n u a r y 3 1 , F e b r u a r y 2 1 , and May 3 0 , 1 8 8 2 .

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission

in g,

w h i c h was t h e i r

ch ief r e s p o n s i b i l i t y I n

ence p assed a r e s o l u t i o n effect

that

upon the

in

w hich i t t o o k n o te

a t t a c k s made u p o n t h e

effectiv en ess

of th eir

the

w i t h p ro b lem s p o s e d by t h e 1879 m utual charges ties

hadb e e n g u i l t y the

of

its

in tern a l s t r if e .

com m ittee’ s r e p o r t

th eir errors

At th e

attack s the

i n v o l v i n g many p e r s o n a l i ­ Sverdrup,

C o n fe r e n c e must t a k e

Gunnersen, i n v o l v e d . . The

h is

o f one a n o t h e r .

p rev io u sly expressed

a d efin ite

"Open D e c l a r a t i o n ” i f

u p o n on e a n o t h e r ,

members

in consequence

men I n v o l v e d u n a b a s h e d l y c o n f e s s e d

and a s k e d a p o l o g i e s

con n ection r e it e r a t e d

convention o f

deep sorrow th a t s e v e r a l o f I t s

b itter

of

n e c e ssity of con stan tly d ea lin g

an d C l a u s e n w e r e p r i n c i p a l l y

C onference e x p r e s s e d

the

annual m e e tin g s .--T h e m in u tes

and r e c r i m i n a t i o n s

G jeld ak er,

and

d e s i s t from s u c h a t t a c k s . ^

were i n v e s t i g a t e d by a c o m m itte e .

O fted al,

of

t h e o l o g i c a l p r o f e s s o r s had had

to

co n fro n tin g the

annual m eetin gs r e v e a l th e

o f the p e r ilo u s

w o r k an d c a l l e d up on p a s t o r s

o t h e r members o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e Problem s

1879 th e C o n fe r ­

C lausen in t h i s

op in ion th a t

the

and o f f i c i a l s t a n d i n r e g a r d t o

the s t r i f e

The 1 8 8 1 m e e t i n g w a s a t e n s e

w e r e t o be t e r m i n a t e d . 3 one i n v i e w o f p r i o r a t t a c k s

b y S v e r d r u p u p o n J o h a n O l s e n and u p o n S v e r d r u p an d O f t e d a l b y C lau sen .

At th e n e x t

annual m eetin g th e C onference

l e a d e r s h i p o f a new p r e s i d e n t , firm n ess

in

a couple

T . H. D a h l ,

under the

attem pted a p o li c y

of co n tro v ersia l m atters.

of

I t reprim anded

^ S yn od ical R eport,

the C onference, 1877, p.

80.

^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

the

52.

C onference, 1879, p .

^I b i d . , pp. 5 4 -6 0 . In h i s p r e s i d e n t i a l a d d r e s s in 1879 J . O l s e n s p e a k s w i t h s o r r o w a b o u t t h e d i s m a l s t r i f e i n t h e Con­ feren ce. I b i d ., pp. 18-20.

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

200

C la u s e n f o r p u b l i s h i n g a book e n t i t l e d A ttack

and P a s t o r s

J . O l s e n ’ s a n d C» L» C l a u s e n ’ s R e s p o n s e *

mo ved P a s t o r H. 0 . o f the sc u r r ilo u s p r o fe sso r s.1 o f the

O p s a l from t h e p a s t o r a l o f f i c e a t t a c k s he h a d d i r e c t e d

At t h i s

o ld Tendency p r e se n te d

I t was n o t p r i n t e d 10,

1882,

in the

issu e

again st

a nd d e l e g a t e s

a d e c l a r a t i o n w h i c h was r e a d a t t h e "The D e c l a r a t i o n

of the T h ir ty ."

annual r e p o r t but appeared in th e

its

o f the d i f f i c u l t i e s , convention in

Gunnersen r e s i g n e d f i r s t ,

however,

came i n

1883 th e C onferen ce

i t s e l f w ith ou t any t h e o lo g ic a l p r o fe s s o r s . sig n ed .

th e Augsburg

of p o lk eb la d et.

The c l i m a x t o a l l t h e n e x t y e a r when a t

It re­

in consequence

tim e a group o f t h i r t y p a s t o r s

m e e t i n g a n d came t o b e known a s

A ugust

P r o f e s s o r Georg S v e r d r u p * s

A ll

found

th r e e had r e ­

on D e c e m b e r 1 1 ,

1882,

contend­

i n g t h a t th e A ugsburg p r o f e s s o r s had n o t b e e n w o r k in g w e l l t o ­ gether

sin ce

b la d et. nation

The d o u b l e p recip ita ted

fo llo w ed quested

e d i t o r s h i p had b een b egun i n O fted al*s alm ost

s e v e r a l m onths l a t e r . Sverdrup and O f t e d a l,

ea rn estly , lish ers

b o t h S v e r d r u p and O f t e d a l h a d b e g u n t o e d i t P o l k s -

to sev er

or e d i t o r s . ^

th eir t ie s

1881,

im m ed iately,

The C o n f e r e n c e

in

H is r e s i g ­

and S v e r d r u p ' s convention r e ­

in a f r i e n d l y manner b u t m o st w ith F o lk e b la d e t, e it h e r

The o u t c o m e o f t h e

confused s i t u a t i o n

regard to the t h e o lo g ic a l p r o fe sso r sh ip s, p l i c a t e d by t h e s t u m b l i n g p r o c e d u r e S v erd ru p and O f t e d a l w ere r e - e l e c t e d

as pub­

o f the

in

w h i c h was f u r t h e r co m­ c o n v e n t i o n , wa s t h a t

as p r o f e s s o r s

but Gunnersen

-^Samples o f O p s a l ’ s a t t a c k s on S v e r d r u p a nd O f t e d a l c a n b e f o u n d i n S k a n d i n a v e n i n 1 8 8 2 ; f o r e x a m p l e , t h e i s s u e s o f May 2 a nd 2 3 , 18S 2 7

p

S yn od ical R eport,

the C on feren ce,

1885, pp.

64-66.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission

201

wa s not.**-

G u n n e r s e n , who h a d more o r l e s s w a v e r e d b e t w e e n t h e

Old T e n d e n c y and t h e New, a c c e p t e d a p o s i t i o n nary,

the

s c h o o l o f H auge's Synod,

but he rem ained In th e

course

l o c a t e d i n Red W i n g , M i n n e s o t a ,

t h e r e o n l y a y e a r and t h e n r e t u r n e d t o Norway.

o f tim e

the

and O f t e d a l was r e s t o r e d *

f r ie n d s h ip betw een Gunnersen,

Sverdrup,

c h a r a c t e r i z e d . — J . A. B e r g h ,

who w a s a

p

The tw o t e n d e n c i e s l e a d i n g member o f t h e the

a t Red W in g S e m i ­

Old T e n d e n c y ,

gave a s e r i e s

1885 C onferen ce m e e tin g in c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n

of the

en cies.

In r e s p o n s e t o p o p u l a r r e q u e s t from h i s

brethren

these

a r e a l attem pt to c h a r a c te r iz e

betw een th e

p resen ta tio n

is

B e r g h w as t h e

sum m arized i n t h e

is

its

Bergh s a y s ,

sch o o l,

and h i s

the

the

For t h a t r e a s o n h i s

fo llo w in g paragraphs, a lth ou gh

o rig in a ted in

that the

sp lit

s o u r c e s o f w h ich are

co-w orkers gath ered f o llo w e r s

h im self*

the h e a r t

stem s

o f the

synod.

fr om two

fo u n d i n Norway.

It

sp ir it­ W eenaas,

a r o u n d two p r i n c i p l e s :

p u r e Word o f God a n d l i v i n g C h r i s t i a n i t y . "orthodox p ie tis m " had been t r a n s m i t t e d ence in i t s

T his

some d e t a i l

and h a s perm eated the e n t i r e

r e c o g n iz e d by b o t h s i d e s

u al currents,

C onference

in

cham p ion o f one o f t h e t e n d e n c i e s

The s t r i f e , C onference,

tw o t e n d e n c i e s .

at

two t e n d ­

a d d r e s s e s were p r i n t e d i n p a m p h let fo rm .

work r e p r e s e n t s d ifferen ces

of addresses

the

Through th e C o n fe r e n c e

to A m erica.

The C o n f e r ­

e a r l y s y n o d i c a l m e e t i n g s w as d e e p l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h

d o ctrin a l d isc u ssio n s; 1I b i d . , pp.

I t was

o n l y w he n t h e I n f l u e n c e

o f the

New

67-71.

2A c o n v e n i e n t and c le a r d i s c u s s i o n o f th e c r u c i a l e v e n t s o f t h e p e r i o d 1 8 8 2 - 3 , h e r e sum m arized, i s found in H o l l a n d , Georg S v e r d r u p , p p . 8 9 - 1 1 1 ,

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

202

T e n d e n c y was f i r s t such m a tte r s . p art of the fo c i, is

the

fe lt

that

But p i e t i s m ,

Old T e n d e n c y ,

less

as w e l l a s

,n

" p ietistic

sta tistic s, Tendency,

sch o o l.

sp iritu a lly -m in d ed ,

i s an i n t e g r a l

The g o a l o f i t s

pastors

Bergh con ten d s t h a t s i n c e

the

orthodoxy,

th a t are s p i r i t u a l l y - a l i v e

the r a te

He s t r e s s e s

a t t e n t i o n was g i v e n t o

The C o n f e r e n c e ' s w o r k c e n t e r s a b o u t two

c o n g r e g a t io n and i t s

con gregation s

and l e s s

and t h e e d u c a t i o n

and t e a c h e r s .

the

endeavors

appearance

of

Q uoting

o f the

New

o f g r o w t h o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e h a s b e e n r e t a r d e d . ' 1'

Old T e n d e n c y ' s

in terest

in

efforts

d i r e c t e d tow ards

church u n io n . That

th e major p o r tio n

a ch a ra cteriza tio n dem onstrates the in

terms

of its

o f t h e New T e n d e n c y i s

fact

o f the

l a t t e r he r e f e r s lo g ic a l p u rsu its, sagas.

again st

in

to the

the source

is

q u ite d if f e r e n t .

a p a r t from h i s

h isto ria n ,

concerned,

o f th e

" life-

church,

o b jection ab le

th eo­

and s t u d e n t o f be­

Some a p p a r e n t d i f ­

and b a p tis m are

than o f r e a l m ea n in g .

That w hich i s

New

few d i f f e r e n c e s

are t o be e x p e c t e d .

q u estion of th e d o c tr in e

o f the

in con n ection w ith the

a ctiv ities

con n ection w ith r e g e n e r a tio n

more a m a t t e r o f w ords

it

b est ch aracterized

J o h n s o n ' s t h e o l o g y and t h e

p o liticia n ,

As f a r a s d o c t r i n e

tw een the tw o t e n d e n c ie s ferences

that

famous G r u n d t v ig .

as p o e t ,

for

t h a t w h i c h w as r e p r e s e n t e d b y

He c o n t e n d s

to G rund tvig's

devoted to

illu m in a tin g ,

O ld T e n d e n c y i s

t o be found i n G i s l e

v i e w ,f ( L i v s s y n )

the

th a t the

p rotest

S v erd ru p and O f t e d a l . Tendency i s

o f B e r g h 's pam phlet i s

B u t when i t

probab ly comes

the s i t u a t i o n

is

i n t h e New T e n d e n c y ' s

■^See s u p r a , p . 1 9 7 , f o r t h e r e a s o n g i v e n f o r t h e g r a d u a ­ t i o n o f r e l a t i v e l y f e w t h e o l o g i c a l c a n d i d a t e s fr o m A u g s b u r g S e m i ­ nary d u rin g t h i s p e r io d .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

203 t e a c h in g about the

church i s

i n t h e Body o f C h r i s t a s d istin c t task , righ t

ch ara cteriza tio n

ju stifia b le

a lon gsid e

m a k e s God r e s p o n s i b l e

a ll

an d w h e r e t h e

it

a

a d iv in e ly au th orized

other p a r tie s ,

for d iv is io n s

I t w i l l le a d back t o th e

of d iv isio n s

b e c a u se e a c h group has

or c a l l i n g , w h ich g iv e s

of existen ce

v isio n ,

its

or groups.

and c o n t r i b u t e s

Reformed e x p e r i e n c e

It

to d i v i s i o n s .

o f d i v i s i o n upon d i ­

’' s p e c i a l t a s k ” s u p e r s e d e s

the

’’p u r e w o r d

a nd s a c r a m e n t ” a s t h e r a l l y i n g p o i n t f o r t h e me m b er s o f t h e church, ure

in d ifferen ce

to d o c tr in e i s

on t h e p a r t o f t h e

of d octrin e

is

o f much c o n c e r n .

t h e New T e n d e n c y ’ s a v e r s i o n

if

for i f

d o ctrin a l s tr ife

p ly a n u isan ce.

is

T his

for free

d octrin e

is

unnecessary,

the

same i n d i f f e r e n c e

(d octrin al)

free is

teach in gs

b rin gs

and f r e e

gerous tendency fo r open u n b e l i e f . seat

i t produces

theses sin ce

in t h i s

sim ­

New

The Old T e n d ­

is

far in i t s evid en ce

of

s t r i v i n g on

conferences.

T his

and t h a t ,

is

a dan­

in t u r n , as a

and t h e p e r i o d i c a l s K v a r t a l - S k r i f t o f dou btful p u rity .

C on feren ce’s o r ig in a l concern f o r the r e l i g i o u s

th e N orwegians

and

o f th e C atechism i n e v i t a b l y

ra tio n a lism

a nd P o I k e b l a d e t c o n t a i n d o c t r i n e s to the

" th eses.”

in th e

Augsburg Sem inary can h a r d l y b e r e g a r d e d

o f sta u n ch L utheranism ,

is

conferences are

rev ea led

in d ifferen ce

b e h a l f o f t h e t r u t h a nd t h e d iscu ssio n s,

th is

(to d iscu ss

t h a t th e Norwegian Synod has gone t o o

towards

th eses,

to

im p ortan ce

not of grea t sig n ific a n c e

z e a l for th e se s, but a strong aversion to ten d en cies

the

R elated

conferences

Tendency’s great a n tip a th y fo r d o c t r in a l ency b e lie v e s

T his ap p aren t f a i l ­

New T e n d e n c y t o a p p r e c i a t e

the cause

church u n io n ),

produced.

country,

the

New T e n d e n c y i s

In c o n t r a s t fa ith

also

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

of

concerned

204 about t h e i r p o l i t i c a l relig io u s

in terests

and p o l i t i c a l

fe s so r s are

engaged in

th eo lo g ica l d u tie s.^

a ffa irs

and s e e k s

to exert

i n Norway.

The t h e o l o g i c a l p r o ­

t o o many a c t i v i t i e s Both th e

i n f l u e n c e upon

at the

expense

o f th eir

O l d T e n d e n c y and H a u g e ’ s S y n o d h a v e

c o n c e n t r a t e d on t h e u p b u i l d i n g o f t h e K in gd om o f G o d .

A nother

poin t

sch o o l.

o f d isa g reem en t i s

The g e n e r a l a t t i t u d e sch ools

are

good as

in

in th e

con n ection w ith th e

C onference has been th a t

far as th ey go, but th a t

secu la r the

su b jects.

the r i g h t

c o n g r eg a tio n has the r i g h t it

what th e

"new” i s

there

lack o f c l a r i t y h ere.^

is

claim ed

g reg a tio n .

tified no

p o ssib le.

to i t s

The

to

Its

con v ictio n

is

d ifficu lt

to d iscern

w h i c h t h e New T e n d e n c y p u r p o r t s t o

He a l s o

attitu d e

He s a y s t h a t

in trod uce; is

th e r e a l freedom o f th e

the

ju risd ictio n

is

t o t h e New T e n d e n c y ’ s

t h a t e x i s t s b e t w e e n a p a s t o r and h i s

a c c o r d in g t o w hich th e p a s t o r a l o f f i c e w ith

th at

exactly

alth ou gh i t

tow ard p a r o c h ia l s c h o o ls

takes e x c e p tio n

teach

to e s t a b lis h p aro ch ia l s c h o o ls .

New T e n d e n c y r e s t r i c t s

the r e la t io n s h ip tio n ,

if

should

t h a t a w id e n in g o f t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n ’ s freedom w i l l

a c t u a lly the

p o in t.

p u b lic

o f C h ristia n con gregation s

The O ld T e n d e n c y h o l d s

Bergh con ten d s th a t

the

co n gregation s

be e n c o u r a g e d t o e s t a b l i s h p a r o c h i a l s c h o o l s , New T e n d e n c y d e n i e s

p u b lic

s p ir it u a l p riesth o od

so

is

a case

resu lt, con­ in

concept o f congrega­

com p letely id en ­

th a t the c o n g r e g a tio n has

over th e p a s t o r ’ s conduct

of h is

o ffice

and h e ,

■^The v a r i e d i n t e r e s t s o f t h e l e a d e r s o f t h e New T e n d e n c y a r e p resu m ed t o b e an e v i d e n c e o f t h e i n f l u e n c e o f G r u n d t v ig ! a n is m . ^ T h is o b j e c t i o n a p p ea r s t o be v a l i d . I t i s d i f f i c u l t to p e r c e i v e how much o f t h e t e r m i n o l o g y a d v o c a t i n g t h e " f r e e ” c o n ­ g r e g a t i o n had r e a l a p p l i c a t i o n to th e N orw egian L u th er a n c o n g r e ­ g a t io n s founded in th e Am erican e n v ir o n m e n t.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

205

in

t u r n , h a s no g r e a t e r a u t h o r i t y i n

the

con gregation

th a n any

other C h r istia n . The New T e n d e n c y , b e c a u s e tow ards becom ing in v o lv e d i n itse lf ca rries

to

a secu la riza tio n

on i t s

of its

the m a n ifo ld q u e s tio n s

o f the

work and c o n d u c t s

church. itse lf

m or e r e m i n i s c e n t o f t h e p o l i t i c a l is

p a rticu la rly

a p p licab le

The New T e n d e n c y , the

creation

strong in c lin a tio n s of l i f e ,

lends

The way i n w h i c h i t

in

church s t r i f e

arena than i s

is

d esira b le.

often T his

to p o lk e b la d e t. Bergh c o n t in u e s ,

stands

i n t h e w ay o f

o f b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g b e t w e e n t h e C o n fe r e n c e and

o th e r sy n o d s, p a r t i c u l a r l y betw een th e

C on feren ce and Hauge’ s

Synod• In s h o r t , h e c o n c l u d e s , Tendency, b ecau se error,

ration alism ,

Tendency b ecau se lig io u s

of its

lead ers

in the

r e a l m o f d o c t r i n e t h e New

d o ctrin a l in d ifferen ce,

and u n b e l i e f .

In th e

realm o f l i f e

o f varied s o c i a l - p o l i t i c a l le a d s towards the

To t h e w r i t e r t h e d a n g e r s

o p e n s t h e way t o

in terests

secu la riza tio n

of its

o f the

a lleg ed ly im p licit

t h e New re­

chu rch.^

in the

New

T endency appear c o n s id e r a b ly overdrawn by B ergh.

However, h i s

ch a ra cteriza tio n

a real effort

o f the

two t e n d e n c i e s

to a n a ly z e th e d i f f e r e n c e s betw een the been r e fe r r e d ta tio n

t o a t some l e n g t h

p l a c e d b y on e o f

in

represents

two p a r t i e s ,

illu stra tio n

the co n ten d in g p a r t ie s

w h i c h w a s b o t h v e r y r e a l a nd v e r y b i t t e r

and i t h a s

o f the

in terp re­

upon a c o n t r o v e r s y

and w a s r e g a r d e d a s

im -

A» B e r g h , p e n g a m l e o g n y e R e t n i n g e l l e r F o r s S g t i l b e d r e p o r s t a a e l s e a f S t'ri'den T " K o n f e r e n t s e n , t r e ' F o r e d r a g a f J . A. B e r g h ( C h i c a g o * Vo'rt:" L a n d ’ s T r y k k e ' r i , 1bB4~) , p p . 1 - 7 4 .

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without

206

portant

a nd e v e n

cru cia l at

the tim e*

The p r i n c i p a l s p o k e s m a n f o r t h e New T e n d e n c y was P r o f e s s o r 1 Georg S v erd ru p * One c o n v e n i e n t p r e s e n t a t i o n o f New T e n d e n c y p rin cip les titled ,

is

con tain ed

i n an a r t i c l e w r i t t e n b y h im i n

"A F r e e C o n g r e g a t i o n

answer t o

the

"D eclaration

w i l l be n e c e s s a r y t o

en­

i n a F r e e C h u r c h , " w h i c h was h i s

of the T h ir ty ." 2

the proper background f o r a c o n s id e r a t io n it

1882,

summarize

the

in order t o p rovide

o f Sverdrup's

contents

of the

a r tic le,

"D eclaration

o f the T h ir ty ."

tio n s.

The

"D eclaration

The

fir st

C onference sets

as s e t

sectio n

o f th e T hirty" expresses

forth in i t s

f o r t h what th e

sign ers

is

d ivid ed

lo y a lty

to

co n stitu tio n .

feel

o b lig a ted

to

new a nd a l i e n e m p h a s i s w h i c h t h e y c o n t e n d w a s C onference w ith th e has

su lt

in

that

in d ifferen ce

the

the

are b e in g

alth ou gh th e freedom

w i l l p erm it.

that

sec­

o f the

The s e c o n d s e c t i o n combat,

nam ely,

in trod u ced

the

in to the

T h i s new e m p h a s i s h a s r e v e a l e d

o f th e p a s t are

in trod u ced .

co n stitu tio n

three

"Open D e c l a r a t i o n " a n d w h i c h

w ith th e re­

not a p p reciated

I t has revealed

a d v o c a c y o f a new and p e c u l i a r c o n c e p t

freed om ,

t h e aims

tow ards d o c t r i n a l d i s c u s s i o n s

the d o c t r i n a l s t r u g g le s

a n d ne w v i e w p o i n t s

a ll

of the

s t e a d i l y b e c o m e mo re e v i d e n t .

itse lf

in

appearance

in to

itse lf

of con g reg ation a l

o f th e C onference p ro v id es

for

t h e Word o f God a n d t h e L u t h e r a n c o n f e s s i o n s

I t has rev ea led

I t s e l f in

a h i t h e r t o unknow n i n c o n -

^His works h a v e b e e n c o l l e c t e d i n s i x volu m es b y Andreas He H a n d u n d e r t h e t i t l e , P r o f e s s o r G e o r g S v e r d r u p s S a m l e d e S k r i f t e r i U dvalg (M in n ea p o lis: Fr I k ir k e n s " Boghande I s F o r l a g ,

T ^ i^ y r------

2Supra, p . 200,

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

207 sid era ten ess su ltin g

and c e n s o r i o u s n e s s

in d i s s e n s i o n w ith in

o f other synods. sig n ers.

th a t the

evid en ce

re­

t h e C o n f e r e n c e and t h e a l i e n a t i o n

The t h i r d s e c t i o n

They a s k

e n c y and g i v e

o f synods and i n d i v i d u a l s ,

sets

forth

t h e de m an ds o f t h e

C onference r e p u d ia te

of it

th is

new t e n d ­

im m ed ia tely by fu r th e r a n c e

o f the

u n i o n m o v e m e n t a n d b y d e m a n d i n g t h a t S v e r d r u p an d O f t e d a l c e a s e p u b lica tio n

o f the p e r i o d i c a l F o lk e b la d e t ,

s p o k e s m a n f o r t h e new e m p h a s i s . d e c la r a tio n in clu d ed

those

the most pronounced

The s i g n a t u r e s

o f fourteen pastors

appended t o and s i x t e e n

th is la y ­

men. In a n s w e r , C onference’s

co n stitu tio n ,

en cy w hich are port

Sverdrup s a y s th a t he h a s n o t h in g a g a i n s t upon w h ic h c r i t i c i s m s

con tain ed in

t o be b a s e d .

it

is

be

judged by i t .

H owever,

o n l y G o d ’ s Word t h a t

the

’’D e c l a r a t i o n

is

j u d g e , and th e

The c o n s t i t u t i o n

is

o f t h e New T e n d ­

o f the T h ir ty ” pur­

the c o n s t i t u t i o n is

the

not u n a ltera b le;

New T e n d e n c y a s k s

to

commodious eno u g h t o a cco m ­

odate both t e n d e n c ie s . Sverdrup p r e fa c e s that

in stea d

h is

a r t i c l e w ith rem arks to

o f r e p ly in g to the

in g out f a i l i n g s

o f the

its

co n flict

and w o r k .

New T e n d e n c y ’ s c r i t i c s

Old T e n d e n c y , h e

New T e n d e n c y ’ s u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f It

is

its

is

not so easy to agree

in ten d s

by p o in t­

to present

the

c a l l i n g and r e s p o n s i b i l i t y ,

a g r e e d by a l l

o f t h e Kingdom o f God c o n s t i t u t e s but i t

the e f f e c t

th a t the fu rth e ra n ce

our c a l l i n g

and w o r k , h e

a b o u t t h e manner o f i t s

says,

accom plish-

•^ F o l k e b l a d e t , A n g u s t 1 0 , 1 8 8 2 . The p a s t o r s who s i g n e d w e r e N. E . B o e , A . M. A n d e r s e n , J . M. E g g e n , p . G. O s t b y , B . P . S t r a n d , G. C h r i s t i a n s e n , 0 . N i l s e n , J . O l s e n , J . C h r . J a k o b s e n , A. P e t e r s e n , N. C . B r u n , A . J o h n s e n , S v e i n S t r a n d , a n d J . A. Bergh.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

208 m ent.

To b u i l d up t h e Kingdom o f God b y e s t a b l i s h i n g a n d d e v e l o p ­

in g fr e e o f the

c o n g r e g a tio n s w ith com plete s e lf-g o v e r n m e n t

N orw egian L uth eran Church i n A m e r ic a , a c c o r d i n g t o S v e r d r u p .

B oth the

C a t h o l i c C h u r c h a nd E u r o p e a n s t a t e c h u r c h e s

about the dangers o f tyrann y. combat a l l greg a tio n .

that

w h ile th e

and s t u n t s

S in ce the T h irty b e lie v e

Sverdrup d is c u s s e s

teach le sso n s

C o n s e q u e n t l y , we c a n n o t f a i l

which h in d e r s

Tendency c o in c id e w ith

the freedom o f the

t h a t the o r i g i n s

th e a p p e a r a n c e

o f the

to con­

o f t h e New

"Open D e c l a r a t i o n , ”

the r e l a t i o n b etw een th e tw o,

con ten d in g t h a t

"Open D e c l a r a t i o n " may h a v e b e e n so me wh at s h a r p a n d

" p o litica lly " o f the

i s the ta s k

u n w ise,

i t w as

fr e e con gregation ,

a b lo w d i r e c t e d a t t h e w o r s t enemy

nam ely a p u r e l y fo r m a l C h r i s t i a n i t y ,

"a h o l l o w C h r i s t i a n i t y , " w h i c h among N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n s i n Amer­ ic a has revealed i t s e l f

as

" W i s c o n s i n i s m , " b y w h ic h i s meant t h e

M i s s o u r i a n i s m o f th e Norwegian S y n o d . have

lo st

sented

some f r i e n d s

an e f f e c t i v e

for

The "Open D e c l a r a t i o n " may

the C o n feren ce,

he s a y s , b u t i t

b l o w s t r u c k on b e h a l f o f t h e p r i n c i p l e

repre­ of

c o n g r e g a t io n a l freedom . in answer to th e c r i t i c i s m d ifferen t has so

that

p resen tation

of d octrin e

Norwegian L uth eran C hurch,

t h e New T e n d e n c y i s

out th e valu e

t o be found i n

that i s ,

New T e n d e n c y ,

C a t e c h i s m a s an e x p o s i t i o n •*-See s u p r a , p . 7 ,

p laces

o f the

clea r

th e C atech ism

i n L u t h e r 1s C a t e c h i s m

t o g e t h e r w i t h B ish o p Pontoppidan* s ex p la n a tio n .'* ' sp eak in g fo r th e

in ­

no o t h e r group i n Am erica

z e a l o u s l y a nd e a r n e s t l y p o i n t e d

and s i m p l e o f the

t o d o c t r i n e , he a r g u e s

that

Sverdrup,

a h i g h e v a l u a t i o n up on t h e

of d o ctrin e,

claim in g th at

the d o c -

n. 3 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

209 trin a l

t h e s e s worked ou t by p a s t o r s

and c o l d hearts is

in

o f t h e m em b ers o f t h e

con gregation s.

The f r e e

con gregation s the

fo r the

im posed

both

the

of

learn ed

the

C atech ism th e y are

theses

to c r itic is m

tow ards u n io n e f f o r t s , o f peace

exp ressed in

the

in e x p la i n i n g the

fact

a nd u n i t y .

term s

con gregation ,

Sverdrup

the

of says

C atech ism ,

g r e g a t i o n and t o

the

con servative

should

sit

and p r o f e s s o r s ,

a u th ority is

clea rly

a su fficien tly

feren ce. 53-55.

o f upon

th ey have

alw ays been

of

the C onferen ce:

sem inary.A

L utheranism i t

has

b a sic

those

factor

in America to the

con­

in h erited

o f Synod p a s t o r s .

to the The c o n ­

judgment upon th e L u th e r a n is m o f t h e p a s ­

not v ic e

versa.

recogn ized ,

and d o c t r i n a l d i s c u s s i o n s . self

that

a t t e n t io n has been g iven

esp ecia lly in

w a g e d on

t h e New T e n d e n c y ' s a t t i t u d e

C a t e c h i s m , a n d t o o much w e i g h t h a s b e e n g i v e n

view s o f i n d iv id u a ls ,

again st

o f the p a s t o r s .

among N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n s

little

tors

is

fa m ilia r w ith in ste a d

and t h e

too

gregation

truth

The

T h e ir program f o r u n i o n , h o w ev er,

that

through the

fo r the

o f th r e e major i n t e r e s t s

the d i v i s i o n s

th eses

and o r t h o d o x .

s p i r i t when i t

a nd d o c t r i n a l d i s c u s s i o n s

In r e s p o n s e

advocates

clea r

in th e b a t t le

N orw eg ia n Synod and th e M i s s o u r i a n

the b a s i s

the

fr om a b o v e a s a y o k e u p o n t h e

C atechism i s

can p a r t i c i p a t e

in

con gregation

b u i l t upon th e C a te c h is m , n o t upon th e h a i r - s p l i t t i n g

con g reg a tio n s,

is

are fo r e ig n

com parison w it h C atech ism t e a c h i n g s w h ich l i v e

and s y n o d i c a l r e s o l u t i o n s

is

and t h e o l o g i a n s

th ere

When t h e is

then p la c e

Furtherm ore, th e

clea r b a sis

fo r u n ion .

con gregation 's for th ese s

C atech ism i s It

is

the

of i t ­

C atechism

^ T h e s e t e r m s a r e m or e o r l e s s t h e -w atc hw or ds o f t h e Co n­ S e e "En v a n s k e l i g S t i l l i n g , " L u t h e r a n e r e n , XVI ( 1 8 8 2 ) ,

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

210

t h a t makes t h e b egin

c o n g r e g a tio n s L utheran,

and on t h a t b a s i s

t o work t o g e t h e r in m a i n t a i n i n g s c h o o l s ,

and i n

ed u ca tin g p a sto r s w ith out

to a sce r ta in

if

Those o f

New T e n d e n c y a r e

the

to d isc u ss

the

fin e

an a d v o c a t e

p relim in ary step

to u n ion .

n a r ie s has perhaps

th in g th at is itu a l li f e ,

one i n

c a u s e d more m i s c h i e f

and s o h e a d v o c a t e s

Sverdrup i s

a s an i m p o r t a n t

o f s o many L u t h e r a n s e m i ­

than a n y th in g e l s e ,

a jo in t th in gs

a nd t h e New T e n d e n c y i s

life

conferences, not

in p r a c t i c a l a f f a i r s

these

and d o c t r i n e .

church in A m erica.

sem inary.

But t h e

a f r i e n d and a l l y

w ould p ro d u ce u n i t y .

Sver­ one

c an h a p p e n i s m o r e s p i r ­

p r a y a nd w or k f o r a s p i r i t u a l a w a k e n i n g . C h ristian

fa ith

conferences

t o d i s c u s s how N o r w e g i a n -

The e x i s t e n c e

needed b efo re

o f free

in fa v o r o f fr e e

can b u i l d a f r e e

o f co-op eration

drup c o n te n d s ,

are

d o c tr in a l p o in ts but

D anish L utherans

in m is s io n work,

the n e c e s s i t y

con gregation s

t h e y can

of a ll

The e x i s t e n c e

who

o f more

Time w i l l b e r e q u i r e d b e f o r e

u n io n w i l l be p o s s i b l e . In answer t o th e cept

to p ic

that

term i m p l i e s

the

a fou n d ation , and i s

b u ilt

th a t a con gregation

and k n i t

in

is

that

it

in te r fe r e n c e has the r ig h t to

ca ll

its

t o God a l o n e ;

syn od ical d e c isio n s

as

t h e o u t p o u r i n g o f th e Holy S p i r i t ,

c o n g r e g a t i o n — o f me n, women,

the L ord 's

He s a y s

b u i l t upon C h r i s t

serv ice;

a ccou n tab le

Sverdrup d e a ls

t o g e t h e r b y t h e me ans o f g r a c e ;

and pow ers i n t h e

o u tsid e

introd uced ,

o f c o n g r e g a t i o n a l f r e e d o m a t some l e n g t h .

has exp erien ced

are put to use

ject

o f t h e T h i r t y t h a t a new c o n ­

o f c o n g r e g a t i o n a l freedom has been

w ith the

g ifts

con ten tion

th at,

and c h i l d r e n —

a l o n e and w i t h o u t pastor;

fa r beyond b e in g

s a tis fa c to r y to i t ,

that a l l

it

that

able o n ly is

it

is

to r e ­

rea lly repre­

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

211

sen te d at annual sy n o d ic a l m eetin gs exp ressin g i t s is

w i l l in the

m e a n t b y f,a f r e e

says

that

ence

is

these

form u lation of d e c i s i o n s .

con gregation in

id eas

a free

are n o t a l i e n ,

co n sid era te

to the

towards

charge t h a t

or new, a s

one s h o u l d b e

con sid erate

i t may be t r u e

that

tr e a tm e n t as anyone e l s e ,

op p osition

were

However,

close

g ia n Synod.

in

it

a nd t h a t exam ining

received

and r e f e r e n c e

is

is

an a n s w e r t o t h e

" D eclaration

as

in ­

made t o

to the r e lig io u s the C o n feren ce

is

and e m p h a s i s t o

When S v e r d r u p ,

of

r ea lly

the c o n f e r ­

o u t l o o k o f the Norwegian S y n o d . n ot a n a ly z e d or c h a r a c t e r i z e d

i n many r e s p e c t s members o f t h e

sp irit

sp ecific

o f th e T h ir t y ," he

O fted al,

a large

O ld T e n d e n c y

segm ent o f th e

and t h e i r

from t h e U n i t e d Church, w h ic h had b e e n 1890,

certa in

fin g ers

a i m s o f t h e New T e n d e n c y w i t h t h o s e

The Old T e n d e n c y i n by him .

the

that

w h i c h h a v e a p p e a r e d i n s k a n d i n a v e n .-*-

c o n ta in e d in the the

syn­

s t r o n g words have

f o r members o f t h e New T e n d e n c y h a v e

a rticles

id e n tifies in

C onfer­

and o t h e r

com plaining about o th er s b e fo r e

W hile S v e r d r u p ’ s a r t i c l e

ence

fa r as th e

On t h e o t h e r h a n d , h e m a i n t a i n s

c a r e fu l in

own h e a r t ,

charges

what

t h e New T e n d e n c y h a s b e e n i n ­

" s p i r i t u a l vagabonds" d e s e r v e a rap a c r o s s

sp ecific

is

c h u r c h ," and S v e r d r u p

o t h e r members o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e

Sverdrup adm its th a t

not been spared.

h is

T his

in

con cern ed , or ought n ot to b e . In r e p l y

ods,

a nd h a s a n I m p o r t a n t p a r t

Norwe­

f r ie n d s w ithdrew

c r e a t e d by th e U nion o f

w as c h i e f l y t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s ,

form erly o f th e Synod,

l " p r i Menighed i F r i K i r k e , " P r o f e s s o r Georg S v e r d r u p s Sam lede S k r i f t e r i U d v a lg , e d . A ndreas H o l l a n d , I I I 1 2 0 - 4 3 . O rig­ i n a l l y t h i s " was w r i t t e n a s a s e r i e s o f a r t i c l e s i n F o I k e b l a d e t f o r A u g u s t 1 0 , 1 7 , and 2 4 , and S e p t e m b e r 7 and 1 4 , 1 8 8 2 . L a t e r i t was p u b lish ed s e p a r a te ly .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

212

a nd t h e

Old T e n d e n c y m e n ,

form erly o f

the

C o n f e r e n c e , who c o n s t i ­

t u t e d the n u c le u s

o f t h e U n i t e d C h u r c h a nd who p r o v i d e d t h e

sh ip th at created

an a c t i v e

A period o f p eace, problem s less

c o n fr o n tin g the

ten sion

a nd g r o w i n g s y n o d . 1 8 8 5 - 9 0 . — The s o l u t i o n o f

1883 c o n v e n tio n

and g r e a t e r

the

still oth er.

fiercen ess in

were t h e r e .

c o - o p e r a t i o n w h i c h was t o

However,

in

re-electio n

a n d t h e t w o men g a v e up t h e

p ow erfu l support throughout o f the

revealed

in

1883-1890,

fu l progress" in

a ll

th eir

the

at Augsburg

o f Sverdrup and O f t e d a l as p r o f e s s o r s ,

the

the

lead ers

o f the

C onference;

o f F o lk eb la d et.

New T e n d e n c y h a d

con seq u en tly, ev id en t

the in

Andreas H e lla n d c h a r a c t e r i z e s

w e l l when h e

for the

speaks

C onference.

of it

as a p e r io d o f

T h i s p r o g r e s s wa s

op­ the

the " fru it­

revealed p a r­

e n l a r g e m e n t a nd d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e p r o g r a m o f

Augsburg Sem in ary, eign m is s io n s ,

18 8 3 harmony was r e s t o r e d

o l d T e n d e n c y was n o t p a r t i c u l a r l y

im m ed iately f o ll o w i n g .

ticu la rly

w ere t o be

co n tr o v e rsia l ed itorsh ip

I t h a d b e e n made e v i d e n t t h a t

p erio d ,

The t w o t e n d e n ­

i n t h e u p h e a v a l w h i c h o c c u r r e d w i t h i n t h e U n i t e d Church

Sem inary w it h t h e

years

co n tin u e through

N e i t h e r had been a b so rb ed n o r overcome by

The o l d a n t i p a t h i e s

the n i n e t i e s .

p o sitio n

the d i f f i c u l t

in trod u ced a p e r io d o f

th e rem ainder o f t h e C o n fe r e n c e ’ s b r i e f h i s t o r y . cies

lea d er­

in th e

trem endous

and i n an a c t i v e

in crease

p a rticip a tio n

of in terest in

in

for­

th e u n ion move­

m e n t , w h i c h w a s d e v e l o p i n g s o mu ch mo m en tu m .^ ^ H e lla n d , Georg S v e r d r u p , p p . 1 1 2 - 3 9 . I t I s n o t de e m e d n e c e s s a r y t o g iv e f u r t h e r a t t e n t i o n t o th e d evelop m en t o f Augsburg Sem inary. A d i s c u s s i o n o f th e C o n f e r e n c e 's grow ing i n t e r e s t in m i s s i o n s and i t s p a r t i n t h e u n i o n m o v e m e n t w i l l be f o u n d , I n f r a , pp. 4S6-69, 3 75-444.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

215

O r g a n i z a t i o n and D e v e l o p m e n t The c o n s t i t u t i o n . — The f i r s t ence

subsequent

to the

c o n tr o v e r s ia l m eetin g h e ld

Ansgar convened in M in n e a p o lis was t h a t for

in 1 8 7 1 .

o f ta k in g under c o n s id e r a tio n

the C o n fe r en ce a t

w i t h m em bership i n cu ssion .

r e g u la r m e e tin g o f the

the S t .

cluded o n ly p a s to r s

in

its

in 1870 a t S t .

The m a j o r i t e m o f b u s i n e s s the

co n stitu tio n

Ansgar m e e t i n g . !

the C onference p r e c i p i t a t e d

As o r g a n i z e d a t S t .

actu a lly

was a l t e r e d

con gregation s

to read;

co n stitu tio n ,

To c l a r i f y

"The C o n f e r e n c e

the

state chism ,

churches--the

three

situ a tio n

co n sists

symbols o f

o f the

as t h e C o n fe r e n c e ’ s

t h e N orw egian and D a n is h

ecu m enical c r e e d s ,

and t h e A u g s b u r g C o n f e s s i o n . 4

o f Nor­

and p a s t o r s

to g eth er w ith the te a c h e rs

C onference’ s th e o lo g ic a l s e m i n a r y . A d o p t e d c o n f e s s i o n a l b a s i s were th e

co n stitu tio n

a s w e l l as p a s t o r s were

w e g i a n and D a n i s h E v a n g e l i c a l L u t h e r a n c o n g r e g a t i o n s who a d o p t t h i s

in ­

T h a t w as t h e g e n e r a l u n d e r ­

an i n t e g r a l p a r t o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n . ^ th e-a rticle

d ealin g

a good d e a l o f d i s ­

Ansgar the C o n fe r en ce

m em bership.

proposed

The a r t i c l e

s t a n d i n g a l t h o u g h some c o n g r e g a t i o n s h a d a p p r o v e d t h e in th e u n d ersta n d in g th a t

C onfer­

L u t h e r ’ s Sm all C ate­

The C o n f e r e n c e

accepts

C h u r c h o f N o r w a y ’ s r i t u a l w i t h some s l i g h t m o d i f i c a t i o n s

the

and i t s

■^The s e c r e t a r y r e m a r k s t h a t o n e o f t h e p e r s i s t e n t , f a l s e a c c u s a t io n s d i r e c t e d a g a in s t the C onference d u rin g th e f i r s t year o f i t s e x i s t e n c e was t h a t t h e S t . A n s g a r m e e t i n g h a d a d o p t e d a c o n s t i t u t i o n w it h o u t p r e s e n t i n g i t t o the c o n g r e g a t io n s fo r a c c e p t ­ ance . He e m p h a s i z e s t h a t t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n was a d o p t e d a t S t . A n s ­ gar o n ly as a " p r o p o s a l.” S y n o d ic a l R ep ort, th e C o n feren ce, 1871, f o o t n o t e , p p . 18 f . 2I b i d . , p. ^C h a p .

I,

20. art.

5 Chap. I I , 1,

i b i d . , p.

art.

1,

i b i d . , p.

26.

25.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

214 a l t a r book,

a n d commends

n izes

autonomy in

the

th eir

annual m eetin gs

and l a y d e l e g a t e s en titled

to

th e ir use

are

to

v ice-p resid en t, term o f for

con gregation s,

one y e a r . ^

It

su p ervise

ing*

" in sofar

tia ls

corresponds

and r i g h t s

The c o n s t i t u t i o n s seem t o have Sin ce

were

itse lf

of

in the

the

any t y p e

arts.

3 Chap.

ii,

art.

^Chap.

Ill,

cen­

just

the

in

in ter e st­ a ll

essen­

same a s w i t h u s . " ^

th e N orw egian-A m erican Lutheran synods

2,

II,

of

and t h e d u t i e s

righ ts

o f the

con gregation e q u a lly w e ll. the p r e s id e n t

C o n f e r e n c e was b u r d e n e d w i t h a h e a v y a d m i n i s t r a t i v e

2 Chap.

made

N orwegian Synod.

co n stitu tio n

t h e r e w a s no s y n o d i c a l c h u r c h c o u n c i l ,

art,

is

an n u ally.

p erio d ica l is

co n stitu tio n ,

con g reg a tio n are

gu aranteed the

•^Chap. I ,

for a

th eC onference

elected

again st

cen tra lized

our s y n o d i c a l

of a ll

chosen

The me mb ers o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e b e l i e v e d

a s we c a n u n d e r s t a n d ,

o f the

are p r e s id e n t,

to be

the a c t i v i t i e s

comment o f t h e S y n o d ' s

to

congrega­

t h a t no p r o v i s i o n

an d t h a t o f f i c e r s

a u t h o r i t y w as t o o h i g h l y

For t h a t r e a s o n t h e

each

w orthy o f note

o f a u th ority.

are not b in d ­

th e y are adop ted by th e

The C o n f e r e n c e w a n t e d t o s a f e g u a r d

that

each con g reg a tio n b e in g

and t r e a s x i r e r ,

is

annual m eetin gs

tra liza tio n

th eo lo g ica l p ro fesso rs,

The C o n f e r e n c e ’ s d e c i s i o n s

secretary,

but recog­

V o t i n g me m b er s a t

p ro vid ed f o r by the c o n s t i t u t i o n

a church c o u n c i l to

betw een

con gregation s,

Include p a s t o r s ,

from t h e

one o r t w o . ^

O fficers

the

l i t u r g i c a l m a tters.^

i n g upon a c o n g r e g a t i o n u n l e s s tio n ,3

to

i b i d . , p. 3 and 4 ,

3,

arts.

25.

i b i d . , pp.

ib id ., p. 1 and 2 ,

lo a d ,

26 f .

26.

i b i d . , pp.

5 " K i r k e k r 8 n i k e , " K. M. XVI ( 1 8 7 1 ) ,

27 f .

254.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission

o f the in

the

215 m atter of o rd in a tio n s fo r ord in ation m eetin g),

the

c o n stitu tio n

co n stitu tio n

in d ic a te d by the f a c t was n o t a l t e r e d In 1872 i t

sh ou ld m eet.

or r e v is e d

the p a s to r s

t o be

m a in ly fo r the purpose q u estion s

for

con trib u te

the

the

in

E a c h was a u t h o r i z e d t o

to s e l e c t a p resid en t

fo llo w in g :

to m utual e d i f i c a t i o n

"T h e se c o n f e r e n c e s

of

in

C onference

th re e .§

confer­ are

of d o ctrin al g e n e r a l to

and i n s t r u c t i o n . " 4

o f the

and s e c r e ­

of the d i s t r i c t

o f prep arin g the d is c u s s io n

in stea d

three

and c o n g r e g a t i o n a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s

The p u r p o s e

in g d e c id e d upon a r e - d i v i s i o n

w ay.3

the C onference i n t o

e n s u i n g a n n u a l m e e t i n g and a r e

or c i r c u i t s ,

p o in t.2

t w e n t y y e a r h i s t o r y o f Hie

any s i g n i f i c a n t

to d iv id e

E a c h was a u t h o r i z e d

stated

b r i e f and t o t h e

and e a s t e r n .

f o r a term o f one y e a r .

e n c e s w as

is

th a t d u rin g the

was d e c i d e d

d e t e r m i n e how o f t e n

tricts,

( a t an a n n u a l

o f th e C onference proved s a t i s f a c t o r y

d is t r ic t s - - n o r t h e r n , w estern,

tary

can d id ates

or by a s t a n d in g com m ittee betw een m e e t i n g s .

That th e

group i t

p rovided th a t

s h o u l d be a p p r o v e d b y t h e C o n f e r e n c e

The C o n f e r e n c e ’ s

is

co n stitu tio n

in to

The 1 8 7 4 m e e t ­ eig h t d i s ­

In s u b s e q u e n t y e a r s

fu r-

^C h a p . I l l , a r t . 3 ; S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e C o n f e r e n c e , 1 8 7 1 , 27 f . p The c o n s t i t u t i o n a s r e v i s e d a n d a d o p t e d i s f o u n d , i b i d . , pp. 25-28. 3 P r o p o s a ls t h a t th e p r e s i d e n t be e l e c t e d f o r a term o f f o u r y e a r s and t h a t t h e a n n u a l m e e t i n g s h o u l d a l w a y s b e h e l d i n M in n e a p o lis b e g i n n i n g w i t h 1888 were d e f e a t e d . S y n o d ica l R eport, t h e C o n f e r e n c e ^ 1 8 8 6 , p p . 67 f . ; S y n o d i c a l ReporTTJ t h e C o n f e r e n c e , 1 8 8 7 , pp. 8 9 , 94. 4 S y n o d ic a l R e p o r t, the C o n fe r e n c e , 1 8 7 2 , pp . 88 f .

pp.

5

S y n o d ic a l R eport,

the

C onference,

1874, pp. 8 0-82.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

216 ther

c h a n g e s w e r e made a s

The number o f d i s t r i c t s

to o f f i c e r s , m e e tin g s,

(circu its)

o f th em .2

T his d i s t r i c t ,

were u s e d in t e r c h a n g e a b ly )

is

o f t h e Synod i n t o d i s t r i c t s

In 1889 t h e r e were t h i r ­

or c i r c u i t , n o t t o be

in 1876,

have

the

However, stature

the

o f the

su b -d iv isio n s d istricts

In 1 8 7 5 p r o v i s i o n in sp ectio n ,

two e a s t

gregation s

changes

o f the C onference d id n ot

i n t o w h i c h t h e S y n o d was d i v i d e d .

o f the M is s is s ip p i

w ith

R iver,

the Conference p r e s i d e n t

c ed u re had b e e n i n e f f e c t It

v isita tio n ,

or

o f the C o n fe r e n c e by p a s t o r s d e s i g ­

s e r v e d by the v i s i t o r s A f t e r

spoke h ig h ly o f

in ­

t h a t were f a r -

each to be

Each c o n g r e g a t i o n w as t o be v i s i t e d

every three y e a r s ,

d iv isio n

P o u r p a s t o r s w e r e t o be d e s i g n a t e d a s v i s i t o r s ,

and tw o w e s t

f o r one y e a r .

( t h e names

Inasmuch as t h e l a t t e r

was made f o r t h e p e r i o d i c

o f con gregation s

nated as v i s i t o r s .

arrangem ent

compared w i t h t h e

v o l v e d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l and a d m i n i s t r a t i v e r each in g.

like.-*-

was i n c r e a s e d a s t h e t e r r i t o r y

s e r v e d b y t h e C o n f e r e n c e was e n l a r g e d . teen

and t h e

fo r three y e a r s ,

at

chosen

lea st

once

in sp ectin g

con­

th is v isita tio n P resid en t

pro­

Johan O lse n

a l t h o u g h i t had n o t b een c o m p l e t e l y c a r r i e d o u t . 4

G r o w t h . - - T h e r e w e r e f o u r t e e n p a s t o r s who i n 1 8 7 0 s i g n e d the p r e lim in a ry d r a ft gar.

As f a r a s

o f the C o n fe r e n c e ’ s c o n s t i t u t i o n

can be d e t e r m i n e d ,

■Synodical R e p o r t, >

a c c o r d in g to the

the C o n f e r e n c e :

’S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

the

'Syn odical R eport,

the C o n f e r e n c e ,

1875 , p .

C on feren ce, 1889, pp. 1875,

at S t.

Ans­

secretary of 79;

1876, p

10-12.

p p . 77 f .

The s a t 'S y n o d ic a l R ep o rt, the C o n fe r e n c e , 1 8 7 8 , p . 1 2 . i s f a c t o r y and b e n e f i c i a l ' o p e r a t i o n 'of b o t h t h e d i s t r i c t m e e t i n g s a nd t h e v i s i t a t i o n p r o c e d u r e i s d e s c r i b e d i n " K v a r t a l s k r i f t 1 8 7 9 , " K v a r t a l- S k r if t , V (1879), 22-24.

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without

217

the

Conference

pastors

as he w r i t e s

represented

The m e m b e r s h i p i n but

it

about

However,

tistic s

th at

the

tw enty-one p a s t o r s . 3 t o be i t s

a

com piled

th ir ty -fo u r p astors

con gregation s

featu re

o f the

A lread y in

for

the p r e v io u s y e a r ,

w e r e me mbers o f t h e in a p o s it io n

grow th .^

Conference

t o t a l number o f s o u l s ,

and 1 6 , 4 0 9

sou ls

if

the

are in clu d ed .^

numbered s e v e n t y - s i x p a s t o r s

a nd p r o f e s s o r s ,

and 4 0 , 6 3 1 s o u l s . 5 com p lain ts du rin g th e e a r ly

eig h ties

that

the

c o n t r o v e r s y p l a g u i n g t h e C o n f e r e n c e was h a n d i c a p p i n g i t s However,

du rin g the

la te

num ber o f ne w c o n g r e g a t i o n s w e r e the

fe llo w sh ip w ith i t .

s e r v e d b y th e two a d d i t i o n a l p a s t o r s

There were

in

of c lo se

The t o t a l s are 1 1 8 c o n g r e g a t i o n s

in tern al

i t w as f o u n d t h a t

C o n f e r e n c e , w i t h two a d ­

c o n g r e g a t i o n s w a s 1 0 8 and t h e

340 c o n g r e g a t io n s ,

so u ls.1

1 8 7 2 when t h e m e m b e r s h i p s t a ­

The nu mb er o f

By 1 8 8 0 t h e

and 9 , 0 0 0

C o n f e r e n c e ’ s h i s t o r y w as

stan d in g

con gregation s

fourteen

showed a m em b ersh ip o f o n l y

d i t i o n a l ones

1 5 ,3 1 1 .

th ese

s e v e n a d d i t i o n a l p a s t o r s w o u l d be

1871 r ep o rt

r a p id grow th.

were

forty-fou r

la ter,

1 8 7 0 was r e g a r d e d a s i n c l u d i n g e i g h t e e n p a s t o r s ,

was a n t i c i p a t e d

jo in in g .^

tw enty years

C onference.

At t h e

^ S yn odical R eport,

tim e

eig h ties

p a r t ic u la r ly a large

a n n u a lly adm itted of

the U nion

i n t o m em bership

o f 1890 th e

the U n it e d Church,

1890,

secretary

p . 45.

:S u p r a , p . 1 6 7 . S y n o d ic a l R ep o rt, the

C onferen ce, 1871,

p . 61. pp.

:S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

the

C onference,

'S yn odical R eport,

the

C onferen ce, 1881,

s The O ld T e n d e n c y made t h i s t h e New T e n d e n c y . Supra, p. 202.

charge,

1872,

106-110.

pp. 82-104.

l a y i n g t h e blame t o

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

218 reported

that s t a t i s t i c s

com piled

a t o t a l o f 453 c o n g r e g a t io n s , 70 ,6 3 2

so u ls.

p a s t o r a l work, I f the C onference

tw en ty years

the p r e v io u s y e a r r e v e a le d

s e r v e d by 1 0 1 p a s t o r s ,

The t o t a l n u m be r o f p a s t o r s

in g m issio n a r ie s

th e

for

and t h o s e

retired

or

and i n c l u d i n g

and p r o f e s s o r s ,

in clu d ­

te m p o r a r ily n o t engaged in

was 115.^estim ate in

for

the y e a r 1870 i s

1 8 9 0 w as e i g h t

tim es as

ap p roxim ately c o r r e c t ,

large

as i t

had b e e n

e a r lie r .2

P u b l i c a t i o n s . — The o f f i c i a l p u b l i c a t i o n was L u t h e r a n e r e n .

Prom 1 8 7 4 t o 1 8 8 5 t h e

o f th e Conference

f u l l name o f t h e p a p e r

w a s L u t h e r a n e r e n o g M i s s i o n s b l a d e t , and f r o m 1 8 8 6 t o L uth eraneren og B ib e lb u d e t .

1890 i t

was

I t was a c o n t i n u a t i o n o f p e n N o r s k e

L u t h e r a n e r , w h ic h had b e e n p u b l i s h e d by the N o r w e g ia n s e c t i o n the

S c a n d in a v ia n Augustana Synod.

an eren b e g in n in g w ith the

fir st

Weenaas t o o k o v e r as e d i t o r . Ju ly ,

1876.

some q u e s t i o n succeeded

At t h e as

tim e

to th e

post

issu e

o f 1870,

He c o n t i n u e d

in

a t w h ic h tim e A ugu st that p o s itio n u n t i l

ow n ersh ip o f the p a p er , b u t th e

in e s t a b l i s h i n g

its B.

claim s

to i t

1877.

M. F a l k G j e r t s e n

He s e r v e d

and J .

O lsen,

G j e l d a k e r and L. Lund w e r e

for

four y e a r s , b e in g

e a c h o f whom p u t i n

Sverdrup r e t u r n e d as e d i t o r •^ S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

C onference

as over a g a in s t

f o r one y e a r u n t i l G eorg S v e r d r u p assum ed t h e

in J u ly ,

stin t.

The name was c h a n g e d t o L u t h e r -

t h e c o n f e r e n c e was o r g a n i z e d t h e r e was

N orwegian A ugustana s y n o d . ed ito rs

of

in

co­

e d ito ria l f o ll o w e d by

a tw o y e a r

the F a l l o f 1885,

th e U n it e d Church,

the

and,

1890, pp. 44,

^Home m i s s i o n s and t h e C o n f e r e n c e a c t i v i t y a r e d i s c u s s e d i n Chap. V I I I . I n fr a , pp. 44 5 -6 1 .

in

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

that

to-

46. field

219 gather w ith O fted a l, h eld u id a te d in

the p o st u n t i l

1 8 9 0 . The C o n f e r e n c e

dren e n t i t l e d

L u th e r s k Bflrneblad

a ls o p u b lish e d a paper f o r c h i l ­ (Lutheran C h ild r e n ’ s p a p e r ) .

Two o t h e r p r i v a t e l y - o w n e d

an d - e d i t e d p e r i o d i c a l s

p r o m in en tly in C onference h i s t o r y .

D u rin g the p e r io d

q u arterly e n t it le d K v a rta l-S k rift S v e r d r u p and O f t e d a l .

th e C o n f e r e n c e was l i q ­

1875-81 a

( Q u a r t e r l y ) w as p u b l i s h e d b y

D uring the y e a r 1875 i t

f a c u l t y o f Augsburg Sem in ary, bu t in

was

e d i t e d by th e

subsequent y ea rs

o n ly

nam es o f S v e r d r u p and O f t e d a l a p p e a r e d on t h e m a s t h e a d , th e

spokesman f o r

cation

th eir p r in c ip le s,

the purpose

d i s c o n t i n u e d when i t many r e q u e s t s m onthly,

had s e r v e d i t s

O fte d a l began i t s

transform in g i t

in to

1881, Sverdrup jo in e d

fessors

owned t h e p a p e r ,

as e d i t o r , was t h e i r

and i n 1 8 8 3 i t ed ito rsh ip

In 1873 a p r i v a t e bers o f the

(1874),

C o n fe r e n c e .5

it

in

a ssist

in

a fu n d -ra isin g

purpose, but

p u b lica tio n

a w eekly in O ftedal as 1882 J . J .

I t wa s

in resp on se

again in

the F a l l co -ed ito r,

to

1879 as a

o f 1880.

in

and b o t h p r o ­

S k B r d a l s v o l d w as h i r e d

was t a k e n o v e r b y a s t o c k

by th e

was

1877 O f t e d a l b e g a n p u b l i ­

o f F o lk e b la d e t w hich b rou gh t

upon S v e r d r u p and O f t e d a l

the

o f p a y in g the C o n fe r e n c e 's d e b t .^

A ugust,

1882.

in

o f a p a p e r named F o l k e b l a d e t t o

cam paign f o r

figu re

com pany.$

severe

as it

criticism

Old T e n d e n c y . 4

p u b l i s h i n g s o c i e t y was o r g a n i z e d b y mem­ it

was t a k e n

When t h e C o n f e r e n c e b e c a m e

over by the

a part o f

conference

the U n it e d

^W ist,

op.

c i t . , p.

198.

^s u p r a , p .

191.

^W ist,

op.

c i t . , p.

94.

4Supra, p.

198.

Church i n

5»K onferentsens F o r la g s f o r e n in g ," L uth eraneren , V III 329-31.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

in

220

1890 th e p u b l i s h i n g p r o p e r t y went w it h i t ,

and t h e p u b l i s h i n g h o u s e

w a s t h e n named t h e A u g s b u r g P u b l i s h i n g H o u s e . ^ As t o Hoyme i n

th e hymnal u s e d w i t h i n

1889 r e p o r t e d

th at n ea rly a l l

u s i n g L a n d s t a d ' s Hymnal. tw o H a u g e ' s ,

About te n

tw o t h e S y n o d ' s ,

u s in g R osk ild e

the

C onference,

o f the

or tw elve

P resid en t

con gregation s

were

were u s i n g G u l d b e r g ' s ,

and f o u r D a n is h c o n g r e g a t i o n s

were

C o n v e n t's H ym nal.2 The D a n e s i n

At t h e t i m e

of i t s

the

C onference

estab lish m en t

c lu d e d th e word

"D anish” in

feren ce

N o r w e g ia n - D a n is h E v a n g e l i c a l L u th e r a n Church in

for

the

A m e r i c a , o r more C onference. eral of

commonly,

its

One m a i n r e a s o n

for

that

s o d o i n g was

the D a n ish c o n g r e g a t io n s

C onference,

a lth ou gh the

The f u l l

title

thus

the

fact

far organized

s t u d e n t was r e a d y f o r o r d i n a t i o n

Danes were

sev­

in A m erica had of

the

By 1 8 7 2 a b o u t t w e n t y D a n i s h c o n ­

stu d y in g a t Augsburg,

o f the

or the

o n l y Dane among t h e C o n f e r e n c e p a s t o r s

g r e g a t i o n s were b e i n g s e r v e d by C o n fe r e n c e p a s t o r s ,

t h a t an e l e m e n t

th at

alon g in th e o r g a n iz a tio n

t i m e w as C. L* C l a u s e n . ^

s t u d e n t s were

was The C on ­

the N o rw egian -D an ish C o n fe r e n c e ,

b e e n s e r v e d b y p a s t o r s who w e r e

at

name.

the C on feren ce had i n ­

C onference

s e v e r a l D anish

a nd o n e D a n i s h t h e o l o g i c a l

as p a s t o r — a l l was D a n i s h .

o f w hich e v id e n c e d A lthough o n ly

g r a d u a t e d f r o m A u g s b u r g S e m i n a r y and o r d a i n e d i n

ten the

^ S y n o d ic a l R e p o r t, th e C o n f e r e n c e , 1 8 8 2 , p . 99; s y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , U n i t e d C h u r c h , 1 8 9 0 , p . ISO; Eu C • Brun ( e d . ) , F r a Tjngdomsaar ( M i n n e a p o T i V : A u g s b u r g P u b l i s h i n g H o u s e , 1 9 T 5 ) , p p . ’e t t :--------p S y n o d ica l R eport, th e C on feren ce, 1889, pp. 7 f . S y n o d ica l R eport,

the C o n fe r en ce ,

1872, p . 90.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

221

C onference

d u rin g the p e r io d 1 8 7 2 -8 4 ,

nent lead ers

in

th e D anish L utheran g r o u p .^

Furtherm ore, s h ip o f the mark.

Its

th e C onference had the

in flu en tia l p ie tistic lea d er,

ta r y o f the

some o f th e m b e c a m e p r o m i ­

a p p r o v a l o f the l e a d e r ­

i n n e r M i s s i o n Movement i n D e n ­

p a s t o r W ilhelm B ec k , had w r i t t e n

C onference,

to the s e c r e ­

encouraging C onference p a s to r s

to

continue

s e r v i n g D a n ish c o n g r e g a t i o n s .2 The C o n f e r e n c e pastors a t the

e x t e n d e d an i n v i t a t i o n

a nd c o n g r e g a t i o n s tim e o f i t s

to p a r t i c i p a t e

annual m eetin g in

in

June,

to D a n ish Lutheran

a c o n f e r e n c e w i t h them 1872,

W iscon sin ,

to d isc u ss

responded,

b u t some D a n i s h l a y m e n w e r e p r e s e n t ,

was h e l d

as p l a n n e d .

p a sto r at R acine,

"the D a n is h s i t u a t i o n . "

A dom inant

W iscon sin ,

to p ic

i n Rock p r a i r i e ,

No D a n i s h p a s t o r s and t h e m e e t i n g

o f d i s c u s s i o n was t h e D a n i s h

Adam D a n , who h a d come t o A m e r i c a a s

a l a y m a n a nd h a d b e e n o r d a i n e d b y p a s t o r M i l l e r E g g e n o f t h e C on ­ feren ce.

The C o n f e r e n c e

came t o

the

con clu sion

G r u n d t v i g i a n and f e l t

im p elled t o is s u e

con gregation s

the dangers

again st

■^Raun,

"D anish L utherans

a s p e c i a l w arning to D anish

o f G rundtvigianism

A lth o u g h th e D anish L u th era n s

p.

t h a t Dan was a

f o u n d a r e l i g i o u s home w i t h

in A m erica t o 1 9 0 0 , ” op .

cit.,

79.

O S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e C o n f e r e n c e , 1 8 7 2 , p p . 90 f . 3 I b id ., pp. 89-95. Two p o w e r f u l i n f l u e n c e s i n t h e C h u r c h o f Denmark' w h i c h w e r e f e l t among t h e D a n e s i n A m e r i c a w e r e G r u n d t v i g i a n i s m and t h e I n n e r M i s s i o n M o v e m e n t . The l a t t e r h a d e m e r g e d a s a s t r i c t l y r e l i g i o u s aw akening o f th e p i e t i s t i c ty p e at the t i m e t h a t G r u n d t v i g i a n i s m was w e a k e n i n g . P a s t o r C. L» C l a u s e n , t h e n o f t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d , on a t r i p t o Denmark i n 1 8 6 6 h a d a d ­ v o c a t e d t h a t w o r k s e p a r a t e fr o m t h a t o f t h e N o r w e g i a n s s h o u l d be c a r r i e d on among t h e D an e s i n A m e r i c a b y t h e I n n e r M i s s i o n . A f i v e - m a n c o m m i t t e e was c h o s e n i n 1 8 6 9 t o s p o n s o r s u c h an u n d e r ­ ta k in g . Raun, o p . c i t . , pp. 2 2 , 3 0 , 7 3 , 7 6 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

222

t h e i r N orwegian b r e t h r e n C onference

regarded

in ^ e r i c a

the

S t e p s were 1876 th e

g rad u ally

C onference

charged i t s

cen tered in

con gregation s that

to the

Committee

fu ll

and t h e

members

for

the

The T his as ap­

T h e i r home m i s s i o n In 1879 i t

should

co n sist

was d e ­

of fiv e

o f the C onference

and he a l s o

mem­

chairm an

s e r v e d as chairm an

au th orized

the D anish p a s t o r s

t h e i r own p e r i o d i c a l ,

and

e x p r e s s i n g t h e hope

c o o p e r a t i o n o f t h e p u b l i s h i n g c om pan y w o u l d be o b t a i n e d

con fid en ce

d istrib u tio n

Danes,

task

The c h a i r m a n w a s p a s t o r Ole p a u l s o n . ®

Conference

to p u b lish

In

annual m eetin gs

N e brask a." ^

s y n o d i c a l M is s io n C om m ittee,

I n 1877 th e

resu lt.

w o r k among t h e D a n e s . 3

new r u l e s made t h e v i c e - p r e s i d e n t

the D anish C om m ittee.

that

Committee w i t h th e

th e M issio n C om m ittee’ s r e p o r t .

c id e d th a t th e D anish M issio n

of

sepa­

own c h a i r m a n and t r e a s i i r e r .

separate rep orts

w or k was p a r t i c u l a r l y

o f the

in

com m ittee o f th r e e

Committee had i t s

com m ittee p r e s e n t e d

bers;

M ission

a second m issio n

D anish M issio n

to

I t was

s t r o n g enough to o r g a n iz e

tak en w hich e v e n tu a t e d

o f s u p e r v i s i n g home m i s s i o n

p en d ices

the

r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e C o n f e r e n c e w o u l d be t e r m i n a t e d . 2

o f d esig n a tin g purpose

a nu mb er o f y e a r s ,

the arrangem ent as o n ly tem p o ra ry .1

e x p e c t e d t h a t whe n t h e D a n e s b e c a m e ra tely ,

for

that

the

N orwegian p a s t o r s

o f the paper t o

w ould a s s i s t

t h e D a n i s h m e m b er s o f t h e i r

•^■pastors o f t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d a l s o m i n i s t e r e d as w e l l . Ib id ., p. 77. ’S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

the

'S yn odical R eport,

the C o n f e r e n c e ,

:S y n o d i c a l ’I b i d . ,

R eport,

pp . 3 7 ,

45,

C onference, 1872,

p.

91.

1876, p .

59.

the C o n fe r e n c e , 1 8 79, 53

p . 39.

•

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited without p erm ission.

in

the

congregat o many

223 tio n s.

The D a n i s h p a s t o r s

resp on sib le

fo r the

were d e s i g n a t e d as a com m ittee

p u b lica tio n

t o r , who w o u l d be r e s p o n s i b l e c o n te n ts.1

T his

o f t h e p a p e r an d t o

to th e

p a p e r was p u b l i s h e d

C onference as

c h a m p i o n e d m i s s i o n w o r k a nd r e f l e c t e d

g e listic

e m p h a sis.2

Committee were

to

fo reig n m ission s

cu stom arily

S o c ie ty 's m ission

and t h e

sent

choose the

f o r the

ed i­

p ap er's

t h e D an s k L u t h e r s k K i r k e -

B lad ; i t

C on trib u tion s

t o be

the

group's

evan­

r e c e iv e d by the D an ish

t o Denmark f o r

the D an ish M iss io n

S a n tal M issio n .^

The n e e d f o r D a n i s h p a s t o r s b e c a m e more and more p r e s s i n g as the

C o n f e r e n c e ' s home m i s s i o n

I t w as

suggested

its

that

sem inary f a c u l t y

d riftin g th is

in to

effect

feren ce

the C o n fe r en ce to

tra in

G ru n d tvigian b ran ch .^

a series

its

Rohe,

m eetin g in

p.

that year

E erth elsen ,

^• S y n o d i c a l

and t o p r e v e n t

However,

th e ir request

to

o f p r e l i m i n a r y m e e t i n g s h e l d by th e D a n is h

w i t h d r a w a l o f s i x Danish, p a s t o r s , M. C. H.

to

1883 m e e t in g .5

th e Danes w ith d r e w from th e at

add a D a n i s h p r o f e s s o r

the needed p a s t o r s

was p o s t p o n e d b y t h e

A fter p astors,

the

w o r k among t h e D a n e s p r o g r e s s e d .

R e p o r t ,

C onference

took o f f i c i a l

nam ely,

G. B .

1884. n o tice

The c o n ­ o f the

A. M. A n d e r s e n , E . H a n s e n ,

C h ristian sen ,

C onference,

t h e

in

and a . R asm u ssen ,

1877, p.

73.

2

Raun, o p . c i t . , p . 8 0 , The f i r s t i s s u e a p p e a r e d i n Au­ g u s t , 1 8 7 7 , w i t h p a s t o r A* M. A n d e r s e n o f R a c i n e , W i s c o n s i n , a s ed ito r. D ansk-L uthersk K ir k e -B la d , I (1 8 7 7 ), 1. 5 S y n o d ic a l R eport, the C o n feren ce, 1882, p . 70. ^Raun, o p . 1885,

p.

E lev en , 82.

c i t . , p . 82.

op.

cit.,

p.

49;

S y n o d ic a l R eport,

the

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission .

C onference,

224

a nd t h e tia l

form ation

o f a new D a n i s h c h u r c h

r e p o r t P a s t o r T . H. D a h l r e f e r r e d

p a r e d h y some o f t h e D a n i s h p a s t o r s on t h e b a s i s that

of th eir

they could b e s t

in d ep en d en t za tio n

exp erien ce

t h e y h a d come t o

a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f the y e a r .

the

con clu sion

s u c h a new o r g a n i ­

D a h l m a k es i t

in lo v e

and a s p i r i t

clea r

that

the

o f good w i l l

and

When D a n i s h P a s t o r H. H a n s e n b a d e t h e

f a r e w e l l on b e h a l f o f h i s the

statem ent p r e ­

in w hich th ey e x p la in e d th a t

T he y h a d e s t a b l i s h e d

D a n is h b r e t h r e n were l e a v i n g

for

to a w r itten

p resid en ­

c a r r y on w o r k a m o n g s t t h e D a n e s t h r o u g h an

o rgan ization .

u n d ersta n d in g .2

in h i s

b o d y .l

D anish a s s o c i a t e s ,

C o n f e r e n c e ' s w or k among t h e D a n e s

were n o t l e a v i n g b eca u se

he e x p r e s s e d

and e x p l a i n e d

o f a ny d i s a g r e e m e n t

c o u l d more

thanks

that th ey

in d o c tr in e

o f p erso n a l m isu n d erstan d in gs, but s o l e l y because t h a t w o r k among t h e D a n e s

conference

or b e c a u s e

they b e lie v e d

e f f e c t i v e l y be

ca rr ie d out

thereby The s e p a r a t i o n o f have

occurred in a l l

C on feren ce's w egian

the

frien d lin ess.

c h i e f i n t e r e s t was i n

e le m e n t had i n c r e a s e d

shadowed the D a n ish w ork.^ ter

in

two n a t i o n a l i t i e s

U n q u estion ab ly, however, th e Norwegian w ork,

so tr e m e n d o u s ly t h a t i t

S k a n d i n a v e n i n w h i c h he s p e a k s

feels

o f the fa c t

N o r w e g i a n me mbers o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e

2Ib id . , p.

19.

^ R aun ,

cit.,

op.

treat

the C o n fe r e n c e , 5Ib id . , p.

p.

the

and t h e N o r ­

q u ite

over­

t h a t t h e Danes

few num bers, b u t h e

a t home w i t h t h e N o r w e g i a n s b e c a u s e

^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

to

P a s t o r A* M« A n d e r s e n p u b l i s h e d a l e t ­

were overshad ow ed b e c a u s e o f t h e i r he

thus appears

says

that

the m a j o r i t y o f the

t h e D a n e s a s e q u a l s and 1884, p. 73.

80.

82.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

225 broth ers. p u b lish ed the

H is

letter

in F o lk eb la d et

C onference Thus,

o f an a r t i c l e

t o m e n t i o n D a n s k L u t h e r s k K i r k e - B l a d among

p erio d ica ls

recommended t o i t s

rea d ers.^

t h e D a n i s h E v a n g e l i c a l L u th e r a n Church A s s o c i a t i o n

came i n t o b e i n g . T rin ity

was p r o m p t e d b y t h e f a i l u r e

Its

headquarters

S e m in a r y was d e d i c a t e d

in

were 1886.

at B la ir,

N eb ra sk a , where

A U r u n d tv ig ia n group had

o r g a n i z e d a s t h e Danish. E v a n g e l i c a l L u th e r a n C hurch. an i n n e r M i s s i o n e l e m e n t , A sso cia tio n

in

1896 t o

Church i n A m e r i c a . ^

too,

in clu d ed

w h i c h w i t h d r e w and u n i t e d w i t h t h e

fo r m t h e U n i t e d D a n i s h E v a n g e l i c a l L u t h e r a n

The w o r d " D a n i s h " h a s

t h e D a n i s h L u t h e r a n b o d y w h i c h ha d i t s is

It

sin ce

roots

been dropped,

in the

and

o ld C onference

t o d a y t h e U n i t e d E v a n g e l i c a l L u th era n Church in A m erica

(U E L C) .^

The N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a s y n o d ^ A Sm all synod The N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d r e m a i n e d a s m a l l and s t r u g ­ g lin g

o rgan ization

was c o n s i d e r a b l y six

pastors

d u rin g th e

s m a l l e r than t h e

and f o u r t e e n

•^S k a n d i n a v e n , ^Raun,

tw enty y e a r s

op.

of its

conference

ex isten ce.

from th e

la y d e le g a te s heeded p a s to r

start. 0.

J.

It Only

E at-

J a n u a r y 17 , 1 8 8 2 .

c i t . , pp.

83-91.

The UELC i s a member o f t h e th e American L uth eran C o n fe r e n c e .

N a t i o n a l L u t h e r a n C o u n c i l and

^The name a d o p t e d i n 1 8 7 0 w a s The N o r w e g i a n - D a n i s h A u g u s ­ t a n a S y n o d i n A m e r i c a , b u t i n 1 8 7 8 t h e w o r d " D a n i s h " wa s e l i m i n a t e d , and t h e o f f i c i a l name b e c a m e The N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d . S y n o d ic a l R e p o r t, N orwegian A u gu stan a, 1 8 7 8 , p . 8 . A lth ough the w o r d " D a n i s h " w a s ' " i n c l u d e d i n t h e s y n o d ' s name f o r a number o f y e a r s , th e N o r w e g ia n A u g u sta n a Synod n e v e r had a D a n is h p a s t o r . N o r lie ( e d . ) , Norsk l u t h e r s k e p r e s t e r i Am erika, p . 3 3 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

226 l e s t a d ’ s summons t o a s p e c i a l m e e t i n g a t J e f f e r s o n p r a i r i e , W i s ­ co n sin ,

in the

p a l l of 1870,

in p r o t e s t a g a in s t

m e e tin g h e ld d u r in g the p r e c e d in g in

its

ea rly y ea rs,

records, years of

are u n a v a ila b le .

so u ls.^

It

pastors is

In 1873 i n c o m p l e t e

th at in

sta tistic s

Sin ce

are

The p a s t o r a l r o s t e r

reports

from s e v e n

out

f o r b o t h 1 8 8 5 and 1 8 8 6 a r e a v a i l a b l e .

s l i g h t l y more c o m p l e t e

th e y are r e f e r r e d

f o r 1886 in c lu d e d tw e n ty - n in e

R eports

from t w e n t y - f i v e

t i z e d m em bership o f a b o u t 6 , 5 0 0 . 4 nin e

fo r m ost

t h a t y e a r t h e r e were a b o u t f o r t y

P a u l A n d e r s o n , who was n o t s e r v i n g a c o n g r e g a t i o n , D avid L y s n e s .

esp ecia lly

r e v e a l e d a t o t a l b a p t i z e d membership o f 2 , 2 4 3

estim ated

la tter

synod,

t h a t a c c u r a t e m embership f i g u r e s

c o n g r e g a t i o n s .*5 the

T his

was n o t c a r e f u l a b o u t m a i n t a i n i n g m e m b e r s h i p

w ith the r e s u l t

th irteen

sum m er.!

th e S t . Ansgar

con gregation s.

pastors

rphe s e

The s e c r e t a r y s a i d

reports

from t h i r t y - t w o

hard to

j u d g e how many c o n g r e g a t i o n s

names,

to.

in clu d in g

and P r o f e s s o r

gave a t o t a l b a p ­

f i g Ures r e p r e se n t

fifty -

t h a t he had n o t r e c e i v e d

a d d it io n a l c o n g r e g a tio n s .5

However,

it

is

a c t u a l l y b e lo n g e d t o the N or­

w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d and how many w e r e n o t a f f i l i a t e d w i t h t h e synod but the

s e r v e d o c c a s i o n a l l y by i t s

sm all s iz e

o f the

con gregation s

pastors, o f the

n i n e t e e n had o v e r one h u n d r e d members; ^ Synodical R eport,

p 3

S y n o d ic a l R eport, N orlie

(e d .),

one i s

synod,

struck by

in 1886 o n ly

s e v e n t e e n h a d f i f t y members

Norwegian A u g u sta n a ,

1870, p.

14.

Norwegian A u g u sta n a ,

1874, p.

25.

Norsk l u t h e r s k e

p r e s t e r i Am erika, p . 3 2 .

^ c a r e f u l l y add ing a lo n g l i s t o f f ig u r e s w ith o u t b e n e f i t o f an a d d i n g m a c h i n e , I o b t a i n e d 6 , 4 4 0 . S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , Norwe­ gian A ugustana, 1 8 8 7 , p . 33. 5Ib id .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

227 or l e s s . In h i s

rep o rt to

the c o n v e n tio n o f 1890 P r e s id e n t

0.

J.

H a tlesta d sa id th at h is

s y n o d wa s c o m p o s e d o f t h i r t y - t w o p a s t o r s ,

who s e r v e d a b o u t e i g h t y

con gregation s w ith a t o t a l

b ersh ip

of s lig h tly

o v e r 5,000 .-* -

c o n f i r m e d mem­

T h is would i n d i c a t e

m em bership o f a p p r o x im a t e ly 8 , 0 0 0 - 9 , 0 0 0

in

b y N o rw eg ia n A u g u sta n a Synod p a s t o r s

1890.

in

the

a b ap tized

con gregation s

When t h e U n i o n o f

1890 was consummated th e N o rw eg ia n A u g u s ta n a n s were f a r in

size

served

ex celled

and i n f l u e n c e b y t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n B r o t h e r h o o d and t h e

C o n f e r e n c e , w i t h whom t h e y u n i t e d . ^ Its

C o n stitu tion

A ra th e r unusual course co n stitu tio n

a s s o c ia te d w ith

P ra irie,

When t h e

W iscon sin ,

a p r o p o s a l f o r a c o n s t i t u t i o n was ad o p te d .®

recent

d ifficu lties

it

m e d ia t e ly alth ou gh i t so

is

o f th e Norwegian A ugu stan a Syn od.

A u g u sta n a n s met a t J e f f e r s o n 1870,

of events

that

th ey

n ecessary at

wa s d e c i d e d t h a t

in

the

N orw egian

the P a l l

of

In view o f the

it

s h o u l d be

in

was t o be c i r c u l a t e d

amon g t h e

co n gregation s

c o u l d make s u c h c h a n g e s

and a l t e r a t i o n s

force

im ­

as deemed

t h e n e x t s y n o d i c a l m e e t i n g and t h e n a c c e p t

it

in

^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e U n i t e d C h u r c h , 1 8 9 0 , p . 3 8 . o C om parative s t a t i s t i c s , a d m i t t e d l y i n c o m p l e t e , are g i v e n b y J . A- B e r g h , " H i s t o r i s k i n d l e d n i n g , ,r F r a U n g d o m s a a r e d . B r u n , p p . 45 f . By t h e t i m e o f t h e 1 8 9 0 a n n u a l m e e ■ t in g s t h e u n i o n a r t i ­ c l e s had b een a c c e p t e d b y 41 c o n g r e g a t i o n s o f the N orw egian A u g u s­ t a n a s y n o d , 2 6 8 o f t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s , and 3 7 9 o f t h e C o n f e r ­ ence . ®For t e x t o f t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n s e e w egian Augustana Synod. 1870. pp. 4 1 - 4 6 .

S y n o d ic a l p.eport,

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

Nor­

228 fin a l

form.-*-

The o f f i c e r s

p rovided f o r

c lu d in g a sy n o d ic a l church c o u n c il, However,

th is

The N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a n s in terp reta tio n

from t h e s w e d e s , jectin g were t h e

could n o t adopt

in

effect

p u d iated , i t . com ings in they sta te d In

for

th em s i n c e

Thus, w h ile

the

old

that

to

the

in

the an n u al r e p o r t

effect

for

w as

the

co u n cil i s

provided

secretary,

adm itted

that

for;

for

exp ed ien t 1 8 7 2 we

p rin ted w ith

55.

5S y n o d ic a l R eport,

Scandinavian l a t t e r was

th ere were

for r ep la cin g

fin d the

or r e ­ short­

on ly o f f i c e r s

it.®

o r i g i n a l Augus­

the e x p la n a t io n

B oo k o f C o n c o r d . ® the

they

a nd t h a t r e v i s i o n w a s d e s i r a b l e ,

and t r e a s u r e r . 6

1I b id . , p.

o f the

th e N orwegian A u gu stan a Synod.^

en tire

In r e ­

group th e y con ten d ed t h a t

o t h e r Norwegian L utheran ch u rch b o d i e s to

f

a new c o n s t i t u t i o n .

co n stitu tio n

t h e t i m e w as n o t

su b scrib ed

dent,

it

of

sep aration

th e y had n e v e r d is c a r d e d ,

co n stitu tio n

ta n a Synod c o n s t i t u t i o n still

the o ld

effect.

on t h e b a s i s

o f th e N orw egian e le m e n t o f th e

A u g u s t a n a S y n o d a nd t h a t still

that,

a s s o c i a t e d w ith the

o f the c o n fe r e n c e

con tin u ation

Jefferson

a c c e p t e d and p u t i n t o

events

in ­

ch o sen .2

were

came t o r e a l i z e

o f the

they

the a c tio n

co n stitu tio n ,

c o n s t i t u t i o n a p p ro v e d by the

P r a i r i e m e e t i n g was n e v e r f i n a l l y

th eir

in th e

that i t

was

In c o n tr a s t

in America t h i s

No s y n o d i c a l sp ecified

are

The p a s t o r a l o f f i c e

is

synod

church a p resi­ given

2 Ib id . N orwegian A ugu stan a Syn od,

1872, pp.

27

. 4I b i d . , pp.

29-36.

®Chap.

I,

art.

2,

i b i d . , p.

29.

6C h a p . I I , a r t s . 1 and 2 , i b i d . , p . 3 1 . C onsequently, i n 1 8 7 2 we f i n d n o s y n o d i c a l churchT c o u n c 1 1 l i s t e d w i t h t h e o f f i ­ c e r s o f the synod. Ib id ., p. 38.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

229 more a t t e n t i o n tion s

o f the

cepted at

a nd a u t h o r i t y t h a n i s

the

o t h e r N orwegian s y n o d s ,

the

Jefferson

c a se w i t h the

and i n

P r a ir ie m eetin g

the c o n s t i t u t i o n

th is

The S c a n d i n a v i a n A u g u s t a n a c o n s t i t u t i o n ,

co n stitu ­

is

not

the

fo r exam ple,

ac­

case e i t h e r .

provides

that

t h e number o f v o t i n g la y m e n a t a s y n o d i c a l m e e t i n g c a n n e v e r e x ­ c e e d t h e numbe r o f p a s t o r s . ^ sp on sib le

fo r the

d a tes.^

eith er,

T h e o l o g i c a l c a n d i d a t e s may b e o r d a i n e d on c a l l

was n o t f o u n d i n in asm u ch as

fr o m a c o n g r e g a t i o n . 3 th e Norwegian

co n stitu tio n

co n stitu ted

T his

fr om t h e

la tter

pro­

syn od ical c o n s titu tio n s ,

A nother p r o v i s i o n

a c c e p te d at the

t h a t w hich p r o v id e d f o r th is

re­

t h e y were c o n c e r n e d w i t h k e e p i n g p o l i t y as

c o n g r e g a t i o n a l as p o s s i b l e . the

a l s o makes th e m i n i s t e r i u m

e x a m i n a t i o n and o r d i n a t i o n o f t h e o l o g i c a l c a n d i ­

s y n o d a s w e l l a s on c a l l visio n

It

Jefferson

the l i c e n s i n g

a g r e a te r degree

not

t o be f o u n d i n

P r a i r i e m e e t i n g was

o f c a t e c h i s t s .4

of reg u la tio n

pjo d o u b t

of la y a c t i v i t y

th an m ost N orw egian A ugustanans deemed n e c e s s a r y . Again i n w as p r i n t e d its

still

1876 the

o r i g i n a l A u g u sta n a Synod c o n s t i t u t i o n

in the annual report w ith the

same e x p l a n a t i o n

b e in g in e f f e c t w hich accom panied i t

stressin g

th eir

1 8 7 2 .^

In

c o n t i n u i t y w i t h t h e S c a n d i n a v i a n A u g u sta n a Synod

th e N orwegian A ugu stanans •*-Chap. I ,

art.

arts.

^Chap. V I I ,

art.

^Chap. V I I I ,

nu mb er ed t h e i r

4,

^Chap. V I I ,

g

in

about

ib id . , p. 1 and 3 , 5,

arts.

S y n o d ic a l R eport,

in

such a

29. i b i d . , p p . 33 f .

ib id ., p. 1-4,

annual rep orts

ib id . ,

34. pp.

54 f .

Norwegian A u g u sta n a S y n o d ,

26-35.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission .

1876,

pp.

230 way a s

to

stress

is,

the

th e

tw elfth ,

that

1 8 6 0 w as t h e d a t e

annual rep ort and s o

f o r 1 8 7 0 wa s t h e

E du cation al

In th e F a l l o f 1870 a t the

the o p e r a tio n

academy,

of a th eo lo g ica l

was

o f the

Jefferson

P ra irie

sem in a ry .1

1871

the

synod d e c id e d

1870 m e e tin g to

tim e

academy c o n t i n u e d t o h a v e In t h a t

attem pt

The M a r s h a l l A c ad e m y

operate

a L utheran

The d e b t on t h e

school

the

1872 m e e tin g co n v en ed ,

but the

serio u s

fin a n cia l d if fic u lt ie s

d u rin g

same y e a r i t

was r e s o l v e d

t h e o l o g i c a l l y - t r a i n e d man t o b e r e s p o n s i b l e ■^Synodical R e p o r t ,

to

" A m e r i c a n ” a c a d e m y , 2 and

c o n d u c t e d much as b e f o r e . ^

b u i l d i n g was p a id by th e

en su in g y e a r s .^

for

That

In stitu tio n s

as a n o n - c o n f e s s i o n a l

the d e c i s i o n it

that

academy a t M a r s h a l l , W i s c o n s i n , bu t n o t

had b e e n o p e r a t e d d esp ite

elev en th ,

fou ndin g.

on. Its

to contin ue

of th eir

to

engage

a

for preparatory th eo-

Norwegian A u gu stan a Synod,

1870,

pp.

30 f . 2Supra, pp.

178 f .

S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t, Norwegian A ugu stan a S yn od, 1 8 7 0 , p . 3 1 . The e d u c a t i o n a l ba c k g r o u n d " o f J . J . A n d e r s o n , the" p r i n c i p a l , was n o n - L u t h e r a n , s i n c e he r e c e i v e d h i s e d u c a b i o n a t B e l o i t C o l l e g e . H o w ever, he was f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h i s L u th e r a n a c a d e m y a n d a l s o w i t h Monona Academy o p e r a t e d b y t h e N o r w e g i a n Synod i n M a d iso n , W i s c o n s i n . 0 . M. N o r l i e ( e d . ) S c h o o l C a l e n d a r , 1 8 2 4 -1 9 2 4 ( M i n n e a p o l i s : A u g s b u r g p u b l i s h i n g Ho us e " l9 '2 '4 ) p . ’4 1 '.' H o w e v e r , A n d e r s o n was a v o t i n g member o f t h e s y n o d . S yn od ical R e p o r t, Norwegian A ugustana Synod, 1 8 7 2 , p . 4 . And when tie ' j o i n e d a L u t h e r a n c o n g r e g a t i o n o'f the" P i t t s b u r g S y n o d w h i l e s t u d y i n g i n P h i l a d e l p h i a , i t w a s d e c i d e d t h a t h e c o u l d no l o n g e r b e r e g a r d e d a member o f t h e s y n o d . S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t, Norwegian A ugustana S y n o d , 1 8 7 5 , p p . 1 1 4 , 12U7 4 S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t, Norwegian A u g u sta n a Syn od , 1 8 7 2 , p . 11 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

231 soon as p o s s i b l e . 1

lo g i c a l tr a in in g as had r e p o r t e d t h a t

three o f

The a c a d e m y r e c e i v e d ports

of

made i n

the the

J . Anderson

th e s t u d e n t s had the m i n i s t r y

rela tiv ely

little

syn od ical p r e sid en t, syn od ical rep orts

h a v i n g t o do w i t h

P rin cip al J.

fin an ces,

m ention in

the

and o n l y r a r e l y i s

o f any ph a se o f i t s

in m ind. 2

annual r e ­ any m e n t i o n

work e x c e p t

that

an d t h a t p a r t i c u l a r p r o b l e m r e c e i v e s

a great d eal of a tten tio n .® Two o f t h e were M e s s r s . th em t h e

successors

o f P r i n c i p a l Anderson a t M a r s h a ll

D e n n i s o n an d H u n t i n g t o n , a l s o A m e r i c a n s ,

sc h o o l con tin u ed

as

an " A m e r ic a n " a c a d e m y . ^

s c h o o l had b e e n moved t o B e l o i t , kota,

iow a,

and l a t e r

and u n d e r A fter

Canton,

a n o t h e r A m e r i c a n - e d u c a t e d s c h o o l m a n , M. D* M i l l e r ,

the

S o u t h D a­ served

as p r in c ip a l.® That ty p e tio n

in

o f a n a c a d e m y was n o t m a k i n g a s

a relig io u s

w ay t o

expected of a sy n o d ic a lly a th eo lo g ica l

the

life

o f the

fu ture

a con trib u ­

s y n o d a s c o u l d w e l l be

operated i n s t i t u t i o n ,

sem inary to p r o v id e

large

and t h e n e e d f o r

lead ersh ip

for the

synod

wa s o b v i o u s . In m aking p r o v i s i o n dents

the

Iowa,

to

synod in

1874 c a l l e d

t h e work o f 1I b i d . , p.

for

teach in g

24.

the

edu cation o f

th eo lo g ica l stu ­

P a s to r D avid Lysnes those

in terested

in

o f Decorah, stu d yin g

for

the

2Ib id .

The s y n o d i n d e a l i n g w i t h s c h o o l p r o b l e m s a d j o u r n e d and r e a s s e m b l e d a s t h e academy c o r p o r a t i o n . For exam p le, S y n o d ic a l R e p o r t, N orw egian A ugu stan a Synod, 1 8 7 5 , p . 21. ^ H atlestad ,

o p . c i t . , p.

79.

®His d e t a i l e d r e p o r t s a r e i n E n g l i s h . For exam ple,S y n o d ic a l R e p o r t, N orw egian A ugustana Synod, 1 8 8 7 , pp. 1 8 - 2 0 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

232 m in istry .H is to h is

p r o f e s s o r i a l d u t i e s were a t f i r s t

p a s t o r a l work.

stru ctio n

in h i s

t o be i n

For two y e a r s he co n d u cted t h e o l o g i c a l i n ­

parsonage

f o r a s m a l l number o f s t u d e n t s , b u t i n

1 8 7 6 t h e s c h o o l w a s mo ve d t o M a r s h a l l and o p e r a t e d i n w ith

the academy,

g ation . dent

a l t h o u g h he

I n 1 8 7 7 h e was c a l l e d

o f the

a p ro fesso r's

sa la ries whom,

still as

t h e o l o g i c a l sem inary,

c o n g r e g a t i o n u n t i l March, create

o f the

1878.^

fund,

the

tu tio n ,

con ju n ction

con tin u ed to serve h is

fu ll-tim e

congre­

p r o f e s s o r and p r e s i ­

b u t he d i d n o t

take le a v e

of h is

The 1 8 7 6 m e e t i n g t o o k s t e p s

in terest

to

o f w h i c h was t o p a y t h e

two c o n t e m p l a t e d t h e o l o g i c a l p r o f e s s o r s ,

i n t e r e s t i n g l y e n o u g h , was t o b e

lo g ia n ."

a d d ition

one o f

"an A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n t h e o ­

A S c h o o l C o m m i t t e e was d e s i g n a t e d t o w or k o u t a c o n s t i ­ h ire

professors,

nary in o p e r a tio n .^

m

fin d

tem porary q u a r t e r s ,

1878 a c o n s t i t u t i o n

co n sist

sem i­

f o r The N o r w e g i a n T h e o ­

l o g i c a l A u g u s t a n a S e m i n a r y was a d o p t e d i n i t s s c h o o l w as t o

and g e t t h e

f i n a l form .

The

o f a t h e o l o g i c a l and a p r e p a r a t o r y d e p a r t -

S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t, N orwegian A ugustana Synod, 1 8 7 4 , p . 1 8 . D a v i d L y s n e s was b o r n in' No rwa y i n 1 8 3 2 . T h e r e h e 'had c o n s i d e r a b l e e x p e r i e n c e a s a s c h o o l t e a c h e r p r i o r to m i g r a t i n g t o Am erica i n 1868. I n t h a t y e a r , up on c a l l fr om a c o n g r e g a t i o n a t P o n t i a c , I l l i n o i s , h e was o r d a i n e d b y t h e S c a n d i n a v i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d . I n 1 8 7 0 h e a c c e p t e d a c a l l fr o m a p a r i s h a t D e c o r a h , I o w a , An a u t o b i o g r a p h i c a l s k e t c h i s c o n ta in e d in H a t l e s t a d , op. c i t . , pp. 129-37. T. B o t h n e s a y s o f h i m t h a t h e was a h i g h l y r e s p e c t e d p a s ­ t o r , n o t e d f o r h i s e x c e p t i o n a l k n o w l e d g e o f t h e B i b l e a nd h i s p e r ­ sonal p ie ty . Kort U d s i g t , p . 8 8 3 . ^ H atlestad ,

op.

c i t . , pp.

136 f .

rt

S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , Norwegian A ugustana Synod, 1 8 7 6 , p . 1 2 . Not u n t i l 1 8 8 6 , h o w e v e r , d i d L ysn es g e t t h i s " a ssi'sta n ce . K. 0. Lomen who h a d b e e n a s t u d e n t a t M a r s h a l l , b u t t h e n h a d r e c e i v e d h i s e d u c a t i o n i n A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n s c h o o l s ( T h i e l C o l l e g e and M t. A i r y S e m in a r y , P h i l a d e l p h i a ) became p r o f e s s o r a t A u g u sta n a in 1 8 8 8 , b u t s e r v e d o n l y one y e a r . P lagu ed by i l l n e s s , he d i e d January 1 , 1 8 9 0 . N o r l i e e t a l . , W ho 's Who, p . 3 5 3 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

253

raent.-*-

In 1879 p a s t o r

T rustees,

reported

nary under Lysnes clo ser

O le A n d r e w s o n ,

th at d u rin g the and t h e

co op eration

M a r s h a l l was n o t

in

a c e n tr a l lo c a tio n as

the

as t o

w est i f

of the

certa in

to B e l o i t , that

Iowa,

state,

just

o f m oving e ls e w h e r e

synod a u t h o r iz e d

some l o c a t i o n

c o u ld be m e t . 3

m

pp.

In t h e

accord

a s m a l l community i n t h e n o r t h w e s t e r n p a r t across

the

sta te-lin e a rev ised

from c a n t o n , c o n stitu tio n

p rovid in g fo r

a nd a t h r e e - y e a r s e m i n a r y course

in

of

South D akota. f o r Augustana

a f o u r - y e a r academy

1884 t h e

a c a d e m y was

in C anton, S ou th D akota, b u t th e sem in a ry c o n tin u e d at

■^The c o n s t i t u t i o n i s p r i n t e d i n S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , g ia n A ugustana Syn od, 1 8 7 8 , pp. 8 - 1 0 . 111;

con­

s c h o o l was t h e n e x t y e a r t r a n s f e r r e d

Acad emy a n d T h e o l o g i c a l S e m i n a r y ,

relo ca ted

synod b ecau se

the sch ool*s

In 1880 th e

fin a n c ia l co n d ition s the

in the

ann ual m e e t i n g s , and o th e r p o s s i b i l i ­

The 1 8 8 3 a n n u a l r e p o r t p r i n t s

course

far as

s c h o o l from M a r s h a l l t o

w ith th a t a u th o r iz a tio n

D uring

p

The a d v i s a b i l i t y

l o c a t i o n were e x p l o r e d .

tran sfer

case.

in atten dance a t the

the academy.

w as f r e q u e n t l y c o n s i d e r e d a t ties

students

con sid erab le d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n

s t i t u e n c y w as c o n c e r n e d .

sem i­

academy u n d e r D e n n is o n had worked in

six teen

s e m in a r y and o v e r s e v e n t y

o f t h e Board o f

s c h o o l y e a r 1878-79 the

than had p r e v i o u s l y been th e

the y e a r th er e had been

T h e r e was

p resid en t

Norwe­

^See s y n o d i c a l r e p o r t i n L u t h e r s k K i r k e t i d e n d e , VI "Skolen i M a r s h a ll," i b i d . , p . 15V• ^ S y n o d ic a l r e p o r t i n i b i d . , V II ( 1 8 8 0 ) , 109 f . 4 S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t, N orwegian A u g u sta n a S yn od , 1 8 8 5 , 26-28.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited without p erm ission.

(1879),

234 B elo it u n til

the m erger o f

1 8 9 0 .^

At t h a t

tim e t h e

th eo lo g ica l

s c h o o l b e c a m e a p a r t o f t h e s e m i n a r y o f t h e U n i t e d C h u r c h and t h e B e l o i t p r o p e r t y was

turned

i n t o a c h i l d r e n * s home.

From t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g t h e e d u c a t i o n a l p r o g r a m o f t h e N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a n s was n o t s t r o n g . sy n o d ica l in s t it u t io n

The w i l l

was t h e r e , b u t t h e

s m a ll t o be a b le t o p ro v id e

the

An i n t e r e s t

to have

synod was sim p ly

i n Church U n io n

p a r t o f a c h u r c h u n i o n o f some t y p e .

to

b u t h e was n e v e r a b l e

g e t th em t o t a k e

u n fam iliar p lete

th at

step.

s y n o d , a nd t h e r e

a ttitu d e

"four p o in ts "

about w hich L uth erans

cerned at the

tim e, r e la t in g

and a l t a r

towards

D efin ite

synod

was n o t

com­

the c o n t r o v e r s ia l

i n A m e r i c a w e r e much c o n ­

to the a t t it u d e

secret s o c ie tie s ,

fello w sh ip .^

G e n e r a l Coun­

The G e n e r a l C o u n c i l was r e l a t i v e l y

t o m o s t m em b ers o f t h e

towards

w ith the

to m u ster enough su p p o rt in h i s

s a t i s f a c t i o n w ith i t s

adopted

in being

From t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g

J . H a t l e s t a d had a d v o c a t e d a f f i l i a t i o n

c il,

too

fin a n c ia l support needed.

The N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a n s w e r e much i n t e r e s t e d

0.

a good

ch iliasm , a ctio n

that p u lp it

s h o u l d be fello w sh ip ,

on a f f i l i a t i o n w i t h t h e

G e n e r a l c o u n c i l was p o s t p o n e d f r o m one y e a r t o t h e n e x t . The S c a n d i n a v i a n A u g u s t a n a n s h a d b e e n e n g a g e d i n a s e r i e s of d o c tr in a l con tro v ersies

w ith th e

of years.

b e t w e e n t h e tw o a p p e a r e d t o be s u b ­

The d i f f e r e n c e s

N o r w e g i a n S y n o d o v e r a number

■^•S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d , H a t l e s t a d , op. c i t . , pp . 79 f .

1884, pp.

19 f . ;

2 S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t, N orwegian A u gu stan a Syn od, 28 f . ; W e n t z , o p . c i t f . , p p . 3 2 5 - 2 7 .

1870, pp.

21 f . ,

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

235

sta n tia l,

a n d a l t h o u g h i t was t h e C o n f e r e n c e

were p a r t i c u l a r l y a t

odds i n t h e

sev en ties,

and t h e S y n o d who t h e r e w a s a l s o some

s k i r m i s h i n g b e t w e e n t h e A u g u s t a n a n s and t h e S y n o d ,

e sp e c ia lly be­

t w e e n P a s t o r B . J . Muus o f t h e s y n o d and P a s t o r S . M. K r o g n e s s o f •i

the

Norwegian A u g u sta n a n s .

towards it

was

true

the

The S y n o d , h o w e v e r , was

Norwegian A ugustanans th a n tow ards t h e

o f the

op in ion th a t

con tin u ation

less h o stile

C onference,

th e Norwegian A u gu stan a Synod was

o f the Norwegian s e c t i o n

and

the

o f the S c a n d in a v ia n

A ugustana Synod.^ As m i g h t b e e x p e c t e d ,

r e l a t i o n s b e tw e en th e N orw egian

A u g u sta n a n s and t h e C o n f e r e n c e were r a t h e r o f years

after

d ifferen ces th eir

the happenings o f 1870.

in d o c tr in e

the s i t u a t i o n m ittees ments

separate

on t h e

o t h e r I t

from e a c h sy n o d t o g e t

.

th at

th ey p e r s is te d

situ a tio n

in

t h a t had brough t

and e a c h p u t t h e blame f o r

t o o k a number o f y e a r s together

as t o p u r e l y f i n a n c i a l p r o b le m s •'■Various a r t i c l e s

12

o f the

synods,

a number

A lthough th e y a g reed

d id n o t s e p a r a t e them ,

in d iv id u a l in ter p r eta tio n s

th e m i n t o b e i n g a s

strain ed fo r

in order to

f o r c om ­

reach s e t t l e ­

c r e a t e d by t h e i r d i v i s i o n . ^

i n E . L» K . , 1 8 7 5 - 7 7 ,

reveal th is .

^ ’’Den n o r s k - d a n s k e A u g u s t a n a s y n o d e ," K. M . ,

XVIII

(1873),

3

A m e e tin g o f r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f ea ch group h e ld in P a s ­ t o r D a v i d L y s n e s ’ c o n g r e g a t i o n i n May, 1 8 7 2 , r e v e a l e d t h i s . How­ e v e r , a l t h o u g h t h e m e e t i n g prompted a h e a t e d d i s c u s s i o n , t h e y a g r e e d t o d e s i s t f r o m a t t a c k i n g one a n o t h e r i n t h e p r e s s a nd n o t t o i n t r u d e i n on e a n o t h e r ' s c o n g r e g a t i o n s . " K irk ek ron ik e, ” i b i d . , XVII ( 1 8 7 2 ) , 1 7 5 . p.

^ S e e , fo r exam ple, S y n o d ic a l R ep ort, C o n fe r en ce , 1 8 7 6 , 6 2 ; S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t, Norwegian A u g u sta n a S yn od , 1 8 7 6 , p . 1 4 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

236 A f i n a l s e t t l e m e n t was not a c h i e v e d u n t i l o ver the y e a r s ,

however.

1877.^

In 1 8 8 1 P a s t o r J .

e n c e a nd P a s t o r S . M. K r o g n e s s o f t h e

R e la t io n s im p roved O lsen o f t h e

C onfer­

Norwegian A ugustana Synod

issu ed

an u n o f f i c i a l I n v i t a t i o n

to r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s

o f the

groups

to meet in

a conference.

on t h e

in v ita tio n

P r o f e s s o r G e o r g S v e r d r u p made t h e

two

d oin g th e y s t a t e d th a t 2 t h e r e was n o d o c t r i n a l d i s a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n t h e m . In c o m m e n tin g

tio n .®

The s e p a r a t i o n

ties

far the

as

1 8 9 0 was

same a s s e r ­

o f 1870 p r e s e n t e d no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f i c u l ­

p a rticip a tio n

o f the

tw o s y n o d s

in

the U n io n o f

concerned. In v ie w o f t h e s e

the

In so

circum stances

Norwegian A u g u sta n a n s

E llin g ia n s,

and l a t e r

to d i r e c t

I t was

th eir

t o H a u g e »s S y n o d ,

b r e t h r e n w i t h whom t h e y m i g h t u n i t e .

qu ite

n atu ral for

a tten tio n

in t h e i r

to

the

search for

Furtherm ore, s in c e

the

A u g u s t a n a n s w e r e b a s i c a l l y H a u g e a n s , t h e y h a d much i n common w i t h H auge's sy n o d .

The N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a n s t o o k

m aking s e v e r a l o v e r t u r e s , tow ards H auge' s Syn od. ly

in terested .

h e l d at

in itia tiv e

the E llin g i a n s

by

and t h e n

only i n d i f f e r e n t ­

A s i g n i f i c a n t m e e t i n g b e t w e e n t h e t w o g r o u p s was

th em selves

d iscu ssio n

tow ards

The l a t t e r , h o w e v e r , w e r e

Newburg, M in n e s o t a ,

sa tisfied th e

fir st

the

that

June

14-15,

1875.

th e y were d o c t r i n a l l y

At t h a t t i m e

a g r e e d , b u t when

tu r n e d t o th e p r a c t i c a l problem o f e f f e c t i n g

u n io n through th e

adop tion

they

o f a common c o n s t i t u t i o n ,

the

a

rep resen t-

^ ''P r o to k o l o v e r F o r h a n d l i n g e r n e v e d Komitem odet i R i d g e ­ wa y d e n 1 4 d e , 1 5 d e o g 16 de M a r t s 1 8 7 7 , " L u t h e r a n e r e n , X I ( 1 8 7 7 ) , 101-105. ^ " I n d b y d e l s e , " i b i d . , XV ( 1 8 8 1 ) ,

46.

^ " K o n fer e n tse n og A u g u s ta n a sy n o d e n ," i b i d . ,

p.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

57.

237 a tiv es

o f H auge’ s Synod were s c e p t i c a l .

in tern a l d if f ic u lt ie s

c o n n e c t e d w i t h the r e v i s i o n

syn od ical c o n s titu tio n , alone strife

c o u ld he u sed as

and t h e y a h asis

w o u l d be c r e a t e d

opened in t h e i r

if

for,

i n Hauge ’ s S y n o d w e r e

stitu tio n a l

was p r o p o s e d t h a t a

on e a g a i n s t ;

ag ai n s t. " *'

among t h e i r

in d iv id u a ls

con gregation s

that

new c o n ­

str ife .^ co n tin u e d t o d is c u s s union p r o p o s a ls , of Hauge’ s Synod f i n a l l y

c o l d w a t e r on t h e a r d o r o f t h e A u g u s t a n a n s , concluded th a t

the e f f o r t s

d irected

them .

F u r t h e r m o r e , H a u g e’ s Synod had e x t e n d e d Norway, t o

return

t h e o l o g i c a l sem in ary. a man l e s s

W eenaas’ le a d e r s h ip

a ccep tab le in th e

it

1878 the

but threw la tter

tow ards u n io n were w i t h o u t

and t h a t

W e e n a a s , now i n

fo r the p resen t

and i n

resu lt

selected

W hile

Hauge’ s

f a v o r o f u n i o n w i t h t h e N o r w e g i a n Augustana

l a c k o f e n t h u s i a s m on t h e p a r t

projected

Norwegian

in t h a t d i r e c t i o n w ould p r e c i p i t a t e

The two s y n o d s the

When i t

for,

tw en ty-eigh t in

t h a t new

b o t h synods be a p p o i n t e d t o work

votes

t h e r e was a g e n e r a l f e a r

a ctu a l n eg o tia tio n s

They f e l t

t h e v o t e was v e r y r e v e a l i n g :

A ugustana Synod— f o r t y - t h r e e

Synod,

for un ion .

any c o n s t i t u t i o n a l q u e s t i o n was r e ­

g e n e r a l com m ittee r e p r e s e n t i n g

S yn od --five votes

o f t h e i r own

f e l t t h a t t h e i r new c o n s t i t u t i o n

synod a t t h a t t i m e .

out a c o n s t i t u t i o n ,

They were h a v i n g s e r i o u s

w oul d be f r u i t l e s s

t o America t o

a ca ll

to con tin u e to August

beach a t

th eir

The H a u g e a n s c o u l d h a r d l y h a v e to th e A ugustanans in v ie w o f

early h isto r y

o f the C o n feren ce.

•*-"Synode-Konferents , ” B u d b a e r e r e n , V I I

(1875),

The

29-32,

45-47. 1876,"

^ "H aug e s n o r s k - e v a n g e l i s k - l u t h e r s k e i b i d ., V III (1876), 38.

S y n o d e s AarsmBde

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission .

for

238 com m ittee r e p o r t in

su b m itted t o the

a n n u a l m e e tin g o f th e A ugustanans

1 8 7 8 was n o t w i t h o u t b i t t e r n e s s

y et rip e

for

a un ion o f th e ty p e

bear

fru it,

a lth ou gh even

be a p a r ty t o any u n i o n .

o f the

were n o t

is

the

Norwegian A u g u sta n a Synod

rev ea lin g

th eo lo g ica lly

clergym en o f th e s y n o d ,

of

tra in ed ,

its

a d rib b le

c h a r a c t e r .3

eith er

S e v e r a l ,o f t h e m o s t p r o m i n e n t l e a d e r s

stad,

A n d r e w s o n , and L y s n e s ,

for

Most o f them

o f the

exam ple--w ere

coun­

syn od --H atle-

train ed

Most o f th em had b e e n t o u c h e d by t h e

at

of can d id ates

i n Norway o r i n t h i s

try.

i n Norway.

to

t h e n H a u g e 's Synod was n o t y e t r e a d y t o

sem inary began to produce

for the m in is tr y ,

in w hich the

i n t e r e s t and e n t h u s i a s m , w ere

The b a c k g r o u n d o f m o s t o f t h e its

next decade,

t h e more

p

Haugeanism i n

lea st u n til

tim e was n o t

the A ugustanans d e s i r e d ,

com prehensive u n ion n e g o t i a t i o n s Augustanans p a r t i c i p a t e d w i t h

A lthough th e

as t e a c h e r s

s p i r i t u a l awaken­

i n g i n N or wa y and w e r e c o m m i t t e d

t o Haugean p r i n c i p l e s .

q u en tly,

as la y preachers p rio r to t h e ir

t h e y had had e x p e r i e n c e

o rd in a tio n s. o f the

It

synod in

la y preachers: 1880-85;

is the 0.

in terestin g course

of its

J. H atlestad ,

and A nd reas W r ig h t , ■ ^ S y n o d ic a l R e p o r t ,

to note

t h a t the

three

Conse­

p resid en ts

s h o r t h i s t o r y were o r i g i n a l l y 1870-80,

1885-88.

1888-90;

Ole A n d r e w s o n ,

Lay p r e a c h i n g was h i g h l y

N orwegian A ugustana Synod,

1878,

pp.

19-21.

p

T h e r e was a r e v i v a l o f u n i o n n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h H a u g e ' s Synod in 1 8 8 4 . S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t, N orw egian A ugustana Synod, 1 8 8 4 , p p . 1 8 , 27 f . ^ B nief b io g r a p h ie s o f th e p a s to r s th e y e a r 1887 are fo u n d i n H a t l e s t a d , op .

o f th e synod through c i t ., pp. 95-182.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

a p p r o v e d o f a n d e n c o u r a g e d among t h e N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a n s Laymen f r e q u e n t l y exam ple

led

in p rayer a t

sy n o d ica l m eetin gs, fo r

p The N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a n s w e r e n o n - l i t u r g i c a l ,

the to

e a r ly days that

ica l

th eir a ttitu d e

o f the E l l i n g i a n s . ^

gown,

they str e s se d

towards e x t e r n a ls H o stile

sim p licity

d ica te

that

the

extrem e

p o sitio n

O le A n d r e w s o n , who d e f i n i t e l y rites

of serv ice.

to decid e

m o n i e s w as r e c o g n i z e d . ^ hym nals

in u se

mended t o

the

at

p ietistic in

sp irit

1886 a t th e

for

in

is

the syn od ,

itse lf

as

tim e

it

life

in

annual m eetin g,

litu r g i­ in ­

such as

o f N orwegian

t o c u s to m s and c e r e ­ Norwegian

w as H a u g e 1s h y m n a l t h a t was r e c o m ­ s y n o d i c a l m e e tin g o f 1876.^ same e m p h a s i s

t y p i c a l o f H augeanism .

evid en t

cler­

and th e r i g h t o f

Of t h e s e v e r a l d i f f e r e n t

g r o u p t h e r e was th e

C h ristia n

the p a s t o r s ,

were opposed t o th e u se

c o n g r e g a tio n s by th e

In t h i s a n d on t h e

the

of the

But th e

In

sim ila r

th e s y n o d i c a l m inutes

o f some o f

and f o r m s , w a s n o t d o m i n a n t

each con gregation

was q u i t e

towards th e u se

c a l d i s c u s s i o n s w hich are r e p o r t e d i n

too.

a reso lu tio n

on c o n v e r s i o n The H a u g e a n

such as

th at passed

condem ning c a r d - p l a y i n g ,

dan cin g,

■^Bothne, o p . c i t . , p . 8 8 5 ; H a t l e s t a d , o p . c i t _ . , p p . 2 7 - 2 9 , 7 4 f . , 2 0 3 f . ; L« M. L a r s o n , "The Lay P r e a c h e r i n p i o n e e r T i m e s , " i b i d . , p p . 165 f . 5 -7 ,

9,

^ S yn od ical R eport, I T , IB T

N orwegian A ugu stan a S y n o d , 1 8 7 6 , p p .

H . A» P r e u s , " L i d t om B e n y t t e l s e n a f d e n k r i s t e l i g e F r i h e d i M i d d e l t i n g , " K. M . , X V I I ( 1 8 7 2 ) , 2 3 6 f . ; P . A . R a s ­ m u s s e n , " O g s a a f r a N o r d a m e r i k a , " i b i d . , XV ( 1 8 7 0 ) , 2 5 0 . ^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t,

Norwegian A ug u sta n a Syn od ,

1 8 7 0 , pp.

5S y n o d ic a l R ep o rt,

N orwegian A ugustana S yn od ,

1876, p. 8 .

32-34.

with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.

240

and th e

th eater. T h e r e w e r e a g r e a t many H a u g e a n s and a s t r o n g H a u g e a n em­

p h asis It

is

in

the

con gregation s

d ifficu lt

o f the

Norwegian A u gu stan a S y n o d . 2

to p o in t t o any s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s

betw een

t h e N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d and H a u g e * s S y n o d u n l e s s i t be t h a t

should

t h e N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a g r o u p made more A m e r i c a n c o n t a c t s

through i t s

lead ersh ip

a nd h a d b e e n more r e c e p t i v e

the E n g lis h

l a n g u a g e and t h e c u l t i v a t i o n

to the use

of

o f American a s s o c i a t i o n s .

S o m e t h i n g o f an A m e r i c a n S p i r i t Some o f t h e in flu en ce

evid en ces

o f the s y n o d 's

have been s u g g e s te d

o f the i n f l u e n c e

In p r e v i o u s p a g e s ,

and i n t e r e s t s

g ia n A u gu stan a Synod was e a r l y langu age.

Very e a r ly in

t a r y was d e s i g n a t e d tin u ed

to operate

as

Its

tr a in e d , E n glish -sp eak in g a b ly in t e r e s t e d E n glish says

contacts

that

Its

of its

ea rliest

in terested

ex isten ce

on e o f t h e

an A m e r i c a n

openness

op.

Thrond B o t h n e

a ttra ctio n

for

synod c e r t a i n l y was e s s e n t i a l l y 1886, p.

11.

883.

Norwegian Augustana Synod,

^Bothne,

p. 883.

c it.,

con­

one r e a s o n b e i n g t h e

^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , op.

it

secre­

I t was c o n s i d e r ­

N orwegian A ugustana Synod,

c i t . , p.

o f the E n g lis h

ac ad e m y a t M a r s h a l l w i t h A m e r i c a n -

t h a t w ould th e r e b y be a f f o r d e d .

•^ S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

Norwe­

an E n g l i s h a s s i s t a n t

A m e r i c a n s p i r i t was a p a r t i c u l a r

^Bothne,

le a d e r s the

in th e use

teach in g p erson n el.

th is

consequence

syn od ical o f f ic e r s .^

in th e G eneral C ou n cil,

some p e o p l e H o w e v e r ,

in

to American

1872, p . 4.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission .

241

N orwegian

in o u t l o o k ,

and t h e r e i s in

sp irit

la n g u a g e , and s p i r i t ,

danger in

ch a ra cterizin g

and i n t e r e s t

than i t Its

At th e b e g i n n i n g o f o f a p erio d ica l e n title d T im es)•

H aving l o s t

it

a s were

a s b e i n g more A m e r i c a n

r e a l l y w as. p eriod icals

1874 th e

synod began th e p u b l i c a t i o n

L uthersk K lrk etid en d e

Norwegian s e c t i o n

o f the

the

s y n o d w as w i t h o u t

an o f f i c i a l p u b l i c a t i o n

was i n

organ.

1872 th a t

the

K rogness,

H atlestad ,

sp o n sib le

for i t

tenuous

p u b lica tio n ence u n t i l

But t h e

o f E b e n -E z e r was b r i e f . to

p u b lish i t s

but i t

in t h e

was r e v i v e d

was a b s o r b e d

The S u n d a y S c h o o l ,

M e s s e n g e r ) and b e g a n t o a p p e a r i n

la rg er

tid en d e,

I

organ ized in

1870,

I t was

and m o r e i n f l u e n t i a l M. K r o g n e s s , ( 1 8 7 4 ) , 14 f .

^ N orlie

own p a p e r . ^

1878.

(e d .),

led a very

ea rly e ig h tie s

ceased

and c o n t i n u e d i n

Bornebudet p rev ea led ,

the C on feren ce

the

It

or c h ild r e n ’ s paper,

p reviou s d is c u s s io n has

D a n ish A ugustana Synod, th e

It

o f the

( The c h i l d r e n ’ s

o f t h e t w o new and t h e N o r w e g i a n -

form er w hich d e v e lo p e d

o rgan ization .

prester

in to

The l a t t e r

"Luthersk K lr k e t id e n d e ,"

Norsk l u t h e r s k e

ex ist­

I n to the p e r i o d i c a l o f th e

N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d was e n t i t l e d

church b o d ie s

a tim e and r e ­

p u b l i c a t i o n Eben-Ezer as

through th e y e a r s .

and f o r a tim e

1 8 9 0 , when i t

As t h e

for

1870,

L y s n e s , and A ndreas W right w ere l a r g e l y r e ­

en tirely ,

U n ite d Church.

life

synod d e c id e d

ed ito r ia lly

ex isten ce,

spokesman f o r

S ca n d in a v ia n Augustana Synod, in

g a r d e d P a s t o r S . M. K r o g n e s s ’ p r i v a t e u n o fficia l

(L u th era n Church

c o n tr o l o f L uth eran eren , the

the

its

the o t h e r s ,

L uthersk K irk e-

1 Am erika, p . 5 4 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.

242

e x p e r ie n c e d som eth in g o f a s t r u g g lin g e x is t e n c e to

c a r r y on s y n o d i c a l e n t e r p r i s e s

size .

is

it

endeavored

was h a n d i c a p p e d b y

The C o n f e r e n c e b e c a m e d e e p l y i n v o l v e d i n t h e o l o g i c a l c o n ­

tr o v e r s y w ith th e it

because

as i t

o l d e r a n d m or e e s t a b l i s h e d

t h a t c o n t r o v e r s y w h i c h we n e x t p r o p o s e

N orwegian Synod, to d i s c u s s .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

a nd

CHAPTER V THEOLOGICAL WARFARE IN THE SEVENTIES In trod u ction The d e c a d e o f t h e

sev en ties

produced a g r e a t d e a l o f

i n t e r - s y n o d i c a l t e n s i o n and c o n t r o v e r s y . at th is

tim e were

where th e

sch ools

a g r e a t number o f p a s t o r s F eelin g s

ran h ig h ;

Head­

Iowa,

re­

lo ca ted ,

i n b o t h camps w e r e

but

In volved .

t h e m a n n e r o f s p e a k i n g a n d w r i t i n g on b o t h and u n r e s t r a i n e d ,

ra n g e d from c o m p la i n t s

c u lt th e o lo g ic a l q u estio n s. o g y , however,

and D e c o r a h ,

o f t h e two s y n o d s were

and l e a d e r s

s i d e s was o f t e n u n c h a r i t a b l e feren ce

contestants

th e C o n feren ce and the N orw egian S y n o d .

q u a r t e r s were i n M i n n e a p o l i s , M i n n e s o t a , sp ectiv ely ,

The c h i e f

about

p oin ts

"sh eep -stealin g'*

of d if­ to d i f f i ­

I t was p r i m a r i l y p r o b l e m s

th a t engaged th e

in t h e o l ­

tw o s y n o d s I n an i n t e n s e a n d b i t t e r

feud. In t h e o l o g i c a l c o n t r o v e r s y th e Synod u s u a l l y fou nd i t s e l f in

o p p o sitio n

to the

rem a in in g N orwegian L u th era n s y n o d s .

six ties

th e Synod and th e S c a n d i n a v i a n A u g u sta n a n s

crossed

swords.

The S y n o d w as

extrem ely c r i t i c a l

A ugustanans, n o t o n ly in m a tters church p r a c t ic e ,

a s w e ll. -* -

o f d o c tr in e but

Sin ce

3-For a s e v e r e c r i t i c i s m o f P r e u s , Syv F o r e d r a g , p p . 9 7 - 1 4 0 .

a good sh a re

In t h e

freq u en tly o f the

in

regard to

o f the

the A ugustanans

N orw egian

see

24 5

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

H. A.

244 A ugustanans went i n t o th e

C onference

h erited the co n tro v ersies

of its

the b egin n in g p o sse sse d a t t r a c t e d more; the

the

face

of

some a b l e

n eith er

th e C onference

predecessor.

in ­

The C o n f e r e n c e

c o n tro v ersia lists,

and i t

fr om

soon

asked nor gave any q u a r t e r , e v en in

the p o w e r fu l o p p o s i t i o n

capable

lea d ers.

I t was a c o n t r o v e r s y a b o u t A b s o l u t i o n , ' 1' w h i c h a l s o

in v o lv ed

d octrin es

ram ification s was

o f the

Synod’ s

o f t h e C o s p e l and J u s t i f i c a t i o n

main f i r e w o r k s .

theses

so i t

in 1 8 7 0 ,

T h i s was a n e x t r e m e l y

w hich c o n tin u e d u n t i l the

fin a lly

t h a t p ro d u ced the

l o n g c o n t r o v e r s y w i t h many year

1906,

when a s e t

of

agreed upon.

A b so lu tio n -J u stifica tio n

C ontroversy

H i s t o r i c a l Background I n an a t t e m p t t o b r i n g a b o u t a b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g b e ­ tween t h e Illin o is in th e June,

N orw eg ian Synod and th e S c a n d i n a v i a n s Synod a c o n f e r e n c e b e tw e en th e

Summer o f 1 8 5 9 .

Pour y e a r s

o f the

t w o was h e l d

la ter,

N orthern

in C hicago

d u r i n g t h e month o f

a n o t h e r c o n f e r e n c e was h e l d b e t w e e n t h e S y n o d a n d t h e

d in a v ia n A ugustanans, the d o c t r in e

again

in

o f R egen eration .

C hicago.

Scan­

The t o p i c d i s c u s s e d was

A long d is c u s s io n c e n te r e d

about

t h e m e a n s o f r e g e n e r a t i o n , b a p t i s m and t h e Word, and so m e d i s u n i t y was r e v e a l e d ,

alth ou gh the

p a s t o r s were i n

greater part

o f the A ugustana Synod O agreem ent w it h the Synod.

■^■The N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n s c u s t o m a r i l y h e l d a s e r v i c e o f a b s o l u t i o n f o r t h o s e p l a n n i n g t o commune j u s t p r i o r t o t h e c o m ­ munion s e r v i c e p r o p e r . ^ ”Den s k a n d i n a v i s k e K o n f e r e n t s i C h i c a g o , ” K. M . , V I I I ( 1 8 6 3 ) , 317 f . H a t l e s t a d , op. c i t . , pp. 192 f .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission .

245 The r e a l c o n t r o v e r s y d i d n o t b e g i n - u n t i l 1 8 6 4 , h o w e v e r . I n t h a t y e a r an i m p o r t a n t W iscon sin . A b solu tion . m eetin g in Larsen T.

The t o p i c

c o n f e r e n c e wa s h e l d a t J e f f e r s o n

c h o s e n f o r d i s c u s s i o n was th e

d octrin e

1861.

As a b a s i s

Synod)

fo r th e d is c u s s io n P r o fe s so r Laur.

introduced e ig h t

t h e s e s p r e p a r e d by R ev.

J . Brohm o f t h e M i s s o u r i S y n o d and u s e d by t h a t

same p u r p o s e t h e p r e c e d i n g y e a r .

T he t h e s e s

synod f o r th e

c o n c is e ly p r e se n t the

c o n s i s t e n t l y m a in ta in e d by t h e N orw egian Syn od,

th a t reason

of

T h i s t o p i c ha d b e e n d i s c u s s e d a t t h e S y n o d ’ s a n n u a l

(o f the

p o sitio n

P ra irie,

are

and f o r

in clu d ed h e r e:

1) A b s o l u t i o n , o r t h e f o r g i v e n e s s o f s i n s , i s , a c c o r d i n g t o L u t h e r ’ s t e a c h i n g s , t h e G o s p e l , w h e t h e r p r o c l a i m e d t o many or few . 2) P r i v a t e A b s o l u t i o n i s c o n s e q u e n t l y n o t a power o u t s i d e , or by th e s id e o f , the G o sp e l t o f o r g i v e s i n s ; i t i s n o t h in g e l s e than the p r e a c h in g o f th e G o sp el t o th e i n d i v i d u a l s i n ­ ner • 3 ) The g u a r d i a n s an d g i v e r s o f A b s o l u t i o n i n t h e p u b l i c m in is tr y are the preachers of th e G ospel. O therw ise i t i s t h e f u n c t i o n o f a l l C h r i s t i a n s , a s th e w h o le Church o r i g i n a l l y w as t h e k e e p e r o f t h e k e y s ; b u t t h e one who b y t h e s e r v i c e s o f t h e s e f o r g i v e s s i n s i s t h e T r i u n e G o d. 4) A b s o l u t i o n c o n s i s t s : (a) n o t in t h i s t h a t th e c o n f e s s o r ( t h e p a s t o r ) s i t s as a j u d g e , and r e t u r n s a v e r d i c t c o n c e r n i n g t h e i n n e r c o n d i t i o n o f t h e c o n f e s s a n t ; (b) n o r i n an e m p t y pronouncement or w ish th a t t h e s in n e r be f o r g iv e n ; b u t (c) in a p o w e r fu l im p a r ta tio n o f the f o r g iv e n e s s o f s i n s . 5 ) The e f f e c t o f A b s o l u t i o n ( a ) i s n o t c o n t i n g e n t u p o n man’ s r e p e n t a n c e , c o n f e s s i o n , and a t o n e m e n t , (b) b u t A b s o l u ­ t i o n demands f a i t h , c r e a t e s and s t r e n g t h e n s f a i t h ; ( c ) w i t h ­ o u t f a i t h i t d o e s n o t p r o f i t a man i n t h e l e a s t , ( d ) a l t h o u g h i t i s n o t t h e r e f o r e a c l a v i s e r r a n s (a f a i l i n g k e y ) • 6 ) I n p r i v a t e A b s o l u t i o n , no e s s e n t i a l l y d i f f e r e n t , o r b e t t e r , f o r g i v e n e s s i s g i v e n th a n in t h e p r e a c h i n g o f th e G osp el, F u r t h e r , i t need n o t n e c e s s a r i l y be th u s a d m i n i s t e r e d i n o r d e r t o g e t t h e f o r g i v e n e s s o f s i n s , a s th o u g h , n o f o r g i v e ­ n e ss of s in s tak es p lace w ith o u t A b so lu tio n , s t i l l i t has i t s own p e c u l i a r w o r t h a n d u s e f u l n e s s , b e c a u s e b y i t t h e i n ­ d i v i d u a l i s made more c e r t a i n t h a t h e a l s o h a s t h e f o r g i v e ­ ness o f s I n s . 7 ) In c l o s e c o n n e c t i o n w i t h p r i v a t e A b s o l u t i o n s t a n d s p r i ­ v a t e c o n f e s s i o n , which l a t t e r i s n o t h in g e l s e th an a r e q u e s t for A b solu tion . I t has m oreover a ls o t h i s advan tage, th a t i t g i v e s th e c o n f e s s o r (th e p a s t o r ) o p p o r t u n it y t o exam ine

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited without p erm ission

246 p e o p l e , t o a p p l y t h e Word o f God a n d t h e C a t e c h i s m , t o g u a r d a g a i n s t t h e u n w o r t h y u s e o f t h e s a c r a m e n t s , a nd t o g i v e a l l s o r t s o f ad vice in d i f f i c u l t q u e s tio n s o f c o n s c ie n c e . F in a lly , i t i s a tr a in in g in s e l f - h u m i l i a t i o n . Summa: i t i s an a p p l i ­ c a t i o n o f t h e Law and t h e G o s p e l . 8) C o n f e s s i o n i s n o t commanded b y G o d , b u t i s , n e v e r t h e ­ l e s s , o f the g r e a te st u s e f u ln e s s . C on seq u en tly t h i s should n o t be f o r c e d u p o n a n y o n e a s a n e c e s s a r y a c t , b u t w h e r e i t e x i s t s , i t o u g h t t o be m a i n t a i n e d ; w h e r e i t h a s f a l l e n i n t o d i s u s e , i t o u g h t t o be r e v i v e d b y r e c o m m e n d i n g i t a n d p r a i s ­ in g i t s u s e f u l n e s s .+ At t h i s m e e t i n g can b e s e e n t h a t t h e em phases.

i n 1 8 6 4 a nd i n

ex isten t

Members o f one

God’ s a c t i v i t y and t h e t o man’ s s a l v a t i o n ;

t o do

sponse

f o r man.

to th e

grace

the

from tw o d i f f e r e n t

in r e l a t i o n

o f God .

p a r t i c u l a r l y r e p r e s e n te d by concern

fo r d o ctrin a l

o t h e r group l a y s t r e s s

upon man’ s r e ­

t h e y e m p h a s iz e man’ s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y

The l a t t e r

group m a n if e s t s

c o m p le te ly den ied

f o r w hich the

an e m p h a s i s

the s p i r i t

an e m p h a s i s

o f man;

in

the

on t h e r e s p o n s e

case

a c tiv ity of t h e ir

of

nor rep u d ia ted the

o t h e r was c o n t e n d i n g .

on t h e s o l e

for

p erson al ap p rop riation

was a m a t t e r o f p r e s e r v i n g a c e r t a i n e m p h a s i s — i n

the s a l v a t i o n

and

o f God; b e i n g c o n c e r n e d w i t h m a n ’ s p e r s o n a l

N eith er party

Synod,

g lory to

t h a t w h i c h God h a s d o n e

and t h e n e c e s s i t y f o r h i s

v a lid ity of that it

T his g ro u p ,

i s marked by i t s

of sa lv a tio n ,

h is sa lv a tio n

p ietism .

grace

it

concerned about em p h a sizin g

th ey stress

Members o f t h e

exp erien ce

o f the

group are

a rise

b ein g concerned w ith a sc r ib in g a l l

th e N orwegian Syn od, orthodoxy.

ten sion s

f i n i s h e d work o f red em p tio n

God f o r man ’ s s a l v a t i o n , con tin u es

subsequent d is c u s s io n s

W ith e a c h the

case

o f God i n r e l a t i o n

of to

t h e o lo g ic a l opponents,

a nd r e s p o n s i b i l i t y

o f man.

For la c k

T h is t r a n s l a t i o n o f th e t h e s e s i s found in R ohn e, o p . c i t . , p p . 2 2 7 f . , and a d e t a i l e d d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e J e f f e r s o n P r a i r i e m e e t i n g i s c o n t a i n e d i n t h e sam e w o r k , p p . 2 3 0 - 5 3 .

with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

247 of b etter p h a sis an

term s

fa c ilita te

a nd o u t l o o k o f t h e

" ob jective"

to as

and t o

em phasis;

a " su b jective"

jectiv e"

are

th is

that o f t h e ir

em p h asis.

phases here

be a v e r t e d

and t h a t

to the

con ten tion

i t rem ains

p r o c l a im e d are

o n ly to b e lie v e r s .^

it

to

is

understood th at

id e n t if y the

b eliev ers

the A ugustanans

P ra irie,

fo rg iv en ess

ab solu tion the

im parts

clo se

two em­

stead

the

However,

of

the

(T hesis

1861 as statem ent

The

forgiven ess

statem ents

No d i s c u s s i o n

and th e Synod l a t e r

theses

took

of sin s

o f th e m eetin g p a s to r E.

penned b r i e f

of

the e i g h t

of sin s

or u n b e lie v e r s •

gard ed as a c o m p le te p r e s e n t a t i o n

p o sitio n .

if

How­

o f th e Synod t h a t a b s o l u t i o n

of the

Towards

tio n h eld by both s id e s . Jefferson

and " s u b ­

s u c h w h e t h e r t h o s e who h e a r t h e w or d o f

A ugustanans c o n ten d ed t h a t

C arlson o f

referred

P r a i r i e m e e tin g th e A ugustanans

a "pow erful im p artation "

a b so lu tio n

t o as

t o b e in g m isun derstood .

term s are u se d

Jefferson

stron g ex cep tio n

fou r)

" ob jective"

em­

d e s c r i b e d . ’*'

At t h e

is

the

opponents w i l l be

The t e r m s

ad m itted ly s u s c e p tib le

d isserta tio n

th is

N o rw eg ia n Synod w i l l be r e f e r r e d

e v e r , m isu n d ersta n d in g w i l l in

con ven ien t r e fe r e n c e ,

o f the p o s i ­

c e n t e r e d a b o u t th e m a t o b j e c t e d t o h a v i n g them r e ­

its

p o sitio n ,

best

p referrin g in ­

statem ent

of d ifferen ce

is

of th eir as c o n c i s e l y

^Emil B ru n n er i s p a r t i c u l a r l y c r i t i c a l o f t h e u s e o f t h e s u b j e c t - o b j e c t a n t i t h e s i s in C h r i s t i a n t h e o l o g y , s i n c e , he s a y s , i t has been prod u ctive o f c o n sid e r a b le m isu n d erstan d in g. See h i s The D i v i n e - H u m a n E n c o u n t e r ( P h i l a d e l p h i a : W estm inster P r e s s , 1943)', p p . l 5 - 4 l . P R o h n e , op* c i t * , p . 2 3 1 * " H i s t o r i s k O v e r s i g t o v e r S t r i d e n m ellem A u g u sta n a sy n o d en o g d e n n o r s k e S y n o d e orn L a e r e n am A b s o l u t i o n e n , " K. M», X I I ( 1 8 6 7 ) , 337-49. T h i s a r t i c l e i s a r e v i e w o f t h e s t r i f e u p t o 1867 p r e -

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

248 set

fo rth here

as one can e x p e c t ?

The A u g u s t a n a n s t a u g h t : The G o s p e l c o n t a i n s , h o l d s f o r t h , a nd o f f e r s t h e f o r g i v e n e s s o f s i n s t o a l l who h e a r i t , b u t t h i s f o r g i v e n e s s i s g i v e n , im p a r t e d , and p r e s e n t e d o n l y t o t h o s e who i n f a i t h r e c e i v e i t . The S y n o d p a s t o r s t a u g h t : The p r e a c h i n g o f t h e G o s p e l g i v e s , p r e s e n t s , and i m p a r t s t h e f o r g i v e n e s s o f s i n s t o a l l t o whom i t i s p r o c l a i m e d , w h e t h e r t h e y b e l i e v e o r n o t ( a l ­ t h o u g h i t i 3 n o t a c c e p t e d by a l l ) . I t w i l l b e n o t e d t h a t t h e w or d ' ' G o s p e l ” i s u s e d i n p l a c e lu tio n .”

P ra ctica lly

fr om t h e b e g i n n i n g t h e a b s o l u t i o n

v e r s y was c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e

q u estion

sid es

is

sonal

agreed

that ab solu tion

a p p lica tio n , S h o rtly

gate

pu b lish ed

Not u n t i l take i s s u e of

w ith

the sy n o d ,

la rly

in

peared in

J efferso n P rairie

it.

it

p a rticip a n ts

the

K rogness,

c a r r i e d on p a r t i c u ­

o f Em igranten d u r in g 1 8 6 6 -6 7 .

in clu d ed

Rasm ussen,

la tter who h a d

p a r e d by a c o n f e r e n c e in O ctober, 1867.

N othing ap­

K ir k e llg M aanedstidende, b efo re

sev e r a l relevan t a r t i c l e s .

Many pr om ­

H. A. P r e u s , A . C. P r e u s , Muus, a nd S c h m i d t .

were H a s s e l q u i s t ,

and S c h o l l e r t ,

o f t h e A u g u sta n a Synod

controversy ensued,

i n e n t S y n o d men p a r t i c i p a t e d : Koren, M ik k e lse n ,

newspaper E m ig r a n te n .

He was i n t u r n a n s w e r e d b y p a s t o r B . J . Muus

Synod p e r i o d i c a l ,

1867, b u t then

or the p e r ­

m e e t in g a Synod d e l e ­

in th e

in 1866 d id a P a s t o r P e t e r s

and a l i v e l y

the

contro­

o f the G ospel.

a ft e r the

the pages

''abso­

G ospel because both

the p e r s o n a liz a t io n ,

a sh o rt rep ort about i t

ea rly

o f the

of

P eters,

Among t h e A u g u s t a n a

K rogness,

M & ller-Eggen,

tw o o f whom w e r e s t u d e n t s . on ly r e c e n tly arrived

from No r wa y,

o f Synod p a s t o r s m e e tin g in L a c r o s s e , w i s . ,

•^Rohne, o p . c i t . , p . 2 3 2 , b a s e d on t e x t f o u n d i n B e r g h , pen N orsk L u th ersk e K ir k e s H i s t o r i e i Amerika, p . 174.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

249 plunged h ea d lo n g

Into th e

c o n t r o v e r s y and was t h e m ost a c t i v e

of

th e A ugustanans m e n tio n e d . The c o n t r o v e r s y c a r r i e d lig h t

of

the J e f f e r s o n

th e argum ents

on i n E m i g r a n t e n was w a g e d i n

P r a ir ie m eetin g,

and t h e i r v a r i a t i o n s

in su b seq u en t y e a r s . error

in the

parts

fo rgiven ess

Synod's

d iv id u al im parts ceive

sin n er's

ta tio n

a lso

g ift

of

sin s

of grace,

offered

forg iv en ess

a v a ila b le

to

great

o f t e a c h i n g t h a t God i m ­

or n o t ,

and t h a t t h e

synod d o c ­

by f a i t h a lo n e .

even

if

or a c c e p t a n c e .

of s in s ,

the b e n e f it

but fo rg iv en ess

is

for

In c o n t r a s t ,

p roclam ation

in ­

To s a y t h a t God

t h e y do n o t b e l i e v e ,

th a t w ith th e

a ll,

o f the

t o a l l m u s t mean t h a t t h e y a l s o

im p lies r e c e p tio n in sisted

w hich i s

the

t o o n e who h a s h e a r d t h e p r e a c h i n g o f

ju stifica tio n

Augustanans the

upon by b o t h s i d e s

t h e L u t h e r a n and B i b l i c a l d o c t r i n e

fo rg iv en ess

that

t o be r e l i e d

p o s i t i o n was t h a t

o f sin s

th u s d e s t r o y s

produced most o f

The A u g u s t a n a n s c o n t e n d e d t h a t

G o d ' s Wor d, w h e t h e r h e b e l i e v e s trin e

and i t

the

re­ im parthe

o f th e Gospel i s

o f C h rist's

redem ption

app rop riated

on ly

by f a i t h . The S y n o d c o n t e n d e d t h a t t h e A u g u s t a n a n s I g n o r e d reitera tio n

of the tr u th th a t a b s o lu tio n ,

the G o sp el, b e n e f i t s the

content of

b elief

sacram ents

no one u n l e s s he b e l i e v e s ,

the G ospel i s

a n y m or e t h a n are,-*-

or the

the

not a ffe c te d ,

ob jectiv e

The w o r d

rea lity

" im p art,” i s

th eir

p roclam ation o f but,

n ev erth eless,

or d e te r m in e d , by u n ­ and c o n t e n t

was c l a i m e d ,

o f the

does

not

-*-In M a r c h , 1 8 6 7 , U . V . K o r e n f e l t c o n s t r a i n e d t o p u b l i s h a " p u b lic com p lain t" i n E m igranten a g a i n s t P a s t o r K rogness fo r a s c r i b i n g t o th e p a s t o r s o f th e Synod th e t e a c h i n g t h a t f o r g i v e ­ n e s s o f s i n s i s th e p o s s e s s i o n o f a l l w h eth er th e y b e l i e v e or not and t h a t t h e h e a r i n g o f t h e G o s p e l t h u s r e p l a c e s f a i t h . K rogness,

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited without p erm ission.

250 n ecessa rily take th e sound,

im ply a ccep ta n ce

power ou t

or a p p ro p ria tio n .

The A u g u s t a n a n s

o f t h e G o s p e l a n d make o f i t

c o n te n t b e in g provided i t

o n l y an e m p t y

o n l y when o n e b e l i e v e s ,

i t was

c la im e d t h a t th e A ugustanans were t e a c h i n g a j u s t i f i c a t i o n b y o n e ’ s own w o r k s when t h e y i n s i s t e d g e n t upon a man’ s f a i t h .

The s y n o d ,

" u n con d ition ed ” a b s o lu tio n , u p o n t h e W or d, n o t on t h e

that in

or G o sp e l,

fa ith ,

forgiven ess

con trast, for i t s

or i t s

la ck ,

is

to a l l

fathers,

the Lutheran c o n f e s s i o n s ,

content is

o f red em ption ,

w h ile

ca tio n

by f a i t h ,

work.

B oth s id e s

irrelev a n t

str e sse d the

the

those

in the r e c i p i e n t .

person al ap p rop riation

contended th a t in

the Synod’ s r e i t e r a t e d

a nd l a t e r

the

C o n f e r e n c e , were

the

of fa ith

exp erien ced .

if

The

con ten tion

g u ilty

o f the

context. that

o t h e r s were

I t was p a r ­

the A ugu stan ans,

o f s p e n d i n g much t i m e

e s p e c ia lly in

fo rg iv en ess Both s i d e s

o f C h r i s t ’ s redem ptive

references

a la rg er

p r o v in g what had n e v e r been d e n i e d ,

p erson ally

o f the C a te c h ism .

o f th e Augustanans d e a l t w it h j u s t i f i ­

o r had t o be v ie w e d

n ecessity

to the

c o m p l e t e d n a t u r e o f C h r i s t ’ s work

ticu la rly

the

dependent

t o L u t h e r and t h e L u t h e r a n

and t o p o n t o p p i d a n ’ s e x p l a n a t i o n

Synod’s qu otation s

co n tin ­

p ro cla im s as

B o t h s i d e s made c o n s t a n t a n d v o l u m i n o u s r e f e r e n c e B ib le,

p a rtly

con n ection w ith

and j u s t i f i c a t i o n

co u ld use

the

In

a re t o be

same s o u r c e s

he s a y s , h a s done t h i s in th e f a c e o f th e s y n o d ’ s o f f i c i a l p o s i ­ t i o n and t h e e x p r e s s i o n s o f i t s l e a d i n g me n, s u c h a s A . C. P r e u s , B . J« M u u s , a nd H. A . P r e u s . " O f f e n t l ig A n k la g e ,” E m igranten, March 4 , 1 8 6 7 , p . 2 . The S y n o d f e l t t h a t K r o g n e s s h a d no b u s i n e s s g e t t i n g s o d e e p l y i n v o l v e d i n t h i s c o n t r o v e r s y an yw ay b e c a u s e o f h i s r e c e n t a r r i v a l f r o m Norway a n d h i s c o n s e q u e n t l a c k o f f a m i l ­ i a r i t y w i t h t h e A.merican s i t u a t i o n . ^The s y n o d ’ s i n s i s t e n c e u p o n t h i s d e f i n i t i o n o f t h e w o r d " i m p a r t " c a u s e d n o e n d o f m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g , and i t s u s a g e was e v e n tu a lly d isc o n tin u e d to a vert m isu n d erstan d in g.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

251

b e c a u s e e a c h w as e m p h a s i z i n g on e a s p e c t o f t h e C h r i s t i a n e x p e r i ­ ence

of sa lv a tio n

both a sp ects are

i n w h i c h b o t h God and man a r e i n v o l v e d ,

o f the

e x p e r i e n c e — God's a c t i v i t y

g iv e n prom inent a t t e n t i o n

in

and

and m a n ’ s r e s p o n s e -

th e L utheran f a t h e r s

and c o n ­

fe ssio n s.^ The b a s i c the

issu e

q u e s t i o n , What i s

the a b i l i t y

in the

c o n t r o v e r s y c a n be e x p r e s s e d b y

the G ospel?

to d iscern

issu es,

P a s t o r TJ. V . K o r e n , who h a d

in 1867 s t a t e d

that the d is a g r e e ­

ment c e n t e r e d a b o u t t h e than ab ou t i t s

,’e s s e n c e ,, (V a e s e n ) o f t h e G o s p e l , r a t h e r 2 "operation "(V irk n in g ) . For the Synod, the G o sp el,

as to c o n te n t,

is

clares d ied

that

a d ecla ra tio n

God f o r g a v e

and r o s e a g a i n ;

be s a v e d ;

of

forgiven ess:

you your s i n s a t

i f you b e l i e v e

the G o sp e l,

or n o t .

t h e t i m e whe n C h r i s t

th at o b jectiv e

b u t your s i n s have a lrea d y been

you b e l i e v e

The G o s p e l d e ­

truth,

you w i l l

fo r g iv e n you w hether

For th e A ugustanans, th e

G ospel,

The f o l l o w i n g a r e so m e o f t h e a r t i c l e s f o u n d i n E m igranten in t h i s p e r io d : G. P e t e r s , "Gammelt N y t , " F e b . 1137 1 8 6 6 ; B . J . M u u s , "Gammelt N y t , " M arch 1 2 , 1 8 6 6 ; B . J . MUus, " H o v e d s p o r g s m a a le t p a a n y t f r e m s t i l l e t , " F e b . 1 1 , 1867; U. V. K oren, " O f f e n t l i g A n k l a g e , " March 4 , 1 8 6 7 ; T . N« H a s s e l q u i s t , " S v a r t i l p a s t o r Muus," M a r c h 1 8 , 1 8 6 7 ; S . K r o g n e s s , "Kampen e r s t a a e n d e , " A p r i l 8 , 1 8 6 7 ; J . M i l l e r E g g e n , "Er A u g u s t a n a - S y n o d e n s L a e r e om S y n d s f o r l a d e l s e n u b i b e l s k og u l u t h e r s k ? , " A p r i l 1 5 , 1867; C. S c h o l l e r t , " A tt e r H o v e d s p o r g s m a a l e t ," A p r i l 2 2 , 1 8 6 7 ; A. M i k k e l s e n , " S t r i d e n m e l l e m S y n o d e r n e med H e n s y n t i l L a e r e n om E v a n g e l i s t , " A p r i l 2 9 & May 6 , 1 8 6 7 ; J . M i l l e r E g g e n , "Nogle B em a er k n in g e r i A n l e d n i n g a f P a s t o r M i k k e l s e n s I n d l a e g i ' K i r k e s t r i d e n , ’ " June 1 0 , 1867; F . A. S c h m i d t , " A t t e r e t I n d l a e g i S t r i d e n om E v a n g e l i s t , " J u n e 2 4 , 1 8 6 7 ; S . M. K r o g n e s s , "Kampen e r s t a a e n d e , " A u g u s t 1 9 , 1 8 6 7 ; T . N. H a s s e l q u i s t , "Et B r e v n a e r m e s t i A n l e d n i n g a f p r o f e s s o r Schm idts A r t i k e l , " S e p t . 3 0 , 1 8 6 7 . In a d d i t i o n , i n 1867 t h e r e were s e v e r a l a r t i c l e s d e a l i n g w it h a b s o l u t i o n i n K i r k e l i g M aanedstldend e. 2 "Et v e n l i g t

Ord i

en v i g t i g s t r i d , "

K. M. , X I I

114 f .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

(1867),

252

as

to c o n te n t,

is

the

offer

of fo rg iv en ess;

when C h r i s t d i e d a nd

r o s e a g a i n , He r e d e e m e d t h e w o r l d , m a k i n g i t in d iv id u a l to have h is you,

sin s

forgiven ;

your sin s

f o r C h r i s t ’ s s a k e , w he n y o u b e l i e v e ;

given ess

to you, but fo r g iv e n e ss

respond in

is

p o ssib le

the

every

w i l l be f o r g i v e n

Gospel o f f e r s

for­

n o t your p o s s e s s i o n u n t i l you

fa ith .

A ccordin g to b o th p o s i t i o n s ,

the

content of th e

u n ch a n g in g , w hether view ed as th e

d ecla ra tio n

as th e

if

offer

essence.

for

of fo rg iv en ess,

even

As t o t h e o p e r a t i o n

b e n e f i t t e d no one u n l e s s and b o t h a g r e e d

of fo r g iv e n e ss or

t h e r e was d i s a g r e e m e n t as

of the

received

G ospel is

G ospel,

in ,

both agreed th a t i t

and a p p r o p r i a t e d b y ,

t h a t t h e G o s p e l w a s mo re t h a n an e m p t y ,

statem ent of h i s t o r i c a l

fact,

w hich the H oly S p i r i t w ork s,

fo r as the

to

a means o f g r a c e

Gospel b r in g s

life

fa ith ,

lifele ss

through

and s a l v a t i o n

wherever p ro cla im ed . In th e trin e

course

o f j u s t i f i c a t i o n was

Synod,

c o n s iste n t w ith

G osp el,

spoke o f

"the

rep eated ly str e sse d tio n ,

h is

1869 i t

brought

its

c o n sta n tly b ein g brought up. u n d erstan d in g of th e

ju stifica tio n

the

d o ctrin e

p e r so n a l exp erien ce

1868 th e a b s o l u t i o n in

o f the d is c u s s io n about a b so lu tio n

the

p a s t o r s were p u b l i s h e d

th e A ugustanans

o f the

o f grace through

Three

a rticles

as a pam phlet

appearance

of

of

o f the

ju stifica ­

fa ith .

D uring

a n d w he n l a t e

j u s t i f i c a t i o n was by p r o m in e n t Synod

in the Sw edish la n g u a g e;

th is

attem pted to d e sc r ib e

The

The A u g u s t a n a n s

in d iv id u a l’s

the q u e s tio n

foreground.

con n ection w ith the

o f the w orld ."

c o n t r o v e r s y d i e d down s o m e w h a t ,

f l a r e d up a g a in ,

in to

content

the d o c ­

b ook let the

the

in

p erio d ica l of

d ifferen ce

betw een the

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

253 S y n o d a nd i t s The S y n o d ' s and th e

opponents in term s o f th e d o c tr in e

answer appeared in

p e r i o d i c a l i n November,

c o n t r o v e r s y m ov e d d e f i n i t e l y

ca tio n ,

Subsequent to th a t

cen tered about the sim u lta n eo u sly ,^ t h e r e was l e s s

m or e l i m i t e d .

about j u s t i f i ­

and j u s t i f i c a t i o n ,

in the f o llo w in g p e r io d

c l a r i t y as to the r e a l is s u e s c a s e when t h e

field

in volved

when t h e d i s c u s s i o n

of

op in ion as

cen tered about a b s o lu ­

of ju stifica tio n

t h e r e was c o n s i d e r a b l e

th an had

o f c o n tr o v e r s y had b een

T h e r e h a d n o t b e e n much d i f f e r e n c e

b u t whe n t h e d o c t r i n e

m ental issu e

a strife

ab solu tion

The r e s u l t was t h a t

t o w hat was d i v i s i v e

in volved ,

in to

1869,

tim e d o c t r i n a l d i s c u s s i o n s u s u a l l y

two c o n c e p t s ,

p r e v io u s ly been the

tio n ,

its

of ju stifica tio n .

be ca me more and m or e

d isa g r e e m e n t as

to the

funda­

at s ta k e . 2

The C o u r s e o f t h e C o n t r o v e r s y i n t h e S e v e n t i e s In co n seq u en ce d efin itely

settled

the Synod,

o f the

down t o

events

a s t r u g g l e betw een the

1871,

it,

H a s s e l q u i s t a n d K r o g n e s s made t h e i r Free a free

C onference

and

N e ith e r th e Sw edish Augustanans nor th e N orw egian-

D a n i s h A u g u s t a n a n s h a d much p a r t i n lik e

o f 1870 th e c o n t r o v e r s y

con feren ce in Decorah, c o n f e r e n c e w as h e l d

a l t h o u g h o c c a s i o n a l l y men a n t i - S y n o d v ie w s known.

1 8 7 1 . — From J u n e

i n D e c o r a h , Iowa.®

en c e was w e l l - a t t e n d e d , w i t h Synod p a s t o r s

13 t o T his

21, confer­

and l a y m e n c o n s i d e r a b l y

■^"Til b e d r e F o r s t a a e l s e a f d e n S t r i d , som h a r v a r e t f o r t i b l a n d t o s om » R e t f a e r d i g g j 8 r e l s e n , ' " E , L . K«, IV ( 1 8 7 7 ) , 5 5 9 f . 2I b l d . , p . 558. F r e e c o n f e r e n c e s w e r e o p e n t o a l l L u t h e r a n s who d e s i r e d t o a t t e n d , where t h e y a s s e m b l e d as i n d i v i d u a l s r a t h e r t h a n a s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f s y n o d s and o r g a n i z a t i o n s .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

254

outnum bering C onferen ce r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s . k lin g of E llin g ia n s rela tio n

and t h o s e

o f the d o c t r i n e

was n o t u n t i l

towards

n o o n o f Ju n e 1 9 , A rticles cip les

III-V

Gospel to

d iscu ssed

th e end o f th e

that t h is

ju stifica tio n

at Decorah.

conferen ce,

t o p i c was d i s c u s s e d

o f th e Augsburg C o n f e s s i o n . 1

of S crip tu ra l in te r p r e ta tio n

u n i t y had been d i s c u s s e d .

a sp rin ­

w i t h no s y n o d i c a l a f f i l i a t i o n .

o f the

v e r s i o n w as among t h e t o p i c s

T h e r e was a l s o

an d t h e

The d e g r e e

The

and c o n ­

However,

d u rin g the

on t h e b a s i s

P rior to t h i s ,

it after­ of p rin ­

q u e stio n o f church

o f a p p a r e n t u n i t y and h a r ­

mony d i s c e r n i b l e

a t D e c o r a h g a v e c o n s i d e r a b l e h o p e f o r m o re a m i c a ­

b le r e la tio n s

the

in

more c o n f e r e n c e s cu ssion ,

of

f u t u r e , and i t that

type

h o w e v e r, had been f a r

d octrin e

from t h o r o u g h .

at

the

The d o c t r i n a l d i s 2 con­

in M ilw au k ee. 3

The

j u s t i f i c a t i o n w a s made t h e c h i e f

the r e q u e s t o f th e

that

summer o f 1 8 7 2 t h e

o f t h e S y n o d i c a l C o n f e r e n c e wa s h e l d of

general d esire

s h o u l d be h e l d .

The S y n o d ’ s T r a c t N o. 4 . — i n ven tion

was t h e

Norwegian Synod s i n c e

to p ic it

of d iscu ssio n

had b een charged

w ith te a c h in g e r r o n e o u sly con cern in g th a t d o c t r in e ,

esp ecia lly

by th e Iowa S y n o d , w h ic h had become i n v o l v e d in t h e c o n t r o v e r s y 4 on t h e s i d e o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e . T w elv e t h e s e s on j u s t i f i c a t i o n ■^Art. I l l , "Of t h e Son o f God” ; A r t . I V , "Of J u s t i f i c a ­ t i o n " ; A r t . V , "Of t h e M i n i s t r y . " C oncordia T r i g l o t t a ( S t . L o u is: C o n c o r d i a P u b l i s h i n g H o u s e , 1 9 2 1 ) , p.' 4 5 . . F. G je r ts e n and B. i en P r i C o n fe r e n ts i D eco ra h , b e k j e n d e 's~lg t i l d e n I 'u t h e r 's k e (L a cro sse, W is.: F aed relan d st

J . Muus, R e f e r a t a f F o r h a n d l i n g e r n e I o w a , m e l l e m N o r S m a e n d , som K i r k e f r a l ff d e t i l 2 l d e J u n i 1 8 7 1 . og E m igrantens o f f i c i n , 1 8 7 2 ) .

3 S u p r a , p p . 70 f f . ^ " T i l b e d r e F o r s t a a ^ l s e a f d e n S t r i d som h a r v a e r e t f o r t i b l a n d t o s om »R e t f a e r d i g g j o r e l s e n , ’ " E . L . K . , IV ( 1 8 7 7 ) , 5 6 1 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow n er. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm isston

256 were

adopted a t M ilw aukee.

c e n te r in g about

them , were

1873 app eared as a t r a c t , f i c a t i o n . " ' 1' wa s g e n e r a l l y

T his t r a c t ,

They,

to g e th e r w ith the d is c u s s io n

tra n sla ted known a s

in to

Norwegian

" T ract No. 4 ,

p o in t o f view con cern in g th ose b e e n s o much c o n t r o v e r s y . The t w e l v e

theses

d octrin es

in

C oncerning J u s t i ­

w h ic h was w i d e l y c i r c u l a t e d

regarded as the b e s t p r e s e n t a t i o n

a nd e a r l y

and r e a d ,

o f the Synod’s

a b o u t w h ic h t h e r e had

2

follow ;

T h esis 1. The d o c t r i n e c o n c e r n i n g j u s t i f i c a t i o n i s t h e c h i e f a r t i c l e i n t h e C h r i s t i a n f a i t h , and i t s c o r r e c t a p p r e ­ h e n s i o n i s o f t h e h i g h e s t i m p o r t a n c e a n d an u n c o n d i t i o n a l n e c e s s i t y f o r th e i n d i v i d u a l ’ s s a l v a t i o n , as i t s pure p r o c l a ­ m a tio n i s f o r the w e l f a r e o f t h e ch u rch a s a w h o le . T h esis 2 . The R e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e c h u r c h b y D r . L u t h e r h a d i t s s t a r t i n g - p o i n t , t h r o u g h t h e g r a c e o f God, i n a r e ­ newed a p p r e h e n s i o n o f t h e p u re e v a n g e l i c a l d o c t r i n e c o n c e r n ­ i n g j u s t i f i c a t i o n and in a c o n s i s t e n t , g e n u in e p r o c l a m a t i o n of th is a r tic le of fa ith . T h esis 3 . The p u r e d o c t r i n e o f j u s t i f i c a t i o n , w h i c h o u r L u t h e r a n c h u r c h a g a i n h a s s e t f o r t h on t h e b a s i s o f t h e Word o f God a nd h a s p l a c e d on t h e c a n d l e s t i c k i s p r i m a r i l y c o n ­ cerned w ith th ree p o in ts ; 1) The d o c t r i n e c o n c e r n i n g t h e g e n e r a l, com p leted red em ption o f th e w orld th rou gh C h r is t, 2 ) t h e d o c t r i n e c o n c e r n i n g t h e p o w e r and o p e r a t i o n o f t h e me a ns o f g r a c e , a n d 3 ) t h e d o c t r i n e c o n c e r n i n g f a i t h . T h esis 4 . a s i n Adam a l l men a r e f a l l e n a n d h a v e come u n d e r G od's w r a th and e t e r n a l c o n d e m n a tio n as a p u n ish m e n t f o r s i n , s o a l s o i n C h r i s t a s t h e s e c o n d Adam a l l men a r e i n t r u t h d e l i v e r e d from s i n , d e a t h , t h e d e v i l , and h e l l , and God i s i n t r u t h r e c o n c i l e d w i t h a l l o f t h e m . T h esis 5 . As b y t h e d e a t h o f C h r i s t i n o u r s t e a d t h e s i n - g u i l t o f th e w hole w o r l d h as b e e n e f f a c e d and i t s p u n i s h ­ m e n t e n d u r e d , s o a l s o by t h e r e s u r r e c t i o n o f C h r i s t h a v e r i g h t e o u s n e s s , l i f e , and s a l v a t i o n a g a in b e e n p r o c u r ed f o r t h e w h o l e w o r l d and h a v e come u p o n a l l men i n C h r i s t , a s t h e o n e who s t o o d i n t h e p l a c e o f t h e w h o l e o f m a n k i n d . T h esis 6 . T h is grace [w hich w as] a c q u ir e d a g a in for a l l men t h r o u g h t h e r e d e m p t i v e w or k o f C h r i s t , f o r g i v e n e s s , j u s t i ­ f i c a t i o n , l i f e , a nd s a l v a t i o n , God b r i n g s men t h r o u g h t h e lHT r a k t a t N o . 4 , " K . M . , X V I I I p.

175.

(1873),

47 f .

% } e r g h , Den N o r s k L u t h e r s k e K i r k e s H i s t o r i e '

I Amenika,

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

257 means o f g r a c e . For t h e e v a n g e l i c a l p r o m ise , w h ic h i s c o n ­ t a i n e d i n t h e w or d o f t h e G o s p e l a nd i n t h e h o l y s a c r a m e n t s , i s n o t an e m p t y s o u n d n o r a s u b s t a n c e l e s s p r o m i s e , b u t i t h o l d s f o r t h a n d p r e s e n t s i n a p o w e r f u l man ner a l l o f t h e b e n e ­ f i t s w h i c h God p r o m i s e s i n t h i s , h i s word o f g r a c e . T h esis 7 . The G o s p e l i s , t h e r e f o r e , no mere h i s t o r i c a l n a r r a t i v e a b o u t t h e ' c o m p l e t e d w o r k o f r e d e m p t i o n , b u t , much m o r e , a p o w e r f u l d e c l a r a t i o n o f p e a c e and a p r o m i s e o f g r a c e b y God t o t h e w o r l d , w h i c h h a s b e e n r e d e e m e d b y C h r i s t , and s o f i t i s J a l w a y s a p o w e r f u l m e a n s t h r o u g h w h i c h God on H i s p a r t b r i n g s , h o l d s f o r t h , d i s p e n s e s , g i v e s , and p r e s e n t s t h e f o r g i v e n e s s o f s i n s a nd t h e r i g h t e o u s n e s s e a r n e d b y C h r i s t , a l t h o u g h n o t a l l t o whom God i s s u e s h i s e a r n e s t , g r a c i o u s c a l l a c c e p t t h i s , t h e r e c o n c i l e d G o d ’ s , i n v i t a t i o n a n d s o do n o t become p a r t a k e r s o f t h e a t t e n d a n t b e n e f i t s . T h esis 8 , The h o l y a b s o l u t i o n i s a p r e a c h i n g o f t h e G o s ­ p e l t o one o r more p a r t i c u l a r p e r s o n s who d e s i r e t h e c o n s o l a ­ t io n o f th e G ospel. I t i s , t h e r e f o r e , in i t s e l f a lw a y s v a l i d a n d p o w e r f u l ; f o r God t h e r e i n t h r o u g h t h e m o u t h o f h i s s e r v ­ a n t [ t h e m i n i s t e r ] d e c l a r e s h i m s e l f t o b e a God who i n t r u t h i s r e c o n c i l e d t h r o u g h t h e b l o o d a n d d e a t h o f C h r i s t and s o on h i s p a r t d i s p e n s e s th e g i f t o f f o r g i v e n e s s and j u s t i f i c a t i o n t o a l l who a r e a b s o l v e d , a l t h o u g h many b e c a u s e o f t h e i r u n b e ­ l i e f do n o t b e c o m e p a r t a k e r s o f t h e g i f t s o f g r a c e o f f e r e d i n th e G osp el. T he sis 9 . The o n l y means b y w h i c h a man co m e s i n t o a r e a l p o s s e s s i o n o f t h e g i f t o f g r a c e e a r n e d by C h r i s t a n d o f f e r e d i n Word and s a c r a m e n t s i s f a i t h , w h i c h b e l i e v e s G o d ' s g r a c i o u s p r o m ise and s o a p p r o p r i a t e s th e g i f t o f C h r i s t ’ s m e r i t and the rig h teo u sn ess w h i c h i s o f f e r e d i n t h e p r o m i s e o f God and com­ f o r t s i t s e l f w i t h t h e b e n e f i t s o f C h r i s t when i t a c c e p t s h im a s t h e on e who e r a s e s s i n and s a v e s . T h e s is 1 0 . F a i t h i n C h r i s t , t h e r e f o r e , j u s t i f i e s and s a v e s , n o t b e c a u s e i t a s a r e m a r k a b l e work o f man g a i n s e x ­ t r e m e m e r i t w i t h God a n d a s a s a t i s f a c t i o n f o r s i n r e c o n c i l e s God w i t h me n, b u t b e c a u s e i t , on m a n ' s p a r t , i s t h e h a n d o f a c c e p t a n c e w h ic h a c t u a l l y g r a s p s and r e c e i v e s t h e t r e a s u r e o f C h r is t ’s m e r it, and, t h e r e f o r e , o f fo r g iv e n e s s , j u s t i f i c a t i o n , and s a l v a t i o n , w h ic h i s o f f e r e d and p r e s e n t e d i n t h e g r a c i o u s prom ise. F a i t h , t h e r e f o r e , d o e s n o t j u s t i f y and s a v e b e c a u s e God o f f r e e g r a c e a n d l o v e i s w i l l i n g t o r e c k o n i t a s a m e r i ­ t o r i o u s w or k o f r i g h t e o u s n e s s a nd o b e d i e n c e t o G o d ' s w o r d , b u t b e c a u s e th e t r e a s u r e o f C h r i s t ' s m e r it , w hich e v e n th e w eak est f a i t h grasp s in th e G o s p e l's prom ise, a c t u a l l y c o n ­ t a in s in i t s e l f a p e r f e c t l y v a l i d s a t i s f a c t i o n f o r the g u i l t a nd p u n i s h m e n t o f a l l s i n , a s w e l l as a p e r f e c t o b e d i e n c e t o a l l t h e demands o f G od's l a w . T hesis 11. The f a i t h o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l d o e s n o t b y i t s own p o w e r b r i n g i t a b o v it t h a t t h e e v a n g e l i c a l p r o m i s e o f g r a c e , w h i c h God e x p r e s s e s i n t h e word o f t h e G o s p e l o r a b ­ s o l u t i o n , a c t u a l l y b e c o m e s v a l i d , p o w e r f u l , and t r u e , b u t i t h o l d s i t s e l f s i m p l y t o t h e p r o m ise o f grace and f o r g i v e n e s s a s a d i v i n e l y t r u e and p o w e r f u l p r o m i s e , a n d when i t t h u s r e c e i v e s God's p r o m is e , i t g r a s p s th e g i f t o f j u s t i f i c a t i o n

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

258

and s a l v a t i o n c o n t a i n e d t h e r e i n an d h a s t h a t w h i c h t h e w o r d s s a y and e x p r e s s . T h esis 1 2 . When an i n d i v i d u a l s i n n e r i n f a i t h g r a s p s t h e p r o m i s e o f t h e G o s p e l i n Word and s a c r a m e n t a n d t h u s a p p r o p r i ­ a t e s th e t r e a s u r e o f C h r i s t ' s m e r i t f o r h i s j u s t i f i c a t i o n and s a l v a t i o n (a s in a l a w s u i t b e f o r e God’ s j u d g m e n t - s e a t ) , he i s a l s o r e c k o n e d a n d d e c l a r e d b y God t o b e o n e who s h a r e s i n t h e m e r i t o f C h r i s t an d i n r i g h t e o u s n e s s u n t o h i s s a l v a t i o n , a n d , th u s , w ith th e p e r s o n a l p o s s e s s i o n o f C h r is t ’ s m erit [ i s 3 a l s o p e r s o n a l l y j u s t i f i e d and an h e i r o f e t e r n a l l i f e . 1 The a s p e c t s by these (theses

theses

(th esis

are t h e

1 an d 2 ) ;

concerned

of th e

d octrin e

fo llow in g:

the th r e e

5);

the d o c t r in e

ju stifica tio n

The d o c t r i n e ’ s

rela ted

and w h i c h a r e d i s c u s s e d

of

in the

subsequent

co n cern in g red em ption

c o n c e r n i n g t h e means o f g r a c e ,

la ted

G o s p e l and a b s o l u t i o n

con cern in g f a i t h are d is c u s s e d there

(theses

reveals

i s disagreem ent

work o f C h r i s t , ab so lu tio n .

there

9-12).

th e S yn od 's as

(theses

(theses

6 - 8 );

is

theses 4 and 5 ) ;

p a r tic u la r ly as

re­

the d o c tr in e

The o r d e r i n w h i c h t h e d o c t r i n e s app roach t o th e problem :

t o what was i n v o l v e d

w i l l be d isa g r e e m e n t as

In th e s e t h e s e s

im portance

d o c t r i n e s w ith w hich i t

the d o c tr in e to the

d e a lt w ith

we h a v e t h i s

in th e

If

redem ptive

to th e G ospel and

p resen ta tio n

of thought:

C h r i s t h as c a r r i e d t h e bu rd en and b o r n e t h e p u nishm ent o f th e g u ilt

of

a l l o f m ankind.

righ teou s

and by v i r t u e

N ev erth eless,

o f C h r i s t ’ s red em ption has

sin s

o f a l l men a n d h a s d e c l a r e d t h e m

ness

acq u ired by C h r ist

them t h r o u g h t h e means The g i f t

God h a s p r o n o u n c e d C h r i s t

ju stified .

on b e h a l f o f a l l men i s of

o f righ teou sn ess

grace--the is

forgiven

the

T his r i g h t e o u s ­ com m unicated t o

G o s p e l an d t h e

sacram ents.

p e r s o n a lly ap p rop riated ,

^■"Satser om R e t f a r d i g g j o r e l s e n , ” K. M . , X V I I

or p o sse sse d , (1872),

321-25.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission of th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission .

259 by f a i t h . 1 Free

C onference

c o n f e r e n c e was h e l d a t

a t Rock P r a i r i e , R oc k P r a i r i e ,

in accord w ith a gen eral d e sire

ever,

the

sp irit

was a b s e n t

of frien d lin ess

a t Rock P r a i r i e

p a s t had r e v e a l e d up th e

that

the

g h o s t as a s e p a r a t e

b egin n in gs.

o f the precedin g y e a r .

w h ic h marked t h e D e c o r a h m e e t i n g The y e a r

confused

itse lf,

rather

sp irit

in p r a c t ic a l

esp ecia lly

in the person

o f a d o c t r i n a l p o in t o f view d i f f e r e n t

Synod.

D u r in g t h e y e a r t h e Synod had a c c u s e d

of p ro sely tin g

in

its

congregations

a nd o f c r e a t ­

and d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n . ^

D i s s a t i s f a c t i o n had been e x p ressed the

How­

organ ization d esp ite

defense

Conference

o f what had

of g iv in g

o f W eenaas,

from t h a t o f t h e

1872,

C o n f e r e n c e h ad n o i n t e n t i o n

and had e x p r e s s e d

in g sch ism s

continuance

I t had m a n i f e s t an a g g r e s s i v e

in

i n November,

fr om t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g .

church a f f a i r s

the

W iscon sin ,

for the

been begun a t th e D ecorah c o n fe r en ce

1872. — A second fr e e

p u b lish ed m in utes

o f th e Decorah c o n fe r e n c e ,

i n p a p e r s a nd p e r i o d i c a l s d i s p e l w hatever

i n many q u a r t e r s

feelin g s

and t h e

over

exchanges

o v e r a p e r i o d of months h a d s e r v e d

to

o f c o r d i a l i t y had b e e n m a n i f e s t a t

D ecorah.®

ib la n d t

■*""Til b e d r e F o r s t a a e l s e a f d e n S t r i d som h a r v a e r e t f o r t o s om 1R e t f a e r d i g g j o r e l s e n , * ,f i b i d . , IV ( 1 8 7 7 ) , 5 6 1 f .

p A nsgar,"

M. F a l k d j e r t s e n , " R e f e r a t a f F r i k o n f e r e n t s e n L u t h e r a n e r e n , XV ( 1 8 8 1 ) , 3 1 1 .

i St.

^The C o n f e r e n c e , f o r e x a m p l e , a t i t s 1 8 7 2 m e e t i n g o f f i c i ­ a l l y ex p ressed d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n w ith the p u b lish ed m in u tes, con­ t e n d i n g t h a t a m ost s i g n i f i c a n t p a r t o f the d i s c u s s i o n had been o m itted . S y n o d ica l R eport, th e C onference, 1872, p . 8 8 . The n e x t y e a r , i n t h e l i g h t of ' f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n , t h e C o n f e r e n c e f e l t c o n s t r a i n e d t o r e t r a c t i t s c r i t i c i s m o f t h e S y n o d and i t s p a s t o r B . J . M u u s , who h a d s e r v e d a s s e c r e t a r y , f o r t h e a l l e g e d s h o r t -

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission .

260 The m i n u t e s ex isten ce o f the

o f t h e Rock P r a i r i e

o f ten sion

from t h e

p reced in g conferen ce

in i t ia l protests

and t h e d i f f i c u l t y

w hat s h o u l d be u s e d as a b a s i s throughout When i t

came

to a vote tw elve

theses

P ontoppidan c o n c e r n in g

i n a g r e e i n g upon

f o r the d o c t r i n a l d i s c u s s i o n

on j u s t i f i c a t i o n support

ju stifica tio n

listed

the b a s is

were th eir

of

of d iscu ssio n ,

and

Augsburg

W e enaas h a d f i r s t

suggested A r tic le

IV o f t h e

Augsburg

bu t th e n had p ro p o sed t h e u s e

but s i x

o f p o n t o p p i d a n »s t h e s e s . - * -

g o t no f a r t h e r

stranded at th a t p o in t because

o f the

set forth

w orld.

the d o c tr in e

At Rock p r a i r i e

o f agreem ent, betw een t h e

stressed, op in ion

which f a c t t h a t the

first

days were d e v o t e d t o

and t h e c o n f e r e n c e

w ith red em ption ,

than p o i n t s

a b o v e won

IV o f t h e

and f o u r ,

ca tio n

for

fo r u sin g A r tic le

t h e s e s under d i s c u s s i o n ,

d iscu ssio n

conference.

f o r m aking s t a t e m e n t s

T h e r e was no d i s a g r e e m e n t c o n c e r n i n g t h e

three

the m inutes

t h e r e was a g i t a t i o n

C o n fession . C onfession

about

a s t o w h a t s h o u l d b e u s e d as a b a s i s

T h e r e wa s c o n s i d e r a b l e

f o r a tim e

r ev e a l the

the arguments o f th e s u c c e e d i n g days o f th e

d isc u ssio n the out.

conference

th esis

o f the

p oin ts

than four,

three nu mbe rs th at.

The

d ea lin g

com pleted

ju stifi­

of d ifferen ce

rather

Synod and t h e C o n fe r e n c e

c a u s e d many s p e a k e r s

g u l f b etw een the

to ex p ress

tw o s y n o d s wa s

it

as

con sid er­

a b ly w id e r th an t h e y had p r e v i o u s l y b e l i e v e d . com ings o f th e m i n u t e s . p p . 74 f .

S y n o d ic a l R eport,

the

C onference,

1873,

^"M. P . G j e r t s e n a n d J . E . F r i c h , R e f e r a t a f F o r h a n d l i n g e r n e 1 e n F r i - K o n f e r e n t s p a a R o c k p r a i r i e , w ls T , ~ '. .' 'f r a 1 3 a e t i l “ 2 2 d e Novem ber 1 5 7 2 " (C h ic a g o : s t a n d i n a v e n o g'"Ame rika~* s ""Fo r l a g ' ,' n .cT.y. The m in u t e ' s o f t h e c o n f e r e n c e a r e l o n g and d e t a i l e d , n o t easy rea d in g . A l l s p e e c h e s a r e s u m m a r i z e d ; many a p p a r e n t l y a r e g iv e n p r a c t i c a l l y en t o t o .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

261 The c o n f e r e n c e sin ce

the

d octrin e

of

a t Rock p r a i r i e e m p h a s iz e d ju stifica tio n

the f a c t

had b e e n b r o u g h t i n t o

so lu tio n

controversy,

t h e r e was a d i f f e r e n c e

id en tity

o f the b a s ic

issu e

of

opin ion

th at the

ab­

to

the

as

w h i c h was c a u s i n g t h e d i s a g r e e m e n t .

C o n f e r e n c e m e n , J . A . B e r g h and A . W e e n a a s , th at

b asic

S y n o d m e n , H. A . P r e u s a n d J . B . F r i c h b e i n g

exam p les, p oin t

c o n t e n d e d and w e r e t o

o f d ifferen ce

th ere b ein g

a lack

centered

ference

the

in th e d o c t r in e

d o ctrin e

in

o f the

rep resen ta tiv es

op p osition

no o t h e r

reitera ted

ju stifica tio n

fa ith

of th e

the b a s ic

atonem ent,

that

w ell

a ground,

Synod’ s p r e se n ta ­

o f the w orld ,

t h a t no man i s and th a t

than p e r s o n a l

The S y n o d men b e l i e v e d as t h e a t o n e m e n t ,

to the

ju stifica tio n

f o r g i v e n b y God b e f o r e h e h a s is

contend th a t

the

o f agreem ent as

At R ock P r a i r i e , of

con tin u e to

was

t o what C h r i s t had a c c o m p l i s h e d 2 f o r mankind t h r o u g h H is d e a t h a n d r e s u r r e c t i o n .

an d p r o v i d e d

tion

of ju stific a tio n

said

th a t they b e lie v e d i s s u e T h e

the d o c t r in e

f o r exam ple,

the

Con­

ju stified

or

con seq u en tly th ere

ju stifica tio n

by f a i t h .

t h e i r o p p o n e n ts were m aking f a i t h , or b a s i s ,

w o u l d mean t h a t man h a d c o n t r i b u t e d

of fo rg iv en ess,

so m eth in g towards h i s

as

w hich sa lv a ­

tio n .^ A s p e e c h made b y P a s t o r H. A . dent, fo r in the

a t Rock P r a i r i e , it

he

scrip tu re

Preus,

Synod’s p r e s i­

was n o t s o o n f o r g o t t e n b y , t h e

p r o n o u n c e d an a n a t h e m a u p on t h e passage

the

G al.

1I b i d . , pp. 3 0 ,

1:6-8

32.

C onference,

C onference,

at th e con clu sion 2I b i d . , pp. 30,

of h is

44,

^ ’’F r i k o n f e r e n t s e n . p a a R o c k p r a i r i e , " K. M . ,

ap p lyin g

72,

XVII

address. 4 73.

(1872),

357. 4 t , I am a s t o n i s h e d

th at you are

so q u i c k l y d e s e r t i n g him

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

262 In s u b s e q u e n t y e a r s t h e p u d i a t e t h e famous

C onference

tried

t o g e t the Synod t o r e ­

" b u ll o f excom m unication"

nounced by preus a t

Rock P r a i r i e

(B a n b u lle ) p r o ­

b u t w i t h o u t s u c c e s s «■*'

p r o f e s s o r W e en aa s c a r r i e d t h e h e a v i e s t b u r d e n o f a r g u m e n t fo r th e C onference Synod.

As e d i t o r

in th e

ea rly years

o f L u t h e r a n e r e n and

he occu p ied th o se p o s itio n s and w h e r e h e

G je ld a k e r to o k a prom inent p a r t

good p o r t i o n

w as a b l e versy,

in

as w e l l .

by f a i t h .

lim it

future

betw een f o r g iv e n e s s

At t h e c o n c l u s i o n

speakers

to f i f t e e n

zealou s d isp u ta n ts

in

the

face

o f h is

C onfer­ of sin s

of h is

speech i t

m in utes.

Weenaas

rough-and-tum ble

contro­

o f t h e Synod a p p e a r e d t o

f e e l t h a t d e b a t e a n d d i s c u s s i o n w ith, h i m w e r e f u t i l e to be f r u i t l e s s

i n the

to e s t a b lis h the

a r g u m e n t and a t home i n t h i s

but even the

A t one s t a g e

f l o o r f o r an u n r e a s o n a b l y l o n g t i m e - - a

as to the r e l a t i o n

a nd j u s t i f i c a t i o n wa s v o t e d t o

a lt h o u g h M uller Eggen and

o f t w o d a y s — a s he s o u g h t

en ce’ s p o sitio n

th eological professor

At R o c k P r a i r i e he a p p e a r e d a s

forem ost spokesman,

c o n fe r en ce he h e ld th e

sole

stru ggle w ith the

w h e r e h e w o u l d b e e x p e c t e d t o do s o

c o u l d b e s t do s o .

the C o n fe r e n c e s

of its

adamant a t t i t u d e .

and bound When J o h a n

who c a l l e d y o u i n t h e g r a c e o f C h r i s t a n d t u r n i n g t o a d i f f e r e n t g o s p e l - - n o t t h a t t h e r e i s a n o t h e r g o s p e l , b u t t h e r e a r e some who t r o u b l e y o u and w a n t t o p e r v e r t t h e g o s p e l o f C h r i s t . But ev en i f w e , o r an a n g e l from h e a v e n s h o u l d p r e a c h t o y o u a g o s p e l c o n ­ t r a r y t o t h a t w h i c h we p r e a c h e d t o y o u , l e t h im be a c c u r s e d . " G a l. 1 :6 - 8 (R evised Standard V e r s io n ) . ■^In 1 8 7 4 p r e s i d e n t J o h a n O l s e n o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e r e f e r r e d t o t h i s anathema in t h e f o l l o w i n g w ord s; "At i t s l a s t a n n u a l m e e t in g t h e Synod d i d n o t to u c h t h e b x ill o f excom m unication w hich wa s s o c e r e m o n i o u s l y h u r l e d o u t a t t h e f r e e c o n f e r e n c e a t R o c k P r a i r i e i n 1 8 7 2 , n o r h a s a s i n g l e on e o f i t s members made a n y o b j e c t i o n t o i t , w h i c h w e , n e v e r t h e l e s s , h a v e had g o o d g r o u n d s to ex p ect. S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e C o n f e r e n c e , 1874, p p . 22 f .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

263 O lsen prop osed t h a t th e should d e s ig n a te m ittee

free conference

a three-m an com m ittee

fr om t h e o t h e r

op in ion th at

such a c tio n

t a i n m em ber s o f t h e such a com m ittee. were r e v e a l e d i n

these

t o be h e l d .

Some C o n f e r e n c e

la st

t h e s e s .--T h e

of theses

cer­ them on

a g a i n s t fi fe e na as

L utheran c o n f e s s i o n s in stead

annual m eetin gs

o f a more r e s t r i c t e d

of

of

p

the fo r m e r 's

There

W eenaas, a s the

Never­

from 1872 t o 1 8 7 5 , seven th e s e s

the prepared

but th e y were nev er o f f i c i a l l y

th eses

W hile

not f u lly

rep resen ted th e

s i m p l y was n o t t h e

T . H. D a h l , a n d M. P .

agreed con-

com plete

P* G j e r t s e n a n d J . B« F r i c h , R e f e r a t a f F o r h a n d l i n g e r n e i e n F r i - K o n f e r e n t s p a a R ock - p r a i r i e w i s . . 1 5 7 2 , p p . 126-25*1 ^ P a s t o r s Amon J o h n s o n ,

nature

an tip ath y

"M issourian " t h e s e s .

d iscu ssed

these

for

o f f ic ia l p o si­

statem en ts.

v o t e d upon or a d o p te d by t h e C o n f e r e n c e .

o f most o f them .

conferences

s h o u l d b e made t h e b a s i s

for sev era l su ccessiv e y ea rs,

to by a l l C onference p a s t o r s ,

free

r e p e a t e d ly contended th a t

fo r d is c u s sio n by Pastor G jeld ak er,

v ictio n s

to

the

c o n tr o v e r s y cannot be g iv en

as d o c t r i n a l

fo r d o c tr in a l d iscu ssion s

its

and t h a t

C on feren ce's

as t h a t o f the Synod b e c a u s e

Conference a t

d irected

o f the

and m e e t i n g s

S v e r d r u p an d O f t e d a l a f t e r h i m ,

th eless,

under d is p u t e ,

s e v e r a l S y n o d men e x p r e s s e d

the a b s o l u t i o n - j u s t i f i c a t i o n

C atechism or th e

c om ­

co m m e nt s

con tin ued

tow ards th e u se

q u estion s

Personal a n im o sitie s

but c o n fe r e n c e s

so e a s i l y

confer w ith a lik e

C o n feren ce w ould n o t be a c c e p t a b l e

a decade,

in

th a t each synod

would prod u ce no r e s u l t s

R oc k P r a i r i e m a r k e d t h e

tion

to

in regard to th e

h i s m o t i o n was p a s s e d o n l y a f t e r

request

. .

Ruh a p p r o x i -

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

264 d o c tr in a l u n iform ity Synod a t t h a t

in the C onference

that

t h e r e was i n t h e

tim e.

The s e v e n annual m eetin gs

t h e s e s w hich r e c e i v e d

o f the C onference

s o much a t t e n t i o n

at

the

fo llo w :

T h esis 1. A b s o lu t io n i s the a c t o f d e c l a r i n g the p e n i t e n t f r e e f r o m s i n a nd p r o m i s i n g him e t e r n a l l i f e , i t i s thus, a c c o r d i n g t o L u t h e r ' s d o c t r i n e , t h e p r o c l a m a t i o n a nd a p p l i c a ­ t i o n o f the G o sp e l t o t h e i n d i v i d u a l . T h esis 2 . I t i s t h e t r i u n e God who f o r t h e s a k e o f t h e m e r its o f C h rist f o r g iv e s s in in a b s o lu t io n . F o r t h i s w or k he u s e s e v a n g e l i c a l p a s t o r s in p u b l i c o f f i c e , b u t, b e s i d e s t h i s , a l l C h r i s t i a n s , b e c a u se the w hole church i s th e o r i g ­ i n a l p o s s e s s o r o f the k e y s . T h esis 3 . S i n c e i t i s G o d ' s w o r d and command t o a b s o l v e t h e s i n s o f t h e p e n i t e n t , a b s o l u t i o n i s no em pty p r o c l a m a t i o n o f , or w ish f o r , th e f o r g i v e n e s s o f s i n s , b u t a r e a l Impart a t i o n t h e r e o f , w h e r e b y f a i t h i s s t r e n g t h e n e d and t h e c o n ­ s c ie n c e i s s e t f r e e , c o n so le d , and e l e v a t e d . T h esis 4 . I n p r i v a t e a b s o l u t i o n ^ no e s s e n t i a l l y d i f f e r ­ e n t or b e t t e r f o r g i v e n e s s i s im p a rted than in th e p r e a ch in g o f t h e G o s p e l ; n e i t h e r i s i t i n so m e w a y n e c e s s a r y i n o r d e r t o g a i n f o r g i v e n e s s as i f no f o r g i v e n e s s t o o k p l a c e w i t h o u t it. N e v e r t h e l e s s , i t h a s i t s s p e c i a l v a l u e and u s e b e c a u s e b y i t t h e i n d i v i d u a l i s made more c e r t a i n t h a t t h e f o r g i v e n e s s o f s i n s a l s o b e lo n g s t o him . T h esis 5 . In c l o s e r e l a t i o n t o a b s o l u t i o n s t a n d s [ p r i ­ v a t e ] c o n f e s s i o n , t h e l a t t e r b e i n g n o t h i n g e l s e than t h a t on e r e q u e s t s a b s o l u t i o n . In th e n e x t p l a c e , i t i s o f f u r t h e r v a lu e in th a t i t g iv e s the f a t h e r - c o n f e s s o r { p a s to r ] oppor­ t u n i t y t o e x a m i n e t h e y o u n g , t o e x h o r t a nd c a t e c h i z e , t o w ar n a g a i n s t an u n w o r t h y u s e o f t h e s a c r a m e n t , t o i m p a r t a l l s o r t s o f a d v ice in d i f f i c u l t c a se s o f c o n s c ie n c e . Summa, i t i s an a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e Law a n d t h e G o s p e l . m ated the Synod in t h e i r c o n c e p t io n o f a b s o l u t i o n , e m p h a siz in g t h e o b j e c t i v e c o n t e n t o f t h e G o s p e l and a b s o l u t i o n a p a r t from t h e r e s p o n s e o f t h e o n e t o whom d i r e c t e d . S y n o d ic a l R eport, the C onference, 1872, pp. 4 6 -7 0 . -^This i s n o t a r e f e r e n c e t o a c e r e m o n y i n v o l v i n g o n l y th e p a s t o r and a p e r s o n i n p r i v a t e , b u t r e f e r s t o th e a b s o l u t i o n s e r v i c e i n th e p r e s e n c e o f t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n where th e p a s t o r d i ­ r e c t s th e d e c l a r a t i o n o f a b s o lu t io n t o in d iv id u a ls gath ered about th e a l t a r r a i l , c u s t o m a r i l y w i t h the l a y i n g - o n o f h a n d s . Both Synod a n d C o n f e r e n c e p a s t o r s u s e d t h e same form o f d e c l a r a t i o n o f a b s o lu t io n w ith the la y in g - o n o f h a n d s . "K irk elige E f t e r r e t n i n g e r ," B u d b a ereren , XII ( 1 8 8 0 ) , 1 1 1 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

265 T h esis 6 . C o n f e s s i o n i s n o t commanded o f God a n d t h e r e ­ f o r e m ust n o t be f o r c e d upon a n y o n e ; b u t s i n c e i t , n e v e r t h e ­ l e s s , i s h i g h l y u s e f u l , i t o u g h t n o t t o be d i s c a r d e d where i t i s in u s e . The p e o p l e o u g h t t o b e i n s t r u c t e d d i l i g e n t l y and t a u g h t t h e u s e f u l n e s s b o t h o f a b s o l u t i o n and c o n f e s s i o n * . T h esis 7 . C o n c e r n in g t h e t i m e , p l a c e , and form f o r a b ­ s o l u t i o n a nd c o n f e s s i o n , i t i s a C h r i s t i a n ' s d u t y t o r e a c h a c o n c l u s i o n on t h e b a s i s o f God’ s Word a n d t h e c o n f e s s i o n a l w ritin g s. T hat w hich i s a lw a y s th e e s s e n t i a l i s th a t i t does n o t become a p i l l o w o f s e c u r i t y f o r t h e i m p e n i t e n t , w h i l e i t m u s t b e c o m e a c o m p l e t e c o n s o l a t i o n a nd e n c o u r a g e m e n t f o r a f ­ f l i c t e d and v e x e d c o n s c i e n c e s . I t o u g h t a l s o t o b e n o t e d t h a t c o n f e s s i o n and a b s o l u t i o n are n o t a p a r t o f the sacram ent o f th e a l t a r so t h a t i t [ t h e y 1 must o f n e c e s s i t y accompany i t . These t h e s e s v io u sly referred p e n ite n t person so lu tio n .

is

The C o n f e r e n c e

exp erien ce

again

ness

of sin s.

th a t only

have

o n ly the

is

stressed

than

fo rg iv en .^

•^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

is

the

the f o r g i v e p laced

t o be f o u n d i n

sim ila r

One o f t h e p r o m i n e n t

in p a r t ic u la r takes a l l men,

even th e

The p o w e r t o a b s o l v e , the

to

t i m e and

g r o u p much mo re e m p h a s i s i s

true rep en tance

ab­

f i r s t three th e s e s

as a p r e r e q u i s i t e

It

on t h e p a r t o f t h e S y n o d .

sin s

that

the p e n i t e n t s in n e r e x p e r ie n c e s

N orwegian S y n o d ’ s t e a c h i n g t h a t th eir

w ith the

of fo rg iv en ess.

C onference p a s t o r s , M uller Eggen, the

in sisten t

of repentance

W ithin t h i s

upon th e n eed f o r d iscu ssio n s

asso cia ted

the n e c e s s i t y

tim e

is

in p o in t o f view p r e ­

t r u l y a b s o l v e d when h e h e s . r s t h e w o r d s o f

The d i s c u s s i o n

underscores C h ristian

to.

r e v e a l the d iffe r e n c e s

C onference,

to ta sk im p en iten t,

or f o r g i v e ,

is

1872, pp. 4 4 -4 6 .

^ I b id ., pp. 4 6 -7 0 . However, t h i s d i s c u s s i o n r e v e a l s th a t a l l C o n feren ce p a s t o r s do n ot see e y e t o eye c o n c e r n in g th e d o c ­ trin e of a b so lu tio n . clu d es ance.

B e r g h , f o r e x a m p l e , i n q u o t i n g fr o m T r a c t N o. 4 , i n ­ r e f e r e n c e s w h ich ap p ea r t o m in im iz e th e heed'for" r e p e n t Op. c i t . , p . 1 7 8 . ^Eggen s a y s

that

t h e N o r w e g ia n Synod i s

g u ilty

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

o f the

266 alw ays the

in th e G o sp el, h u t a r e a l a b s o lu t io n has not occurred f o r

i n d i v i d u a l u n t i l he b e l i e v e s .

on c o n f e s s i o n p ra ctice often to.

it

sh o u ld be n o ted t h a t

o f p riv a te

on t h e

In c o n n e c tio n w ith th e

co n fessio n

even in g b efore

to

the

b e n e fic ia l p ra ctice,

th e t r a d i t i o n a l Lutheran

the p a s t o r p r io r t o

communion s e r v i c e ,

B o t h C o n f e r e n c e and S y n o d w e r e

theses

communing,

is

referred

a g r e e d t h a t t h a t was a v e r y

a nd b o t h d e p l o r e d

that fa c t

th at i t

was n o t

more e x t e n s i v e l y p r a c t i c e d . In 1874 th e Synod a g a in d i s c u s s e d tio n

at it s

annual m eetin g .

The f i v e

tim e d id n o t r e p r e s e n t any a l t e r a t i o n fo r m u la te d by p r o f e s s o r Schm idt a t request trin e,

in order

to meet o b j e c tio n s

esp ecia lly

to p ic at

its

Schm idt th e

in v iew o f the

annual m eetin g s.^

the d o c t r in e

th eses in

ab solu ­

adopted a t th a t

th eir

t e a c h i n g b u t were

t h e s y n o d i c a l Church C o u n c i l ’ s b ein g r a ise d

C on feren ce's In t h e

crux o f the d i f f e r e n c e

of

is

to th e ir d oc­

a tten tio n

fourth t h e s is again

to

th is

p r e p a r e d by

e x p r e s s e d as

fo llo w s:

A lth o u g h a b s o l u t i o n d o e s n o t b e n e f i t w i t h o u t f a i t h , and a l t h o u g h , t h e r e f o r e , an i m p e n i t e n t and u n b e l i e v i n g h y p o c r i t e does not partake o f the g i f t o f th e f o r g iv e n e s s of s i n s p rom ised t o him , th e a b s o l u t i o n i t s e l f i s n e v e r t h e l e s s alw a y s a r e a l and v a l i d a b s o l u t i o n o f G o d . I t w as p o i n t e d that

out th a t w h ile

it

is

e x tr e m e ly im p ortant t o

a b so lu tio n does not b e n e f it w ith o u t

portant

to r e a liz e

that i t

is

fa ith ,

it

is

in sist

e q u a l l y im ­

n o t o u r f a i t h w h i c h ma k es a b s o l u t i o n

same t y p e o f e r r o r a s t h e Roman C a t h o l i c s i n t h a t a b s o l u t i o n i s r e a l l y r e g a r d e d as b e i n g c o o r d i n a t e w i t h t h e s a c r a m e n ts , h a v in g an u n c h a n g i n g s a c r a m e n t a l c o n t e n t s o t h a t t h e i m p e n i t e n t r e c i p i e n t o f a b s o l u t i o n r e c e i v e s th e o b j e c t i v e f o r g i v e n e s s o f s i n s , b u t he r e c e i v e s i t to h i s judgm ent. S y n o d ic a l R ep ort, the C o n fe r en ce , 1 8 7 2 , pp. 6 8 -7 0 . ^• S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

the

Synod,

1874, p.

19.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

267 a r e a l a b so lu tio n . "upon o u r f a i t h , and c a n n o t be

Its

essence

and v a l i d i t y a r e n o t d e p e n d e n t

fo r the

content

o f G o d ' s Word i s

a l t e r e d by our b e l i e f

the

same

or d isb e lie f.'* ’

W e e n a a s v s . H. A . P r e u s . - - I n sev erely c r it ic a l

alw ays

1 8 7 5 W e enaas p u b l i s h e d h i s

Synod un der th e t i t l e W i s c o n s i n 2 ism I llu m i n e d by H i s t o r i c a l F a c t s . i n t h i s work he d e v o t e d a nu m be r o f p a g e s so d o in g he a listic

H.

A.

to the

sought to

orthodoxy

t o hi m b e c a u s e sin n er

a t t a c k on th e

Weenaas

is

Id en tify

of th e ir

d ire

th e Synod d o c t r i n e s

consequences

In

w ith a r a tio n ­

fo r the

in d ivid u al

c o r r e c t un d erstan d in g o f j u s t i f y in g

answ ered W eenaas' the r a t i o n a l i s t

p olem ic

who r e f u s e s

and who t e a c h e s

that

f a i t h ’s m erit.

The d a n g e r o u s

are e x p r e s s e d

controversy.

and m e c h a n i c a l o b j e c t i v i s m w h i c h a r e a b h o r r e n t

and f o r t h e Preus

a b so lu tio n -ju stifica tio n

salv a tio n

is

t o subm it

consequences

o f a s ma n y u n t r u t h s 4 a c c u s a t i o n s he m ak es.

con ten d in g th a t t o G o d ’ 3 Word

n ot o f grace alone but of m e r it,

in most a la rm in g te r m s ,

b ein g g u ilt y

in d e t a i l ,

fa ith .

o f W eenaas’ d o c t r in e s

and W e e n a a s i s

accused o f

and m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s

as

the

Georg S v e r d r u p 's p r e s e n t a t i o n .- - U p o n w e e n a a s ’ r e t u r n t o Norway i n

1876 i t

1£ b i c U , 2 (C hicago,

was P r o f e s s o r G e o r g S v e r d r u p who t o o k

the

lead

p p . 51 f .

W i s c o n s inlsm en

b e l y s t ved h i s t o r i s k e K jend sgjernin ger sk a n d in a v en ’ s T ry k k eri, 1873)•

5I b id ., pp.

101-18.

^ P r o f e s s o r e r n e O f t e d a l s og W e e n a a s 's ' W i s c o n s i n i s m e ' b e t r a g t e t 1 Sand'hedens' L y s . E~b G j e n s v a r t i l ' P r o f e s s o r V / e e n a a s . ( D e c o r a h , I o w a : Den n o r s k e ' S y n o d e s F o r l a g , 1 ' 8 7 6 ) , p p . 6 1 - 9 6 . P a s t o r B . J . Muus a l s o w r o t e a n a n s w e r t o W e e n a a s , p a l s k V l d n e s b y r d o f P r o f . A. Weenaas ( D e c o r a h , 1 8 7 9 ) .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

268 in p r e se n tin g the

C onference p o s i t i o n

in the

c o n tr o v e r s y w hich

co n tin u e d to be

c a r r i e d on i n a h e a t e d v e i n t h r o u g h o u t m o s t o f

the

To b a l a n c e

sev en ties.

Synod d o c t r i n e here

t h e more e x t e n s i v e p r e s e n t a t i o n

o f t h e p r e c e d i n g p a g e s an a r t i c l e

summarized a s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e

ence,

1877 i s

T his a r t i c l e ,

en titled

o f the v iew h e ld in the

co n flicts

about

The d o c t r i n a l c o n t r o v e r s y , a b s o l u t i o n and t h e G o s p e l,

concerned w ith the c e n t r a l d o c tr in e f i c a t i o n by f a i t h . tended th a t the

the

L a t e l y , he s a y s ,

strife

in a s t r i f e

q u estion

a nd t h e

about

sh o u ld be d is c u s s e d ,

give?

i s about the

the

ab solu tion

Sverdrup s a y s ,

of the

fo rg iv en ess

in

of s in s .

now i s

of C h r is t’s death,

con­

the be­

was i n e v i t ­ of sin s

p rim a rily concerned

of s in s .

Whom d o e s God f o r ­

a man h i s s i n s ?

o f God?

sin s

It

forgiven ess

How d o e s

H aving p r e s e n t e d

summary, S v e r d r u p s a y s

f o r g i v e n a l l men t h e i r

now

ju sti­

the u n i v e r s a l i t y o f

q u e s t i o n s who and w h e n , a g a i n and a g a i n t h e

at th e tim e

is

N orwegian Synod h a s

th a t the

and th e s t r i f e

s i n n e r become a c h i l d

Synod’s d octrin e

God h a s

a f t e r the i n i t i a l

a t o n e m e n t and i t s u n i v e r s a l i t y ,

forgiven ess

A t w h a t t i m e d o e s God f o r g i v e lo st

in

The L u t h e r a n C h u r c h h a s n e v e r made a d i s t i n c t i o n

tween j u s t i f i c a t i o n

w ith the

the

J u stifica tio n

in L utheran t h e o l o g y ,

C onference has n ever q u estio n ed

atonem ent.

poor,

C onfer­

w hich appeared in K v a r t a l - S k r i f t

" J u s t i f i c a t i o n by F a i t h and t h e

o f t h e World."'*'

ab le

o f Sverdrup’ s i s

a t l e a s t b y t h e i n c r e a s i n g l y p o w e r f u l New T e n d e n c y i n

C onference.

but

o f the

th at in

a

the

answer t o th e

Synod a n s w e r s t h a t

and t h i s f o r g i v e n e s s

or e v e n fr om e t e r n i t y .

occurred

The S y n o d

- * - " R e t f a e r d i g g j o r e l s e a f Tro og V e r d e n s r e t f a e r d i g g j o r e l s e , " p r o f e s s o r G eorg S v e r d r u p ’ s Sam lede S k r i f t e r i U d v a l g , e d . He H a n d , I , 2 5 5 - 7 8 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

269 has d i f f i c u l t y w ith the be

angry w it h

a s i n n e r whose

Sverdrup d e c la r e s , has

sets

tw o d i s p o s i t i o n s

t h e Law,

the

q u e s t i o n o f God’ s w r a th ,

other

says

that

in

fore,

in consequence

I am o n e o f t h o s e

in h is

sig h t;

gladd en y o u r s e l f in

answer t o fo rg iv es b eliev e.

the

ago.

in

ju stifica tio n .

a ll,

is

if

in g of prayer,

in co n cep t,

d ir e c t ly w ith f a it h , of

ju stifica tio n

a s a c r y from th e

I am

is

aid

C o n f e r e n c e ’ s em­

g iv es

s in n e r ’ s m eet­ th e C a te c h is m ’s

when t h e y

and makes

C atechism p l a c e s not

as

God

ju stifica tio n

to fa ith ,

in tim e ,

so t h a t

it

fa ith

and c o n n e c t s

ju stify in g

fa ith

a p r a y e r and th e

and

grant­

d e e p and t h e a n s w e r f r o m on

a p e r s o n a l m eetin g betw een th e ^• I b l d . , p p .

there­

then?

a ll th eir sin s

p rior

p rior to

God’ s d e c l a r a t i o n

It

th e Synod s e p a r a t e s

the

ju stifica tio n

the

l a i d on t h e

of fa ith .

a l o n g time

ju stifica tio n

th erefore

t h e who and when o f f o r g i v e n e s s :

th erefore, it

a n d God h a s

a nd f r e e . ” ^

p e n i t e n t and b e l i e v i n g s i n n e r s

p laces

Sverdrup

a l o g i c a l reck on in g

contrast,

stress

ex p erien ce

q u estion o f

’’w h i l e ,

s o t h a t upon the

Why be a f r a i d

c o m p le te ly u n co n d itio n ed by f a i t h ,

h igh ,

G osp el,

S o b e o f g o o d c h e e r , my h e a r t ,

that,

a personal one, for

from f a i t h . ,

one i n c o n s e q u e n c e o f

[ f o r whom C h r i s t d i e d j ;

God, y o u a r e p u r e

i n g w i t h God a nd h i s

t h a t God

h e h a s h i m s e l f t o l d me t h a t i n a b s o l u t i o n ,

Sverdrup contends is

a nd

’’C h r i s t d i e d f o r

w h i c h I many t i m e s h a v e h e a r d .

p h asis

o f the

judgment

God f o r g a v e me 1 8 0 0 y e a r s

ju stified

sin n ers,

th e Synod s y s t e m f a i t h b e c o m e s

a ll.

The S y n o d ,

th e rem arkable d o c t r i n e

over a g a in st

somewhat as f o l l o w s : forgiven

s in has been fo rg iv en ?

forth

same p e r s o n h e p r o n o u n c e s

f o r how c a n God

s o u l a n d God .

.

255-68.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

.

."

in

op p osition fied

to

th e C a tech ism t h e Synod h o l d s

a l l men t h r o u g h t h e r e s u r r e c t i o n

g iv e n and p r e s e n t e d Word.

a ll

b eliev in g . cep t the

and t h a t i t

S p i r i t and t h e Synod p l a c e s

where

longs.'*'

out

d octrin e

o f the

is

grace

o f the

is

the

o f s i n s under the

Creed i n s t e a d

o f under the T hird

ju stifica tio n

im p o ssib le

in d iv id u a l,

that i t

be­

o f the w orld,

to th e developm ent o f a for con gregation al l i f e ,

t o d e v e l o p p r o p e r l y w h e r e m an ’ s

and h i s

s e r i o u s m e e t i n g w i t h God do n o t

c o r r e c t em p h asis.^

Sverdrup’s a r tic le means s a i d t h e

la st

versy.

H. G. S t u b ,

a rticle

in the

is

a co n v in cin g one,

word i n t h e

decade, w h ile

Synod and t h e C o n fe r en ce rem ained t e n s e , in g w ith the a b s o lu t io n - j u s t if ic a t io n 259.

contro­

c o m m e n te d on t h e a b o v e

S y n o d ’ s p e r i o d i c a l f o r M arc h 1 ,

1I b i d . , p.

b u t he b y n o

a b so lu tio n -ju stifica tio n

f o r exam ple, b r i e f l y

d u rin g th e rem ainder o f th e

Maade a t 132-37 .

m echanical con­

the work o f th e H o ly

forgiven ess

o f the

in

t o t h e p e n i t e n t and

He h a s p r e v i o u s l y s a i d t h a t

a b a s ic hin drance

for it

personal r e sp o n sib ility the

th is

God's grace

th e w h o le C h r i s t i a n Church c o n f e s s e s

con gregation ,

receiv e

Gospel o f f e r s

o f con sid eration

The S y n o d ’ s d o c t r i n e

life

t o a l l who h a v e h e a r d H i s

th at because o f i t s

o f the A p o stle s'

Sverdrup c o n c lu d e s ,

or th e

gives

ordo s a l u t i s .

the

Second A r t i c l e A rticle

th a t the

Sverdrup con ten d s

Synod l e a v e s

o f J e s u s a n d t h a t God h a s

ju stifica tio n

The C a t e c h i s m s a y s

C h rist t o

free

th is

t h a t God h a s j u s t i ­

1878.

However,

f e e l i n g s betw een th e rela tiv ely

little

d ea l­

c o n tr o v e r s y appears in

2I b id ., pp.

the

268-78.

S ,’P r o v e r p a s P r o f . O f t e d a l s o g S v e r d r u p s p o l e m i k e l l e r f 8 r e d e n k i r k e l i g e Kamp p a a , " E . L* K . , V ( 1 8 7 8 ) ,

with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

271

p erio d ica ls.

T h a t d i d n o t mean t h a t

the

P a r fr o m i t .

R ather,

and p u r p o s e s ,

had r e s u l t e d .

in

a ll in ten ts

but w ith l i t t l e

by an a r t i c l e

w ritten

1 8 7 8 , w h ic h he e n t i t l e d

tific a tio n .” ticu la r,

ta ctics

In t h i s

a stalem ate

apparent e f f e c t . b y B . J . M uu s ,

T his

is

so w e l l

app earin g e a r ly

’’Old a nd New T e s t i m o n y c o n c e r n i n g J u s ­

a rticle,

h e m a k es e x t e n s i v e

litera tu re

settled .

The same a r g u m e n t s h a d b e e n r e p e a t e d t i m e a n d a g a i n

from b o t h s i d e s , illu stra ted

to

c o n t r o v e r s y was

in

answer t o

q u o ta tio n s

w hich had a p p ea red

J.

A. B e r g h ,

from th e

ten y ea rs

ea rlier

in p a r­

co n tro v ersia l in

and a r g u m e n t s h a d n o t a p p r e c i a b l y a l t e r e d

show ing t h a t du rin g

the

decade C on clu sion o f A b so lu tio n C ontroversy In t h e

decade

o f the e i g h t i e s

the

S y n o d was t o o much o c ­

cupied w ith th e E le c t i o n

C on troversy to argue w ith th e C onference

a b o u t much o f a n y t h i n g .

In 1890 th e C on feren ce

in

the U n it e d Church.

Not u n t i l

lo st

its

1906 d i d m ost N o r w e g ia n -A m e ric a n

L u t h e r a n s r e a c h an a g r e e m e n t c o n c e r n i n g a b s o l u t i o n . d ifferen ces

a s s o c ia te d w ith the d o c tr in e

qu ired even

lon ger.

Church, to

ab so lu tio n ,

but the

of

to a se t

re­

the U n ited

o f theses

in regard

r e c e n t l y c r e a t e d L utheran F ree Church,

o f t h e New T e n d e n c y i n t h e C o n f e r e n c e ,

th a t agreem ent.

O vercom ing

ju stifica tio n

N orwegian s y n o d ,

a nd H a u g e ’ s S y n o d s u b s c r i b e d

con tin u a tion in

In 1906 t h e

id en tity

The f o l l o w i n g a r e

the

was n o t

ab solu tion

theses

1906: ^''Gammelt o g N yt V i d n e s b y r d om R e t f a e r d i g g j o r e l s e n , " E. L. K ., V ( 1 8 7 8 ) , 6 5 - 7 4 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission .

the

alon g of

272 1. A b s o l u t i o n , w h i c h i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e command o f God and i n H i s name i s d e c l a r e d t o t h o s e who r e q u e s t t h e com­ f o r t o f t h e G o s p e l , i s G o d ' s own a b s o l v i n g a c t t h r o u g h t h e m i n i s t r y o f t h e Wo rd. 2. I n a b s o l u t i o n God d e c l a r e s t o t h e s i n n e r t h e g r a c i o u s f o r g i v e n e s s o f a l l h i s s i n s a s a b l e s s i n g o f g r a c e and r e c o n ­ c i l i a t i o n , w h i c h h a s b e e n i n s t i t u t e d and a c q u i r e d t h r o u g h t h e m e r i t s o f t h e b l o o d o f J e s u s and e m b o d i e d i n t h e m e r c i f u l prom ise o f the G osp el f o r a p p r o p r ia t io n by th e s i n n e r . 3. The i n s t r u m e n t b y w h i c h t h e s i n n e r r e c e i v e s , a p p r o ­ p r i a t e s a n d t h u s becom es a p a r t a k e r o f t h e g i f t and t r e a s u r e o f f o r g i v e n e s s o f s i n s w h i c h i s o f f e r e d , d e c l a r e d and b e s t o w e d b y God i n a b s o l u t i o n , i s f a i t h . 4. A b s o l u t i o n i t s e l f i s a lw a y s a r e a l and v a l i d a b s o l u ­ t i o n o f God, e v e n t h o u g h i t d o e s n o t p r o f i t w i t h o u t f a i t h , and e v en t h o u g h th e i m p e n i t e n t and u n b e l i e v i n g h y p o c r i t e c o n ­ s e q u e n t l y d o es n o t become a p a r t a k e r o f t h e g i f t o f t h e f o r ­ g i v e n e s s o f s i n d e c l a r e d t o him t h e r e i n . 5. When i t i s s t a t e d i n e c c l e s i a s t i c a l l a n g u a g e , a n d r i g h t l y s o , t h a t o n l y t h e p e n i t e n t s h o u l d be a b s o l v e d , i t i s n o t t h e r e b y m e a n t t h a t t h e o n e who a d m i n i s t e r s t h e p o w e r o f t h e k e y s i s a b l e t o d i s c e r n t h e h e a r t s and t o p a s s j u d g m e n t on t h e s p i r i t u a l c o n d i t i o n o f t h e p e r s o n s e e k i n g t o b e a b ­ s o l v e d , b u t o n ly t h a t i t i s the d u ty o f th e m i n i s t r y t o g iv e c o n s c i e n t i o u s a t t e n t i o n t o t h e p r o f e s s i o n i n w or d an d d e e d on t h e p a r t o f t h e c o n f e s s o r s , l e s t t h e h o l y b e g i v e n t o t h e d o g s and t h e p e a r l s be c a s t b e f o r e s w i n e ( M a t t . 7 : 6 ) . T his

a b solu tion

c o n tr o v e r s y occu p ied the

w e g ia n -A m erican L uth erans any o f th e

in

consequence

o f the Syn od's to p ics

and laym en c o n c l u d e d t h a t as

a r esu lt,

its

the C onferen ce

group was d e v e l o p i n g , w ith e ith e r

the

and i t s

in flu en ce

upon th e

o f s y n o d s was c o r r e s p o n d i n g l y g r e a t .

c o n t r o v e r s y and r e l a t e d

o f Nor­

over a lo n g e r p e r io d o f tim e than d id

other c o n tr o v e r s ie s,

ment and a l i g n m e n t

a tten tio n

d efin itio n

of its

p o sitio n

t h a t man y r e c e n t l y s p i r i t was a l i e n

N orwegian Synod or t h e

It

was

in

th is

arrived p a stors

to t h e i r s , and,

grew r a p i d l y i n s i z e .

made u p o f t h o s e

d evelop ­

A la rg e

who c o u l d n o t b e E llin g ia n s

cen tral

sa tisfied

(H auge's

Synod).

M. B r u c e ( e d . ) , The TJnion D o c u m e n t s o f t h e E v a n g e l i ­ c a l L u t h e r a n C h u r c h w i t h a H i s t o r i c a l S u r v e y o f the' ' L h i i o V M o v e ­ ment ( M in n e a p o lis : A u g s b u r g ' p u b l i s h i n g H o u s e , 1 9 4 6 ) ’," p." § 8 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

273

The

"Open D e c l a r a t i o n ”

An A t t a c k u p o n t h e S y n o d I t was n o t l o n g a f t e r h i s of

1873 t h a t P r o f e s s o r

b r i g h t l y burning f i r e p u b lica tio n ea rly

in

of

a r r i v a l i n A m erica in th e P a l l

S v e n O f t e d a l h e a p e d f u e l on t h e a l r e a d y o f controversy.

"open D e c l a r a t i o n "

in

T his

occurred w ith the

th e newspaper Skandinaven

1874.^

The d e c l a r a t i o n was d a t e d J a n u a r y 2 0 , 1 8 7 4 , and o a p p e a r e d o v e r t h e s i g n a t u r e s o f O f t e d a l and W e e n a a s . T his docu ment l e f t

no d o u b ts

i n t h e m in d o f a n y o n e w h e r e t h e y o u n g ,

re25

c en tly -a rriv ed

p rofessor stood

O f t e d a l h a d l o s t no t i m e

in

the

in p a r t i c i p a t i n g

c o n f e r e n c e s betw een r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s Synod,

such as th o se h e l d

January,

1874.^

th e o lo g ic a l controversy. in

lo c a l th eo lo g ica l

o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e and t h e

in M in neapolis

i n D ecem ber, 1 8 7 3 , and

I t w as i m m e d i a t e l y e v i d e n t

t h a t h e w o u l d be a

•^Supra, p p . 1 8 9 f . ^The t e x t o f t h e d e c l a r a t i o n may be f o u n d i n B e r g h , Den n o r sk lu t h e r s k e K irkes H l s t o r i e i A m erika, p p . 2 3 1 -3 4 , or in H e l T a n d , A u g s b u r g Se m in ar' g'jennem f e m t i a a r , p p . 4 4 0 - 4 2 . ^ I n h i s m e m o i r s , w r i t t e n s i x t e e n y e a r s l a t e r , W e en a as s t a t e s t h a t t h e rumor was c i r c u l a t i n g t h a t O f t e d a l was r e a l l y a s e c r e t f r i e n d o f the N orwegian S y n o d . W eenaas, in s p e a k in g t o O f t e d a l a b o u t t h a t s i t u a t i o n , s t a t e d t h a t i t w ould be n e c e s s a r y f o r o n e o f t h e m t o make a p u b l i c e x p l a n a t i o n . O fted al agreed to p r e p a r e s u c h an e x p l a n a t i o n , w h i c h t o o k t h e f o r m o f t h e "Open D e c l a r a t i o n " and t o w h i c h W e e n a a s a p p e n d e d h i s s i g n a t u r e . W eenaas, M in d e b la d e , p p . 81 f . ^ " F o r h a n d l i n . g e r n e med d e n n o r s k - d a n s k e C o n f e r e n c e i M in ­ n e a p o l i s , " E . L . K *, I ( 1 8 7 4 ) , 6 5 - 7 0 ; " V i d e r e p o r h a n d l i n g e r n e med den n orsk -d a n sk e C onference i M in n e a p o lis," i b i d . . 8 2 -9 1 . Synod p a s t o r s H. G. S t u b and B . J . Muus p a r t i c i p a t e d i n b o t h ; C o n f e r ­ e n c e p r o f e s s o r s W e en aa s a n d O f t e d a l a nd p a s t o r P a u l s o n p a r t i c i ­ p a t e d i n t h e f i r s t , w i t h O f t e d a l and P a u l s o n t a k i n g p a r t i n t h e second. The r e p o r t i n t h e S y n o d o r g a n g i v e s t h e d a t e s o f m e e t i n g

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

274

strong a lly

o f W e e n a a s , who t h u s

p o le m ic a l burden l a r g e l y a l o n e . o f "Open D e c l a r a t i o n "

did i t

f a r had c a r r i e d E sp ecia lly a fter

become e v i d e n t t h a t

C o n feren ce had proc\ired a d e te r m in e d the

o f the

it

was

in

O fted al the

and o u t s p o k e n a n t a g o n i s t o f

such a c o n t r o v e r t e d docum ent,

"Open D e c l a r a t i o n "

d irected

again st

ism,'*' a s

it

attack,

is

the

deserve

p a p istic

in sisted

that

e ith e r pastors

p rin cip le.

" C ath olicizin g"

t o be

N orwegian S y n o d ,

or r a th e r

o rg a n iza tio n

and I n a t y p e

contem pt f o r r e l i g i o u s

It

object

o r c o n g r e g a t i o n a l members,

com bine t o p rodu ce a r e l i g i o u s

contents

of

b u t an a n t i

perm eated b y a

in G r u n d tv ig ia n ism 's

of sch o la sticism ,

in d ifferen ce

is

a g a in s t W iscon sin

are not the

W iscon sin ism o r ig in a t e s aspect

the

summarized h e r e .

in d iv id u a ls

C h r i s t i a n t e n d e n c y and a d a n g e r o u s

most

the p u b lic a tio n

N orwegian Synod. Because

its

the C o n feren ce's

that

is

aw akening and s p i r i t u a l l i f e

w hich

m an ifest in th e

in a

congre

g a t i o n a n d i n an - u n w i l l i n g n e s s o r i n a b i l i t y t o e s t a b l i s h a t h e o p l o g i c a l sem inary. I t s c h i e f a i m , t h a t o f d e v e l o p i n g an a l i ­ a s D e c e m b e r 1 8 , 1 8 7 5 , and J a n u a r y 1 5 , 1 8 7 4 . The d a t e s D e c e m b e r 2 0 - 2 1 , 1 8 7 3 , and January 15 , 1 8 7 4 , are g iv e n in th e m in u tes tak en down by t w o C o n f e r e n c e s t u d e n t s e l e c t e d a s s e c r e t a r i e s a n d p u b ­ lis h e d by the C onferen ce. 0 . N i l s e n and G. G j e r t s e n , R e f e r a t f r a F a e l l e s d l s c u s s i o n s m o d e r n e i M i n n e a p o l i s , M i n n . 2 0 d e pe'cb'r. 18^5T o g 1 5 d e J a n u a r 1874" ( M i n n e a p o l i s : Konf e r e n t s e n s " F o r ' l a g s f o r e n i n g s T ryk k erl, 1874). Sven O f t e d a l w ro te a forew ord t o th e l a t t e r in w h ic h he r e v e a l e d t h a t c h u r c h c o n t r o v e r s y in A m erica had a l r e a d y made a p a i n f u l i m p r e s s i o n u p o n h i m . He s a y s t h a t he i s g l a d t h a t t h e s e m i n u t e s were b e i n g p u b l i s h e d b e c a u s e Synod r e p o r t s o f t h e same m e e t i n g s w e r e i n a c c u r a t e . ■*"The N o r w e g i a n S y n o d was s o m e t i m e s c a l l e d t h e W i s c o n s i n S y n o d b e c a u s e i n i t s e a r l y p e r i o d s o many o f i t s l a r g e c o n g r e g a ­ t i o n s and p r o m i n e n t l e a d e r s w e r e l o c a t e d i n s o u t h e r n W i s c o n s i n . ^The S y n o d c o n t i n u e d t o s e n d C oncordia Sem inary, S t . L o u is , u n t i l

its th eo lo g ica l 1876.

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

students

to

275

pow erful o r g a n iz a tio n ,

is

apparent in the

and p r a c t i c a l C a t h o l i c i s m . " W iscon sin ism r e v e a ls ra tio n a listic efforts (а)

itse lf

orthodoxy,

t o make t h i s

sin

in th e

f o ll o w in g form s:

a P ro testa n t sch olasticism ?

w hich h in d e r s

the h earin g

of pastors

(3)

cem ete r ie s w ith o th e r s;

Its

d octrin e

(1)

In a

(2)

in

(b )

o f othersynods; (d)

ju stifica tio n

its

By f o r b i d ­ (c)

By r e f u s ­

By r e f u s i n g t o

(e) By s t r e s s i n g c e r t a i n

co n c er n in g the

of

con gregation s —

sp iritu a lity ;

i n g h o s p i t a l i t y t o m em b ers o f o t h e r s y n o d s ; share

" th eo retica l

" t h e o r e t ic a l C ath olicism "

orthodoxy e v id e n t in i t s

By an e x c l u s i v i s m

d in g as

The

form o f

catchw ords.

o f th e w o r ld , w hich

e lim in a tes personal r e s p o n s ib ilit y . The " p r a c t i c a l C a t h o l i c i s m " self

in

the

f o l l o w i n g : (1)

aims a t

the

erectio n

a l concept of in d isso lu b le its

the

of

p op ery's

about

(б ) In i t s synod— in (7)

In t h e d o c t r i n e

(sy n o d ica l)

lay a c tiv ity .

church c o u n c il at

con gregation al s e lf-d e te r m in a tio n . conferences

ch ief corn er-ston e:

(2)

(of p astors)

(5)

In I t s

from w h i c h th e

(4)

a sacram ent­

o f an (3)

In the

in

p la cin g

the expense o f secret d o ctrin a l

l a i t y were e x c l u d e d .

e n m ity a g a i n s t any e d u c a t io n not c o n t r o l l e d by th e the

In i t s The

p u b lic

d o ctrin e

s c h o o l and n a t i o n a l N orwegian s c h o o l s . o f the

d iv in e

"Open D e c l a r a t i o n "

leg itim a cy of sla v e r y .

goes

on t o s a y t h a t w i t h

tude and p r i n c i p l e s W isc o n sin is m i n t e n d s , of

it­

o f a b s o l u t i o n w hich

b e t w e e n p a s t o r and c o n g r e g a t i o n .

u n -C h ristian d octrin e

o f p a s t o r s by t h e

In t h e d o c t r i n e

clerica l o ffic e .

rela tio n

o f W iscon sin sim r e v e a ls

in d iv id u a lity ,

the

self-d eterm in a tio n ,

su b ju gation

a nd t h e

of the

exh au stion

through the

rig h t

life,

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

a tti­

o b litera tio n

co n g reg a tio n 's

of relig io u s

its

to

of

276 esta b lish

a h ig h ly organ ized synod,

th erefore,

"and we r e g a r d W i s c o n s i n s i m ,

a s an a n t i - C h r i s t i a n t e n d e n c y

gerous o r g a n iz a tio n

( c l e r i c a l d esp otism ),

upon C h r i s t i a n i t y ’ s e s s e n c e , p e o p l e ’ s freedom ."

( u n i v e r s a l i s m ) , ■*- a d a n ­

the

and a d i r e c t a t t a c k

c o n g r e g a t i o n ’ s r i g h t and th e

R e s t i n g upon o p p o s i t e p r i n c i p l e s ,

the C onfer­

e n c e c a n n o more b e r e c o n c i l e d w i t h t h e S y n o d " t h a n C h r i s t and B elia l, the

than f i r e

The s o l u t i o n

accom plishm ent o f the r e l i g i o u s

sim ple

d octrin es

the D e c la r a tio n life

and w a t e r . "

ta s k o f p reserv in g L uther’ s

f o r t h e N o rw eg ia n s i n A m erica a r e e x p l a i n e d by i n t e r m s o f t h e n e e d f o r an a w a k e n e d C h r i s t i a n

and an a w a r e n e s s

d u ty o f the

o f t h e p r o b l e m a nd

p eop le.

fou n d ation o f th e

o f the r ig h t s

o f t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n a nd t h e

Any u n i t y o f s y n o d s c a n b e b u i l t

free

self-d eterm in a tio n

o n l y on t h e

o f congregations

c o r d i n g t o Go d’ s Wor d, n o t on p a s t o r a l c o n f e r e n c e s

ac­

or p r iv a te

agreem ents. The a u t h o r s t i c a l aim s.

o f th e document t h e n s e t

They i n t e n d

to d ir e c t

aw akening o f s p i r i t u a l l i f e a tten tio n

con gregation s, because the variou s

con clu d e w ith the

They g i v e

conferen ces,

th ey h elp t o

g r o u p s and c a s t statem ent:

th eir e ffo r ts

to

the

and t o t h a t e n d w i l l g i v e u n d i v i d e d

t o Augsburg Sem inary.

to the h o ld in g o f l o c a l free

a ll

f o r t h t h e i r own p r a c ­

a little

r estr a in e d approval arranged f o r by l o c a l

c la r if y rela tio n sh ip s lig h t.

"We f e e l

W e en a a s and O f t e d a l

im p elled

'open d e c l a r a t i o n ’ in order not t o sta n d

between

t o make t h i s

in a f a l s e

lig h t

eith er

■^The w or d " u n i v e r s a l i s m " m u s t r e f e r t o t h e d o c t r i n e o f th e j u s t i f i c a t i o n o f th e w orld d i s c u s s e d in p r e c e d in g pages in th is chapter.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

277 w ith the

Synod o r anyone else."-*The

"Open D e c l a r a t i o n ” was a n u n r e s t r a i n e d a n d i m m o d e r a t e

a t t a c k upon th e Norwegian S yn od. th e

Synod were

o f the most s e r io u s

any p r o o f w h a tso ev er i n ch a racterized C h ristian trayed sp ir it,

The c h a r g e s

in

nature

o r g a n i z a t i o n was

its

ca lled

ag a in st

and w e r e u n s u p p o r t e d b y

t h e docum ent i t s e l f .

such a way t h a t

lev elled

The S y n o d wa s

r ig h t t o be d e sig n a te d as a

in to

q u estion ,

for

it

was p o r ­

a s r e p r e s e n t i n g a d a n g e r o u s h i e r a r c h i c a l an d a n t i - C h r i s t i a n h o stile

dom o f t h e

to

a ll

C h ristia n

sp iritu a l

life

con gregation .

and t o t h e

rig h ts

an d f r e e ­

C e r t a i n l y su c h c h a r g e s would

have

t o be s u b s t a n t i a t e d by p r o o f .

N ot u n t i l t h e n e x t y e a r was

th is

u n d e r t a k e n when W e e n a a s p u b l i s h e d h i s W i s c o n s i n i s m .

p

R e a c tio n s produced by I t The p u b l i c a t i o n reaction s

in

the

from d i s b e l i e f p erio d ica l

"Open D e c l a r a t i o n "

camp o f b o t h f r i e n d a n d f o e ,

to

co n stern a tio n .

fo r February 13,

a p eru sa l o f the proverb to

of

produced v i o l e n t reaction s

I t was r e p r i n t e d i n

ran gin g

the Synod’s

1 8 7 4 , w i t h t h e e d i t o r i a l comment t h a t

"Open D e c l a r a t i o n " b r i n g s

t o m in d t h e

o ld L atin

t h a t t h e g o d s f i r s t c a u s e t o g o mad t h o s e 3 whom t h e y w i l l d e s t r o y . One m i g h t h a v e e x p e c t e d a c a r e f u l r e f ­ u ta tio n

the e f f e c t

f r o m t h e S y n o d b u t n o n e was f o r t h c o m i n g .

S y n o d men r e g a r d e d a tten tio n .

pp.

the

charges as

too

fa n ta stic

The c h u r c h o f N o r w a y h a d b e e n r a t h e r

A pparently

to be

c o o l to

■^Bergh, Den n o r s k l u t h e r s k e K i r k e s H i s t o r i e 231-34. 2Supra, p .

E . L . K «, I

(1874),

that

the

1 A m erika,

267.

^"Aaben E r k l a r i n g , "

given

105.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

278 Synod, b u t the

"Open D e c l a r a t i o n ' * b r o u g h t o u t

Synod from w i t h i n

the

rep rin ted a r t i c l e s the

favorab le

to

to the

Bugge,

J o h n s o n . ’1'

defence

t h e Synod w h ic h had a p p e a r e d i n

M ost n o t a b l e

Luthersk K lr k e tid en d e , o f t h o s e who i n .Norway

o f t h e Synod was t h e

able

w id ely c ir c u la te d

au th orsh ip o f 2 i n Am erica h a s b een e s t a b l i s h e d .

R e f e r e n c e h a s p r e v i o u s l y b e e n made t o C onference

felt

that

the f a c t

ten sio n s.

the C o n fe r en ce .^

G e o r g S v e r d r u p came t o t h e It part

greater d iv isio n s

I t was i n s t r u m e n t a l i n c r e a t i n g t h e

T en d en cies w ith in

defence

A fter h is o f the

sh o u ld be n o te d t h a t t h i s o f two I n d i v i d u a l s .

on b e h a l f o f t h e

t h a t many w i t h i n

t h i s w a s a m o s t u n f o r t u n a t e a nd u n f a i r

d e c l a r a t i o n , w h ic h w ould o n ly c o n t r i b u t e t o

on t h e

p r o f e s s o r P . W.

l a t e r b i s h o p , who w r o t e a n o n y m o u s l y , b u t h i s

an a r t i c l e

the

the

The S y n o d ' s p e r i o d i c a l

i n f l u e n t i a l N orwegian pap er e n t i t l e d

e d i t e d by G i s l e rose

Norwegian C hurch.

support f o r

C onference,

a nd

O ld and New a r r i v a l In A m erica ,

d ecla ra tio n .'1

was a p e r s o n a l d e c l a r a t i o n

They were n ot a u t h o r iz e d

a nd t h e y d i d

to

speak

n o t c l a i m t o be d o i n g

so,

a s an e x p l a n a t i o n p u b l i s h e d b y t h e m i n M a rc h , 1 8 7 4 , m a k e s C clea r. In h i s p r e s i d e n t i a l a d d r e s s t o t h e 1374 c o n v e n t i o n Johan

■^See " U d t a l e l s e r f r a N o r g e i A . n l e d n i n g a f den »aa bn e» E r k la r in g ," i b i d . , 392-95; " p rofessorn e O fted als o g W een a a s's »a a b n e E r k l a r i n g , ' " i b i d . , 7 3 3 - 4 3 . p H e lla n d , Augsburg S e m in a r , p p . 101 f . ^Supra, p .

189.

^ H e lla n d , A ugsbu rg S e m in a r , pp.

109 f .

^ Ib id ., p. 105. H ella n d d e v o t e s a c h a p te r to a h e l p f u l d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e "Open D e c l a r a t i o n . " However, h i s gen erou s e v a l u a t i o n and g e n e r a l l y f a v o r a b l e r e a c t i o n t o t h e document c a n ­ n o t be s h a r e d b y t h e a u t h o r .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

27 9 O lsen s a y s its

th a t th e C onference w i l l not

opponents th a t

C onference, tion.'*'

the

fo r the

concede th e

"Open D e c l a r a t i o n "

la t t e r has

is

the

o n l y on e p l a t f o r m ,

platform its

The c o n v e n t i o n r e f u s e d t o t a k e a n y a c t i o n i n

d ecla ra tio n ,

con ten tion

of

o f the

co n stitu ­ regard to

the

a d o p tin g the f o l l o w i n g r e s o l u t i o n unanim ously:

S i n c e t h e C o n f e r e n c e d o e s n o t de e m i t s e l f a c c o u n t a b l e f o r t h e u t t e r a n c e s o f i t s i n d i v i d u a l members c o n c e r n i n g t h e v a r ­ i o u s e c c l e s i a s t i c a l t r e n d s w i t h i n t h e L u t h e r a n Church s o l o n g a s t h e i r u t t e r a n c e s do n o t c o n t a i n f a l s e t e a c h i n g , t h e Con­ f e r e n c e w i l l n o t , f o r t h a t r e a s o n , d e a l w i t h t h e "open D e c l a ­ r a t i o n " s o l o n g a s i t i s n o t a p p a r e n t from t h e f u r t h e r e x ­ p l a n a t i o n o f t h e a u t h o r s t h a t some i n c o r r e c t d o c t r i n e i s p r e s e n t e d on t h e i r p a r t . 2 Late the

in the y e a r ,

however,

C onference r e s p o n s ib le

w ritten , icism ."

ch a ra cterizes

O lsen,

in p r o t e s t in g a g a in st h o ld in g

f o r what two o f i t s

the d e c l a r a t i o n

as

m e m b er s h a d

"a v e r y i m p r u d e n t c r i t -

A gain a t th e

authors,

1875 m e e t i n g O ls e n r e i t e r a t e s t h a t 4 not the C onferen ce, are r e s p o n s ib le . And a g a i n

year the

C onference r e fu s e d

oth er about the sib ility

for

to express

"Open D e c l a r a t i o n "

itse lf

except to

the in

two that

o n e way o r t h e d isa v o w any r e s p o n ­

it.^ The W e e n a a s — P r e u s E x c h a n g e

I t was g e n e r a l l y r e c o g n i z e d t h a t ^- S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

the

the

C onference,

charges

con tain ed

in

1874, p . 23.

2 I b i d . , p p . 55 f . 3 H e lla n d , Augsburg S em in a r, p p . 105 f . H ellan d a ls o c a l l s a t t e n t i o n t o th e i n a r t i c u l a t e o p p o s i t i o n t o the d e c l a r a t i o n a t th e 1874 an n u a l m e e t i n g . T . H. D a h l e x p l a i n s t h a t h e and o t h e r s d i d n o t p u b l i c l y p r o t e s t a t th e tim e b e c a u s e t h e y wanted t o g i v e the p r o f e s s o r s o p p o r t u n i t y t o make f u r t h e r e x p l a n a t i o n s and t o p r o v i d e the r eq u ir ed p r o o f s . Ib id . ^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , 5Ib id .,

pp.

the

C onference,

1375, p . 31.

57 f .

traduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

280 the

"Open D e c l a r a t i o n "

w eigh t.

had to b e p r o v e d i f t h e y w ere t o

I t was n o t u n t i l 1875 t h a t

the aw a ited

c a r r y any

" h isto rica l

p r o o fs " were p r e s e n t e d by A ugu st w een aas i n h i s W is c o n s in is m .

In

h is

to

i n t r o d u c t o r y r e m a r k s W e en a a s

su b sta n tia te f a c t s .^

the

contents

a b l e s t m e n , H. A . P r e u s a n d B . of a rticles

gin n in g w ith th e

issu e

a l l o f the

is

h is

by h i s t o r i c a l

r e s p o n s e s b y two o f th e S y n o d ’ s J . M uus.2

o f N ov e m be r 1 9 , I t w ould be

"proofs"

preus w rote h i s

im p o ssib le t o c o n sid e r in

and a r g u m e n t s m u s t e r e d on e a c h s i d e . some o f t h e m a i n I s s u e s

in

fo r thereby fu rth er

upon t h e

p oin ts

answer

1875, and c o n t in u in g

R e f e r e n c e w i l l be made o n l y t o the w e en a a s-P re u s

purpose

In E v a n g e lis k L uthersk K i r k e t i d e n d e , b e ­

through s e v e r a l i s s u e s . d eta il

that i t

o f "Open D e c l a r a t i o n "

H is book p r e c i p i t a t e d

as a s e r i e s

states

exchange,

o f v ie w and p r a c t i c e s

as

lig h t

o f both C onference

seen is

cast

and

Synod. Weenaas e n d e a v o r s r ela ted

to show t h a t W i s c o n s i n i s m

to G ru n d tvigian ism 's

p r o o f he r e f e r s D ietrich so n ,

syn od ical c o n s titu tio n

h isto ry --to of

1851,

e a r l y c o n t r o v e r s y w ith P a s t o r P. A. Rasm ussen, o f G ru n d tvigian ism .

o rg a n ica lly

rom anizin g h i g h - c h u r c h l i n e s s •

to the sy n o d '3 e a r l i e s t

the

is

as

p a s t o r J . w. C.

and t h e S y n o d 's

a zealou s

Preus r e s p o n d s b y show ing t h a t

opponent

the Synod,

^W isconsinism en b e l y s t ved h i s t o r i s k e K j e n d s g j e r n in g e r , pp. 3 f . In t h i s c h a p t e r t h e r e f e r e n c e W e e n a a s , 'op. c i t . , r e f e r s t o t h is work. 2 Supra, p. 267. P r e u s' a r t i c l e , p u b lis h e d as a b o o k , i s e n t i t l e d P r o f e s s o r e r n e Q f t e d a ls og W een aas's 'W is c o n s ln is m e ' b e t r a g t e t 1 S a n d h e d e n s ' Ly 's . E t G j e n s v a r t i ’l ' p ' r o ' f e s s o r W e e 'n a a s . In t h i s c h a p t e r , th e r e f e r e n c e , P r eu s, o p . c i t . , r e f e r s t o t h i s work. W eenaas,

op. c i t . ,

pp. 6 -25.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

281 as

fin a lly

op p osition

o r g a n i z e d i n 1 8 5 3 , was f o u n d e d i n t h e m o s t p o s i t i v e to G rundtvigianism ,

were w i l l i n g to the sid e

S yn od.1

On t h i s

in o p p o sitio n

a fig h t the

to concede t h e ir

to d e le te

fir st

error in

apart

p o in t Preus c e r t a i n l y has h i s t o r y

o b jection ab le

G rund tvigian d o c t r i n a l view s Synod.

to G rundtvigian in f lu e n c e

It

is h is

(E m b e d s a r isto k r a ti) has

i n Norway,

for th e

not

Norwegian L u th er a n s

state-

in flu en ce

t h a t Norwegian h ig h - c h u r c h is m

c o m b i n e d w i t h German d o c t r i n a l o r t h o d o x y the r e l i g i o u s

as W is c o n s in is m .

p h en o m e n o n known by

He s p e a k s o f t h e d o c t r i n a l

b e t w e e n t h e M i s s o u r i and I o w a S y n o d s w i t h p a r t i c u l a r

to

and

in A m erica.

M i s s o u r i a n i s m and i t s

con ten tion

(L a e r e a r l s t o k r a t i ) t o p r o d u c e

its

is

fr om

fr om G r u n d t v i g i a n i n f l u e n c e , m a n i f e s t a s m u c h h i g h -

upon t h e S y n o d .

As t h e

And i t

in

t h e S y n o d ’ s g r e a t e r e m p h a s i s on l i t u r g y

W e en aa s n e x t d i s c u s s e s

ence

on h i s

f o r he p e r s o n a l l y had e n g a g e d

c h u r c h i s m a s o n e w o u l d f i n d among S y n o d p a s t o r s

strife

o f t h e Synod

a s c r ib in g G rundtvigianism

c o n s t i t u t i o n proposed fo r th e

ch u rch lin ess

opponents

t o W eenaas,

n ecessary to a scrib e

church,

and e a r l y

the b i t t e r n e s s

w ith w hich M is s o u r i c a r r i e s

Syn od's r e l a t i o n s w ith th e

refer­

on c o n t r o v e r s y .

C h u r c h o f No rwa y h a v e

cooled ,

ties

w ith M issou ri have been s t r e n g t h e n e d , e s p e c i a l l y through 2 t h e p e r s o n o f p r o f e s s o r F . A. S c h m i d t . C o o p e r a t io n b e tw e e n the Synod and M is s o u r i in been th e

the sphere

o f t h e o l o g i c a l e d u c a t io n has

f o r e m o s t means o f s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e t i e s

But c l o s e l y r e l a t e d has b een th e

In flu en ce

w ith M isso u ri.

o f M issou rian d o c tr in a l

1 P reu s, op . c i t . , pp. 4 - 1 3 . 2 P r o f e s s o r S c h m i d t was a member o f t h e M i s s o u r i S y n o d who b e c a m e a p r o f e s s o r i n t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d a nd was t o h a v e a g r e a t i n f l u e n c e on t h e h i s t o r y o f N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n s i n A m e r i c a .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

282 d iscu ssio n s ru les

and t h e

of lo g ic

d o c t r in a l th e s e s develop ed

in stea d

o f a c co r d in g to the

T his has been e v id e n t in con cern in g a b s o lu t io n ,

accord in g to th e

analogy o f f a i t h .

s u c h im p o r ta n t d o c t r i n a l m a t t e r s as t h o s e

slavery,

Sunday and t h e

th ird

co mmandment,

The N o r w e g i a n S y n o d e a r l y w a s e n g a g e d i n c o n t r o v e r s y o v e r t h e p r o p e r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n t o b e p l a c e d u p o n t h e t h i r d commandment ( L u t h e r a n e n u m e r a t i o n ) a nd i t s r e l a t i o n t o t h e c o r r e c t o b s e r v a n c e o f Sunday. S e v e n t h Day A d v e n t i s t s h a d c a u s e d d i f f i c u l t i e s f o r so m e o f t h e o l d e s t S y n o d c o n g r e g a t i o n s i n t h e e a r l y p e r i o d o f t h e i r h i s t o r y , a n d S y n o d l e a d e r s s e t a b o u t t o i n f o r m t h e i r mem­ b e r s as t o th e c o r r e c t d o c t r in e t o b e h e ld c o n c e r n in g Sunday. The S y n o d s e t f o r t h a t e a c h i n g a b o u t t h e t h i r d commandment t h a t w as s t r a n g e t o many o f i t s m em b ers s i n c e t h e y h a d b e e n s t r c n g l y i n f l u e n c e d b y p i e t i s m and b y P o n t o p p i d a n , who s i m p l y s t a t e d t h a t S u n d a y i s t h e d a y o f r e s t among C h r i s t i a n s i n s t e a d o f S a t u r d a y b e c a u s e C h r i s t r o s e f r o m t h e d e a d on t h e f i r s t d a y o f t h e w e e k . The S y n o d t e a c h i n g w a s t h a t t h e " S a b b a t h ” o f t h e t h i r d command­ ment d o es n o t r e f e r t o any s p e c i f i c d a y as f a r as C h r i s t i a n s are c o n c e r n e d ; Sunday i s n o t a d i v i n e l y o r d a in e d day o f r e s t ; th e "Sabbath" r e f e r s t o e v e r y day o f t h e C h r i s t i a n ’ s l i f e , w h ic h i s t o b e h a l l o w e d b y p r o p e r u s e o f and r e v e r e n c e f o r G o d ’ s Word; C h r i s t i a n s now o b s e r v e S u n d a y b e c a u s e i t i s t h e e s t a b l i s h e d c u s ­ tom o f t h e C h r i s t i a n C h u r c h a n d b e c a u s e t h e g o v e r n m e n t d e s i g n a t e s i t a s a day o f r e s t . F o r some t i m e C. L . C l a u s e n o f t h e S y n o d r e f u s e d t o go a l o n g w i t h t h e Synod t e a c h i n g f o r he b e l i e v e d t h a t S u n d a y w as d i v i n e l y o r d a i n e d a s t h e d a y o f r e s t , b u t h e came around t o th e o t h e r p o i n t o f v i e w . Members o f o t h e r s y n o d s , E l l i n g i a n s , A u g u s t a n a n s , a n d memb ers o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e , t o o k e x c e p t i o n t o t h i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e t h i r d co mm an dm e nt . See R o h n e , o p . c i t . , p p . 2 2 3 - 2 6 ; J . Y l v i s a k e r , " L a e r e n om d e t t r e d j e Bud og s o n d a g e n y In F e s t s k r i f t , e d . H a l v o r s e n , p p . 2 3 6 - 4 1 . D u r in g t h e s e v e n t i e s one o c c a s i o n a l l y f i n d s C o n fe r e n c e m em b ers d i s a g r e e i n g w i t h t h e S y n o d on t h i s p o i n t . W eenaas, f o r e x a m p l e , a t a m e e t i n g i n 1 8 7 2 , c o n t e n d e d t h a t b y t h e t h i r d co m­ man dment God h a s d i v i n e l y o r d a i n e d t h a t C h r i s t i a n s s h o u l d o b s e r v e one d a y o u t o f t h e w e e k , a n y one t h a t t h e y a g r e e u p o n , a s a S a b ­ bath day. S . S . R e q u e , "Et Mode med P r o f . W e e n a a s o g F l e r e i T r e m p e l e a u V a l l e y , W i s c o n s i n , " K« M. , XVII ( 1 8 7 2 ) , 2 6 5 . In K v a r t a l - S k r i f t d u r i n g 1878 and Sverdrup ran a lo n g a r t i c l e s e r i a l l y d e a l i n g w i t h th e Sunday q u e s t i o n in w h ich , a f t e r d e a l i n g w i t h th e h i s t o r i c a l d ev elo p m en t o f th e o b se r v a n ce o f S ab b ath and Sunday, he u n d e r s c o r e s the im p ortan ce o f " h allow in g" Sunday. "Sondagen og den s H e l l i g h o l d e l s e ," P r o f e s s o r Georg S v erd ru p s S a m l e d e S k r i f t e r i U d v a l g , e d . He H a n d , i ' , r 3 1 1 ^ 5 7 V T his q u e s t i o n r e g a r d in g th e p r o p e r a t t i t u d e tow ards Sunday w a s d i s t u r b i n g e n o u g h s o t h a t a s t a t e m e n t was made c o n c e r n i n g i t i n t h e d o c t r i n a l s e t t l e m e n t t h a t w as t h e b a s i s f o r t h e U n i o n o f 1890. in fra , p. 427.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

285

lay a c t iv it y ,

church d i s c i p l i n e ,

in ter p r e ta tio n . great

The

In flu en ce

In c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e

and s l a v e r y .

In t h e s e

and p r i n c i p l e s

of S crip tu ra l

o f M issotiri has been p a r t i c u l a r l y

co n tro v ersies

and o t h e r

concernin g a b s o lu tio n

con tro v ersies

th er e has been a

c o n s t a n t d e p e n d en ce upon th e M i s s o u r i a n t h e s e s . sisten t

in clin a tio n

to deprecate

There i s

a per­

t h e C h u r c h o f Norway a n d t o

e u lo g iz e M issou ri. Preus strife

contends

t h a t W e e n a a s*

b e t w e e n M i s s o u r i and t h e

a " u n i o n i s t , " Weenaas h a s t h e u n fa ir

in p o rtra y in g

opponents.

Iowa Synod i s

th a t w h ile weenaas

on t o s a y t h a t W e e n a a s h a s

what t h e

nam ely,

M i s s o u r i Synod i n d o c t r i n a l m a t t e r s

show t h a t

th is

u n i t y b e t w e e n them i s

of

its

He

great

len gth s

to prove

the

in flu en ce

of the

and t h e S y n o d ' s d e p e n d e n c e

has been p e r n ic io u s

n o t b a s e d on t h e Word o f God .

clu siv ism ,

d o c tr in a l a risto cra cy ,

is

It

charges

and o r t h o d o x y .

s p i r i t u a l te n d e n c y o f w hich he sp e a k s

fa iled

to

or t h a t th e e x i s t i n g

s t a n d p o i n t t h a t c a u s e s him t o r a i s e

op.

He i s

Synod a r e a c c u s e d b o t h

u n io n istic

^W eenaas,

eyes

as

t h e Synod o f

t h e o l o g i c a l s e m i n a r y , ^ b u t Weenaas h as in flu en ce

Iowa.

g u i l t y o f low -churchism .

gone t o

Synod h a s n e v e r d e n i e d ,

on M i s s o u r i ' s

accuses

th e M is s o u r i Synod and the

d o ctrin a l

b iased because,

same p o i n t o f v i e w a s

i n E u r o p e a n d i n .A m e ri ca o f b e i n g goes

of the

th e M isso u r i Synod through the

Preus sa y s

h igh -ch u rch ism ,

p ictu re

i s W eenaas' of ex-

The d a n g e r o u s

on ly a n o n -e x is t e n t

c i t . , pp. 26-62.

p

^ P r e u s m a k e s an u n c o m p l i m e n t a r y r e f e r e n c e t o A u g s b u r g Sem in ary, s t a t i n g th a t he p r e f e r s sound food at a f o r e ig n t a b le t o s u c h " n a t io n a l" h a s h (L a p sk a u s) as I s s e r v e d a t A u g sb u rg . Op. c i t . , p . 2 6 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

284 phantom .^ The d i s c u s s i o n the

fact

of its

in terp reta tio n s

i n f l u e n c e upon t h e

in

sec tio n o f h is

app ointed ta sk o f

d ifferen t

in flu en ce.

h o o k W e en aa s a c t u a l l y

gets

fo rth the p a r tic u la r s w here­

th e Synod m a n i f e s t s what has h een d e f i n e d as W is c o n s in is m , t h e c h a r g e s made i n

makes i t

th a t W iscon sin ism

clear

o r g a n i z e d N orwegian S y n o d ,

the

essence

orthodoxy i s

to d ogm atics,

the

d isso lu tio n

seen

in

d octrin es. its

A ccordin g t o

of

fa ith

sch o la sticism

syn od ical r ep o rts,

H . A* P r e u s ’ s y n o d i c a l a d d r e s s e s , carried

on a t

the d o c tr in e

its

annual m e e tin g s.

of ju stific a tio n ,

minded o f an a s s e m b la g e ^ Ib id ., pp.

w ith the

"Open D e c l a r a t i o n , " of t h e o l o g y

i n t o dead k n o w le d g e , and f o r the

The S y n o d ’ s r a t i o n a l i s t i c

p rin ted

He

th at body th ere are th o se p it. " R a t i o n a l i s t i c orthodoxy"

e v id e n c e d by t h e l i m i t i n g

a d e p e n d en ce upon P r o t e s t a n t its

"Open D e c l a r a t i o n . "

of

for w ith in

o f W iscon sin ism .

ra tio n a listic

the

i s n o t t o be i d e n t i f i e d

among t h e l a i t y who a r e o p p o s e d t o

of

o f th at

settin g

su b sta n tia tin g

is

agreement as t o

S yn od h u t t w o t o t a l l y

o f the s i g n i f i c a n c e

In th e n ex t down t o h i s

over M issourianism r e v e a ls

its

estab lish m en t

o r th o d o x y can be

p erio d ica l,

its

tracts,

and t h e d o c t r i n a l d i s c u s s i o n s Of t h e S y n o d ’ s h a n d l i n g o f

f o r e x a m p l e , he s a y s :

o f l a w y e r s whose b a s i c

task

"One i s is

re­

to accuse,

13-S I.

^ w e e n a a s and O f t e d a l r e p e a t e d l y i n s i s t e d t h a t t h e i r a t ­ t a c k was d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t n o s p e c i f i c i n d i v i d u a l s , n o r e v e n a g a i n s t t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d s p e c i f i c a l l y , b u t r a t h e r t h a t i t was a w arning a g a i n s t a s p i r i t u a l te n d e n c y . T h i s d i s t i n c t i o n , how­ e v e r , was d i f f i c u l t t o m a i n t a i n b e c a u s e t h e r e w e r e o b v i o u s l y p o i n t e d r e f e r e n c e s to t h e Synod i n the o r i g i n a l d e c l a r a t i o n . Preus, op. c i t . , p. 3 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

285 defend, "It is

and pr ove ."- *the

And i n

co n n ectio n w ith the

sla v ery d isp u te:

sam e p o l e m i c a l r e a s o n i n g , u p a n d d o w n , b a c k a n d f o r t h ,

o v e r some t h e s e s w h i c h h a v e b e e n d e v e l o p e d i n a d v a n c e b y lea rn ed ’ a t

s e c r e t d o c t r i n a l c o n f e r e n c e s and w h ich now, th ro u g h

reason in g,

s h a l l b e made e v i d e n t

id en tifies

its

d o ctrin a l theses

o f q u estion s w ith and p r o n o u n c e s C onference

’ the

'th e

and c l e a r t o and s t a t e m e n t s

pure d o c t r i n e , ’ w h ic h i s

th e ban upon th e s e c t s

fo lk .

’the

The a r t i c l e s

in

l a i t y . '"2

it

a b o u t a l l manner 'G od’ s pure W o rd ,’

and h e r e t i c s ,

E llin g ia n s

and

the S y n o d ’s p e r i o d i c a l alw ays

b ear a ’d o g n a t i c - s c h o l a s t i c - r a t i o n a l i s t i c ' im p r in t,

a s do t h e

Synod’ s tr a c ts.® Preus again H is c h i e f

responds

answer i s

p o in t by p o in t to W eenaas’ argum ents.

t h a t Weenaas u n f a i r l y

.gu ilty o f m isr ep re sen ta tio n because p lu ck in g e x p r essio n s a s s e m b l i n g them t o paragraph o f t h is "We h a v e , of

in sin u a tio n s

nam ely,

sectio n

a rticle

in t h i s

of

our syn od , b u t th a t w hich th e

’h i s t o r i c a l

f a c t s ,’ is

one h a s t h e f e e l i n g

th a t the

Weenaas h a s

^W eenaas,

sectio n s

op.

set

art

of

c o n t e x t and th en The c o n c l u d i n g

sum m arizes h i s

sectio n

and u n p r o v e d a c c u s a t i o n s

and i s

m a stery in the

out o f t h e i r

of preus'

seen th at

H aving r e a d t h e s e

d isp ro v ed .

of h is

s a y w hat he w a n ts them t o s a y .

th erefore,

doxy’ ag a in st us,

or s e n te n c e s

gen era lizes

there

answer:

are p le n ty

'r a tio n a listic

ortho­

p r o f e s s o r prom ised

c o m p l e t e l y l a c k i n g . "about " r a t io n a lis t ic

charge h a s

n e i t h e r been p ro v ed nor

fo r h im s e lf a large

c i t . , p. 73.

®I b i d . ,

pp.

^Preus,

op. c i t . , p p . 3 2 -4 4 .

o rth od oxy,"

ta sk in tr y in g

2I b id ., p. 74.

62-82.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

to

su b sta n tia te

th eology lie s

to d o g m a tics,

charges,

tracts,

f o r Preus

fa ith

t o a dead k n o w le d g e ,

to e s t a b lis h

could quote

d o ctrin es.

e x t e n s i v e l y to prove the

lik e.

However,

there is

its

th eologian s

a nd e x p l i c a t i o n

be a n y q u e s t i o n .

in the

in to

of a l l d o ctrin es

about w hich th e r e

They o r d i n a r i l y p r e s e n t e d t h e i r

a ll

c o n c e r n e d w ould a c c e p t

the

theses

appeared

co n clu sio n s

to

p r e s e n t e d as th e

t o th e tem p tation

r ig h t th in k in g in stea d in tellectu a lizin g o f pure d o c t r in e

S u c h an a p p r o a c h i s

o f m aking C h r i s t i a n i t y a m a t t e r o f

of a m atter

of ex p erien ce.

The d a n g e r o f

o n e ’s r e l i g i o n by s u b s t it u t in g th e p o s s e s s io n for

an a c t i v e

When W e e n a a s c h a r g e s h i s a c cu sin g the

a nd l i v i n g f a i t h

th e y w anted t o be

Synod o f h a v i n g succumbed t o th e

th a t above

danger.

a ll e lse .

task o f d e fin in g d o ctrin e

lo g ic a l structure,

is

alw ays p r e s e n t .

opponents w ith " r a t i o n a l i s t i c

and o f h a v i n g b e e n overcom e by t h e

reason to the

Agreement

t h e i r way o f t h i n k i n g .

c e r t a i n l y w as an i n t e l l e c t u a l a p p r o a c h .

su scep tib le

th eir

and t h e y e x p e c t e d

o f th e d o c tr in e under c o n s i d e r a t i o n 0

i n d o c t r i n e was o f prim e im p o r ta n c e

is

T his

form o f c l o s e l y - r e a s o n e d d o c t r i n a l t h e s e s , b o l s t e r i n g

correct ex p o sitio n

T his

con­

a c a r e f u l and d e t a i l e d i n v e s t i ­

f i n d i n g s w i t h numerous S c r i p t u r a l r e f e r e n c e s , that

of

no q u e s t i o n

to th e Synod’ s v i t a l concern fo r rem ain in g o rth o d o x .

g a tion

he

its

and r e ­

same s o u r c e s u s e d b y W e e n a a s — t h e p e r i o d i c a l ,

a d d r e s s e s , and th e

concern led

to

reduces

t h a t the Synod l i m i t s

c o u l d h a r d l y p r o v e w i t h o u t m a k i n g many m o d i f i c a t i o n s

t r a r y from t h e

as

sw eepin g c o n te n t io n

upon P r o t e s t a n t s c h o l a s t i c i s m

That h e h is

the

and th e y i n s i s t e d

orth od oxy,"

tem p tation

They w ere o r th o d o x ;

They d i l i g e n t l y

ap p lied

and o f e r e c t i n g a t h e o ­

th a t others

sh ou ld have

with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission

the

287 sa me i n t e l l e c t u a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e d o c t r i n e s as th e y .

However, t h e y were n o t r a t i o n a l i s t s

accepted

s e n se o f the term ,

was t h e i r

sin ce

they set

in th e

g en era lly

f o r th em t h e B i b l e ,

not reason,

f in a l au th o rity even i f B ib l i c a l r e v e la tio n

pear t o be

forth

should ap ­

contrary to rea so n .

The n e x t t o p i c

w i t h w h ic h Weenaas d e a l s

is

the

ex clu siv ism

o f th e Synod, and h ere he d id n ot l a c k f o r h i s t o r i c a l p r o o f s and illu stra tio n s. see

The e x c l u s i v i s m

and e x p e r i e n c e .

o f P h arisaism , sense

the

o f t h e S y n o d was t h e r e f o r a l l

Such e x c l u s i v i s m , Weenaas a r g u e s ,

Roman C a t h o l i c i s m ,

truth is

and t h e

alw ays e x c l u s i v e ,

b e t w e e n t h a t w h i c h i s more o r l e s s

it

sects.

is

ab le

essen tia l.

term

and A u g u s t a n a n s a r e

W hile i n

a

Dead o r t h o d o s y i s is,

a m an -in sp ired

The S y n o d a p p l i e s

" s e c t ” t o o t h e r N orwegian L u th eran g r o u p s .

b ers, E llin g ia n s,

ty p ica l

to d is tin g u is h

c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a " f l e s h l y e x c l i i s i v e n e s s ," t h a t e x c l u s i v e n e s s b a s e d on s e l f - r i g h t e o u s n e s s .

is

to

the

C o n f e r e n c e mem­

cla ssified

w ith M eth od ists

a n d A d v e n t i s t s , b u t a r e r e g a r d e d a s e v e n m o re d a n g e r o u s a n d p e r ­ n icio u s

in

evid en ces

th e ir in flu en ce

than t h e y .

o f the ex clu siv ism

o f the

W e en a a s r e f e r s

Synod:

c o n g r e g a t i o n s a n d i n d i v i d u a l s who h a v e

Its

fa lse

pastors the

tea ch in g s; an d t e a c h e r s

operation

its

w arnings t o

of r e lig io u s

sch ools;

p ro n o u n c ed a t th e Rock p r a i r i e titu d e

its

o f oth er synods;

a t Drammen, N o r w a y ,

toward re­

g u ilty

p eop le a g a in s t h e a r in g

its

the

its

c h a r a c ter iz ed as

r e fu s a l to cooperate

anathem a o f H. A.

free conference

tow ard th e Norwegian M i s s i o n S o c i e t y ' s

C onference

a ttitu d e

s e p a r a t e d from i t ;

f u s a l t o h a v e ^ p r a y er f e l l o w s h i p w i t h t h o s e of

t o t h e many

in 1873; i t s

o f 1872;

Preus

its

reco g n itio n

at­

o f the

r e f u s a l t o perm it

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

in

288 b u r i a l o f a n y b u t S y n o d m e m b er s i n i t s tio n

cem eteries;

o f com petin g c o n g r e g a t io n s and th e a t t i t u d e

its

org a n iza ­

of its

pastors

i n home m i s s i o n work."*" Preus r e p l i e s tried the

by m a i n t a i n i n g t h a t t h e

to m ain tain th a t

same r i g h t s

true

e x c l u s i v i s m w hich r e f u s e s

or r e c o g n i t i o n

as th e

truth.

t h a t W eenaas,

sin a certa in r elig io u s that

it

in the

to lera tes

rab le

The C o n f e r e n c e

certa in

of it s

proved th a t

the Synod i s

th is

is

Sunday, and l a y a c t i v i t y ,

C onference,

not g u ilty

o f such orthod oxy, and so

ca teg o rica lly

p oin ted

Some o f t h e d e t a i l s la b els

as u n tr u e

far

a ttitu d e

contact,

^Weenaas, o p .

A ugustanans,

and t h u s

They are

conse­

as N orw egian-A m erican L u th eran s w i t h whom t h e y s e l d o m ,

such a s M eth od ists

toward c e r t a i n

and u n ­

o u t t o them b y th e S y n o d ,

are co n cern ed th an are e r r o r i s t s come i n t o

as to

t h a t th e y have n ever o p en ly c o n ­

t h e y do n o t m e r i t t h e name o f t r u e L u t h e r a n s . q u e n t l y m or e d a n g e r o u s a s

the

c o n te n d in g t h a t he h a s p r e v i o u s l y

Preus says

th eir errors,

that

su p p osed ly in s e p a ­

As t o t h e S y n o d ’ s j u d g m e n t u p o n E l l i n g i a n s ,

and t h e

in

same d o c ­

Preus f l a t l y d en ies

a u tom atically u n tru e.

W eenaas’ ch arges preus

fessed

g u i l t y o f u n ion ism

o f any " f l e s h l y e x c lu s iv is m ,"

from dead o r t h o d o x y ,

proven.

is

memb ers t o h o l d t h e

ab so lu tio n ,

condemns t h e S y n o d .

g u ilty

charge

commends, b u t P r e u s

name o f f r e e d o m , a c c o r d s u n t r u t h a n d

trin e about j u s t if ic a t io n ,

Synod i s

of ex clu ­

l e g i t i m a c y w h ic h o pens t h e d o o r f o r u n io n is m and

in d ifferen ce.

f o r w hich i t

falseh ood

T his type

s i v i s m by th e Church o f C h r i s t W een a a s, t o o , says

Synod had a lw a y s

a nd B a p t i s t s .

c o n g r e g a tio n s w hich have

if

ever,

The S y n o d ’ s

left

c i t . , pp. 82-101.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

the

Synod

289 h a s b een d e te r m in e d by th e d en ied th e

truth

acknow ledged a c t s sin fu lly

one i s

th at th o se

c o n g r eg a tio n s have

or have been g u i l t y o f u n - C h r is t ia n p r a c t i c e s .

Weenaas r e v e a l s h i s

be

fact

own l a t i t u d i n a r i a n i s m w h e n h e r e g a r d s

and a t t i t u d e s

e x clu siv istic:

o f th e Synod as th e

d iscip lin a ry

critica l

a ttitu d e

anathem a,

common r e l i g i o u s

a c t i o n a g a i n s t c o n g r e g a t i o n a l members,

towards

th e Norwegian M i s s i o n S o c i e t y ,

a nd t h e e x c l u s i v e u s e

of cem eteries.

lish m en t

o f com peting c o n g r e g a t io n s :

rig h t

truth;

as

fo llo w in g to

r e f u s a l t o p r a y w i t h t h o s e w i t h whom

d o c t r i n a l l y d i s a g r e e d , r e f u s a l t o have

sch o o ls,

such

n ev erth eless,

many S y n o d p a s t o r s h a v e other

th e y have a c t u a l l y n e g le c t e d t h e i r d u ty .

preus’

As t o t h e e s t a b ­

E rror n ev er has

avoided b e in g g u i l t y o f in t r u d in g in to

its

the

same

so c a r e f u l l y

con gregation s th a t

P reu s’ con clu sion

is

th a t W eenaas’ h i s t o r i c a l f a c t s

have a g a in proved what t h e y were

not in ten d ed

th a t th e Synod m a in ta in s a r i g h t e o u s

ex clu siv ism

to prove,

over a g a in st u n tru th ,

contend a g a in s t

sim p le.

o f the d iscu ssio n

The f a c t o f t h e

B u t t h e t w o men p l a c e W e en a a s i t

is

u n -C h ristian Lutherans.

sin ,

and a l l

Synod’ s e x c lu s i v is m

is

is

of a p h arisaic s e lf-r ig h te o u s n e s s

lack o f c h a r ity it

is

in i t s

evid en ce

rela tio n of t h e

To

and a n

t o o t h e r N orw egian

Synod’ s earn est

and

a g a i n s t u n i o n i s m and

in d ifferen ce.

The tw o t o p i c s ^Preus, op.

n e x t d i s c u s s e d b y W e e n a a s a s marks o f

clt» ,

rela ­

esta b lish ed .

v a s t l y d i f f e r e n t e v a l u a t i o n s upon i t .

evid en ce

To P r e u s

about e x c lu siv ism

z e a l o u s c o n c e r n f o r t h e t r u t h and a w i t n e s s relig io u s

t h o s e # 1 0 d e n y and

the t r u t h .

An e v a l u a t i o n tiv ely

nam ely,

pp. 4 4 -5 1 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

290 W iscon sin ism a r e d o c t r i n a l W o r ld and a b s o l u t i o n . in

th is

c h a p t e r , no

in n a t u r e , th e

ju stifica tio n

of the

S in ce th e y have been d is c u s s e d p r e v io u s ly

further

c o n s i d e r a t i o n w i l l be g i v e n

t o them

here L ay a c t i v i t y h a d b e e n a b u r n i n g i s s u e

sin ce

the

t im e when

organ ized r e l i g i o u s

work was f i r s t

grants.

I t was t h e

l a y - p r e a c h e r H . N . H a u g e who h a d p r e c i p i t a t e d

a b itter

co n flict

a ctiv ity . advocates

in

t h e C h u r c h o f No rwa y o v e r t h e q u e s t i o n

The Ha ug ea n E l l i n g E i e l s e n a n d h i s of u n restricted

c h ie f op p osition

in th e

o n ly the E l l i n g i a n s

lay a c tiv ity

in A m erica,

found th e m s e lv e s

But n o t

la ter

a lso d iffe r e d

w ith

a l t h o u g h t h e y a d v o c a t e d a m or e o r d e r e d a n d r e s t r a i n e d

synod,

th a n was t h e

The r e a l i s s u e rig h t

the

found t h e i r

The S c a n d i n a v i a n A u g u s t a n a n s ,

l a y a c t i v i t y , w o r k i n g i n harmony w i t h t h e o f the

as

o f la y

in d isa g reem en t w ith the

C o n f e r e n c e and t h e N o r w e g ia n A u g u s t a n a n s ,

the synod,

fo llo w ers,

camp o f t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d .

Synod abou t l a y a c t i v i t y . the

b e g u n among N o r w e g i a n i m m i ­

organ ized

church l i f e

case w ith the E llin g i a n s .

was w h e t h e r an u n o r d a i n e d p e r s o n h a d t h e

to preach in p u b lic

assem b lies

or to

lead in p u b lic

prayer.

The S y n o d c o n t e n d e d t h a t A r t i c l e XIV o f t h e A u g s b u r g C o n f e s s i o n forbade

th is.2

In 1 8 6 2 ,

w ith the h e lp

o f W alther o f th e M is­

1 I t s h o u l d be s a i d , h o w e v e r , t h a t P r e u s g i v e s a m or e com­ p l e t e and c l o s e l y r e a s o n e d p r e s e n t a t i o n t h a n d o e s W e e n a a s . Preus i n s i s t s t h a t Weenaas h a s m i s r e p r e s e n t e d s e v e r a l t e a c h i n g s o f t h e S y n o d c o n t r a r y t o h i s b e t t e r k n o w l e d g e , a n d h e ma k es much o f t h e f a c t t h a t th e C o n fe r e n c e p a s t o r s d i s a g r e e d amongst t h e m s e l v e s as to the d o c t r in e o f a b s o l u t i o n . 2 A n t . XIV o f t h e A u g s b u r g C o n f e s s i o n r e a d s ; "Of E c c l e ­ s i a s t i c a l O r d e r t h e y t e a c h t h a t n o on e s h o u l d p u b l i c l y t e a c h i n t h e Church o r a d m i n i s t e r t h e s a c r a m e n t s , u n l e s s h e be r e g u l a r l y ca lle d ." C oncordia T r i g l o t t a , p . 4 9 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

291 so u ria n s,

a c o n t r o v e r s y b e tw e e n P a s t o r P . A. Rasmussen and th e

S y n o d was s e t t l e d w ith a c t i v i t y

w ith the

o f laym en.

ad op tion T his

v id e d the o c c a s io n fo r the tio n .

was

is

g u ilty

t o do s o o r u n l e s s

said

or in

fo rm ally to s e t

forth i t s

T h e i r t e a c h i n g was t h a t a n y o n e who e x e r c i s e s

p u b lic prayer,

to e x i s t

the

in

the

in clu d es

a situ a tio n absence

We en aa s* b u t he s t a t e s

that

p r e a c h i n g a nd l e a d i n g i n

fa ith

d iscu ssio n

(an e x t e r n a l

o f need e x i s t s .

A c tu a l need

or u n a v a i l a b i l i t y o f a p a s t o r ,

c a s e o f a p a s t o r who i s

p astoral serv ices

p o si­

the o f f i c e

o f s i n u n l e s s he h as a c a l l

g a tio n by te a c h in g f a l s e l y ,

d ealin g

c o n t r o v e r s y w i t h Rasmussen p r o ­

synod

o f th e p u b lic m i n i s t r y , w hich

ca ll)

of sev era l theses

im p rop erly s e r v in g th e

or in

congre­

o f such in freq u en t 1 c a n n o t be c r e a t e d o r s u s t a i n e d .

of

the case

th is

that he co n sid ers

to p ic

is

d ifferen ces

a c t i v i t y as b e in g perhaps th e s o u l

not very sy stem a tic, in regard to

lay

o f the b a t t l e w hich h as been

waged b e tw e e n th e Synod and t h e o t h e r Norwegian L utheran groups o over the y e a r s . C h ristia n l i f e i s not s a t i s f i e d w ith dead, stiff

form s o r w i t h t h e w o r s h i p - s e r v i c e s

w i l l be a f r u i t

o f the

ex ercise

a lon e.

L ay a c t i v i t y

of the p a s to r a l o f f i c e ,

o u g h t t o be r e g a r d e d a s a n e c e s s a r y s u p p le m e n t t o t h e a ctiv ity nances,

is

n o t som ething t h a t

c om m a n d s,

and r u l e s .

can be r e s t r i c t e d It

is

h i e r a r c h i c a l t y r a n n y and s e c t a r i a n To s t r e s s

tant

c it.,

p.

a g a in st

co n g reg ation .

and the r i g h t s ,

•^■Rohne d e v o t e s a c h a p t e r t o t h e d i s c u s s i o n to p ic o f la y a c t i v i t y . Op. c i t . , p p . 1 5 8 - 7 9 . op.

La y

b y human o r d i ­

in the

th e developm ent o f c o n g r e g a t i o n a l l i f e

2 W eenaas,

sam e.

a n e c e ssa r y defence excesses

and i t

o f the

121.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission .

im por­

292 d u ties, the

an d w o r k o f t h e

teach in gs

s p i r i t u a l p riesth ood is

o f L uther,

Weenaas i n h i s

Spener,

b r ie f d iscu ssion

to conform to

and t h e A w a k e n i n g i n N o r w a y . d w ells

im portance

o f th e developm ent o f th e

life

h o stility

g a th e r in g s f o r th e purpose o f s p i r i t u a l

towards p r iv a t e

e d ifica tio n la rg ely

(prayer m e e t in g s ) .

c o n g r e g a t i o n an d t h e

He a c c u s e s

of

in stead

t h e me m b er s o f t h e

synod’s

the Synod o f b e i n g

concerned w ith c o n fe r e n c e s, d is p u ta tio n s ,

t h e o lo g ic a l q u estio n s life

o f the

c h i e f l y upon th e

and le a r n e d

o f w ith s t r e n g t h e n in g the s p i r i t u a l

con gregation s,

i n t h e w o r k i n g o f God’ s Word i n t h e

in stead o f r e j o ic in g

con gregation ,

they in th e ir

h ig h ch u rch ly a n x ie ty seek to h in d er the h o ld in g o f p r iv a te m eet­ in g s

to

fu rther

th a t p u rp o se.^

By t h e t e r m ' * la y a c t i v i t y ” p r e u s means n o t o n l y l a y p reach in g but a l l

th at

a c t i v i t y w hich each C h r is t ia n

of h is

s p i r i t u a l p r ie sth o o d has

p oin ts

out th a t even accord in g to

Synod d o e s p e r m it p r i v a t e

the d u ty o f c a r r y in g o u t .

gives

for e d ific a tio n .

o f laym en t o h o l d r e l i g i o u s m e e t i n g s the im portance

as s p i r i t u a l p r i e s t s pastor

fills,

form t h e to th e

for

fu n ctio n s

p o sitio n

Weenaas h a s

the sake

In case

same r i g h t

But preus

A lthough a l l C h r i s t i a n s to the

o f the p a s t o r a l o f f i c e .

o ffice

w hich th e

apart to p er­

He r e f e r s i n

c l a r i f i e d back in 18 6 2 .

f o r many y e a r s a c c u s e d t h e

1I b i d p p .

of n e e d .

o f o r d e r one h a s b e e n s e t

o f th e Synod as

He c o n t e n d s

a b o u t t h e r i g h t a n d d u ty

o f church o r d e r.

have th e

the

a wrong i m p r e s s i o n b e c a u s e he

c o m p l e t e l y I g n o r e s what t h e Synod t e a c h e s

stresses

He

one o f W e e n a a s ’ c i t a t i o n s

a ssem b lies

th a t W eenaas’ p r e s e n t a t io n

i n the power

d eta il A lthough

S yn od o f h e r e s y a n d

118-22.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

293 p a s t o r a l ty r a n n y In c o n s e q u e n c e ity ,

its

that

circum stances

f e r e n t and t h a t

in

towards

lay a c t iv ­

in A m erica.

teaches

than in a fr e e

i n h i s weak a t t e m p t s a g a in st h is

th is

" gu ilty

tim e

the

at S t.

Ansgar i n

b l e s s i n g and w h ic h t h e

w ritin g s

o f th ese

opposed to

in th e

in

The f i r s t m e e t i n g o f

to w hich G i s l e

of lay a c t iv it y

con gregation al l i f e .

The S y n o d c o n g r e g a t i o n w a s

Georg S v e r d r u p ,

c i t . , pp.

encouraged

The S y n o d

la y - l e d prayer m eetin gs w h ile

t h e C o n f e r e n c e , w as by p r i n c i p l e ■^Preus, o p .

favor of

W herein C o n fe r e n c e

the

o r d in a r ily to

d e g r e e p a s t o r - g u i d e d and - s u p e r v i s e d t h a n was conference.

the

J o h n so n had g i v e n h i s

p

to the degree

a ctiv ity

the d i f f e r ­

1 8 7 0 h a d g o n e on r e c o r d i n

framework o f o r d e r e d

C o n f e r e n c e wa s n o t .

and o f f a l s e

t w o men l a y

Synod a l s o a d v o c a t e d »

and S y n o d d i s a g r e e d was a s

w as b y p r i n c i p l e

is

t h a t Weenaas

o f d ish on or

seem t o be a c r u c i a l i s s u e

"emergency p r i n c i p l e , "

w ith in the

lik e

n eigh b or.

e n c e s b e tw e en C o n feren ce and Synod. C onference

not e x is t ,

Preus again con clu d es

at proof is

As r e v e a l e d i n

greater

church s i t u a t i o n

in a c o n g r e g a t io n , where a c t u a l need does

does not a t

forth a

The o n e who w i t h o u t an o r d e r l y c a l l p u b l i c l y

g u ilt y o f a breach of o rd er.

w itn ess

Preus

N or w ay an d A m e r i c a h a v e b e e n d i f ­

s t a te -c h u r c h circu m sta n ces have c a l l e d

g rea ter need for la y a c t i v i t y

the

attitu d e

he h a s n e v e r s t a t e d e x a c t l y where he h i m s e l f s t a n d s .

contends

that

of

the

a

case

t h e m o s t i n f l u e n t i a l man i n

com m itted t o th e

freedom

o f the

97-112.

^ " K o n f e r e n t s e m o d e , " L u t h e r a n e r e n , IV ( 1 8 7 0 ) , 1 3 1 f . P r e u s s t r e s s e d t h e f a c t t h a t Gi s l e J o h n s o n h a d e x p r e s s e d h i m s e l f in agreem ent w ith th e Synod d o c t r i n e . Weenaas h e l d J o h n s o n i n h ig h regard.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

294 c o n g r e g a t i o n and t o t h a t he

a dem ocratic typ e

of clerg y .

s h o u l d b e a warm s t t p p o r t e r o f

of a free

lay a c t i v i t y .

la y a c t i v i t y brought fo r th c r it ic is m

own g r o u p .

o f the a s p e c t s conferen ces, oppose

he s a y s , is

He i s

d o ctrin e

is

of "secret

o r by r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f the

secret,

o f both.

or

laym en.

What h e

w hether by C h ristian

c o n g r e g a t io n and i s

of e ith e r pastors

H is

n o t the e x ­ em phasis

c o n g r e g a t i o n s *s c o n t r o l o v e r t h e m e an s o f g r a c e

su p ervision

of d o c tr in a l d iscu ssio n

on t h e p a r t o f t h e in

pastor

consequence

to d ic t a t e

as one

n o t opposed to p a s t o r a l

f o r t h e y can be a g r e a t b l e s s i n g .

the p o s s e s s i o n

p ossession

that

"Open D e c l a r a t i o n "

d o c t r in a l co n feren ces h eld in

by l a y m a n ,

b eliev e

referred to in

o f W iscon sin ism .

pastors,

upon th e

H is c o n c ep t

1

d o c tr in a l co n feren ces,"

clu siv e

lo g ica l

from w i t h i n h i s

The n e x t t o p i c d i s c u s s e d b y W e e n a a s i s

does

I t was

in o p p o s it io n

is

and i t s

to any te n d en cy

w hat t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n must

o f p a sto r a l conference

agreem ents.

It

is

o r t h o d o x y and h i g h - c h u r c h i s m w h ic h h a v e p r o d u c e d t h e S y n o d ’ s p astoral conferen ces. o f Synod l e a d e r s d o ctrin e, upon th e

They have b e e n th e

to develop a u n ity in

so th at th ey

in

con g reg a tio n s.

u n it y the

resu ltin g

th ere,

reitera tes

p a sto r a l conferen ces ^ H elland ,

its

in the hands

c le r g y in m atters

as

of

th e dogmas o f W i s c o n s i n i s m

of th is

p re-determ ined d o c t r in a l

the o p p o r t u n it y o f h e a r i n g t h e c l e r g y

Weenaas s p e a k s o f p a s t o r a l d i c t a t i o n

con gregation s b u t he

fo ist

Because

l a i t y have o n ly

make e x p l a n a t i o n s .

turn

in stru m en t

from d e c i s i o n s t h a t he i s

and a g r e e m e n t s r e a c h e d

not e x p ressin g o p p osition

such, but o n ly to th o se

Georg S v erd ru p , p.

over the

secret

222,

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

to

conferences

295

w hich tak e

over the d o c t r in a l p r e r o g a tiv e s

o f t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n s . ' 1'

P r e u s s a y s t h a t s i n c e W e e n a a s came t o t h i s th a t the the

Synod w ould be s p l i t ,

it

is

Synod’s p a sto r a l c o n fe r e n c e s.

country hop in g

n a tu r a l t h a t he sh ou ld fe a r

For i t

is

e a sy to see

w h a t an

e x c e l l e n t means t h e y h a v e b e e n i n God’ s h a n d s t o e n l i g h t e n a n d strengthen encourage truth.

the f a i t h

o f the p a s to r s ,

th em t o f i g h t a n d s u f f e r

Because o f th e

so cieties,

in crease

th eir u n ity ,

f o r what t h e y s e e t o be the

gen eral o p p o sitio n

o f the

such a s th e M asons, preus c o n t i n u e s ,

l a b e l l i n g the p a sto r a l conferen ces c r e d i t th e m h a s b e e n a d o p t e d .

as

However, a t i t s

o f h old in g p a s to r a l c o n feren ces.

charge th a t

such c o n fe r e n c e s

t h a t t h e y are lik e,

preus r e f e r s t o

a series

of

h e shows

th a t th e y are grounded i n h i s t o r i c

W eenaas’ charges are are is

secret, d iscu ssed

th eir

lik e

clerg y .

secret

there;

treasure,

the

(3)

six teen th century. follow in g:

so cieties;

(1) (2)

from M i s s o u r i ,

are

a nd t h e

for

1875,

A•

i n w hich

Preus

says

that

th at p a sto r a l conferences

th at C h ristian d o ctrin e

th a t con gregation s

one a nd t h r e e

the

Lutheran p r a c t i c e

are t h e r e

C h r is t ia n d o c t r i n e , w hich i s

He s a y s t h a t

ap p rovin g the

by P r o f e s s o r F .

a p p ea r in g in K i r k e l i g M aanedstidende

of

order to d i s ­

Lutheran p r i n c i p l e s , a rticles

secret

ta ctic

In answer to

Schm idt,

from t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e

the

to

annual m eetin g in

a r e an i m p o r t a t i o n

contrary to h is to r ic

peop le

’’s e c r e t ” i n

1872 th e Synod u n a n im o u sly p a s s e d a r e s o l u t i o n p ra ctice

and

d ep rived o f

ap p rop riated by the

sim ply u n tr u e ,

synod

^Weenaas, o p . c i t . , p p . 1 2 3 - 2 7 . 2 W r i t t e n i n t y p i c a l s c h m i d t i a n f a s h i o n , l a b o r i o u s and t h o r o u g h , a s he wades t h r o u g h r e f e r e n c e s and c i t a t i o n s from t h e Lutheran fa t h e r s *

with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

296 p astors

are

i n n o way b o u n d t o

p a sto ra l m eetin gs.

is

the c o n g r e g a t io n s .

the

conferences.

not the

p ossession

o f the

at

th at

c le r g y but b elon gs to

s a y s , has b een p a r t l y depend en t upon

" p r o o f s ” a n d h a s made h i m s e l f a p a r t y t o

l a t t e r 1s s i n s . ^ That th e

N orwegian S y n o d ’ s p a s t o r a l c o n f e r e n c e s w ere

means o f c r e a t i n g a u n i t y pow erful in flu e n c e

trib u ted

of sp ir it

in

in sistin g

to a g rea ter degree

g r ea ter u n ifo rm ity in the

is

agreed.

th at

these

Synod than i n

That the

them th e

a d jectiv e

The l a s t

in the

Synod’ s d o ctrin e

of sla v ery .

T h e r e was

the o th er g ro u p s, p a r t ly

is

these

In the p reced in g decade

L u t h e r a n C h u r c h i n A m e r i c a . 1,2

■^Preus,

op.

% eenaas,

but is

c l t . , pp.

op.

c it.,

conferences

ac­

by a p p ly ­

in W eenaas’ W isco n sin ism i s

th e m ost v e h e m e n t, and th e b i t t e r e s t

itse lf

on t h e

q u estio n a b le.

q u e s t i o n h a d p r e c i p i t a t e d w h a t 'Weenaas c a l l s

in

Synod

the

H e r e h e was r e s u r r e c t i n g w h a t b y

tim e was a d e a d i s s u e .

Is not a sin

con­

That th e Syn od's opp onents

"secret"

to p ic d iscu ssed

Synod’s

conferences

s t r o n g s y n o d i c a l l e a d e r s h i p w a s made e f f e c t i v e

c o m p l i s h e d much b y t r y i n g t o d i s c r e d i t

the

and w ere a

hard ly q u e s tio n a b le .

l o c a l l e v e l th r o u g h the p a s t o r s .

in g to

pastors

o f p a s t o r a l dom in ation

than th e y r eg a r d e d as h e a l t h y

because

among i t s

w i t h i n t h e Synod i s

op p o n en ts were c o r r e c t

th is

t o what t r a n s p i r e s

Number tw o p r o v e s n o t h i n g i n r e l a t i o n

W eenaas, he

C. L . C l a u s e n f o r h i s the

as

The S y n o d f u l l y a g r e e s w i t h W e e n a a s i n

C h ristian d octrin e to

silen ce

str ife

Because an e v i l ,

the

slavery

"the most p r o t r a c t e d , i n th e N orw egian

th e Synod h e l d w hich i s

that

sla v ery

a p u n is h m e n t from

113-27.

p. 127.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

297 God f o r s i n , Synod in

the

1 8 6 8 .1

i n f l u e n t i a l p a s t o r C . L. C l a u s e n h a d l e f t Weenaas c o n t e n d s

t h a t the

a rgum ents o f t h e Synod

i n d i s t i n g u i s h i n g b e t w e e n " B i b l i c a l , ,f " a b s t r a c t , " s l a v e r y had b een m e a n i n g l e s s ,

and " A m e r ic a n "

f o r t h e p r a c t i c a l Norwegian A m eri­

c a n s had American s l a v e r y i n m in d , th e Synod a t t i t u d e

the

it

i s W eenaas’ argument t h a t

t o w a r d s l a v e r y was i n d i c a t i v e

o f a sp iritu a l

t e n d e n c y t h a t was a d a n g e r a nd a t h r e a t t o c o n g r e g a t i o n a l f r e e d o m . In o t h e r words th e Synod d o c t r i n e o f that C a th o licizin g th reat to

about s la v e r y i s

the

been d e sig n a te d as W isco n sin sim .

c h u r c h ’ s freedom w hich has

p

In an sw er, Preus r e c a p i t u l a t e s h isto ry

o f the

co n flict

Synod’ s teach in g

about th e

about s l a v e r y .

W eenaas h a s m i s r e p r e s e n t e d t h e given that

facts

it

Synod w i l l work f o r i t s

The p u r p o s e i n ^Rohne, o p .

fact

th at

the i m p r e s s i o n

regards

t i m e s and

s l a v e r y as

o f w hich,

is

th e Synod d o e s

at a l l

and t h e

an e v i l sin s

as­

c o n d e m n e d , a n d t h e members o f t h e

e lim in a tio n wherever i t

c a l l i n g de ma n ds i t

the

o f s l a v e r y a nd t h e

Even i f

to be a s in

he e x p l a i n s ,

s o c i a t e d w i t h w h ic h , must be

n ica l"

so t h a t

th e Synod d e f e n d e d s l a v e r y .

co n d itio n s,

con sid erab le d e t a i l

in stitu tio n

a n d a p u n i s h m e n t fr o m G o d , t h e m i s u s e

as t h e ir

in

Preus em ph asizes th e

not regard the h o ld in g o f s la v e s under a l l

a m an ifestation

and C h r i s t i a n

c o n sid erin g th ese

love

is

found i n s o f a r

a nd w i s d o m d i c t a t e

tw o w r i t i n g s

o f W e en a a s

c i t . , p . 220 .

% een aas, op. c i t . , pp. 127-52. No d o u b t h e m e a n s " t y r a n ­ o r " d i c t a t o r i a l ' * ’' when h e u s e s t h e w o r d " C a t h o l i c i z i n g . " Preus,

op. c i t . ,

pp. 127-40.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

298 and P r e u s i n

t h i s much d e t a i l h a s b e e n t o t h r o w l i g h t u p o n t h e

causes fo r the

t e n s i o n and s t r i f e

w hich th e y r e p r e s e n t e d . z a tio n o f the b e l i e f s C h a p t e r s I I an d I V . d elin ea te

the

They h e l p

to

and p r a c t i c e s

supplem ent the

o f the

ch a ra cteri­

two g r o u p s fo u n d i n

N o t o n l y d o t h e w o r k s o f t h e s e men h e l p

factors

in v o lv e d In th e

e x i s t i n g b e tw e e n th e two s y n o d s

in v o lv ed

In t h e s t r i f e ,

c o n f l i c t and s e r v e d t o Other A s p e c t s

t h e y were d i r e c t l y

in ten sify

it.'*’

o f th e C ontroversy

The C o n t r o v e r s y i n t h e P e r i o d i c a l s S v e r d r u p and O f t e d a l e n t e r e d w h o l e - h e a r t e d l y i n t o t r o v e r s i e s w i t h t h e Synod e v e n b e f o r e Weenaas l e f t c a r r i e d on as a b l e

co n tro v ersia lists

through th e

the

con­

f o r Norway and

years.

The S y n o d

^■It s h o u l d be n o t e d t h a t e a r l y i n 1 8 7 6 W e e n a a s w i t h d r e w h i s s i g n a t u r e f r o m t h e "Open D e c l a r a t i o n . " H is s t a t e d r e a s o n f o r d o i n g s o w as t h a t w h i l e h e a g r e e d t o t h e e s s e n t i a l c o n t e n t s o f "Open D e c l a r a t i o n , " h e b e l i e v e d i t s f o r m o f e x p r e s s i o n t o b e e x ­ t r e m e , and i n some i n s t a n c e s m i s l e a d i n g , a n d h e now r e g a r d s h i s W isco n sin ism to have stiperseded i t . A b r ie f r e tr a c tio n is ap­ p e n d e d ’t o t K e s e c o n d e d i t i o n o f t h e l a t t e r w o r k w h i c h a p p e a r e d i n 1876, but he had p r e v io u s ly e x p la in e d th e w ith d raw al o f h i s s i g ­ n a t u r e i n a r t i c l e s p u b l i s h e d In S k a n d i n a v e n . See P reu s, op. c i t . , p p . 1 4 2 - 4 5 ; W e e n a a s, w is c o n s i n i s m e n ( 2 d ed T ; C h i c a g o : Skandin a v e n s Bog o g A c c ld e n V s'-T r y k k e 'r i, 1 8 7 6 ) , p . 1 3 5 . I n h i s Me m o i r s , w r i t t e n s i x t e e n y e a r s l a t e r , h e s a y s t h a t h e i s a s t o n i s h e d t h a t " h e c o u l d h a v e s i g n e d t h e "Open D e c l a r a t i o n , " and he c h a r a c t e r i z e s th e judgm ent t h e r e i n p r o n o u n c e d upon th e Synod as " h a i r - r a i s i n g . " M indeblade, pp. 81 f . W e en aa s* r e t r a c t i o n ' was b o t h u n c o n v i n c i n g a n d i n c o n s i s t e n t , f o r h i s W i s c o n s i n i s m , w h i c h h e s a y s h a s s u p p l a n t e d "Open D e c l a r a ­ t i o n , " I s much m o r e ' e x t r e m e i n i t s f o r m o f e x p r e s s i o n t h a n t h e l a t t e r , f o r i t i s i n t e n d e d t o be a f a c t u a l s u b s t a n t i a t i o n o f t h e c h a r g e s p r e v i o u s l y m a d e , and a s s u c h i s m or e s p e c i f i c , I n c i s i v e , and p e r s o n a l t h a n t h e e a r l i e r d o c u m e n t . One f e e l s i n c l i n e d t o g r a n t th e v a l i d i t y o f Preus* s u g g e s t i o n t h a t t h i s " r e t r a c t i o n " was i n t e n d e d t o b r i n g Weenaas a more f a v o r a b l e r e c e p t i o n i n N o r­ w a y , t o w h i c h h e i n t e n d e d t o r e t u r n l a t e r I n t h e y e a r , and t h e "Open D e c l a r a t i o n " h a d g i v e n a g r e a t d e a l o f o f f e n s e i n C h u r c h o f Norway c i r c l e s . Preus, op . c i t . , p . 143. H ellan d su b sc r ib e s to t h i s v ie w in Augsburg S em in a r, p . 1 1 8 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission

299 a nd t h e

C o n fe r e n c e were r a t h e r e v e n l y m atch ed as

an d a g g r e s s i v e n e s s

o f the p a r t i c i p a n t s .

K v a r t a l- S k r if t , the p r iv a te an d t o a l e s s e r d e g r e e of

the C o n feren ce,

t i o n ” contin ued expressed the

th a t the

colum ns

the p e r io d

o f th e Augsburg p r o f e s s o r s , o f f ic ia l p erio d ica l

and to n e o f t h e

"Open D e c l a r a ­

The s y n o d p o s i t i o n was u s u a l l y

of E v a n g e lis k L uthersk K ir k e tid e n d e ,

However, b o t h s i d e s

a lso u t iliz e d

1875-81.

( Q u a r t e r l y ) w as p u b l i s h e d

D uring the

o f Augsburg S em in ary,

the v e ry f i r s t sounded.

issu e

first

y e a r i t was t h e o r g a n o f

but w it h the

of K v a rta l-S k rift

first

issu e

th e theme o f

The p a p e r w a s t o b e d e v o t e d t o

com plete

Independence

tia n ity ,

in

o f the

o p p o sitio n

mine o r o b s c u r e e i t h e r .

that th eir

to a l l 2

forces

p u r p o s e was t h a t

c o n g r e g a t i o n and th e

greg ation

in

a free

church,

church,

of

for

the

1876 it.

In

freed om was

th e advocacy o f the

c o n g r e g a t i o n and o f p e r s o n a l C h r i s ­

The M i n n e a p o l i s p r o f e s s o r s

the

the

q u a r te r ly du rin g

S v e r d r u p an d O f t e d a l a s s u m e d p e r s o n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y

fact

in

press. K v a rta l-S k rift

fa cu lty

sp irit

t o be m a n i f e s t .^

through th e

I t was p a r t i c u l a r l y

in L u th eran eren, the

sy n o d ica l p e r io d ic a l.

secu la r

p ossession

to the a b i l i t i e s

th at

would e n d e a v o r t o u n d e r -

con tin u ed to r e it e r a t e

of fig h tin g

fo r the

the p r e s e r v a t io n

and a f r e e

church in

of

the

freedom o f "a f r e e

con­

a f r e e p e o p l e . ”0

•^The e d i t o r o f E . L . X . c o m m e n t s u p o n t h a t ”K i r k e k r B n i k e , ” E . L . X Y , V I "(1879) , 3 1 8 f .

fact in

1879.

^ ’’K v a r t a l - S k r i f t f o r d e n n o r s k l u t h e r s k e K i r k e i A m e r i k a , ” K v a r ta l-S k r ift, I (1875), 3 -1 0 . K v a r t a l - S k r i f t was d i s c o n t i n u e d i n l 8 8 1 ; F o l k e b l a d e t , w h i c h h a d b e e n b e g u n 'by O f t e d a l , t h e n b e ­ came t h e c h i e f s p o k e s m a n f o r S v e r d r u p an d O f t e d a l , 5 » K v a rta lsk rift

1 8 7 7 ,” ib id .,

Ill

(1877),

3,

24.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

300 N o t i n g an i n t e n s i f i o a t i o n 1877,

o f the

strife

b etw een the

Sverdrup m ain ta in ed th a t th e b a s i c

c o n f l i c t was b e t w e e n

p a s t o r a l a u t h o r i t y and c o n g r e g a t i o n a l freedom * he s a i d ,

”t h a t a l l

t h a t we sum u p i n

attem pt t o p reserv e church in a fr e e trin a l th eses,

"It i s

our b e l i e f , ”

t h e word W i s c o n s i n i s m i s

an

th e c l e r i c a l a u t h o r i t y o f th e Norwegian s t a t e -

church w ith th e h e lp

of a stra itja ck et

a l l o f w h i c h a im a t t h e

gation a w i l l - l e s s

two s y n o d s i n

of doc­

g o a l o f making th e c o n g r e ­

m a s s i n t h e p a s t o r ’ s h a n d . ” '*'

th e C atechism as th e p r a c t i c a l c o n f e s s i o n

The a u t h o r i t y o f

o f the co n g reg a tio n i s

c o n s t a n t l y e x a l t e d b y t h e A u g s b u r g men i n c o n t r a s t t o t h e d o c p t r i n a l t h e s e s o f t h e Synod p a s t o r s . These C onference l e a d e r s , th en , w ith u n tir in g

z e a l a nd w i t h s h a r p a n d b i t t e r p e n s a t t a c k

the Syn od's d o c tr in e

and p r a c t i c a l l y

on t h e b a s i s

i s h i e r a r c h i c a l and d i c t a t o r i a l a s

again st raised

its

that i t

co n gregation s.

th a t dead d o c t r in e

and a r e e n e m i e s o f , H oly S p i r i t , what i t 4 life .

.

a l l phases of i t s

p ractice over

And c o n s t a n t l y t h e o b j e c t i o n a nd a n i n t e l l e c t u a l

is

f a i t h have e x p e lle d ,

r e a l l i v i n g C h r i s t i a n i t y a nd t h e w o r k o f t h e

The S y n o d i s

b ad ly o f f ,

c o n t a i n s a s f o r what i t

•^Georg S v e r d r u p ,

la ck s,

th ey say,

n o t s o much f o r

nam ely, r e a l s p i r i t u a l

"Hvorom g j a e l d e r d e t ? , ” i b i d . ,

Ill

(1877),

111

2 " K vartalsk rift

1 8 7 8 , ” i b i d . , IV

(1878), 3 .

5 ”K v a r t a l s k r i f t 1 8 7 9 , ” i b i d . , V ( 1 8 7 9 ) , 3 - 2 7 . T his a r t i ­ c l e , o r e d i t o r i a l , i s b i t t e r l y c r i t i c a l o f e v ery a s p e c t o f the Synod’ s work. ^ G e o r g S v e r d r u p , "Den n o r s k e S y n o d e o g d e n n o r s k e B c ir n e la e r d o m ,” P r o f e s s o r Georg S v e r d r u p ’ s Samlede S k r i f t e r i TJ d v a lg , I , 2 9 2 - 3 1 0 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

The S y n o d ' s p e r i o d i c a l t h r o u g h o u t many a r t i c l e s a rticles

w hich b o t h s t i m u l a t e d

the s e v e n t i e s

and w ere

o f th e Augsburg p r o f e s s o r s .

con tain ed

in response

to the

T h e y came from t h e

pens o f

s u c h men a s E d i t o r L a u r . L a r s e n , H . A . P r e u s , H. G-. S t u b , U . V . Koren,

and P .

A. S c h m i d t ,

They a b l y d e f e n d e d t h e i r charges

of th eir

b e l i e v e d to be w eaknesses

t o m e n t i o n some o f t h e m o s t p r o m i n e n t . s y n o d a g a i n s t t h e more e x t r a v a g a n t

o p p o n e n ts , p o i n t e d o u t v e r y b l u n t l y what th e y

t h e i r man y e r r o r s ,

and f o i b l e s

and i n

o f the o p p o s it io n .

An e x a m p l e o f t h e i r p o l e m i c s U . V . Koren i n

1875,

cern in g p h ra se s, in g ."

It

is

ticu la rly

he s a y s ,

is

is

an a r t i c l e

w r it t e n by

i n answer t o K v a r t a l - S k r i f t , e n t i t l e d ,

S o p h istries,

a n d Pompous E x p r e s s i o n s .

are g u i l t y

o f the usage

and h i g h - s o u n d i n g t e r m s . the

"C o n­

A Warn­

Koren*s argument t h a t th e A ugsburg p r o f e s s o r s ,

O fted al,

so p h istry ,

turn ex a ggerated the

par­

o f empty p h r a s e s ,

E xem plary o f t h e i r s o p h i s t r y ,

z e a l w ith w h ich t h e y have proved what the

Synod

h a s n e v e r d e n i e d and h a v e w i t h g r e a t

in d ign ation

Synod h a s n e v e r a t t e m p t e d t o p r o v e .

T h is has been dem on strated

in co n n ectio n w ith d o c tr in a l d is c u s s io n s sla v ery ,

and a b s o l u t i o n , and i n

a ccu sation s

d irected

contem pt f o r

tiv ity ,

an i n d i s s o l u b l e

tio n ,

relig io u s

tow ards

the

a rticle

is

that i t

is

Synod c o n c e r n in g p a s t o r a l d o m i­

life,

its

teach in gs

about

lay

ac­

r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n p a s t o r an d c o n g r e g a ­

se c r e t conferen ces,

Koren s a y s

con cern in g j u s t i f i c a t i o n ,

c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e many g r a v e

again st th e

n a tio n ,

d e n ie d what th e

and t h e

lik e.

As f o r

the C o n feren ce,

n o t d o c t r i n a l l y u n i t e d and t h a t i t

N orwegian Synod t h a t h o l d s an a t t a c k upon,

it

togeth er.

and a w a r n i n g a g a i n s t ,

is

enm ity

Much o f h i s

the r e c e n t l y

with p erm ission o , th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm issio n

302 begun K v a r t a l - S k r i f t , w hich he s a y s i s phrases,

so p h istries,

sp eak in g.

He d e a l s

criticizes

it

h is

fa ilu re

sp ite

and o b s c u r e

p elled

evidences of

the

s p e c i f i c a l l y w i t h an a r t i c l e

by O ft e d a l and

s e v e r e l y f o r O f t e d a l * s am biguous u s e o f words and

to d efin e

e x a c t l y what he m ea n s.

and he r i d i c u l e s

t o warn h i s

he s a y s ,

of

t h o u g h t s o f w h ic h he h a s b e e n

S v e r d r u p 's v e r b o s i t y he seems t o

O fted al,

fu ll

there

is

an a r t i c l e

readers

He s a y s

that d e­

s p e a k m or e r e a s o n a b l y t h a n

by Gunnersen.

He f e e l s

com­

a g a i n s t th e Augsburg p r o f e s s o r s .

For,

a g r e a t d a n g e r t h a t a n u n s o u n d t h e o l o g y w i l l be

h i d d e n u n d e r n i c e - s o u n d i n g w o r d s a n d t h a t r e a l e r r o r s w i l l be spread th ereb y. the

He q u e s t i o n s ,

correct relig io u s

w h ich he w r i t e s . the e d i t o r s

for

f o r exam ple, w hether O fte d a l pu ts

content in to

He c o n c l u d e s h i s

t h e word " f r e e d o m , ” a b o u t a rticle

by s e v e r e l y c r i t i c i z i n g

t h e i r p o o r ju d gm en t i n p r i n t i n g a sermon i n

K v a r t a l - S k r i f t w hich he c h a r a c t e r iz e s

as m o r a l i s t i c

and r a t i o n a l ­

istic." ^ And s o i t p erio d ica ls a rticles to

went through

sev en ties

and b e y o n d .

f o r b o t h t h e Synod and C o n fe r e n c e w ere

o f a co n tro v ersia l nature,

say for the

o p p o sitio n .

When o n e r e a d s fessors,

the

one i s

apt to

filled

The w ith

a l l o f w hich had l i t t l e

good

o

some o f t h e a r t i c l e s conclude

o f th e Augsburg p r o ­

t h a t K o r e n was r i g h t

to a c e r ta in

•^■Koren, "Cm F r a s e r , S o f l s m e r o g h o i t r a v e n d e T a l e m a a d e r . En A d v a r s e l , ” E . L . K . , I I ( 1 8 7 5 ) , 5 7 3 - 8 1 , 5 8 9 - 9 7 , 6 1 1 - 1 5 . 2 Members o f o n e s i d e i n t h e c o n t r o v e r s y w e r e no b e t t e r t h a n t h o s e o f t h e o t h e r a s f a r a s th e manner i n w h ic h t h e y w r o t e and s p o k e was c o n c e r n e d . R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f b o t h s i d e s were o f t e n h a r s h , u n c h a r i t a b l e , a n d p e r s o n a l when t h e y made r e f e r e n c e to t h e i r o p p on en ts.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

303 degree,

at le a st,

in

a c c u s i n g t h e m o f u s i n g e x p r e s s i o n s and

p h r a s e s w h ic h were l i a b l e a nd h a z i l y u n d e r s t o o d , sp irit

o f the

o f a free But t h e

S v e r d r u p and O f t e d a l w e r e im bu ed w i t h t h e

C h u r c h R e f o r m m ov e m e nt i n N o r w a y , w h e r e t h e

c o n g r e g a t i o n and a f r e e

goal of striv in g

and a f r e e

for

issu e

c h u r c h was c r u c i a l and e v i d e n t .

"a f r e e

con gregation in a fr e e

church,

church in a f r e e people" d id not appear t o have the

same r e l e v a n c e cia te,

t o be m is u n d e r s to o d , or o n ly p a r t i a l l y

i n A m e r i c a a s i n N o r w a y , and n o t a l l

or understand,

th eir

c o n s t a n t e m p h a s i s on t h e

could a p p re­ them e o f

freedom . R elation s

t o Norway a nd t h e N o r w e g i a n M ission S o c ie t y

The c o n t r o v e r s y b e t w e e n t h e a ls o extended to the

S y n o d a n d t h e C o n f e r e n c e was

s o i l o f Nor way i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h a p r a c t i ­

c a l problem .

The C o n f e r e n c e f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g h a d made t h e

claim th a t i t

was p a r t i c u l a r l y f a i t h f u l t o i t s

The l e a d e r s farther

Norwegian h e r i t a g e .

o f th e Synod, as t h e y drew c l o s e r t o M i s s o u r i ,

a w ay f r o m t h e C h u r c h o f N o r w a y , a nd men l i k e

a n d H , A* P r e u s w e r e v e r y c r i t i c a l o f t h e r e t u r n e d t o No r wa y f o r v i s i t s . Synod p a s t o r

N. Y l v i s a k e r ,

Laur. Larsen

s t a t e - c h u r c h when t h e y

In resp o n se

in w hich i t

drew

t o an a r t i c l e

by t h e

was c o n t e n d e d t h a t t h e

N o r w e g i a n S y n o d was t h e t r u e d a u g h t e r o f t h e N o r w e g i a n C h u r c h , Weenaas w r o t e C h u rch .^

a pam phlet e n t i t l e d ,

A l s o a Word a b o u t t h e M o t h e r -

He a r g u e d t h a t l o y a l t y t o t h e

t h e C h u r c h o f Norway i s adiap hora fo r

n o t the d e c i s i v e

the L utheran,

^A. W e e n a a s ,

Qgsaa e t

c u s t o m s and p r a c t i c e s test

B u t whe n d o c t r i n e

of

as t h e y are is

o r d om M o d e r k i r k e n

taken as the (C hicago,

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

1873).

304 criterio n ,

th e Synod i s

s e e n t o he a t r u e d a u g h t e r , n o t o f th e

C h u r c h o f N o r w a y , h u t o f t h e German M i s s o u r i S y n o d . the h o s t i l e Synod m e n . l

judgm ents p a s s e d upon th e A lthough the

won some s u p p o r t f o r d isin clin ed

to

take

p u b lica tio n

the Synod, sid es

in the

He r e f e r s

to

C h u r c h o f Norwa y b y p r o m i n e n t o f the

"Open D e c l a r a t i o n "

the church p e o p le

o f Norway w ere

c o n t r o v e r s y i n America as th e

fo llo w in g paragraph r e v e a l s . The N o r w e g i a n M i s s i o n S o c i e t y wa s p u t sitio n

in

consequence

Synod had b e e n g i v i n g

of

the C o n feren ce-S y n o d c o n t r o v e r s y . 2

fin a n cia l

t h e NMS a n d h a d r e c e i v e d

in a d i f f i c u l t

support to

from t h e

m e e t i n g o f t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y o f t h e NMS a t Dr amine n , the

U pon p e t i t i o n

NMS a c c o r d e d t h e

F.

Synod.

from t h e C o n f e r e n c e

C onference th e

The S y n o d d e l e g a t e s

A* S c h m i d t ,

protested

t i o n was r e g a r d e d b y t h e NMS t h e

Norway,

present,

in

a " p a r t y " w i t h whom i t

on A m e r i c a n s o i l b e c a u s e tia n p ra ctice." ^

in

•^I b l d . , p p .

of it s

as th a t

the

given

P . A* R a s m u s s e n a n d

v ig o r o u sly but to Synod a s

rep resen tatives

same r e c o g n i t i o n

no a v a i l .

T his

situ a ­

i n t o l e r a b l e b eca u se th rou gh the

s y n o d a c t u a l l y was b r o u g h t i n t o

ference,

At th e

C o n f e r e n c e was r e p r e s e n t e d b y w e e n a a s and p a s t o r M. F a l k

G jertsen .

the

through

so ciety ,

w i t h o u t , h o w e v e r , b e i n g made a f u l l - f l e d g e d member o f i t .

1873,

The

fo reig n m ission s

o f f i c i a l recogn ition

po­

f e llo w s h ip w ith the

cou ld n ot e n te r

in to

" d octrin al h e r e s ie s

Con­

fello w sh ip and u n - C h r i s ­

1874 th e Synod u n a n im o u sly a d o p ted a r e s o l u 1-4.

p

The N o r w e g i a n M i s s i o n S o c i e t y , o r NMS, was an o r g a n i z a t i o n i n d e p e n d e n t o f t h e s t a t e - c h u r c h b u t s u p p o r t e d and o p e r a t e d b y mem­ b e r s o f th e Church o f Norway. ^ S o s p e a k s H. A. P r e u s i n h i s a d d r e s s t o th e 1874 Synod m eetin g. S y n o d ic a l R ep o rt, the Synod, 1874, p . 15.

with permission of the copyright owher. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

t io n prepared by the a u th o rities

Church C o u n c i l t o

sh ou ld n ot see

assem bly th a t

it

Synod w o u ld be

sever it s

fit

forced to cut i t s

low ed, b u t th e tu a lly ,

sin ce

t o recomm end t o i t s

rela tio n s

p eriod o f s tr a in e d r e la t io n s

the e f f e c t

that i f

next general

w ith the C o n feren ce,

ties

t h e NMS

w i t h t h e NMS.^

the

A prolon ged

b e t w e e n t h e NMS and t h e S yn od f o l ­

a ctu a l severin g of r e la tio n s

never

occurred.

Even­

th e Synod c o u ld n o t r e a c h agreem ent as t o what s y n -

o d ic a l action

s h o u ld be t a k e n ,

it

o f th e Synod t o d e c id e w h eth er i t

was l e f t

to each con gregation

s h o u l d s u p p o r t t h e work o f

the

NMS o r n ot .* * C ontacts On t h e p etitio n tio n s.

t h e r e was t h e p r a c t i c a l m a t t e r o f co m­

f o r memb ers a n d t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t Charges

tran sgression are

lo ca l le v e l

on t h e L o c a l L e v e l

and c o i m t e r - c h a r g e s

o f p r o s e l y t i n g and o f u n e t h i c a l

o f p a r i s h b o u n d a r ie s were sounded by b o t h s i d e s

t o o numerous t o th eir

c o n s id e r in d e t a i l .®

claim ed

th at

ten tio n

a co m p lete underm ining o f the

tio n .

in

o p p o n e n t s o b v i o u s l y had a s t h e i r aim and i n ­

1872 th e

C onference

e r a l c o n g r e g a t i o n s w h ich had l e f t as ev id e n c ed in •^ I b i d . , p .

and

Leaders o f b o th groups

o t h e r ’ s w or k and o r g a n i z a ­

O c c a s i o n a l l y a p a s t o r o r c o n g r e g a t i o n w ould s h i f t

For ex a m p le,

sp irit

o f com petin g c o n g r e g a ­

its

receiv ed

i n t o m em bership s e v ­

the synod,

a ttitu d e

tow ards

camps.

contend ing th a t slavery,

its

the p u b lic

102.

2 H. A* L a r s e n , o p . c i t . , p p .

181-251.

^Exam ples o f su c h r e f e r e n c e s ; S y n o d lc a l R eport, th e Synod, 1 8 7 2 , p . 7 6 ; S y n o d ic a l R e p o r t, th e C o n fe r e n c e , 1 875, p . 7 6 ; 'Preus, P r o f e s s o r e r n e p f t e d a l s o'g W e e n a a s 1 s w i s c o ' n s ' i n i s m e , p . 1 4 2 .

W ith p e n s io n

copy iW t owner. Pul1her r e a c t i o n proh« e d withou, p e r s o n .

506 sch o o ls, On t h e

and s e c r e t p a s t o r a l c o n f e r e n c e s made t h e i r

o t h e r h a n d , P a s t o r M. P . Ruh a n d h i s

g reg a tio n the

le ft

the C onference b eca u se

"Open D e c l a r a t i o n " and i t s

ju stifica tio n ,

fa lse

step

n e c e s s a r y .1

A lpena, M ich igan,

of its

con­

r e f u s a l to r e tr a c t

t e a c h i n g a b o u t a b s o l u t i o n and

and t h e y w e r e r e c e i v e d i n t o

the

Synod in 1 8 7 5 .^

The J u d g m e n t o f t h e M i n n e s o t a D i s t r i c t o f th e Synod i n 1 8 8 0 P a s t o r P . A. R a s m u s s e n o f t h e S y n o d s o u g h t get

sp ecific

a c t i o n underway i n f u r t h e r a n c e o f t h e u n i o n o f Norwe­

g ia n Lutheran synods in A n e r ic a . Synod i n the

The M i n n e s o t a D i s t r i c t

c o n s i d e r i n g Rasm ussen*s p r o p o s a l e x p r e s s e d

C onference

of resentm ent

in th e

la tter

church b od y.

h in d ered ,

stated

a c t u a l l y h ad l i t t l e

w ith

tru ly fic ia l

i n common w i t h t h e

seventeen,

furthered,

fa ith

C onference b ecau se

the

and c o n f e s s i o n

from t h a t

t h e Word o f God a n d t h e s y m b o l i c a l b o o k s . ®

T hat was

a h a r s h judgment t o p a s s upon an o p p o n e n t . status,

and H . A. were t h e

to

t o o , whereas th e

Preus*

co n tro v ersia l

a n a t h e m a o f t h e R oc k p r a i r i e

d eclaration s

not

the C o n f e r e n c e , and t h a t t h e Synod

t e r had a c o m p le te ly d i f f e r e n t found in

o f an o f f i c i a l

t h a t t h e k i n g d o m o f God was b e i n g

by the s t r i f e

about

a great deal

A p ortion

of th irty -fo u r

o f the

itse lf

i n a way t h a t u n d e r s t a n d a b l y c r e a t e d

r e p o r t , w h i c h was a d o p t e d b y a v o t e e x p lic itly

to

for

th eir

I t h a d an o f ­

"Open D e c l a r a t i o n " Free C onference

o f i n d i v i d u a l s who a t t h e

regard ed as sp e a k in g o f f i c i a l l y

la t­

tim e

c o u l d n o t be

church b o d ie s .

•^ S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e

C onference,

2S y n o d ic a l R e p o r t, t h e

Synod,

1872, pp. 84-86.

1875, pp.

9,

14.

•Z

S y n o d ic a l R eport, M innesota D i s t r i c t ,

the

Synod,

pp. 74-78.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

1880,

CHAPTER V I

THE ELECTION CONTROVERSY in tro d u ctio n Of a l l h isto ry

a nd S u r v e y

th e d o c t r i n a l c o n t r o v e r s i e s w hich f i g u r e

o f N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n i s m n o n e was

conducted as the E l e c t i o n C on troversy w it h in in

the decade o f th e

to the

eig h ties.

in

the

so b i t t e r l y

th e N orwegian Synod

T h i s c o n t r o v e r s y w as r e s t r i c t e d

one s y n o d , and th e o t h e r groups a d o p te d a r a t h e r

co n sisten t

"hands-off" p o lic y ,

a l t h o u g h t h e r e w as an o c c a s i o n a l e x p r e s s i o n

o f op in ion

or another o u tsid e

from one

source.

By a n d l a r g e ,

the

o t h e r N orwegian L u th er a n sy n o d s

i n A m erica were a n t i - M i s s o u r i a n

in

somewhat i r o n i c a l t h a t t h e

th eir

p oin t of view .

w h ich had r i d i c u l e d synods,

e s p e c i a l l y the

w ith th e f a c t Sin ce

shou ld fin d i t s e l f

other

confronted

in t e r n a l disagreem ent of i t s

s u c h e m p h a s i s on p u r e d o c t r i n e

and in m o d e r a te of fig h t,

had c l e a r e d ,

in

Synod

it

is

the

not str a n g e

that

w i t h no h o l d s b a r r e d .

I t rocked

its

When t h e

very fou n d ation s.

of its

pastors

had w ith d ra w n .

the

a very

I t was a k n o c k - d o w n a n d d r a g -

Synod found i t s e l f

about o n e -th ir d

M issourian p a r ty ,

controversy.

ow n.

and th e n e c e s ­

w h ich em erged w i t h i n th e Synod s h o u ld e n g a g e i n

organ ized synod to

for

C onference,

com plete d o c t r i n a l agreem en t,

tw o p a r t i e s

ou t type

la ck o f d o c tr in a l u n iform ity

o f a very serio u s

th e Synod l a i d

s ity for

fierce

the

I t was

the w e l l sm oke o f b a t t l e

con sid erab ly reduced and c o n g r e g a t i o n s ,

in

the

The s y n o d i c a l l y - h o m e l e s s 307

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

size,

A n ti-

308 A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s th e n assumed a g g r e s s i v e movement and s u c c e e d e d i n

lead ersh ip

e f f e c t i n g a un ion in

o f the u n io n

1890 w hich c r e a t e d

a new s y n o d , p o p u l a r l y known a s t h e U n i t e d C h u r c h . The N o r w e g i a n S y n o d p r o b a b l y w o u l d n o t h a v e e x p e r i e n c e d th is

controversy i f

i t had n o t been so

M isso u r i Synod, f o r the o r i g i n s are

to be

clo sely

a s s o c i a t e d w ith the

o f th e c o n tr o v e r s y about e l e c t i o n

f o u n d among t h e German L u t h e r a n s .

When t h e

N orwegian

S y n o d was c o n f r o n t e d w i t h t h e p r o b l e m o f i n t e r n a l d i s u n i t y c r e a t e d by d if f e r e n c e s p a rties

o f o p in io n about e l e c t i o n and c o n v e r s i o n ,

w h ich appeared were

sou rian s

con ven ien tly referred

an d t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s .

adopted the

samd p o s i t i o n

th at p o sitio n .

a s C . F . W. W a l t h e r a n d t h e b u l k o f t h e o f c o u s e , w e r e t h o s e who

P rom in en t and a b l e p r o f e s s o r s ,

and l e a d e r s who h a d p r e v i o i i s l y w o r k e d t o g e t h e r i n t h e harm ony and h a d p r e s e n t e d a d o c t r i n a l l y u n i t e d f r o n t whom t h e S y n o d r e g a r d e d a s e r r o r i s t s to

pastors,

greatest again st those

now f o u n d t h e m s e l v e s u n a b l e

agree. The d o c t r i n e

to

the M is­

The M i s s o u r i a n s w e r e t h o s e who

M iss o u r i Synod; the A n ti-M is s o u r ia n s , rejected

t o as

th e two

sa lv a tio n ,

p red estin a tio n

is

of p red estin a tio n ,

not a c e n tr a l d octrin e

to dam nation

t o L u th e r a n thought.'*'

Sin ce

or God's e l e c t i o n

o f man

in Lutheran t h e o lo g y ,

(rep rob ation )

is

an d

com p letely foreign

Lutheran t h e o lo g y has i t s

poin t o f

■*-H. E . J a c o b s , A Summary o f t h e C h r i s t i a n F a i t h ( P h i l a ­ d elp h ia : U n i t e d L u th eran P u b l i c a t i o n H o u s e , l 9 0 6 ) , p . 553; John T . M u e lle r , C h r is t ia n Dogm atics ( S t . L o u is ; C oncordia P u b lis h in g House, 1 9 3 4 ) , r p. 685. The w o r d s " p r e d e s t i n a t i o n ” and " e l e c t i o n " a r e u s e d s y n o n y ­ m o u s l y i n L u t h e r a n t h e o l o g y t o r e f e r t o t h e same a c t o f God. C o n s e q u e n t l y , i n t h i s d i s s e r t a t i o n n o d i s t i n c t i o n i s made b e t w e e n the term s. J a c o b s , o p . c i t . , p . 5 5 4 ; H . S c h m i d , The D o c t r i n a l T h e o lo g y o f t h e E v a n g e lic a r ~ L u th e r a n Church, t r a n s . C h arles A.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

309 departure God, i n

In the

love

contrast to

o f a l l men.

o f God r a t h e r t h a n i n

C alvin ism ,

I t s em ph asis i s

The L u t h e r a n b e l i e v e s

that

o f g r a c e and t h e

on t h e r e d e m p t i o n

p a r t ic u la r it y o f e l e c t i o n , has been confronted

not a c e n tr a l a r t i c l e

th ere

fr e q u e n t ly has been

of f a i t h but has referen ce

s e r v in g th e purpose

b e lie v e r.^

C onsequently,

been fo r th e f a c t co n sid eration

that

the d o c tr in e

the d i s c u s s i o n

the

A lth ough t h i s it

ca ll,

o f e le c t io n per se

had not

in volved

t h a t was f o r e m o s t .

In h i s

a co n tro v ersy about

a n t h r o p o l o g i c a l p r o b le m , m an's p a r t

c o n v e r s io n a t any s t a g e

in h is

o f u n b eliever to th a t of b e lie v e r .

c o n v e r s i o n , m an's w i l l i n r e l a t i o n

grace,

and t h e

In

The q u e s t i o n w a s w h e t h e r man h a s t r a n s f o r m a t i o n from Q u e stio n s ab ou t the

o f c o n v e r s i o n , m an 's n a t u r a l p o w ers and a b i l i t i e s

and d u r i n g

the

i n th e problem o f

became p r i m a r i l y and e s s e n t i a l l y

con version ,

v en ien t

it

cou ld

and j u s t i f i c a t i o n .

controversy o r ig in a te d

I t was t h e

status

of electio n

con version ,

con version .

any p a r t

on ly t o b e ­

o f a nu mb er o f o t h e r e x t r e m e l y i m p o r t a n t d o c t r i n e s —

such as a ssu r a n c e ,

electio n ,

of electio n

o f c o n s o l i n g a nd s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e

h a r d ly have produced such a storm o f c o n t r o v e r s y i f

causes

sa lv a tio n .

and c o n t r o v e r s y .

liev ers,

the

to

the u n i v e r s a l i t y

A ccord in g t o Lutheran t e a c h i n g the d o c t r in e is

is u n iv ersa l,

or e le c te d

t h o s e two t e a c h i n g s ,

and c o n s i d e r e d b y L u t h e r a n t h e o l o g i a n s , strife

sovereign ty o f

God's grace

b u t a l l men, n e v e r t h e l e s s , a r e n o t s a v e d , When t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n

the

to

p rior

to

God's g r a c e , p r e -

l i k e were d i s c u s s e d .

Hay a nd H e n r y E . J a c o b s ( 4 t h e d . , R e v . ; P u b lica tio n S o c ie ty , 1899), p. 286. ^ A r t. X I , Formula o f Concord;

P h ilad elp h ia:

L utheran

C o n c o r d i a T r i g l o t t a , pp.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

1077-

310

The c o n t r o v e r s y agreem ent betw een the

revealed

tea ch in g s

of th eir

th a t C alvin ism

th e a rea o f fundam ental

d i s p u t a n t s was v e r y l a r g e .

were a f r a i d o f t e n d e n c i e s the

that

and what t h e y b e l i e v e d

opponents.

lay im p lic it,

if

But b oth s i d e s la y im p lic it

The A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s b e l i e v e d

not e x p r essed ,

in the

teach in g o f

t h e M i s s o u r i a n s , who w a n t e d t o b e l o y a l a b o v e a l l e l s e p rin cip le

so la

f o r m an's

co n v ersio n .

th a t dangerous

g ra tia

in order to On t h e

sy n erg istic

give

is

la tter

sought

the M issou rian s b e lie v e d

t e n d e n c ie s were ap p aren t i n o f con version ,

The L u t h e r a n m u s t w a l k t h e

i n Lutheran c i r c l e s .

ficu lty

o f d e f in in g the d o c tr in e

b o th God's h is

T his

the

lo ss

controversy rev ea ls

o f con version

n o t t o be the d i f ­

i n s u c h a w ay t h a t

g l o r y f o r m an's s a l v a t i o n and m an's r e s p o n s i b i l i t y

r ig h t or to th e sh ou ld be s a i d

le ft that

in to a ll

in v o lv ed in the

th e problem w i t h i n

for

the it

c o n t r o v e r s y w anted to

concepts.

H o w e v e r , w he n on e

th e L u th e r a n t h e o l o g i c a l framework he

t h a t any a tte m p te d r a t i o n a l e x p l a n a t i o n

m an's a p p r o p r i a t i o n

fa r to

forb id d en t h e o lo g ic a l t e r r i t o r y ,

m ain tain a l o y a l t y t o b o th o f th o se

sees

for

th eology i s

condem nation are p r e s e r v e d w it h o u t v e r g i n g to o

view s

God's g r a c e

s t r a i g h t and narrow

p a th b etw een C a lv in is m and s y n e r g is m i f h i s suspect

the A n ti-

accord in g to

t o a v o id any s u g g e s t i o n t h a t

n o t u n i v e r s a l o r t h a t God c o u l d b e r e s p o n s i b l e

o f any s i n n e r .

to th e

God a l l t h e h o n o r a nd c r e d i t

oth er hand,

M isso u ria n co n cep t o f the d o c tr in e w hich th e

in

o f God's g r a c e

is

o f the p ro cess

of

i n d a n g er e i t h e r o f m aking

man a n a u t o m a t o n o r o f a s c r i b i n g t o u n c o n v e r t e d man s p i r i t u a l p o w e r s a nd a b i l i t i e s 79;

Jacobs,

op.

w hich th e d o c tr in e

c i t . , pp.

o f o r ig in a l s in does not

569-71; M u eller,

op. c i t . , pp.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

602-606.

p e r m it * An i m p o r t a n t c o n s i d e r a t i o n i n tered

about the

electio n

le g itim a c y o f attem p tin g r a t io n a l ex p la n a tio n s

or c o n v e rsio n .

w ith r a tio n a lism cila b le

two a p p a r e n t l y n o n - r e c o n -

i r r a t i o n a l t r u t h s , b o t h o f w h i c h m u s t be a c c e p t e d b e c a u s e the B i b l e ,

and c o n v e r s i o n a r e

son cannot p e n e t r a t e . is

of

The M i s s o u r i a n s c h a r g e d t h e i r o p p o n e n t s

fo r tr y in g to r e c o n c ile

th e y are tau gh t in E lectio n

th e arguments p r e s e n t e d c e n ­

f i n a l and s o l e

and c o n v e r s i o n .

sole

cloth ed

in

source

in

agreed that

in r e l i g i o u s m a t te r s ,

support o f t h e ir

They a l s o

of r e lig io u s

truth.

a m y s te r y w h ich m an's r e a ­

The A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s

au th ority

to B ib lic a l passages

the

the B ih le

and t h e y p o i n t e d

in terp reta tio n o f e le c tio n

agreed th a t th ere

are im p en etrab le d i ­

v i n e m y s t e r i e s b u t c o n te n d e d t h a t one ought t o u n d e r s ta n d as f u l l y as p o s s ib le

t h a t w hich i s

ta u g h t w hich i s

r e v e a l e d an d t h a t no d o c t r i n e

n o t i n harmony w i t h what h a s b e e n d i v i n e l y r e v e a l e d

about the n a tu r e

o f God and t h e way o f s a l v a t i o n

a p er so n a lly resp o n sib le b ein g . v iew ed the B ib le

s h o u ld be

c o n t r o v e r s y in term s

and a b o u t man a s

The M i s s o \ i r i a n s p a r t i c u l a r l y o f th e o p p o s it io n betw een the

an d r e a s o n a s t h e u l t i m a t e

source

of au th ority

in d o c t r i n a l

m atters . One f u r t h e r a s p e c t these

o f the

c o n t r o v e r s y s h o u l d be n o t e d i n

g e n e r a l in tr o d u c to r y rem arks.

t o m an y c l e r g y m e n , the r e a l i z a t i o n

and u n d o u b t e d l y e v e n more s o t o

that

the d o c tr in e

f e r e n t l y by t h e Form ula o f Concord E xp lan ation

of

T h a t w h i c h was d i s c o n c e r t i n g

the C atechism

the

la ity ,

was

o f e l e c t i o n was e x p l a i n e d d i f ­ ( A r t . X I)

(q u estion 5 4 8 ).^

and p o n t o p p i d a n ' s The F o r m u l a wa s

^ Q u e s t i o n 5 4 8 o f P o n t o p p i d a n *s E x p l a n a t i o n w i t h a n s w e r

Reproduced with permission o f the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

312

one o f th e

L utheran c o n f e s s i o n s

b u t was n o t o f f i c i a l l y C onsequently,

it

s u b s c r i b e d t o b y t h e Church o f Norway.

w as h a r d l y k n o w n , e v e n b y n a m e ,

Lutheran la y p e o p le . reason,

Even t h e N o rw eg ia n S y n od,

had n o t in c lu d e d

However,

i n c l u d e d i n t h e Book o f C on cord ,

t h e Formula i n

th e M i s s o u r i Synod o f f i c i a l l y

th e c a s e w it h s e v e r a l o f th e Lutheran th e N orwegian A ugu stan a S y n o d . O n S m a l l C a t e c h i s m was o n e o f t h e o f Norway, th eless,

in

for the

L utheran l a i t y

o fficia l

f o r m . T h e rep u d iation

b elief of

However,

can be u n d e r s t o o d

co n fessio n s

o f the

was n o t .

L uther’s Church N ever­

th e b e lo v e d E x p la n a tio n by p o n to p ­ in stru ctio n ,

’’ f i r s t

form ," w h ile

was i t s

the M isso u ria n d o c tr in e

in

the

forth

"second

effect

was a

to the b i t t e r n e s s

the Form ula’ s p r e s e n t a t i o n

c o u l d be u n d e r s t o o d

set

dog­

the A n ti-M iss o u ­

known a s

in a b ro a d er o r narrow er s e n s e ,

the d o c tr in e

in clu d in g

oth er hand, w hile

P ontoppidan c o n t r ib u t e d g r e a t l y

str ife .^

two fo rm s o f

that

a s w as

in A m erica,

The M i s s o u r i a n s a d o p t e d t h e f o r m o f e l e c t i o n the

la tter

co n fessio n a l w ritin g s.

synods

sto o d b y P on topp idan’ s p r e s e n t a t io n ,

o f the

the

su b scrib ed to i t ,

the

fo r purposes o f r e lig io u s

t h e F o r m u l a , known a s

rian s

for

B ishop P o n to p p id a n ’ s E x p la n a tio n o f i t

p id an , u sed m a tics.

its

t o th e Norwegian

in

of electio n

and e a c h o f t h e a w ay s a t i s f a c t o r y

rea d s as f o ll o w s : "What i s E l e c t i o n ? God h a s a p p o i n t e d a l l t h o s e t o e t e r n a l l i f e who He f r o m e t e r n i t y h a s f o r e s e e n w o u l d a c c e p t t h e o f f e r e d g r a c e , b e l i e v e i n C h r i s t , a nd r e m a i n c o n s t a n t i n t h i s f a i t h u n to th e end." G. M. B r u c e ( e d . ) , The U n i o n D o c u m e n t s o f t h e E v a n g e lic a l L utheran Church, p . 5 7 . Ar t . X I o f t h e F o r m u l a i s very len gth y. I t d o e s h o t d e s c r i b e Go d’ s e l e c t i o n o f man a s o c ­ c u r r in g in v iew o f f o r e s e e n f a i t h . S e e i b i d . , p p . 4 1 - 5 7 , o r C on ­ cord ia T r i g l o t t a , pp. 1063-95. •^• S u p r a , p . to rie

i

228.

^I n f r a , pp . 3 2 8 - 3 0 ,

335 f .

T . E g g e n , " o v e r s i g t o v e r Den n o r s k - l u t h e r s k e A m erika," in F e s t s k r i f t , e d . W i s t , p . 2 3 0 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

K irkes H is -

313

to

the o th er p a r t y .

The M a d i s o n A g r e e m e n t o f 1 9 1 2 ,

agreem ent t h a t p reced ed the Church o f A m e r ic a i n

1917,

a d o ctrin a l

f o r m a t i o n o f th e Norwegian Lutheran recogn izes

the

leg itim a cy

of h old in g

to e i t h e r form #^ H i s t o r i c a l O rigin s A s p e r h e i m ’ s A t t a c k on M i s s o u r i a n i s m In 187 8 P r o f e s s o r Ole A sp e r h e im , o f the Synod’ s

" p ra ctical"

sto o d f o r t h as a c r i t i c

flu en ce

th at

in ­

criticism s

1878,

o v er the Nor­

at a pastoral and l a t e

(d o g m a t i s k Q v e r d a n n e l s e ) ,

and f a i r n e s s

in

its

tow ard i t s

the N orw egian Synod b r e a k t i e s ^Bruce

(ed.),

op.

of d o ctrin a l h a ir s p lit ­

th at d istu rb s

and t r a d i t i o n ,

a ttitu d e

same

Asperheim

of d o c tr in a l p erversion s

of a trad itio n a lism

t io n s h ip betw een S c r ip tu r e

the

i n a more e x t e n d e d f o r m i n a b o o k

t h e M i s s o u r i S y n o d was g u i l t y

M isd an n else),

th at

o f M i s s o u r i a n i s m and d e p l o r e d t h e

The M i s s o u r i S y n o d and t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d . 2

charged th a t tin g

for

in M ilw aukee in F e b r u a r y ,

year p u b lish ed h is

appeared

synod,

He e x p r e s s e d h i m s e l f i n t h i s w i s e

conference h eld

en titled

lea d ersh ip of h is

th e M i s s o u r i Synod c o n t in u e d t o e x e r t

w egian Synod.

fa cu lty

sem in ary a t M adison, W is c o n s in ,

in a r o le h i g h l y unpopular w ith the he

a member o f t h e

(dogm atisk

the proper r e l a ­

and o f a l a c k o f l o v e

opponents,

w ith M issou ri.®

and a d v o c a t e d In c o n n e c t io n

c i t . , pp. 38 f .

2S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e S y n o d , 1 8 7 8 , p . 7 8 . M is s o u r is y n o d e n og pen n o r sx e Synode, e t B id r a g t i l B e d & n m e l s e ( B r o o k l y n ; NiIs' en' s” B o g t r y k k e r i , 1 8 7 8 ) . s k e t c h o f A sperheim , s e e s u p r a , p . 8 7 , n . 1 , 3 A sperheim , o p . c i t . , pp. 1 , 3 9 , 90, 113.

0 . A sperheim , d i s s e Samfunds For a b r i e f

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

314

w ith the p resen t t o p ic

it

is

im portant to note

t h a t A sperheim

contended th a t the M issou rian

ten d en cy towards p e r v e r t in g d o c t r in e

c o u l d be s e e n i n i t s

of electio n ,

d octrin e

p o is e d betw een C a l v i n i s t i c trin e the

as

n en tly in first

the

1

controversy,

was b r o u g h t up w i t h i n

dan gerou sly

p r e d e s t i n a t i o n and t h e L u th e r a n d o c ­

c l e a r l y d ev elo p ed by th e

n o te d Johan G e r h a r d t.

w hich i s

la t e r d ogm atician s,

s u c h as

9

P . A . S c h m i d t , ' 5 who f i g u r e d sa y s th a t the d o c tr in e th e N orw egian Synod a t

p a sto r a l conference

in

p a sto r a l conference

expressed i t s

so prom i­

of electio n t h i s M ilw aukee

1 8 7 8 whe n A s p e r h e i m s p o k e h i s m i n d . ^ d is a p p r o v a l o f the

The

stan d p oin t

t a k e n b y A s p e r h e i m a n d r e q u e s t e d h im t o c o n f e r w i t h p a s t o r J . O ttesen

i n o r d e r t o become b e t t e r

to o k a prom inent r o l e The a c t i o n

o f the

resig n a tio n .

inform ed ,

in o p p o sitio n

A.

p r o f e s s o r Schm idt

to A sperheim a t t h i s

tim e.^

p a s t o r a l c o n fe r e n c e p r e c i p i t a t e d A sperheim *s

L ater th e

s y n o d i c a l Church C o u n c i l c o n f e r r e d w i t h

•^I b i d . , p . 3 9 . p For b r i e f s k e tc h o f Schm idt,

see

supra, p. 87,

n.

1.

®F. A. S c h m i d t , N a a d e v a l g - S t r i d e n ( C h i c a g o : Norden*s B o g t r y k k e r i , 1 8 8 1 ) , p . v“ The' S y n o d ' s p e r i o d i c a l , h o w e v e r , i n ­ c lu d e s a r e p o r t about a " s p e c i a l c o n fe r e n c e ," h e l d in A lb e r t L ea, M i n n e s o t a , May 1 6 - 1 8 , 1 8 7 6 , a t w h i c h t h e c h i e f t o p i c o f d i s c u s ­ s i o n was " e l e c t i o n , " on t h e b a s i s o f a r e p o r t w o r k e d o u t by P a sto r W u lfsb erg. T . H. D a h l , " A l b e r t L e a S p e c i a l - k o n f e r e n c e , " E . L« K » , I I I ( 1 8 7 6 ) , 4 2 1 - 2 3 . T h i s was a l o c a l , o r r e g i o n a l , p a s t o r a l c o n f e r e n c e , and i t i s c o r r e c t t h a t t h e d o c t r i n e o f e l e c ­ t i o n was f i r s t b r o u g h t u p a s a c o n t r o v e r s i a l p o i n t i n a s i g n i f i ­ c a n t g a t h e r i n g o f S y n o d p a s t o r s when A s p e r h e i m l e v e l l e d h i s c r i t i c i s m a g a in s t M issou rian ism . Re " s p e c i a l c o n f e r e n c e , " s e e H alvorsen ( e d . ) , F e s t s k r i f t , p . 210. ^ B e r g h , Den n o r s k l u t h e r s k e K l r k e s H i s t o r i e 1 A m e r l k a , pp. 261-63. S c h m i d t l'ate'r w r o t e t h a t ' he' w as a t t h a t time' i n a g r e e m e n t w i t h A s p e r h e i m a b o u t t h e d o c t r i n e o f e l e c t i o n , b u t he b e l i e v e d t h a t A s p e r h e i m was t o o h a r s h i n h i s j u d g m e n t . Schm idt, op. c i t . , p. v .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

315 A sp e r h e im , b u t t h e m e e t i n g was w i t h o u t r e s u l t ,

and A s p e r h e i m a c ­

c e p t e d a c a l l a s s e a m e n ’ s p a s t o r i n New Y o r k C i t y . ^ Schm idt and t h e Schm idt r e p o r t s

O rigins

o f the

t h a t tw o w eeks

C ontroversy

a f t e r t h e M ilw aukee

con­

f e r e n c e he r e c e i v e d t h e r e p o r t o f t h e W e stern D i s t r i c t m e e t i n g o f th e M is s o u r i Synod h e l d i n sou rian d o c tr in e fir st titu d e

tim e,

of electio n

and t h a t t h i s

b e c a u se he found i n

S crip tu re

and t h e

made known h i s

was e x p l i c i t l y

in

1879 r e p o r t

w ould have

t o be r e g i s t e r e d .

A l t e s und Neues f o r

t h e M is s o u r ia n s were

errors

a mo re p o s i t i v e

protest

o f a G enian p e r i o d i c a l

the purpose

o f M isso u ri.^

i n w h i c h S c h m i d t was i n v o l v e d J-S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e S y n o d ,

pp.

former

C on seq u en tly w ith the b e g in n in g o f

th e y e a r 1880 Schm idt began p u b l i c a t i o n

op.

through c o n v e r s a tio n

o f the W estern D i s t r i c t

t h e i r p o i n t o f v ie w and t h a t

^Schm idt,

a C a lv in istic

t h e p o w e r f u l C. F . W. W a l t h e r o f t h e M i s ­

p ersistin g

troversy

from

a co u p le o f y e a r s Schm idt

t o w h a t he r e g a r d e d a s

A p p aren tly the

to be th e

the

own a t ­

the r ep o rt d o c t r i n a l d ep a rtu res

o f th e M i s s o u r i Synod c o n v in c e d him t h a t

liev ed

in h i s

He f o u n d h i m s e l f d i s a g r e e i n g w i t h h i s

t e a c h e r and c o l l e a g u e ,

en titled

th e M is­

presented fo r

p r o d u c e d an a l t e r a t i o n

th e M is s o u r i Synod l a r g e l y

a nd c o r r e s p o n d e n c e .

s o u r i Synod.

i n w h i c h , he s a i d ,

co n fe ssio n sF o r

op p osition

d octrin e w ith in

1877,

of

T his

c o m b a ttin g what he b e ­ ste p brought the

out in to

con­

th e open.^

1 8 7 8 , pp . 78 f .

c i t . , p. v .

^ B e r g h , Den n o r s k l u t h e r s k e 267 f . ^Schm idt’ s r e a l m o tiv es

K irkes H i s t o r i e

i A m erika,

in b reak in g w ith M issou ri are not

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

316 In r e s p o n s e

to

the

first

Synod p e r i o d i c a l i n F e b r u a r y , variou s doctrin e forth

issu e

1880, began t o in c lu d e

o f th e Lutheran church f a t h e r s of electio n .

o f S ch m id t’ s p ap er the excerpts

in con n ection w ith the

D uring th e year s e v e r a l a r t i c l e s

the M isso u r i Syn od’ s d o c t r in e

fr om

in the

settin g

form o f t h e s e s ,

to­

g e t h e r w i t h s u b s t a n t i a t i n g p a s s a g e s fr o m t h e B o o k o f C o n c o r d a n d L u t h e r a n d o g m a t i c i a n s , a n d one a r t i c l e

from A l t e s und N e u e s , w ere

included.'*' Muus a n d t h e M i n n e s o t a D i s t r i c t M ee tin g o f 1880 D uring 1880 th e i s s u e p a sto ra l conferences ary)

o f the

o f e l e c t i o n w as d i s c u s s e d b y t h e

Iowa D i s t r i c t

and o f t h e E a s t e r n D i s t r i c t

o f the

(in M arch),

Synod

(in

Janu­

as w e l l as by th e

g e n e r a l s y n o d i c a l p a s t o r a l c o n f e r e n c e w h ic h met i n L a c r o s s e , W is con sin ,

O ctober 1 3 - 2 0 ,

1880.

p

The d i s t r i c t m e e t i n g s

of the year

e a s ily ascerta in a b le. H is opponents co n ten d ed th a t h i s a c c o u n t o f th e o r i g i n s o f h i s c o n f l i c t w ith M is s o u r i in term s o f a r a t h e r b e l a t e d d i s c o v e r y o f what M i s s o u r i ta u g h t a b o u t e l e c t i o n i s n o t e n tir e ly accurate. I t i s im p lie d , fo r exam ple, th a t h i s f a i l u r e t o g e t an a p p o i n t m e n t t o t h e f a c u l t y o f C o n c o r d i a S e m i n a r y , S t . L o u i s , d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d , d e t e r m in e d h i s c o n d u c t , and t h a t he was s t r o n g l y m o t i v a t e d b y p e r s o n a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s . I t I s doubt­ f u l w hether even a th orough i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f the t o p ic o f S c h m id t's m o t iv a t io n w ould r e v e a l th e d e s ir e d in f o r m a t io n . The a u t h o r i s in t e r e s t e d in th e E le c t i o n C ontroversy o n ly in s o f a r as i t i n ­ v o l v e d t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d a n d c o n s e q u e n t l y c a n n o t u n d e r t a k e an i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f t h e r e a s o n s f o r S c h m id t ’ s -break w i t h t h e M is ­ s o u r i a n s an d h i s p a r t i n t h e German c o n t r o v e r s y . See Schm idt, N a a d e v a l g - S t r i d e n , p p . i - x i , and H a lv o r s e n ( e d . ) , F e s t s k r i f t , pp. 25 9 -6 1 . ^•’’V i d n e s b y r d a f F a e d r e n e t i l B e l y s n i n g a f L a e r e n om N a a d e v a lg e t, ” E. L. K ., V II (1 8 8 0 ) , 8 1 - 8 8 , 1 1 3 -2 5 , 1 2 9 - 4 1 , 1 4 5 -5 7 ; " M i s s o u r i s y n o d e r i s L'aer'e om N a a d e v a l g e t , " i b i d . , 1 7 8 - 8 5 , 1 9 4 - 9 9 , 2 1 1 - 1 8 , 3 0 5 - 1 0 ; "Af ’ A l t e s u n d N e u e s ’ om N a a d e v a l g e t , " i b i d . , 573-78. 2 In th e p r e v io u s y e a r , 1879, e l e c t i o n had been d i s c u s s e d

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

317 revealed

a d isin clin a tio n

ly before so rs.^

it

tried

m eeting o f h i s sou rian ism ,

th is

d iffic u lt

to p ic

f i r s t had been c o n s id e r e d b y th e p a s t o r s

However,

D istrict,

to d iscu ss

Pastor B. to force

d istr ic t.

o f the is s u e

course

o f the E le c t i o n

became one o f t h e m o s t p r o m i n e n t A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s , Schm idt a s one o f t h e f o r e m o s t l e a d e r s of h is

at

the

1880

P r e v i o u s l y a sta u n ch d e fe n d e r o f M is­

P a s t o r Muus i n t h e

voted a p o rtion

an d p r o f e s ­

J . Muus, p r e s i d e n t o f t h e M i n n e s o t a

a d iscu ssio n 2

p u b lic­

ran k in g w ith

o f that group.

p r e s id e n t ia l address

C ontroversy

Muus d e ­

to d is c u s s in g

the

c o n t r o v e r s y o v e r e l e c t i o n and u n e q u i v o c a l l y a d o p te d th e A n t i M issourian p o s i t i o n fa ith

(i n t u i t u

o f Muus*

th at e le c tio n

fid ei) .

address

occu rs in view o f fo r e s e e n

The s u b s e q u e n t d i s c u s s i o n

revealed th a t

t o b r i n g i n g up th e d o c t r i n e

of th is

p ortion

th e m a j o r i t y o p i n io n was o p p o se d

for p u b lic d isc u ssio n

as y e t

t h e S y n o d was u n p r e p a r e d t o d e a l w i t h s u c h a d i f f i c u l t

sin ce

d octrin e

a t a p a s to r a l co n feren ce in B e l o i t , W isco n sin , February 1 1 -1 3 , a nd t h e d o c t r i n e o f t h e c a l l h a d b e e n d i s c u s s e d a t a c i r c u i t g a th er in g in southern M innesota. '*' M a d i s o n S p e c i a l k o n f e r e n c e , » " E . L . K . , V I ( 1 8 7 9 ) , 1 4 1 ; "Guds N a a d e k a l d , " i b i d . , 4 8 1 - 8 7 . The Iowa D i s t r i c t p a s t o r a l c o n f e r e n c e was h e l d a t D e c o r a h , I o w a , J a n ­ u a r y 2 1 - 2 7 , 1 8 8 0 , and t h e E a s t e r n D i s t r i c t p a s t o r a l c o n f e r e n c e was h e l d a t M a n i t o w o c , W i s c o n s i n , M arc h 3 - 9 , 1 8 8 0 . For a n n o u n c e ­ m e n t s c o n c e r n i n g t h e s e c o n f e r e n c e s s e e **lowa D i s t r i k t s p r e s t k o n f e r e n c e , " i b i d . , p . 7 9 9 , and " F o r a n d r in g a f S t e d , ” i b i d . , V I I ( 1 8 8 0 ), h t : ^■’’N a a d e v a l g s s t r i d e n , " i b i d . , V I I I

(1881),

114.

^ B e r n t J u l i u s M u u s , b o r n i n 1 8 3 2 i n N o r w a y , was a t h e o ­ l o g i c a l graduate o f C h r is tia n ia U n iv e r s it y . He m i g r a t e d t o A m e ri c a i n 1 8 5 9 , b e c a m e a l e a d i n g member o f t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d , a n d s e r v e d a p a r i s h i n Goodhue C o u n t y , M i n n . , f r o m 1 8 5 9 t o 1 8 9 9 . He to o k the le a d in fou n d in g S t . O l a f ’ s S c h o o l in 1 8 7 4 . He wa s p r e s i d e n t o f t h e M i n n e s o t a D i s t r i c t o f t h e S y n o d , 1 8 7 6 - 8 3 , and became a l e a d i n g A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n . N o r l i e e t a l . , Who*s 'Mho, p. 394. 3 S y n o d ic a l R eport, M innesota D i s t r i c t , th e Synod, 1880, pp. 11-14.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

318 and a c a r e f u l a p p r o a c h t o t h e m a t t e r c o u l d p r e v e n t t h e t y p e m isu n d ersta n d in g that

so o f t e n

a rises

gin n in g o f a d o c tr in a l s t r i f e .

in con n ectio n w ith the b e ­

B e l i e v i n g t h a t Muus'

in ap p rop riate

fo r the

t i m e and p l a c e ,

six ty -n in e

fifteen

r e q u e s t e d him t o e l i m i n a t e

h is

to

address d e a lin g w ith e le c t io n

m eetin g.

and d e s i g n a t i n g h i s of h is

co n v ictio n s

pu b lish ed in

its

t i o n were a l s o

a l o n e . ' 1'

en tirety ,

in c lu d e d in

f i c i a l reco g n itio n

o f the

o p in io n about the d o c tr in e E fforts The M i s s o u r i a n

it

approach as u n w ise

The r e s u l t was

t h a t Muus* a d d r e s s was

and t h e d i s t r i c t ' s the m in u t e s . ex isten ce

o f a serio u s

lead ers

o f the

fir st

d ifferen ce

Synod b e l i e v e d

to d iscu ssio n s

of­ of

con v ictio n

that

the

at pastoral

P r e s i d e n t H. A . P r e u s

t h a t t h a t w o u l d be t h e m o s t

At th e M in n eso ta D i s t r i c t m e e tin g i n

strife,

f o r s h o u l d t h e r e be a r e a l d i f f e r e n c e

one o u g h t to be c a u t i o u s

about

d i f f e r e n c e w ould be o f s u c h s i g n i f i c a n c e

that

and a c ­

of e l e c t i o n w it h in the Synod.

that

b eliev ed

d iscu ssio n

T h is was t h e

he s a i d

w o u l d n o t be a b l e

as a s t a t e m e n t

to C onfine the C on troversy to C le r ic a l C ircles

as h i s

a d visab le procedure.

th at p ortion of

d octrin e

a n d o u g h t n o t b e made p u b l i c .

often expressed

of

to th a t s u g g e stio n the d i s ­

o f the

c o n t r o v e r s y ough t to be r e s t r i c t e d conferences

the d i s t r i c t b y a v o t e

ch a ra cterizin g h is

p resen ta tio n

remarks were

from th e p r i n t e d m in u t e s o f th e

S i n c e Muus c o u l d n o t a g r e e

t r ic t passed a r e so lu tio n

of

t o rem ain i n t h e

jum ping i n t o

same s y n o d .

such a

in d o ctrin e,

th a t the

1880

the

opp osin g p a r t ie s

At t h a t t i m e h e

t h e r e p r o b a b l y w as no a c t u a l d i s u n i t y i n d o c t r i n e

^ Ib ld . , pp.

18-22.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

519

tout

on ly d if f e r e n c e s

Larsen,

need n o t to have o r ig in a t e d p f o r t h a t r e a s o n s h o u l d n o t b e made p u b l i c .

and

t o o , w rote

i n means o f e x p r e s s i o n . ^ - E d i t o r L a u r .

th a t the

strife

T his endeavor t o s o lv e th eo lo g ica l

lea d ersh ip

is

t h e c o n t r o v e r s y on t h e l e v e l

evid en t in

dent o f th e S y n o d ic a l C onference cal fa cu lties

of the

sem in aries

P reu s’ req u est to the p r e s i ­

fo r a colloquim o f th e t h e o l o g i ­ of the

T h i s c o l l o q u i m was h e l d i n M ilw a u k e e , c a l p r e s i d e n t s were a l s o m id st

o f the d is c u s s io n

p r e se n t had to le a v e su lt

in u n it y

o f the

lo g ic a l fa cu lty of

January 5 - 1 0 ,

1881.

i n a s m u c h a s t h e members o f t h e

In f a c t ,

Syn odi­

Ohio S y n o d

T h is colloquium did not r e ­

of electio n ,

a nd P r e u s '

hopes

one o f t h e m o s t s t u l t i f y i n g a s p e c t s

the d i v i s i o n

t h a t e x i s t e d w ith in the

th eo­

the S y n o d ’ s sem in a ry i n M adison, W is c o n s in ,

effectiv en ess

a n d many s t u d e n t s

S yn od ical C onferen ce.^

T he m e e t i n g t e r m i n a t e d i n t h e

on J a n u a r y 1 1 .

c o n t r o v e r s y was

where th e

present.

about the d o c t r in e

were u n r e a l i z e d . 4

of

were

o f t h e o l o g i c a l i n s t r u c t i o n was r e d u c e d left

i n u n c e r t a i n t y and c o n f u s i o n b e c a u s e

S ch m id t and h i s M i s s o u r i a n c o l l e a g u e s ,

H. G. S t u b a nd J o h a n n e s

r

Y l v i s a k e r , worked a t c r o s s - p u r p o s e s . •^ I b i d . , p . 2 1 . E.

2 ”K i r k e t i d e n d e n s S t i l l i n g I.. K . , IX ( 1 8 8 2 ) , 8 1 9 . ^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

til

L a e r e s t r i d e n om N a a d e v a l g e t , ”

M innesota D i s t r i c t ,

the

Synod,

1880,

p . 59. port,

4 ”K i r k e k r o n i k e , " E . L . K . , V I I I t h e S y n o d , 1 8 8 1 , p. 2 5 .

( 1 8 8 1 ) , 4 2 ; S y n o d i c a l Re­

^ s e e , f o r e x a m p le , S c h m id t ’ s r e p o r t t o th e Synod m e e t i n g o f 1881 i n w h ic h he s a y s t h a t d is a g r e e m e n t w i t h i n th e Sem inary f a c u l t y i s a h i n d r a n c e t o c a r r y i n g on t h e work o f t h e s c h o o l . S y n o d ic a l R eport, th e Synod, 1881, p . 5 2 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission .

320

The D o c t r i n e o f A s s u r a n c e A week a f t e r o f the p a sto r s sion

centered

a nd o u g h t

o f the about

top ic

to

the p a s t o r a l c o n fe r e n c e s

a rticles

in the

1881,

strengthen

sets

forth

of h is

electio n

To w h a t e x t e n t

sa lv a tio n ?

T his q u e s t io n

o f the p r e c e d in g y e a r .^

D uring th e

p a s t o r U. V. Koren p u b l i s h e d a s e r i e s

of h is

salvation?" ®

o f e l e c t i o n was fa ith

can

h a d r e c e i v e d much a t t e n t i o n

sy n o d ica l p e r io d ic a l e n t it le d ,

C h r i s t i a n be a s s u r e d the d o c tr in e

Iowa, where th e d i s c u s

o f assu ran ce.^

be c e r t a i n

in r e la t io n

month o f J a n u a r y ,

to

Synod met i n D e c o r a h ,

the

a C h ristian

o f assurance at

th e M ilw aukee C o llo q u im a g e n e r a l c o n f e r e n c e

and h i s

given th e assurance

the M isso u r ia n d o c t r in e

of

"Can a n d o u g h t a

Koren,

b eliev er

in

i n t h e Word o f God

of sa lv a tio n ,

of elec tio n .^

show ing th a t

co n v in cin g ly

U nd oubted ly t h i s

e s s a y b y K o r e n b r o u g h t many t o t h e M i s s o u r i a n p o i n t o f v i e w . ® C. F . W« W a l t h e r ’ s a n a l y s i s p oin ts th is

at issu e

betw een

t i m e was p r i n t e d

o f what h e b e l i e v e d

the M is s o u r i a n s

in the

to be

the

and t h e i r o p p o n e n t s a t

Synod’s p e r io d ic a l,

February 2 5 ,

1881

^The p a s t o r a l c o n f e r e n c e o f t h e I ow a D i s t r i c t was e n l a r g e d i n t o a s y n o d i c a l c o n fe r e n c e in o rd er t h a t the d i s c u s s i o n begun at L a c r o s s e t h e p r e c e d i n g f a l l m i g h t be c o n t i n u e d . ^H alvorsen

(e d .),

op.

c i t . , p.

265.

5 E . L. K . , V I I I ( 1 8 8 1 ) , 2 - 1 0 , 1 7 - 2 9 , 4 9 - 5 8 . I t a ls o ap­ p e a r s in pauX Koren ( e d . ) , s a m le d e S k r i f t e r , I I I , 3 7 2 f f . An E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n i s i n c l u d e d i n N. 0 . ' D v e r s d a l l , " B r i e f B i o g r a ­ p h y o f D r . U . V . K o r e n and a T r a n s l a t i o n o f D r . K o r e n ’ s ’ A s s u r ­ a n c e ’ " (U n p u b lis h e d B. Th. d i s s e r t a t i o n , L u th e r T h e o l o g i c a l S e m i­ nary, S t. P au l, M in n esota, 1 9 4 4 ), pp. 3 1 -8 4 . ^Ib ld . , pp. 7 1 -8 4 . ®H alvorsen

(e d .),

op. c i t .,

p.

267.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

321 and i t

r e v e a l s how t h e p r o b l e m o f a s s u r a n c e

was r e l a t e d

to

that

of electio n : We d e c l a r e t h e f o l l o w i n g t o b e t h e e s s e n t i a l S t a t u s c o n t r o v e r s i a e , o r c o n t r o v e r s i a l i s s u e , in the p r e s e n t d o c t r i n a l s t r i f e : D o e s t h e f a i t h f o r e s e e n b y God r e s u l t fro m ( f l y d e r a f ) th e e l e c t i o n o f g r a c e or d o e s th e e l e c t i o n o f g r a c e r e s u l t Trom t h e f o r e s e e n f a i t h ? Does th e e l e c t i o n o f g r a c e depend a l o n e u p o n t h e m e r c y o f God and t h e m e r i t s o f C h r i s t , o r a l s o u p o n G o d ’ s h a v i n g f o r e s e e n how man w o u l d d i s p o s e h i m s e l f (tow ards g r a c e )? i s i t p o s s i b l e and n e c e s s a r y f o r a b e l i e v i n g C h r i s t i a n t o b e a s s u r e d o f h i s e l e c t i o n and t h e r e f o r e o f h i s sa lv a tio n ? o r i s i t n o t p o s s i b l e a nd n e c e s s a r y f o r h i m t o b e assured th ereof? T h is , and , o f c o u r s e , e v e r y t h in g w hich i s n e c e s s a r i l y r e ­ l a t e d t h e r e t o — t h i s and n o t h i n g e l s e do we r e c o g n i z e a s t h e d i s s e n s u s ( d i f f e r e n c e ) , w h i c h a t p r e s e n t l i e s b e t w e e n u s and o u r o p p o n e n t s w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e d o c t r i n e o f e l e c t i o n . ■*Many w e r e h a p p y a f t e r

the Decorah C onferen ce

t e s t a n t s had been a b le

to

agree

to a se t

that

the

o f theses

surance, but

it

d ifferen tly ,

and n o t h i n g l a s t i n g w a s a c c o m p l i s h e d . ^

lead in g

con­

con cern in g a s ­

s o o n b e c a m e a p p a r e n t t h a t t h e y i n t e r p r e t e d th em

L e a d e r s h i p o f t h e Two p a r t i e s At t h i s

p o in t

the dom inant p o s i t i o n

b y Koren am on gst t h e M i s s o u r i a n s co n tro v ersia lists

entered

or g r e a t e r d e g r e e — J . Larsen,

H.

A.

Preus,

but a few --b ut con vin ced , th eologian s

words

it

o f l e a d e r s h i p assumed

o u g h t t o be n o t e d .

the b a t t l e

fr o m t h e i r

A* O t t e s e n , H. G. S t u b , T.

A» T o r g e r s o n ,

and J .

camp t o a l e s s e r

J. Y lv isa k er, B. F r i c h ,

was K o r en who mo re t h a n a n y o n e e l s e

and m o u ld ed o p i n i o n

fo r the M iss o u r ia n s .

and t h i n k e r s w e r e

in t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n

■^•"N aadevalgsstriden, ” E . L » K. , V I I I ( 1 8 8 1 ) , i n p a r e n t h e s e s w ere i n s e r t e d by t h e e d i t o r .

(1881),

^ Ib id ., 73' JTT

p.

116.

The t h e s e s

Many a b l e

are p rin ted

Laur.

to m ention organ ized ,

F u l l y as a b le fo ld — 118.

The

i n E. L . K . , V I I I

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

322 F.

A. S c h m id t, B.

J . M uu s,

P . A. R a s m u s s e n , M.

0 . Beckman,

J.

N.

K i l d a h l - - b u t n o n e o f them was p r e e m i n e n t a s a l e a d e r i n t h e w ay t h a t Koren w a s .

K o r e n m u s t be g i v e n a l a r g e

w in n in g over to the M isso u ria n p o s i t i o n p o sitio n

r e la t iv e ly un fam iliar

tw o -th ird s

o f the

degree

for

in regard to e l e c t i o n ,

to the N orw egians,

Synod’ s c le r g y .^

of cred it

a

app roxim ately

F . A* S c h m i d t was t h e

ch ief

t h e o l o g i c a l m e n to r o f th e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s , b u t he d id n o t h a v e the a p titu d e fid en ce

for

l e a d e r s h i p t h a t Koren d i d ,

in h im se lf in

the

the M issou rian elem en t as forces

in th e

field ,

same w a y .

n o r d i d he i n s t i l l

B • J - Muus w as r e g a r d e d b y

the r e a l le a d e r o f th e A n t i - M is s o u r ia n

esp ecia lly

in

the

la ter

v e r s y when t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s made d e f i n i t e b u t the

con fid en ce

and r e s p e c t w h i c h he

ch a ra cteriza tio n

stages

o f the

contro­

sc h ism a tic m oves,

c o u l d command f r o m t h e

o t h e r A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n p a s t o r s ha d d e f i n i t e b rief

con­

lim its.

o f the l e a d e r s h i p o f th e

J . A. B e r g h ’ s

tw o p a r t i e s

is

w orthy o f r e p r o d u c tio n : . . . As l e a d e r s o f t h e s t r i f e we h a v e t w o o f t h e S y n o d ’ s m o s t a b l e m e n , on e on e a c h s i d e , P r o f . F* A. S c h m i d t an d p a s t . U. Koren. And a s a l e a d e r K o r e n s h o w e d h i m s e l f t o b e p o s s e s s e d o f unusual a b i l i t y . In a d d i t i o n t o b e i n g a k e e n , c l e a r - s i g h t e d d i a l e c t i c i a n , h e wa s a l s o a h i g h l y - r e g a r d e d d i p l o m a t . A fter t h e l a b o r o f some y e a r s he h a d a b o u t t w o - t h i r d s o f t h e p a s t o r s on h i s s i d e . S c h m i d t was more o f a s c h o l a r and a w e l l - r e a d d i a l e c t i c i a n t h a n l e a d e r , an d a l t h o u g h t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s i n c l u d e d men l i k e B ec k m a n , M u u s , R a s m u s s e n , and s e v e r a l o t h e r s , n o n e o f them a t t h a t t i m e r a n k e d s o h i g h l y a b o v e t h e o t h e r s t h a t h e c o u l d assume a p o s i t i o n o f l e a d e r s h i p c o m p a r a b le t o t h a t w h i c h Koren p o s s e s s e d . T h a t was t h e w e a k n e s s o f t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i ­ ans .2 ^•L. M. B i S r n , P a s t o r P . A» R a s m u s s e n burg P u b lis h in g House, 1 9 0 5 ), p . 193.

(M in n eap olis:

%3e rgh, Den n o r s k l u t h e r s k e K i r k e s H i s t o r i e

i

Augs­

Am erika,

268.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

p.

323

R ep resen tative P resen ta tio n s o£ D is p u te d D o c t r i n e s The E x t e n s i v e The l i t e r a t u r e

L iteratu re

of

o f the E l e c t i o n

siv e.

Many r e l i g i o u s

ticles

d e a lin g w ith i t .

However,

(The L u t h e r a n W i t n e s s ) .

lish ed for

C ontroversy,

Synod h a i l e d

the

appearance

fe lt

for

has

it

as th e

was pLib-

spokesman

p erio d ica ls

A fter

o f the

Norwe­

the A n t i - M i s s o u r ia n p o s i t i o n

i n M arc h o f

in

1882 E d it o r L arsen o f th e

o f a new p e r i o d i c a l e n t i t l e d

to

many c o n t r o v e r s i a l a r t i c l e s . - * a g a in st

1887,

N orwegian

1884,

p u b l i s h e d b y p a s t o r H-

the M is s o u r ia n p o s i t i o n ,

t h a t he would n o t have

sary defence

in the

1882,

L u t h e r s k e y i d n e s b y r d wa s t h e

(N e c e s s a r y D e f e n c e ) , of

In January,

began to appear w e e k ly .

conferen ce.

the E le c tio n

H alvorsen in d efen ce

it

was m e r g e d w i t h t h e

of ex p ressio n

N Sdtvungent F orsvar

Septem ber,

group,

g i a n A u g u s t a n a n s a nd t h e c h ie f v eh icle

1880.

B eginnin g in January,

a nd i n

the A n ti-M isso u r ia n 1890 i t

w ith a r ­

R e f e r e n c e h a s b e e n made t o S c h m i d t ’ s

as a b i- w e e k l y .

t h e U nion o f

filled

and L u t h e r s k e y i d n e s b y r d

o f L utherske y id n esb y rd

every ten d a y s,

w e re

very ex ten ­

t h e m a j o r a r g u m e n t was c a r r i e d

German p a p e r A l t e s u n d N e u e s , b e g u n i n

langu age

C ontroversy i s

and s e c u l a r p e r i o d i c a l s

on i n E v a n g e l i s k L u t h e r s k K i r k e t l d e n d e

he began p u b lic a t io n

the C o n tr o v e r sy

fill Its

Larsen

then

the S y n o d 's p e r i o d i c a l w it h o b j e c t was t o p r o v i d e

t h e many a c c u s a t i o n s

a d v a n c e d among o u r p e o p l e

sin ce

again st

-* - " K i r k e k r B n i k e , ” E • L« K « , IX

so

,fa n e c e s ­

w hich p r o f e s s o r Schm idt

s e v e r a l o f our sy n o d 's (1882),

138.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

pas-

324

tors

a n d p r o f e s s o r s . ”-1-

March, sin ce

1883, in h is

sid ered

as H alvorsen f e l t op in ion

the

and s y n o d i c a l m e e t i n g s about

the

it

that

q u estion

e sse n tia ls.2

in i t s

in form ation

However,

was no l o n g e r p u b l i s h e d a f t e r i t had serv ed i t s

purpose,

o f e l e c t i o n had b e e n f u l l y

The a n n u a l r e p o r t s

o f the Synod a l s o

con­

o f the d i s t r i c t

contain

a good d e a l o f

controversy.

P o i n t s o f A g r e e m e n t and D i f f e r e n c e R e v e a le d a t 1881 Synod M eetin g The s y n o d i c a l m e e t i n g o f many o f t h e of electio n .

S y n o d members t o u n d e r t a k e

tim e t o

the i s s u e

c o n sid er the

and t h o r o u g h l y b e f o r e b r i n g i n g the

a d iscu ssio n

c o n g r e g a t i o n s However,

at

t h a t tim e

q u estion

the

strife

P rofessor

calm ly, before

Schm idt was o f t h e

that

a six-m an com m ittee, w ith th r e e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s

a nd i t

d octrin e.

was d e c i d e d

the c h i e f p o in t s

T h e r e w a s no o b j e c t i o n

op in ion

He s u g g e s t e d from e a c h

of d ifferen ce to t h is

co m m ittee.4

’ H^dvungent F o r s v a r , ' "

con­

p rop o sal,

t h a t K o r e n and S c h m i d t s h o u l d e a c h s e l e c t

memb ers t o make u p t h e

and t h e reason. (1883),

give

t h e members o f

t o be c o n f r o n t e d i m m e d i a t e l y .

be a p p o i n t e d t o p r e s e n t

the

d elib era tely ,

the problem ought

c e r n in g the

o f the d o c t r i n e

in order to

that

sid e,

of

The C h u r c h C o u n c i l u n a n i m o u s l y r ec o m m e n d ed t h a t

Synod s h o u ld n o t d i s c u s s the p a s to r s

1881 r e v e a l e d th e r e t i c e n c e

two

K o r e n c h o s e p a s t o r H. H a l v o r s e n

ib id . , p.

143.

2 i n t h e e d i t o r ' s o p i n i o n t h e c o n t r o v e r s y was u n n e c e s s a r y s t r i f e had been b r o u g h t i n t o th e c o n g r e g a t io n s w it h o u t "Nogle S l u t n i n g s b e m a e r k n i n g e r , ” N 0 d tv u n g en t F o r s v a r , I 207. S y n o d ic a l R eport, 4jb id .,

the Synod,

1 8 8 1 , p p . 26 f .

pp. 5 2 -5 4 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

525

and P r o f e s s o r H. G. S t u b . A.

I.

Stadstad.

A lso each s id e

concept o f e l e c t i o n w ith ou t

m ent, but th a t the

set

com m ittee

a lso p oin ts

set

forth

sp ecify in g

t h e m e e t i n g was n o t s a t i s f i e d

fo llo w in g are th e

B.

The c o m m i t t e e p r e p a r e d a s t a t e m e n t

in w hich th e y a g r e e d . its

Schm idt ch o se p a s t o r s

forth

the

o f the

th eses

p oin ts

p resen tin g

agreem ent or d is a g r e e ­

w ith th at

p o in ts

about w hich th e

J . Muus an d

and r e q u e s t e d

of d ifferen ce.

com m ittee

stated

The

that

its

members w e r e a g r e e d : 1) God w i l l s t h a t a l l men s h a l l b e s a v e d a n d w i l l s t h e d e a t h o f no s i n n e r . 2 ) C h r i s t h a s t r u l y r e d e e m e d a l l men a n d a c q u i r e d f o r a l l t h e same b e n e f i t s (d e samme G o d e r ) . 3 ) God t h r o u g h t h e m e a n s o f g r a c e c a l l s a l l men t o c o n v e r ­ sion . 4 ) T h i s c a l l o f God i s an e a r n e s t C c a l l J . 5 ) The m e a n s o f g r a c e a l w a y s h a v e t h e i n d w e l l i n g p o w e r t o s a v e t h e one t o whom t h e y c o m e . 6 ) The m e ans o f g r a c e d o n o t h a v e v a r i e d p o w e r ( s ) o v e r a g a in st v aried p erso n s. 7 ) The s a v i n g p o w e r o f t h e m e a n s o f g r a c e c a n b e r e s i s t e d by e v e r y p e r s o n . 8 ) No o n e c a n o f h i s own p o w e r f o l l o w t h e c a l l o f God. 9 ) E v e r y on e b y n a t u r e r e s i s t s t h e c a l l o f G o d . 1 0 ) T h i s r e s i s t a n c e c a n be o v e r c o m e o n l y b y t h e p o w e r o f the H o ly S p i r i t i n th e means o f g r a c e . 11) I t i s t r u l y God’ s w i l l t o overcom e t h e n a t u r a l r e s i s t ­ ance o f e v e r y p e r s o n . 1 2 ) The m a s t e r y o f t h i s r e s i s t a n c e i s f i r s t b r o k e n t h r o u g h regenerat io n . 1 3 ) F a i t h i s p u r e l y and s i m p l y a w o r k o f C-od t h r o u g h t h e me ans o f g r a c e , a g i f t o f Go d. 1 4 ) F a i t h i s p r e s e n t e d t o a l l t h o s e who do n o t o b s t i n a t e l y h in d e r th e H oly S p i r i t . 1 5 ) When o n e d o e s n o t come t o f a i t h , t h e c a u s e i s t o b e s o u g h t i n man a l o n e . 1 6 ) One may come t o f a i t h and s u b s e q u e n t l y l o s e i t , u n t i l the end. 1 7 ) As a b e l i e v e r , and a s l o n g a s h e r e m a i n s s u c h , o n e i s a c h i l d o f God a n d an h e i r o f e t e r n a l l i f e . 18) P r e s e r v a t i o n i n f a i t h , l i k e th e i m p a r t a t i o n o f f a i t h , i s t o be a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e p o w e r an d g r a c e o f God a l o n e , a l ­ t h o u g h man c o o p e r a t e s t h r o u g h t h e p o w e r s i m p a r t e d b y t h i s p o w e r and g r a c e a l o n e . 19) A l l o f G od 's g r a c i o u s a c t s i n tim e have b e e n d e t e r ­ m i n e d u p o n Him fr o m e t e r n i t y ; c o n s e q u e n t l y h e h a s a l s o fr o m e t e r n i t y d e t e r m i n e d t o p r e s e r v e i n t h e f a i t h t h o s e who a c t u a l l y

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

326 are p r e s e r v e d . In a d d it io n ,

th is

c o m m i t t e e w as

con cern in g the assu ran ce

i n a g r e e m e n t a b o u t tw o s t a t e m e n t s

o f s a l v a t i o n w h i c h h ad b e e n d e v e l o p e d a t

the Decorah p a s t o r a l c o n fe r e n c e

early

in

t h e same y e a r .

1) God h a s p r o m i s e d t h e C h r i s t i a n t o p r e s e r v e h i m i n t h e f a i t h u n t i l t h e e n d ; t h a t i s , God h a s p r o m i s e d t o do a l l t h a t i s n e c e s s a r y in o rd er t h a t a C h r i s t ia n can be p r e s e r v e d u n to a b le sse d end. T his prom ise does n o t in c lu d e th e p r e d i c t i o n t h a t t h e o n e t o whom t h e p r o m i s e i s g i v e n w i l l a l s o a c t u a l l y a t t a i n s a l v a t i o n ; f o r s u c h a d i v i n e p r o m i s e d e m an ds f a i t h i n o r d e r t o b e a r the p r o m is e d f r u i t . 2) T h e r e f o r e , t h e C h r i s t i a n w i l l b e l i e v e t h i s p r o m i s e and r e l y u p o n i t w i t h a f i r m a s s u r a n c e . - 1I t w i l l be n o t e d

t h a t the above s ta te m e n ts

sp ecific

m ention o f e l e c t i o n ,

en ta tio n

of the

salv a tio n

ordo s a l u t i s

o f a l l men a n d

but th a t here as o r i g i n a t i n g

we h a v e

con tain

no

a sim ple

i n God's w i l l

c o n c lu d in g w it h the b e l i e v e r ' s

pres­

for the

preser­

v a tion

in th e f a i t h . D iffe r e n c e s in regard to e l e c t i o n p erm itted i a g r e e m e n t a b o u t t h e w ay o f s a l v a t i o n , f o r , a s was o f t e n p o i n t e d

out,

som e C h r i s t i a n b e l i e v e r s h a d n e v e r h e a r d a b o u t a n y d o c t r i n e

of electio n . In o r d e r t o h e l p in g th eses

c la r if y p oin ts

o f d isa g reem en t

a n d c o u n t e r - t h e s e s w e r e p r e p a r e d by t h e

the

fo llo w ­

com m ittee;

T h e s i s One ( S c h m i d t , Muus, a n d S t a d s t a d ) ; The c o n c e p t " e l e c t i o n " 1* c o n t a i n s w i t h i n i t s e l f C t h e m e a n i n g ] t h a t a s e p a ­ r a t i o n t a k e s p l a c e w h e r e b y some a r e r e m o v e d fr o m t h e m u l t i ­ tu d e , w ith t h e r e s u l t th a t o th ers are l e f t b e h in d . E lection i s a w o r k (H a n d l i n g ) o f God, w h e r e b y he s i n g l e s o u t f r o m t h e w h o l e m a s s o f 1 m a n k i n d t h e i n d i v i d u a l s who t r u l y w i l l a t t a i n to s a l v a t i o n , w ith the r e s u l t th a t o th ers are l e f t b eh in d . C o u n t e r - t h e s i s One ( K o r e n , H a l v o r s e n , a n d S t u b ) ; It does n o t f o l l o w f r o m C t h e c o n c e p t ] e l e c t i o n t h a t some a r e l e f t b e ­ h i n d ; f o r t h i s C n a m e l y , t h a t some a r e l e f t ] d o e s n o t h a v e i t s c a u se i n God's w i l l , b u t in m an's o b s t i n a c y . T h e s i s Two ( S c h m i d t e t a l . ) : E l e c t i o n i s a work o f t h e s u b s e q u e n t o r j u d g i n g ( e f t e ' r f B l g e n d e e l l e r dBmmende) w i l l o f •^Ibid. ,

pp. 55 f .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

327

God , i n a c c o r d w i t h w h i c h He w i l l u s h e r i n t o e t e r n a l l i f e o n l y t h o s e i n d i v i d u a l s who r e m a i n s t e a d f a s t i n t h e f a i t h u n ­ t i l t h e e n d , an d no o t h e r s . The i n d i v i d u a l s whom God i n e l e c t i o n a p p o i n t s (b e s k l k k e r ) t o e t e r n a l l i f e , w h i l e t h e r e ­ m a i n d e r a r e l e f t b e h i n d ' i n c i a m n a t i o n , a r e a l l t h o s e whom he from e t e r n i t y h a s s e e n w i l l a c c e p t t h e o f f e r e d g r a c e , b e l i e v e on C h r i s t , a n d r e m a i n s t e a d f a s t i n t h i s f a i t h u n t i l t h e e n d . C o u n t e r - t h e s i s Two (K o r e n e t a l . ) : E l e c t i o n i s a w o r k o f G o d ’ s g r a c i o u s and m e r c i f u l w i l l , i n a c c o r d w i t h w h i c h he from e t e r n i t y f o r th e sak e o f C h r i s t h a s r e s o l v e d t o s a v e t h r o u g h t h e o r d e r o f s a l v a t i o n b y f a i t h i n C h r i s t t h o s e who a c t u a l l y become s a v e d . T h e s i s T h r e e (K o r e n e t a l . ) : The c a u s e o f t h i s e l e c t i o n i s a l o n e t h e m e r c y o f God a n d t h e m e r i t o f J e s u s C h r i s t . C o u n t e r - t h e s i s T h r e e ( S c h m i d t e t a l . ) : The m e r c y o f God an d t h e "merTt' o f J e s u s C h r i s t a r e a l o n e t h e c a u s e o f a l l t h a t w h i c h God d o e s f o r t h e s i n n e r ’ s s a l v a t i o n . But j u s t as i n j u s t i f i c a t i o n th e m e r it o f C h r is t i s n o t a s c r i b e d to anyone f o r t h e f o r g i v e n e s s o f h i s s i n s u n l e s s he a c c e p t s t h i s i n f a i t h , s o God d o e s n o t e l e c t a n y s i n n e r s t o e t e r n a l l i f e e x ­ c e p t t h o s e o f whom h e f o r e s a w t h a t t h e y w o u l d a p p r o p r i a t e (jgriber) t h e m e r i t o f J e s u s C h r i s t . ' T h e s i s F o u r (K o r e n e t a l . ) : S t . P a u l t e a c h e s t h a t God h a s p r e d e s t i n e d (fo ru d b es'tem t) th e e l e c t t o a d o p tio n as sons ( t i l s S n l i g U d k a a r e ls 'e ~ ) t h r o u g h J e s u s C h r i s t . No one c a n be a c h i l d o f God e x c e p t b y f a i t h i n J e s u s C h r i s t , and t h e one who i s a b e l i e v e r i s t h e r e b y a c h i l d o f God. i f God w o u l d p r e d e s t i n e t h e m t o a d o p t i o n , he m u s t d e t e r m i n e t o g i v e them fa ith . I f God i n e l e c t i o n a l r e a d y r e g a r d e d t h e m a s b e l i e v e r s , he a l s o r e g a r d e d them a s h i s c h i l d r e n on a c c o u n t o f f a i t h and c o u l d n o t p r e d e s t i n e th em t o w h a t t h e y a l r e a d y w e r e . C o u n t e r - t h e s i s Four (Schm idt e t a l . ): God d o e s n o t p r e s e n t f a i t h t o a n y one' b e c a u s e h e h a s f i r s t d e t e r m i n e d t h a t h e s h a l l be h i s c h i l d ; b u t h e h a s d e t e r m i n e d t o r e c e i v e t h o s e a s h i s c h i l d r e n o f whom h e h a s f o r e s e e n t h a t t h e y w i l l b e l i e v e on h i s S o n . T h e s i s F i v e (S ch m id t e t a l . ) : God’ s e t e r n a l r e s o l u t i o n (R a a d s lu t n in g ) i s ; Where t h e r e i s t h e f o r g i v e n e s s o f s i n s , t h e r e i s a l s o l i f e and s a l v a t i o n . O n l y t h o s e who b e l i e v e p o s s e s s t h e f o r g i v e n e s s o f s i n s ; c o n s e q u e n t l y , God fr o m e t e r ­ n i t y has e l e c t e d to th e p o s s e s s io n o f e t e r n a l l i f e those o f whom h e h a s f o r e s e e n t h a t t h e y t h r o u g h f a i t h h a v e t h e f o r g i v e ­ ness of s in s . No C o u n t e r - t h e s i s . T h e s i s s i x (Schm'i'dt e t a l . ) : God w o u l d p r e f e r a b l y h a v e e l e c t e d a l l men, b u t , i n c o n s e q u e n c e o f t h e o rd er o f s a l v a ­ t i o n , c o u l d n o t e l e c t t h o s e who do n o t b e l i e v e on t h e S o n : c o n s e q u e n t l y , he lo o k e d fo r f a i t h in o rd er t o e l e c t . C o u n t e r - t h e s i s S i x (K o r e n e t a l . ) : God w o u l d p r e f e r a b l y ha ve ' e l e c t e d a l l m e n , b u t , i n c o n s e q u e n c e o f t h e f i x e d o r d e r o f s a l v a t i o n , c o u l d n o t e l e c t t h o s e who o b s t i n a t e l y r e s i s t e d him . I t d o e s n o t f o l l o w t h e r e f r o m t h a t h e c o u l d f i n d men who w e r e b e t t e r t h a n t h o s e f w h o h a d r e s i s t e d } and s o w e r e w o r t h y to be e le c te d . S i n c e no one o f h i s own p o w e r i s a b l e t o b e -

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

328 l i e v e on C h r i s t i n a s m u c h a s f a i t h i s an " u n d e s e r v e d g r a c i o u s g i f t o f God, i t c a n be f o u n d o n l y i n t h o s e whom God h i m s e l f h a s r e n d e r e d c a p a b l e o f (h a r d y g t i g g j o r t t i l ) f a i t h . F aith , t h e r e f o r e , d o e s n o t e x p l a i n why Goa h a s c h o s e n th em b u t s h o w s o n l y how God h a s d o n e it.-*These t h e s e s cum stances,

and c o u n t e r - t h e s e s

prepared h a s t i l y

th eo lo g ica l p o sitio n s, of both fa c tio n s sets man

(i n t u i t u

tio n

fld ei) .

in view

in

fo r m " o f e l e c t i o n ,

is

a co n sid era tio n

p o ssib le

d iffic u lty .^

that i t

forth h is

of

lead ers Schm idt

fa ith

i s based s o l e l y

in

on

Koren i s a d v o c a t i n g "th e

is

settin g

forth

of

" t h e s e c o n d fo r m " o f

P on top p id an ’ s E x p la n a tio n . to e l e c t i o n ,

If

w ith out

c o n v e r s i o n and man’ s p a r t

th erein ,

t o o much

to b e. "Forms" o f E l e c t i o n ( 1 8 8 1 )

G. S t u b g a v e a v e r y l u c i d

c o n g r e g a tio n , i n M adison, W is c o n sin , p o sitio n

cir­

fo u n d i n A r t i c l e XI o f t h e Form ula

B u t t h a t was n o t

In 1881 P r o f e s s o r H. before the

it

could have been r e s o lv e d w ith o u t

H. G. S t u b on t h e

of

t h a t e l e c t i o n h a s no r e l a ­

o f C h rist.

t h a t found p r e s e n t e d in

in to

at th a t tim e.

o f God’ s h a v i n g f o r e s e e n

c o n t r o v e r s y c o u ld have b een r e s t r i c t e d

g ettin g it

issu es

man, b u t t h a t

that

o f C oncord, w h ereas Schm idt

the

the

Koren m a i n t a i n s

t h e m e r c y o f God a n d m e r i t s

e lectio n ,

force

b u t t h e y do r e v e a l c l e a r l y w h a t t h e

to anything f o r e s e e n

fir st

by th e

and a r e n o t p o l i s h e d s t a t e m e n t s

r e g a r d e d t o be

f o r t h an e l e c t i o n

were,

in regard to

electio n .

address

i n w h i c h he s e t

A l t h o u g h an a d v o c a t e

I b id . , pp. 5 7 -5 9 . ^ L aur. L a r s e n w r o t e e a r l y i n 1882 t h a t i n s o f a r as th e c o n ­ t r o v e r s y was c o n c e r n e d w i t h e l e c t i o n i t was u n n e c e s s a r y , b u t i n ­ s o f a r a s i t c o n c e r n e d i t s e l f " w i t h t h e o r i g i n and p r e s e r v a t i o n o f f a i t h i n a m an ’ s h e a r t , o r w i t h t h e p r o b l e m a s t o how f a r m a n ’ s n a t u r a l p o w e r s and f r e e w i n . e n a b l e him t o b e l i e v e , i t i s a n e c e s ­ s a r y c o n t r o v e r s y . . . ." "Vor k i r k e l i g e S t i l l i n g , " E» L . K . , IX (1882), 5.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

329 o f the

fir st

form ,

The s e c o n d f o r m i s sy n erg ists the

fir st

to

form .

la b e l the

in f e r io r to the

and S e m i - P e l a g i a n s

in tellectu a l to

he r e f u s e s

The l a t t e r ,

cross,

whereas

fir st,

se c o n d form as he a r g u e s ,

c a n more r e a d i l y h i d e on t h e o t h e r h a n d ,

the

man i n h i s crib e

fo r m o f e l e c t i o n w i t h o u t

co n v ersio n ,

and t h e i m p o r t a n t

con version w h olly t o

the

grace

It

is

o f God.

that

there

seco n d form does

ch aracterize

it

if

gard t o

co n v ersio n ;

are

context

from th e Form ula o f C oncord,

sho w a d i f f e r e n c e

or i f

q u otation s

betw een th e

as a f a l s e

there

to a s ­

and,

is

d o ctrin e. in

the

d isu n ity

and o t h e r s ,

two in r e ­

a b s tr a c te d out o f

Luther,

to

not have a S c r ip ­

Lutheran t h e o lo g i a n s

t e e n t h a n d s e v e n t e e n t h c e n t u r i e s . ' 1'

to

o rig in a ted ,

c a n b e an e s s e n t i a l d i f f e r e n c e

fo rm s u n d e r o n l y two c i r c u m s t a n c e s :

to

p o ssib le

The s e c o n d f o r m

the

Stub says

a great

con sid eration Is

w h ile

he w i l l n o t

than

a t t r i b u t i n g any m e r it

f a i t h w h i c h God f o r e s e e s

tu ral b a sis,

behin d i t

p rovid es

n e e d n o t e x p l a i n how t h e in S t u b ’ s o p i n i o n ,

because

s e c o n d form r e p r e s e n t s an a t t e m p t

c l a r i f y and u n d e r s t a n d a g r e a t m y s t e r y .

h old to e it h e r

fa lse.

th eir

in o r d e r

o f the

six ­

An e d i t o r i a l i n t h e s y n o d ’ s

H. G. S t u b , Qm N a a d e v a l g e t . Guds Qrds o g d e n l u t h e r s k e B e k j e n d e l s e s L a e r e derorrT. ( Dec or a h , I o w a : De n Nor's ke S y n ode's Bo gt r y k k e r 1 , 1 8 8 1 ) , p p . 1 7 - 3 3 . The c l e a r and s i m p l e e x p o s i t i o n o f t h i s p a m p h l e t m a k e s i t v e r y u s e f u l f o r an u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e f u n d a m e n t a ls e m p h a s iz e d b y t h e a d v o c a t e s o f t h e f i r s t form: God’ s d e s ir e f o r th e s a l v a t i o n of a l l , the e l e c t i o n o f g r a c e , th e cause o f e l e c t i o n t o s a l v a t i o n t o be f o u n d i n God a l o n e , t h e c a u s e f o r m a n ’ s d a m n a t i o n t o b e f o u n d i n man a l o n e , t h e i n a b i l i t y o f r e a s o n t o h a r m o n iz e t h e t r u t h s o f d i v i n e r e v e l a t i o n , and th e s u p e r i o r i t y o f th e f i r s t form o f e l e c t i o n ov e r t h e s e c o n d . Rom. 8 : 2 9 , w h i c h r e a d s as f o l l o w s w as on e o f t h e S c r i p ­ t u r a l p a s s a g e s f r e q u e n t l y u t i l i z e d by a d v o c a t e s of th e secon d form ; " F o r t h o s e whom h e f o r e k n e w h e a l s o p r e d e s t i n e d t o b e c o n ­ f o r m e d t o t h e i m a g e o f h i s S o n , i n o r d e r t h a t h e m i g h t be t h e f i r s t - b o r n among many b r e t h r e n " ( R e v i s e d S t a n d a r d ) . Stub’ s in ­ te r p r e ta t io n o f th a t passage i s i n t e r e s t i n g , i f un con vin cin g. He s a y s t h a t i t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o a s c e r t a i n e x a c t l y what "foreknow"

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

350

K irketid en de

e a r ly in

1882 e x p r e s s e s

two f o r m s o f e l e c t i o n ,

a preference

the

same e v a l u a t i o n

f o r the

fo r m f o u n d i n t h e

F o r m u l a o f C o n c o r d t o t h a t o f more r e c e n t d o g m a t i c i a n s Pontoppidan, ed ito ria l g ift

D ietrich ,

says,

o f God i n

is

S criver,

not fa ls e

the

if

and o t h e r s . it

same w a y t h a t

is

o f the

s u c h as

The s e c o n d f o r m ,

"believed t h a t

fa ith

is

the a

the ab ove-m en tion ed t h e o l o g i a n s

taught ^ The i s s u e s a s P r e s e n t e d b y o t t e s e n and S chm idt ( 1 8 8 2 - 8 3 ) As o n e w o u l d e x p e c t fr om t h e a b o v e s y n o d i c a l m e e t i n g a n d from t h e e x p o s i t i o n t r o v e r s y m o v e d mo re and mo re i n t o w egian L u th era n s, because relig io u s the

life

subject

th eir

g i v e n by S t u b ,

subject

im pact

from t h e

1881

the

fr o m t h e

tim e

in

in d ica te

had i n u n d e r s t a n d i n g what

o p p o n e n t s t a u g h t a nd j u s t w h a t t h e r e a l i s s u e s

controversy w ere.

Nor­

o f H augeanism upon t h e

Many s t a t e m e n t s

t h a t men o f b o t h p a r t i e s

con­

of con version .

o f No r wa y, h a v e b e e n p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t e r e s t e d

o f con version .

the d i f f i c u l t y

of the

the

theses

T h i s was p a r t i c u l a r l y t r u e

in the

in th e w hole fir st

years

o f the

c o n t r o v e r s y when t h e t w o f o r m s o f e l e c t i o n w e r e d i s c u s s e d

a nd i t

was g e n e r a l l y c o n c e d e d t h a t b o t h c o u l d be r e c o g n i z e d .

T h e r e was a d e f i n i t e b a sic

need f o r

a greater

p r o b le m w h ic h had p r o d u c e d t h e

cla rifica tio n

s t r i f e ,

o f the

2

m e a n s i n t h i s v e r s e , b u t t h a t i t m u s t d e s i g n a t e an a c t o f G o d ' s w i l l and s o i s e s s e n t i a l l y t h e same i n m e a n i n g a s " p r e d e s t i n e " o r " elect." I b i d ., pp. 26-28. (1882), A p ril,

*"0 B r o d r e '. 119 f .

Hvo h a r f o r t r y l l e t

e d e r ? ," E. L. K .,

IX

^The S y n o d ' s K i r k e t i d e n d e d i s c u s s e s t h e s i t u a t i o n i n 1 8 8 2 , c a l l i n g a t t e n t i o n t o r e c e n t a r t i c l e s by t h e v e n e r a b l e

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission .

331 in the P a ll answer t o

the

o f 1 8 8 2 P a s t o r J . A . O t t e s e n a t t e m p t e d an

q u e s t i o n as t o

the

r e a l issu e

H i s a n s w e r w as g e n e r a l l y a c c e p t a b l e further illu s t r a t io n

o f the

nature

controversy. 1 the M iss o u r ia n s . In

to

of th e

in

the

controversy a b r ie f

summary o f h i s

an a ly sis

of

th e s i t u a t i o n and o f P r o f e s s o r S c h m id t ’ s

rep ly to

in clu d ed

at

th is

It

is

O ttesen’s a r tic le He s a y s

th at

o f God,

is

elected

w h ile another i s

view

fa ith

of

about the the

the

God g i v e s

the

o rigin s

of

issu e

fa ith

person

order

lo st.

fa ith . in the

form o f a q u e s t i o n ;

in

one p e r s o n i s

of

fa ith

in

the

o r o f man h i m s e l f ,

due s o l e l y

another i s

lack

to the

”l s

in

of as

it

on t h e b a s i s

that

grace

co n tin gen t o f grace

o p p o sitio n

over a g a in s t

God’ s g r a c e

the presen ce

o f the

exp lain

t h a t one

o f God a n d t h e

rejectio n

of

the f a c t t h a t

o r d o e s h e do i t

teaches

du e t o h i s

S c r i p t u r e m a k es n o e f f o r t

saved or

p ercep tion

fin a l a n alysis

Some m e m b er s o f t h e

S crip tu re

is

problem f a r t h e r back t o a q u e s t i o n

t h r o u g h t h e Word i n

another.

to defend the r ig h te o u s n e s s

O ttesen form u lates h is

o f c o n v e r s i o n or t h e

at I s s u e .”

B u t t o s p e a k o f an e l e c t i o n

conducts h im s e lf d i f f e r e n t l y

than does

’’The R e a l p o i n t

a b o u t e x p l a i n i n g why one p e r s o n

for C h r is t’s sake?”

fact

in

o n ly pushes the

upon so m e th in g i n alon e

en titled ,

op p o sitio n ,

concerned

essen tia l

is

p o in t.

grace

r a t i o n a l l y t o harm onize t h o s e

of fa ith absence o f God. two

p a s t o r s H. A. S t u b a n d H. A . P r e u s , i n w h i c h b o t h c o n c e d e d t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h i s l a c k o f c l a r i t y , and t o o t h e r e v i d e n c e s o f t h e same. ”Hvad s t r i d e s d e r om?” I b i d . , i y ( 1 8 8 2 ) , 2 2 9 - 3 2 . •^The e d i t o r o f t h e S y n o d ’ s K i r k e t i d e n d e e x p r e s s e d i t s a p ­ p r e c i a t i o n to O ttese n f o r h i s p r e s e n t a t i o n in the c o n v i c t i o n t h a t he had r e a l l y h i t t h e mark. He a l s o r e f e r s t o an a r t i c l e b y S v e r d r u p In w h ic h t h e l a t t e r a g r e e s t h a t O t t e s e n ’ s a n a l y s i s was correct. ” ’ D e t e g e n t l i g e S t r i d s p u n k t , ’ " i b i d . , X ( 1 8 8 3 ) , 11 f .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

332 tru th s.

C onversion i s

a m ystery.

The d e s i r e

o f the o p p o s i t i o n

t o make t h i s m y s t e r y r a t i o n a l o r l o g i c a l h a s made them g u i l t y syn ergism , th a t he is

the

fo r the

f i n a l cause

can c h o o se cause

of

t o make a r i g h t u s e

or s e lf-d e te r m in a tio n But t h i s

d esire

t o God, b u t i n man, w h ic h i n sa lv a tio n .

d itio n

the

cause

the

There

fin a l

t h a t he h a s

o f an e l e c t i o n

and m a n ' s own f r e e

of fa ith ,

man's f r e e

of e le c tio n .

fa ith ch oice

ch oice

That i s

.

." a n d

the

is

a c e r ta in righ teou sn ess the

determ in in g fa c to r

to

in h is

c o r r u p t e d and man m u s t d e p e n d u p o n c a n be no c e r t a i n t y o f s a l v a t i o n c e r t a i n t y r e s t s upon th e

accepted

O ttesen b e lie v e s

s p e a k i n g o f an e l e c t i o n

. if

o p p o s itio n in ad op ting t h e ir

ground of h i s

rig h tly

.

im p u ta tio n o f any u n r ig h t e o u s n e s s

an alysis

G od's honor i s

M.

c o n f l i c t w i t h God’ s Word.

to avoid the

la st

a c c r e d i t e d t o man i n

of grace.

f i n a l cause

so d o i n g t h e y c r e d i t the

b y t h e W or d .

the

Members o f t h e

h im s e lf or d e s p a ir . him b e c a u s e

is

comes i n

Form ula o f C o n c o r d . exp lan ation

is

( G r und en t i l ) e l e c t i o n ,

or s e lf - d e t e r m in a t i o n ( i s !

clea r.

of f a i t h

of

and u s e d t h e

th a t the

con­

po w e r i m p a r t e d

o p p osition ,

in v iew o f f a i t h ,

for

in stea d

ought ra th er to

of

speak

i n v i e w o f m an ’ s c o n d u c t p r i o r t o r e g e n e r a t i o n .

O ttesen

com pletes h i s

p r e s e n t a t i o n by m a i n t a i n i n g t h a t

the p o s i t i o n

he r e p r e s e n t s

is u n c o n d itio n a lly lo y a l to S c r ip tu re .

Two r e v e a l e d

tru th s--.grace

alon e

for

sa lv a tio n ,

sib ility

f o r d am n ation --are h e ld

to,

although r a t io n a lly

cila b le,

because

Scrip tu re

The o p p o s i t i o n h a s or th e is

f u ll respon­

tru th s.

S crip tu re

(Rom. 1 1 : 3 3 - 3 6 ) ,

itse lf

irreco n ­

r e c o n c i l i n g them .

e r r e d in draw ing r a t i o n a l d e d u ctio n s

oth er o f th ese

a m ystery here

tea ch es b o th w ith ou t

ma n' s

says

f r o m on e

that

and b o t h t r u t h s m ust be

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited without p erm ission.

there

333

b e lie v e d even i f

t h e y c a n n o t be h a r m o n ize d by r e a s o n .

by nature s y n e r g is ts be o u r s ,

but,

who b e l i e v e

O ttesen sa y s,

th a t the u ltim a te

h e and t h o s e

of h is

We a r e

a ll

d e c i s i o n must

p ersu asion w ill

t a k e r e a s o n c a p t i v e u n d e r G o d ’ s Word and w i l l n o t d r a w c o n c l u s i o n s n w h i c h t h e Word r e v e a l s t o b e f a l s e . S c h m i d t made h i s

response

in

a series

L utherske y id n esb y rd b e g in n in g w ith th e He t o o k e x c e p t i o n con version .

to O tte se n ’s

a n d he a r g u e s

the p resen ce fie s.

teach in g,

or absence

One i s

ju stified

cause he does n o t have d ifferen ce.

of fa ith because fa ith ;

The e l e c t a r e

those

Sin ce

God e l e c t e d

to e t e r n a l s a l v a t i o n

trin e

fa ith .

of electio n

wh en on e h o l d s sin n ers

Troen) .

(1882),

by f a i t h .

fa ith ;

It

is

whom God j u s t i ­

another

is

lo st be­

o f f a i t h m a k es

the

s e l e c t e d b y God t o e n j o y e t e r n a l to p lea se

God w i t h o u t f a i t h ,

t h o s e who Ke f o r e s a w w o u l d a c c e p t

a nd t h e d o c t r i n e

to

the e x c l u s i o n

(a f hensyn t i l

•*-J. A . O t t e s e n , 753-40, 749-58.

ju stifica tio n .

T his

electio n

o f others

takes

K r isti F ortjen este elected

foreknow ledge "Det e g e n t l i g e

certa in

of th eir

occurs

o f certa in p lace

"in v ie w o f th e m e r it o f

t h a t God h a s

i n v ie w o f H is

of

teach in g th a t th e

or more c o r r e c t l y

The d o c t r i n e

sa lv a tio n

of fa ith ,"

controversy d eals

w hich d e te r m in e s

im p o ssib le

f a s t to the

grasped by fa ith "

was

T here m ust be c o m p le te harmony b e tw e e n t h e d o c ­

to s a lv a tio n

view o f f a i t h ,

is

the

in view

ju stifica tio n

he h a s

1883.

th a t the r e a l i s s u e

the p o s s e s s io n

sa lv a tio n .

C h rist in

it

in

in

o f January 1 ,

" electio n

that the r e a l q u estio n

w ith S c r ip tu r e ’ s b a sic

issu e

con ten tion

S c h m id t’ s watchword i s

of a rticles

in

C h rist

greben 1 sin n ers

to

ap p rop riation

S t r i d s p u n k t ," i b i d . ,

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

IX

of

the m erits trin e

o f C h rist

is

of ju stific a tio n

a b a sic d octrin e

w it h o u t w hich th e d o c ­

c a n n o t be p r e s e r v e d

b a s i c d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e two p a r t i e s , trin e

of ju stific a tio n .

rela tio n is

betw een

made t o make

fathers

c h ie f p oin t

ju stifica tio n con version

Schm idt n e x t qu estio n ,

The

teach that

the u l t i m a t e

electio n

to

b e t w e e n s a v e d and l o s t

C h rist, v in istic

of C h rist.

are e it h e r

to p lace

cerned w ith

fin d in g

Schm idt r e p l i e s ex p la n a tio n

elected

electio n

an e x p l a n a t i o n

to

of e lectio n

to

th at

the attem pt

The L u t h e r a n

c o n t i n g e n t upon p a r ­

through f a i t h or n o t,

they w i l l or n o t .

for

is

rev ealed

refuse

to

a C al-

In r e g a r d t o

there

i n H im .

in c lu d in g those as m y s t e r ie s ,

C a lv in ists

c a n b e no t a l k

of p a rticip a tio n No a t t e m p t

is

but ex cep tio n strid es

is

that

itse lf.

of

an

in the

made

a s s o c ia te d w ith e le c t io n

•L"Hvad d e r I V i r k e l i g h e d e n yid n esb yrd , II (1883), 5 -1 5 .

con­

reject

in s c r ip t u r e

the M i s s o u r i a n s and t h e th at

on

a th e o lo g ic a l m ystery,

w hich i s

con v ictio n

in

depend­

b eliev e

It

p rior to f a i t h .

a sso cia tes

m erit of C h rist through f a i t h

S crip tu re p resen ts

lie? "

sa lv a tio n

end,

g l o r y e x c e p t on t h e b a s i s

stand m y s te r ie s ,

alth ou gh th e

occurs

and h i s

A l l t h e w i s d o m a n d ac umen o f

electio n

controversy is

t h a t t h o s e who d i s a g r e e w i t h h i m a r e

t h a t he

n ot shake the

is

sin n ers

and rem a in f a i t h f u l u n t o t h e p ractice

the doc­

T h is p a r t i c i p a t i o n w hich d i s ­

has been fo r e se e n

O ttesen ’ s con ten tion

w ill

d ecisio n

sa lv a tio n

tin g u ish es

i n g upon w h e t h e r i t

concerns

The

O tte s e n ’ s p reo ccu p a tio n w ith the

in th e m erit

S in n ers

of

p u rity .

t h e p r i m a r y i s s u e . ■*-

ticip a tio n

C h rist.

then,

an d e l e c t i o n ,

con sid ers

"Where d o e s

in i t s

to under w hich

ts k e n t o the

om," L u t h e r s k e

with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.

335 M issou rian r e le g a t io n

o f what i s

revealed

in S crip tu re

to t h e

category o f m ystery. Schm idt goes

on t o

contend th a t

t e a c h i n g a b o u t an e l e c t i o n seen

fa ith ,

fa ith

lo ses

w hich i s

its

p lace

t h e n n o l o n g e r on t h e b a s i s betw een th e te a c h the

sin n ers

sp ite

p rotestation s

th eir

a ctu a lly it

is

of fa ith

o f two u n l i k e

cern in g a l l

i n n o w ay c o n d i t i o n e d b y f o r e ­

of d ecisiv e

s a v e d and t h e u n s a v e d .

existen ce

and o n e

a ccord in g to the M issou rian

th at

sig n ifica n ce;

a sep aration

In e f f e c t ,

the M isso u ria n s

w ills

in G od--one

con cern in g the

elect

o n ly — and,

t e a c h an i r r e s i s t i b l e

c o n tr a r y , he b e l i e v e s

grace,

as

Is

on an u n c o n d i t i o n e d e l e c t i o n

o r c o n d i t i o n o f man ,

a b s o lu t e ly u n con ditioned i f B ut,

in

same a s is

in

Sch m id t’ s o p in io n , that

t o be

ir re sistib le

the

o f a l l w ould be a c c o m p lis h e d i f

sin ce

i n t o a c c o u n t any g r a c e m u s t be

sa lv a tio n

of

electio n

e s s e n t i a l l y the

grace

to innum berable S c r ip t u r e

s p e a k a b o u t Go d’ s d e s i r i n g

they

g r a c e a nd n o t r e c o m p e n s e .

svtch a t e a c h i n g I s

in v o lv e d in the

con trad iction

is

de­

(d e t u b e t i n g e d e

for th ey teach that

it

do,

con­

The M i s s o u r i a n

N a a d e v a l g ) , an e l e c t i o n w h i c h i n no m a n n e r t a k e s a ttitu d e

that

the C a l v i n i s t s

God a l o n e who o v e r c o m e s m a n ’ s r e s i s t a n c e .

em phasis

is

i s made

graciou s

to the

it

o f C alvinism ,

a nd

p a ssa g es w hich

a ll;

and the

salv a tio n

a c t u a l l y w e re n o t c o n -

I

t i n g e n t upon a n y t h i n g in man. 1 In regard

t o th e tw o form s

t h e y c a n b e t w o me an s o f forms o f e l e c t i o n

of electio n

in te r p r e tin g the

actu a lly

e x is t w ith in

Schm idt s a y s

same d o c t r i n e ,

that

and two

th e L utheran Church.

-'-"’ Hv or l i g g e r d e n s i d s t e A f g j o r e l s e ? ’ ” i b i d . , p p . 3 3 - 4 4 ; " ’Ud en n o g e n s i d s t e B e t i n g e l s e f r a v o r S i d e ' - - ? t~rr T b i ' d . , p p . 49-60.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

The o l d e r ,

or f i r s t ,

form d e a l s

and i n c l u d e s u n d e r t h a t

c a t e g o r y th e w hole

the

p ro v isio n s

the

way i n w h i c h A r t i c l e

understood.

w ith e l e c t i o n

in

ordo s a l u t i s ,

When t h i s

XI o f

a p p roach i s made,

con trad ictory.

It

is

the h is

fir st

gard t o e l e c t i o n clu d in g a r t i c l e

to

in

series

Is

and t h a t

s h o w how t h e i r d o c t r i n e d octrin e

to meet

the

op p osition

it

the

Schm idt sa y s

f o r a l l men, titu d e

but th a t

(F orhold)

a lso

in

grace

con n ection w ith i t s

comes

con ten tion

the

d o ctrin e

then

it

in to

of

o p p osition

w i l l be tim e

how ever, in

is

order

con version .

as a C a l v i n i s t i c

savin g

con­

h is

n ecessary to deal w ith

t h a t God’ s

in r e ­

harm onizes w ith th e

In a c t u a l p r a c t i c e , Is

that

In h i s

task of the

ju stifica tio n ;

In a g a i n r e j e c t i n g what he r e g a r d s grace,

fir st

is

to be

p o sitio n

held.-*-

concerned w ith

of e lectio n

of

ta lk about co n v ersio n .

ea rlier

of

and s e c o n d

con ten tion

Schm idt r e i t e r a t e s

b a sica lly

by f a i t h ,

L uth eran C hurch's to

the

controversy

ju stifica tio n is

from t h a t w h ic h t h e y

a ll

T his

the fo r m u la o f Concord i s

W a l t h e r and t h e M i s s o u r i S y n o d h a v e c h a n g e d t h e i r

the

broad s e n s e

t h a t God h a s made f o r m a n ' s s a l v a t i o n .

form s n e e d n o t be

th at

the

concept o f

eq u a lly e ffic a c io u s

o p e r a t i o n man's

co n sid era tio n .

He

contends

at­ that

" 'H y o g gammel L a e r e , ’ " i b i d . , p p . 6 5 - 7 7 . A ll through t h e c o n t r o v e r s y e a c h p a r t y co nte ncf e' d t h a t t h e o t h e r was I n t r o d u c i n g a "new" d o c t r i n e i n o p p o s i t i o n t o w h a t h a d a l w a y s b e e n r e g a r d e d as sound L u th e r a n is m . F o r t h i s p u r p o s e e x t e n s i v e q u o t a t i o n s from t h e c o n f e s s i o n s a nd L u t h e r a n d o g m a t i c i a n s a r e s p r i n k l e d t h r o u g h n e a r ly a l l o f the c o n t r o v e r s i a l a r t i c l e s . The M i s s o u r i a n s q u o t e m o s t e x t e n s i v e l y from t h e s i x t e e n t h c e n t u r y t h e o l o g i a n s , w h i l e t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s r e l i e d m ost h e a v i l y upon t h e o l o g i a n s o f th e s e v e n t e e n t h c e n t u r y and l a t e r . B o t h s i d e s o f t e n c o u l d q u o t e fr o m t h e same a u t h o r i t i e s and d i d s o . The M i s s o u r i a n s c o n s t a n t l y w e r e c h a r g i n g t h a t S c h m i d t h a d a l t e r e d h i s d o c t r i n a l p o s i t i o n fr om t h a t "'which h e h e l d e a r l i e r i n h i s c a r e e r , w h i l e h e t i m e a n d a g a i n r e i t e r a t e d t h a t h e was s e t t i n g f o r t h t h e d o c t r i n e o f e l e c t i o n w h i c h h e h a d a l w a y s h e l d a n d mfcich had b e e n t a u g h t h i m b y W a l t h e r h i m ­ self .

with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission

357 there

are

tw o t y p e s

of o p p osition

i n man .

sitio n

common t o

a l l men, w hich i s

grace;

the

is

other

or f r e e - w ill"

makes i t

i m p o s s i b l e f o r th e H oly S p i r i t

A g a i n he

seeks to

a "new" d o c t r i n e

sid e. lest

As the

is

that

the

e v i d e n c e d by t h e

d octrin e

of

of

a nd g r a c e .

stage

the

b a ted most

the M isso u ria n s

con version w h ile

jiistifica tio n

w h ic h was n o t

a

feared

s h o u l d be p e r v e r t e d by

the A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s b e l i e v e d

was e n d a n g e r e d by a C a l v i n i s t i c

i n harmony w i t h L u th e r a n c o n c e p t s

B ut e v en as Schm idt r e c o g n i z e d ,

c o n tr o v e rsy the d o c tr in e

f r e q u e n t l y was t h e

is

a r g u m e n t a t i o n p ro d u ce d by e a c h foregoin g,

g u i l t y o f synergism ;

of fa ith in

are r e s p o n s ib le f o r

ex ch a n g e b e tw e e n O t t e s e n and Schm idt

sa m p lin g o f the

view o f e l e c t i o n

o p p o s it io n w hich

t o work c o n v e r s i o n .

the M is s o u r ia n s

S c r ip tu r a l d octrin e

opponents

preparatory

o f conversion.^"

The f o r e g o i n g rep resen ta tiv e

a n a tu r a l oppo­

overcome b y God's

a " self-adop ted

show t h a t

One i s

d octrin e

at

th is

t h a t was a c t u a l l y b e i n g d e ­ o f con version .

Some E a r l y R a m i f i c a t i o n s o f t h e Do c t r i n a l Co n t r o v e r s y W it h d r a w a l from t h e In 1882 a l l tio n

three

sign ed by P a sto rs

ca tin g th a t

the

S y n o d ic a l C onference

d istrict

m eetings r e c e iv e d

a communica­

P . A» R a s m u s s e n a nd H. A . H a r t m a n n , a d v o ­

N o r w e g i a n S y n o d s h o u l d w i t h d r a w fr o m t h e S y n o d i c a l

C on feren ceA m on g

reason s advanced for

The d o c t r i n a l p o s i t i o n

the p r o p o s a l w ere t h e s e :

o f th e M i s s o u r i Synod in

the E l e c t i o n

•^- I b l d . , p p . 8 1 - 9 9 . ^See s u p r a , p p . 6 7 - 7 5 , f o r in f o r m a tio n about tio n w ith the S y n od ical C onference.

its

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited without p erm ission .

a ffilia ­

338 C ontroversy, o f view ,

to fu rth e r

A m erica,

and t h e

N or wa y w o u l d lev ia te

a ttitu d e

t o w a r d s S c h m i d t and o t h e r s

t h e ma nn er i n w h i c h i t

the d e s ir e in

its

w as c a r r y i n g on th e

the c a u s e o f u n i t y

exp ectation

shortage.

to

p oin t

controversy,

among N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n s

that t h e o l o g i c a l candid ates

t h e n be more w i l l i n g

the m i n i s t e r i a l

of h is

fr o m

come t o A m e r i c a and h e l p a l ­

Not one o f t h e d i s t r i c t s

took

favorab le

a c t i o n upon th e Rasraussen-Hartmann p r o p o s a l i n

1882,

though i t

received

the

con sid erab le

support,

p a r t ic u l a r ly in

a nd E a s t e r n D i s t r i c t s

However,

an i n c i d e n t

o f 1 8 8 2 th a t brought the

q u estion

of

S y n o d ic a l C onference The

1882,

Iowa

the F a l l

th e Synod*s m em bership in

was an e x c e e d i n g l y s t o r m y o n e .

In C h i c a g o

Among t h e d e l e

r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d was P r o f e s s o r S c h m i d t , s e l e c t e d by th e M i n n e s o t a D i s t r i c t .

response

to p r o te sts

from t h r e e the

a nd M i n n e s o t a ) ,

Schm idt as

a "brother in C hrist"

con ven tion refu sed

who

a c tin g in

(M issou ri, recognize There were

t h a t he h ad made u n p r o v e d

o f C a l v i n i s m and t h a t h e h a d b e e n . g u i l t y o f b r e a c h e s

o f c h u r c h o r d e r by d i s r u p t i n g and d i s o r d e r w i t h i n i n g Schm idt

to

and a s a d e l e g a t e .

ch a rg es a g a i n s t him , nam ely,

accu sation s

However,

o f t h e German s y n o d s

W iscon sin ,

tw o m a i n

the

sharp f o c u s .

had been

o f B.

in

c o n v en tio n o f the S y n o d ic a l Conference h e ld

O ctober 4 - 1 0 , gates

into

occurred

a l­

congregations

and c r e a t i n g

the S y n o d ic a l C o n fe r e n c e .

schism

The a c t i o n o f d e n y ­

a s e a t was t a k e n w i t h o n l y one d i s s e n t i n g v o t e ,

J . Muus.

B o t h Muus and p .

a . Rasm ussen,

was p r e s e n t b u t was n o t a v o t i n g d e l e g a t e ,

the l a t t e r

that

o f whom

spoke o ut v e r y v i g o r ­

•^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t s ; E a s t e r n D i s t r i c t , t h e S y n o d , 1 8 8 2 , p p . 4 9 f . , V'2; M i n n e s o t a D i s t r i c t , t h e S y n o d , 1 8 8 2 , pY 8 7 ; Iowa D i s t r i c t , t h e S y n o d , 1 8 8 ' 2 , p Y «J6.

with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

359 o u s l y on b e h a l f o f S c h m i d t . ^

A l t h o u g h P r o f e s s o r H. G. S t u b p r o ­

p o s e d t h a t S chm idt be p e r m i t t e d p rotests that

d irected

a g a i n s t him ,

to e x p r e s s h i m s e l f c o n c e r n in g the the a ssem b ly r e f u s e d

s u g g e s t i o n u n t i l Schm idt had c o n f e s s e d h i s

u n d e r s u c h c i r c u m s t a n c e s w as u n a b l e b eh a lf.^ tio n ,

A f t e r S c h m i d t h ad b e e n

four

rep resen tatives

T . A. T o r g e r s o n , tion

exp ressin g

th ey d id not mean t h a t

J.

t o make a d e f e n c e

refused h is

action

the

in v o tin g

th e y had broken f e l l o w s h i p

sisten cy

of th eir

con gregation

p o sitio n

16:17,

but

or synod.^

t h a t he h a d b e e n u n f a i r l y tiv e

issu es

in

w i t h Schm idt in

a c c o r d w i t h Pvom.

own

conven­

sta tin g

in p o i n t i n g

that th e y ,

they

at

o f L utherske V idnesbyrd

own in con ­

for c o n s c ie n c e ’ s sake, assem bly in

c o u l d do s o w i t h i n t h e

Schm idt, w ith treated

to

out the

the S y n o d ic a l C onference

that

that

fo r the d e c i s i o n

w i t h Schm idt in t h e i r

S c h m i d t l a t e r was n o t h e s i t a n t

sit

in h is

s e a t by the

d e c is io n but

synod.3

could not

Schm idt

and H. G. S t u b — i s s u e d a d e c l a r a ­

approval of

regard t h e ir

errors.

o f th e N or w e g ia n S y n o d — u . V. K o r en ,

a* T h o r s e n ,

th eir

to e n t e r t a i n

some

ju stifica tio n ,

C hicago,

same

felt

and s e v e r a l c o n s e c u ­

con tain h is

personal report of

1 ,lK l r k e k r 8 n i k e , " E . L . K . , IX ( 1 8 8 2 ) , 6 6 2 - 6 5 , 6 7 8 - 8 0 . p I b id ., p. 677. Koren t w i c e g o t p e r m i s s i o n t o a s k S c h m id t w h e t h e r h e h a d come t o t h e c o n f e r e n c e a s a b r o t h e r o r an e n e m y , b u t th e l a t t e r r e f u s e d t o r e p l y u n l e s s he were g i v e n o p p o r t u n i t y t o a s k a c o u n t e r - q u e s t i o n , b u t t h a t was n o t g r a n t e d h i m . I b i d ♦, p. 678. 5 Ib id ., p.

680.

^ " R e f e r a t ora v o r I l d s t o d e l s e f r a S y n o d a l k o n f e r e n c e n s Mflde," Lu t h e r s k e V i d n e s b y r d , I ( 1 8 8 2 ) , 3 5 5 . Rom. 1 6 ; 1 7 r e a d s a s f o l l o w s : 7rI a p p e a l t o y o u b r e t h r e n , t o t a k e n o t e o f t h o s e who c r e a t e d i s ­ s e n s i o n s and d i f f i c u l t i e s , i n o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e d o c t r i n e w h i c h you h ave b e e n t a u g h t ; a v o i d them ." (R evised Standard)

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

340

the p r o c e e d i n g s .1 h is

w ritin gs

U nd oubted ly S ch m id t's

and s p e e c h e s

p a rtly

exp lain ,

t h e h a r s h n e s s w i t h w h i c h h e wa s t r e a t e d Even h i s

advocate

own p o l e m i c a l s t y l e

at

p . A* R a s m u s s e n h a d s a i d

S ch m id t's p o le m ic a l s t y l e ,

if

t h e y do n o t

in

ju stify ,

the C h ic a g o m e e t i n g . th a t he c o u ld not d efen d

but b i t i n g l y added t h a t

in

that r e sp e c t

he had b e e n a c t i n g a s a g e n u in e M i s s o u r i a n , 2 In r e s p o n s e m eetin g o f le tte r to ld

the S y n o d ic a l C o n feren ce,

a d d ressed to the

them t h a t

treated a slap

the

Schm idt a t in

the

to rep resen t to

face it.

the d o c t r in e

a g a in st accept

t o what had o c c u r r e d a t C h ic a g o d u r i n g the

the

p. a . Rasmussen p u b l i s h e d a

con gregation s

o f the Norwegian S y n o d .

S y n o d ic a l C onferen ce n o t o n ly had u n j u s t l y C h ic a g o b u t a l s o had g i v e n by r e f u s in g to

seat

the N orw egian Synod

a d eleg a te

o fficia lly

He c a l l e d u p o n t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n s of e lec tio n

actio n

He

of

the

ta u g h t by P o n to p p id a n ,

Synod's

four d e le g a t e s

at

to

chosen

su b scrib e

to p r o te s t C hicago,

to

th e Hartmann-Rasmussen p r o p o s a l t o b reak w i t h t h e S y n o d i c a l

C onference,

and t o b r i n g i t s

p r o t e s t and p r o p o s a l u p f o r

co n sid era ­

■^That t o w h i c h he o b j e c t e d p a r t i c u l a r l y was t h e f a c t t h a t h i s r i g h t t o s p e a k i n t h e a s s e m b l y was s u s p e n d e d , and h e was n o t g i v e n t h e r i g h t t o d e f e n d h i m s e l f . He f e l t t h a t t h e m e e t i n g r e ­ s t r i c t e d p o s s i b l e a n s w e r s t o q u e s t i o n s d i r e c t e d t o him i n s u c h a way t h a t i t was i m p o s s i b l e f o r h i m t o b r i n g i n w h a t he m i g h t r e ­ gard as e s s e n t i a l to h i s d e f e n c e . "Vo rt P o r s v a r mod S y n o d a l k o n f e r e n c e n s Dorn," L u t h e r s k e V i d n e s b y r d , I ( 1 8 8 2 ) , 3 0 7 f . H is m in u te s o f t h e m e e t i n g b e g i n i n the' i s s u e d a t e d O c t o b e r 1 5 , 1 8 8 2 , u n d e r t h e t i t l e , " R e f e r a t om v o r TTdstHdelse f r a S y n o d a l k o n f e r e n c e n s M&de,,f a nd w e r e c o n c l u d e d i n t h e i s s u e o f D e c e m b e r 1 , 1 8 8 2 . ^ " K i r k e k r o n i k e , " E . L . K . , IX. ( 1 8 8 2 ) , 6 7 9 . S c h m i d t was n o t t h e o n l y on e g u i l t y o f f i e r c e p o l e m i c a l t a c t i c s . R epresenta­ t i v e s o f b o t h s i d e s i n t h i s c o n t r o v e r s y w e r e more u n r e s t r a i n e d i n t h e i r c r i t i c i s m s and c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n s o f one a n o t h e r t h a n i s c u s ­ tomary t o d a y . S verd ru p , in L u th er a n e r en , e x p r e s s e d the o p in io n th a t S c h m i d t h a d b e e n u n f a i r l y t r e a t e d a t C h i c a g o and t h a t t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d d e l e g a t e s (Muus e x c l u d e d ) w e r e g u i l t y o f i n c o n s i s t e n c y . "Syn-

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

tion

a t the n e x t d i s t r i c t m e e t i n g s . 1

c i z e d h y Sy n od l e a d e r s to

the

h is

presum ption in

c o n g r e g a t io n s o f the S y n o d . 2

sev erely tim ely ,

for h is

R a s m u s s e n was s e v e r e l y

agita tio n

such advice

Lain?. L a r s e n c r i t i c i z e d

in the Synod*s K ir k e t id e n d e .5 a nd p u b l i c

g iv in g

However,

the l e t t e r

o p i n i o n was r a p i d l y c r y s t a l l i z i n g

in

At

three d is t r ic t s

the d i s t r i c t m e e t in g s h e l d approved w ith s l i g h t

that year

v a ria tio n s

w ith d r a w a l p r e s e n t e d by p a s t o r E in a r w u l f s b e r g . a ltered

su fficien tly

p ra ctica lly

it was

support of

f o r w ith d r a w a l from the S y n o d i c a l C o n f e r e n c e .

In 1883 th e N orw egian Synod w it h d r e w from t h e C onference.

c riti­

in the

no o p p o s i t i o n

prom inent M isso u r ia n s

course

each o f the

a proposal

as H. A* P r e u s

for

The s i t u a t i o n

o f a y e a r so th a t

to th e m ove.4

S yn od ical

ha d

t h e r e was

E ven s u c h s t a u n c h and

and IT. V . K or en now f a v o r e d

o d a l k o n f e r e n t s e n o g den n o r s k e s y n o d e , ,r L u t b e r a n e r e n , XVI 541-44. "'"P. A* R a s m u s s e n , ’’T i l den n o r s k e Lutherske V id n esb y rd , I (1 8 8 2 ), 3 4 7 -5 2 .

(1882),

Synodes M en igh ed ert , ”

p

yf

P . A« R a s m u s s e n , S v a r p a a T i l t a l e o g R e d e g j o r e l s e f o r rnin S k r i v e l s e t i l Synodens M en igheder (Supplem ent t o s k a n d i n a v e n , A p r i l , l'SSS'), p^ T. T h i s p a m p h l e t was p u b l i s h e d i n d e f e n c e o f h i s l e t t e r to the c o n g r e g a t io n s in the fa c e o f the c r i t i c i s m r a i s e d again st i t . C o n s id e r a b le a t t e n t i o n i s g iv e n to s e t t i n g f o r t h the A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n d o c t r i n e o f e l e c t i o n and i n s u b s t a n t i a t i n g h i s c o n t e n t i o n t h a t S c h m i d t 'was u n f a i r l y t r e a t e d when h e was e x p e l l e d from the S y n o d i c a l C o n fe r e n c e m e e t i n g . 'Z

" K i r k e t i d e n d e n s S t i l l i n g t i l L a e r e s t r i d e n om N a a d e v a l g e t , " E . L . K . , IX ( 1 8 8 2 ) , 8 2 2 ; ’’P a s t o r R a s m u s s e n s Opraab t i l v o r e M enigheder, ” i b i d . , X (1 8 8 3 ), 2 0 - 2 5 . ^The v o t e i n r e g a r d t o w i t h d r a w a l b y d i s t r i c t s was a s f o l ­ low s; E a s t e r n D i s t r i c t — no n e g a t i v e v o t e s , tw o d i d n o t v o t e ; I o w a D i s t r i c t - - e x a c t v o te n o t g i v e n , p a s s e d b y a g r e a t m a j o r i t y ; M inne­ s o ta D i s t r i c t - - 1 0 3 fo r , four a g a i n s t , e le v e n not v o t i n g . S yn od ical R eports; E a s t e r n D i s t r i c t , t h e S y n o d , 1 8 8 3 , p . 4 0 ; Io w a D i s t r i c t , t h e s y n o d , “ '1 8 3 3 , p . 57'. M i n n e s o t a ' D i s t r i c t , t h e S y n o d , 1 8 8 3 , p^

TT.--------------------

------------------------------------------------------------

w«h p erm ission o f * . oopyripn, ow ner. Fui1her repro(luction ^

^

342

tak in g

such a s t e p , b e l i e v i n g

I1

that i t

w o u l d be

Synod.

The E l e c t i o n

Synod*s r e l a t i o n s h i p

to

the S y n o d ic a l C o n feren ce,

in t h e d e c i s i o n was

strife

t h e S y n o d c o u l d more e a s i l y

to

good o f t h e

C o n t r o v e r s y h a d b r o u g h t up t h e i s s u e

m in ing f a c t o r

w ith

for the

"I

w ith in

the

the

S y n o d i c a l C o n fe r e n c e were

th e p a r t y o f Schm idt b e l i e v e d ,

ju stified

on d o c t r i n a l g r o u n d s .

rela tio n sh ip ;

Many f e l t

they

it

if

the

rela tio n s

T h o s e who b e l o n g e d

felt

that

was th at

e n c e was t o o German i n mak eup and s p i r i t o f the

be s e t t l e d

that

o f c o u r s e , t h a t w i t h d r a w a l was

h a d b e e n i m p r a c t i c a l a n y w a y and t h a t te r m in a tin g the

and t h e d e t e r ­

general feelin g

severed.

o f the

th is

a ffilia tio n

a p rop itiou s

tim e

for

the S y n o d ic a l C o n fe r ­

and t h a t

the r e l a t i o n s h i p

S y n o d w i t h t h e S y n o d i c a l C o n f e r e n c e was m a i n t a i n e d o n l y b y

the p a s t o r s , filia tio n

not

the

laym en;

fu rther,

s e r v e d no p r a c t i c a l p u r p o s e

they b e lie v e d in

the

that

the

af­

c a r r y i n g on o f c h u r c h

w ork.^ The w i t h d r a w a l o f i n 1 8 8 3 was e x t r e m e l y Synod s e v e r e d

its

th e Synod from t h e

sig n ifica n t

o fficia l

most

flu en ce

on t h e S y n o d h a d b e e n That a l l i a n c e

as N orwegian

laym en were

the

fu ture.

s e v e r a l G erm an-speaking

lea d ers

regarded as u n fo r tu n a te

w as a s t r a n g e

concerned,

o f the

I t h e lp e d pave th e

whose i n ­

b y s o many

and u n n a t u r a l on e a s

far

no m a t t e r how much a t home t h e

S y n o d m i g h t b e w i t h t h e German M i s ­ way f o r a r a p p r o c h m e n t o f

-^See t h e i r r e m a r k s i n S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , Synod, 1 8 8 3 , pp. 6 8 , 7 1 .

tiv es

Thereby the

i m p o r t a n t o f w h i c h was t h e M i s s o u r i S y n o d ,

N orw egians.

so u ria n s.

the

co n n ectio n s w ith

synods,

w ell-ed u cated

for

S y n o d ic a l C onference

the

Norwe-

M innesota D i s t r i c t ,

^ I b id ., pp. 6 5 -7 1 . A b r i e f d i s c u s s i o n w hich r e v e a l s beh in d the w ith d r a w a l.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission .

mo­

343

gian

synods w hich produced F rictio n On t h e

sequences

in to

p o sitio n

o f th e ir pastor

in the

refused

stages

w ith in

o f the

mass e x o d u s o f A .n t i - M i s s o u r i a n ever,

as e a r ly

as

occurred.

Synod,

s o n and a s s i s t a n t ,

they served, by t h e ir

t h e No rwa y Gr ove

con gregation

p o se d by a v o t e

of

of th is

con gregation . fa lse

of e le c tio n

S y n o d . A

couple

nent p a sto r s,

J.

A.

a ttra ctin g

p resid en t

of

Synod

the

c o n g r e g a t i o n s w hich They were charged They were d e ­

they refu sed

d octrin e

l a t e r another of

O ttesen,

How­

to

sign a

to the A n ti-M is s o u r ia n d o c ­

and w h i c h c o n d e m n e d t h e of years

e s p e c i a l l y when t h e

d o ctrin e.

because

d o c t r i n a l d e c l a r a t i o n w hich s u b s c r ib e d trin e

som etim es r e s u l t ­

nature

o f one o f t h e

to e lev en

some

C. K. P r e u s , w e r e on Good F r i d a y

w ith tea c h in g

forty

in

g o t under way.

P a s t o r H. A- P r e u s ,

o f t h a t y e a r d ep o se d as p a s t o r s

courts,

c o n g r e g a t i o n s became most

controversy,

1 8 8 3 an i n c i d e n t

o f con­

the d o c t r i n a l

develop ed ,

con gregation s

w ide a t t e n t i o n and h i s

c iv il

go a l o n g w i t h

and f r i c t i o n

D isru p tion s

la te

to

the

d is­

Many c o n g r e g a t i o n s

w hich fo u g h t f o r p o s s e s s i o n

som etim es even in

con gregation s

in g in d e p o s a ls . serio u s

a nd o r g a n i z a t i o n .

two f a c t i o n s

g r eg a tio n a l property,

con­

C o n t r o v e r s y w as t h e way i n w h i c h i t

rupted co n g r eg a tio n a l l i f e

in stan ces

in S yn o d ica l A ffa ir s

c o n g r e g a t i o n a l l e v e l . — one o f t h e m o s t t r a g i c

o f the E l e c t i o n

were s p l i t

the Union o f 1 9 1 7 .

the

was s u b j e c t e d t o

of

the M is s o u r i

S y n o d ’ s m o s t pr o m i

the

same t r e a t m e n t ,

■'■"KirkekrBnike, ” E . L. K . , X ( 1 8 8 3 ) , 2 5 2 f . H. A. and C- K. P r e u s , ’’F r e m s t i l l i n g a f N a a d e v a l g s s t r i d e n i Norwajf G ro ve M enighed," i b i d . , pp. 2 6 1 - 6 7 , 3 4 1 - 4 9 , 3 5 3 - 6 2 . For a resume o f the c o n t r o v e r s y as" i t h a d b e e n c a r r i e d on i n t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n o v e r a p e r i o d o f two y e a r s , p r e p a r e d b y a c o n g r e g a t i o n a l c o m m i t t e e , s e e "K or t O v e r s i g t o v e r d e n n u t i l e n d e b r a g t e N a a d e v a l g s t r i d i Norway Grove M en ig h e d ," L u th e r s k e V id n e s b y r d , I I ( 1 8 8 3 ) , 1 1 3 - 1 9 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

344

when i n

1 8 8 5 h e was d e p o s e d b y h i s The e l e c t i o n

d istricts

of d istrict

p resid en ts,

o f th e Synod were f a c e d w it h th e

in g d i s t r i c t

p resid en ts

for a s ix -y e a r

y e a r r e v e a l how e v e n l y m a t c h e d t h e were a t t h a t were q u i t e lected

tim e.

In

d istin ctly

in p r e fe re n c e

y e a r term o f o f f i c e , M issourians m ussen's

con gregation s.

to

term .

to

J.

w ith in

votes o ffices

the o f f i c e

P . A. R a s m u s s e n was s e ­

to

h is

never

join ed

Synod,

it

prom inence

in

the Synod.

a s w e ll .- * -

assume h i s

sy n o d ica l a f f a i r s ,

d esire

con gregation s

d i d n o t want him t o ;

fused to tak e

over

was e l e c t e d

to

serve

fu n ction s

t o assume

o f the

tem p orarily.

e lig ib le

for the

as

However, R as­ the

Synod,

for,

to hold

the

o ffice, in

leg a l

the

o ffice. and h i s

1884 he r e ­

of p resid en t.

I n 1 8 8 5 an a r b i t r a t i o n the

de­

c o n g r e g a t i o n s had

the

o ffice

an­

d u tie s .^

co n seq u en tly,

composed o f l a w y e r s , h a v i n g s t u d i e d t h a t Rasmussen

and A n t i -

S i n c e h e was a n o n - v o t i n g member o f

Rasmussen p e r s o n a l l y d i d n o t

ru led

h is

was c o n t e n d e d t h a t h e was i n e l i g i o l e

the

concluded a s i x -

fifty -o n e,

R a s m u s s e n was n o t a v o t i n g member o f t h e sp ite

the synod

was c o n t e s t e d p r i o r t o

n u a l m e e t i n g o f 1 8 8 4 w he n h e was t o

of that

th e A n ti-M issou rian s

B . F r i c h , who h a d j u s t

seventy-one

assume

The e l e c t i o n s

tw o p a r t i e s

the m a j o r i t y .

dom inated th e o t h e r

righ t

resp o n sib ility of e le c t­

the E a s t e r n D i s t r i c t in

1 8 8 5 . — In 1883 th e

aspects

of

F rich

com m ittee the

case,

a n o n - v o t i n g member o f t h e S y n o d w as n o t

p resid en cy

^ Synodical R eport,

and t h a t

a vacancy e x i s t e d ,

Eastern D i s t r ic t ,

the

Synod,

alth ou gh 1883,

pp.

10 8 f . ^The d i s t r i c t p r e s i d e n t s a s s u m e d t h e i r f u n c t i o n s a t t h e c o n c lu s io n o f th e synod m e e tin g o f th e n e x t y e a r f o l l o w i n g t h e i r electio n . See s y n o d i c a l c o n s t i t u t i o n , a r t . V I I I , p a r . 2 . H alvorsen ( e d .) , F e s t s k r i f t , p . 204.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

345 F rich could

leg a lly

fu n ction

as p re sid en t u n t i l

been c h o s e n . C o n s e q u e n t l y , of p resid en t

Krohn, b y a v o t e had t o be the

over h is

to

was m o s t c l o s e l y

fo rty -eig h t.

any c a n d id a te

r e q u i r e d number o f v o t e s . in

In t h e

A n ti-M issou rian

of six ty -o n e

taken b e fo r e

was e l e c t e d . 2

B.

F r i c h was r e - e l e c t e d

o f the E a stern D i s t r i c t .

K o r e n w as r e - e l e c t e d

received

in

the

of a ll.

the

Muus'

en tire

fifty -th re e .

the

d e n t were A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s , preference

Io w a D i s t r i c t U. V . opponent,

t o M. 0« B o c k m a n ,

P astor J.

But t h r e e b a l l o t s

electio n

received

of p resid en t

Synod.

one o f t h e m o s t m i l i ­

However, n e it h e r ca n d id a te the

th ird b a llo t

n e e d e d minimum o f f i f t y - s e v e n

Both o f

o ffice

The A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n i n c u m b e n t ,

the r e q u ir e d m a j o r it y o f v o t e s u n t i l

when H a r s t a d r e c e i v e d

the

The A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n H. A* Hartmann

J . M u u s , was r e p l a c e d b y B . A . H a r s t a d ,

tan t M issourians

to

for v ic e -p r e s id e n t

the M in n eso ta D i s t r i c t contested

a s u c c e s s o r had

the

le a d in g can d id ates

votes

for v ic e - p r e s i­

w i t h L. M« B i 8 r n b e i n g s e l e c t e d a lso

on t h e

to

In

t h i r d b a l l o t .3

-L"Om F o r m a n d s e m b e d e t I ^ s t l i g e D i s t r i k t , " E . L . K », X I I (1885), 595-600. I n t e r e s t i n g l y enough, the S y n o d 's p e r i o d i c a l ha d s u p p o r t e d t h e v a l i d i t y o f R a s m u s s e n ' s e l e c t i o n a f t e r i t h a d b een c a l l e d i n q u e s t i o n b e f o r e the d e c i s i o n o f the a r b i t r a t i o n c o m m it te e had b e e n r e a c h e d . "Hvem e r v a l g t t i l Formand i v o r t $ s t l i g e D i s t r i k t ? , " E . L» K . , X ( 1 8 8 3 ) , 7 6 9 - 7 2 . 2 S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e I ow a D i s t r i c t , t h e S y n o d , 1 8 8 5 , pp. 9 0 -9 3 .

•Z.

S y n o d ic a l R e p o r t, M innesota D i s t r i c t , the Synod, 1 8 8 5 , pp. 95-97~ Muus", I n t h e l a t t e r p a r t o f 1 8 8 4 , a r g u e d fr om a t e c h n i c a l i t y — a q u e s t i o n c o n c e r n i n g the r e c o g n i t i o n o f one o f th e l a y d e l e g a t e s p r e s e n t a t th e 1883 m e e t i n g - - t h a t H a r sta d had n o t b een l e g i t i m a t e l y e l e c t e d and c o n s e q u e n t l y t h a t h i s d e c i s i o n s , and e v e n t h o s e o f t h e C h u r c h C o u n c i l o f w h i c h h e was a m e m b e r , w e r e n o t v a lid . "Er K i r k e r a a d e t l o v l i g t ? , " L u t h e r s k e V i d n e s b y r d , I I I (1834), 433-59. H i s s p e c i o u s and bela'te'd. a r g u m e n t r e c e i v e d t h e r e p l y i t d e s e r v e d i n " A t t e r e n 0 p r 8 r s f a n e r e i s t , " E . L. K - , XI (1884), 659-62.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

346 The p r o p o s a l t o e l e c t 1883 the

s y n o d i c a l Church C o u n c i l assum ed a u t h o r i t y

fou rth teach in g p o s itio n c a l l t o p a s t o r M. 0 . wa s q u i t e bers

another t h e o lo g ic a l p r o f e s s o r . - - I n

a vote

on t h e

Beckman.

o f con fid en ce

p rovin g v o te

However,

He was an A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n , and i t i n him t h a t

for e le c tio n

o f a m ajority

e v e n t h e M i s s o u r i a n mem­

returns

su fficien t fifty -tw o in g that

came i n ,

it

was

number o f v o t e s votes,

w ith

C ou n cil d ecid ed

T h i s was i n t e n d e d

th is p o s it io n , was n e c e s s a r y .

authorized

to v o te ,

t o be e l e c t e d

to

n eith er

o p p o s i n g h im and e i g h t e e n

f o r nor a g a in s t him .

serve under th o se

furor a sso c ia te d

son o f the w ell-kn ow n p a s t o r , graduate

J.

a ca ll

w ith

The C h u r c h for a year

the o r d i n a t i o n

L ouis,

from two c o n g r e g a t i o n s

in

refused

o r d in a tio n o f O ttesen

the

o f the

the

la tter

a part o f

in H ennepin County o f

Muu s, p r e s i d e n t

a u th orize

was a l s o

O tto Q tt e s e n ,

the M in n eso ta D i s t r i c t . to

stat­

co n d itio n s.^

A* O t t e s e n .

o f C o n co rd ia Sem inary in S t .

1883 r e c e i v e d

H. A* and when

O r d i n a t i o n o f O t t o Q t t e s e n . — The d o c t r i n a l i s s u e h i g h - l i g h t e d by the

ap­

a l t h o u g h h e ha d r e c e i v e d

t o c a l l sBckruan t e m p o r a r i l y t o s e r v e

a n y w a y , b u t he r e f u s e d

the

f o u n d t h a t Beckman h a d n o t r e c e i v e d a

th irty -eig h t

th ey could vote

to

o f the p a s to r s

P reu s had b a l l o t s m a i l e d to p a s t o r s the

a

s e m i n a r y f a c u l t y and e x t e n d e d a

o f t h e C o u n c i l b a ck ed him f o r th e p o s i t i o n .

as a peace move.

to crea te

o f the M in n e s o ta D i s t r i c t , i n a s m u c h as h e r e -

^-''K irkekrB nike," E . L. K ., X ( 1 8 8 3 ) , 472 f . ; i b i d . , pp . 6 3 0 f . ; H. A« P r e u s , "Om j V o i'c'ss o r v a 1 ge t , " i b i d ♦, p p . 7 9 3 - 8 6 . T h e r e c o n t i n u e d t o be d i f f i c u l t i e s w i t h i n t h e S y n o d ' s s e m i n a r y . I n 1 8 8 3 S t u b r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e c o n t r o v e r s y was h a v i n g an a d v e r s e e f f e c t on t h e s t u d e n t s , and H. A* P r e u s c o n t e n d e d t h a t S c h m i d t w as n e g l e c t i n g h i s w ork a t t h e s e m i n a r y a s a r e s u l t o f h i s p r e o c c u p a ­ t i o n w ith the c o n t r o v e r s y . S y n o d ic a l R eport, M innesota D i s t r i c t , 1 8 8 5 , A ppendix, pp. x x i x , x x .

with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission .

347

fused to gation s

sign a d o c tr in a l concerned app ealed

d e c i d e d t h a t Muus* d in a tio n another

s t a t e m e n t p r e p a r e d b y M uu s . the m a tte r t o

grounds were in a d e q u a te

and r e c o m m e n d e d t o o r d in a to r to

February 3 , d isregard

1884,

the

preus

d ecisio n

congre­

Ch u rch C o u n c i l , w h i c h

fo r den yin g O ttesen

con gregation s

o ffic ia te .^

w ith

for h is

the

The

that

or­

they req u est

O t t o O t t e s e n was o r d a i n e d on

o fficiating.2

a s d i s t i ’i c t

Muus r e g a r d e d t h i s

p resid en t

b reach o f church o rd er.^

ottesen

the M in n eso ta D i s t r i c t

the 1884 a n n u a l m e e tin g by a good m a j o r i ­

at

was r e c e i v e d

t o be a s e r i o u s

i n t o m em bership i n

ty v o te .^ I n c r e a s i n g Prom inence o f the D o c tr in e o f C onversion As i n d i c a t e d a p o sitio n

ea rlier,

d octrin e

o f more and more i m p o r t a n c e

gressed.

E d ito r Laur. Larsen

ence h eld

in Decorah in

version

the

first

became

v ersia l a r tic le s V id n esb yrd in

says

January,

it

found in

the

con version

assumed

controversy pro­

was a t t h e p a s t o r a l

1882,

a co n tro versial

as

of

that

issu e .5

the

d o ctrin e

Many o f

confer­ of con­

the

contro­

t h e S y n o d ' s p e r i o d i c a l and i n L u t h e r s k e

1883 and th e y e a r s

f o l l o w i n g were

concerned w ith

-*-"En O r d i n a t i o n s n e g t e l s e ," E . L . K . , XI ( 1 8 8 4 ) , 1 3 5 - 3 S . F o r Muus' d e t a i l e d a c c o u n t o f t h i s C o u n c i l m e e t i n g s e e "Fra M i n n e ­ a p o l i s , " L utherske V id n esb y rd , I I I (1 8 8 4 ), 6 5 -7 3 , 8 1 -9 0 . Muus h a d t h e a c t i v e s u p p o r t o f on e l a y member o f t h e c o u n c i l ; tw o l a y ­ men r e f u s e d t o v o t e on t h e i s s u e , w h i l e t h e c l e r i c a l m em be rs v o t e d s o l i d l y a g a i n s t him . ib id . , p. 8 8 . ^ " p r e s t e o r d i n a t i o n , " E . L » K » , XI 3

S yn od ical R ep ort,

4 I b id ., p.

the

Synod,

(1884),

1 27 f .

1884, p . 105.

108.

"Ny o g gammel L a e r e

om O m v e n d e l s e n , " E . L. K . ,

82.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

X (1883),

348 co n v ersio n . The d o c t r i n a l s t a t e m e n t s p r e p a r e d b y Muus f o r of

Otto O t t e s e n ,

w hich the

w ith c o n v e r sio n . ground o f th e

la tter

refused

Otto O tte se n

o f the

Synod to o k v i o l e n t

to h i s

con version ,

w h ile

o f p o w e r s a nd a b i l i t i e s enabled to

sig ) . ca ll

turn

a ffa ir,

Muus s e t s

never

excep tion . still

in

t o God,

the w i l l

w ill;

made p o s s i b l e

r ig h t use

or

given

to

con trib u te

rep u d ia tes

any s u g g e s t i o n and h e

in

the

in

q u estion

"to

state,

convert h im self"

by m e a n s

( a t omvende

g r a c e d w h i c h he b e s t o w s one

in

the

"to c o n v e r t h i m s e l f . "

when man i s

consequence

converted,

o f a ch oice

of

it

God is

not

the w i l l

i m p a r t e d t o h im by t h e H o l y S p i r i t

tow ards h i s t h a t man i s

is

d ep en d en t upon th e

con version .

He c o n t e n d s

the A n ti-M iss o u r ia n s

t io n , but

the p o i n t o f d i f f e r e n c e

as

"Are a l l men whom God c a l l s

is

is

do no t

converted,

th eology

th a t the

as t o w h e t h e r i t

sin ce

Muus s t r o n g l y

ir resistib ly

the M iss o u r ia n

a sin n er,

th is:

t h a t man p r i o r

t o h i m b y God s i n c e b y n a t u r e man h a s

id en tifies

opnents w ith C a lv in ism . center

Muus t e a c h e s

T h u s, man’ s c o n v e r s i o n

no a b i l i t y

com pu lsion ,

is

b y new a b i l i t i e s

o f powers

fo r th the p o s itio n

an u n r e g e n e r a t e

and e n a b l e s

but i t

t h r o u g h t h e Wor d.

the b a c k ­

i m p a r t e d t o h i m b y God t h r o u g h H i s Word,

f o r c e s man t o w i l l a n y t h i n g ;

a g ain st h is

ch iefly

to which the M is s o u r ia n e le m e n t

God t h r o u g h t h e p r e p a r a t o r y lib era tes

d ea lt

sign atu re

W r itin g in L uth erske v id n e sb y r d a g a i n s t

m a i n t a i n e d b y h i m s e l f and S c h m i d t ,

is

to s ig n ,

the

op-

controversy does not

God a l o n e ca ll

expressed

of h is

by

that

who c o n v e r t s in to

ques­

in a q u e s t io n

t h r o u g h t h e Word a b l e

such to

■^The H o r w e g i a n t e r m i s f o r b e r e d e n d e M a u d e . I t m ight a l s o b e t r a n s l a t e d " p r e v e n i e n t g r a c e , " a s t h a t terra i s u s e d i n t h i s c o n ­ n e c t i o n by L u th e r a n d o g m a t i c i a n s . S e e , f o r ex a m p le, Schm id, o p . c i t . , pp . 4 7 1 , 4 7 8 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

349

convert

th em selves

( omven de s l g ) , o r a r e o n l y t h o s e

ab le

to

con­ con­

vert

t h e m s e l v e s whom God c o m p e l s ? ”

The M i s s o u r i a n s n e e d t o

cede

that

a m e ans o f g r a c e , w h i c h a c t u ­

a lly

conveys

t h e Word o f God i s grace

o n e who b y n a t u r e

to is

each person unable

d iv i n e ly - im p a r t e d powers The M i s s o u r i a n s o f con version because not give

God a l o n e

r e a l q u e stio n in who e f f e c t s

rea lly

to

t o whom i t

and a b i l i t i e s . 1 opposed such a p r e s e n t a t io n

they

said

that

it

con version

controversy is man a l o n e ,

The M i s s o u r i a n s m a i n t a i n t h a t

t e a c h i n g o f S c h m i d t a n d Muus t h e u l t i m a t e to

a man’ s

con version

p ro testa tio n s cord in g to p rior

rests

w i t h ma n .

o f S c h m i d t and Muus t h a t

the A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n d o c t r i n e

to h is

c o n v e r s i o n w h i c h he

of

was s y n e r g i s t i c

th e h o n o r f o r man’ s c o n v e r s i o n .

the

e n a b lin g each

c o n v e r t h i m s e l f t o do s o t h r o u g h

c o n v e r s i o n — God a l o n e ,

c o o p e r a t i o n .2

comes,

a ll

and d id

the

q u estion

as t o

o r God and man i n accordin g to

is is

d octrin e

For them t h e

and d e c i d i n g

This

the

true

as a s p i r i t u a l l y

fa c to r as

d esp ite

of grace,

powers are

the

the

sin ce

ac­

i m p u t e d t o man dead b e in g can n ot

”D i f f e r e n t s m e l l e m L u t h e r a n e r e o g n o r s k M i s s o u r i e r e , ” L utherske V id n esb yrd , I I I (1 8 8 4 ), 4 4 9 -5 9 . i n 1 8 9 5 Muus p u b l i s h e d a s m a l l book d e a l i n g w i t h c o n v e r s i o n e n t i t l e d Q m v e n d e l s e . S tu d ler i K irkens a e ld r e L aerere (M in n ea p o lis: Den F o r e n e d e K i r k e s Tryk'keri", 1 6 9 5 ) . He s u b s t a n t i a t e s h i s p o s i t i o n on t h e b a s i s o f r e f e r e n c e s t o and q u o t a t i o n s fr om s u c h a u t h o r i t i e s a s P o n t o p p i d a n , C h e m n itz , A u g u s t i n e , Formula o f C oncord, F l u t t e r , J . G e r h a r d , J . M u s a e u s , Q u e n s t e d , W. B a i e r , C a r p z o v , and o t h e r s . He re h e s p e a k s o f c o n v e r s i o n I n a so m e w h a t b r o a d s e n s e , s i n c e he r e f e r s t o i t s b e g i n n i n g and i t s c o n t i n u a t i o n , b u t h e a l s o m e ans t h e r e b y t h e i n ­ s t a n t a n e o u s t r a n s i t i o n from t h e s t a t e o f s i n t o t h e s t a t e o f g r a c e . I b i d . , pp . 4 , 3 4 , 46 f . , 8 7 - 9 0 . When he s p e a k s o f c o n v e r s i o n I n term s o f a p r o c e s s , he s a y s t h a t in th e b e g i n n i n g s o f c o n v e r s i o n , when t h e H o l y S p i r i t c a l l s t h r o u g h t h e Word and s t i r s t h e h e a r t , man i s s t i l l i n t h e s t a t e o f s i n and n o t i n t h e s t a t e o f g r a c e . I b id ., p. 5. (1885),

^ ’’H v o r d a n e r nu S t i l l i n g e n 512.

ib lan d t

os?” S.

L. K«, X II

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

350

possess.Strong

excep tion

s p i r i t u a l powers are wh e n on e There

is

is

any t e a c h i n g

i m p a r t e d t o man b e f o r e h e

no l o n g e r

sp iritu a lly

can be no i n t e r m e d i a t e

sp iritu a l a b ilitie s

taken to

a nd y e t

d ea d , he i s

p o s i t i o n where

taneous

occurrence,

but

they r e f e r

con version .

The M i s s o u r i a n s

of

o f man f o r

the h e a r t

con version

t e a c h t h a t man i s

at

overcomes

resistan ce

g istic

a ll

the

to

the

its

b?/ g r a c e

alon e.

in r e fe r e n c e

t o an i n s t a n ­ o f man f o r

the H o ly S p i r i t ' s

th a t tim e p u r e ly p a s s i v e

p rep aration

o f m an's

w ill.^

is

and t h a t God a l o n e T he y r e j e c t

lib era ted

as

syner­

and e m po w e re d t o im ­

o f Q o d .^

For the M i s s o u r i a n s , in

The M i s s o u r i a n s u s e

r e g e n e r a t i o n b y me an s o f p o w e r s and a b i l i t i e s

ca ll

preserve

certa in

through p r e p a r a to r y g ra ce bu t

t e a c h i n g t h a t m an's w i l l

choose p r io r p a rted in

the

for

alread y con verted .

to God's p r e p a r a t i o n

speak o f

an y

converted,

one p o s s e s s e s

is unconverted.

t h e word " c o n v e r s i o n ' 1 i n a narrow s e n s e

is

that

p u rity

th en ,

the

the d o c tr in e

D esp ite

the

that

in sisten ce

•^ I b i d . , p p . 5 1 2 f . See a l s o OmvendeIsenV" i b i d . , X ( 1 8 8 3 ) , 83 f .

f u n d a m e n t a l c o n c e r n was t o con version

is

effected

o f the A n ti-M is s o u r ia n s

"Ny o g gammel L a e r e

ora

o

I t w i l l be n o t e d t h a t t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s i n o r d e r t o e s t a b l i s h u n e q u i v o c a l l y man's r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f e l t c o m p e lle d t o d e ­ f i n e two t y p e s o f r e s i s t a n c e i n man— a " n a t u r a l " r e s i s t a n c e a nd a self-a d o p ted " free-w ill" r e sista n c e . So S c h m i d t , "*Ny og gammel L aere,*" L utherske V id n esb y rd , I I (1 8 8 3 ), 8 5 . On t h e o t h e r h a n d , th e a ttem p t o f th e M is s o u r ia n s t o p r e s e r v e God's s o l e g l o r y f o r m a n 's s a l v a t i o n l e d t o t h e c h a r g e t h a t t h e y a c c r e d i t e d two o p p o s ­ i n g w i l l s t o God— a g e n e r a l w i l l d e s i r i n g t h e s a l v a t i o n o f a l l and a p a r t i c u l a r w i l l w hich e f f e c t s o n ly the s a l v a t i o n o f a few . Ib id . , pp. 8 1 -8 4 . For a p r e s e n t a t i o n s i o n s e e "En R e d e g j o r e l s e , " E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n may b e and G. 0 . L i l l e g a r d , G r a c e

o f t h e M i s s o u r i a n p o s i t i o n on c o n v e r ­ E ■ L . K . , XI (1 8 8 4 * ) , 7 0 2 - 0 7 . An f o u n d - i n " S . C. Y l v i s a k e r , C. A n d e r s o n , fo r Grace, pp. 1 7 4 -8 1 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

351 that

t h e y were a l s o

lo y a l to

o n l y w h a t Go d’ s g r a c e tain ed tic

that b a s ic

t e a c h i n g s i n c e man c a n do

e n a b l e s him t o d o ,

the M iss o u r ia n s m ain­

t h a t t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s w e r e a s c r i b i n g t o man a s y n e r g i s ­

c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h God i n h i s

con version .

W idening R i f t s

in

t h e Syn od

C o n f e r e n c e s and M e e t i n g s The q u e s t i o n s a t innum erable im p ossib le

to

conferences take

g e n e r a l hope t h a t

n o tice

through th e se overcom e.

in

th is

d iscu ssio n s

A pastoral

session

planned s in c e

i t was h o p e d t h a t

d e s ir e d results.-*con sin ,

fo r about tw ice

a year

conference

length

l a t e r , March 1 9 - 2 8 ,

group o f p a s t o r s

la te

is

I t was th e

d ifferen ces,

r e a l or

o f the

en tire

in A p r il,

o f tim e

1883,

o rig in a lly

c o n fe r e n c e m ight le a d

A p a s to r a l conferen ce held

a s m a r k i n g an i m p o r t a n t s t e p The l a r g e

the

the

o f w hich i t

chapter.

w hich a sse m b led in M adison, W is c o n s in ,

rem ained i n

theses

and c o n v e r s i o n w e r e d i s c u s s e d

and s y n o d i c a l m e e t i n g s ,

d eta iled

a p p a r e n t , m ig h t be synod,

of electio n

to

the

i n Eau C l a i r e ,

W is­

1 8 8 4 , was h a i l e d i n b o t h camps

fo r w a rd on the road t o a g r e e m e n t . ^

p r e s e n t was a b l e

to agree

on s e v e n t e e n

p r e p a r e d by a "Peace Committee" s e t up by the M in n e s o ta

D istrict

at

sen ta tiv es

its

1883 m e e t in g .

of both p a r t ie s

s e v e r a l days at

a tim e

The

com m ittee,

composed o f r e p r e ­

had worked d i l i g e n t l y ,

on t h r e e d i f f e r e n t

h a v i n g met f o r

occasion s.®

^ " P r e s t e k o n f e r e n c e n i M a d is o n ," E. L. E»,

The t h e s e s

X (1883),

313,

315. i

2 " K i r k e k r 8 n i k e , " i b i d . , XI ( 1 8 8 4 ) , 2 2 3 ; "Era K o n f e r e n c e n Eau C l a i r e , " L u t h e r s k e v i d n e s b y r d , m ( 1 8 8 4 ) , 19 3 f .

(1884),

® "P restekonferencen 225 f .

i E au C l a i r e , w i s . , "

E . L* K . ,

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

XI

352 d ea lt the

c h i e f l y w ith

con version ,

and b o th p a r t i e s

same s t a t e m e n t

of d octrin e

sa tisfa c to ry .^

actual d isu n ity tise

the

still

ex isted ,

same l a n g u a g e

f e e l i n g was s t i l l

to

d esp ite

express

p revalen t that

th eir

the

w ith

th e problem o f man’ s n a t u r a l o b s t i n a t e is

m e a n i n g and s i g n i f i c a n c e the h eart

o f man p r i o r

H owever, sion s

that

the

to

the

grace

im p ossib le

as

Synod,

to how,

o f God i s to

been a cco m p lish ed , ^The t e x t

in c o n n e c t io n to

grace

w ith

the

o f 1884 d i s p e l l e d

its

seventeen

any i l l u ­

The Eau C l a i r e th eses

be t a k e n u n d e r

and t h a t was d o n e , b u t o n l y a f t e r Muus objected,

Muus b e i n g p a r t i c u l a r l y fo llo w in g revealed

d ifferen t

o r b y whom, m an ’ s n a t u r a l r e s i s t a n c e

o v e r c o m e - - w h e t h e r b y God o r b y man— a nd i t

reach a g r e e m e n t.^

v ie w o f th e work o f

same m e a n i n g

resista n ce

t o be a t t a i n e d .

The d o c t r i n a l d i s c u s s i o n

in terp reta tio n s

fo r the u n easy

and i n c o n n e c t i o n

s y n o d ic a l m eeting

p a r t y had s t r e n u o u s l y

v o c i f e r o u s .4

of

c o n v e r s i o n .3

c o n f e r e n c e had recommended t h a t

and h i s

fear

fin d

t h e H o ly S p i r i t ’ s p r e p a r a t o r y work i n

a g r e e m e n t was a b o u t

c o n s i d e r a t i o n by t h e

to

th at b o th could

case p a r t i c u l a r l y

overcome

of

fact

a l l d id n o t put the

the w o r d s . 2

a nd how t h a t r e s i s t a n c e

B ut t h e

p o sitio n ,

in to

T h is was th e

were a b l e

the

Laur.

Larsen,

s y n o d ic a l m eetin g,

said

t h e s e s may be f o u n d

was

in a c r i t i c a l r e ­ t h a t n o t h in g had

not even o f a p r a c t i c a l n a tu r e . of these

to

He d e c l a r e d

in i b i d . ,

pp.

226-

28. 2I b id ., p.

231.

^"Mere f r a K o n f e r e n c e n

i Eau C l a i r e , ” i b i d . , p p .

^"Udbyttet af Synodem8det," i b i d ., p. 430. ^Ibid., pp. 430 f.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

241-46.

353 that a th ird ea rlier

step

in

the d i r e c t i o n

d e p o s a l o f the

Preuses

O t t o O t t e s e n , was r e v e a l e d a t had r e f u s e d

to accred it

the

regarded t h is

sch ism ,

and t h e the

con ven tion ,

"Peace C ommittee" o f

an oth er at

th is

tim e.

pastor B.

in ten sely h o stile

1 8 8 4 m e e t i n g Muus i n t r o d u c e d

the Synod s h o u ld e l e c t

a

H i s m o t i o n w as d e f e a t e d b y t h e

Decorah,

(new)

ed ito r

close

vote

titled ,

"A ccou ntin g. " --In

conference

Iowa.

o f the p a s t o r s

In p r e p a r a t i o n

"An A c c o u n t i n g "

the

tow ards

one

for th is

a m otion p r o v id in g

for

as an u n e q u i v o c a l s t a t e m e n t

tio n

the

in v o lv ed in

its

p erio d ica l.

o f 1 53 t o

1 5 1 .3

1884

p a l l o f 1884 a h i g h l y

conference

(En R e d e g j B r e l s e ) ,

d octrin es

subm itted

o f t h e S y n o d was h e l d i n

M issou rian s to a l l

glum ly

J . Muus a nd

a co n tro v ersia l a r tic le

The D e c o r a h P a s t o r a l C o n f e r e n c e ,

sig n ifica n t

who was

Muus h ad b e e n p e r t u r b e d when L a r s e n h a d r e ­

by him .

A M issou rian

Larsen,

a s e t b a c k t o t h a t w h ic h had s o r e ­

for p u b lica tio n

that

to

the M innesota D i s t r i c t ,

fused to accept At t h e

the

f o r P r o f e s s o r Schm idt

e l e c t i o n . - 1-

c e n t l y b e e n a c c o m p l i s h e d a t Eau C l a i r e . 2 th e S y n o d ’ s K ir k e t id e n d e were

to

four t h e o l o g i c a l s tu d e n ts

in regard to

Synod m e e t i n g as

in a d d it io n

d e n ia l of ord in ation

fo r graduation

who h e l d M i s s o u r i a n v i e w s chairm an o f

of

a document e n ­

was p r e p a r e d b y t h e

of th eir p o sitio n

the

in

co n tro v ersy o f the

r ela ­ tim e

A

^ Tb1 d . , p p . 4 3 2 - 3 4 . H ow ever, S c h m i d t ’ s o b j e c t i o n s were o v e r r i d d e n b y t h e o t h e r f a c u l t y m e m b e r s , a n d t h e men w e r e o r d a i n e d . ^I b i d . , p p . 4 3 4

f .

^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

the

Synod,

^ " K ir k e k r B n ik e ," E . L . K . ,

XI

1884, p. 89. (1884),

681 f .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

354

I t had been p r e p a red by K oren, w it h th e h e l p had b e e n g i v e n

a lim ited

"An A c c o u n t i n g ” c o n t a i n s to p ics:

(3 )

E lectio n

I t was made t h e b a s i s A n ti-M issou rian s

docum en t.3

eigh ty-seven

to

I t was p u b l i c i z e d

was p r i n t e d i n

l a t e r was n e c e s s a r y t o

t o be

ex p la in

to

but ra th er

it

them o f t h e Synod. 4

on o c c a s i o n , sh ip

course

o f the

of sig n a ­

and p e r i o d i c a l s free

and

of charge. that

a con fession

of

It

t h e y w e re fa ith ,

s i m p l y be r e g a r d e d a s an a c c o u n t i n g t o

th eo lo g ica l p o sitio n

At t h i s

in the

con gregation s

congregations

a d o p t "An A c c o u n t i n g ” a s should

to i t .

the

circu la ted

not expected to th at

(13 t h e s e s ) . ^

d o ctrin a l b e lie fs

the

C onversion

were p la c e d upon the

i n many n e w s p a p e r s

2 0,000 c o p ies

follo w in g

c o n f e r e n c e , b u t the

su b scrib e

sign atu res

the

(2)

(4) A ssu ra n ce

a t the

and

the c o n f e r e n c e . ^

(5 t h e s e s ) ,

T h i s d o c u m e n t was a d d r e s s e d t o

t h e S y n o d as a t e s t i m o n y a s t o to ries,

o f God

of d iscu ssio n

to

d e a l i n g w ith the

(2 3 t h e s e s ) ,

were u n w i l l i n g

conference

p rior

four s e c t io n s

( 1 ) The u n i v e r s a l g r a c e

(22 t h e s e s ) ,

o f the

circu la tio n

o f a few o t h e r s ,

o f the M issourian p a s to r s

o f the

c o n f e r e n c e b o t h M i s s o u r i a n s and A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s ,

met a s s e p a r a t e

the A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s An A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n

groups;

in

fact,

under Muus’ l e a d e r ­

assem b led in Decorah a day e a r l y . 5 " C o n fessio n . ”-- I n

■*-”K i r k e k r 8 n i k e , ” i b i d . , p .

c o n n e c t io n w ith the

726.

^ ”T i l M e n i g h e d e r n e i d e n n o r s k e S y n o d e . En R e d e g j B r e l s e , " i b i d . , pp. 701-16. T h i s i s t h e fo r m i n w h i c h t h e M i s s o u r i a n s a t th e "conference approved i t . 3 ”K i r k e k r o n i k e , " i b i d . , p . 7 2 8 . 4 I b i d . , pp . 777 f . III

5 B. (1884),

J . M uu s , 553.

"L uthersk H j a e l p e c a s s e , ” Lutherske V id n e s b y r d ,

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission

355

Decorah co n fe r en ce statem ent,

the A n ti-M is s o u r ia n s

w h i c h was

ca lled

h a s e d u p o n an e n l a r g e m e n t Schm idt had p r e s e n t e d summer.

the p a s t o r a l its

fiv e (2)

la st

(3)

its

fa ith

is

not

fin a l

th esis

had s i x t y - n i n e

course

are r e j e c t e d .^ o f the

(1)

(5)

in to

E lectio n ,

A ssurance.

fo r m b u t c o n s i s t s

F orty-fou r sign atu res

conference,

b u t when i t

sig n a tu re sA p p a r en tly

to d o c tr in a l c o n te n t;

la rg ely

it

to

len d

Itse lf

The c r i t i c i s m

circ u la ted w ith

w as c h i e f l y

to

to

were p r o c u r e d

was p u b l i s h e d

the A n t I - M i s s o u r i a n

d id not

as

t h e r e w e r e no r e a l

c o n s is te d m ain ly o f q u o ta tio n s

sources.4

of

f r o m P o n t o p p i d a n «s E x p l a n a t i o n , t h e F o r m u l a o f Con­

fr om t h e M i s s o u r i a n s

it

the

Is d iv id ed

to p ics:

P reserv a tio n ,

in

form i n

assem bled c o n fe r en ce

statem ent

follow in g

(4)

was

the p r e v i o u s

h e ld d u rin g the

was r e a d t o t h e

C onversion ,

of

d u r in g the c o u r se

cles

in to

d o ctrin a l

It

and L u t h e r a n d o g m a t i c i a n s , t o g e t h e r w i t h s t a t e m e n t s

what t e a c h i n g s

sin ce

It

T his

(B e k j e n d e l s e ) .

s y n o d ic a l m eetin g o f

d e a l i n g w ith the

co n fessio n

o f q u otation s

tio n s

the

d r e w up a d o c t r i n a l

"peace P ro p o sa l" w h ich

o f the A n ti-M isso u r ia n s

se ssio n .1

The C a l l ,

cord,

of a so -ca lled

conferen ce.

sectio n s,

T his

"A C o n f e s s i o n "

"A C o n f e s s i o n " w a s b r o u g h t

p r iv a te m eetin gs

at

to

a lso

objec­

"C onfession"

criticism

it

as

rea d ily

from a u t h o r i t a t i v e

d irected

again st

other

a r ti­

it.

-L" p r a e s t e k o n f e r e n c e n ^ "B ek jendelse i b i d . , pp. 529-37.

i

D ecorah ,"

angaaende n o g le

i b i d . , p.

om tvisted e

519.

L a e r e p u n k t e r ,"

3 I b i d . , p . 5 3 7 ; " K i r k e k r o n i k e , " E....L. K_. , XI ( 1 8 8 4 ) , 728. W i t h i n a s h o r t t i m e t h e M i s s o u r i a n "An A c c o u n t i n g " h a d 1 0 6 sig n a tu res. I b id . , p. 791. 4 lb i d . , pp. S p lit t e ls e ," Ib id .,

790 f . ; p. 804,

N. A m lu n d ,

"Maa v i d o g t i l s i d s t

with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission .

have

356 On t h e

oth er hand,

A n ti-M issou rian s ticu la r reject sense

TfAn A c c o u n t i n g ” was a t t a c k e d b y t h e

for con tain in g

fa lse

was b r o u g h t u n d e r a t t a c k , the

sy n erg istic

d octrin e

nam ely,

.

.

it

is

the

th e L utheran c o n f e s s i o n s

clear

. that

that

teach in g sa lv a tio n

n o t d e p e n d u p o n God a l o n e . M u u s , correct

to

e n t u p o n man, a b ilities

contend sin ce

and p o w e r s

now e n a b l e h i m t o

that

too,

salv a tio n

God t h r o u g h H i s

is

‘sa lv a tio n

convert h im self

Ill,

in p a r ­ "We

in a c e r ta in

21 )."

Schm idt

o f t h e w ord o f God and in a c e r ta in

sense

does

had been i n s i s t i n g

that

in

depend­

a certain

grace has

w h i c h he b y n a t u r e

One t h e s i s

t h a t which r e a d :

d o e s n o t d e p e n d u p o n God a l o n e 1 ( A r t .

contended th a t

is

d o ctrin e.

does

sense

it

e mp ow ere d h i m w i t h not p o sse ss

a nd t o b e l i e v e

b u t w hich

on C h r i s t . ^

E sta b lish m e n t o f Separate Treasury b y t h e An t i - M i s s o u r i an s At D e c o r a h t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s q u ick ly ,

and c o r r e c t l y ,

la b e lle d by th e ir

rect

s t e p w h ich w ould l e a d

iary

treasu ry"

aged to

tow ards

(H ja elp eca sse),

co n trib u te.

the A n ti-M isso u r ia n

Its

a ssista n ce

fa m ilies, in

if

They s e t

t o make

the

a ssista n ce

th e payment o f t h e m o rtg a g e

^•"KirkekrSnike , " i b i d . , p .

w e re e n c o u r ­

purposes support

for

t o w hich th e

of p rofessors

to needy s t u d e n t s ;

on L u t h e r C o l l e g e ;

and

760.

^B. J* M uu s , "Kan d e n U o m v e n d t e V id n esb yrd , I I I (1 8 8 4 ), 547. L. K .,

up "an a u x i l ­

funds a v a i l a b l e

Several sp ecific

req u ired ;

® " K irk ek rB n ik e ," E.

as another d i ­

to w hich c o n g r e g a t io n s

p u r p o s e was

cause.

opponents

sch ism .®

m on ey c o u l d b e d e v o t e d w e r e s u g g e s t e d ; and t h e i r

t o o k a s t e p w h i c h was

XI

omve nd e s i g ? " L u t h e r s k e

(1884),

759.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

357

the to

lik e.

A t r e a s u r e r was c h o s e n ,

a u t h o r i z e paym ents

from t h e

and b . J . Muus w as d e s i g n a t e d

treasury,

a ltern a te,

or deputy.

sen ta tiv es

from e a c h o f t h e S y n o d ’ s d i s t r i c t s ,

a cab in et

A com m ittee

w i t h P a s t o r Krohn a s h i s

of six ,

c o m p o s e d o f two r e p r e ­ was d e s i g n a t e d a s

t o a d v i s e M u u s .^

T his

c e r t a i n l y was a s c h i s m a t i c

step,

fo r th e A n ti-M is­

s o u r i a n s were e n c o u r a g in g the b y - p a s s i n g o f th e r e g u l a r t r e a s u r y of

the

S yn od a nd w e r e u n d e r m i n i n g t h e

syn od ical org a n iza tio n . Laur.

Larsen

w ith in

to ask,

Muus was t h e

fin a n c ia l structure lead er,

and t h i s

prompted

'’Must Muus p o s i t i v e l y be a p r e s i d e n t

the Synod, whether he i s

chosen

to

that

o f the

(Fo rm and )

o f f i c e by the

Synod

or n o t? " 2 The p a s t o r a l tw een M i s s o u r ia n s

conference

and A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s

p a r t y now h a d a d e f i n i t e the p a s to r s

th eir

d efin itely

sign atu res

s t a t e m e n t s w h ic h had a p p e a r e d . the p r o p o r tio n o f p a s to r s M issou rian s a t w ithdrew of

fro m t h e

schism i s

(1884),

Synod.

to e ith e r

chasm b e ­

the Synod.

Each

and t h e m a j o r i t y o f

l i n e d up on one

sid e

or the

o f the tw o d o c t r i n a l

The i s s u e was b e i n g f o r c e d ,

and

who a l i g n e d t h e m s e l v e s w i t h t h e A n t i -

The b e g i n n i n g s appear,

p ra ctica lly

J . M uu s , 554.

the

t i m e was a b o u t t h a t p r o p o r t i o n w h i c h f i n a l l y

the A n ti-M is s o u r ia n s

tu al

III

th is

w ith in

d o c tr in a l p latform ,

and p r o f e s s o r s

o t h e r by a f f i x i n g

in Decorah deepened

and i t

in ev ita b le.

of a loose

becomes

org a n iza tio n

clear

The f a c t

th at

t h a t an e v e n ­ the M is-

" L u t h e r s k e H j a e l p e c a s s e ," L u t h e r s k e V i d n e s b y r d ,

2 " K i r k e k r 8 n i k e , " E . L. K . , XI ( 1 8 8 4 ) , 7 5 0 . T his i s a r e f e r e n c e t o t h e f a c t t h a t Muus h a d n o t b e e n r e - e l e c t e d t o t h e f i c e o f p r e s id e n t o f the M innesota D i s t r i c t . Supra, p. 345.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

of­

358 f i r m l y entrenched

s o u r i a n s were

s h i p and i n f l u e n c e

in the

A nti-M issou rian ism w ith in At t h e th ree

tim e o f t h i s d istrict

in

th e major p o s i t i o n s

S y n o d made p r o s p e c t s the

conference

the

professors,

on e o f whom f u n c t i o n e d

were M is s o u r ia n s ;

syn od ical p resid en t

tw o o u t o f t h e

the p r e s id e n t

as p r e s i d e n t

o r g a n was e d i t e d

of th a t p oin t

it

of view .^

o f the M issou rian take

of

and th e

was t h e

th eo lo g ica l

o f the s e m in a r y ,

and c o n t r o l l e d b y t h o s e

feelin g

c o n tr o l o f the

sch ism atic

three

Church

o f L u t h e r C o l l e g e was a M i s s o u r i a n ;

and t h e S y n o d ’ s o f f i c i a l

to

v icto ry

p r e s i d e n t s w ere M i s s o u r i a n s , ! and t h e r e b y t h e

c o n t r o l l e d b y them;

M issou rian s

lead er­

s y n o d i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n v e r y dim .

C o u n c i l w as

face

for the

of

steps

of f u t i l i t y

in

Synod t h a t l e d t h e

the

A n ti-

and t o d i s r e g a r d p r i n c i p l e s

of church order. The A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n M e e t i n g a t Red W i n g , 1 8 8 5 Prom O c t o b e r 14 t o 2 0 , assem bled The

a group o f A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s

i n Red W i n g , M i n n e s o t a , u n d e r t h e

con d ition

approved the ence

1885,

for p a r tic ip a tio n ''C onfession'' d a t i n g

o f the p reced in g F a l l .

in

lea d ersh ip

t h e m e e t i n g was t h a t

fr o m t h e

A total

of

o f Muus. on e h a d

Decorah p a s t o r a l c o n f e r ­

about f o r t y

pastors

a nd

B» F r i c h was a c t i n g p r e s i d e n t o f t h e E a s t e r n D i s t r i c t b e c a u s e t h e q u e s t i o n o f P . A* R a s m u s s e n ' s r i g h t t o h o l d t h e o f f i c e had been r a i s e d . Supra, pp. 344 f .

p

F o r an A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n a r t i c l e d e a l i n g w i t h t h i s i s s u e s e e "H vo rd a n e r S t i l l i n g e n nu b l e v e n i S y n o d e n ? , " L u t h e r s k e V id n esb yrd , I I I (1 8 8 4 ), 4 8 2 -8 5 . H. A. P r e u s was s y n o d i c a l p r e s i d e n t ; K o r e n , F r i c h , and H a r s t a d w e r e d i s t r i c t p r e s i d e n t s ; H. G. S t u b and J . Y l v i s a k e r w e r e t h e o l o g i c a l p r o f e s s o r s ; L a u r . L a r s e n was p r e s i d e n t o f L u t h e r C o l l e g e and e d i t o r o f E . L . TC.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

359

in a tt e n d a n c e . 1

p r o f e s s o r s were

r e v e a l a v ery ind ep en d en t

The d e c i s i o n s

a nd p u g n a c i o u s a t t i t u d e

th e M isso u ria n elem ent in the Synod. a nd p r o f e s s o r s have

who p r o m u l g a t e

no r i g h t

A ccou n tin g," who h a v e

i t was s a i d ,

"An A c c o u n t i n g , "

e r r o r and r e p e n t o f i t , That w hich i s the

" false

grace

the

in A r t i c l e

recommended t h a t

if

ca ll,

is

III,

in

in

to r e c o g n iz e

the

expressed i t

that

worked upon by t h e I t was

t o o r d a i n an

should r eq u e st

o r some o t h e r p a s t o r t o o f f i c i ­

The c o n f e r e n c e

dents

o f t h e M i n n e s o t a and I o w a D i s t r i c t s

as

its

opin ion

th at

the p r e s i ­

( H a r s t a d and K o r e n )

for

the

S y n o d ' s p e r i o d i c a l a nd a d v i s e d

a & 4 0 0 . 0 0 s t i p e n d i u m b e made a v a i l a b l e t o e n a b l e him t o

recom­

for t h e o lo g ic a l

continue h i s

th eo lo g ica l

it

th eo lo g ica l

f a c u l t y o f t h e H a u g e ' s S y n o d s e m i n a r y i n Red W i n g ,

1

s h o u l d be p o s s i b l e

It

stu d ies; i f

A n ti-M issou rian

" p ractical"

ought

The a s s e m b l e d A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s r e f u s e d

c o n g r e g a t i o n a l members t o h a v e n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h i t .

c a n d i d a t e Rudolph O lsen

th eir

"An A c c o u n t i n g " i s

congregation

ate.

mended t h a t

those

o ffices.

no way d e p e n d e n t u p o n man .

th e v i c e - p r e s i d e n t o f the d i s t r i c t

a c c e p t any r e s p o n s i b i l i t y

"An

therefore,

th e Church C o u n c i l s h o u ld r e f u s e

t o be removed from o f f i c e .

d o ctrin es

p a r a g r a p h s 15 and 2 1 ,

when he i s

"orthodox" t h e o l o g i c a l c a n d id a te ,

to

that pastors

t o b e r e m o v e d from t h e i r

c o n v e r s i o n and s a l v a t i o n ,

o f God i n

they refuse

and s o u l - d e s t r o y i n g "

te a c h in g con tain ed

a m an's

ought

over a g a in st

th e Lutheran Church;

such d o c t r in e s ;

if

conference

and s o u l - d e s t r o y i n g "

in

con tain s

as

I t was a g r e e d

" false

to h o ld such o f f i c e s

signed

o f the

f o r h i m t o be p l a c e d

th eo lo g ica l

on t h e

s t u d e n t s w o u l d be e n c o u r -

B* J . M uus , " L u t h e r s k p r e s t e c o n f e r e n t s L u t h e r s k e V i d n e s b y r d , IV ( 1 8 8 5 ) , 5 0 1 .

I Red W i n g , "

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

560

aged to

go t h e r e .

It

was d e c i d e d

t h e amount o f .$1 0 0 0 . 0 0 , i f s a l a r y from th e S y n o d . ury estab lish ed o fficers p laced

f o r a n y r e a s o n he would n o t

The a c c o u n t i n g made o f t h e

charge.

c o n tin u a n c e were

is

In th e c o u r s e

to

the M iss o u r ia n s d i d .

s e l f prop erly in r e la t io n

ans,

1 S a lig g j^ relsen s f o r i f he adm its

th e H oly S p i r i t , people

if

to the

Qrden) ,

felt

com pelled to

a nd p a s t o r s

of

o n l y would i n e v i t a b l y

lead

2U . K o r e n ,

con version However,

that

con d u ct him ­

the M i s s o u r i ­

is

in

worked by

that

case

H. A.

Preus,

as

He s a i d

such

a resu lt

p r e s id e n t o f the to

that at

as

the

Synod,

con gregation s

Red W in g a f e w p a s t o r s ,

th eSynod, had ta k en a s t e p w hich n o t to

the fact

s p l i t t i n g up o f

the

s y n o d and

co n stitu ted a s p l i t ,

even

501-04. "Modet i

it

(fo r h o ld e r s i g

to m isu n d erstan d in g. 2

b u t which i n

^I b i d . , pp.

one t o

sa lv a tio n

addressa p a s to r a l l e t t e r

m ain ly younger p a s to r s

teaches

agreem ent w ith in

t h a t he

e x p r e ssio n s used by A n ti-M issou rian

o f the Synod.

o f con gregation s,

in

synergism .

those

Red v /i n g c o n f e r e n c e ,

en ab les

order of is

stated

other s id e ” a c tu a lly b e ­

one a c t u a l l y

t h a t man’ s p a r t

he r e j e c t s

ought to r e j e c t

he

l e a d e r s w hich le n d th e m se lv e s o f the

treas­

on "An A c c o u n t i n g ”

r e p l y he

"on t h e

God a l o n e who b y t h e me an s o f g r a c e

ret

a u x ilia ry

and t h e n e c e s s a r y

the a t t a c k

of h is

t h a t many r e c k o n e d t o be

as

get h is

*1

made a t Red W i n g .

liev ed

in

c h o s e n , w i t h Muus a g a i n b e i n g

Ko r en i m m e d i a t e l y r e p l i e d

b eliev ed

s u p p o r t p r o f e s s o r Schm idt

t h e p r e v i o u s y e a r was a p p r o v e d ,

for i t s

in

to

Red W i n g , " E .

L. K . , X II

819.

with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission .

(1885),

if

561 the

sy n o d and I t s

He a l s o d i s c u s s e s Koren.

c o n s t i t u t i o n had n o t been o p e n ly repudiated.'*' the d o c t r i n a l i s s u e

He c o n c e d e s

r ela tio n

that

i n mu ch t h e

same v e i n a s

th e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n e x p r e s s i o n o f man's

t o and a p p r o p r i a t i o n

of grace

can h e p r o p e r l y u n d e r s t o o d

a n d t h a t p r o b a b l y many A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s u n d e r s t a n d i t The f o l l o w i n g i s h i s

statem en t of

the

p ro p erly .

issu e:

I f t h o s e who u s e t h i s e x p r e s s i o n , " S a l v a t i o n i s i n a c e r ­ t a i n s e n s e n o t d e p e n d e n t u p o n God a l o n e " ( b u t a l s o on m a n ) , a s s o c i a t e t h e seme m e a n i n g w i t h i t a s we s o t h a t t h e y , c o n s e ­ q u e n t l y , a c c e p t t h a t w h i c h we r e j e c t , n a m e l y , t h a t man i n a c e r ta in sen se I s h im s e lf a cause o f h is s a lv a t io n , th en there c e r t a i n l y i s a b a s i c d i f f e r e n c e i n f a i t h b e t w e e n u s and t h e m . F o r we r e g a r d s u c h a d o c t r i n e a s a s u b v e r s i v e e r r o r , w h i c h c o r r u p t s t h e g r a c e o f God a nd t h e m e r i t o f C h r i s t , o v e r t h r o w s t h e d o c t r i n e o f a s i n n e r ’ s j u s t i f i c a t i o n b y f a i t h a l o n e , and d e p r i v e s a n g u i s h e d c o n s c i e n c e s o f c o m f o r t i n l i f e and i n death.2 Preus

Is

alarm ed t h a t

many w a y s s i i b v e r t

the

d ecisio n s

r e a c h e d a t Red W in g i n

church ord er, th r e a te n

t o underm ine th e

s a t i o n and i n s t i t u t i o n s

of th e Synod,

encourage un ionism

as

is

and i g n o r e

far

as H a u g e ’ s Synod

concerned,

the

so organ i­

sy n o a ica l

co n stitu tio n . The s e m i n a r y The e f f e c t

o f th e c o n t r o v e r s y upon th e S y n o d 's s e m in a r y

w as m a r k e d .

R elation s

1885 Schm idt

threatened to

situ a tio n h is

a ltered .

co llea g u es,

w ith in the f a c u lt y d e te r io r a te d

V arious

refu se t o con tin u e com p lain ts,

t h a t he r a i s e d

In

u n less

the

in clu d in g c r it ic is m

were d i s c u s s e d

m e e t i n g s h e l d i n J u l y and S e p tem b e r,

teach in g

b ad ly.

a t Church C o u n c il

1885, b u t the

C o u n c i l was

*"H. A . P r e u s , " T i l d e n n o r s k e S y n o d e s M e n i g h e d e r o g P r e s t e r , " E . L. K . , X I I I ( 1 8 8 6 ) , 1 1 4 . 2I b id .,

p.

117.

5 I b i d ., pp.

of

120-25.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

562 unsym pathetic

tow ards him .^

D uring t h e

s c h o o l y e a r 1 8 8 5 - 8 6 S c h m id t

d i d n o t t e a c h a t t h e S e m i n a r y ; Y l v i s a k e r and S t u b t o o k o v e r h i s 2 su b jects. The a t t e n d a n c e o f s t u d e n t s s h a r p l y d e c l i n e d . In t h e F a l l o f 1885 i t were

was r e p o r t e d

a t M adison.

that o n ly seven th e o lo g ic a l students

Many who o r d i n a r i l y w o u l d h a v e a t t e n d e d t h e

S y n o d ’ s s e m i n a r y h a d gone

elsew h ere.

were e i g h t Norwegian s t u d e n t s Synod), eig h t

two a t

at

I t was r e p o r t e d t h a t

a t C oncordia

Louis

(M issou ri

th e W is c o n sin Synod s e m in a r y i n M ilw aukee,

th e s e m in a r y o f th e Ohio Synod

Several recent

in S t .

graduates

there

and

in C o l u m b u s , O h i o . 5

o f L uther C o lle g e were b id in g t h e i r tim e

a b o u t s e m i n a r y t r a i n i n g t o s e e how t h i n g s w o u l d t u r n o u t a t t h e M adison s c h o o l . ^

The S c h o o l C o m m i t t e e

at

the

be

clo sed tem p o rarily,

vote,

o f th e M innesota D i s t r i c t

1885 a n n u a l m e e t i n g recommended t h a t t h e but t h e

Sem inary s h o u ld

p r o p o s a l d i d n o t come u p f o r a

n o r d i d M u u s ’ p r o p o s a l t h a t S c h m i d t b e p l a c e d on t h e t h e o ­

lo g ica l

fa cu lty

o f the

Ohio S y n o d ,

if

p o s s ib le .

5

"4l. A* P r e u s , " O p l y s n i n g om K i r k e r a a d m o d e r n e d e n 2 2 d e o g 23de J u l i o g 22de S ep tb r og f f g . D a g e 1 8 8 5 , " E . L. K . , X I I ( 1 8 8 5 ) , 689-93, 7 3 3 -4 2 , 750-55. 2

S y n o d ic a l R eport, E a ster n D i s t r i c t ,

the

Synod,

1886,

p.

24. The Oh io Sy n od h a d v i g o r o u s l y c o i n b a t t e d t h e M i s s o u r i Synod o v e r e l e c t i o n . For t h a t r e a s o n a number o f N o r w e g i a n S y n o d s t u d e n t s o f A n t i - M is s o u r ia n c o n v i c t i o n s a t t e n d e d the sem in a ry o f t h e Ohio S y n o d . 4 " K i r k e k r « B n i k e ," E . L . K . , X I I

(1 8 8 5 ), 742 f .

^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , M i n n e s o t a D i s t r i c t , pp. 8 0 -8 8 .

th e Synod,

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission .

1885,

363

R e p e r c u s s i o n s from a P a s t o r a l C o n fe r e n c e a t Zumbrota, 1886 Q uite

a f h r o r was c r e a t e d b y c e r t a i n

B . J . Muus made a t a p a s t o r a l h eld

in

q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r man’ s

passage M att. con tain ed sense

centered

about th e

25:31 f f . ^

Muus c o n t e n d e d t h a t

th e r e in are evid en ce

th at

salv a tio n

d e p e n d e n t upon m an 's c o n d u c t .^

ex a ctly

th is

for

it

of S crip tu re

in

o f C h rist

a certa in fo llo w ed

was a r g u e d t h a t t h i s

p a rticu la r,

made a v e h e m e n t a t t a c k on Muus'

of

in

the

of h is

i n a r g u i n g t h a t m an's

a cause

sa lv a tio n .

Syn od's K lr k e tid e n d e .

th a t S crip tu re

are i n

g ood w o r k s a r e

p r o f e s s o r H. G. S t u b , p o sitio n

(S in d e la g ,

He b e l i e v e d

a certa in sense

a cause

T ale of h is

to in

in a s e r i e s t h a t Muus'

t e a c h e s t h a t m an's " d i s p o s i t i o n ,

c o u r s e , and works or condu ct" Forhold)

o f the B ib le

A storm o f c r i t i c i s m

some d e g r e e

con ten tion

(F o r h o l d ) .

th e words is

are

t h e wa y i n w h i c h t h e Roman C a t h o l i c C h u r c h i n t e r p r e t e d

p ortion

a rticles

The t o p i c

own c o n d u c t

in terp reta tio n

i n t h e wake o f M u u s ’ i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , is

1886.

c o n v e r s i o n and s a l v a t i o n

a n y way w h a t s o e v e r c o n t i n g e n t u p o n h i s

The d i s c u s s i o n

th at

o f th e M innesota D i s t r i c t ,

Zumbrota, M in n e s o t a , F e b r u a r y 1 0 - 1 7 ,

a g a i n was t h e in

conference

statem ents

d is­

og G je r n in g e r e l l e r con version

t o be

an e x t r e m e l y d a n g e r o u s d o c t r i n e , w h i c h w o u l d h a v e b e e n r e j e c t e d by

fin a l

^"In t h i s p a s s a g e J e s u s d e s c r i b e s t h e L a s t J u d g m e n t a s s e p a r a t i o n b etw een sh eep and g o a t s . p

ff

B . J . Muus, " M in n e s o ta D i s t r i k t s P r a s t e c o n f e r e n t s Zum brota," L u th e r s k e V i d n e s b y r d , V ( 1 8 8 6 ) , 1 1 6 .

a

i

3 " K a t h o l s k o g l u t h e r s k S k r i f t f o r t o l k n i n g , " E . L» K » , X I I I ( 1 8 8 6 ) , 1 7 7 - 8 3 ; "Mere f r a P r e s t e k o n f e r e n c e n i Z u m b r o t a , " i b i d . , pp. 199-201.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

a l l me m b er s o f t h e S y n o d i n dangerous tendency o f t h is the

that

and f a r t h e r

early

sary sin ce fo r the

in the

ea rly sta g es

d octrin e

le a d in g A n ti-M issou rian s,

farth er

felt

in regard

that h is

rem oved from t h e i r s ho w n f o r t h o s e

fact

th at

the

strife

Stub

says

to be un n eces

t h a t Muus a n d S c h m i d t w e r e o n l y a r g u i n g

s e c o n d form o f e l e c t i o n ,

c r i t i c i s m was

The

a n d e s p e c i a l l y M u u s , h a v e come

b u t Muus* d e f e c t i o n to c o n v e r s io n

p o s i t i o n must be c o m b a tte d v i g o r o u s l y . ^

th is

str ife .

i s r e v e a le d in th e

c o n tr o v e r s y he b e l i e v e d

he t h e n

o f the

aw a y from t h e L u t h e r a n p o s i t i o n *

c a l - L u t h e r an d o c t r i n e h is

the

so s e r i o u s t h a t

M uus ’ r e s p o n s e

to

s t a t e m e n t s were m i s i n t e r p r e t e d b e c a u se

c o n te x t and thus

statem ents

is

fr o m B i b l i ­

of h is

a com plete d is r e g a r d had been

to the

effect

t h a t man i s

saved

by g ra ce

a l o n e and t h a t good w orks do n o t w h o l l y o r in p a r t e a r n 2 sa lv a tio n . I n r e g a r d t o M a t t . 2 5 , Muus c o n t e n d e d t h a t h e w a s

o n ly b e in g f a i t h f u l there

to th e Lutheran r e s p e c t

and i n o t h e r p l a c e s

H oly W rit m en tion th e th eir

sa lv a tio n ;

J e s u s an d t h e

g o o d w o r k s o f men a s

con seq u en tly,

or m e r ito r io u s b a s i s one

in S c r ip tu r e

w h ile

for sa lv a tio n ,

fo r S crip tu re,

a b a sis,

for

authors

of

or ca u se,

su c h works are n ot t h e

for

fin a l

t h e y m u s t be s o r e g a r d e d i n

or a n o th e r s e n s e i n May o f

W iscon sin ,

1 8 8 6 a t e n - d a y c o l l o q u i u m was h e l d i n L a c r o s s e ,

betw een r e p r e s e n t a t iv e s

o f the e n tir e

Church C o u n c i l .

o f both p a r tie s

in th e

presence

The A n t I - M i s s o u r i a n s w e r e r e p r e s e n t

■%. C . S t u b , " P a s t . M u u s ' s s o r g e l i g e A f f a l d f r a d e n lu t h e r s k e K irkes L a ere," i b i d . , p p . 2 4 7 -5 0 , 2 5 7 -6 5 . % . J . Muus, " K a t h o ls k o g L u t h e r s k S k r i f t f o r t o l k n i n g , " L utherske V id n esb y rd , V (1 8 8 6 ), 1 6 8 -7 0 . 5Ib id .,

W ith p e i m i s s i o n o f * . c o p y W

p.

169.

o w p e p F u r t h e r re p r0 < ju c „ 0 n ^

^

365 e d by P r o f e s s o r S c h m i d t , S t.

O la f ’s s c h o o l.

a n d P r o f e s s o r Mohn o f

The M i s s o u r i a n s w e r e r e p r e s e n t e d by p a s t o r s

K o r e n , H. H a l v o r s e n , from f u r t h e r p u b l i c

Pastor E lle s t a d ,

and V a n g s n e s s . strife,

I t was d e c i d e d t o d e s i s t

a t l e a s t u n t i l a second colloqu ium

c o u ld be h e l d .

T h a t c o l l o q x i i u m w a s s c h e d u l e d f o r t h e n e x t Novem­

b er.^

it

However,

was n e v e r h e l d b e c a u s e 2 s p i r e d d u r i n g t h e Summer o f 1 8 8 6 .

o f e v e n t s which t r a n -

E s t a b l i s h m e n t o f an A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n S e m i n a r y D uring th e M innesota,

la te

in

convention June,

th at

Io w a D i s t r i c t h e l d

They r e a c h e d a m om en to us d e c i s i o n ,

th ey should b egin

the

op eration o f a p r iv a te th e o -

l o g i c a l s e m i n a r y i n t h e P a l l o f t h e same y e a r . Muus w a s e n t r u s t e d w i t h t h e fo r p u ttin g th e plan s the

sem inary in

M in n esota.^ and t h e

in A u s tin ,

1 8 8 6 , a group o f A n ti-M is s o u r ia n s h e ld

s e v e r a l p r iv a te m eetin gs. nam ely,

o f the

3

pastor B. J.

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f m aking a rra n g em en ts

in to op era tion .

co n ju n ctio n w ith S t .

T h i s move was f e l t

I t was O laf's

hop ed to conduct

S ch ool in N o r t h f i e ld ,

t o be n e c e s s a r y b ecau se th e

sem in a r y o f the Synod were

in th e

^ - " K i r k e k r B n i k e ," E . L . K . , X I I I

co lleg e

c o n t r o l o f the

(1886), 351.

^ J . B . P r i c h , "Om v o r n u v a e r e n d e k i r k e l i g e i b i d . , XIV ( 1 8 8 7 ) , 1 7 .

S tillin g ,"

U n d o u b t e d l y t h e e x p u l s i o n o f th e prom inent A n t i- M is s o u r ia n p a s t o r , H . A . H a r t m a n n , fr o m t h e S y n o d a t t h i s d i s t r i c t m e e t i n g c o n t r i b u t e d somewhat t o t h e program o f a c t i o n d e c i d e d upon a t A u stin . H ar tm a n n h a d p e r s u a d e d t h e m a j o r i t y o f h i s c o n g r e g a t i o n t o a c c e p t an A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n c o n f e s s i o n o f f a i t h . J . B. F r ic h , "Om v o r n u v a e r e n d e k i r k e l i g e S t i l l i n g , " E . L. K . , XIV ( 1 8 8 7 ) , 1 9 . ^"Om v o r t p a a t a n k t e V (1886), 361.

P r i v a t - S e m i n a r ," L u t h e r s k e V i d n e s b y r d ,

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

366 M issou rian s. fin a n cia lly

The A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s w e r e and o t h e r w i s e ,

they b e lie v e d

t o be

they b e lie v e d

to

thus su p p o r tin g s c h o o l s ,

w h ich were t e a c h i n g d o c t r i n e s

fa lse.

T h e r e was t h e

feelin g

if

what

b e t h e t r u t h a b o u t c o n v e r s i o n a nd e l e c t i o n w e r e

t o be p r o m u l g a t e d among t h e

con gregation s

have

own p a s t o r s . L & u r .

to p lan

that

w hich

to t r a in

th eir

o f the Synod,

t h e y w ould

Larsen,

in

in g the r e a s o n s

p r o fe r re d fo r the A n ti-M iss o u r ia n s » ta k in g

step,

t h e r e a s o n s b o i l e d down t o e s s e n t i a l l y

sa id

that

( 1 ) T h o s e who a r e trin e;

(2)

the m a j o r i t y in

They m is u s e t h e i r

sp o n sib ilities w rote th a t

in

w ith prom ptness.

In an a r t i c l e

Schm idt had p ro m ised t o

a s h a d P a s t o r M. 0 . B e c k m a n , i f

muus c a r r i e d

serve

h is

plan s he

Norway,

to expand S t .

The B o a r d o f T r u s t e e s o f S t . p resid en t,

P a s t o r A. M o rten se n

as a t h i r d p r o f e s s o r .3

fin a n cia lly

re­

d a t e d J u l y 8 , he

He a l s o w r o t e o f

O la f’s School in to a c o lle g e .

project

doc­

c o n g r e g a t io n s w ould p e r m it i t ,

c a l l e d upon A n t i - M is s o u r ia n f r i e n d s

support o f t h i s

out h i s

two:

as t h e o l o g i c a l p r o f e s s o r ,

a nd t h a t a n a t t e m p t w o u l d b e made t o o b t a i n o f C h ristia n ia ,

th is

these

t h e Synod t e a c h f a l s e

power. 2

an alyz­

Furtherm ore,

t o come t o t h e

im m ediate

and b y r e c r u i t i n g

O la f’ s S ch ool,

students

A

o f w h i c h Muus was

a u th o r ize d the use

o f the

fa c ilities

the A n ti-M iss o u r ia n sem in ary,

a nd i t

began o p e r a tio n

o f 1 8 8 6 w i t h S c h m i d t and Beckman a s p r o f e s s o r s .

o f the in

sch o o l for the F a ll

The c o l l e g e

de­

1Ib id . 2 ”Den n y e S k o l e i N o r t h f i e l d , ” E . L . K . , X I I I (18 86), 5 1 7 . 2 p la n s to o b ta in M ortensen as p r o f e s s o r d id n o t m a t e r i a l ­ ize . ^ B • J . Muu s, ’’L u t h e r s k p r & s t e s k o l e V id n esb y rd , V (1 8 8 6 ), 365.

og C o l l e g e , ” L u th er sk e

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

367 partm ent o f S t .

O l a f ’ s S c h o o l was b e g u n a t t h e

en rollm en t

o f a Freshman c l a s s .

lege

was a d d e d , a n d t h e f i r s t

cla ss

c e iv e d diplom as in to S t.

1890;

O laf C o lleg e

i n 1889.-1-

in stitu tio n u n til

sem inary o f

thus

step

grad u atin g c la ss

in stitu tio n

re­

was c h a n g e d

The A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n S e m i n a r y was I t was o p e r a t e d in N o r t h f i e l d as

1 8 9 0 , when i t

of th is

l a b e l l e d by Synod l e a d e r s

was a s s i m i l a t e d

in to

the

" o p p o s i t i o n - s e m i n a r y " was i m m e d i ­

as

the most s e r i o u s

f a r p e r p e t r a t e d by the A n t i - M is s o u r ia n s .3

the q u e s tio n

years a c o l­

the n e w ly -fo u n d e d U n it e d Church.

The e s t a b l i s h m e n t a tely

su ccessiv e

co lleg e

t h e name o f t h e

L utheran S em in a ry . 2

c a lle d the a p riv a te

For th r e e

same t i m e w i t h t h e

a s t o how Muus and t h e

can rem ain i n th e

group in r e l a t i o n

Synod; he

to the

Synod i s

others

says

sch ism atic act

Laur. Larsen r a i s e s

resp on sib le

for th is

t h a t th e watchword o f t h a t

"rule

or r u i n . " 4

them as h a v i n g c o m p l e t e l y b roken w it h t h e

He r e g a r d e d

Synod even

if

they s t i l l

f o r m a l l y w e r e m em b ers o f i t . 5

The s y n o d i c a l C h u r c h C o u n c i l , w h i c h

m e t S e p t e m b e r 14 t o

reso lu tio n s

17,

passed

addressed

to the

con­

^C • A* M e l l b y , " S t . O l a f C o l l e g e , N o r t h f i e l d , M i n n . , " i n F r a U n g d o m s a a r , e d . N. C. B r u n , p p . 1 5 5 f . ; s u p r a , p p . 8 3 f . p " in d b e r e tn in g fr a F a k u lte t fo r ’L uthersk P r e s t e s k o l e , ’ " L u th ersk e V id n e s b y r d , VII ( 1 8 8 8 ) , 4 6 9 . 3 " K ir k e k r B n ik e ," E . L. K . , X I I I

(1886),

470.

4 "Den n y e s k o l e i N o r t h f i e l d , " i b i d . , p p . 5 1 8 f . Schm idt had ta k e n ca re t o e x p la in in L u th ersk e v id n e s b y r d t h a t arguments b y Muus i n f a v o r o f r e m a i n i n g ” w i t h i n t h e S y n o d d e s p i t e t h e s t r i f e w e r e M u u s ’ p e r s o n a l c o n v i c t i o n s and n o t e x p r e s s i v e o f t h e s e n t i m e n t o f th e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n group a t A u s t in w hich had d e c id e d to e s t a b ­ l i s h t h e ne w s e m i n a r y . ” 0m v o r t p a a t f i n k t e P r i v a t - S e m i n a r , " L u t h e r s k e V i d n e s b y r d , V (1 88 6), 3 6 2 . 5 " ’ De t o n y e S y n o d e s k o l e r , ’ " E . L . K . , X I I I

(1886),

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

595.

368 gregation s

o f the Synod,

estab lish m en t

e x p r e s s i n g em phatic d is a p p r o v a l o f the

o f the N o r t h f i e l d Sem inary a s a b r e a c h o f church

o r d e r and r e q u e s t i n g th e m t o

ta k e up a s p e c i a l o f f e r i n g f o r the

s y n o d i c a l fu n d from w h ic h t e a c h e r s * tr e a su r e r o f the A nti-M issourian f o r t h an a p p e a l f o r In t h e f a c e

fin a n cia l o f the

sa la ries

were p a i d . ^

'‘a u x i l i a r y t r e a s u r y "

The

lik ew ise

sent

s u p p o r t o f t h e new s e m i n a r y . 2

actual existen ce

o f a synod w it h in

the

Synod,

c h u r c h o r d e r and s y n o d i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n w e r e g r a v e l y t h r e a t ­

ened.

P r e s id e n t Preus r e m o n str a te d w ith s e v e r a l prom inent A n t i -

M issou rian s, Sem inary,

p a rticu la rly

i n an e f f o r t

o r d e r and u n i t y w i t h i n

those

resp on sib le

t o sh ow them t h e i r the

f o r the N o r t h f i e l d

e r r o r s and t o r e s t o r e

S y n o d - - w i t h Beckman,

the

new p r o f e s s o r ;

w i t h P a s t o r s B i f l r n and K i l d a h l and P r o f e s s o r Mohn o f S t . S ch ool,

a l l members o f t h e

w i t h p a s t o r Muus, and t h o s e

th e one

new s e m i n a r y ’ s B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s ; c h i e f l y r e s p o n s i b l e .3

o f Koren, w ere i n v a i n ,

reso lu tely

o la f ’s

s e t out upon a c o u r se

But h i s

and

efforts,

f o r t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s had o f a c t i o n w hich t h e y r eg a rd ed as

t h e o n l y way o u t o f a n i m p o s s i b l e

situ a tio n .

The W i t h d r a w a l o f t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s in h is tire

Synod,

p r e sid e n tia l report

to the

1887 m e e t i n g

convened at S to u g h to n , W isco n sin ,

preus

o f the

spoke

as

en­ fo l­

low s : •'■"Til S y n o d e n s M e n i g h e d e r , " i b i d . , p . 6 4 4 . O Iv er Larsen, "T il d et n o r s k -lu th e r sk e K ir k e fo lk i k a , " L u t h e r s k e V i d n e s b y r d , \r ( 1 8 8 6 ) , 5 1 0 .

Am eri-

3 H. A. P r e u s , "Ogs aa e t F o r s # g , » E . L . K . , XIV ( 1 8 8 7 ) , 321. The c o m p l e t e t e x t o f a l e t t e r a d d r e s s e d t o Muus i n i n c l u d e d here.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

369

T his a c t i o n [the e s t a b lis h m e n t o f th e N o r t h f i e ld s e m in a r y ), to g e th e r w ith th e fa c ts a s s o c ia t e d th e r e w ith , i s not o n ly a b r e a c h o f g o o d c h u r c h o r d e r , a b r e a c h o f f a i t h , an i n f r i n g e m e n t o f the s y n o d ic a l c o n s t i t u t i o n , but [ i t i s ) a d e c la r a t io n by a c t on t h e p a r t o f t h o s e i n v o l v e d t h a t t h e y no l o n g e r w i l l b e s u b j e c t t o t h e S y n o d , i t s c o n s t i t u t i o n and a u t h o r i t y , t o w h i c h t h e y p l e d g e d t h e m s e l v e s upon a f f i l i a t i n g w i t h t h e S y n od , and t h a t t h e y n o l o n g e r w i l l w o r k f o r and s u p p o r t t h e v a r i o u s p r o j e c t s o f t h e S y n o d b u t w i l l u n d e r m i n e and o p p o s e th em t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t t h e i r a b i l i t i e s a nd p o w e r s p e r m i t . A fte r a p rolon ged r e s o l u t i o n by a v o t e

d iscu ssio n

th e Synod p a s s e d th e f o l l o w i n g

o f 203 t o n i n e t y - e i g h t , w ith f o u r t e e n

not v o t ­

in g : 1) The S y n o d c a n n o t do o t h e r w i s e t h a n r e g a r d t h e e s t a b ­ l i s h m e n t o f t h e new t h e o l o g i c a l s e m i n a r y i n N o r t h f i e l d , a ) a s an " o p p o s i t i o n - w o r k , " u n d e r t a k e n t o d e s t r o y t h e S y n ­ o d ' s own e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s , w h i c h h a v e b e e n e s t a b ­ lis h e d in accordance w ith i t s c o n s t it u t io n ; b) a s a b r e a c h o f th e S y n o d ' s c o n s t i t u t i o n and t h e o b l i g a ­ t i o n s one assum ed a t t h e t im e o f j o i n i n g t h e Synod i n r e ­ g a r d t o i t s r e g u l a t i o n s c o n c e r n i n g th e manner i n w h ic h e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s s h a l l be e s t a b l i s h e d , t h e t e a c h e r s t h e r e o f s h a l l b e a p p o i n t e d , and t h e S y n o d s h a l l e x e r c i s e s u p e r v i s i o n o v e r them ; c ) a s an a c t , w h i c h i n i t s e l f c o n s t i t u t e s a s c h i s m , and i n s o f a r a s i t i s c o n t i n u e d w i l l s t e a d i l y , m or e a nd m o r e , s e r v e t o t e a r a s u n d e r and s p l i t t h e S y n o d , and t h u s u n d e r ­ mine n o t o n l y i t s c o n s t i t u t i o n and e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u ­ t i o n s , b u t a l s o t h e Synod i t s e l f . 2) The S y n o d , t h e r e f o r e , c a n n o t t o l e r a t e t h e c o n t i n u a n c e o f s u c h a p r o j e c t b y i t s me mbers a n d m u s t e a r n e s t l y a d m o n i s h t h o s e who h a v e b e e n p a r t i c i p a n t s t h e r e i n t o a c k n o w l e d g e t h e i r e r r o r and t o a b s t a i n t h e r e fr o m . 2 In c o n s e q u e n c e Sem in ary, sta tin g ter

of

of th is

judgm ent p a s s e d upon t h e

P r o f e s s o r T. N. Mohn r e a d a p r o t e s t

th at

the m a in ten an ce

taught a t the

in stitu tio n s.

^ Syn odlcal R eport, 2Ib id .,

con tin u ed as

con cern in g e l e c t i o n

Syn od's

pp. 72,

convention

o f t h e N o r t h f i e l d S e m i n a r y was a m a t ­

c o n s c i e n c e w h ic h w o u ld be

M issourian d o c tr in e

to the

N o rth field

the Synod,

lo n g as t h e

and c o n v e r s i o n

D u rin g the c o u r s e 1887, p.

30.

104.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

sh o u ld be of the

con-

370 v en tlon a t o t a l of f if t y - s e v e n In c o n ju n c tio n

w ith the

A n ti-M issou rian p a sto rs as

chairm an.

d icta ted tio n s

nam es w e r e a f f i x e d

s y n o d ic a l convention

t o t h e p r o t e s t . - 1-

a p r iv a t e m eetin g of

and d e l e g a t e s was h e l d ,

w i t h Mohn s e r v i n g

Those p r e s e n t u n a n im o u sly a g r e e d t h a t

the w ith draw al o f A n ti-M isso u r ia n p a s t o r s

from th e

Synod as

the w i s e s t

circu m stan ces a nd c o n g r e g a ­

course o f p r o c ed u r e.2

By t h e d e c i s i o n o f t h e S t o u g h t o n m e e t i n g t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n pastors

a nd c o n g r e g a t i o n s w e r e n o t e x p e l l e d

d i d make i t

Synod, but I t

i m p o s s i b l e f o r t h e m t o r e m a i n I n t h e S y n o d w i t h o u t com­

prom isin g th e ir mer f o r c e d

from th e

the

M issou rian s

co n v ictio n s. Issue

from t h e

th is

tim e,

sion

ta u g h t in the

a c t i o n o f th e Synod i n

N orwegian s y n o d .

the d o c t r in e o f

Synod as t h e

electio n

and c o n v e r ­

reason fo r w ith d ra w a l,3

in c r e a s e d trem en dou sly

selv es

of its as

m em bership.

in the l a t t e r

T h o s e who l e f t

a new o r g a n i z a t i o n ,

w e r e known a s

part

but

d id not

for purposes o f

gut

the

o f 1 8 8 7 and about o n e -

co n stitu te

them­

id e n tific a tio n

the A n t i - M is s o u r I a n B r o th e r h o o d .^

1I b id ., p. 2T.

sum­

Some h a d w i t h d r a w n p r i o r t o

c o n t i n u e d th ro u g h th e n e x t y e a r u n t i l th e Synod had l o s t th ird

the

and p r e c i p i t a t e d a m a s s e x o d u s o f A n t i -

o rd in a rily g iv in g

w ith d raw als

T his

105.

N. Mohn,

" E r k l a e r i n g , " E» L. K . , XVI

(1887),

419 f .

® S e e , f o r e x a m p l e , ’’U d t r a d e l s e s e r k l & r i n g e r , " L u t h e r s k e V i d n e s b y r d , V I ( 1 8 8 7 ) , 60 f . , 1 0 8 , 1 41 f . ^ B ergh , pen n o r sk l u t h e r s k e K irk es H i s t o r i e i A m erika, p. 272. T o t a l m e m b e r s h i p ' o f "the' Synod' " f o r "IS^'6' "was ' l i s t e d ' 'as 1 4 3 , 8 8 5 s o u l s ( M in n . D i s t . - - 4 9 , 0 8 9 ; Iowa D i s t . — 3 7 , 6 7 8 ; E a s t e r n D i s t . — 5 7 , 1 1 8 ) , w h e r ea s t h e m em bership l i s t e d f o r 1889 a f t e r the A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s h a d w i t h d r a w n was 9 3 , 9 0 1 ( M i n n , p i s t . - - 3 4 , 8 2 4 ; Iowa P i s t . - - 2 4 , 3 6 8 ; E a s t e r n D i s t . — 3 4 , 7 0 9 ) . C o n s e q u e n t l y , on t h e b a s i s o f t h e s e f i g u r e s , t h e S y n o d ' s m e m b e r s h i p I n 1 8 8 9 was a b o u t 65 p e r c e n t o f w h a t i t h a d b e e n p r i o r t o t h e w i t h d r a w a l s . The

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

571

A lthough th e A n ti-M iss o u r ia n s tio n ,

they c a r r ie d

n ev erth eless. tra tiv e

on t h e

fu n ctio n s

They s e l e c t e d

purposes.

an e x e c u t i v e

1890.

They m a i n t a i n e d a s e m i n a r y ,

field ,

M in n esota,

co lleg e;

com m ittee

fo r ad m in is­

as p r e s i d e n t o f the

T h e y a l s o h a d a s e c r e t a r y and t r e a s ­

urer.

th e Lutheran sem in a ry in

an d o r d a i n e d t h e i r

t h e i r own p e r i o d i c a l ,

f o r m a new o r g a n i z a ­

o f a s y n o d i n many r e s p e c t s ,

P a s t o r L . M. B i f l r n s e r v e d

A n ti-M issou rian s u n t i l

O la f’ s S ch ool,

d id not

own p a s t o r s ;

North­

th ey pu b lish ed

L utherske V id n esb y rd ; th ey supported S t .

and w e r e

in s tr u m e n ta l in

tran sform in g i t

in to

a

th e y o p era ted a normal s c h o o l in W itten b erg , W isco n sin ,

and s u p p o r t e d Homme’ s c h a r i t a b l e

in stitu tio n s

there;

an d t h e y s u p ­

p o r t e d b o t h home a nd f o r e i g n m i s s i o n

a c tiv ities.

u n d e r ta k in g s were

the A n ti-M isso u r ia n s d id not

d esire to

to

carried

on e v e n i f

f o r m a new s y n o d i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n

concentrate

In 1890 a t to th e

the

in w hich th ey co u ld p a r t i c i p a t e

g e n e r a l m eetin g o f the

w ith draw al o f

(en R e n s e l s e ) o f th e elim in a ted .^

as t h e y i n s t e a d d e c id e d

upon p r o m o t in g a movement f o r a c h u r c h u n i o n o f

N orw egian-A m erican L u th eran s

referred

A ll of th ese

It,

synod,

Synod P r e s i d e n t Preus

the A n t i - M is s o u r ia n s

whereby h e te r o g e n e o u s

of course,

as

e le m e n t s had b een

d e p e n d s upon o n e ’ s p o i n t

t o w h eth er a " c l e a n s i n g ” had o c c u r r e d ,

"a c l e a n s i n g ”

or w h eth er i t

o f v iew as was n e c e s s a r y

m e m b e r s h i p f i g u r e s m u s t be v i e w e d a s a p p r o x i m a t i o n s , b u t t h e y s e r v e fo r p u rp oses o f com parison. S y n o d ic a l R eport, th e Synod, 1887, p p . x x x i x , x l v i i i , l v i l ; s y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e S y n o d , 18 90 ', p p . 102, 110, 116. ^ N o r l i e , Den F o r e n e d e N o r s k L u t h e r s k e K l r k e i A m e r i k a , p p . 1 8 - 2 0 ; "A ar sm ffd et 1 H a n l e y F a l l s , " L u t h e r s k e V i ' d n e s b y r d , v m ( 1 8 8 9 ) , 3 7 2 - 8 0 , 3 9 0 - 9 2 ; S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , U n i t e d church,^'I'8~90, p . 5; N o r l ie ( e d . ) , Norsk lu t h e r s k e p r e s t e r i A m erika, p . 1 0 6 . ^ S yn od ical R eport,

the

Synod,

1890,

p . 11,

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

372 for the it

A n ti-M issou rian s

was i m p o s s i b l e

Synod on ce

field s

try

again f e l t

ea rlier h isto ry , versy i t

to

to

leave because

to

" cleanse"

th e Synod,

that u n ity of s p ir it

and i n

was i n s p i r e d

the years

to

fo llo w in g

the E l e c t i o n effort

Contro­

in v a rio u s

of syn od ical a c t iv it y . as t o

tw een th e e l e c t i o n - c o n v e r s i o n

the p o s s i b l e

controversy

lu tio n -G o sp el-ju stlfica tio n

controversy.

l a t i o n s h i p betw een th e

as

E lectio n

its

b egin n in gs

w hich had e a r l i e r electio n

fa ith

from f a i t h .

is

Synod w ere

o b jectiv ity

necessary to

of

the

the w o rld

rep u d iate

ju stifica tio n

c o n te n t o f the view o f f a i t h . ab solu tion

M issourian in

fore,

fact

that

it

the It

groups

H o w e v e r , when t h e

was o b v i o u s

w hich does not take

of

the

that

in to

the

account

c o n te n t o f the G o sp el,

form o f e l e c t i o n

co n sisten t

it

from t h e

re­

c o n s i s t e n t w i t h an u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f a b s o l u t i o n ,

the

of

apparent

among t h e German L u t h e r a n s .

the

of electio n

The f i r s t

ju stifica tio n

T h e r e was no g e n e t i c

among t h e N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n

i s s u e was b r o u g h t t o

w hich s t r e s s e d

o b jectiv e

is

rela tio n sh ip b e­

and t h e p r e c e d i n g a b s o -

contended about a b s o lu t io n .

M issourian d o c tr in e foreseen

tw o,

C ontroversy o r ig in a te d

d id not have

of

C e r t a in ly the

w h i c h had marked i t s

a grea tly in te n s ifie d

A q u e s t i o n may a r i s e

the

t h e y h ad d e c i d e d t h a t

go t o g e t h e r . throughout.

and t h e

d o ctrin e

w orld i f

of the

The M i s s o u r i a n members o f The A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s

t h e ir o r i g i n a l adherence

o f the

apart

th eir

G o s p e l w a s t o be c o n s i s t e n t

to

found

the d o c tr in e

in terp retation

of

w i t h an e l e c t i o n

the in

The s y n o d s w h i c h h a d o p p o s e d t h e S y n o d ’ s d o c t r i n e and t h e

ju stifica tio n

regard to e l e c t i o n .

emphases a l s o

carry over

o f the in

w orld were a l s o A n t i -

o t h e r words,

in to

the

the

su b jectiv e-

electio n -co n v ersio n

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

373 controversy. N o rth field m itted w hole Just

to

D u rin g th e Synod m e e tin g a t S to u g h to n ,

S em in ary had been condemned,

these

term s,

It

A gain,

the

is

t i v e ” because h is T his

is

th eo lo g ica l p o sitio n s

ab solu tion cussed.

of

crass

to the ta s k o f t h e tw o men

greater a tten tio n

to the p a r t i c i p a ­

own c o n v e r s i o n , w h e r e a s K o r e n w a s more " o b j e c ­ c o n c e r n w a s w i t h w h a t God d o e s t o man i n

sim ila r

W e e n a a s a nd t h a t

in

o n l y i n t e n d e d t o p o i n t o u t t h a t S c h m i d t was more

o f man i n h i s

sio n .

or p a s t o r K oran's

t e r m s do n o t do j u s t i c e

" s u b j e c t i v e ” b e c a u s e he gave tio n

to the

b e i n g m ov e d t o s a y t h a t he c o u l d n o t a p p r o v e

d i s t i n g u i s h i n g betw een the m en tioned.

reaction

in w hich he d e s c r ib e d th e d o c t r i n a l t e n s io n

" e ith e r P r o fe s s o r Schm idt’s s u b je c tiv is m o b j e c t i v i s m . ”!

the

P a s t o r M. P . Ruh was p e r ­

read a le n g th y sta te m e n t e x p r e s s in g h i s

controversy,

after

to th e

o f lea d ers

and t h e

c o n tr a s t betw een the

o f t h e Synod i n

ju stifica tio n

conver­

em phasis o f

an e a r l i e r d a y when

o f th e w orld were b e in g d i s -

p T h e r e w e r e many w h o s e

were s i m i l a r t o th o s e

feelin g s

expressed

about

the w hole c o n t r o v e r s y

i n 1 8 8 7 b y P a s t o r H. H a l v o r s e n ,

who h a d b e e n one o f t h e m o s t p r o m i n e n t M i s s o u r i a n s : . . . The p h e n o m e n o n . . . a p p e a r s t i m e a f t e r t i m e t h a t we s t i l l do n o t seem r i g h t l y t o u n d e r s t a n d one a n o t h e r . When o u r o p p o n e n t s e t s f o r t h o u r d o c t r i n e , we a s a r u l e p r o t e s t a g a i n s t h is p resen tation of i t . And when we s e t f o r t h h i s d o c t r i n e , he as a r u l e p r o t e s t s a g a i n s t our p r e s e n t a t i o n o f i t . When we c om b at t h e d o c t r i n e w h i c h we b e l i e v e t h a t o u r o p p o n e n t e r ­ r o n e o u s l y h o l d s , we o f t e n g e t t h e a n s w e r , "We do n o t t e a c h th is." And when t h e y c o m b a t t h e d o c t r i n e t o w h i c h we h o l d a n d w h i c h t h e y b e l i e v e t o be f a l s e , we l i k e w i s e s a y t o t h e m , "T h at i s n o t our d o c t r i n e w hich you combat. We h a v e n e v e r t a u g h t •^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , ^Supra, p.

the Synod,

1887, p . 106.

244.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

374 su ch £a d o c t r i n e ^ as t h a t w h ich you im pute And t h u s , ca lly

H alvorsen

sa id ,

th e c o n v i c t i o n w hich

fr o m t h e b e g i n n i n g o f

nam ely,

that

from b o t h

t o us,"-*-

the

sid es,

he had had p r a c t i ­

c o n t r o v e r s y had b e e n s t r e n g t h e n e d ,

in part a t

lea st,

tw o s t r a w - m e n ,

C a l v i n i s m and s y n e r g i s m , h a d b e e n c o m b a t t e d . 2 The E l e c t i o n

c o n t r o v e r s y was t o

b od y o f N orwegian American L u th era n ism r ea d ily era d ica te.

leave that

deep sca r s

even tim e

Because

of it,

t h r iv in g church body,

t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d , was s p l i t ,

had fo r m e r ly been th e

c lo s e s t frien d s

s e p a r a t e ways w it h b i t t e r n e s s d u rin g t h e i r

on t h e p a r i s h by s t r i f e .

lifetim e.

in t h e i r

of

con gregation s

c o n g r e g a t i o n s where

and m an y who

went

were d iv id e d

resu lts

were s e e n

over p rop erty,

so t h a t t h e r e were

fo r m e r ly th er e had been o n e .

in the

w hen t h e

c o n t r o v e r s y wa s a b s o r b i n g s o much e n e r g y ,

tiv itie s

l a c k e d p r o p e r s u p p o r t and c o n s e q u e n t l y d i d n o t

to th e the

extent

that

t h e y o th e r w is e m ight h a v e .

e d u c a t i o n a l an d m i s s i o n

No d o u b t , stim u lu s

a ctiv ities

th e m ajor p o s i t i v e that

it

gave

w i l l be d i s c u s s e d

in

p.

o fthe

the

next

rent an d tw o

eig h ties

sy n od ical a c ­ flo u rish

T h i s wa s t r u e

o f the Synod,

of

fo r exam ple.

c o n t r o v e r s y was t h e

t o t h e movement to w a r d s

■4i. H a l v o r s e n , B ogtryk k eri, 1 8 8 7 ), p . 2Ib id . ,

resu lt

th eir

c o n g r e g a t i o n s were

T h e r e w e r e many u n s a v o r y d i s p u t e s

i n many c a s e s

and

h e a r t s and r e m a i n e d u n r e c o n ­

The m o s t t r a g i c

l e v e l where a m u l t i t u d e

fought

a vigorou s

an d a s s o c i a t e s

the

cou ld not

The c o n t r o v e r s y h a d b e e n t o o b i t t e r l y

t o p e r m i t wounds t o h e a l r a p i d l y .

ciled

in

u n ion ,

w hich t o p i c

chapter.

Skal der b llv e

Fred

(C hicago:

3.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

"Amerika*s"

CHAPTER V I I

THE P R E - 1 8 9 0 UNION MOVEMENT I n t e r e s t i n U nion p r i o r A W idespread D e s ir e The t h e m e o f

" strife"

is

t o 1880

f o r U nion

v e r y prom inent d u rin g the

p eriod

w it h w hich t h i s

d isserta tio n

is

concerned.

But d u rin g th e decade

of

the

"u n io n '' c l a m o r s

for e x p r essio n w ith

the e i g h t i e s

in crea sin g

in siste n c e,

w hich p la g u ed th e th ree

theme

and, p a r t l y in

Synod,

church b o d ie s in

of

su ccessfu lly

consequence of the cu lm in ates

tu al

and t h a t a l l ch ild ren

titio n b itter.

lin e

when t h e n u m b e r o f i m m i g r a n t s

was h e i g h t e n e d , Of t h e

four

l a t e r H a u g e »s S y n o d , w e r e a t and t h e i r p a r t i c i p a t i o n m o v e m e n t was l e a s t

in

the

g r e a tly in crea sed ,

field

th a t tim e

in fr e e

after

lea st

conferences

e n t h u s i a s t i c .2

in to

was i n t e n s i f i e d

a nd i n t e r - s y n o d i c a l c o n f l i c t s

synods

m ight

among t h e

C h u r c h o f No rwa y m i g h t be u n i t e d

h a r m o n i o u s g r o u p . ' 1' T h i n k i n g a l o n g t h i s sev en ties

church s t r i f e

t h o s e who n u m b e r e d t h e m s e l v e s

o f the

the u n io n o f

1890.

An o f t - e x p r e s s e d w i s h was t h a t t h a t cease

in

strife

sp iri­ one in the compe­

b e c a m e more

1870 th e E l l i n g i a n s ,

in terested

in u n io n ,

a nd t h e p r e - 1 8 9 0 u n i o n

The E l l i n g i a n s

from th e b e g i n -

•^The n e w s p a p e r F a e d r e l a n d e t o g E m i g r a n t e n , f o r e x a m p l e , i n 1870 c a r r ie d s e v e r a l a r t i c l e s w r i t t e n in such a v e i n . See i s s u e s d a t e d May 2 6 , J u n e 2 , and A u g u s t 4 , 1 8 7 0 . for

^See s u p r a , p p . 256 f . f o r t h e i r l a c k o f g e n u in e e n t h u s ia s m s u g g e s t i o n s a b o u t u n io n w i t h th e Norwegian A u g u s t a n a n s . 375

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

376

n i n g had been s u s p i c i o u s

o f e c c l e s i a s t i c a l org a n iza tio n

r a t h e r w e l l s a t i s f i e d w i t h what t h e y r e g a r d e d sp irit

and e m p h a s i s

of th eir

own g r o u p .

A n g u s t a n a n s , an d t h e C o n f e r e n c e , lea d ers

and i n

the

in terest

in

annual m e e tin g s, m a n ife st a concern of

g r e a te r 'unity.

was th e

However, b a s i c

con viction

to the

the

the i d e n t i t y a d v isa b ility

i o n as

The S y n o d ,

cause

the N orwegian

exp ression s

of th eir

o f un ion a t

th eir

f o r w orking in th in k in g

the d i r e c t i o n of a ll

o f them

t h a t d o c t r i n a l agreem en t must p r e c e d e

tru th ."

o f the

in t h e ir

o p in io n , be

fundam ental p r i n c i p l e

o f u n ion,

t o what

any u n io n . one b a s e d

W h i l e t h e r e wa s g e n e r a l a g r e e m e n t a s

there

w h ich must d e t e r m in e

was a d e c i d e d d i f f e r e n c e

to th e a p p l i c a t i o n o f th e p r i n c i p l e

d i s a g r e e m e n t as as t o

the

to the

The o n l y G o d - p l e a s i n g u n i o n w o u l d , on a ’’u n i t y i n

to be th e d i s t i n c t i v e

the p u b lic

show n i n

and w ere

in v o lv ed .

"agreement i n d o c tr in e "

o f op in ­

T here was

im p lied .

Problem s

the e x t e n t o f d o c t r i n a l agreem en t r e q u i r e d and as t o

d o ctrin a l

statem ents,

or

co n fessio n s,

t o be

su b scrib ed

to

the arose.

Does a church u n io n p r e s u p p o s e a one hundred p e r c e n t a g r e e m e n t i n d o ctrin e, gy?

Is

o r may t h e r e

a su b scrip tion

o f Norway s u f f i c i e n t , of

fa ith

be "open q u e s t i o n s " t o the h i s t o r i c or is

in th e realm o f t h e o l o ­

con fession s

of

the

Church

agreement about a d d it i o n a l s ta te m e n ts

a l s o r e q u i r e d b e f o r e u n io n can occu r?

By and l a r g e ,

in

a n s w e r i n g s u c h q u e s t i o n s members o f t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d f o u n d th em selves

t o be a t v a r i a n c e w i t h t h e o t h e r s y n o d s .

No c h u r c h l e a d e r s

so d e p lo r e d t h e d i v i s i o n s

g i a n L u t h e r a n camp and

so c o n s i s t e n t l y

an e n d t o

p a rties

lead ers

faction s

and

the

expressed a d e sir e

as d id th o se

o f th e Synod e a r l y t o o k th e

in

of

in itia tiv e

Norwe­ to put

the Synod. in t r y i n g t o

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

And arrange

377 fo r m eetin gs w ith t h e i r to

reso lv e

d ifferen ces.-^ -

more d i f f i c u l t p ra ctice

strin g en t.^

On t h e

in to

and i t s

q u estio n s,"

orthodoxy.

It

that

further d o ctrin a l statem ents,

o f the

ex p o sitio n s

other

synods

q u estio n a b le,

t h e r a n s were

the

fu lly

large

sym bols

agreed as

th is

as the

con v ictio n

"M issourian" it

was t h e

Sverdrup,

to

fo r un ion v ery

less

th an com­

c o u l d b e no " o p e n

c o u l d be t o l e r a t e d ,

co n fessio n s guarantee s h o u l d be

o f the L utheran

of d o ctrin a l agreem ent as to

the the

to

M oreover,

the

category of

there

were t h o s e

tr u t h " meant t h a t so lu tio n

e v e n Lu­

o f every th e o lo g ic a l feelin g

and L u t h e r ’ s S m a l l C a t e c h i s m - - w e r e for

o f th e N orwegian S y n o d , C onference,

who e x p r e s s e d t h e w i d e l y - f e l t

^ 'P r e u s ,

Syv F o r e d r a g , p .

^ Ib id .,

pp.

57 f f . ;

as

in

for

the sat­

a nd w i t h

the

other m atters,

e s p e c i a l l y W e en aa s a nd

d is a p p r o v a l o f the

57.

su p r a , pp.

that

fu lly

any p r o p o s e d u n io n ,

t h e r e was a c o r r e s p o n d i n g d i s l i k e

lea d ers w ith in the

and

R e a s o n a b l y e n o u g h , members

And t h e r e w a s w i d e s p r e a d

d o ctrin a l b a sis

th eses

other

Church o f N o r w a y - - t h e e c u m e n i c a l c r e e d s ,

Augsburg C o n f e s s io n , isfa cto ry

"un ity in

try

of it s

or t h e s e s , w h ic h w ere d e t a i l e d

L utherans.

or sm a ll.

o f the

o f op in ion

there

of d o ctrin e.

" so-called "

Synod b e c a u s e

there

resen ted b ein g r e le g a te d

who q u e s t i o n e d w h e t h e r

q u estio n ,

of d octrin e;

a su fficien t

was e x p e c t e d

the

w ith n oth in g

to th e h i s t o r i c

Church was n o t r e g a r d e d a s

order to

no g r o u p made u n i o n

o f m aking c o n d i t i o n s

about w hich d i f f e r e n c e s

And f o r m a l s u b s c r i p t i o n

in

the L u th e r a n is m o f th e

The S y n o d was s a t i s f i e d

agreement in a l l p o in ts

system atic

than d i d

q u estion

p ra ctice

and c o m p e t i t o r s oth er hand,

o f accom plishm ent

of c a llin g

church b o d ie s

p lete

opponents

63-65.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

"ex-

378 clvisivism "

and t h e

theses

o f the Synod.

P r i o r t o 1 8 7 0 t h e r e h a d b e e n a number o f c o n f e r e n c e s b e ­ tw een r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f the v a r i o u s Norwegian L u th er a n g r o u p s A m erica, w ith in g e t t in g less

in

su lts

th e N orw egian Synod u s u a l l y t a k i n g t h e i n i t i a t i v e

th em a s s e m b l e d .

Many o f t h e s e

term s o f b r in g i n g about u n i o n ,

f r o m th e m w e r e d i s c e r n i b l e .

betw een

t h e S y n o d on t h e

conferences

a n d some c o - w o r k e r s

1 8 6 2 g a i n e d some v a l u a b l e

persons

P . A. R a s m u s s e n ,

In a s i m i l a r w ay, p a s t o r s w ith i n f l u e n t i a l in

C. L .

on t h e

other,

adherents

N e l s Amlund,

re­

of conferences

and p a s t o r P . A. R a s m u s s e n ,

Norwegian synod in Pastors

were f r u i t ­

a l t h o u g h some t a n g i b l e

In consequence

on e s i d e

sy n o d ica lly u n a ffilia te d ,

of

in

in

then

the

the

and J o h n F i e l d . - 1-

C l a u s e n and B o t o l f G j e l d a k e r ,

con gregation s,

were b r o u g h t

in t o th e Conference

18 7 0 .2 At i t s

annual m eetin g in

m ittee

to

arrange

selv es

as L u th er a n s were

1 8 7 0 t h e S y n o d a p p o i n t e d a com­

for a conference

t o w h i c h a l l who r e g a r d e d t h e m ­

i n v i t e d N o

d o u b t t h e e v e n t s w h i c h h ad

o ccu rred a t Andover,

Illin o is,

N orw egians

from th e S c a n d i n a v i a n A u g u sta n a Synod were

separated

in s t r u m e n t a l in flu id At i t s

the a d o p tio n

t h e p r e c e d i n g month w hereb y

o f such a p r o p o s a l.^

org a n iza tio n a l situ a tio n

c i t . , pp.

2Supra, pp.

165-167.

^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

the

The e x i s t e n t

i n v i t e d e x p lo r a to r y union e f f o r t s .

o r g a n iz a t io n a l m e etin g in S t . ^"Rohne, o p .

the

A n s g a r d \ i r i n g t h e raonth o f

158-79.

Synod,

^The S yn od m e t J u l y 2 - 1 0 , b een h e ld in the m iddle o f June.

1870, p . 97.

1870;

the m e e t i n g a t A ndover had

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

379

J u ly the c o n fe r e n c e

responded to t h i s

in v ita tio n

c o m m i t t e e t o work w ith , a s i m i l a r S y n o d c o m m i t t e e such a c o n fe r e n c e .1 when t h e

tim e

for

However,

the

conference

arriv ed .

M innesota,

O ctober 11,

tim e.

other in g

as th e

church b o d ie s

h old

the

ga tion s

I t was d e c i d e d t o

a n d l a y m em b ers o f S y n o d c o n g r e ­

a l s o became p a r t i c i p a n t s . for

o f the d i s c u s s i o n

tv/o d a y s w as t h a t

appeared in

In d e f i n i n g c h u r c h u n i t y t h e

upon;

"The c h u r c h u n i t y

fa ith ,

d o ctrin e,

w ith

coop erative

four

la r ly

fo r the

b a s e d u p o n G o d ’ s W or d ." ^

that u n ity

is

o f church u n i t y .

su ccessive

issu e

fo llo w in g

s t a t e m e n t was a g r e e d a u n ity

b u i l t u p o n G o d ’ s Word, furtherance

issu es

of February 1,

w h i c h G o d ’ s Word d e m an ds I s

and c o n f e s s i o n , a ctio n

the

in R ushford diiring the p r e ­

the Synod’ s p e r i o d i c a l b e g in n in g w ith t h e

1871.®

from any o f

The S y n o d p a s t o r s h a d b e e n h o l d ­

n ev erth eless,

in the v i c i n i t y

com m ittee

o f m e e t i n g and

No r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s

showed u p . 2

The t o p i c d i s c u s s e d

of

p lace

so th e y were w e l l r e p r e s e n t e d .

conference,

The m i n u t e s

The S y n o d ' s

as th e

t h e ir annual p a s t o r a l conferen ce

ced in g days,

in arran gin g for

t h e Synod was c o m p l e t e l y r e b u f f e d

had d e s i g n a t e d R u s h fo r d , 1870,

by a p p o i n t i n g a

com bined

o f God’ s kin gdom ,

The S c r i p t u r a l p a s s a g e s

commanded o f God w e r e d i s c u s s e d . ®

in

sim i­

rev ea lin g

Great em phasis

was p l a c e d u p o n t h e demand o f G o d ’ s Word t h a t d o c t r i n a l , a g r e e m e n t 4,,K o n f e r e n t s e m 8 d e , " L u t h e r a n e r e n , IV

p

20,

" K irk elise 1870. ~

N yheder," F a e d r e la n d e t

(1870),

134.

og E m ig r a n te n , 1

O ctober

"Orn d e n k i r k e l i g e E n i g h e d . F o r h a n d l i n g e r v e d den a l m i n d e l i g e n o r s k - l u t h e r s k e K o n f e r e n t s i R u s h f o r d , M in n ., l l t e og 1 2 t e O k t b r . 1 8 7 0 , ” K . M . , XVI ( 1 8 7 1 ) , 3 3 - 3 7 , 4 9 - 5 8 , 6 6 - 7 0 , 8 2 - 8 8 . 4Ib ld .,

p. 35.

5I b i d . ,

pp. 3 5 -3 7 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

380 on t h e b a s i s for

it

t o be w e l l - p l e a s i n g t o G o d .

was th e in

church’ s g r e a te s t

fou r form s:

therans the

o f t h e Word, o f God m u s t p r e c e d e

shame i n

the u n ion ism

any a r t i c l e

seen in

contends

there

th at

co n fessio n s w ritin g s

do n o t

of h is

the

are

it

t h e m s e lv e s , he r eg a r d s n e v e r t h e l e s s .2

w h e r e b y Lu­

was

that

if

d octrin e

in

low ship w ith o th ers

or to

a little

agreement w ith

a s b i n d i n g and a u t h o r i t a t i v e ,

truth

to hold

in ord er t o engage

l e a v e n t h e whole

However, th e

on ly e x te r n a l o r g a n iz a tio n provided

fast

the

fa lse h o o d or i t s

consummate a u n i o n w i t h th em .®

church.®

clea rly

do n o t e x p r e s s

in

fe l­

There

lo a f.-

a c c o m p l i s h e d f o r Go d’ s K in g d o m b y i n d i v i d u a l s

through a u n ite d

Lutheran

con fessio n a l

a d octrin e

any f e l l o w s h i p w i t h

leaven w i l l

a nd

f o ll o w e r s w hich

the

co n fessio n s

th at

d ealin g;

com plete

there i s

of

on ly con­

about w hich the

The Word o f God b o t h commands u s

the

a rticles

au th o rita tiv e

sp ecifica lly

abou t w hich th e

or to d is r e g a r d

danger th a t

is

they are

sa id ,

that of

Iowa Synod w h ic h s a y s

A L utheran b e l i e v e s

t r u t h and f o r b i d s xis t o h a v e

can n o t be

the

"open q u e s t i o n s "

church b eca u se

in S c r ip tu r e

confessors,

of

I o w a S y n o d and among i t s

sp ea k .1

t h e Word o f God; b u t , con tain ed

that

w ith w hich i t

t h a t u n ionism

the

I t m an ifested i t s e l f

o n ly t o the b a s ic

o f th e Augsburg C o n fe s s io n i s

c er n in g the d o c tr in e

effected

that day.

o f the P r u s s ia n U n io n ,

G en era l Synod w hich s u b s c r ib e s

order

was c o n t e n d e d t h a t u n i o n i s m

a nd R e f o r m e d a r e u n i t e d u n d e r o n e j u r i s d i c t i o n ;

th e Augsburg C o n f e s s io n ;

is

It

any u n io n in

What

c a n be

con gregation

is

f o r b y t h e Word o f God.®

^ Ib id . ,

pp.

49 f .

^ Ib id . , p.

5I b id .,

pp.

50-53.

4 I b i d ., pp.

® Ib id .,

pp.

6 8 -7 0 ,8 2 -8 6 .

O jb id . , p .

50. 56-58. 86.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

381 The c o n f e r e n c e lu tio n

a t R ushford,

e x p r e s s in g the d e s ir e

that

in

con clu sion ,

adopted a r e s o ­

t h e s c h i s m among N o r w e g i a n Lu­

t h e r a n s m ig h t be h e a l e d and e x p r e s s i n g t h e o p i n i o n t h a t ,

alth ou gh

th is

o f other

c o n f e r e n c e had n o t b e e n a t t e n d e d by r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s

synods,

t h e h o l d i n g o f g e n e r a l c o n f e r e n c e s was t h e b e s t me ans

towards

the

accom plishm ent o f

T his q u estion

g o a l.l

e x p r e s s i o n o f Synod s e n t i m e n t about th e

o f church u n it y i s

proach to the

that

q u estion

im p ortant because i t

t h a t p o s e d many p r o b l e m s

whom t h e S y n o d c o n f e r r e d .

T h i s wa s c l e a r l y

W e en a a s who r e s p o n d e d i n t h e May i s s u e Weenaas e x p r e s s e s h i s church u n i t y report of the

and w i t h

certa in

w hich in

itse lf

Synod i s

dem anding t h a t

S crip tu re

is

teaches

od’s exp o sitio n

correct

im portant p o in ts

the

and a c c e p t a b l e .

of S crip tu re

req u ires

con tain ed

in

th a t he d i s a g r e e s

in

a ll

For,

w ith

sa y s W eenaas,

com plete agreem ent as

others

t h e n m u st a c c e p t

in sta n ces.

d isa gree

a u n ity

in

the

to what

the

Syn­

But a n y o n e w i t h a

t h e o l o g y kn ow s t h a t e v e n

S crip tu ra l p assages.

Synod’ s p r in c ip le

r e c o g n iz e d by August

and u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e d e f i n i t i o n ,

regarded Lutheran t h e o l o g i a n s p retin g certa in

fo r th ose w ith

of

t h e r e must be

of

an a p ­

agreement w ith the d e f i n i t i o n

on a l l p o i n t s ;

s m a t t e r i n g o f know ledge

reveals

o f L u th e r a n e r e n .2

the R ushford m e e tin g but d e c l a r e s

Synod’s in t e r p r e ta tio n

im portant

the most h i g h l y

among t h e m s e l v e s

in

in ter­

U n ity in co n fo rm ity w ith the the e x e g e s is

of S crip tu re

•I I b i d . , pp . 87 f . ^"Om d e n k i r k e l i g e

E n igh ed ," L utheraneren, V (1 8 7 1 ),

77.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow n er. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission

66-

382 w h i c h t h e L u t h e r a n C h u r c h h a s n e v e r known.-*in

h isto ric

the

of S crip tu re,

con fession s

scrip tio n

to

the

teach in gs

correct ex p o sitio n

church u n i t y W eenaas, a nd t o

too,

the

is

of S crip tu re. con fession s

to

sum m arizes by s t r e s s i n g h i s

trin a l

alone

stand ard s

self

in

concern fo r

a v o id the

Weenaas w a s ,

of course,

a tta ck in g

and t h e n e x p e c t i n g

T his p o in t

for

errors.

im p osition

en tire

He

o f the d o c ­

or c h u r c h group as ch urch .^

the Syn od's

ex p o sitio n

su b scrip tio n

o f view .

p ra ctice

of

of a S crip tu ra l doc­

t o t h e m as a b a s i s

for u n ity .

o f v i e w fo u n d i n Weenaas was m o st v i g o r o u s l y p r e s e n t e d

by Sverdrup a l i t t l e ence,

p oin t

in d iv id u a l

o f the

trin e

of secta ria n

or

a ch u rch u n io n b a s e d upon

co n fessio n

correct

are

t o th e L utheran c o n f e s s i o n s ,

th ough th ey were the

as th e

church as a b a s i s

su b sta n tia te h is

order to

co n fessio n s

sub­

To demand s o m e t h i n g e l s e

g u ilty

o f some p a r t i c u l a r

d r a w in g up t h e s e s

t h a n on a b l a n k e t

fo r the

o f the

to S c r ip t u r e ,

church fa t h e r s

con fession s

rather

o f S crip tu re,

t o make o n e ' s

ap p eals

in ­

c h u r c h u n i t y o u g h t t o be b a s e d on t h e

o f L uth eranism ,

s o m e t h i n g m or e t h a n t h e

to

that

o r d e r t o a v o i d b e i n g v i c t i m i z e d b y i n d i v i d u a l and p r i v a t e

terp reta tio n s

the

W een aas a r g u e s

esp ecia lly

la ter.

those

of the

th e Synod ap p ro a ch t o

However,

some members o f t h e

C onfer­

Old T e n d e n c y , w e r e m or e s y m p a t h e t i c

the p rob lem .^

E f f o r t s in F u r t h e r a n c e o f U nion d u rin g the S e v e n tie s The g e n e r a l c o n f e r e n c e w h i c h m e t a t D e c o r a h , 21,

1871,

spent

co n sid erab le

-*- I b l d . , p p .

68 f .

^Supra, pp.

202,

tim e

in

d iscu ssin g

^I b i d . , pp . 205,

Iowa,

the t o p i c

69-77.

208.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

June

15-

of church

385 u n ity .1 p les

The c o n f e r e n c e h a d b e g u n w i t h a c o n s i d e r a t i o n

of S crip tu ral in te r p r e ta tio n ,

to p ic

o f church u n i t y .

In l i n e

what ough t t o be th e b a s i s of

but

w ith the

not

im pute

to

the

d iv isio n

an e n t i r e

tiv es the

of

W hile

the

the Synod s t r e s s e d

S crip tu res,

w h ile

conference

on th e b a s i s

o f the

fic ie n t.^

The d o c t r i n a l d i s c u s s i o n s

fe lt

th a t p r o s p e c t s were

agreed th a t

That i s ,

the

o f the

better

general testim o n y ,

L arsen 's sa id

that

upon the

on t h e b a s i s

t o be m or e h o p e f o r

the

representa­

church i s

and t h e

of

su f­

su fficien t­

sp irit

of

a ll p a rtici­

c o n fe r e n c e had turned out but th a t did not

f o r an i m m e d i a t e u n i o n w e r e h i g h .

reflectio n s

would

t h e S y n o d and C o n f e r e n c e

That th e

mean t h a t h o p e s

in

and f r i e n d l i n e s s ;

m i g h t draw c l o s e r t o g e t h e r . t h a n e x p e c t e d was t h e

it

C onference m ain tain ed

d ifferen ces,

good t h a t

to

memb ers h a d w r i t t e n ,

a t D ecorah were n o t

t h e m e e t i n g was o n e o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g

as

o f u n i t y on t h e b a s i s

co n fessio n s

th orou gh t o r e v e a l any s e r io u s

pants

of

the

received a

that d iscern ib le

the n e c e s s i t y

rep resen ta tiv es

in to

the q u e s tio n

con fession s

article.^

that u n ity

ly

above,

s y n o d w h a t on e o f i t s

a nd W e e n a a s '

led

c o n f l i c t i n g id eas

and t h e

o f o p i n i o n was b a s i c a l l y

R ushford r e s o l u t i o n s

d iscu ssio n

o f un ion d is c u s s e d

the r e l a t i o n betw een S c r ip tu r e

great deal of a tte n tio n .

the

of p r in c i­

E d ito r Laur.

c o n fe r e n c e were r e a l i s t i c

o f the d is c u s s io n

at

when h e

Decorah th e r e

agreem ent about the d o c t r in e s

appeared

o f the G ospel

^Supra, p p . 253 f . The i n v i t a t i o n t o t h i s c o n f e r e n c e was e x t e n d e d by th e Synod Committee a p p o i n t e d f o r t h a t p u r p o se t o g e t h e r w i t h f o u r o t h e r p a s t o r s , t w o fr om t h e C o n f e r e n c e a n d t w o u n a f f i l i ­ ated. S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e S y n o d , 18*71, p p . 8 0 f . Iowa

.

.

^ R eferat a f F orhan dlin gerne ., 1871, p. 36. ^ Ib id .,

pp.

i

en F r i

C onferents

23-61.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

i Decorah, '

384 and j u s t i f i c a t i o n r ela tio n sin ce

o f the

con fession s

to S crip tu re.

o f c h u r c h u n i t y and t h e He w e n t on t o

t h e r e w e r e many o t h e r d o c t r i n a l d i f f e r e n c e s ,

p a tien ce, at

than about th e q u e s t i o n s

th is

and p r a y e r w o u l d be r e q u i r e d b e f o r e

free

conference

w ould t e r m i n a t e

The s e c o n d f r e e cons in ,

the

say th a t

much t i m e , w o r k , g o o d w or k b e g u n

s u c c e s s f u l l y .1

c o n f e r e n c e was h e l d a t R oc k p r a i r i e , W i s Q 1872. At t h i s c o n f e r e n c e h o p e s f o r a n y

N ove mb er 1 3 - 2 2 ,

i m m e d i a t e d o c t r i n a l a g r e e m e n t and u n i o n b e t w e e n t h e S y n o d and t h e C o n feren ce were d i s p e l l e d . phere

of h o s tility ,

and when i t

an d u n i t y was n o t b r i g h t . e n c e was t h a t the

it

two s y n o d s .

clea rly

th e ir p reviou s

revealed

tic

to anything doubts

of th is

suggestion

c o n fe r about d i f f e r e n c e s

the

confer­

co n stru ctiv e,^

a b o u t an y p r o b a b l e D espite

o f t h e R oc k P r a i r i e

the C o n fer­

The C o n f e r e n c e resu lts

out at

from

such a p e s s i m i s ­

conference

should ap p oin t com m ittees t o

was c a r r i e d

De­

f e e l i n g was

conferen ces w ith

the S y n o d .5

b o t h t h e S y n o d and C o n f e r e n c e to

for peace

o f d i f f e r e n c e betw een

conferences

such fr e e

con feren ces w ith

o u t lo o k the

the p o in ts

enth usiasm fo r

s im ila r ly expressed it s free

the ou tlook

C o n f e r e n c e w h i c h c a u s e d s o much o f f e n s e . ^

could h a r d ly lead

future

i n an a t m o s ­

t h a t H. A- P r e u s p r o n o u n c e d t h e

g e n e r a l among S y n o d men t h a t ence

d isban ded,

assem bled

The c h i e f c o n t r i b u t i o n

I t was h e r e

"a n a t h e m a " u p o n t h e sp ite

The c o n f e r e n c e

th at contin ue

the 1373 a n n u a l

■'""Referat a f F o r h a n d l i n g e r n e i d e n f r i e K o n f e r e n c e i D e ­ c o r a h f r a 1 3 d e t i l 2 1 d e J u n i 1 8 7 1 , " K. M« , XV II ( 1 8 7 2 ) , 1 2 3 f . O

*7

Supra, pp. 259-63.

Supra, p.

^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

the Synod,

^ S yn od ical R eport,

the

262.

1873, p . 73.

C onference,

1873, p . 76.

with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

585 m eetin gs

arrange in g,

o f both.^A lthough b o th synods

con tin u ed to d e sig n a te

for

du rin g the y ea rs

free

conferences

n o t h i n g was a c c o m p l i s h e d

no r e a l e f f o r t s betw een the the

two had become t o o t e n s e

conferences

im m ed iately f o l l o w ­

T h e r e was a p e r i o d when

t o a c h i e v e u n d e r s t a n d i n g w ere made.

"Open D e c l a r a t i o n "

free

thereby.

com m ittees to

in

fo r the

fo llo w in g the

1874 t o p e r m it tim e b e i n g .

The r e l a t i o n s appearance

the h o ld in g o f

However, even i f

of

fu rther the

ou tlook

f o r u n i o n w as d a r k , men i n b o t h S y n o d and C o n f e r e n c e b e l i e v e d the

free

forts

conferences

s h o u l d b e made

sota D is tr ic t in

of the

p a s t had b een b e n e f i c i a l

to b rin g

o f the Synod,

1877 a d o p ted a m otion e x p r e s s i n g th e

d o c tr in a l conferences sca le;

that

is,

By t h e

tim e

o f the

such

the o t h e r

conferences

fica tio n reports

ch iefly

from th e

and a b s o l u t i o n w e r e that

The M i n n e ­

p resid en t,

d e sira b ility

3 .

s y n o d s , b u t on a s m a l l e r

s h o u l d be r e g i o n a l i n

in h i s

d istrict.

C onference the

th e Haugeans app ear

ch ief

n atu re.^

that

and H a u g e ' s S y n o d . top ics

nine

T h o s e who h a d a t ­

of d iscu ssio n .

t o b e mo re c o r r e c t

^ S y n o d ic a l R e p o r t, the Synod, t h e c o n f e r e n c e , 1 8 7 5 , p . 761

-J. Muus ,

of h old in g

n e x t a n n u a l m e e t i n g Muus c o u l d r e p o r t

c o n f e r e n c e s had b een h e l d

te n d e d were

port,

the

w ith

and t h a t e f ­

them i n t o b e i n g a g a i n . ^

prompted b y i t s

that

1875, p. 75;

in

th eir

J u sti­ Muus teach-

S y n o d ic a l Re­

2

S u c h s e n t i m e n t s c a n be f o u n d e x p r e s s e d i n S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e C o n f e r e n c e , 1 8 7 5 , p p . 7 6 f . and S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e S y n o d , 1 8 7 5 , gu 1 2 5 . 5 S y n o d ic a l R ep o rt, M in n eso ta D i s t r i c t , the Synod, 1877, p p . 44 f . o b j e c t i o n s were r a i s e d t o a 'gen eral fr e e c o n fe r e n c e w hich s h o u ld in c lu d e th e C onferen ce in view o f the a t t i t u d e o f C o n f e r e n c e l e a d e r s , b u t t h e r e was no o b j e c t i o n t o c o n f e r r i n g w i t h H a u g e »s S y n o d o r t h e N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a n s .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited without p erm ission.

386 i n g than p r e v i o u s l y b u t t h a t the C o n feren ce error as

q u i e t e d down.

strife

the

p r e c i p i t a t e d by the

says

th at

these

aware o f

its

exp erien ces

in cip ien t E lection

the

d esire

w o r k on t h e A glim pse

lo ca l

in to

K irk etid en d e e x istin g the

tists,

in

Prim rose

an d t h e

fo r peace

estab lish m en t

and u n i t y .

is

E ffectiv e

in w hich i t

p r o v id e d by the S y n o d ’ s

reports

the

circum stances

c o m m u n i t y , Dane C o u n t y , W i s c o n s i n ,

M eth o d ists,

o r one o f t h r e e d i f f e r e n t

the

The

com m unities c r e a t e d

There N or w eg ia n s had a f f i l i a t e d

the

s y n o d s more

good in th e o t h e r s .^

sev en ties.

C onference,

o r the

•^ S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

Bap­

"I n s u c h p l a c e s

as

th e d i f f e r e n t N orwegian Lutheran synods

the w retchedn ess

lon gin g for u n ity

w ith th e

la te

Lutheran s y n o d s - -

Synod.

same n e i g h b o r h o o d and r a i s e

sid e by s id e , an d t h e

the v a r io u s

Bergh

l e v e l was b a d l y h a m p e r e d b y c o n t i n u e d s t r i f e .

P r i m r o s e , w h e r e members o f in

C ontroversy.

i n many N o r w e g i a n

such a lo c a l s it u a t io n

the

the Synod now,

i t made e a c h o f th em more

sev en ties

amongst th e l a i t y

i n an a r t i c l e

Hauge’ s Synod,

liv e

an d t h e

strife-rid d en

o f com petin g c o n g r e g a tio n s an e a r n e s t

made

fo r union b eca u se

own s h o r t c o m i n g s of

own i n t e r n a l a f ­

rum blings w ith in

in tern a l d if f ic u lt ie s

to p rop osals

in i t s

and S y n o d h a d

C on feren ce had b een d is t u r b e d b y i n t e r n a l

and t h e r e w e r e s e r i o u s

too,

recep tiv e

betw een the C on feren ce

E a c h s y n o d was e n g r o s s e d

F o r some t i m e

d issen sio n ,

in

as much e n s n a r e d i n

ev er.^ By 1 8 8 0 t h e

fa irs.

is

th e ir houses

of w o rsh ip

o f d i s u n i t y becomes v ery o b v io u s

and p e a c e b e c o m e s the Synod,

liv in g

1878, p.

in a l l u p r ig h t

30.

Q

J . A* B e r g h , e d . Brun, p . 10.

" H istorisk

I n d l e d n i n g , ff i n F r a U n g d o m s a a r ,

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

587 h ea rts." three

In s t r i v i n g

t o a t t a i n u n i t y on t h e b a s i s

o f truth

the

Lutheran c o n g r e g a t io n s had b een h o l d i n g d o c t r i n a l d i s c u s s i o n

m eetings.-*-

T h a t same s i t u a t i o n

a nd i n m o s t c a s e s

"upright h e a r ts "

w e r e made a w a r e o f for peace.

was r e d u p l i c a t e d amongst b o t h

"the w r e t c h e d n e s s

The d e s i r e

fo r peace

cou n tless

c l e r g y and l a i t y

of d isu n ity"

a nd u n i o n

tim es,

and came t o l o n g

among t h e p e o p l e

o f the

c o n g r e g a t i o n s h a d r e a c h e d an i n t e n s i t y p r e v i o u s l y unknown b y t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e new d e c a d e , 2 a nd i t course o f i t . was begun i n

The p r a c t i c e the s e v e n t i e s

u n d erstan d in gs

and t o t h e

was

o f h o ld in g con trib u ted

to i n t e n s i f y

to the

elim in a tio n

aw akening o f a d e s i r e

as w e l l ,

the

"laym en's m e e t in g s ," w hich

m e e t i n g s were a t t e n d e d by laymen o f v a r i o u s t o r s were o f t e n p r e s e n t ,

in

for u n ity .

synods.

p a rticip a tin g

o f m is­ These

However, p a s ­

in th e d is c u s sio n

and s o m e t i m e s p r e s i d i n g . 3 P a s t o r P . A. R a s m u s s e n ' s The c l i m a t e

o f o p in io n in

proposal for n e g o tia tio n s receive

con sid erab le

looking

a tten tio n .

f r o m P . A* R a s m u s s e n ,

one o f

and h i g h l y - r e g a r d e d p a s t o r s . ^

(1881),

L ead ership

1 8 8 0 was

such t h a t any s p e c i f i c

tow a rd u n i t y w ould be

certa in

to

S u c h a p r o p o s a l was f o r t h c o m i n g

th e Norwegian S y n o d 's m ost i n f l u e n t i a l U n til

th e tim e

o f the

controversy

l i t p r a P r i m r o s e , Dane C o . , ’W i s . , " E . L» K . , VI ( 1 8 7 9 ) , 1 7 1 f . 2 " F o r e n i n g m e H e m v o r e K i r k e s a m f u n d , " L u t h e r a n s r e n , XV 85 f . ^ H atlestad ,

o p . c i t . , pp.

225-27.

^R asm ussen, born a t S t a v a n g e r , Norway, 1 8 2 9 , m i g r a t e d t o America in 1 8 5 0 . He was a H a u g e a n , who j o i n e d E l l i n g E i e l s e n ' s fo llo w in g . For a tim e he s e r v e d as a p a r o c h i a l s c h o o l t e a c h e r and l a y p r e a c h e r i n s o u t h e r n W i s c o n s i n and n o r t h e r n I l l i n o i s . When h e r e c e i v e d a c a l l t o b e p a s t o r o f t h e L i s b o n , I l l i n o i s , c o n -

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

388 over co n v ersio n -electio n o f the Synod.

He was a s a g g r e s s i v e

as

a n y S y n o d man i n

in

the

the

sev en ties.

c o n f l i c t when h e

D e c l a r a t i o n . 1,1 to the

R a s m u s s e n was an a r d e n t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e

zea lo u sly

at

in tim a te w ith the

1873.2

them as b e i n g t o o p i e t i s t i c . ^

sis of

that

and in

rio d ica l e n title d ,

nam ely l i f e , s p i r i t u a l need

fo r he

He was n o t u n a w a r e

us?"

an a r t i c l e He s a i d

fo r p reach in g d esign ed

He s u g g e s t s

empha­

Synod’s p e ­

In h i s

some r e m e d i e s :

t o a w ak e n s i n n e r s ,

C on ­

o f the d e f e c t s

fo r the

th at

the

t o him — i t s

op in ion

t h e S y n o d c o u l d b.e e x p r e s s e d i n

life.

S o ciety

im pressed

W h i l e h e w a s no a d m i r e r o f

1879 he w r o te

t h a t w h ic h was l a c k i n g i n

Norwegian M is s io n

b o d y commended i t s e l f

"What a i l s

"Open

th e Synod in o p p o s i t i o n

o f the Synod,

on p e r s o n a l C h r i s t i a n i t y . ^ the Synod,

the

ea rly

H o w e v e r , R a s m u s s e n n e v e r was r e a l l y

old er lead ers

one t h i n g i n

true

c o m b a t t e d W e en a a s and t h e

the m e e t in g o f

a t Drammen, N o r w a y , i n

C onference

T h i s was e s p e c i a l l y

He a nd S c h m i d t r e p r e s e n t e d

C onference

feren ce,

an o p p o n e n t o f t h e

one w o r d , (1)

The

a l o n g w i t h an a w a k -

g r e g a t i o n , he e n r o l l e d i n t h e M i s s o u r i S y n o d ’ s " p r a c t i c a l " s e m i ­ n a r y a t F t . Wayne, I n d i a n a . He b r o k e w i t h E i e l s e n i n 1 8 5 6 a nd r e ­ m a i n e d an i n d e p e n d e n t , a l t h o u g h w i t h a f o l l o w i n g o f s e v e r a l c o n ­ g r e g a t i o n s and a f e w p a s t o r s , u n t i l h e j o i n e d t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d in 1862. H is p o w e r f u l L isb o n c o n g r e g a t i o n d i d n o t j o i n th e Synod w ith him . He s e r v e d t h i s c o n g r e g a t i o n f r o m 1 8 5 4 t o 1 8 9 7 , d u r i n g w h i c h t i m e h e w as a f f i l i a t e d w i t h t h e f o l l o w i n g s y n o d s b e s i d e s th o se m entioned ab ove; A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s , 1 8 8 7 - 9 0 , and t h e U n i t e d Church, 1 8 9 0 -9 7 . S e e N o r l i e , e t a l . , Who’ s Who, p . 4 7 3 ; R o h n e , o p . c i t . , p p . 1 0 5 , 1 4 2 - 4 4 , 1 4 7 - 5 6 ; and a b io g r a p h y b y B i S r n , P a s t o r P . A» R a s m u s s e n , p a s s i m . ■^Bitfrn, o p .

c i t . , p.

92.

^Supra, p p . 304 f . Bergjh, Den n o r s k l u t h e r s k e

KIrkes H is t o r ie

i

Am erika,

187. 4

B iorn ,

op.

c it.,

p.

97.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

p.

389 e n ed m i n i s t r y and a program o f v i s i t a t i o n con gregation s; gregation s;

(2)

(3)

A greater u t iliz a t io n

Greater a s s i s t a n c e

i n d e v e l o p i n g mo re s p i r i t u a l l i f e th eir

in flu en ce

on m i n i s t e r i a l

and a d m o n i t i o n i n t h e o f l a y powers in th e

from th e in

the

(4)

m other ch u rch , p a r t i c u l a r l y p a r t i c i p a t i o n work. the

He c o n t e n d s

shortcom ings

take

referred

is

not

strange

to sh ou ld

it

He s e n t

d i s t r i c t m eetings

that year.

H is

in g the

sin ce

both s id e s ,

The

tim e

for

the

S yn o d t o u n d e r ­ a ilin g

the

a rticle

same B i b l e , the

to n eg o tia te

for u n it y .

w ith

one

he

same s y m b o l i c a l b o o k s ,

same h y m n s , and j u s t

sa id ,

that

the

same d e ­

about the

same

was c e r t a i n l y up on R ecently,

he s a i d ,

b o t h t h e S y n o d and t h e C o n f e r ­

c h a s t e n i n g o f God,

•^"Ilvad f a t t e s

Syn­

and he s t r e s s e d

opponents.

to produce h u m i l i t y ,

w illin g n ess

the

same a l t a r b o o k ,

th e r e have been o c c u rr e n c es w it h in

o f the

proposal

the Synod as a whole d id not convene

g u ilt for d isu n ity ,

as e v id e n c e

ju st

a m o n g s t N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n s was h i n d e r ­

common--the

the

in tern a l-

a co m m u n ica tio n t o each o f the

u p o n t h e S y n o d a nd i t s

ence w hich ought

so lo n g been concerned w ith

o f th e kingdom o f C h r i s t ,

v o tio n a l lite r a tu r e ,

w ith the

program o f m i s s i o n

c o n s i d e r what i s

same c a t e c h i s m a n d e x p l a n a t i o n ,

cerem on ies.

its

c o m m u n i c a t i o n w as a s t i r r i n g p l e a

fu rtheran ce

w h ich a l l had in

is

C loser t i e s

t h a t t h e man who w r o t e

He c o n t e n d e d t h a t d i s u n i t y

the

that

in

through

i n 1 8 8 0 come f o r w a r d w i t h a s p e c i f i c

e ffe ctin g peace.

ods in

o f others

some s e l f - e x a m i n a t i o n a nd t o

It

for

t h a t t h e Synod h a s

th e o lo g ic a l professors

con gregation s

stud en ts;

con­

w hich ought and o u g h t

another,

0£?,'r E . L » K . , V I

t o be r e c o g n i z e d

to r e s u lt

so th at

in a

th ey could r e c -

(1879) , 2 8 9 -9 9 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

390 ogn ize

on e a n o t h e r a s o r t h o d o x L u t h e r a n s y n o d s

operate

in

en em ies.

the

He p r o p o s e d t h a t

C onference

s h o u l d be s e t

th eologian s in the

work o f G o d ' s k i n g d o m and i n

sors

adjustm ent o f s t r i f e

Dr. Bang, in

the

the n e x t

G isle

and t h e

and F .

P ettersen,

expenses.

com m ittee

were P r o f e s ­

B ish o p G rim elund,

Both synods would sh a re

Approval o f

from t h e

the

su ggestion

and Io w a D i s t r i c t s

h o ld in g a m eetin g w ith the

C onference

i n g f o u r men f r o m N o r w a y — C a s p a r l , S . Brunn— b u t w it h o u t

w an ted t o be c a r e f u l n o t

to g iv e

at a l l d ecid ed

Johnson,

the

three

d istrict

in fa v o r

and v o t e d i n f a v o r

g reat en th u siasm .^

com m ittee

C o n f e r e n c e . - 1-

R a s m u s s e n ' s p r o p o s a l was d i s c u s s e d The E a s t e r n

or fo u r

The N o r ­

t h e S y n o d ' s d e s i g n a t i n g an a r r a n g e m e n t s

t o work w i t h a s i m i l a r

m eetin gs.

of u n ity .

as p o s s i b i l i t i e s

S c h i B r n and L a a c h e .

payment o f t r a v e l l i n g

would n e c e s s i t a t e

G rim elund,

of

of in v it­

and p a s t o r

Members o f t h e S y n o d

im p ression

that

of d o ctrin a l errors

D istrict,

o f f a v o r i n g the h o l d i n g o f such a c o n f e r e n c e ,

passed

severe

had a f a i t h

in the p a s t .^

th ey had p o s ­

s i b l y been g u i l t y in stea d

judgm ent upon th e C o n f e r e n c e ,

and c o n f e s s i o n

its

to t h i s m eeting to a s s i s t

attain m en t

suggested

Johnson,

a nd p a s t o r s

again st

summer and t h a t t h r e e

f r o m Norway s h o u l d b e i n v i t e d

C aspar!,

the b a t t l e

a m e e t i n g b e t w e e n t h e S y n o d and t h e

for

w e g i a n t h e o l o g i a n s whom h e

and c o u l d t h e n c o ­

to ta lly d ifferen t

sta tin g

The M i n n e s o t a

that

the

from t h a t fo u n d

la tter in

■^The t e x t o f R a s m u s s e n ’ s l e t t e r may be f o u n d i n B e r g h , Den n o r s k l u t h e r s k e K i r k e s H i s t o r i c i A m e r i k a , p p . 2 8 S - S 8 . 2

S y n o d ic a l R ep o rt, E a ste r n D i s t r i c t , the Synod, 1 8 8 0 , p p . 3 7 f . ; S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e I o w a D i s t r i c t , ' the' Synod', 'l8 '5 0, p p . 62, 66. 5 Supra, p. 3 0 6 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

t h e Word o f God and t h e The s u g g e s t i o n

s y m b o l i c a l b ook s o f th e L uth eran Church*1

o f Rasm ussen,

inasm uch as a l l

three

thus,

d istricts

foundered for la c k o f support

had t o a g ree

in order f o r i t

to

become a s y n o d i c a l r e s o l u t i o n . I t was R a s m u s s e n ’ s i n t e n t receive tim e

the

t o be

rio d ica l,

a tten tio n

recep tion

in

at the

the

op in ion

the C o n fe r e n c e ,

but i t

1880 m e e t i n g . 2

commended t h e

The e d i t o r e x p r e s s e d

the p r o p o s a l sh ou ld a l s o

o f the C o n fe r e n c e ,

con sid ered however,

that

sp irit that

was n o t made i n

The C o n f e r e n c e ’ s p e ­

o f R asm ussen's

it

le tte r .

would p rod u ce a f r i e n d l y

as w e l l as t h e hope

that

a free

con­

f e r e n c e w o u ld so o n be p o s s i b l e . ^ The t i m e p ro p o sa l.

However,

con sid erab le a nd i t w ith

was n o t r i p e

set

it

served

th ough t about

the

acceptance

the v a lu a b le top ic

of

ten years

la ter.

P . A* R a s m u s s e n a r e v e r y in un ion

B oth the

sig n ifica n t

in

o f R asm ussen's

purpose o f prod u cin g

free

i n m o t io n a movement f o r u n i o n

success

in terest

the

for

conferences

and u n i o n

t h a t w a s t o be c r o w n e d

date

18 8 0 and t h e name

the s t o r y o f th e d e v e l o p i n

among N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n s .

1

S y n o d ic a l R e p o r t, th e M in n e so ta D i s t r i c t , the Synod, 1880, pp. 74 f". p B e r g h , Den n o r s k l u t h e r s k e K i r k e s H i s t o r i c i A m e r i k a , p p . 288, 298. ® " F r i k o n f e r e n t s e s a g e n , ” L u t h e r a n e r e n , XIV (1880), 204. The r e a c t i o n o f t h e e d i t o r o f t h e p e r i o d i c a l o f t h e H a u g e a n s , Bud b a e r e n , to R asm ussen's s u g g e s t io n i s o f n o t e . He s u g g e s t s thaU u n i on e f f o r t s b e t w e e n S y n o d a n d C o n f e r e n c e a r e a p t t o be h i n d e r e d b y c o n f l i c t s o f p e r s o n a l i t i e s , b e l i e v i n g a s he d o e s t h a t p e r s o n a l ! t i e s h a v e a c c o u n t e d f o r much o f t h e p r e c e d i n g s t r i f e . He b e l i e v e s t h a t t h e tv/o s y n o d s may be a g r e e d i n e s s e n t i a l s . At a n y r a t e , t h e a re a t one in r e g a r d t o w o r s h i p p r a c t i c e s , b o t h u s i n g th e p a s t o r a l g a r b , c h a n t i n g in th e a l t a r s e r v i c e , and t h e l a y i n g - o n o f han ds in c o n n e c tio n w ith a b s o l u t i o n . " K i r k e l i g e E f t e r r e t n i n g e r ," B u d b a e r e n , XII (1880), 111.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

392

D uring th e p art in

en tire

d e c a d e R a s m u s s e n was t o p l a y a v a l u a b l e

th e u n io n m ovement.

fe r en ce s h eld

He was a r e g u l a r a t t e n d a n t

and t o o k a p r o m i n e n t p a r t

in

them, o f t e n

of the sp eak in g

an a r b i t r a t i n g w o r d when i t

was n e e d e d . ^

prom in en t A n t i - M is s o u r ia n s ,

and f r o m 1 8 8 8 and on he was i n t h e

t h i c k o f t h i n g s when t h e y a s s u m e d t h e m ent.

He wa s o n e o f t h e m o s t

leadership

of

He made a n o t h e r i m p o r t a n t c o n t r i b u t i o n t o

i n d i r e c t way.

sen.

in

He w a s t h e

ch ief

m is s io n m eetin gs decade.

the

in

the

cause

of fo reig n m ission s

in stig a to r

in

eig h ties.

degree

in

purpose

of stim u la tin g chosen

i n an

g e n e r a t i o n was

t h a n was R a s m u s ­

There were s i x

in a l l

n a t u r e and t h u s

in

general that

con trib u ted

o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g b e t w e e n members o f t h e v a r i o u s

synods,

wa s a l w a y s

a d d itio n

cause

the h o ld in g o f s e v e r a l

They were i n t e r - s y n o d i c a l in

to a g rea ter

the u n io n move­

th is

No N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n p a s t o r o f h i s

m o re i n t e r e s t e d

con­

to

con trib u tin g e f f e c t iv e l y fo reig n m ission

chairm an o f t h e s e

to t h e i r prim ary

in terest,

p . A* R a s m u s s e n

in te r -s y n o d ic a l m ission m eet­

in g s.2 The C o n f e r e n c e s

o f the E i g h t i e s

The S t . A n s g a r F r e e C o n f e r e n c e , The f i r s t eig h ties

wa s e x t r e m e l y

Ju n e 2 4 - 3 0 , D istrict ence

o f the s e r i e s

1881.

o f the

convened.

Synod,

o f co n feren ces h e ld during

sig n ifica n t.

P a s t o r B.

1881

I t me t a t S t .

J . Muus, p r e s i d e n t

took the

in itia tiv e

in

2II. A- L a r s e n ,

op.

g ettin g

the

confer­

to a free

99.

c it.,

Iowa,

o f the M in n e so ta

I n t h e S p r i n g o f 1 8 8 1 an i n v i t a t i o n

■^Biflrn, o p . c i t . , p .

Ansgar,

the

pp. 370-419.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

con-

393 f e r e n c e was j o i n t l y Hauge’ s Synod,

extended by the p r e sid e n ts

and t h e

Synod,

M i n n e s o t a and I o w a D i s t r i c t s Eastern D i s t r ic t

o f the

in d iv id u a ls , however, The i n v i t a t i o n

was

that

(a ll

an d b y t h e v i c e - p r e s i d e n t

la tter.

They ex ten d ed

s ig n e d by J .

o f the

Ole A n d r e w s o n ,

had added h i s

as w e l l as by t h e p r e s i d e n t s

Preus, s y n o d ) .•*-

p resid en t

name t o

the

O lsen

B.

and t h e

o f the

in v ita tio n

d iscu ss

seven

in v ita tio n

lik ely

t o be

and w e r e

theses

stated

o b jectio n a b le

to

o rg a n iza tio n s. A* E .

in

Boyum

a n d A.

a lso .^

ex isten t d isu n ity ,

the r e s u l t a n t

o f church work,

the

t o meet in

d e a lin g w ith th e

of S in s.”

as

l a t e r Muus r e p o r t e d

t o N orwegian L u th era n s

t i o n and th e F o r g i v e n e s s the

tim e

o f the

Norwegian A ugustana Synod,

reduced e f f e c t i v e n e s s

e x t e n d e d an i n v i t a t i o n conference to

(C onference),

A short

o f the

In v ita tio n

J . M u u s , TJ. V . K o r e n ,

E x p r e s s i n g so rrow o v e r th6 scan d al,

the

r a t h e r t h a n on b e h a l f o f t h e i r

( H a u g e ’ s S y n o d ) , H. A. M ikkelsen

o f the C onference,

sign ers

a free

to p ic,

”pLe d e m p -

The t h e s e s w e r e p r i n t e d w i t h a n o n - c o n t r o v e r s i a l manner n o t

any o f

the p a r t i c i p a n t s

as to

con­

t e n t .3 The c o n f e r e n c e w a s w e l l a t t e n d e d , 341 d e l e g a t e s

reg istered ,

an d 1 6 4 f r o m t h e

Synod;

there b ein g a t o t a l

o f w h ic h 138 w ere

the

from th e

of

C onference

r e m a i n d e r w e r e f r o m H a u g e *s S y n o d ,

the

^The i n v i t a t i o n a p p e a r e d i n t h e r e s p e c t i v e s y n o d i c a l p e r i ­ o d i c a l s d u r i n g t h e month o f A p r i l , 1 8 8 1 ; L u t h e r a n e r e n , XV ( 1 8 8 1 ) , 101 f . ; E v a n g e l ! s k L u t h e r s k K i r k e t l d e n d e , VIIT ( 1 8 8 1 ) , 2 1 6 - 1 8 ; B u d b a e r e r ' e n , X I I I ( 1 8 8 1 ) ,' 63 f . ^ " T i l E v a n g . - L u t h . K i r k e t l d e n d e t , tt E . L . K . , V I I I

(1881),

288. ^ "Indb ydelse

til

F r i k o n f e r e n t s , ” L u t h e r a n e r e n , XV ( 1 8 8 1 ) ,

101 f .

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without p e r m is s ^

394

N orwegian A u gu stan a Synod, filia te d .^

A rem arkable

ch aracterized '•fru its

o f red em p tion ."

and E . A . P r e u s

to p ic

sp irit

the d i s c u s s i o n ,

a nd j u s t i f i c a t i o n

str ife ,

were

the

stated

that

g iv e up th e u s e

because

it

len t

itse lf

aspect of

M issourians

a nd r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s

extrem ely s i g n i f i c a n t

of a b solu tion

However,

conference

had been t h e i r C h rist's

in

th e old and on t h i s

a p p e a r e d more w i l l i n g

to

The S y n o d men w e r e w i l l i n g " ju stifica tio n

w ith in

th is

of

the w orld ,"

c o n f e r e n c e was t h e d i s ­

th e Synod l a t e r of

the

other

known a s

the A n ti-

s y n o d s w e r e more n e a r ­

th a n had b een p r e v i o u s l y r e a l i z e d . for

the f u tu r e

a w ay t h a t was q u i t e

opponents.

accep tab le

th is.

pas­

th em selves a t to

The t o p i c b e i n g c o n s i d e r e d ,

red em ption , p erm itted

T h i s was

o f th e u n io n m ovem ent,

t o r P . A» R a s m u s s e n a n d P r o f e s s o r S c h m i d t e x p r e s s e d th is

B o t h Koren

to m isu n d erstan d in g.3

elem ent

same s p i r i t

sid es

exp ression ,

the

the

the

a c t u a l l y m e a n t t h a n f o r m e r l y and w e re

covery th at

of

cen tered about

same o p i n i o n . 2

a ccu sa tion s.

The m o s t n o t a b l e

ly

and u n d e r s t a n d i n g

th ey did not want to r e s u r r e c t the o ld

o f both

of the

or u n a f­

o f t h e w o r l d was b r o u g h t u p ,

others

not so h a sty w ith t h e ir to

w hich c h i e f l y

o f the

o cca sio n r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s the

good -w ill

avoided i n s o f a r as p o s s i b l e .

ju stifica tio n

u n d e r s t a n d what

of

The o l d d o c t r i n a l i s s u e s

and o t h e r s w e r e

of

th e Sw edish A ugustana Synod,

t h o s e who that of

B o t h S c h m i d t a nd R a s m u s s e n

^L. L a r s e n a nd J . A. B e r g h , R e f e r a t a f F o r h a n d l i n g e r n e i e n F r i k o n f e r e n c e i S t . A n s g a r , Io w a / . . , l&Bl' ( D e c o r a h , I o w a : Den N o r s k s Syn 'odes T r y k k e r i , lB'8T)r, pH! 66'; " F r T k o n f e r e n t s e n i S t . A n s g a r , " L u t h e r a n e r e n , XV ( 1 8 8 1 ) , 2 3 1 . ^ l . L a r s e n and B e r g h , Ib id .,

pp.

23,

25,

op. c i t . , p.

25.

and p a s s i m .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

395

found s e r i o u s

f a u l t w ith the

w o r l d , ” b o t h on

term ,

T,t h e

Rasmussen r a t h e r

the

p r e v i o u s p o s i t i o n he h a d h e l d a s

put

in to

len g th that passages

term by the Synod,

to

f o r he

as Rom. 5 : 1 8 and I I C o r .

o f the Synod.

C h r i s t ’ s redem ption in t o w ha t h e

content

to

to prove

references

the

such key

the

criticism

about

the

th at n e a r ly everyone

Syn od.^ by

fru its could

lo n g s t a n d in g bone o f c o n t e n t i o n ,

to p reviou s

statem ents

o f Schm idt

of sub­ the as

that

and s t a t e d

still

the m i s c o n c e p t i o n would a r i s e

ex­

ana R a s m u s s e n

o f t h e w o r l d and f o r g i v e n e s s

t h a t w h a t t h e y h a d p r e v i o u s l y t a u g h t was w h a t he

flict

than

some

K o r e n made a l o n g a d d r e s s w h i c h c o n t a i n e d

ju stifica tio n

K o r e n w as a f r a i d

at

in terp reted

severe

Schm idt spoke

su ch term s

o f the G o s p e l,

about the

sought

or t e a c h i n g ,

sa id w ith out n e c e s s a r i l y b e in g agreed as to

Koren p o i n t e d o u t .® ten siv e

content,

had

and i t s

c l e a r l y broke w ith

5:19 d if f e r e n t l y

R a s m u s s e n ' s p r e s e n t a t i o n was s u b j e c t e d

scrib e

the

n o ted Lutheran church f a t h e r s

rep resen ta tiv es

o f the

the grounds o f h i s t o r i c a l L utheran u sa g e

b e i n g e a s i l y m isunderstood.-*-

th at

jxistif'ication

b eliev ed .

that

the

con­

t h r o u g h t h e y e a r s h ad b e e n o n l y a b o u t w o r d s a n d e x p r e s s i o n s

instead

o f stemming from e s s e n t i a l d i f f e r e n c e s . 4

o f L utheraneren, C onference

11.

F alk G je r tsen ,

Rasmussen

^ Ib icU ,

and S c h m i d t

pp. 23,

stated

that

at

"in r e a l i t y went

The new e d i t o r the S t . over

Ansgar

to the

Con­

34, 49.

£ l b i d . , p p . 3 3 - 3 7 . Rom. 5 ; 1 8 : "Then a s o n e m a n ' s t r e s ­ p a s s l e d t o c o n d e m n a t i o n f o r a l l m e n , s o one m a n ' s a c t o f r i g h t ­ e o u s n e s s l e a d s t o a c q u i t t a l and l i f e f o r a l l men, I I Cor. 5 : 1 9 : "God was i n C h r i s t , r e c o n c i l i n g t h e w o r l d t o h i m s e l f , n o t c o u n t i n g t h e i r t r e s p a s s e s a g a i n s t t h e m , and e n t r u s t i n g t o u s t h e m e s s a g e o f r eco n cilia tio n ." (R ev ised Standard V e r s i o n ) . ® Ibid . ,

p.

55.

4 I b i d . , pp.

50-58.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

396

f e r e n c e ’ s s i d e ” when t h e y g a v e u p t h e

d octrin e

ca tio n

the e x p r e s s io n

in

o f t h e w o r l d and d e c l a r e d t h a t

about

the j u s t i f i ­ is

not

found

t h e L u t h e r a n s y m b o l s a nd t h a t t h e L u t h e r a n C h u rc h h a s n o t

adopted i t

as the

exp ression

in d o c tr in a l p o s itio n

is

A n s g a r m e e t i n g do n o t

reveal

jected h is

ev id en t,

form er p o s i t i o n ,

more t h a n o n e

of it s

in terp reta tio n

th e m in utes

a lth o u g h he co n ced es o f the

c o n t r o v e r s y had b e g u n ,

d octrin e

of

of

but

Rasm ussen*s

sh ift

o f the S t.

t h a t Schm idt a c t u a l l y had a s y e t

E lectio n

j x i s t i f i c a t ion

d o ctrin e.^

the

v a lid ity

controverted d o c tr in e s .

and t h i s

re­

new a t t i t u d e

of The

tow ards

t h e w o r l d m u s t be v i e w e d i n

the

th at

con­

te x t.2 On o n l y one i s s u e what s t r a i n e d .

was t h e p r e v a l e n t

The d e c i s i o n

to h old

i n g y e a r m e t w i t h no o p p o s i t i o n , the

com m ittee

sio n . gates

m ainder o f

the

conference

fo llo w ­ of

on t h e

com m ittee

th e Synod d e l e ­

com m ittee, w h ile

was a s

the

rest

follo w s;

of

the

re­

th e members.

C onference--

O l s e n a n d C. L . C l a u s e n ; H a u g e *s S y n o d - - 0 . H a n s o n ; N o r w e g i a n

J . M uus.^

th is

A p p a ren tly the

procedure

^"R eferat (1881), 315. ^Supra,

S y n o d — p . A. S c h m id t ,

Synod r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s

in order to have B.

p r o b a b ly w ould not have

XV

the

some­

selectio n

was d e c i d e d t h a t

as a w hole ch o se

Augustana S y n o d - - 0 . H a t l e s t a d ; B.

conference

b u t t h e manner o f

it

c h o o s e t h e i r memb ers

The f i n a l ma k eu p o f t h e J.

sp irit

t o make n e c e s s a r y a r r a n g e m e n t s c a u s e d some d i s s e n ­

A fte r a long d is c u s s io n could

a free

am icable

resu lted

J . Muus on t h e

if

af F rik on feren tsen

p p . 342 f .

the i

en tire St.

U. K oren ,

in sisted

a nd

on

c o m m ittee, w hich

c o n f e r e n c e had

A nsgar," L u th e r a n e r e n ,

^ L a r s e n and B e r g h ,

op.

c it., pp.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

64-66.

397

voted

s i n c e Muus w as n o t p o p u l a r w i t h C o n f e r e n c e memb ers i n p a r ­

tic u la r.^ pate

That th e Synod r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s

in d e v o tio n a l s e r v ic e s

were w i l l i n g

and common p r a y e r on t h i s

v i e w e d a s an e v i d e n c e o f a more m o d e r a t e a t t i t u d e

to p a r t i c i ­ o c c a s i o n was

than th a t o f

p reviou s y e a r s .2 In

c o m m e n t i n g on t h e S t .

o f b o th C onference cu ssio n s

Ansgar C onferen ce th e

and S y n o d w e r e a g r e e d t h a t t h e

p r o d u c e d no r e a l r e s u l t

were d i s c u s s e d , but the m eetings

sin ce

p eriod icals

d o ctrin a l d is ­

c h ie f ly p oin ts

o f agreement

t h a t o n e m a j o r a c c o m p l i s h m e n t was t h e f a c t

were d i s c u s s e d

in a s p i r i t

of frien d lin ess

that

w ith ou t

personal b it te r n e s s .3 S v e r d r u p and c h u r c h U n i o n S p e c i a l n o t e must be t a k e n o f th e Georg S verdrup o f th e tim e.

P rior

to

the

C onference

ca llin g

tow ards

o f the

e x p r e s s e d h i m s e l f on t h e s u b j e c t . church

strife

as a b i t t e r

church p r i n c i p l e s for peace. sired the

the

He b e l i e v e d

then

the u n ion o f

a conference

t h e u n i o n movement a t

conference He s p o k e

c o g n iza n t o f the in

at S t.

o f the

A n sg a r he had

sca n d a lizin g of

l o n g i n g o f the

s h o u l d be a s f o l l o w s :

synods.

th is

free peop le

a t t a i n i n g th e u n io n w hich he d e ­

cooperation

amongst

an a w a k e n i n g o f

con gregation s,

and

He r e g a r d e d R a s m u s s e n ' s p r o p o s a l f o r

i n w h ic h Norwegian t h e o l o g i a n s

^■"Frikonferentsen i

of p rofessor

n e c e s s i t y in the w orking out

that

order o f events

con gregation s,

fin a lly

and was

attitu d e

St.

would p a r t i c i p a t e

to

A n s g a r , " L u t h e r a n e r e n , XV ( 1 8 8 1 ) ,

232. 2Ib ld .

V III

^ I b id ., p. ( 1 8 8 jL)', 5 2 8 .

231;

" F rik onferen cen i

St.

A n s g a r ," E. L . K . ,

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

398 be a c a u s e

for

j o y and a g r e a t

en cou ragem en t.1

Synod’ s in s is t e n c e

upon a g r e e m e n t t o i t s

b a s ic hin drance

co o p era tio n .^

ob stacles

to

to

c h u r c h u n i o n , he

liste d

He p o i n t e d

a c t e r a s num ber t w o - - i t s

in clin a tio n

he

sa id ,

and s u s p i c i o n .

th at

C atechism and^the

fu lly

recogn ized ; When t h e

e n c e was p r i n t e d o f the

sign ed

retra ctio n ence.

con ten tiou sn ess, is

for

was b e i n g made i n efforts

oth erw ise, text

o f the

petty

t o be e f f e c t e d , a nd t h e

old

He w as o f

that d ir e c tio n .

controversy in v ita tio n

is

of

A

se lf-g o v e r n m e n t are

p erfen ab le

to p e a c e .3

Ansgar C o n fe r ­

in L u th er a n e r en , Sverdrup

ad vised

a ll

away fr o m t h e

in v ita tio n

p resid en t

proposed o f the

contend ing th at Sverdrup,

for h av­

i n s i s t e d upon a

as

made t h e b a s i s

for d i s ­

t h e C a t e c h i s m was a d e ­

ed ito r

o f L uth eraneren, Sam fund,"

2I b ld . , p . 144. 3

" p o r e n i n g m e l l e m v o r e K i r k e s a m f u n d , " L u t h e r a n e r e n , XV 87 f . ' ^ ’’I n d b y d e l s e

til

He

judgm ent upon th e C o n fe r ­

opposed to h a v in g t h e s e s

such a p u rp o se .^

conference.

C onference,

w ith ou t h a v in g f i r s t

conference,

" frien d s

S v e r d r u p , " p o r e n i n g m e l l e m de n o r s k - l u t h e r s k e K v a r t a l - S k r i f t , VI ( 1 8 8 0 ) , 1 3 9 -4 4 .

(1881),

the

t o a c h i e v e u n i o n m u s t be t h a t

o f th e M innesota D i s t r i c t ' s

the

char­

the S t .

o f Johan O ls e n ,

the

of

to

He a l s o w as

cu ssion a t quate

to

con gregation ’s r ig h t

C atech ism " to s ta y

was c r i t i c a l in g

a ll

w ith

to a N orwegian t r a i t

N o r w e g i a n s m u s t be o v e r c o m e .

in

as a

Synod’s a llia n c e

I f any sound u n i o n

some p r o g r e s s

major c o n s i d e r a t i o n the

the

th e Synod must b r e a k w i t h M i s s o u r l a n i s m ,

" p a r t y - s p i r i t " o f the opin ion

d o c tr in a l theses

And Wh en h e Sp 0 k e o f t h e m a j o r

M i s s o u r i a s nu mb er o n e .

jea lo u sy ,

He r e g a r d e d t h e

p rik o n feren ts , " i b i d .,

pp.

102 f .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

399

w rote

several a r tic les

Sverdrup, however, feren ce

in h is

in o p p o s i t i o n

d id not

express

fu lm in ation s

to the proposed

the

a gain st

a ttitu d e

the

St.

J.

C.

-Jacobsen’ s a r t i c l e

S v e r d r u p and a l s o b y t h e w ell-rep resen ted the

at S t.

fact

that

Ansgar,

o f the e n t i r e

Ansgar m e e t in g .

w a s s p e a k i n g f o r h i m s e l f a n d t h e New T e n d e n c y . from P a s t o r

conference

T his i s

in L utheraneren

the C onferen ce

in

s u g g e s t i n g t h a t m utual c o n fid e n c e

1881,

be m a n ife s t ca lly

through c o o p e r a tio n

co-op eration

rejected

in d iv id u a ls,

i n t h e w or k o f

the p r o p o s a l ,

any such c o - o p e r a t i o n , good means It

S v e r d r u p a nd t o th e Synod

a nd f r i e n d l i n e s s

church work,

of

suggesting

foreign m issio n s.

could sp ecifi­

But th e

Synod

s t a t i n g t h a t d o c t r i n a l u n i t y must p r e c e d e and c o m m e n d in g t h e f r e e

is

not

our t a s k

con v ictio n s:

to

con sid er at

conference

as a

len g th Sverdrup’ s id eas

He w r o t e many a r t i c l e s The f u n d a m e n t a l n e e d i s

pow erfu l church o r g a n iz a tio n but tion s

lead ers

for a tta in in g u n ity .^

about church u n io n . b a sic

addressed a l e t t e r

in

ev id en t

a c t u a l l y was

New T e n d e n c y w e r e c o n s p i c u o u s b y t h e i r a b s e n c e . ^ as p r iv a te

He

in answer to

a lth o u g h th e prom inent

O fted al,

C on ­

in w hich s p i r i t u a l l i f e

for

w ill

e x p r e s s in g the not th at

the d e v e lo p m e n t

flo u rish ;

un ion

same

of a la rg e, of congrega­

s h o u l d be

on

. g . , "Som F a a r , d e r i k k e h a v e H y r d e , " i b i d . , p p . 1 3 5 - 3 8 , and " L u t h e r a n e r e n s S t a n d p u n k t i F o r e n i n g s s a g e n , 11 i b f c ? . , p p . 1 4 9 - 5 2 . I n t h e l a t t e r h e s a y s , "We b e l i e v e w i t h c e r t a i n t y t h a t Muus' f r e e c o n f e r e n c e i s no w ay o f p e a c e , and we do n o t i n t e n d , u n d e r t h e p r e se n t c ir c u m sta n c e s , to e n te r in to i t . There have been a l l to o many d i s t r e s s i n g r e s u l t s o f s u c h f r e e c o n f e r e n c e s p r e v i o u s l y . " I b i d . , p . 152.

p

J . C. ens U d ta le ls e r

J a c o b s e n , "N ogle B em aerkninger i A n le d n in g R ed a k to n om F r i k o n f e r e n t s e n , " i b i d . , p p . 1 7 4 - 7 7 .

^ S yn od ical R eport,

the

Synod,

1 8 8 1 , p p . 39 f .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

400

the b a s is

o f t h e C a t e c h i s m and t h e L u t h e r a n c o n f e s s i o n s ,

c o o p e r a t i o n on t h e p a r t o f s h o u ld p r e ce d e any u n io n ; g reg a tio n s

A ugustanans,

in

an d H a u g e *s S y n o d ,

Sverdrup

conferences,

o f the

con­

He was o p p o s e d t o a h a s t y ,

pre­

the

C onference,

d esp ite

D espite h is

in itia l

r e fu s a l to p a r t ic ip a t e

it

it

in to

and b e c a m e the

rig h t

one o f i t s

d irect

1888 u n t i l th e

u n i o n o f 1 8 9 0 no o t h e r man was o f

in determ in in g

th e form t h a t

the union

Subsequent Free C onference a t

R oland,

ch an n els.

Iowa,

fr o m O c t o b e r 12 t o

an i n v i t a t i o n

f r o m tw o c o n g r e g a t i o n s ,

18,

1882,

the o th er to Hauge' s S y n o d .2

request

S t . Ansgar C o n fe r e n c e

fiv e

theses

of C h rist's

as

the p l a c e

located .

but

Local p eop le,

however,

in

response the to

to

Norwe­ the

d e a lin g w ith f a it h

redem ption are a p p ro ­

mhe c o n f e r e n c e was n o t

one,

c o n f e r e n c e met i n

In r e s p o n s e

p r i a t e d were p r e p a r e d . 3 the p r e v io u s

from

greater in flu en ce

one b e l o n g i n g t o

g i a n S y n o d an d

the f r u i t s

In f a c t ,

hop­

assum ed.1

1882. --T h is

Iowa,

t h e means w h ereb y

lea d ers,

C onferences

S to r y County,

as

Norwegian

some m i n o r d i s a g r e e m e n t s ,

in g thereby to

the

the

when t h e u n i o n mo ve m e nt g a i n e d momentum,

threw h i m s e l f in t o

of

theses;

awakened c o n g r e g a t i o n s

s o v e r e i g n t y and l i b e r t y

but he b e l i e v e d t h a t

ready fo r u n io n .

free

the

s h o u l d be g u a r a n t e e d .

mature u n io n ,

were

sp iritu a lly

not

so w e l l a t t e n d e d

o f m e e t i n g was n o t c e n t r a l l y

showed a g r e a t d e a l o f i n t e r e s t

■^For a h e l p f u l d i s c u s s i o n o f S v e r d r u p ’ s a t t i t u d e t o w a r d t h e q u e s t i o n o f c h u r c h u n i o n , s e e H e l l a n d , Ge org S v e r d r u p , p p . 127-39. 2 "Fra Komi t e e

f o r F r i k o n f e r e n c e n , ” E. L. K . ,

IX ( 1 8 8 2 ) ,

238 f . 15I b i d . ;

also

L a r s e n and B e r g h ,

op.

c it.,

p.

67.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

401

In th e feren ce

sessions.-*-

L eading p a s to r s

o f t h e New T e n d e n c y i n

again d id not p a r t i c i p a t e .

However,

a fa m ilia r

t h e C on­

figu re

of

a f e w y e a r s b a c k a p p e a r e d i n t h e p e r s o n o f A u g u s t W e e n a a s , who h a d r e t u r n e d f r o m N o r w a y t o be p r e s i d e n t sch ool lo ca ted

i n Red W i n g .

i c a W e e n a a s w as much o f t h e sid era b le

D uring h i s

o l d p u g n a c i o u s n e s s w as

in terest

Lutheran d o c t r in e One l o o k s

L utheraneren, found In the

gone,

stay

i n Amer­

and h e m a n i f e s t e d a c o n ­

of fa ith , in v ain

at R oland,

d id not

cen terin g

about the

r e v e a l any c o n s e q u e n t i a l d i s ­

fo r any r e p o r t

a nd o n l y a b r i e f r e s u m e

o f the

conference

o f the p r o c e e d in g s

is

in t o be

S yn od's K ir k e tld e n d e .

s h o u l d come o u t

o f the

the d e s i r e

free

that

conferences,

i t was d e c id e d t h a t

the

la st

s h o u ld be d e v o t e d t o p r a c t i c a l m a t t e r s . ^ to h old

second b r i e f

in th e u n io n m ovem ent.2

Weenaas e x p r e s s e d

Rasm ussen,

o f th e Haugean

a much m i l d e r man t h a n h e h a d p r e v i o u s l y b e e n ,

The d o c t r i n a l d i s c u s s i o n s

u n ity .^

and p r o f e s s o r

a free

conference

some p r a c t i c a l r e s u l t s and upon m o tio n o f p .

session

of

the

a

«

conference

The p r o p o s a l o f R a s m u s s e n

the n ex t y e a r w ith a b s o l u t i o n

as th e

•*"0n O c t o b e r 14 t h e r e g i s t e r e d d e l e g a t e s n u m b e r e d 1 6 5 , d i s ­ t r i b u t e d as f o l l o w s : 9 6 f r o m S y n o d , 4 0 f r o m H a u g e »s S y n o d , 27 from C o n f e r e n c e , 2 from N o rw eg ia n A u g u s ta n a S y n o d . "F rik on feren cen i S t o r y C o . , I o w a , " 5 . L . K . , IX ( 1 8 8 2 ) , 6 9 6 . p Weenaas h i m s e l f w r o te t h a t he had r e t u r n e d t o A m erica p a r t i c u l a r l y b e c a u s e o f h i s i n t e r e s t i n t h e u n i o n m ove m e n t a s s o c i ­ ated w ith th e fr e e c o n fe r e n c e s. A f s k e d s o r d t i l de n o r s k e v a n g . l u t h e r s k e M e n i g h e d e r i A m e r i c a (Red W i n g , M i n n . : Hauge Sy n od 's s T r y k k e r x f 1 8 8 5 ) , p i 3TI ^ "F rikon ferencen i

S to ry C o .,

Iow a," E. L . K . ,

IX ( 1 8 8 2 ) ,

696. 4 H. C. Holm and S . G u n d e r s o n , R e f e r a t a f F o r h a n d l i n g e r n e i e n p r i k o n f e r e n t s e i R o l a n d , S t o r y C o u n t y , I o w a . . . , "lBffff "(Ch i­ cago : J o h n A n d e r s o n a nd Company, 18'85'y, p i 5^8.'

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

402

to p ic

of d iscu ssio n

H. A» P r e u s v o t e d b etter so

if

the

th a t the

was p a s s e d w i t h o n l y one d i s s e n t i n g v o t e .

again st

free

synods

could d ev o te

in tern a l d is u n itie s

m ittee

that

it

b e c a u s e he b e l i e v e d

c o n f e r e n c e s were

p r e s s i n g i n t e r n a l problem s

proposed

it

o f t w e n t y - e i g h t memb ers b e e s t a b l i s h e d synods

as b ein g g e n u in e ly L utheran,

and i f

s y n o d s were u n i t e d i n

th at the

m endations

as t o

fa ith ,

clo ser a f f ilia t io n

it

that

th ese

Schm idt

to

c o n fe r as to

the

f r o m r e c o g n i z i n g one a n o t h e r s h o u l d be a p p a r e n t t h a t com m ittee

in H olden, M in n esota,

in resp on se

to

an i n v i t a t i o n

N o r w e g i a n S y n o d and H a u g e ’ s S y n o d , J . Muus and $ s t e n H a n s o n .

about

th eir

t h a t a g e n e r a l co m­

the

s h o u l d make r e c o m ­

or c o o p e r a t iv e

e n c e m e t i n Goodh ue C o u n t y , M i n n e s o t a ,

B.

fe lt

of years

work.

T h is,

p a ssed w ith Preus p r o t e s t i n g . ! Conference

1883,

to s o lv in g

t h e work f o r u n i t y .

be recommended t o e a c h synod

h in d r a n c e s w hich p r e v e n te d th e

too,

efforts

O th ers, however,

ought to h asten

i t w o u l d be

suspended fo r a couple

th eir

fir st.

that

the

u se d as

to p ic

a b a sis

of controversy ly h eld

as

to

the y e a r s ,

content o f

confer­

fr o m Jun e 27 t o J u l y 4 ,

fr o m t h e

con gregation s

of the

s e r v e d by the w e ll-k n o w n p a s t o r s centered

T h r e e t h e s e s p r e p a r e d b y Muus w e r e

for d is c u s s io n .

the

free

The d o c t r i n a l d i s c u s s i o n

of a b so lu tio n .

over

1 8 8 5 . --The

A b s o lu t io n had been th e and t h e t w o p o i n t s

the

subject

o f view p r e v i o u s ­

G o s p e l were a g a in d e f e n d e d .^

1I b i d . , pp. 6 6 -7 0 . p A c c o r d in g to E d i t o r Laur. L a rse n o f E . L . K. , ". . . th e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d ’ s d o c t r i n e was p r o p o u n d e d and d e f e n d e d d u r i n g t h e m e e t i n g c l e a r l y a nd p r e c i s e l y b y p a s t o r s Muus , B e c k m a n , S i B r n , and F r i c h , a s w e l l a s b y p r o f e s s o r s S c h m i d t , S t u b , and L a r s e n . To w h a t e x t e n t members o f t h e o t h e r s y n o d s i n r e a l i t y w e r e a t one w i t h o u r d o c t r i n e w as n o t s o c l e a r l y r e v e a l e d a s c o u l d b e w i s h e d . A c h i e f s p o k e s m a n among th e m was P r o f e s s o r W e e n a a s , who f r o m o f

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

403

B u t a s J . A» B e r g h p o i n t s o d ica l l i n e s . 1 w ith in

the

out,

about a b s o l u t i o n ,

such d if f e r e n c e s

as

as e x i s t e d

was n o t

the

to

con sid er

consensus

to u n ite

in the

of a l l w ith in

w h ile

in to

conference

theses

on a b s o l u t i o n u s e d a s a b a s i s

slig h t

a ltera tio n s,

as

the to p ic that

did not w arrant co n tin u e d d i v i s i o n s ,

there

t h e Norwegian

were spokesm en f o r

one t h e

c o n t e n d in g p a r t i e s were s t r i v i n g . ®

f o r the p a r t i c i p a n t s

op in ion

was g e n e r a l l y b e l i e v e d

o f the d o c t r i n e o f a b s o l u t i o n

wa s a g r o u p w h i c h s o u g h t

syn­

t h e r e was n o t f u l l a g r e e m e n t

and i t

Schm idt p o i n t e d o u t ,

previou s e x p o s itio n s

b o th o f the

W hile

t h e r e was a d i s p o s i t i o n

more c a l m l y t h a n p r e v i o u s l y ,

Synod.^

no l o n g e r f o l l o w e d

P a r t i c u l a r l y n o t e w o r t h y was t h e d i v i d e d

N orwegian S y n od.

alth ough t h is

d ifferen ces

to

a t H olden,

truths

for

there

which

I t was p o s s i b l e

su b scrib e

to

the

fo r d is c u s s io n w ith

app roved the t h e s e s

the

read as

three

some

fo llo w s;

1) Through a b s o l u t i o n ( A f l f l s n i n g ) . f o r g i v e n e s s o f s i n s , l i f e , a n d s a l v a t i o n a r e e x t e n d e d b y t h e s e r v a n t o f t h e Word t o o n e o r t o m an y. o l d has b e e n one o f t h e f o r e m o s t p a r t i c i p a n t s in t h e s t r i f e c o n ­ cern in g a b so lu tio n . . . . T h e r e w e r e a l s o some m em b ers o f o u r S y n o d who s h o w e d t h e m s e l v e s t o d i s a g r e e w i t h w h a t o u r S y n o d , a nd i n some c a s e s w h a t t h e y t h e m s e l v e s , h a v e t a u g h t f o r o v e r t w e n t y years. T h e s e , a s w e l l as s e v e r a l from o t h e r s y n o d s , i n s i s t e d th a t ab solu tion is c o n d itio n a l." " F rik o n feren sen i H olden, M inn.," E. L. K . , X ( 1 8 8 3 ) , 453 f . ^Bergh,

Den n o r s k l u t h e r s k e K i r k e s H i s t o r i e

i Am erika,

p.

321. ^ " F r i k o n f e r e n s e n i H o l d e n , M i n n . , " E . L . K. , X ( 1 8 8 3 ) , 4 5 4 ; S . M. K r o g n e s s and T . E g g e n , R e f e r a t a~f F o r h a ' n d l l n g e r n e i en F r ik o n fe r e n c e i H olden, M innesota , 1 6 8 3 ( D e c o r a h , I o w a ; Den N o r s k e S y n o d e s T r y k k e r i , 1 8 8 3 ) , p p . 4^ f . r2

L u t h e r a n e r e n q u o t e s w i t h a p p r o v a l a p o r t i o n o f an a r t i c l e w r i t t e n by Schm idt In L u th e r s k e V id n e s b y r d in w h ic h he p o i n t s o u t t h i s t h r e e - f o l d d i v i s i o n o f ' s e n t i m e n t ’. ^ rik on feren tsen , " L u t h e r a n e r e n , XVII ( 1 8 8 3 ) , 2 7 8 - 8 0 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

404

2) A b s o l u t i o n s h a l l b e g i v e n o n l y t o t h o s e w h o , t h r o u g h t h e p r e a c h i n g o f t h e Law, a r e b r o u g h t t o c o n f e s s t h e i r s i n and t h e i r s o r r o w o v e r i t and w h o , t h r o u g h t h e p r e a c h i n g o f t h e G ospel, are brough t to c o n fe s s t h e i r lo n g in g a f t e r s a l v a t i o n i n C h r i s t , and are brought to a C h r i s t i a n and e a r n e s t i n t e n ­ tio n of r e a l betterm ent. 3) F o r t h o s e who i n t r u t h s o r r o w o v e r s i n and l o n g a f t e r s a l v a t i o n in C h r is t a b s o lu t io n becomes a s t r e n g t h e n in g o f f e l ­ l o w s h i p w i t h C h r i s t ; f o r t h o s e who d o n o t i n t r u t h s o r r o w o v e r t h e i r s i n s a b s o lu t io n becomes a judgm ent. The t h e s e s content as

o f the

to th e

The s p i r i t a cterized up on .3

are e x p r e ss e d Gospel

is

effectiv en ess

in

su c h a way t h a t

not

s q u a r e ly m et,

and p u r p o s e

o f m utual t o le r a n c e

ca se w ith the

set

w as a g a i n

to

the

gard one a n o t h e r

as b r o t h e r s

rep resen tatives

R oland,

a nd H o l d e n ,

con clu sion

synods

d eg ree w hich was

a nd no l o n g e r w or k i n

the

fo rth .^

commented

t o be u n i t e d

A nsgar,

at

is

the d i f f e r e n t

at S t.

to the

common a g r e e m e n t

if

g r e a t m a j o r it y o f the

W eenaas,

as

that

conferen ces h eld

one a n o t h e r . ^

the

of ab solu tion

conferences

S c h m id t was o f th e o p i n i o n th em selves

but

issu e

and c o n s i d e r a t i o n w h i c h h a d c h a r ­

t h e two p r e c e d i n g f r e e

would r e c o g n i z e

the

at

the

the

free

they cou ld r e ­ op p osition

o f th e H olden

to

C onference,

T h e r e was l i t t l e , o r no o p p o s i t i o n , t o e a c h o f t h e t h r e e t h e s e s , when t h e y w e r e v o t e d u p o n . B e f o r e t h e v o t e w as t a k e n , i t was made c l e a r b y t h e c h a i r m a n t h a t t h e v o t i n g i n v o l v e d no s u b ­ s c r i p t i o n t o a new c o n f e s s i o n b u t t h a t i t w o u l d s i m p l y r e v e a l t h e a t t i t u d e o f th e group t o the m a t t e r s w h ich had been d i s c u s s e d . K r o g n e s s and E g g e n , o p . c i t . , p p . 1 24 f . ^When t h e p u b l i s h e d m i n u t e s o f t h e H o l d e n m e e t i n g came o u t , L a u r . L a r s e n w r o t e i n E . L . K« t h a t t h e m i n u t e s c l e a r l y r e ­ v e a l e d t h a t t h e r e s t i l l was~'"noV u n i t y aboirt t h e d o c t r i n e o f a b s o ­ lu tio n . " B o g a n m e l d e l s e ," E . L . K . , XI ( 1 8 8 4 ) , 77 f . He was c o r ­ rect. some h a d c h a n g e d t h e i r v i e w s ; o t h e r s h a d m o d e r a t e d t h e i r s ; m ost r e g a r d e d t h e d i f f e r e n c e s as n o t s u f f i c i e n t l y im p o r t a n t t o j u s t i f y s c h i s m s i n t h e c h u r c h ; b u t t h e r e w ere s t i l l two d i f f e r e n t c o n c e p t s as to a b s o l u t i o n (th e c o n t e n t o f th e G o s p e l ) . 3 " F r i k o n f e r e n t s e n , ,f L u t h e r a n e r e n , XV II ^ " F r i k o n f e r e n t s e n , ,r i b i d . ,

p.

(1883),

280,

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission

215.

405

proposed th a t su lt

it

as i t s

the

three

free

covery that

there

e x i s t e d no d i f f e r e n c e

at did

of

the m eetin g e x p r ess

come u p f o r

co n sid eration

As a r e s u l t

of these

f o r u n io n were in

c o n f e r e n c e s h e ld thus

The A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s the

in

d iv id u a ls.

the

the Synod,

free

co n feren ces."

o f agreem ent,

However, the

free

sem bled th ro u g h th e

rather

than d i f ­

in

t h e Old T e n d e n c y

other in

to a l e s s e r

t o be

synods.

the

C onfer­

degree,

la rgely

in

the

any N o r w e g ia n - D a n is h L u t h e r a n ,

the

synods

agree­

for

to serve

conference on a g e n e r a l

the g a t h e r in g s

coop eration of

synods

the

further conferences.

conferences,

was w e l ­ "free

the

a t R oland, com m ittee

su b seq u en tly

as­

i n t e r - s y n o d i c a l com m ittee

and w e r e c o n f e r e n c e s

op.

synods.

In c o n t r a d i s t i n c t i o n

o fficia lly

in volved .

and E g g e n ,

in ­

a s s u c h w e re now p r e p a r e d t o

recom m endation o f

" jo in t m eetin g s,"

1K r o g n e s s

prospects

conducted

And s o t h e s e m e e t i n g s w e r e d e s i g n a t e d a s

t o make a r r a n g e m e n t s

o g n iz e d by the

conferences

s t a n d in g w i t h any o f

app oin ted r e p r e s e n t a t iv e s

were c a l l e d

but h i s m otion

c o n f e r e n c e s had been convened by i n t e r e s t e d

in a c c o r d w ith

ea rlier

the d i s ­

d iscu ssed

D i s c u s s i o n s were

found th e m s e lv e s

p a rticu la rly

come t o a t t e n d .

the

church,

re­

Men w e r e b e c o m i n g b e t t e r a c q u a i n t e d

T h e y h a d no o f f i c i a l

Any L u t h e r a n ,

to

the

N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a n s , and p e r h a p s

So f a r

a nd t h e y

f a r had been

f i n d in g kindred s p i r i t s

members o f Haug e *s S y n o d , m ent.

P oints

were b e i n g s t r e s s e d .

w i t h one a n o t h e r a n d w e r e

ence,

three

c e r ta in ly b righ ten in g.

a more b r o t h e r l y s p i r i t .

ferences,

act

first

th a t the

in any d o c t r i n e

th o s e m e e tin g s w a r r a n tin g a sch ism in not

opin ion

c i t . , p.

126.

with permission o f the copyright owner Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

rec­

406

The J o i n t M e e t i n g s B e g i n n i n g on N o v e m b e r 1 4 ,

1883,

and d u r i n g s u c c e e d i n g days

an i m p o r t a n t c o m m i t t e e c o n v e n e d i n

Red w i n g ,

composed o f t w e l v e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s

o f the

o f the C o n fe r e n c e ,

fou r o f the

o f Hauge’ s Synod.

T h e s e men w e r e

sen ta tiv es

of th e ir synods.

M inn esota.^ -

N orwegian Synod, e i g h t

Norwegian A ugu stan a Syn od, the

o fficia lly

t h e p r o b l e m o f u n i o n a n d t o make r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s .

m ission .

synods r e v e a le d a rticles, however,

that

sin ce

n o th in g in

the

i t was f e l t

that

co n stitu tio n

the r i g h t s port

of

o f the

to each o f th e

w ith out d i f f i c u l t i e s .

the

same d o c t r i n a l

i n t h e w ay o f u n i o n ;

and w i t h a b s o l u t i o n

of

and s e c t i o n s

N orwegian A u gu stan a Synod d e a l i n g w i t h

the m in is t r y r e q u ir e d

t o be p r e s e n t e d

granted ad ­

the p aragrap h s In the c o n s t i t u t i o n

H auge’ 3 Synod d e a l i n g w i t h s l a v e r y o f the

stood

to d is c u s s

o f the r e s p e c tiv e

t h e y had e s s e n t i a l l y

co n stitu tio n s

repre­

T h i s was a

s e v e r a l o t h e r s were

An e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n s

and f o u r

d esign ated

The c o m m i t t e e ’ s t a s k was

c l o s e d m e e t in g , b u t upon r e q u e s t

I t was

I n s um m ar y,

further

co n sid era tio n .2

A re­

s y n o d s was w o r k e d o u t , n o t its

sp ecific

recom m end ation s,

In the I n t e r im b e tw e e n th e H o ld en c o n f e r e n c e and t h i s o f ­ f i c i a l c o m m i t t e e m e e t i n g t h e v e n e r a b l e p a s t o r C. L . C l a u s e n h a d a s s e m b l e d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e f o u r s y n o d s i n an u n o f f i c i a l g a t h e r i n g a t h i s home i n B l o o m i n g p r a i r i e . M i n n e s o t a , f r o m A u g u s t 21 t o 2 3 . P r e s e n t were J . O l s e n and S . S t r a n d o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e , 0 . J . H a t l e s t a d o f t h e N o r w . A u g u s t a n a n s , B . J . Muus and J . B . F r i c h o f t h e S y n o d , a n d a « W e en a a s a n d S . R . G u n n e r s e n o f H a u g e ’ s Synod. T h e y a g r e e d u p o n some r e s o l u t i o n s w h i c h w e r e p u b l i c i z e d i n the church p a p e r s . The r e s o l u t i o n s e x p r e s s e d a s t r o n g d e s i r e f o r u n i t y o f a l l t h e c h u r c h b o d i e s i n t o o n e s y n o d an d made some p r a c ­ t i c a l s u g g e s t i o n s a s t o how t h a t c o u l d b© a c c o m p l i s h e d . "K irkekronike , " B . L. K. , X ( 1 3 8 3 ) , 5 6 5 . 2Supra,

pp.

124,

228 f .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

407 b a s e d on a r e a l c o n c e r n (1 ) c o n s i d e r what from s c h i s m ;

for u n i t y ,

c o u l d be d o n e

(2 ) s e e

th at

d o ctrin a l d iscu ssio n s from e a c h p a r i s h ,

self

as

to

the theses

ad op ted a t H olden; paratory step s ta tiv es

ance

of

con tin u an ce in

(3)

of

attendance

con sid er

P rin cip les

and a b s o l u t i o n ) ;

the can

of S crip ­

express

it ­

A n s g a r a n d R o l a n d and t h o s e

taken;

com m ittee

and t o make r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s

to

(5)

choose

a r r a n g e for-

to the

represen­ jo in t

synods fo r

the

con­

fu rther­

t h e u n i o n c a u s e . - 1-

synods

p o ssib le

in

the

com m ittee

for

the

composed o f

m eetin g in R ushford, an i n v i t a t i o n c a g o a nd s e t It

to h old the

jo in t

C hicago,

tim e

for first the

rep resen ta tiv es

recen tly

O c t o b e r 1 and 2 , of th ese

f o r m e e tin g as

d e c i d e d upon th e

four

sy n o d s.2

j o i n t m e e t i n g w e r e made b y t h e

first

a ll

the n e c e s s a r y c o m m i t t e e s , making

a j o i n t m e e tin g o f the

M innesota, the

1 8 8 5 . — In a c c o r d w i t h t h e

c o m m i t t e e w h i c h m e t a t Red W i n g ,

1884 d e s i g n a t e d

p rep aration s

P rep aration s

1885.

at S t.

tow ard s u n io n c o u ld be

recom m endation o f the

resu ltin g

c o n s i d e r how s o o n and i n what m a n n e r p r e ­

The J o i n t - M e e t i n g i n

of

th at they are:

d iscu ssed

a s memb ers o f a j o i n t

feren ces

f o r the

ev ils

and p r o f e s s o r s ;

ju stifica tio n ,

(4)

the

n e e d t o be r e s o l v e d b e f o r e u n i o n

(The c o m m i t t e e s u g g e s t s

tu ra l in terp reta tio n ,

each synod sh o u ld :

w ith a r e p r e s e n ta tiv e

p astors

q u e s t i o n s w hich p a r t i c u l a r l y occur

to e lim in a te

j o in t m eetings

be h e l d ,

b esid es

were t h a t

fo llo w in g

jo in t

general

selected

1884.

It

conferences

at a accepted in

C hi­

J a n u a r y 28 t o F e b r u a r y 5 , as the

agenda fo r

^"MBde," L u t h e r a n e r e n , XVII ( 1 8 8 3 ) , 4 1 0 - 1 7 . p "H au ges S y n o d e s A a r s m i J d e , ” L u t h e r a n e r e n , X V I I I 203.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

the

confer-

(1884),

408

ence: 1) Does th e j o i n t c o n f e r e n c e b e l i e v e t h a t th e t h e s e s d i s ­ c u s s e d a t t h e f r e e c o n f e r e n c e s i n S t . A n s g a r and R o l a n d and t h o s e a p p r o v e d i n H o l d e n a r e i n a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e w or d o f God and t h e c o n f e s s i o n o f t h e L u t h e r a n Church? 2 a ) What s h o u l d b e r e q i i i r e d i n o r d e r t h a t t h e c o n g r e g a ­ t i o n s o f t h e f o u r s y n o d s c a n a c k n o w l e d g e one a n o t h e r as Lu­ t h e r a n and b e u n i t e d i n t o o n e s y n o d ? b ) I n t h a t c a s e how o u g h t s u c h a u n i o n be e f f e c t e d ? N o t i c e was g i v e n

th at those

i n g were p a s t o r s , p arish

in the

professors,

g a i n i n g momentum. take

o d ic a l could

give

its

the

in d o c tr in e

of

fr om e a c h

in

in

the

C o n f e r e n c e was now-

t h e movement.

The S y n o d ' s p e r i ­

a p p r o v a l t o much t h a t S v e r d r u p h a d more r e ­ H o w e v e r , when L u t h e r ­ in t h e

a s an i n d i r e c t r e c o g n i t i o n

forthcom ing

o f the

fact

a l r e a d y e x i s t e d b e tw e en the s y n o d s , to

such a c o n c lu s io n ,

sp irit,

on e s u b j e c t s

m e e t and c o n f e r

order

The s e n t i m e n t lay p eo p le.

in the m e e t­

f a v o r o f c h u r c h u n i o n w as

agreem ent to p a r t i c i p a t e

a u n io n istic

terp reta tio n s

in

about church u n io n .^

paper to o k e x c e p t io n dence

sen tim en t

a prom inent p a r t

C hicago c o n f e r e n c e u n ity

and one r e p r e s e n t a t i v e

The New T e n d e n c y i n

c e n tly been w r itin g aneren h a i l e d

to p a r tic ip a te

f o u r s y n o d s . - 1-

The r i s i n g wave o f

ready to

au th orized

to

and c a l l i n g

t h e S y n od

p o in tin g to i t atten tion

that

as e v i ­

to the m is in ­

h i m s e l f t o s im p ly by b e i n g w i l l i n g

to

try to a t t a in u n ity .^

f o r u n i o n was p a r t i c u l a r l y

strong

among t h e

S v e r d r u p ' s c o n t e n t i o n w as t h a t c o n g r e g a t i o n s

of a ll

(1884),

^ ■ " F a e l l e s k o m i t e m i i d e i R u s h f o r d , M i n n . , " E . L . K . , XI 6 7 8 - 8 1 ; " F a e l i e s m 8d e ," i b i d . , p . 7 7 9 . ^ "K irkekrilnike, ” i b i d . , p . i b i d . , pp. 2 1 2 -1 6 .

175;

b eid e,"

®" K i r k e k r i B n i k e , ” i b i d . ,

819.

p.

"Det k i r k e l i g e F o r e n i n g s a r -

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

409

groups were e s s e n t i a l l y agreem ents ticle

among p a s t o r s

in the

one a n d s o o u g h t t o b e u n i t e d b u t d i s ­

and p r o f e s s o r s

Syn od's p e r i o d i c a l

g r e a t e r u n i t y betw een t i m e many o f t h e d isp u tes

at

were a h i n d r a n c e .

conceded th e

con gregation s

fact

t h a t t h e r e was

than betw een p a s t o r s .

c o n g r e g a t i o n a l members knew n o t h i n g o f

t h a t had p ro d u ce d th e

many o f t h e y o u n g e r p a s t o r s

ex isten t

were

in

the

same p o s i t i o n ,

i n many i n s t a n c e s ,

would f e e l

home i n a c o n g r e g a t i o n

o f one

another.

argues

that

the

situ a tio n

and l a c k o f k n o w l e d g e ; lead ers,

rather

than

p eriod era tio n selv es

r e v e a l the

la y

in terest

for

the p a s t and

so th a t

an

a s much a t But th e

a rti­

p a r t ly e x p la in ed by in d if f e r e n c e it

of

is

the

in ter-sy n o d ica l

a nd c h u r c h u n i o n .

in

the duty o f p a sto r s sp irit

o f the

time.-*-

laym en's m e etin g s

and s e n t i m e n t f o r

t o be

o f the

greater coop­

T hese m e e t i n g s were a means i n th em ­

fu rth er d evelop in g

The c o n f e r e n c e p la n s.^

m oreover,

follow ers

R eports o f the

synod as o f is

By t h i s

fragm ented s i t u a t i o n ,

im m igra n t from Norway,

cle

An a r ­

such i n t e r e s t

convened in

The d o c t r i n a l d i s c u s s i o n s

and s e n t i m e n t . ^

C hicago in resu lted

accordance w ith

i n no a p p r e c i a b l e

■^"Det k i r k e l i g e P o r e n i n g s a r b e i a e , " i b i d . , p p . 2 1 4 f . o S e e , f o r ex a m p le , m in u te s o f l a y m e e tin g s h e l d in M inne­ a p o l i s , J a n u a r y 1 0 - 1 2 , 1 8 8 4 , a r r a n g e d f o r by a c o m m it t e e composed o f m em b ers o f H a u g e ' s S y n o d , t h e c o n f e r e n c e , and t h e S y n o d , and w h ich met i n th e S y n o d 's c h u r c h . "LaegmandsmSde, a f h o l d t i M in n e­ a p o l i s den lO d e, l l d e , og 12de Janu ar 1 8 8 4 ," L u t h e r a n e r e n , XVIII (1884), 34-41, 54-57. A s i m i l a r g a t h e r i n g a t N orthw ood, Iowa, May 2 8 - 3 0 , 1 8 8 4 , more s p e c i f i c a l l y d e a l t w i t h t h e p r o b l e m o f u n i o n and e x p r e s s e d t h e o p i n i o n t h a t f u l l a g r e e m e n t i n e v e r y p o i n t o f d o c t r i n e o u g h t n o t be r e q u i r e d f o r c h u r c h u n i o n . "La eg ma nds mf tde , " i b i d . , pp. 180 f . ^ I n c l e m e n t w e a t h e r c u t down t h e a t t e n d a n c e , b u t t h e e v e n ­ t u a l r e g i s t r a t i o n was a s f o l l o w s ; 100 f o r th e Synod (51 p a s t o r s and p r o f e s s o r s ) , 6 1 f o r t h e C o n f e r e n c e ( 3 1 p a s t o r s and p r o f e s s o r s ) , 18 f o r Hauge ’ s S y n o d ( 8 p a s t o r s a nd p r o f e s s o r s ) , and. 12 f o r t h e

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

410

progress

towards

greater u n ity sin ce

th an the

th eses p rev io u sly d iscu ssed at S t.

prolon ged d i s c u s s i o n s (covered in the

to p ic

ch ief it

fiv e

of

revealed u n ity

th eses),

fo rg iv en ess

in

of sin s

in

can a c k n o w le d g e

on e s y n o d ?

about the

top ic

on t h e

order

W hile th e o f redem ption

con n ection w ith

( c o v e r e d in two t h e s e s ) . ^

C h i c a g o c o n f e r e n c e w as

gave t o t h e s e c o n d q u e s t i o n

fotir synods

Ansgar.

d i s u n i t y was e v i d e n t i n

c o n tr ib u tio n o f the

What s h o u l d b e r e q u i r e d

t h e y p r o c e e d e d no f a r t h e r

that

agenda. the

the

The

answer t h a t

The q u e s t i o n w a s :

con gregation s

o f the

o n e a n o t h e r a s L u t h e r a n and be u n i t e d

The f o l l o w i n g a n s w e r was g i v e n :

i n o r d e r t h a t t h e f o u r s y n o d s c an a c k n o w l e d g e o n e a n o t h e r a s L u t h e r a n and be u n i t e d i n t o on e s y n o d i t i s r e q u i r e d : 1) T h a t t h e y a c k n o w l e d g e t h e c a n o n i c a l b o o k s o f t h e H o l y S c r i p t u r e s a s G o d ' s r e v e a l e d Word a n d t h e r e f o r e t h e o n l y s o u r c e a nd r u l e f o r f a i t h , d o c t r i n e , and l i f e . 2) T h a t t h e y u n r e s e r v e d l y a c c e p t and h o l d f a s t t o t h e c o n ­ f e s s i o n a l w r i t i n g s o f th e N orw egian L u th era n Church; a ) The a n c i e n t s y m b o l s , t h a t i s , t h e A p o s t o l i c , N i c e a n , and A t h a n a s i a n ; b ) The u n a l t e r e d A u g s b u r g C o n f e s s i o n a nd L u t h e r ’ s Sm all C a tech ism . 3) That th e s y n o d s do n o t deny t h e i r a c c e p t a n c e o f th e named S c r i p t u r e s a nd c o n f e s s i o n s b y a n y o f f i c i a l a c t . T his

a n s w e r w as n o t

rev isio n referred,

o f the

given w ith ou t

report

o f the

a good d e a l o f d i s c u s s i o n ,

com m ittee

some

t o whom t h e q u e s t i o n was

a n d s e v e r a l s u g g e s t e d a m e n d m e n ts w h i c h w e r e r e j e c t e d . ^

N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d (6 p a s t o r s and p r o f e s s o r s ) , m a k i n g a t o t a l of 191. " F ra F a e l l e s m f l d e i C h i c a g o , " E. L. K . , X I I ( 1 8 8 5 ) , 109 f . •^I b i d . , p . 1 0 8 . p ^The d i s c u s s i o n i s i n t e r s p e r s e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e m i n u t e s i n ­ as m u c h a s t h i s t o p i c w as d i s c u s s e d a t a l t e r n a t e s e s s i o n s . For th e a c tu a l d e c is i o n s c o n s u lt the f o llo w in g pages; R eferat a f Forh a n d l l n g e r n e i d e t f o r s t e F a e l l e s m t f d e . . . a f h o I'd t i ' C h i c a g o , I l l i n o i s . ♦ . , 1885 (Chicago'; N orwegian L utheran P u b l i s h i n g S o ­ c i e t y ^ n'.dVj”, - p p . $ 5 , 4 3 , 5 5 , 6 4 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

411

The I n t r o d u c t i o n and p o i n t number t h r e e In c o n n e c t i o n w i t h th e i o n w h e t h e r one o u g h t tio n s,

or both.

to in su re in g too

the

synods

con gregation s

the most t r o u b l e .

t h e r e was d i f f e r e n c e

In c o n n e c t i o n w i t h p o i n t t h r e e

in

o f op in ­

to speak in term s o f s y n o d s , or o f c o n g r e g a ­

c o n s is t e n c y betw een p r o f e s s i o n

in clu siv e

t o how t h e

in tro d u ctio n

gave

the

statem ent.

acknow ledge

and p r a c t i c e w i t h o u t b e ­

T h e r e w as some d i s c u s s i o n

c o u l d be u n i t e d i n t o could

t h e r e was a d e s i r e

one,

and a l s o

as

as

bo how

one a n o t h e r a s L u t h e r a n s .

Many s u g g e s t i o n s w e r e made b u t no d e c i s i o n s w e r e r e a c h e d . ■*As d e c i d e d u p o n a t C h i c a g o t h e

first

two c r i t e r i a

j u d g i n g th e L u th er a n ism o f a ch u r c h body were r e a s o n a b l e , the b a s i s fied .

of

them no n e o f t h e c o n f e r r i n g s y n o d s

I t w a s In t h e

sta cles

in terp reta tio n

c o u l d be d i s q u a l i ­

o f the th ir d p o in t

second j o in t m eetin g, synods p a r t ic ip a t e d .

p ro v isio n

for s e le c t in g

w h i c h was h e l d May 14 t o H a u g e• s Synod i n

rep resen ta tiv es

com m ittee, h a vin g d e c la r e d at th a t

work s e e 26.

that

1 8 8 6 . — Gol c o n g r e g a t i o n o f

o f P a s t o r M. 0 . 3oc km an i n Goodhue C o u n t y , M i n n e s o t a ,

three

a nd on

ob­

c o u l d be r a i s e d . J o i n t M eeting a t G el,

the

for

tim e

20,

the p a r is h

was h o s t 1886.^

to Only

1 8 8 5 h a d n o t made

fo r the

jo in t

th at

d id not w ish to

it

p lan n in g

^ F o r a b r i e f summary o f t h i s a s p e c t o f t h e c o n f e r e n c e ’ s ,fFr a F a e l l e s r n 8 d e t i C h i c a g o , " E . L . K . , X I I ( 1 8 8 5 ) , 1 2 4 -

p

T h i s c o n f e r e n c e was r a t h e r p o o r l y a t t e n d e d , t h e r e b e i n g o n ly 102 v o t i n g r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s p r e s e n t : 49 from th e Synod (20 p a s t o r s a nd p r o f e s s o r s ) , 47 f r o m t h e C o n f e r e n c e ( 1 8 p a s t o r s and p r o f e s s o r s ) , and o n l y 4 fr om t h e No rw. A u g u s t a n a S y n o d (3 p a s t o r s and p r o f e s s o r s ) . A m on gs t t h o s e a b s e n t w e r e s u c h v e t e r a n c o n f e r e e s a s H. A* P r e u s , U . V . K o r e n , and F . A* S c h m i d t . S . M. K r o g n e s s , R e f e r a t a f F o r h a n d l i n g s r n e i Andet F a e lle s m o d e . . . 1886 ( C h ic a g o : N or w e g ia n ' L u t h e r a n “p u b T i s h i n g S o c i e t y / " 1 8 8 6 ) , p p . 54 f i

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

412

contin u e a t the

its

p a rticip a tio n

in

C hicago m e e tin g t h a t

Synod to a p r o p o s e d u n i o n , ev id en t.

number t h r e e

and t h a t

about the

o f the

o p p o s i t i o n b e c a m e more and mo re

q u estio n

C hicago m e e t in g ,

the

d octrin e

sp ecifica lly

agenda,

agreed to

feren ce

th at

of

the p r a c t i c a l problem s

of

be

m o t i o n was p a s s e d

if

con sid eration

Con­ of

d is c u s s e d .2

its

a

th eo lo g ica l

su b scrib e

en terp rises

t o and l i v e

c i r c u m s t a n c e s make i t

d esira b le.

w ith

up to

the

erection

or use

era tiv e

w or k i n b e h a l f o f

of

the

sem inary sh o u ld each syn ­

con gregation s

In

o t h e r c o n g r e g a t i o n s who th e Lutheran c o n f e s s i o n s ,

The c o o p e r a t i v e

the p o s s i b l e m a in ten a n ce

sch o o l,

its

th e Con­

co n g reg a tio n a l

prop osin g th at

s u p p o r t and e n c o u r a g e m e n t o f

coop erative

m e n tio n e d were

d i s c u s s i n g the proposed

coop erative

fir st

u n reserved ly

the

a r e q u e s t made b y S v e r d r u p on b e h a l f o f

and a j o i n t

out

the Synod o v er

however, b e fo r e

foreign m issio n s,

carryin g

state­

th e problem o f i n t r u s i o n s

suggested

work,

express

of

o f absolution.-^-

The m e e t i n g a t G o l ,

od

im p lica tio n s

o f one

" u n j u s t '1 j u d g m e n t o f t h e

and t h e

1880 m e e t in g o f th e M in n eso ta D i s t r i c t The c o m m i t t e e

agenda s u g g e s t e d

o f m utual r e c o g n it i o n

in c lu d in g the

one a n o t h e r ’ s c o n g r e g a t i o n s ,

feren ce.

I t was a p p a r e n t

t h e r e was o p p o s i t i o n w i t h i n H a u g e *s

a n o th e r as L utheran s y n o d s ,

in

jo in t m eetin gs.

The c o m m i t t e e w h i c h p r e p a r e d a d e t a i l e d

further d iscu ssion

ment

the

endeavors

o f a common p a r o c h i a l

same c h u r c h b u i l d i n g ,

f o r e i g n and J e w i s h m i s s i o n s .

• '■ " K ir k e k r B n ik e ," S . L . K . , X I I ( 1 8 8 5 ) , F a e l l e s m i ’d e t , " E ♦ L. K » , X I I I C1'S86), 2 6 9 f .

744 f . ;

and c o o p ­ The q u e s -

"T il

^ S v e r d r u p and O f t e d a l , t h e l e a d e r s o f t h e Mew T e n d e n c y , took a v e r y prom inent p a r t in the p r o c e e d in g s a t G o l. T h e r e was c o n s i d e r a b l e g i v e and t a k e b e t w e e n th e m a nd o t h e r s a t t h e m e e t ­ in g .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

413

tion

of a jo in t

th e o lo g ic a l sch ool received

little

atten tion.-^-

A n o t h e r m o t i o n o f a s i m i l a r n a t u r e was o n e w h i c h was p a s s e d w i t h o n l y two d i s s e n t i n g v o t e s ,

to th e

com peting c o n g r e g a t io n s

one l o c a l i t y

doctrin e

th ey ought to u n i t e

such d e c is io n s trin e

in

in the v e ry f a c t cussed b efore

in to

alw ays p r e s c r ib e d

should e x i s t ,

effect

t h a t wh e r e which are

the

con d ition

the

d o ctrin e

conference

are

a g reed as

on e c o n g r e g a t i o n . ^

th e y r e v e a l the p r o g r e s s

that

there

two

to

A lthough

th at u n ity o f doc-

t h a t h a d b e e n made

would p erm it

th em t o b e d i s ­

was d i s c u s s e d a n d t h e n p a s s e d t h e m o v e r ­

w helm in gly. The a g e n d a p r e p a r e d f o r

tine m e e t i n g b y t h e

was t h e n t a k e n u n d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n . attitu d e

taken the

what s y n o d s

p reced in g year

co u ld be reg a r d e d as

th at

the d o c t r i n a l a r t i c l e s

were

sa tisfa cto ry .

the d o c tr in e

statem ent

com m ittee

gath ering r e a s s e r te d

in reg a rd to L utheran.

the q u e s t i o n

to

T h e r e w as a g r e e m e n t

o f the v a r io u s s y n o d ic a l c o n s t i t u t i o n s

o f a b s o l u t i o n w h i c h was a c c e p t e d b y t h e However,

about the

the

as

A c o m m i t t e e p r e s e n t e d a summary s t a t e m e n t

no d i s s e n t i n g v o t e s . old d is u n it y

The

jo in t

content

the

d iscu ssion

group w it h

revealed

o f t h e C -ospel s t i l l

of

th a t the

e x iste d .3

The

o f t h e d o c t r i n e w h i c h was a c c e p t e d b y t h e m e e t i n g f o l ­

low s : F o r a s e t t l e m e n t o f t h e s t r i f e a b o u t a b s o l u t i o n t h e com­ m i t t e e p r e s e n t s the f o l l o w i n g d e c l a r a t i o n f o r the a c c e p t a n c e of th e j o i n t m eeting: A b s o l u t i o n i s t h e G o s p e l ' s v o i c e , w h e r e i n God th r o x i g h h i s s e r v a n t p r o m i s e s t h e i n d i v i d u a l s i n n e r who d e s i r e s i t h i s

fou rteen 347 f .

•^The v o t e a g a in st. ^ Ib id .,

p.

on t h e m o t i o n m e n t i o n e d was f i f t y - n i n e f o r and " F a e l l e s m o d e t i G e l , " E. L. K . , X I I I ( 1 8 S 6 ) , 348.

3lb id .,

pp . 351 f .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

414 g r a c e and t h e f o r g i v e n e s s o f s i n s , i n o r d e r t h a t b y s u c h a p r o c l a m a t i o n o f God w i l l be c o m f o r t e d i n h i s d i s t r e s s ; t h e s e r v a n t a b s o l v e s and t h e s i n n e r i s a b s o l v e d . Where a b s o l u t i o n f i n d s a p l a c e i n a c o n t r i t e h e a r t and i s u n i t e d w i t h f a i t h , t h e r e t h e f o r g i v e n e s s o f s i n s , l i f e , and s a l v a t i o n are n o t o n ly p r o m ise d , bu t a l s o a c c e p t e d . The s i n ­ ner i s j u s t i f i e d o r (as e c c l e s i a s t i c a l la n g u a g e a l s o h a s i t ) a b s o lv e d ; where a b s o l u t i o n i s n o t a c c e p t e d , con tem p t f o r i t b r in g s ju dgm ent.^ A statem ent O f t e d a l was a l s o

about a b s o lu t io n

in t r o d u c e d by P r o f e s s o r

accepted w ith ou t d is s e n t in g

votes:

A b s o lu t io n i s a p a r t i c u l a r e c c l e s i a s t i c a l a c t , by w h ich God t h r o u g h h i s s e r v a n t on t h e b a s i s o f t h e G o s p e l o f f e r s t h e i n d i v i d u a l p e n i t e n t s i n n e r who r e q u e s t s i t h i s g r a c e an d t h e f o r g i v e n e s s o f s i n s i n o r d e r t h a t he may be c o m f o r t e d i n h i s d i s t r e s s b y s u c h a p r o c l a m a t i o n o f G o d .^ F in a lly

a p r o p o s a l o f P . A. R a s m u s s e n r e a d i n g a s

follo w s

was a d o p t e d : The j o i n t m e e t i n g e x p r e s s e s i t a s i t s c o n v i c t i o n t h a t an a c c e p t a n c e on t h e p a r t o f t h e d i f f e r e n t N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n sy n o d s o f th e t h e s e s C sta te m e n ts J a d o p te d h e r e o u g h t t o be r e ­ garded as a s e t t l e m e n t o f th e s t r i f e a b o u t a b s o l u t i o n . 3 One w o u l d g a t h e r

th at

about the d o c t r in e longer

p o i n t had b e e n r e a c h e d where d i f f e r e n c e s

o f a b solu tion

regarded as d i v i s i v e

was p r e s e n t a t ten tio n

the

c o u l d be r e s o l v e d and w e r e no

except by a few .

the m e e t in g , h o w e v e r ,

g iv es

in h i s r e p o r t o f what t r a n s p i r e d ,

w h i c h was e d i t e d b y S v e r d r u p a n d O f t e d a l . ^ m o t i o n was o f l e s s

real sig n ifica n ce

1I b ld ., p. 561.

J . A. B ergh,

the r e s o lu t io n

who no a t ­

nor does L u th er a n e r en , O b viou sly R asm ussen's

a t th e tim e

than the p r e s e n t -

2 I b i d . , p. 362.

3

ii

K r o g n e ss, R e f e r a t a f F o r h a n d lin g e r n e 1 Andet F a e lle s m o d e . . . 1 8 8 6 , p . 5 3 . ~ T h e r e w e r e o n l y f i v e d i s s e n t i n g v o t e s when R a s m u s s e n ' s m o t i o n was v o t e d u p o n . p . 325;

^ B e r g h , Den n o r s k l u t h e r s k e K l r k e s H i s t o r i e i A m e r l k a , " K i r k e l l g e ' E f t e r r a t n i n g e r , " L u t h e r a n e r e n , XX ( 1 9 8 6 ) ' , 1 7 5 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

415

day read er

o f t h e m i n u t e s w o u l d be i n c l i n e d t o

m eetin g d id not b e l i e v e reached

is

th ereafter

i n d i c a t e d by i t s

rejectio n

in trod u ced by O fted a l t o

of

the

That th e

t h a t d o c t r i n a l a g reem en t had y e t been

con fession s

o f a reso lu tio n

the

f e r r i n g synods ought to acknow ledge the b a s i s

ju dge.

effect

sh o rtly

that the th ree

one a n o t h e r as L u th eran s

and C a t e c h i s m

con­ on

o f th e Norwegian

L u th eran C hurch.^ The m e e t i n g d e a l t

w ith the

o f t d iscu ssed

M in n e s o ta D i s t r i c t upon th e C o n f e r e n c e . sota D is t r ic t it

to

set

righ t

had p a s s e d upon t h e

at i t s

1880.^

sin ce

not a p p lic a b le

C onference

to the

it

judgment t h a t

However, at

no a c t i o n was

recom m endation b ro u g h t in by a com m ittee t o judgm ent be r e t r a c t e d

the

its

th e 1886

ta k e n upon th e effect

had b e e n d e m o n s t r a t e d in

o f the

I t c a l l e d upon t h e M in n e ­

n ex t m eetin g the

C onference i n

m e e tin g o f the M in n esota D i s t r i c t

judgment

that

that

of

in tru sio n s

in

one

a n o th e r ’3 c o n g r e g a t io n s ,

v e r y p r a c t i c a l and a p p a r e n t l y

it

was

e n t i r e t y .^1

The G o l m e e t i n g n e v e r g o t a r o u n d t o d i s c u s s i n g t h e tio n

the

ques­

a q u estion

o f v ery p e r tin e n t nature

at

of

the

tim e , 4

.

.

^K rogness, . 1886, p. 53.

R eferat

a f F orhan dlin gerne

i Andet F a e lle sin o d e

^ I b ld . , pp. 22, 37. The S y n o d ’ s K i r k e t i d e n d e s a y s t h a t i t i s e a s y t o s e e t h a t t h e 1 8 8 0 j u d g m e n t w as t o o s t r o n g b u t s t a t e s t h a t i t r e g r e t s t h a t t h e G o l m e e t i n g h a s made i t s e l f a j u d g e i n th e m a t t e r i n s t e a d o f r e q u e s t i n g th e M inn. D i s t . t o ta k e the judgment under c o n s i d e r a t i o n a g a i n . " F a ellesm o d et i G ol," E. L » K . , X II I (1 3 8 6 ), 360 f . S y n o d ic a l R ep ort, M innesota D i s t r i c t ,

the sy n o d ,

p . 132. 4 ,,F a e l l 0 s m o d e t i

G ol,"

E . L» K . ,

X III

(1886),

362.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

1886,

416 J o in t m eetin g at W illm ar,

1 8 8 7 . — The t h i r d o f t h e

m e e tin g s assem bled a t W illm ar, M in n eso ta, T h e r e was a c e r t a i n d e g r e e b r e a k had o c c u r r e d w i t h i n the y e a r ,

and s e v e r a l

from t h e S y n o d .

of ten sion the

ranks

con gregation s

O ctober 6 - 1 2 ,

apparent because

N ev erth eless, ress

o f the

th is

a real course

of

and p a s t o r s had w i t h d r a w n

T h e r e was some c o n f u s i o n a t

s h o u l d be c l a s s i f i e d

1 8 8 7 .1

o f t h e Synod in th e

th e con v en tio n as

w hether c e r t a in A n t i - M is s o u r ia n s , b o t h i n d i v i d u a l s tio n s,

join t,

to

and c o n g r e g a ­

a s h a v i n g no s y n o d i c a l c o n n e c t i o n s .

m eeting c o n tr ib u te d s i g n i f i c a n t l y t o

the prog­

u n io n movem ent.

P a s t o r G je r m un d Hoyme, p r e s i d e n t o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e , preached the

op en in g serm on, u s in g

"Cast ye u p ,

c a s t ye u p , prepare th e way,

b lock

out

o f t h e w a y o f my p e o p l e "

wa s a p o w e r f u l p r e a c h e r . p lea

fo r a u n ion

stirrin g

sermons

L utherans.

o f the

H is

as h i s

text

Isa ia h 57:14:

t a k e up t h e

stum b lin g-

(A uthorized V e r s i o n ) .

Hoyme

s e r m o n was a c o n v i n c i n g and d r a m a t i c

synods.

I t was p r o b a b l y one o f t h e m o s t

t h a t h a s b e e n h e a r d by Norwegian-Arne r i c a n

p

^A h e l p f u l r e s u m e o f t h e p r o c e e d i n g s E . L . K . , XIV ( 1 8 8 7 ) , 6 6 3 - 6 8 , 6 7 5 - 8 1 .

is

t o be

found i n

p

The t e x t o f t h e s e r m o n i s c o n t a i n e d i n B e r g h , Den n o r s k lu t h e r s k e K irk es H i s t o r i e i Am erika, p p . 3 2 7 -4 0 . Gjermund Hoyme w a s born~_in" Norway i n 18*47^ came' T o A m e r i c a f o u r y e a r s l a t e r , and was g r a d u a t e d fr o m A u g s b u r g S e m i n a r y i n 1 8 7 3 , h a v i n g b e e n one o f W eenaas! f i r s t p u p ils a t M a r s h a ll, W is c o n sin . M ost ox h i s p a s t o r a t e was s p e n t a t Ea u C l a i r e , W i s c o n s i n ( 1 8 7 6 - 1 9 0 2 ) . He was s e c r e t a r y o f th e C o n fe r e n c e , 1 8 8 1 -8 6 , p r e s i d e n t o f th e same, 1 8 8 6 - 9 0 , and p r e s i d e n t o f t h e U n i t e d C h u r c h , 1 8 9 0 - 1 9 0 2 . N orlie e t a l . , W ho' s Who, p . 2 6 8 . Hoyme was o u t s t a n d i n g a s a l e a d e r , and h e was a p o w e r f u l a n d i n f l u e n t i a l f r i e n d o f t h e u n i o n m o v e ­ m ent. F o r s e r m o n s , a d d r e s s e s , r e p o r t s , and l e t t e r s o f Hoyme, s e e E . K. J o h n s e n ( e d . ) , G. Hoyme. p r e s t o g Formand ( M i n n e a p o l i s : A u g s b u r g p u b l i s h i n g H o u s e d 19(34) •

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

The c o n f e r e n c e sion

o f the

d octrin e

devoted i t s e l f

of ju stifica tio n .

had a s k e d Koren t o p r e p a r e at t h i s

m e e ti n g .- * -

p id an 's

for d is c u s s io n ,

answer t o

the

term ,

"the

deal of a tten tio n . term , but tended fo r

A large

degree

ju stifica tio n

for p resen tation on j u s t i f i c a t i o n ,

the Augsburg C o n fe s s io n

ju stifica tio n ? ,"

shou ld

o f a g r e e m e n t was r e v e a l e d .

o f the w orld ,"

T h e r e was l i t t l e

concept.

address

IV o f

"What i s

s e v e r a l Synod p a s t o r s , the

top ic

com m ittee

b u t i n s t e a d Muus* p r o p o s a l t h a t P o n t o p -

q u estio n ,

b e u s e d was a d o p t e d . ^ The o l d

a p a p e r on t h a t

of A rticle

to a d i s c u s ­

The a r r a n g e m e n t s

H aving p r e s e n t e d h i s

Koren recommended t h e u s e as a b a s i s

alm ost e n t i r e l y

offered

received

in

defence

as In th e p a s t ,

a good o f the

v ig o ro u sly con­

The A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s l i n e d up w i t h

opponents o f

the

o ld synod

leaders

low ship w ith

rep resen ta tiv es

of

a n d d r e w more c l o s e l y

the C o n fe r e n c e

and t h e

the

in to

fe l­

N orwegian

^jVhen t h i s c o m m i t t e e m e t t o a r r a n g e f o r t h e 'Willm ar m e e t ­ i n g , i t d e c i d e d t h a t t h e q u e s t i o n t h a t s h o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d was th is: What h i n d r a n c e s s t a n d i n t h e way o f t h e f u r t h e r a n c e o f t h e u n i o n m o v e m e n t , and how c a n t h e s e h i n d r a n c e s b e r e m o v e d ? A sub­ c o m m i t t e e r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e f o l l o w i n g a p p e a r e d t o be t h e c h i e f o b ­ sta cles: From t h e S y n o d ’ s v i e w p o i n t : 1) A b s o l u t i o n , 2) i n t r u s i o n in one a n o t h e r ’ s c o n g r e g a t i o n s ; from the C o n f e r e n c e ’ s v i e w p o i n t : 1) The j u d g m e n t o f t h e M i n n e s o t a D i s t r i c t , 2 ) The c o n t r o v e r s y a b o u t e l e c t i o n ; from th e N orw egian A ugu stan a S y n o d ’ s v i e w p o i n t : 1) The v i e w t o be h e l d ir.i r e g a r d t o s p i r i t u a l a w a k e n i n g , 2) The d o c t r i n e o f t h e s p i r i t u a l p r i e s t h o o d and t h e p a s t o r a l o f f i c e . The c o m m i t t e e t h e n d e c i d e d t h a t t h e f o l l o w i n g s h o u l d b e s u g g e s t e d f o r d i s c u s s i o n at W illm ar; 1) The d o c t r i n e o f j u s t i f i c a t i o n b y f a i t h , t o b e i n t r o d u c e d b y K o r e n ( S y n o d ) ; 2 ) i n t r u s i o n i n one a n o t h e r ' s c o n g r e g a t i o n s , t o be i n t r o d u c e d by Sverdrup (C o n fe r e n c e ) 3 ) Our r e l a t i o n t o t h e N o r w e g i a n A w a k e n i n g , t o be i n t r o d u c e d b y W right (N orw egian A u g u s ta n a ). " F aellesk om iteen i F o r e n in g ss a g e n ," E . L . K . , XIV ( 1 8 8 7 ) , 1 7 1 f . H owever, n e i t h e r Sverdrup nor W right a t t e n d e d the W illm ar m e e t i n g . Word was r e c e i v e d d u r i n g t h e c o u r s e o f t h e c o n f e r e n c e t h a t S v e r d r u p ’ s w i f e h ad d i e d , and t h e c o n f e r ­ en ce e x te n d e d i t s sy m p a th ie s t o him . p S* ¥ . K r o g n e s s , R e f e r a t a f F o r h a n d l i n g e r n e 1 T r e d i e F a e l l e s m 8 de . . . 1 8 8 7 ( C h i c a g o : N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n p u b l i s h i n g S o c i e t y , 1887")', p. ' "7Y

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

Augustana S yn od.

The s t a t e m e n t s

p ecia lly

the

receiv ed

t h a t h e h a d come t o vin ced sized sin s

that the

(the

o f P r o f e s s o r P . a * Schm idt e s ­

approval of h is

see

th in gs

in

old o p p o n e n ts.

a new l i g h t

Schm idt s a i d

and t h a t h e w a s c o n ­

th e p o s i t i o n h e had p r e v i o u s l y d e f e n d e d , w h ic h empha­

o b jectiv e

content

ju stifica tio n

t h a t God j u s t i f i e s

the

o f the G o sp e l as th e

o f the w orld) in d iv id u a l

is

forgiven ess

in ju riou s

sin n er a t

the

to the

of

teach in g

t i m e when h e b e ­

liev es . ^ The y o u n g A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n p a s t o r J . what were t h e h is

opin ion

sen tim en ts

been

sa id by o th ers

u n ity .

o f t h e m a j o r i t y w h e n he s t a t e d

e s s e n t ia l u n ity e x iste d .

s y n o d s , he b e l i e v e d ,

N. K i l d a h l e x p r e s s e d

He w e n t on t o

in

The y o u n g e r members o f t h e

o u g h t n o t t o be h e l d r e s p o n s i b l e in the p a s t ;

that

what i s

im p ortant i s

f o r what h a s present

say:

N e a r l y a l l t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d men who h a v e e x p r e s s e d t h e m ­ s e lv e s have d e c la r e d th a t they b e lie v e that the e x p r e s s io n , " ju stifica tio n of t h e w o r l d , " i s u n f o r t u n a t e , and p a s t o r K o r e n an d P a s t o r F r i c h , f o r e x a m p l e , h a v e d e c l a r e d t h a t t h e y do n o t know t h a t t h e y h a v e e v e r u s e d i t . S o l e t t h e e x p r e s s i o n be dead and b u r i e d . I t a l s o s e e m s t o me t h a t t h o s e on t h e o t h e r s i d e h a v e s e t f o r t h n i c e l y e n o u g h w h a t C h r i s t h a s d on e f o r a l l men. T h e r e a r e i n d i v i d u a l e x p r e s s i o n s from b o t h s i d e s w h i c h I b e l i e v e go somewhat t o o f a r . . . . In t h e p r i n c i p a l m a t t e r I b e l i e v e t h a t we are a g r e e d . There ap p ears t o be agreem ent t h a t j u s t i f i c a t i o n and f o r g i v e n e s s o f s i n s h a v e b e e n a c q u i r e d and a r e a v a i l a b l e f o r a l l , b u t t h a t t h e i n d i v i d u a l i s n o t j u s ­ t i f i e d b e f o r e he b e l i e v e s . T h e r e f o r e , I b e l i e v e t h a t we a r e e s s e n t i a l l y a t one on t h i s p o i n t . ^ •^I b l d . , p p .

15 f . ,

25,

59-61.

2Ib id ., p. 38. J . N . K i l d a h l ( 1 8 5 7 - 1 9 2 0 ) was t o b e c o m e one o f t h e m o s t i n f l u e n t i a l l e a d e r s i n N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n L u t h e r ­ a n i s m a s p a s t o r , c o l l e g e p r e s i d e n t ( S t . O l a f C o l l e g e ) , an d s e m i ­ nary p r o f e s s o r . F o r a b o o k a b o u t K i l d a h l s e e Rasmus Ma lmin ( e d . ) , D r. John N athan K i l d a h l . En M i n d e b o k . ( 2 d e d . ; M i n n e a p o l i s : A u g s b u r g p u b l i s h i n g H o u s e , 1921") .

with permission of the copyright owner Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

419

That th e d i s c u s s io n of ju stific a tio n , C h rist,

is

e s p e c i a l l y as i t

evid en t

low in g r e s o lu t io n

r e v e a le d fundam ental u n it y as to

in the

fact

is

ro o te d in

th a t the

the d o c t r i n e

th e atonem ent o f

g a th e r in g adopted the

fo l­

s u b m i t t e d by an a p p o i n t e d c o m m i t t e e ;

The j o i n t m e e t i n g d e c l a r e s t h a t on t h e b a s i s o f t h e d i s ­ c u s s i o n w h ic h h a s b e e n h e l d c o n c e r n i n g t h e ground o f j u s t i f i ­ c a t i o n i n t h e a t o n e m e n t o f C h r i s t o u r Lord i t f i n d s i t s e l f l e d t o b e l i e v e t h a t no c h u r c h - d i v i d i n g d i s u n i t y c o n c e r n i n g t h i s p o i n t e x i s t s b etw een the c o n f e r r i n g s y n o d s . ■ *A n o t h e r summary s t a t e m e n t and j u s t i f i c a t i o n

was p r e s e n t e d b y J .

was s t r o n g o p p o s i t i o n tain ed

o b jection ab le

liev ed

that

it

it

con tain ed ,

con cern in g the d o c tr in e

to b rin gin g i t

b u t t o what i f

upon and a p p r o v e d , dahl* s p r e s e n t a t i o n

N. K i l d a h l f o r v o t e . to

a vote,

d o ctrin e but because

was t o o i n c o m p l e t e . left

o f the atonem ent

not because

There it

con­

some S y n o d l e a d e r s b e ­

The o b j e c t i o n was n o t t o w h a t out.

it

w as, how ever, v o ted

alth ough tw enty a b sta in ed o f the d o c t r i n e

fr o m v o t i n g .

K il­

follow s;

D e s p i t e t h e d i f f e r e n t e x p r e s s i o n s u s e d b y b o t h s i d e s , we f i n d t h a t we a r e a g r e e d t h a t C h r i s t h a s p e r f e c t l y f u l f i l l e d a l l t h e La w ’ s d e m a n d s , p a i d f o r t h e s i n s o f a l l men, r e c o n c i l e d God, a nd t h a t j u s t i f i c a t i o n and t h e f o r g i v e n e s s o f s i n s h a v e t h u s b e e n a c q u i r e d b y C h r i s t and a r e p r e p a r e d f o r a l l me n. B u t In o r d e r f o r the i n d i v i d u a l s i n n e r t o a p p r o p r ia t e j u s t i f i c a t i o n and t h e f o r g i v e n e s s o f s i n s h e m u s t i n f a i t h g r a s p t h e m e r i t s of C h rist. At t h e i n s t a n t t h e s i n n e r b e l i e v e s on C h r i s t t h e a c t o f God w h i c h i s c a l l e d j u s t i f i c a t i o n o c c u r s ; i n t h a t i n ­ s t a n t the s in n e r i s j u s t i f i e d . T h e r e f o r e , we f i n d t h a t we a r e e s s e n t i a l l y agreed c o n c e r n in g th e aton em en t.^ As h a d b e e n

true a t p reced in g

conferences

u n a n i m o u s l y w e n t on r e c o r d i n r e q u e s t i n g

the W illm ar g a t h e r i n g the v a r i o u s

synods

again

The c o m m i t t e e was c o m p o s e d o f P r o f e s s o r S c h m i d t and P a s ­ t o r s K o r e n , H a t l e s t a d , J . O l s e n , and S a u g s t a d . Mo one v o t e d a g a i n s t the r e s o l u t i o n , but sev en d id not v o t e , i n c l u d i n g P a s to r s H a r s t a d and H. A* P r e u s o f t h e S y n o d . I b i d . , pp. 53, 5 3 -6 5 . ^ Ib id .,

pp.

48,

66, 70.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

420

t o make t h e n e c e s s a r y p r o v i s i o n s ever,

the

situ a tio n

w ith in

the

fo r another

Synod had r e a c h e d t h e

a s c h is m had o c c u r r e d w i t h a mass exodus t h e u n i o n m o v e m e n t wa s t o

take

fin a l

the

sp lit

im petus

to

w ith in the

t o be h e l d i n

the Synod,

fir st

stage

How­

p o i n t where

o f A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s , and

such a tu rn th a t

c lu d e d from any j o i n t m e e t i n g s sch ism ,

j o i n t m e e t i n g .^

the

S y n o d was e x ­

the n ea r f u t u r e .

stra n g ely

enough,

gave

A

the

o f t h e u n i o n mo ve m e nt among N o r ­

w egian -A m erican L u t h e r a n s . A n ti-M isso u r ia n L ead ership E arly in sio n , in gs had

1888 union n e g o t i a t i o n s

or t h e o r e t i c a l ,

stage.

The

free

con trib u ted

to

b elieved

by m a n y .

A ugustanans, lesser

the A n ti-M iss o u r ia n s w ith in

degree,

lead ersh ip

the Ilauge&ns,

of

to r e a liz e

and p r a c t i c e .

They

synods

and h a d

so g r e a t as had b een

for d e fin ite

actio n ,

th e N orwegian

th e Synod, that

and,

they were

to

a union

a

essen tia lly

Now t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s

t h e u n i o n m o v e m e n t an d s e t

c a l program w h ic h c u l m i n a t e d in

b le

purpose.

T h e y h a d caLised t h e C o n f e r e n c e ,

one i n d o c t r i n e

ca lled

were n o t

d iscu s­

and j o i n t m e e t ­

g r e a t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g among t h e

th at d o c tr in a l d iffe r e n c e s

the

conferences

o f t h e p r e c e d i n g y e a r s had s e r v e d a v a l u a b l e

revealed

at

p a ssed out o f the

assumed

i n t o m otion a p r a c t i ­

tv/o y e a r s

la ter.

and t h e i r summons m e t w i t h

They

a co n sid era ­

response. D uring the

o f A n ti-M issou rian d efectio n s

la st h a lf of con gregation s

contin ued u n t i l

^ Ib id .,

p.

1 8 8 7 t h e r e was a s t e a d y w i t h d r a w a l

the

and p a s t o r s

size

of

from t h e S y n o d .

The

t h e S y n o d w as d e p l e t e d b y

69.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

421

about o n e - t h ir d .

T h is meant t h a t a l a r g e

number o f c o n g r e g a t i o n s

and p a s t o r s w e r e w i t h o u t a n y s y n o d i c a l a f f i l i a t i o n . th e ir next

s t e p be?

they a f f i l i a t e

Would t h e y r e m a i n a s

w i t h on e o r more o f t h e

Or w o u l d t h e y e s t a b l i s h p u t t i n g o n e mo re

ind ep en dents?

alread y e x is t in g

a new o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e i r

com peting synod i n t o

What w o u l d

the

Would synods?

own, t h u s

a l r e a d y crowded f i e l d ?

T h e i r d e c i s i o n was r e a c h e d , a t a m e e t i n g o f A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n lead ers There

and d e l e g a t e s h e l d i n M i n n e a p o l i s ,

they d ecid ed not

February 2 2 -2 9 ,

t o e s t a b l i s h a new s y n o d ,

b a r k upon a program f o r th e

red u ction

o f the

1888.

but r a t h e r

t o em­

number o f s y n o d s b y

prom oting a u n io n . They d e te r m in e d t o r e q u e s t a nd t h e

Norwegian A ugustanans

e n c e and t o com m ittee

th ird to

s e v e n men t o

a contact

to

com m ittee,

on t h i s

another j o in t

serve

com m ittee were

com m ittee,

a union

the M is s o u r ia n s

order to

try to

of

com m ittee.

The s e c o n d

of

the

members was d e s i g n a t e d if

the

la tter

should

had t o

sell

the

The c o n t a c t

sin ce

on t h e p r o p o s e d p r o g r a m ;

was c o m p o s e d o f t h r e e p a s t o r s

laym en.

it

to meet

so d e s i r e ,

c o m m i t t e e was a c r u c i a l one

th ree

A

from t h e o t h e r

r e a c h d o c t r i n a l u n i t y w ith. t h e m .

it

lea st

t h r e e named s y n o d s .

com m ittees

fiv e

Synod,

at

com­

o f s i x members was d e s i g n a t e d

w ith lik e

of the

The A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s

to p r e se n t th e cause at each

com m ittee,

A f o u r t h com m ittee

confer­

on an a r r a n g e m e n t s

o f s i x members was c h o s e n ;

forth com ing annual m eetin gs

synods.

in

serve

c a r r y on u n i o n e f f o r t s

w ith

to au th orize

choose r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s

two members o f t h i s o f the

C o n f e r e n c e , H a u g e »s S y n o d ,

( s e v e n members f r o m e a c h s y n o d ) .

d esign ated m ittee,

the

three

synods and

The p a s t o r s w e r e p . a * R a s m u s s e n , L. M. B i f l r n ,

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

and

422 J . N. K i l d a h l ;

the

Ole A s l a k s e n . " * -

l a y m e n w e r e Arne K i r k e l i , H . T . L e r d a l l ,

I t was R a s m u s s e n a n d K i l d a h l who b o r e t h e b r u n t

o f t h e w or k o f t h i s

com m ittee.

T h e S y n o d was l e f t o f u n i o n were n eg o tia tio n s Mohn o f S t .

form u lated, w it h them,

out of c o n sid e r a tio n as

H is

if

th e Synod f a v o r e d

O la f’ s Sch ool in N o r t h f ie ld ,

p o in t.

E fforts

to a rrive

groiips o u g h t t o be c a r r i e d c o n c e r n was t h a t t h i s

in th e

them .

P resid en t

M in n e so ta , had p ro p o sed plan s

for another c o n fe r ­

on,

The

g r o u p , h o w e v e r , w as u n i t e d a t a un ion o f a l l

on

Norwegian L utheran

they b e lie v e d , but th e ir

im m ediate

s y n o d ic a lly hom eless group, th e A n ti-M is­

s o u r i a n B r o t h e r h o o d , m ig h t h a v e a s y n o d i c a l home. t o b e no h o p e o f c o m i n g t o an i m m e d i a t e sou rian s,

p lan s

s u g g e s t i o n prompted a good d e a l o f d i s c u s s i o n .

t h i n k i n g o f th e m a j o r i t y o f the th is

th ese

a l t h o u g h p r o v i s i o n was made f o r f u r t h e r

t h a t th e M is s o u r ia n s be i n c l u d e d ence.

and

agreem ent w ith th e M is­

or t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s w o u ld n o t h a v e

They had r e g a r d e d t h e i r

There a p p ea red

left

the

d if f e r e n c e s w ith the M issou rian s

Synod. t o be

s u f f i c i e n t l y im p o rta n t to s e v e r r e l a t i o n s h i p s w it h them .

Pros­

pects

on t h e

f o r u n ion w ith th e

oth er hand,

o th er synods in

seemed r e a s o n a b l y b r i g h t

oppose th e M iss o u r ia n p o s i t i o n

the

sin ce

near fu tu r e ,

t h e y were b e l i e v e d

as to th e d o c t r in e

of electio n .

A l t h o u g h u n i o n w i t h t h e M i s s o u r i a n s w o u l d be d e s i r a b l e , tic

facin g

of the

f a c t s w ould I n d i c a t e

that

to

a rea lis­

such a u n io n w ould

^■J. N. K i l d a h l , ,fF r a M odet i M i n n e a p o l i s , ” L u t h e r s k e V id n esb y r d , V II (1 8 8 8 ), 1 3 0 -3 3 , 145, 161 f . T he m e m b er s o f t h e seven-m an a rran gem en ts com m ittee were P r o f e s s o r S ch m id t; p a s t o r s P . A* R a s m u s s e n , E l l e s t a d , a n d K i l d a h l ; a n d l a y d e l e g a t e s M i c h a e l J o h n s o n , Arne K i r k e l i , a n d Ole A s l a k s e n . I b i d ., p . 161.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

423 n o t o c c u r v e r y soon.-*T he r e s u l t w a s seven v o te s B.

t h a t Mohn’ s p r o p o s a l w a s v o t e d d o w n ,

b ein g c a st a g a in st

it

w ith on ly four

in favor o f i t .

J . Muus w a s on e who s p o k e

the M isso u ria n s

out s tr o n g ly in b e h a lf O n eg o tia tio n s.

in the

The A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s made p r o v i s i o n m in istra tiv e

com m ittee

fifty -

of in clu d in g

f o r a tem porary a d ­

t o h o l d them t o g e t h e r as a group e v e n

t h e y were n o t o r g a n i z e d as

a synod.

I t was

if

composed o f t h r e e

*z

pastors

and t h r e e

connected w ith

laym en.

Other p r a c t i c a l m a t t e r s ,

the o p e r a t i o n o f

rep u d ia ted the

1830 by t h e

in

the

At t h i s

tim e

judgm ent p a s s e d upon t h e

Synod)

in sofar

as

C onference

had shared in th e

the C o n f e r ­

(the A n ti-M issou rian elem en t 4 r e s p o n s ib ilit y for i t .

s y n o d s w i t h whom t h e A n t i - M i s s o t i r i a n s

on t h e fe lt

part o f

a nd t h e i r three

tiv es

r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s met w it h

synods

ference

p r o v i d e d an a b l e

to

agree

to th e h o ld in g o f the

in

to serve

on t h e

5 I b ld ., p.

com m ittee.^

146-53. 162.

However,

The

lea d ersh ip ,

g e t t i n g each o f the

projected

t o c o n f e r a b o u t u n i o n and t o a p p o i n t i t s

1 I b l d . , pp.

tee

a nd e n t h u s i a s t i c success

the

k in s h ip — C onfer­

e n c e , H a u g e ’ s S y n o d , and t h e N o r w e g ia n A u g u sta n a S y n o d . A n ti-M issou rian s

in

they

T h a t w h i c h w as now n e e d e d was a c t i o n th ree

the A n ti-M is­

S y n o d ’ s M i n n e s o t a D i s t r i c t and r e q u e s t e d

en ce’s fo rg iv en ess

those

the sem inary r e c e n t l y e s t a b l i s h e d

in N o r t h f i e ld were a l s o d i s c u s s e d . sou rian s

such as

it

2I b id ., p. 4 i b i d . , pp.

jo in t con­

seven r e p r e s e n ta ­

became a p p a r e n t 161. 162-64.

®The r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s c h o s e n f o r t h e a r r a n g e m e n t s c o m m i t ­ from ea ch sy n o d were as f o l l o w s ; C o n f e r e n c e — p r o f e s s o r G e o r g S v e r d r u p ; p a s t o r s G. Hoy me,

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission

424 t h a t H a u g e * s S y n o d was n o t ity

c o m p le te ly convinced o f the a d v i s a b i l ­

of en terin g in to n eg o tia tio n s

com m ittee

w ith the

oth er groups.

o f Hauge’ s Synod to w h ich th e A n ti-M isso u r ia n p r o p o sa l

had b e e n r e f e r r e d

f o r s t u d y b r o u g h t i n two r e p o r t s

The m a j o r i t y r e p o r t r e c o m m e n d e d p a r t i c i p a t i o n r ia n s d id n o t hold

the

regard to the d o ctrin e d o ctrin e

its

same p o s i t i o n o f the

ju stifica tio n

a ttitu d e

l a y a c t i v i t y and t h e q u e s t i o n g e stin g that

t h e y be d i s c u s s e d

r e p o r t was made t h e b a s i s

synod.

the A n ti-M is s o u ­

o f the w orld,

the

The m i n o r i t y r e p o r t

c o m m it te e recommended p a r t i c i p a t i o n ,

concern about the

but i t rev ea led

o f th e o th e r synods in regard t o o f p a s t o r a l q u a l i f i c a t i o n s by s u g ­ a t the

j o in t m eetin g.

o f the d is c u s s io n ,

r i a n r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s p r e s e n t were a b l e ficien tly

if

to th e

a s t h e Norwegian Synod in

about Sunday, and l a y a c t i v i t y .

fr o m t h i s

The

t o w in su p p o rt f o r t h e i r The C r y s t a l l i z a t i o n

The m a j o r i t y

and t h e A n t i - M i s s o u ­

t o r e a s s u r e the

projected o f Plans

synod s u f ­

c o n f e r e n c e .■*"

f o r Union

An I m p o r t a n t c o m m i t t e e M e e t i n g P a s t o r P. A. R asm ussen l o s t

no t i m e

in a ssem b lin g the

J . O l s e n , a n d T. H. D a h l ; l a y d e l e g a t e s L . S w e n s o n , 0 . A a n s t a d , and H. N i l s o n . H a u g e »s S y n o d - - ? a s t o r s ft H a n s o n , A. 0 . TJtheim, M. G-. H a n s e n , a nd I . E i s t e i n s o n ; p r o f e s s o r H . H. B e r g s l a n d ; l a y d e l e ­ g a t e s H. M. S a n d e and 0 . E . Boyum. N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a — P r o f e s s o r D . L y s n e s ; p a s t o r s A. W r i g h t , J . C . J e n s o n , and 0 . J . H a t l e s t a d ; l a y d e l e g a t e s A . A. K l o v e , J . V e ne m , a nd C. H a l v o r s e n . T h i s i n f o r m a t i o n I s c o n v e n i e n t l y p r o v i d e d i n J . A. B e r g h , " H i s t o r i s k I n d l e d n i n g , " i n F r a TJngdomsaar, e d . B r u n , p p . 17 f . ■^"Referat a f H a u g e s n o r s k e v a n g e l i s k l u t h e r s k e S y n o d e s 4 3 d e A ar sm od e . . . 1 8 8 8 , " B u d b a e r e r e n , XX ( 1 8 8 8 ) , 4 5 9 f .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

arrangem ents

com m ittee

s e le c t e d by th e

Eau C l a i r e , W i s c o n s i n , sen ta tio n

from a l l

two o f I t s

August 1 5 - 2 3 ,

1888.

rep resen ta tiv es p resen t,

mussen v i c e - p r e s i d e n t ,

T h e r e was f u l l r e p r e ­

chosen p r e s id e n t ,

and J . N . K i l d a h l s e c r e t a r y

p.

A. R as­

o f th ecom m it­

T h is h a rd w o rk in g com m ittee a c c o m p lis h e d a trem endous t a s k

work marked a l o n g s t e p fo r w a r d

The r e s u l t s

of its

in the F a ll,

settlem en t

(o p g jo r) o f

t r in a l statem ents;

in

the d i r e c t i o n

were

set

forth

in th ree

the o ld d i s p u t e s ,

o f un ion ,

settin g

upon w h ic h u n io n c o u ld be e f f e c t e d

for

f o r t h the

and p l a n s

and

of u n ion .

sectio n s:

in clu d in g

(2)A p ro p osed c o n s t i t u t i o n

Proposed a r t i c l e s

o f the u n io n .

consum m ation o f u n i o n ,

w ork, w h ich w ere t o be p r e s e n t e d t o th e

conference

(3)

I t met a t

nam ely P r o f e s s o r B e r g s la n d

in p r e p a r in g a com plete p la n f o r t h e its

in volved .

grotips e x c e p t H a u g e ’ s S y n o d , w h ic h had o n l y

and P a s t o r E i s t e i n s o n . G. Hoyme w as

tee.

synods

jo in t (1)

A

neededd o c ­

t h e new s y n o d ; con d ition s

fo r the

consum m ation

The c o m m i t t e e r e p o r t was p r i n t e d a n d w i d e l y c i r c u %

la ted

th rou gh the

m eetin g h e ld

p erio d ica ls

In th e

o f the

synods p r io r

to

the

F a l l. - * -

The d o c t r i n a l s e t t l e m e n t . — T h a t w h i c h c r e a t e d t h e d iffic u lties " O p g j f l r .'*2

w ith in

join t

the

The f i r s t

c o m m i t t e e w as

the

paragraph o f t h i s

greatest

d o c tr in a l statem ent,

sectio n ,

settin g

forth

the the

^■"Kirkelige E f t e r r e t n i n g e r ," L utherslce V i d n e s b y r d , V II (1 8 8 8 ) , 5 7 2 -7 4 ; "K irke- og M i s s i o n s - e f t e r r e t n i n g e r , " BudU aereren, XX ( 1 8 8 8 ) , 5 7 5 ; ffK i r k e l i g e E f t e r r e t n i n g e r , " L u t h e r a n e r e n , XXII (1888), 280. 2

It i s c o n v e n ie n tly p r in te d in Bergh, " H isto r isk in d le d n in g ," i b i d . , pp. 2 0 -2 2 . T . H. D a h l , p e n F o r e n e d e K i r k e . Fred o g S t r i d e ' l l e r L l d t F o r e n l n g s h i s t o r i e ( s t o u g h t o n ," W i s c o n s i n : ,rNo'rma nn ens" Tryk'ke'ri", 1 8 9 4 ) , p . 8 .

with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission

426 d o ctrin a l b a sis w ould o c cu r i s

upon w h ic h u n io n b e tw e e n th e

con ferrin g p a r tie s

sig n ifica n t:

1) . . . w e r e g a r d o u r h a r m o n i o u s s u b s c r i p t i o n t o t h e H o l y S c r i p t u r e s , t h e c o n f e s s i o n s o f th e N orwegian L uth eran c h u r c h , a n d t h e c a t e c h i s m now i n u s e i n o u r s y n o d s and c o n g r e g a t i o n s as a c o m p le te ly s u f f i c i e n t b a s is fo r church u n io n , s in c e th ere i s e v i d e n c e o f no o f f i c i a l a c t on t h e p a r t o f a n y o f t h e s y n o d s i n d e n i a l o f S c r i p t u r e a nd t h e c o n f e s s i o n s . S crip tu re,

the

con fession s

o f t h e C h u r c h o f No rwa y

C o n f e s s i o n a nd L u t h e r ’ s S m a l l C a t e c h i s m ) , a nd t h e E xp lan ation T his i s

o f p o n t o p p i d a n a r e made t h e

that

solved

to

the

u n ion ;

if

still

the d o c t r i n a l d i f f e r e n c e s

ju stify ,

to

strife

not

com p letely so lv e d ,

that

d o ctrin es the

conducted in

t o w h ic h the

(p ar.

2).

to

The t h i r d

the p a s t had u n n e c e s s a r i l y

forth

jo in t

o f Sunday,

con trib u ted

the

te a c h in g about f iv e

com m ittee a g r e e d .

synods,

th e G osp el,

a nd e l e c t i o n .

for

t h a t w ould be

of paragraph one; but i t

g r o u p s r e p r e s e n t e d on t h e C on cern in g the o f those

The f i v e

is

d isp u ted d octrin es

a b solu tion ,

The c o m m i t t e e was n o t p r e ­

d o c t r i n a l paragraph f o r a c ce p ta n c e by the

w h a t was c o m m o n ly b e l i e v e d

tio n

next

th e y are n o t o f the kind

a t o n e m e n t a nd j u s t i f i c a t i o n ,

sen tin g th is

visio n

is

and s c h i s m s .

observance

i n g o f the

It

th e u n f o r t u n a t e manner i n w h ic h c o n t r o v e r ­

paragraph fou r s e t s

the

fo r u n ion .

o f the p a s t have been r e ­

o r t o make n e c e s s a r y , d i s u n i o n

had been

were:

d o c tr in a l b a sis

e x t e n t t h a t t h e y a r e no l o n g e r r e a l h i n d r a n c e s

paragraph concedes sies

commo nly u s e d

n o t t o be a u n io n b a s e d upon d o c t r i n a l t h e s e s .

stated

to

(the Augsburg

j o in t m eet­

i n c o n s i s t e n t w ith the

in clu d ed as

and a c c e p t e d

pro­

an e x p r e s s i o n

of

c o n c e r n i n g th em b y t h e

com m ittee.

a t o n e m e n t a nd j u s t i f i c a t i o n ;

d o c t r i n e s made b y p a s t o r

J.

The p r e s e n t a ­

N. K i l d a h l a t t h e W i l l -

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission .

427

mar m e e t i n g o f 1 8 8 7 and a p p r o v e d b y i t the d e s ig n a tio n th e w orld i s

ex ist

if

a l l b elieve

It

ence

in

s h o u l d be u s e d

is

stated

th at d is u n ity does

th a t thec o n te n t o f the G ospel i s to

it

not

and t h a t no on e i s s a v e d w i t h ­

and f a i t h .

C oncern ing a b s o lu t io n : accepted

of

j u d i c i a l a c t when an i n d i v i d u a l s i n n e r b e l i e v e s .

c o n t i n g e n t upon m an's r e l a t i o n out con version

In a d d i t i o n ,

ju stifica tio n

a s t h e w or d " j u s t i f i c a t i o n "

C o ncern ing the G osp el: not

a ccep ted .^

o f th e w o r ld ’ s red em ption as th e

rejected

o n ly o f God's

is

The e x p l a n a t i o n s o f t h e d o c t r i n e

a t th e Gol m e e tin g o f 18 8 6 , that y e a r,

are a c c e p t e d . 2

a lso

adopted by th e C o n fer­

some o f t h e

c o m m i t t e e me mb ers

r e q u e s t e d t h a t an a d d i t i o n a l e x p l a n a t i o n

stressin g

is

an i m p a r t a t i o n o f f o r g i v e ­

alw ays

ness in

an o f f e r o f f o r g i v e n e s s a nd i s

o n l y when r e c e i v e d

c o n n e c tio n w ith the

m ain tenance

o f separate

C oncerning the p lan ation

in

f a i t h be i n c l u d e d .

a b solu tion

observance

stated

E xp lan ation that

the

is

ex­

P o n to p p id a n 's answer t o Q u e stio n

su b scrib ed to .^

t h i s un ion i s

The C a t e c h i s m ' s

accepted .®

not

In th e

t o be a h i n d r a n c e

w o r k f o r a g r e e m e n t am on g, and t h e u n i o n o f , in

p ra ctices

do n o t n e c e s s i t a t e

o f Sunday:

o f t h e T h i r d Commandment i s

548 in h i s

D ifferen t

synods.

C oncerning e l e c t i o n :

is

service

that a b so lu tio n

a ll

same b r e a t h I t to

con tin u ed

N orwegian L u th er a n s

A m erica. I t w i l l be n o ted t h a t the

fou n d ation s

1

la id

d u rin g the f r e e

282,

n.

c o n f e r e n c e s and j o i n t m e e t i n g s

p

Su p ra, pp. 418 f .

®Supra, p .

c o m m i t t e e was b u i l d i n g u p o n

1.

S u p ra, pp. 413

f.

^Supra, p . 3 1 1 ,

n.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

1.

428 of

the p reced in g y e a r s . paragraph f iv e

w h i c h d e a l s w i t h l a y a c t i v i t y was l a t e r

c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y p a u g e »s S y n o d a s u n s a t i s f a c t o r y . the

text

o f th a t paragraph i s

set

For th a t reason

fo rth here:

C o n c e r n i n g t h e a c t i v i t y w h i c h i s g e n e r a l l y know n among u s u n d e r t h e t e r m C h r i s t i a n l a y a c t i v i t y , we d e c l a r e t h a t we a r e c o n v i n c e d t h a t T t h a s 'been o f g r e a t " b l e s s i n g i n o u r c h u r c h an d f o r o u r p e o p l e , an d we b e l i e v e t h a t i t o u g h t t o b e m o s t w a r m l y r e c o m m e n d e d an d p r o m o t e d among u s . We d o n o t r e g a r d t h i s a c t i v i t y i n i t s p r o p e r m a n i f e s t a t i o n t o be any i n f r i n g e ­ ment upon th e p a s t o r a l o f f i c e a n d , t h e r e f o r e , do n o t r e g a r d i t t o b e i n a n y c o n f l i c t w i t h A r t i c l e XIV o f t h e A u g s b u r g C o n ­ fessio n . Where s u c h a c t i v i t y i s e x e r c i s e d i n o r d e r e d c o n g r e ­ g a t i o n s , i t ou g h t, i n s o f a r as p o s s i b l e , to be c o o r d in a te d w it h th e r e s t o f th e c o n g r e g a t i o n ’ s s p i r i t u a l program (o p b y g g e l s e s a r b e i d e ) . paragraph s ix

sets

forth

m a t t e r s w it h o u t m in im iz in g the tru th ,

paragraph seven and t e a c h e r s ,

p a rties

treat

in t h e i r

to

The j o i n t action

on t h e

p a rish

conference

to

of

in p r a c t ic a l

the p r e s e r v a t i o n

of

the need o f reg e n e r a ted C h r istia n s

paragraph e ig h t

one a n o t h e r a s

contacts

by o f f i c i a l

im portance

stresses

as p astors

a g o a l o f coop eration

ca lls

brethren in

upon th e c o n f e r r i n g

t h e i r p e r i o d i c a l s and

lev el. be h e l d would be a s k e d t o ap p rove

on ly paragraphs one,

fiv e, six ,

seven,

and

eig h t The i m p o r t a n c e fo u r c o n fe r r in g groups Is

o b v io u s,

tiv e

p lan s

o f the

fact

could agree

th at r e p r e se n ta tiv e s on t h i s

of

the

d o c tr in a l settlem en t

fo r a d o c t r i n a l agreem ent had to p reced e

any c o n s t r u c ­

o f a p r a c t ic a l n a tu re.^

^Bergh,

" H istorisk

In d le d n in g ,” i b i d . , pp.

20-22.

^The N o r w e g i a n S y n o d ’ s s e v e r e c r i t i c i s m o f t h e d o c t r i n a l p h a s e o f t h e c o m m i t t e e ’ s w o r k may b e f o u n d i n a n a r t i c l e e n t i t l e d , " F a e l l e s k o m i t e e n s I n d s t i l l i n g t i l F a e l l e s m S d e t , " E ♦ L» K » , XV (1888), 637-43.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission .

429 The p r o p o s e d c o n s t i t u t i o n . - - T h e new s y n o d ,

after

sev era l suggestions

name d e c i d e d u p o n f o r t h e

were c o n s i d e r e d ,

w e g i a n L u t h e r a n F r e e Church i n A m e rica s y n o d was t o h e par.

4).

composed o f c o n g r e g a t i o n s

The e n t i r e

Synod

(A rt.

tio n ,

pastors

were

to

Ill,

dent,

secretary,

par.

1; A r t . v ) .

the

2).-*-

was no p r o v i s i o n

the

par.

co n stitu te

in th e

o f the

par.

1).

(not p a sto r s)

The new (A rt.

I, pro­

synod i n t o d i s t r i c t s ,

hut

a s was t h e c a s e w i t h

the

one d e l e g a t e

serv in g con gregation s,

(A rt.

fa irs

d iv isio n

t o he a d m i n i s t r a t i v e u n i t s

Ill,

I,

s y n o d was t o m e e t r e g u l a r l y o n c e a y e a r ;

v i s i o n w a s made f o r t h e t h e y were n o t

(A rt.

was The N o r ­

from e a c h c o n g r e g a ­

a nd t h e o l o g i c a l p r o f e s s o r s

v o t i n g m em bership o f th e ann u al m e e t i n g O f f i c e r s were

treasurer,

t o he a p r e s i d e n t ,

and p a r i s h v i s i t o r s

v ice

p resi­

(A rt. V I I ) .

There

f o r a s y n o d ic a l church c o u n c il to su p e r v ise

in t e r im betw een annual m e e t in g s ,

a s was t h e

af­

case w ith

synod. T h i s was a c o n s t i t u t i o n

sy n o d ic a l type

of p o lity

Lutheran synods a t tra lizin g

the

a u th ority.

was e s s e n t i a l l y

the

ty p ica l of a ll

tim e,

report

p ra ctica l

sets

the

con gregation al-

th e N orw egian-A m erican

but w h ich r e v e a l s

a d istru st

of cen­

The S y n o d ' s p e r i o d i c a l com mented t h a t same a s t h e

Proposed a r t i c l e s m ittee's

p rovid in g for

co n stitu tio n

o f u n io n .--T h e

f o r t h the

it

o f th e Synod.^

th ir d s e c t io n o f the

co n d itio n s

t o he f u l f i l l e d

p ro ced u re whereby u n io n s h o u ld he

consummated.

com­

and th e I t was

-4 ?hat t h e t h e o l o g i c a l p r o f e s s o r s w e r e g i v e n a v o t e was n o t c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e f a c t t h a t t h e s y n o d w as t o he c o m p o s e d on ly o f c o n g r e g a tio n s . ^" F aellesk om iteen s

In d stillin g

til

F a e l l e s m f t d e t ," i b i d . ,

p . 660.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

430

a g r e e d t h a t A u g s b u r g S e m i n a r y i n . M i n n e a p o l i s wa s t o b e t h e l o g i c a l sem inary o f the by the

in terest

synod.

from a fund

Its

p r o f e s s o r s w ould be s u p p o r t e d

t o be e s t a b l i s h e d a s

N orw egian A ugustanans w ould c o n t r i b u t e $ 1 5 , 0 0 0 ; $20,0 0 0 ;

the C o n feren ce, $ 5 0 ,0 0 0 ;

su fficien tly

large

to p rovide

from t h e one

C onference,

(pars.

each o f the

be com bined

in corporated

14,

b e fo r e union occu rs

15).

(par.

a year,

P erio d ica ls

16).

U nion i s

at

a c t io n by the

the

(par.

jo in t

at

to

s c h o o l in

its

debts

reduce

the r ig h ts

jo in t

com m ittee's

17). The

conferen ce.

the

South

The l a t t e r ' s

c o n fe r r in g groups In th e

for th e ir

event of

annual m e e tin g s the proposed c o n s t i t u t i o n

w o u l d t h e n be

con gregation s

annual m eetings

C anton,

a s w ould th e

not

t h e i r 1889 ann ual m e e t in g s .

and u n io n a r t i c l e s app roval;

the

w o u l d t h e n be s e n t t o

c o n sid era tio n favorab le

sent to

and a t

In con n ec­

a nd p u b l i s h i n g h o u s e s w o u l d

The f o l l o w i n g s c h e d u l e w a s s e t u p ;

reso lu tio n s

and

soon as p o s s i b l e ,

Each sy n o d m u st l i q u i d a t e

and f r e e d o m o f l o c a l c o n g r e g a t i o n s

p r o p o s a l would be

as

Academ ies m a in t a in e d

for at le a s t

(pars. 7 - 1 0 ) . (pars.

tw o

c o n f e r r i n g b o d i e s w ould t r a n s f e r o w n e r sh ip

D a k o ta , w ould c o n t in u e Io w a

The f a c u l t y

from t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s ,

w it h . A u g s b u r g and Red Wing s e m i n a r i e s ,

B elo it,

a sum

1-6).

o f a l l sc h o o l property d e b t - f r e e . tio n

Hauge' s Synod,

f o r two p r o f e s s o r s .

The new s y n o d w o u l d b e It

The

one from th e N orw egian A u g u sta n a S y n o d s ,

from H a u g e 's Synod

a nd t o

follow s:

a nd t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s

w o u l d be c o m p o s e d o f tw o p r o f e s s o r s

th eo­

sent to

the

should take t h i s

t h e same t i m e a n d i n t h e

adopt the proposed c o n s t it u t io n

and th u s

con gregation s a ctio n

p rior

sam e c i t y .

for to

Each w ould

a l l w ould f l o w i n t o

With p erm ission C h e c o p yright „ w n er. F im h er reproductio„ p r o h M e d ^

^

the

on e

431

synod, h a v in g adopted i d e n t i c a l c o n s t i t u t i o n s . trustees

would c o n t in u e

to

tru stees

m ittee

to

in su re

been m et.

the

Each group a t i t s

two o f i t s members t o s e r v e

that

the c o n d i t i o n s o f

on a j o i n t

th e union a r t i c l e s

1890 com­ had

p r o v i s i o n w as a l s o made s o t h a t p r e v i o u s l y s y n o d i c a l l y -

u n a ffilia ted at

over a l l p r o p e r t y w hich th e y

t o t h e new c o r p o r a t i o n .

m e e tin g w ould s e l e c t

of

f u n c t i o n u n t i l t h e new s y n o d s h o u l d b e

i n c o r p o r a t e d when t h e y w o u ld t u r n h e ld as

The o l d b o a r d s

con gregation s

c o u ld become a p a r t

o r g a n iz a tio n a l m eetin g

any o f th e p a r t i e s

I t was s t i p u l a t e d

th at

if

s h o u l d w ith d r a w from t h e u n io n n e g o t i a t i o n s

t h a t w ould n o t h i n d e r to the p la n .

in 1890.

o f t h e new s y n o d

(P ars.

the r em a in in g ones

from p r o c e e d i n g a c c o r d i n g

18-25.)'*'

The J o i n g M e e t i n g a t S c a n d i n a v i a , W is c o n s in , 1888 The c o n f e r r i n g g r o u p s a s s e m b l e d a t S c a n d i n a v i a , W i s c o n s i n , N ov em be r 1 5 - 2 1 , an e f f o r t

1888.

to a r riv e

P r e c e d i n g c o n f e r e n c e s had b e e n co n v en ed In

a t d o c t r i n a l u n i t y through th e p r o c e s s

d iscu ssio n .

T his

g a t h e r i n g was c o n v e n e d f o r

sid e r in g the

r e p o r t prepared by th e

other m atters r e la te d e n c e , Hauge*s Synod,

to u n io n . and t h e

th e purpose

o f con­

j o i n t u n io n com m ittee

Each c o n g r e g a t i o n

of

an d

o f the C o n fe r ­

N orw egian A u gu stan a Synod,

as w e l l

a s o t h e r L u t h e r a n c o n g r e g a t i o n s who h a d n o s y n o d i c a l a f f i l i a t i o n had th e r i g h t t o o f the

send a v o t i n g d e l e g a t e .

c o n f e r e n c e were

th e o lo g ic a l p rofessors

the

text

t o be p a s t o r s

O t h e r v o t i n g memb ers

se r v in g such co n g r eg a tio n s,

o f the se m in a r ie s

o f the

con ferrin g

■*"The a b o v e s u m m a r i e s o f t h e u n i o n p r o p o s a l s a r e b a s e d on found i n Bergh, " H is t o r is k I n d le d n in g ," i b i d . , pp. 2 0 - 2 6 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

432

p a rties, the

and me m b er s o f t h e

conference

j o i n t committee.'*'

n e a r l y 300 d e l e g a t e s

In t h e

reg istered ;

attendance

b l y w ould h ave b e e n b e t t e r had t h e m e e t i n g b e e n h e l d cen tral lo ca tio n ,

but

i t was a l a r g e

course

of

proba­

i n a more

and r e p r e s e n t a t i v e

gather­

in g .2 The c o n f e r e n c e jo in t

com m ittee.

at the m eetin g . fest

in

took under c o n s id e r a t io n th e r e p o r t o f the

By a n d l a r g e The g r e a t e s t

d ifferen ces

con n ection w ith S e c tio n

settlem en t,

and i t

was c h i e f l y

who r a i s e d o b j e c t i o n s . jo in t

t h e r e w as a v e r y h a r m o n i o u s

o f o p i n i o n were m ani­

One o f t h e

report,

rep resen ta tiv es

In a c c o r d w i t h t h e

com m ittee paragraphs o n e ,

fiv e,

sp irit

the d o c tr in a l

o f H a u g e ' s Synod

su ggestion

seven,

o f the

and e i g h t w e r e 'Z

a d o p t e d , b u t number s i x

was s t r i c k e n

as u n n e c e s s a r y .

s e v e r a l m em b ers o f H a u g e ' s S y n o d o b j e c t e d t o s e t fo rth S crip tu re, b a sis

co n fessio n s,

f o r u n i o n a n d h a d t h e i r names

v o t i n g -when i t w ith the it

the

w as a d o p t e d . 4

pared to v o t e .^

several

added t o

L ik ew ise,

sta tem en t o f paragraph f i v e

w as a d o p t e d ,

and t h e

When t h e

p a ra g ra p h one, w hich C atechism as th e m inutes

a

as n o t

t h e y were d i s s a t i s f i e d

about

o f th e m d e c l a r e d

However,

lay a c t iv it y ,

and when

t h a t t h e y were not p r e ­

c o n f e r e n c e was a b o u t t o p r o c e e d t o a

^ ■ " F a e l l e s m o d e t i F o r e n i g n s s a g e n , " B u d b a e r e r e n , XX ( 1 8 8 8 ) , 671. 2B e r g h ,

" H istorisk I n d le d n in g ," i b i d . , p .

^ S u p r a , p p . 4 2 5 - 2 8 ; "0m F a e l l e s m 8 d e t E . L . K . , XV ( 1 8 8 8 ) , 7 6 8 - 7 3 , 7 8 4 f .

28.

i S ca n d in a v ia ,"

4Ib id . , p. 773. ^I b i d . , p . 7 8 4 ; B u d b aereren i n r e p o r t i n g t h i s p h ase o f t h e d e l i b e r a t i o n s p r o t e s t e d a g a i n s t t h e way i n w h i c h approval^ o f t h i s im p o r t a n t p o i n t had b een f o r c e d t h r o u g h . "Fra F a e l l e s m o d e t , r B u d b a e r e r e n , XX ( 1 8 8 8 ) , 7 5 0 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

433

co n sid era tio n

of the

other

sectio n s

o f H au ge’ s Synod e x p r e s s e d th ree, sin ce til

and f o u r o f

(1)

the d e s i r e

a rticles

ten Haugeans

presented

three p ro p o sa ls;

They w a n te d t h e w o rd " e a s i l y ” rem oved from t h e

"We w i l l n o t b e a l o n g i n o f language

p r e s e n te d as a g e n e r a l

liev ed

by f a i t h

th a t the

fo llo w in g ex ­

and t h e a t o n e m e n t

(par. 4 a ):

i n t r o d u c i n g or s a n c t i o n i n g t h e

in con seq uence

ju stifica tio n

o f u n ion un­

T h i s r e q u e s t w a s a c c e d e d to.'*'

p la n a tio n con cern in g j u s t i f i c a t i o n

is

ta k en under c o n s id e r a t io n

prepared t o d is c u s s

t h a t had b e e n done*

s e v e r a l members

to have paragraphs tw o,

the d o c t r i n a l s e c t io n

t h e y would n o t b e

A group o f

o f the r e p o r t ,

is

o f w hich

the r e d e m p t io n o f t h e w o r ld

ju stifica tio n ea sily

overshadow ing o f

new u s a g e

of the

w orld ,

overshad ow ed."

whereby

The H a u g e a n s b e ­

j u s t i f i c a t i o n b y f a i t h would

n e c e s s a r i l y be t h e r e s u l t .

( 2 ) T h e 7/- w a n t e d

the e x p la n a t o r y r e ­

marks c o n c e r n i n g a b s o l u t i o n

(par.

om itted .

wanted in c lu d e d a ctiv ity

as

in th e

ca rried

4c)

co n stitu tio n

on b y " t h e

to be

a paragraph s t a t i n g th a t

frien d s

fiv e

p aragraph sh o u ld be p a r t o f

the u n a lt e r a b le

These p r o p o s a l s w ere

The c o m m i t t e e was w i l l i n g

to

la tin g to

but i t

paragraph fo u r ,

d u ction o f the

of th e

ten b e lie v e d

referred

accede

to t h e

sectio n to the fir st

th at

such a

of the

con­

jo in t

com m ittee.

two r e q u e s t s

w o u l d n o t r ec o m m e n d t h e

i S c a n d in a v ia ," E. L. K .,

re­

Intro­

su g g ested paragraph about la y a c t i v i t y in t o

•^"Om F a e l l e s m o d e t

lay

o f H a u g e " i n No rw ay s h o u l d

b e a p p r o v e d and e n c o u r a g e d ;

s titu tio n .^

(3 ) T h e y

the

XV ( 1 8 8 8 ) ,

785 f . Q

!f

* I b i d . , p p . 786 F a e lle s m o d e t i S c a n d in a v ia . W is. Fra 15de t i l Side" N o v . 1888 (W itten b erg, W ise .: W aisen husets B ogtryk k eri, n . d . ) j pp. 1 4 -16.

with p erm ission o f the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission

434

co n stitu tio n , the

The r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o f t h e

c o m m i t t e e was a d o p t e d b y

con ven tion .^ The c o n f e r e n c e

by p r o fe s so r

O fted al,

by the

jo in t

com m ittee

trin a l

co n tro v ersies

in g

the

jo in t

its

ta sk .^

t h e n a d o p t e d an i m p o r t a n t m o t i o n , a p p ro v in g the d o c t r i n a l a s now a m e n d e d ,

sta tin g that

h a d now b e e n s e t t l e d

com m ittee

statem ents

introduced prepared

the o ld d o c­

an d b u r i e d ,

and commend­

f o r th e manner in w h ich i t had c a r r i e d out

The p r o p o s e d c o n s t i t u t i o n was a c c e p t e d w i t h a f e w c h a n g e s , m o s t o f w h i c h w e r e m i n o r and n e e d n o t be d i s c u s s e d h e r e . proposed by the o f p a s t o r N.

com m ittee

was r e j e c t e d ,

C. B ru n o f t h e

and i n s t e a d

the

C o n f e r e n c e was a c c e p t e d .

The name su ggestion

The name d e ­

c i d e d u p o n was The U n i t e d N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n C h u r c h o f A m e r i c a . ^ S v e r d r u p and O f t e d a l , and a p e o p l e ' s at

the

tiv es tiv e

church,

ab le

reco g n itio n

purpose

C h ristian

to

lay

should in clu d e

la y a c tiv ity "

co n stitu tio n ,

as

in

the

^ I b i d . , p p . 15 f . ; L . K . ,~XV ( 1 8 8 8 ) , 8 CWf.

its the

effect the

(in serted

fin a lly

for

to perm it

a ctiv ity ,

Bdckman t o

concern

to have the

in creased

from e a c h c o n g r e g a t i o n . 4

syn od 's

E.

of th eir

were

annual m eetin gs

a l made b y M. 0 .

tire

out

free

con gregation s

lay rep resen tation

one o r two r e p r e s e n t a ­

effort

t o g i v e more p o s i ­

conference that

the

adopted a p ro p o s­ s t a t e m e n t o f the

statem ent th a t i t in A r t.

amended,

II,

par.

r e c e iv e d the

"Om F a e l l e s m t t d e t i

"promotes

If).5

The e n ­

con feren ce's

S ca n d in a v ia ,"

2 I b i d . , pp. 801 f . "Den f o r e n e d e

n orsk -lu th ersk e

K irke

i

A m erica,"

p. 787. 4 Ib id .,

pp. 788 f .

5Ib id .,

pp. 802 f .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

ib id .,

435 approval.-*The p r o p o s e d a r t i c l e s

o f u n io n were a c c e p t e d w i t h s l i g h t

c h a n g e s w i t h a minimum o f o p p o s i t i o n .

The c h i e f i s s u e

t h e r e was d e b a t e was t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t

o f the

sa la ries p aid.^

o f the p r o fe s so r s A gain th e

fact,

t h e r e was v e r y l i t t l e

H au ge

group.

by the

con ven tion ,

Synod. th is

came c h i e f l y support fo r

fr om H a u g e ' s S y n o d ;

in

t h is p ro p o sa l w ith in the

th e o r i g i n a l r ec o m m e n d a tio n s were a d o p t e d

i n c l u d i n g the a l l o c a t i o n

Several rep resen ta tiv es

proposal.^

fund from w h ic h th e

o f t h e new u n i t e d s e m i n a r y w o u l d be

op p osition

However,

over w hich

of $ 2 0 ,000

to H auge's

o f H a u g e ' s S y n od v o t e d a g a i n s t

The r e m a i n d e r o f t h e p a r a g r a p h s p r e p a r e d b y t h e

c o m m i t t e e w e r e a d o p t e d , w i t h an a d d i t i o n a l one b e i n g i n s e r t e d ; th is

p rovided th a t u n a f f i l i a t e d

un ion to

sh ou ld a ls o

th eir

con trib u te

to the p r o f e s s o r i a l fund a c c o r d i n g

a b ility .^ A com m ittee

lected

c o n g r e g a tio n s w hich e n te r e d the

composed o f

t o be r e s p o n s i b l e

resp ectiv e

f o u r men fr om e a c h g r o u p was s e ­

f o r p r e s e n t i n g the

annual m eetin gs

t o be h e l d

in

The s u b s t a n t i a l a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s were m ost g r a t i f y i n g

to

A m erican L u th e r a n s .

T ha t

upon t h e r e

reflects

^I b i d . , p.

the

t h e many f r i e n d s

the

cause o f union

to the

summer o f 1 8 8 9 .^

o f the S c a n d in a v ia m eetin g o f u n i o n among N o r w e g i a n -

s o much c o u l d b e h a r m o n i o u s l y d e c i d e d

c a r e f u l p r e p a r a t i o n s made b y t h e

803.

2S u p ra, p p . 429 f .

5 » p r a p a e l l e s m o d e t , w B u d b a e r e r e n , XX ( 1 8 8 8 ) , 7 6 6 ; P a e l l e s m 8 d e t i S c a n d i n a v i a , n E . L . K . , XV ( 1 8 8 8 ) , 8 0 5 f . 4"om P a e l l e s m o d e t i

join t

"Om

S c a n d i n a v i a , " E . L . K . , XV ( 1 8 8 8 ) ,

806. 5Ib id .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission .

456 com m ittee,

w h i c h h a d m e t i n Eau C l a i r e , W i s c o n s i n ,

in g A ugust.

Previoxis

co n fe r en ce s had d e v elo p ed f a m i l i a r i t y ,

in a ted m isu n d erstan d in gs, t i a l u n ity .

a nd s a t i f i e d m o s t t h a t

T h e r e was a s t r o n g w i l l

g a t e s , w it h the

excep tion

s h o u l d now m a t e r i a l i z e .

elim ­

t h e r e was e s s e n ­

f o r u n i o n among t h e l a y d e l e ­

of sev era l rep resen ta tiv es

S y n o d , a nd t h e y w e r e r e s o l v e d

that th e ir

o f H auge's

earnest d esire

W ith few e x c e p t i o n s

the

a nd r e l i g i o u s ,

reacted favorab ly

and w i t h i n

N orwegian A u g u sta n a Synod, th e

the

in the p reced ­

to the r e s u l t s

press,

f o r un ion secu lar

o f the m e e tin g ,

C onference,

a nd t h e

A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n B r o t h e r h o o d t h e r e was g e n e r a l s a t i s f a c t i o n w i t h what had b een a c c o m p lis h e d .

However,

it

was o t h e r w i s e w i t h

H a u g e ’ s Synod.'*' The YiTithdrawal o f H a u g e ’ s S y n o d F o r some y e a r s H a u g e ’ s S y n o d h a d b e e n h a v i n g m i s g i v i n g s a b o u t t h e m ov e m e n t o fficia lly

fo r u n ion

p a rticip a ted

synods, h eld

t h a t was g a i n i n g mom entum.

in th e

in C hicago e a r l y

first in

I t had

j o in t m eetin g of the

1885.

However, i t

four

had r e f u s e d

t

to p a r tic ip a te (1886)

as a s y n o d i n t h e

and W i l l m a r

(1887).

At i t s

c id e d t o h o l d back and r e f u s e d w ith the m eetin g.

com m ittees

much i n n e r s t r i f e tim e

o f other

The r e a s o n g i v e n

■*"Bergh,

for

annual m eetin g in

to d esign ate

t o meet

another j o in t

a c t i o n was t h a t t h e r e w a s t o o

S y n o d and t h e

u n io n .^

a t Gol

1885 I t d e ­

a com m ittee

synods in p la n n in g fo r

for t h i s

in b o th the

t o be opportune

subsequent m eetings h e ld

C onference

As a m a t t e r o f f a c t ,

" H isto risk In d led n in g, " i b i d . , p. 3 2 .

^"K irk ek ron ik e, E . L « K ., X II

(1885), 488.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

f o r the t h e members

457

o f H a u g e's Synod were n ot

ready fo r entrance

because

they did not b e lie v e

When i n

1 8 8 8 t h e y w e re

ticip ate

in

a proposed

n o t b e f o r e many d o u b t s been e x p r e s s e d . A n d in A ugust, present; ance.

1888,

a ll

that

in to

a sound b a s i s

a u n io n as y e t

fo r union e x i s t e d .

approached by th e A n ti-M isso u r ia n s conference,

to par­

t h e y c o n s e n te d t o be a lo n g but

a b o u t th e a d v i s a b i l i t y o f so d o in g had when t h e

jo in t

o n l y two o f H a u g e's

o f t h e me m b er s fr om t h e

c o m m i t t e e m e t i n Ea u C l a i r e S y n o d ’ s s e v e n memb ers w e r e o t h e r groups were i n a t t e n d -

2

H a u g e ’ s Synod was r e l a t i v e l y w e l l r e p r e s e n t e d p orta n t S can d in avia

conference.

couraged to send d e le g a te s the e d i t o r i a l

T he c o n g r e g a t i o n s

by t h e i r

at the

im ­

had b e e n e n ­

p e r io d ic a l, Budbaereren, but

comment a p p e n d e d t o t h a t r e c o m m e n d a t i o n h a d n o t

been encouraging: I f t h e p o i n t h a s b e e n r e a c h e d t h a t we a r e u n i t e d i n f a i t h , d o c t r i n e , an d p r a c t i c e ( w h i c h we h a v e c o n s i d e r a b l e d i f f i ­ c u l t y In b e l i e v i n g ) , n o t o n ly c o n c er n in g the g e n e r a l c o n f e s ­ s i o n s but a l s o a s to th o s e q u e s t i o n s w hich h i t h e r t o have r e a l l y b een b u r n in g q u e s t i o n s w i t h i n th e N orwegian L u th era n C h u r c h i n A m e r i c a , l e t u s u n i t e I n on e s y n o d . . . At S c a n d i n a v i a resen tatives

some s i g n i f i c a n t

c o n c e s s i o n s w e r e made t o

o f H a u g e ’ s S y n o d i n an e f f o r t

However,

to s a t i s f y

them .^

a sto rm o f o p p o s i t i o n a r o s e w i t h i n t h e Haugean

group in t h e m onths f o l l o w i n g t h e S c a n d i n a v i a m e e t i n g . a rticles

the r e p ­

appeared

in B u d b a ereren , S k and inaven ,

•^S u p r a , p p . 4 2 3 f .

Many

and o t h e r p e r i o d ! -

^S u p r a , p . 4 2 4 .

'-’" T i l H a u g e s S y n o d e s M e n i g h e d e r , P r a e s t e r o g P r o f e s s o r e r B u d b a e r e r e n , XX ( 1 8 8 8 ) , 7 0 0 . At t h i s t i m e t h e e d i t o r s w e r e M. G-. H a n s o n , C - L i l l e t h u n , a n d K. C. H o l t 9 r . ^Supra,

pp. 432-34.

R eproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission

438 ca ls.

There were

u n ion ,

such as p a s t o r s E i s t e i n s e n ,

the

a f e w who s p o k e o u t on b e h a l f o f t h e D ale,

proposed

and H e i b e r g , b u t m o s t o f

l e a d i n g men i n H a u g e ’ s S y n o d w e r e o p p o s e d t o

it,-*-

The a r t i ­

c l e s w hich appeared i n Skandinaven d u rin g th a t p e r io d r e p r e s e n t a cross

s e c t i o n o f o p i n i o n a n d r e v e a l some o f t h e r e a s o n s f o r

th is

o p p o sitio n .

I t w a s b e l i e v e d b y some t h a t a s u f f i c i e n t d e g r e e p u n i t y did not a c t u a l l y e x i s t . The c h i e f o b j e c t i o n f o r many H a u g e a n s was t h e i r b e l i e f for

that t h e ir

" liv i n g '1 C h r is t ia n it y not to

in the

oth ers,

pastor J.

t h e i r em phasis fears

on t h i s

u n ion .

be

synod p o s s e s s e d

found in s u f f i c i e n t m easure

and who h a d t h e i r c o n f i d e n c e , t r i e d

T h e r e was a f e e l i n g

w ould g iv e

th a t the

for

t h e r e was some d o u b t a s

enough em phasis

fu rth er exp lan ation

a ctiv ity

to

co n stitu tio n

-*-Bergh,

th eir

accepted at of

t o w h e t h e r t h e new s y n o d

lay a c t iv it y ;

t h e r e was some d e s i r e

as t o t h e m eaning o f th e r e f e r e n c e

P . A. R a s m u s s e n s o u g h t t o g i v e

p

a lla y

stron g stand in favor

in clu d ed in the sta te m e n t o f purpose in

tu tio n .^

to

of

th e m t o t a k e p a r t i n t h e

S ca n d in a v ia d id n ot ta k e a s u f f i c i e n t l y lay a c tiv ity ;

a concern

N. K i l d a h l , who was a p p r e c i a t i v e

s c o r e and t o p ersu ad e

of

" H isto risk In d led n in g,"

the

assurance

to

la y

new c o n s t i ­

t h a t he

and

i b i d . , p. 32,

jf

J . S . , "Nogle Sporgsraaal t i l Hauges Synode i A n le d n in g F o r e n in g s-s a g e n ? " Sk an d in aven , D ec. 2 6 , 1888, p . 2; A Haugean, "Et P a r B e m a e r k n i n g e r om F o r e n i n s a g e n , " i b i d . , May 1 , 1 8 8 9 , p . 2 . ib id ., p. 1,

^ J . N. K i l d a h l , " T i l B r o d r e January 3 1 , 1 8 8 9 , p . 7 .

og S o s t r e

i Hauges S yn od e,"

4 J . S . , "Nogle S p o r g s m a a l . . i b i d . , Dec. 26, 1888, 2 ; H. B o t t e l s o n , " O g s a a e t Ord i F o r e n i n g s s a g e n , " i b i d . , May 1889, p. 5.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

439 t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s no l o n g e r h e l d la y a c t iv it y , a c tiv ity .1

b u t now w e r e d e f i n i t e l y

The u s e

o f the

c a l garb by the o t h e r H augeans.^ fessors

and t h e e m p h a s is p l a c e d

Even b e f o r e in th e

came i n

clerica l

at

the

te r n a lly disagreed rea d y to e n t e r

in to

it

of th e o lo g ic a l pro­

c r itic ism .3

of th eir

of

sch o ol,

esp ecia lly

la y

ou tlook fo r

about

the

its

a u n ion .

co n v ictio n q u estion

of u n ion ,

no m o t io n t o

fear

and t h e r e

was

Sverdrup,

were

annual m eetin g

p a rticip a tio n to

the

that th e

in the

con ven tion

s y n o d was i n ­

o f u n i o n and t h u s was n o t

A lthough r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s

com m ittee a p p o in te d at S c a n d in a v ia f o r t h a t p u rp ose cause

th a t Hauge’ s

T here was

for i t s

p r e s id e n t ia l address

as h i s

approve th e

d ecisio n s

of the

p r e s e n t e d the reached a t

S c a n d i n a v i a an d t o b e a p a r t o f t h e p r o p o s e d s y n o d was e v e n duced.

S e v e r a l m otions

0. Bergh,

in tro ­

p e r t a i n i n g t o t h e problem w ere d i s c u s s e d ,

^P. A. R asm u ssen , March 1 3 , 1 8 8 9 , p . 7 . 20.

in

in flu e n c e .4

H auge’ s Synod a sse m b led

in h i s

j$ ste n Hanson s t a t e d

for

lea d ers,

expense

Summer o f 1 8 8 9 , t h e

u n i o n was b l e a k ,

th e payment

on f i n a n c i a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s

i d e n t i t y and t h a t

m aking d e c i s i o n s

towards la y

to g e th e r w ith th e req u irem en t

Synod c o n t r i b u t e $ 2 0 , 0 0 0 ,

com plaint th a t

favorab le

C h u r c h o f N or w ay l i t u r g y a n d o f c l e r i ­

The p r o p o s e d f u n d f o r

of lo sin g th e ir

Synod t e a c h i n g a b o u t

g r o u p s w a s a n o t h e r s t u m b l i n g - b l o c k f o r many

p la n n in g fo r th e u n ion,

the

to th e

"T il l i d t

bedre

P o r s t a a e ls e , ” l b 1d . ,

" F o ren in g ssa g en ,” i b i d . , February 27,

1889,

p . 6. 3 »Er F o r e n i n g s a g e n e t M arch 2 7 , 1 8 8 9 , p . 2 .

sp ecielt

P en gesporgsm aal?” i b i d . ,

. R u s t a d , ” 0m F o r e n i n g , " i b i d . , May 1 5 , 1 8 8 9 , (A nonym ous), " F o r e n i n g s s a g e n , " i b i d . , J u l y 3 1 , 1 8 8 9 , p .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

p. 2.

2;

440

but th e

one w h i c h was f i n a l l y

apparent

th at

was a d v i s a b l e

the

synod c o u ld n o t agree

th at

was e v i d e n t

that s in c e

it

it

given con tin u ed thought

T h e r e b y H a u g e ' s S y n o d r em o ve d i t s e l f

i n t h e u n i o n w h i c h w as e f f e c t e d

t h a t t h e members o f t h e

w as

ab ou t any r e s o l u t i o n ,

th e m a t t e r s h o u ld be

and c o n s i d e r a t i o n . 1 p a rticip a tio n

adopted s t a t e d

from

the n ex t y e a r .

It

synod s im p ly were n o t r e a d y

f o r a union a s y e t . The U n i o n o f 1 8 9 0 I t w as a d i s a p p o i n t m e n t ticip a te cu lties

in

the fo rm a tio n

of sig n ifica n ce

cedure w h ich had been m eetin gs h eld Synod,

in

o f a ne w s y n o d , b u t no f u r t h e r d i f f i ­

h in d e r e d c a r r y i n g out th e p l a n and p r o ­

d ecided upon.

sid ered

on t h e

D uring the

In th e

in

1890 a l l

and t h e

to the

o f the 1890

groups h e l d t h e i r

annual

E ach co n v e n e d s e p a r a t e l y on A com m ittee

itse lf

c o m p o s e d o f two

th a t the c o n d it io n s

o f un ion had been f u l f i l l e d

by a l l

3-Bergh,

set

p a rties,

c o m m i t t e e r e p o r t was a d o p t e d b y e a c h c o n v e n t i o n . ^

group th en adop ted the c o n s t i t u t i o n

reports

approved the

so t h a t th e d e c i s i o n

three

own a f f a i r s .

m e m b er s f r o m e a c h g r o u p s a t i s f i e d dow n i n t h e a r t i c l e s

Norwegian A u g u sta n a

a v a ila b le prior

c it y of M in n eap olis.

J u n e 1 1 t o w i n d up i t s

annual

s u b s e q u e n t y e a r th e p r o p o s a l was con­

con gregation al l e v e l ,

syn od ical m eetin gs,

the

en th u sia stica lly

I n d i v i d u a l c o n g r e g a t io n s w ould b e

m eetin gs

At t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e

1889 th e C o n f e r e n c e ,

and t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s

p r o je c te d u n ion .

t h a t H a u g e 's Synod r e f u s e d t o p a r ­

Each

o f The U n i t e d N o r w e g i a n

" H is t o r is k I n d l e d n i n g , " i b i d . , pp. 32 f .

^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e U n i t e d C h u r c h , 1 8 9 0 , p . 1 2 4 . B rief o f e a c h o f the" t h r e e s y n o d i ' c a l m e e t i n g s ' a r e i n c l u d e d .

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

441 L u t h e r a n Ch u rc h o f A m e r i c a .

The A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s

d id so w ith the

u n derstan ding th a t

s y n o d w as t o b e a d v i s o r y a n d n o t

in r e la tio n

in d iv id u a l

to the

A u g u s t a n a n s and t h e adopted

congregation.-*-

C onference

th is

c o n s t i t u t i o n w as a r e v i s i o n

tio n s;

for

the A n ti-M iss o u r ia n s

it

tu tio n

for

the

18,

fir st

tim e

(P ar.

a d o p t i n g a common c o n s t i t u t i o n Among t h e

im p ortan t item s

leg isla tiv e

For th e N orwegian

s t e p r e a l l y meant t h a t of th eir meant th e A rticles

the th ree

of b u sin ess

p reviou s

the

co n stitu ­

ad op tion o f a c o n s t i ­ o f U n ion ).

T h u s, by

groups became o n e .

t r a n s a c t e d by e a c h g ro u p

was t h e

selectio n

of professors

f o r t h e new s e m i n a r y .

w ere as

fo llo w s:

C o n f e r e n c e - - G e o r g S v erd ru p and Sven O f t e d a l ;

A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s - - ? • A . S c h m i d t a n d M. 0 . B o c k m a n ; A u g u sta n a n s— D avid L y s n e s .

The c h o i c e s

Norwegian

p

The U n i t e d N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n C h u r c h o f A m e r i c a f i r s t m e t a s a u n i t o n Jun e 1 3 ,

1890.

who h a d a s s e m b l e d i n S t .

On t h a t m o r n i n g t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s ,

P au l's

Church,

and t h e

N o r w e g i a n Au­

g u s t a n a n s , who h a d a s s e m b l e d a t A u g s b u r g S e m i n a r y , p rocession

e a c h formed a

and m a r c h e d t o T r i n i t y C h u r c h , w h e r e t h e C o n f e r e n c e

had g a t h e r e d .

The l a t t e r

c h u r c h was t o o

sm a ll fo r the

large

-*- I b i d . , p p . 4 , 6 , 8 . The number o f v o t i n g p a r t i c i p a n t s in th ese assem b lies fo llo w s : C o n f e r e n c e - - 1 0 0 p a s t o r s and p r o ­ f e s s o r s , and 2 9 2 l a y d e l e g a t e s ; A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s — 9 8 p a s t o r s a n d p r o f e s s o r s , a n d 3 1 3 d e l e g a t e s ; N o r w e g i a n Augus t a n a n s - - 2 4 p a s t o r ’s a n d p r o f e s s o r s , and 35 d e l e g a t e s . Ib id . 2 I b i d . , pp. 4 ,

5,

7.

^The s e c r e t a r y i n c o r r e c t l y r e p o r t s t h a t t h e A n t i - M i s s o u ­ r ia n s assem bled in S t . P e t e r ' s Church. S y n o d !c a l R eport, U n ited Church, 1 8 9 0 , p p . 1 , 5 . N o r l i e , H i s t o r y o f t h e N orwegian P e o p le i n A m e r i c a , p . 2 6 4 ; B run ( e d . ) , F r a U n g d o m s a a r , p p . 3 5 , 3 9 . The c h u r c h o f t h e H a u g e ’ s S y n o d l o c a t e d ’ i n Minn’e a p o l i s w a s S t . P a u l ’ s . S y n o d ic a l R ep o rt, Hauge' s 'Synod, 1 8 9 0 , p . 8 1 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

442

g a th erin g,

and a f t e r

a b r ie f d evotion al se r v ic e ,

marched i n p r o c e s s i o n t o the

session s

sung,

o f the

the

first

l a r g e A u g u sta n a Church n e a r b y , where

a n n u a l m e e t in g were h e l d .

P a s t o r P . A. R asm ussen l e d i n p r a y e r ,

tem porary chairm an, w ith K i l d a h l a s the

co n stitu tio n

in g v o te .

o fficers Hoyme

and g r e a t

N. K i l d a h l

on e o f t h e

when a n o t h e r m o r e i n c l u s i v e

Gjer mun d

and T r e a s u r e r , Lars

two m ost s i g n i f i c a n t

organ ization

i t was th e

other b e in g

u n i o n was e f f e c t e d .

The f o r m a ­

and e f f e c t i v e n e s s a total

Church a t

number o f

Prom t h e d a t e synods,

of

and i t s

w ere t o be com m ensurate w i t h i t s

c o n stitu tio n

annual m eetin gs convened. 379;

In a d d i t i o n

o f the

the

its

in flu en ce

size.

There

o f 6 8 8 c o n g r e g a t i o n s who h a d a c c e p t e d t h e u n i o n a r ­

and t h e

feren ce,

in A m erica.^

la rg est

dates

the

o f t h e U n i t e d Church a g a i n r e d u c e d t o fo u r

ticles

permanent

(A n ti-M issou rian s);

o f N orw egian-A m erican L u th era n ism ,

N orwegian L u th eran Synods

were

P resid en t,

of

(C onference). .

in th e h i s t o r y 1917,

T hen

in a s p i r i t

The f i r s t

L . M. B i o r n

(A n ti-M issou rian s);

The y e a r 1 8 9 0 was

tio n

ju b ila tio n .

(C onference); V ic e -p r e s id e n t,

Swenson

existen ce

c h o s e n b y t h e U n i t e d Church w e r e :

J.

and O f t e d a l w as c h o s e n

o f t h e U n i t e d Church was a g a in a d o p t e d b y a r i s ­

frien d lin ess

Secretary,

A hymn w a s

tem porary-secretary.

The n e w s y n o d h a d b e g u n i t s

d evotion ,

th e group

By s y n o d s

A n t i - M is s o u r ia n s , 268;

th irty -o n e

its

o f t h e U n i t e d Church a t

fir st

•^The o t h e r E i e l s e n ’s S y n o d .

t h e y were as

fo llo w s:

three:

the Con­

N orwegian A u g u sta n a n s , 4 1 .

c o n g r e g a t i o n s were ta k e n i n t o

annual m eetin g,

the tim e

the U nited

m aking a t o t a l o f 7 19 e o n g r e -

N orwegian Syn od, H auge’ s Synod,

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

443 ga tio n s.

Its

260 nam es.^

roster

and t h e

status

the d i f f i c u l t y

to be s u c h , alw ays,

in

n o t f o r m a l l y members r e g a r d e d

n ev erth eless,

and s e n t

some p a r o c h i a l r e p o r t s

were l a c k i n g . that

the

in t e r e s t in g to note

N orwegian Synod in

bered s i x t y - f i v e bers,

pastors,

and 2 2 , 2 7 9 s o u l s .

fessors

the

4

the

same y e a r .

size

On t h e b a s i s

of

composed o f

For p u r p o s e s

o f com­

o f H a u g e ' s S y n o d and

I n 1 8 9 0 H a u g e ’ s S y n o d num­

185 c o n g r e g a t i o n s ,

1 2 , 7 4 1 c o n f i r m e d raem-

In 1890 t h e r o s t e r s

of a l l three d is t r ic t s

th em selves

i n 1890 t h e U n i t e d

c o n f i r m e d members and 1 5 2 , 2 0 0 s o u l s . is

synod

in p aroch ial r e p o r ts, w h ile ,

Church numbered a p p r o x i m a t e l y 8 3 0 c o n g r e g a t i o n s ,

p arison i t

is

for 1891 r e v e a l e d

a s c e r t a i n i n g t h e e x a c t membership o f t h e

s e c r e t a r y ’ s r e p o r t Brun e s t i m a t e s

8 3 ,5 0 0

in the

o f c o n g r e g a t i o n s i n t h e f o r m e r Con­

The s e c r e t a r y ’ s r e p o r t

s i n c e many c o n g r e g a t i o n s

the

are i n c l u d e d

and N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d w h i c h had made no r e p o r t

somewhat u n c e r t a i n . ^

as

and p r o f e s s o r s i n 1 8 9 0 i n c l u d e d

No t o t a l m e m b e r s h i p s t a t i s t i c s

1390 r e p o r t s , feren ce

of p astors

of p a s to r s

and p r o ­

o f t h e S y n o d i n c l u d e d 187 n a m e s .

•^ S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , U n i t e d C h u r c h , 1 8 9 0 , p p . 1 1 4 , 1 5 1 - 7 0 . 2 B ergh s a y s t h a t c o n g r e g a t io n s o f t h e C onference and o f t h e N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d b e c o m e members o f t h e U n i t e d C h u r c h i f th e y had n ot taken s p e c i f i c a c t io n a g a in s t p a r t i c i p a t i n g in t h e u n i o n , s i n c e t h e s y n o d i c a l c o n s t i t u t i o n s were o n l y r e v i s e d . " H isto risk in d led n in g ," i b i d . , p. 4 0 . A s t a t e m e n t by 0 . J . H a t l e s t a d in h i s 1890 r e p o r t t o t h e e f f e c t t h a t s i l e n c e i s r e g a r d e d as c o n s e n t w ould seem t o c o n f ir m B e r g h ' s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . S yn odic a l R e p o r t , U n i t e d Church, 1 8 9 0 , pp . 39 f . The A r t i c l e s o f U n i o n do n o t g i v e a d e f i n i t e a n s w e r . 3

B ru n

(e d .),

F r a U n g d o m s a a r . p p . 45 f .

^The m e m b e r s h i p t o t a l s a r e b a s e d on t h e p a r o c h i a l r e p o r t s s e n t t o s e c r e t a r y C. L i l l e t h u n b y o n l y f i f t y - t h r e e p a s t o r s . S y n o d ic a l R eport, H auge's Synod, 1 8 9 1 , p p . 8 f .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

444 The t o t a l number o f c o n g r e g a t i o n s c o n f ir m e d m em bers, and 9 4 , 1 6 6 As a r e s u l t 1890,

the

o f the

Synod f o r t h e

realign m ent

first

the

la tter

was l a r g e r

r e p r e s e n tin g 5 1 ,534

sou ls

tim e

wa s now a p p r o x i m a t e l y t w o - t h i r d s w h ile

wa s 5 1 6 ,

o f synods

found i t s e l f

the

size

effected

in

oiitnum bered.

It

o f the U n it e d Church,

th a n th e Synod and H a u g e 's Synod

com bined. •^ S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , E a s t e r n D i s t r i c t , t h e S y n o d . 1 8 9 1 , p p • 7 4 - 7 7 ; S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ? Iowa D i s t r i c t ; , T 8 '9 l, p p . 1 1 8 -2 1 ; ' S y n o d i ­ c a l Report*,~ M i n n e s o t a " D i s t r i c t , ' t h e Syriofl,' 1 8 9 1 , p p . 9 8 - l O l u

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

CHAPTER V I I I THE SYNODS AT WORK, 1 8 7 0 - 9 0 Home M i s s i o n s Areas o f A c t i v i t y In th e p e r i o d

1870-90

synods enjoyed o p p o r tu n itie s and e x p a n s i o n .

A v erita b le

p r o v i d e d a home m i s s i o n

in clu d ed the p resen t sota,

N orth D akota,

f o r p r a c t i c a l l y u n l i m i t e d growth f l o o d o f im m igrants

field

Norwegian ch u rch g r o u p s .

th e N orw egian-A m erican Lutheran

th at

taxed

and S o u t h D a k o t a .

th is

scattered

p eriod

region s

The e s t a b l i s h m e n t the

were n o t

able

came

to

region

and e f f e c t i v e l y a ctiv ity

C a lifo rn ia ,

in

Canada,

s e t t l e m e n t w i t h no a p p r e c i a b l e

in s u c h numbers t h a t

occupy the

field s

on.

as w id e ly and T e x a s . follow ed

lag a l ­

the e s t a b l i s h e d

needing a s s is t a n c e

that

carried

o f c o n g r e g a t i o n s and p r e a c h in g p l a c e s of

the

Iow a, M inne­

I t wa s i n t h i s

savf home m i s s i o n

a s New E n g l a n d ,

advan cin g l i n e s

though s e t t l e r s

also

of a ll

o f Norwegian s e t t l e m e n t

o f I l l i n o i s , W iscon sin ,

home m i s s i o n w o r k was m o s t e x t e n s i v e l y However,

the resou rces

The m a j o r a r e a s

states

fro m t h e h o m e l a n d

synods

es r a p i d l y

a s was d e s i r a b l e . T his

tw enty-year p erio d w itn essed

t h e mass s e t t l e m e n t

northern

and w e s t e r n M i n n e s o t a and o f t h e D a k o t a T e r r i t o r y .

1870 th e

areas

o f N orwegian s e t t l e m e n t

in

Illin o is

445

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without

of By

and W i s c o n s i n

446

w ere p r e t t y w e l l determined.^" the

lo ca tio n

o f N orwegian s e t t l e m e n t s

w egians

in Iowa g r e a t l y

1860-65

the

southern c o u n tie s

a nd n o r t h w e s t e r n c o u n t i e s vanced in to the

1874 a l s o . ^

Panic

of

1 8 7 5 and b y d r o u g h t

years

1873-76.

t h e f r o n t i e r m oved i n t o

However,

at

tim e.

and g r a s s h o p p e r p l a g u e s d u r i n g t h e the

late

sev en ties,

f o r abo\it a d e c a d e

(South D akota)

the

t h e Red R i v e r t e r r i t o r y b y a b o u t 1 8 7 0 . settled

a nd

got

saw a g r e a t (N orth

g r e a t e s t numbers o f N o rw e g ia n s e t t l e r s

The n o r t h w e s t w a r d a d v a n c e o f t h e

f r o n t i e r had In the

sev en ties

i n D a k o t a a l o n g t h e Red R i v e r and i t s

t r i b u t a r i e s , b u t most Norwegian s e t t l e r s N orth Dakota a f t e r

(S o u th D akota)

b u t i t w as t h e n o r t h e r n D a k o t a T e r r i t o r y

which a t t r a c t e d

many i m m i g r a n t s

had a d ­

i m m i g r a t i o n was r e t a r d e d b y t h e

S o u th ern Dakota T e r r i t o r y

of s e t tle r s ,

fr o m

the w e s te r n

Many s e t t l e r s

S e t t l e m e n t was r e s u m e d i n

D akota)

reached

In t h e p e r i o d

o f M innesota were s e t t l e d ;

g r e a t D a k o t a l a n d boom w h i c h l a s t e d

th is

g

s o u th e r n p a r t o f Dakota T e r r i t o r y

to

in flu x

1870.

o f M in n esota.

p rio r

under way.

same was t r u e a s t o

a l t h o u g h t h e number o f N o r -

in creased a fte r

1866 t o th e m id d le s e v e n t i e s

the

I n Io w a t h e

came t o w h a t I s

1 8 8 0 , mo re d e n s e l y p o p u l a t i n g a r e a s

today

alread y

^ Q .u a l e y , o p . c i t . , p . 4 1 . The f a c t s f o u n d i n t h i s p a r a ­ g ra p h were p r e v i o u s l y s e t f o r t h , s u p r a , p p . 1 9 - 2 4 , b u t a r e r e ­ peated here f o r con ven ien ce’ sake. 2 Ib id . , p.

96.

^I b id . , p.

155.

5 I b i d . , pp.

97 f .

^The Red R i v e r f o r m s t h e b o u n d a r y b e t w e e n N o r t h D a k o t a a n d M i n n e s o t a and f l o w s n o r t h w a r d i n t o C a n a d a . 0 . M. N o r l i e e s t i m a t e s th a t in the co u rse o f each decade the l i n e o f th e f r o n ­ t i e r o f N o r w e g i a n s e t t l e m e n t moved n o r t h w e s t w a r d a b o u t 10 0 m i l e s . H i s t o r y o f th e Norwegian P e o p le i n A m erica , p . 1 4 7 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

a r.ainc yhs

:ui s-s io :.'.d.v y .

£~rr:oc «?p

^Q ualey, op. 2Ib id ., p.

*Z.

Syn od ical

iv.

olt...

pp.

u.,‘. ...... i. .. ..

i *>-•>',

.

u,;;.

1

ib d .

t }ih* I •

l'

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without

permission.

448 scattered greater

field s.

Its

a ctiv ity

in t h i s

area than d id t h a t o f t h e

home m i s s i o n p r o j e c t s

p e r io d encompassed a

other synods, for

on t h e E a s t C o a s t ,

it

supported

on t h e W e s t C o a s t ,

in

Canada, and in T e x a s .^

The f o l l o w i n g a r e random i l l u s t r a t i o n s

w hich se r v e

o f the

as

evidence

T he w o r k a m o n g s t N o r w e g i a n s P rof.

Laur. L arsen,

extent

i n New Y o r k C i t y ,

received

servin g

first

rz

in the

the

country p a sto r E lle s t a d

where

th e m ajor

M issio n ­ the

th a t in

On t h e o p p o s i t e

fo llo w in g areas stren gth

sid e

of

o f P o r t l a n d , M a i n e , had c o n g r e g a t i o n s

o f t h e Synod f o r 1890 r e v e a l s

in the

2

sent g reetin g to

and W o r c e s t e r a n d p r e a c h i n g p l a c e s

clerg y r o ste r

in 1 8 6 6 .

p a l l o f 1 8 7 6 a S y n o d p a s t o r b e g a n work i n

Oregon and W a sh in g to n t e r r i t o r i e s .

sta tio n ed

there

c o n g r e g a t i o n i n C anada h a d b e e n

the

in Boston

1 8 6 0 , by

P r e s id e n t Preus r e p o r te d

N orwegian L u th eran

esta b lish e d .^

serve

i n T e x a s and C a l i f o r n i a

s y n o d ic a l con ven tion of 1871. 1876 th e

begun i n

a g r e a t i m p e t u s when t h e c a p a b l e

p a s t o r O le J U u l a c c e p t e d a c a l l t o ary p a sto r s

o f th e Synod’ s a c t i v i t y .

la y :

o u tsid e

in Canada.

The

th a t p a s t o r s were

o f the m id w e ste r n s t a t e s

M a s s a c h u s e t t s — one p a s t o r ;

New

■^An e a r l y r e p o r t o f home m i s s i o n e x p e n d i t u r e s f o r t h e p e r i o d 1 8 6 7 t o J u n e , 1 8 7 1 , r e v e a l s t h a t f u n d s had b e e n u s e d t o m a i n t a i n w or k i n New Y o r k , K a n s a s , I n d i a n a , T e x a s , I l l i n o i s , D a k o t a , M i n n e s o t a , and C a l i f o r n i a . S y n o d ic a l R eport, th e Synod, 1871, p. 90. 2 S y n o d ic a l R eport, th e Synod,

1867, p. 8.

rz

pp.

S y n o d ica l R eport,

the

Synod,

1871, pp. 16,

^S y n o d ic a l R ep ort,

the

Synod,

1 8 7 6 , p . 16.

^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , 83 f . 6S y n o d lca l R eport,

Iowa D i s t r i c t , the Synod,

the

Synod,

18,

86.

1877,

1878, p. 20.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission .

449 Y ork--four; four;

New J e r s e y — t w o ; M o n t r e a l ,

T exas--tw o;

in gton — seven;

Canada— on e;

C o lo r a d o - - o n e ; M ontana— tw o;

O regon--one.

In th e

C a lifo rn ia —

I d a h o — o n e ; Wash-

same y e a r ,

1890,

fifty -th ree

Synod p a s t o r s

h ad M i n n e s o t a a d d r e s s e s , t w e l v e r e s i d e d i n N o r t h o a nd t h i r t e e n i n S o u t j i D a k o t a . By w a y o f c o m p a r i s o n we

D akota, note

th a t in

Texas, teen

1 8 7 0 t h e S y n o d h a d o n e p a s t o r i n New Y o r k ,

no n e on t h e W e s t C o a s t ,

in M innesota.®

T his

two i n D a k o ta T e r r i t o r y ,

com parison o f

men o f t h e S y n o d 1 8 7 0 a nd 1 8 9 0 r e v e a l s m ission

advance

in t h e

the the

tw en ty-year period*

lo c a tio n of ch ief

i n t e r e s t b e i n g sh o wn i n

areas

in

and s e v e n ­ the

clerg y ­

a r e a s o f home

M ajor a t t e n t i o n was

b e i n g g i v e n t o M in n e s o ta and th e D a k o ta T e r r i t o r y , sid era b le

one

w ith a co n ­

o f N orwegian s e t t l e m e n t

on t h e E a s t e r n a nd w e s t e r n s e a b o a r d s . The home m i s s i o n p r o g r a m o f t h e is

q u ite

have

sim ila r to

rito ry ,

synods

in our p e r io d

t h a t o f th e synod e x c e p t t h a t th e y d id n ot

as g r e a t r e s o u r c e s

c h i e f l y upon th e

other

at t h e ir d is p o s a l.

They c o n c e n t r a t e d

p r o m i s i n g a r e a s o f M i n n e s o t a and t h e

b e c a m e v . e r y much i n t e r e s t e d

t h e W e st C o a s t r e g i o n s

slig h tly

in th e f i e l d

la ter

than the

Dakota T e r ­

o p e n in g up in

Synod, but d id not

^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t s , t h e s y n o d , 1 8 9 1 ; E astern D i s t r i c t , p p . 7 6 f . ; I o w a D i s t r i c t ' , p p . 1 2 0 f . ; Minn e s o t a P i s' t r i e t , pp.* 100 f . The t o t a l numbe r o f p a s t o r s and p r o f e s s o r s l i s t e d on t h e r o s t e r s o f t h e t h r e e d i s t r i c t s o f t h e S y n o d i n 1 8 9 0 was 1 8 7 . Ib id . ^ Ib id . I t must a l s o be rem em bered e i g h t i e s th e Synod l o s t a bou t o n e - t h i r d o f t h e w i t h d r a w a l o f t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s , so 1 8 9 0 do n o t r e f l e c t a l l o f t h e home m i s s i o n Synod. m ainder located and o n e

t h a t l a t e in the i t s m em bership w i t h th a t the f ig u r e s for work b eg u n by th e

^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , th e S y n o d , 1 8 7 0 , p p . 102 f . The r e ­ o f t h e S y n o d ’ s' s i x t y - e i g h t p a s t o r s a n d p r o f e s s o r s w e r e i n I o w a , W i s c o n s i n , and I l l i n o i s , w i t h on e i n M i c h i g a n in K ansas.

w « , perm ission o f ,P e co p yrig p, owner. FurtPer reproOncfion p r o P « e d wifPou, perm ission.

450

e n d e a v o r t o c a r r y on a g r e a t d e a l o f w o r k on t h e E a s t C o a s t . r a p i d l y grow ing C onferen ce

d evelop ed

The

a s t r o n g home m i s s i o n p r o g r a m ,

e s p e c i a l l y i n w e s t e r n a n d n o r t h w e s t e r n M i n n e s o t a a nd i n t h e D akota r e g i o n .

I t was h e r e

and t h e C o n fe r e n c e charges

of

changed.^ -

that

c o m p e t i t i o n b e tw e en th e Synod

o f t e n became i n t e n s e ,

in tru d in g in t o

w ith

c h a r g e s and c o u n t e r ­

one a n o t h e r ’ s c o n g r e g a t i o n s b e i n g e x ­

The s e c r e t a r y r e p o r t e d

g r e g a t i o n s had b e e n o r g a n i z e d ,

th at in

1 8 8 8 f o r t y - o n e new c o n ­

o f w h ich t w e n t y - t h r e e were in

D akota T e r r i t o r y and e l e v e n were i n M in n e s o t a .2

The C o n f e r e n c e

a l s o became

in terested

and s t a t i s t i c s

reveal that

in

ex isten ce,

1889,

in th e

the year b efore

three p a sto rs

W ashington T e r r i t o r y .

P a cific

N orthw est,

t h e m erger t h a t ended i t s

o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e were s e r v i n g i n t h e

In t h a t same y e a r e i g h t y - n i n e

of its

1 15

p a s t o r s w ere l o c a t e d i n M in n e s o t a , W i s c o n s i n , and D akota T e r r i ­ tory.

The r e m a i n d e r w e r e s e r v i n g i n

and K a n s a s , gone o u t

Iowa, M ich igan,

t o g e t h e r w i t h two m i s s i o n a r i e s w h ic h h ad r e c e n t l y

t o M adagascar.^ H auge’ s Synod c o n c e n t r a t e d upon a p p r o x im a te ly

areas

Illin o is,

as th e

C onference.

t h e same

The o r i g i n a l s t r o n g h o l d o f t h e

^ K l e v e n , "The H i s t o r y o f t h e N o r w e g i a n - D a n i s h E v a n g e l i c a l L u th e r a n Church i n A m e r i c a ," i b i d . , p . 2 2 . He r e f e r s t o t h e C on ­ f e r e n c e ’ s c o n c e n t r a t i o n u p o n th e' home m i s s i o n f i e l d s i n M i n n e s o t a and t h e D a k o t a s , i b i d . , p p . 20 f . , 46 f . As e v i d e n c e o f t h e Co n­ f e r e n c e ’ s a g g r e s s i v e home m i s s i o n p r o g r a m s e e S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , the C on feren ce, 1888, pp. 5 9 -6 4 , 9 5 -9 7 . The f a c t o f t h e C o n f e r ­ e n c e ’ s c o n t i n u a l l y g r o w i n g a w a r e n e s s o f a n d i t s i n t e r e s t i n home m i s s i o n work i s h e r e r e f e r r e d t o . lb i d . , p . 5 9 . 2 S y n o d ic a l R ep ort, th e C o n fe r e n c e , 1889, p . 18. g S y n o d ic a l R eport, the C on feren ce, 1889, pp. 9 4 -9 6 . In 1 8 8 8 a P a c i f i c C i r c u i t o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e was c r e a t e d . Synod!cal R eport, the C on feren ce, 1888, p . 9 1 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission

E llin g ia n s

was

in I l l i n o i s ,

t e n t i o n was b e i n g g i v e n sip p i

but by th e e a r ly

s e v e n t i e s more a t ­

t o home m i s s i o n w or k w e s t o f t h e M i s s i s ­

R i v e r t h a n wa s b e i n g g i v e n t o t h e w or k c a r r i e d on e a s t

the M i s s i s s i p p i ,

a l t h o u g h f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t g i v e n t o home m i s s i o n s

was a s y e t v e r y m e a g e r . ^

I t s most i n t e n s i v e e f f o r t s

w e re

c e n t e r e d i n M in n e so ta and t h e D ak o ta T e r r i t o r y , a s i s by t h e

fact

that in

1890 t w e n t y - e i g h t

and p r o f e s s o r s w e r e l o c a t e d Q tw o D a k o t a s . B egin n in g in

ington T er r ito r y .^

of

its

the m id dle e i g h t i e s field

synods, the

pastors in

the

the sy n o d 's

at­

e x i s t i n g i n t h e Wash­

A l t h o u g h H a u g e ' s S y n o d w e n t on r e c o r d i n 1 8 8 7

a s n o t y e t r e a d y t o b e g i n m i s s i o n w o r k on t h e w o r k e r was l o c a t e d

lik ew ise

evid en ced

six ty -n in e

in M in n eso ta , w ith s ix te e n

t e n t i o n wa s d i r e c t e d t o t h e m i s s i o n

S in ce

of

P a c ific C oast,

one

in W ashington T e r r i t o r y by 1890.^

I t w a s n u m e r i c a l l y m u ch s m a l l e r t h a n t h e

N orwegian A ugu stan a Synod c a r r i e d

w o r k on a c o r r e s p o n d i n g l y s m a l l e r

sca le.

other

on home m i s s i o n

The N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a n s

^In th e p e r io d J u n e , 1 8 7 1 , t o A u g u s t, 1872, a t o t a l o f $ 2 0 9 . 0 0 w a s d i s b u r s e d f o r home m i s s i o n w or k w e s t o f t h e M i s s i s ­ sip p i. "Regnskab f r a H o v e d b e s t y r e l s e n f o r den I n d r e - M i s s i o n paa v e s t r e S i d e a f M i s s i s s i p p i , " B u d b a e r e r e n , IV ( S e p t . , 1 8 7 2 ) , 6 4 . In t h e p e r i o d November, 1 8 7 1 , t o A u g u s t , 1 8 7 2 , a t o t a l o f $ 6 0 . 0 0 was d i s b u r s e d f o r home m i s s i o n w o r k e a s t o f t h e M i s s i s s i p p i . "Regnskab f r a H o v e d b e s t y r e l s e n f o r den I n d r e - M i s s io n paa o s t r e Side a f M i s s i s s i p p i , " i b i d . , p . 8 0 . 2S y n o d ic a l R ep ort, H auge's syn od ,

1 8 9 0 , p p . 77 f .

^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , H a u g e ' s S y n o d , 1 8 8 5 , p . 7 ; M i s s i o n , " B u d b a e r e r e n , X V I I I ( 1 5 6 6 ) , T/'O f .

"Den i n d r e

^ " R e f e r a t a f Hauges n o r s k e v . l u t h . Synodes 42de A arsm 8de," i b i d . , XIX ( 1 8 8 7 ) , 4 2 3 . O th er s t a t e s i n w hich Hauge’ s Synod had p a s t o r s In 1 8 9 0 b e s i d e s M i n n e s o t a , t h e D a k o t a s , and W a s h i n g t o n w e r e I l l i n o i s , ’W i s c o n s i n , N e b r a s k a , I o w a , a n d M i c h i g a n . Syn odi­ c a l R e p o r t, H au ge's Syn od, 1 8 9 0 , p p . 77 f .

w ith p e r m i s s i o n o f t h e c o p y r i g h t o w n e r F u r t h e r r e p r o d u c t i o n p r o h i b i te d w i th o u t p e r m i s s i o n .

452 were

c o n s t a n t ly plagu ed w ith th e

support fo r th e ir

sy n o d ica l p r o je c ts .

u s u a lly very sm all, and p a r s o n a g e s in

problem o f in a d e q u a te T heir

own.

T heir

ch ief

t h e D a k o t a T e r r i t o r y and M i n n e s o t a .

pastor, E.

c o n g r e g a t io n s were

and many o f t h e m w e r e w i t h o u t

of th eir

fin a n cia l

church b u ild in g s

stren gth lik ew ise

wa s

In 1 8 8 4 a home m i s s i o n

0 . Thorm odsgaard, was g iv e n

the

resp o n sib ility

of

c o v e r i n g a v a s t a r e a i n t h e W e s t , a s h e w a s t o w o r k among N o r w e ­ gian s

in

I d a h o , M ontana,

a m ission p a sto r , th eir best

lack

A. B. P a u lso n ,

o f r e s o u r c e s members

to b rin g the

w hich c a l l e d

However,

for s p ir itu a l

decade

o f the

came t o

th is

1880-90

the

of th is

to M ontana.

th eir

eig h ties country.

o f N orwegians

t h a t by 1890 N orw egian L u th er a n p a s t o r s

states

strenuous

and t h r e e efforts

keep pace w ith th e For N o r lie has

synods

in creased

Canadian p r o v i n c e s . ^

th e y c o u ld not in

the

f l o o d o f im m igran ts

that

computed t h a t i n t h e d e c a d e

o n ly s ix t y - s e v e n

•^ S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a , i c a l R e p o r t , ' N o r w e g i a n A u g u s V a n a / ' 18'84 , p i 1 4 . ^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

D espite

s m a ll synod d id t h e i r

N o r w e g i a n p o p u l a t i o n i n c r e a s e d b y 12 5 p e r

m em bership in t h e

In 1886

a ssista n ce.

states

in tw e n ty -n in e

d esp ite

was s e n t

G o s p e l t o t h e ne w s e t t l e m e n t s

0 . M. N o r l i e had s e r v e d

O regon. U ta h , and W a sh in g to n .^

N orw egian A u g u sta n a ,

cen t w h ile

per c e n t .

1885, p.

3;

Synod­

1 8 8 6 , pp. 2 4 ,

29.

^See s y n o d i c a l R e p o r t, Norwegian A u g u sta n a , 1 8 8 7 , p . 1 0 . T h e i r c l e r g y r o s t e r f o r "1886 s h o w e d t h e f o l l o w i n g d i s t r i b u t i o n o f th eir pastors: D akota— n in e , M in n esota— s i x , I l l i n o i s — fo u r , I o w a — f o u r , W i s c o n s i n — t w o , N e b r a s k a - - o n e , and I d a h o — o n e . Synod­ i c a l R e p o r t, N orwegian A u g u sta n a , 1 8 8 6 , p . 29. ^ N orile, p.

H isto r y o f the

Norwegian P e o p le

in A m erica,

258. I b i d . , p.

265.

A w orth w h ile

p ro ject for

s t u d y w o u l d be

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission of th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission .

455 D uring th e n e x t decade

c h u r c h m em b ership was g o in g t o k e e p pace

m or e n e a r l y w i t h t h e i n c r e a s e

in

the

p o p u l a t i o n o f Norwegian im ­

m ig ra n ts.^ The s h o r t a g e

o f N orw egian L u th eran p a s t o r s

been a s e v e r e han dicap

from t h e b e g i n n i n g .

in A m erica had

It restricted

the

amount o f w o r k t h a t c o u l d be d o n e and n e c e s s i t a t e d h e a v y b u r d e n s fo r the

pastors

efforts

w e r e made t o r e c r u i t p a s t o r s

Synod l e a d e r s . P r e u s ma k es or t o

give

who w e r e i n

In h i s

the f i e l d .

from Norway, e s p e c i a l l y by

syn od ical reports

frequent referen ce

Prom t i m e t o t i m e s t r e n u o u s

in the s e v e n tie s

H. A»

to pastors'

havin g to tak e r e s t s p up t h e i r w o r k t e m p o r a r i l y b e c a u s e o f o v e r - w o r k . J

N or way n e v e r s i i p p l i e d e n o u g h p a s t o r s th e N orwegian L u th eran g ro u p s

to meet the

needs

in America;

in Am erica had t o e s t a b l i s h

th eir

own t h e o l o g i c a l s e m i n a r i e s b e f o r e t h e c r y i n g n e e d f o r m i n i s t e r s c o u ld be

somewhat

a llev ia ted . S y n o d i c a l S u p e r v i s i o n and S u p p o rt

T here was procedure

a great

f o l l o w e d by a l l

m issio n work.

foreig n m issio n s,

p.

20;

o f the synods in

Each o f th e syn od s

w h ich was r e s p o n s i b l e

th at of tra cin g w egian L utheran o f im m igration .

d e a l o f s i m i l a r i t y in the

for

c o n n e c t i o n w i t h home

esta b lish ed

prom oting t h e

alth ou gh a t f i r s t

the

a p p ro a c h and

cause

a m i s s i o n com m ittee o f b o t h home and

c o m m ittee s were p r i m a r i l y

t h e c o m b i n e d home m i s s i o n a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e N o r ­ synods as t h e y e n d e a v o r e d t o meet the c h a l l e n g e

■^Norlie ( e d . ) , N o r s k l u t h e r s k e p r e s t e r i A m e r i k a , p . 4 1 . p S e e , f o r e x a m p le , S y n o d ic a l R e p o r t s , th e Synod: 1869, 1 8 7 0 , p . 1 9 ; 1 8 7 2 , p . 1 0 ; 1 8 7 5 , p . 1~6"

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

home m i s s i o n

com m ittees.

com m ittee i n 1 8 6 4 . ^ d istricts;

The N o r w e g i a n S y n o d e s t a b l i s h e d

In 1876 th e Synod was d i v i d e d

in 1879 ea ch d i s t r i c t

m i s s i o n work w i t h i n p com m ittee. At I t s created

a m ission

w ise in

1872.4

on e f o r t h e

its

d istrict

e sta b lish in g it s

o r g a n iz a tio n a l m eeting in

E ielsen 's east

these

the m inutes

o f the

were e l e c t e d

o f the M i s s i s s i p p i R iv e r ,

C onference

the

That E i e l s e n ' s

other for

Sy no d h a d

i n d i c a t e d by t h e

fact

that

1 8 7 1 m e e t i n g r e v e a l t h a t new m i s s i o n c o m m i t t e e s 5 In t h a t y e a r . In 1 8 8 9 t h e two c o m m i t t e e s w e r e s u p com m ittee

sy n o d ic a l m ission

s p e c t iv e s y n o d ic a l m eetings needs,

1870 th e

S y n o d h a d t w o home m i s s i o n c o m m i t t e e s ,

com m ittees e a r ly i s

p l a n t e d b y one m i s s i o n These v a r io u s

own home m i s s i o n

The N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a n s d i d l i k e ­

the d i s t r i c t w e st o f th e M i s s i s s i p p i . esta b lish ed

three

a c c e p t e d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r home

borders,

com m ittee.®

in to

such a

progress,

f o r t h e whole o f H au ge's S y n o d . com m ittees

as t o

reported to

fin a n c ia l receip ts

and r e c o m m e n d a tio n s.

The s y n o d s i n

th eir r e ­

for m issio n s, convention

•^Supra, p . 4 4 7 , ^ S y n o d ic a l R ep ort, M innesota D i s t r i c t ,

the S yn od,

1879,

p. 44. ”F r o t o k o l o v e r de n l s t e Aarsm od e a f K o n f e r e n t s e n 1 8 7 0 , ” L u t h e r a n e r e n , IV ( 1 8 7 0 ) , 1 5 6 . ^ S yn od ical R eport, p p . 14 f .

Norwegian A u gu stan a S yn od,

.

.

.

1872,

®”U d d r a g a f F o r h a n d l i n g e r n e , ” B u d b a e r e r e n , m .(Ju ly, 1871), 21. T h is com m ittee must have b e e n a p p o in te d i n 1868 or 1869. However, th e m in u tes fo r th e r e g u la r s y n o d i c a l m e e tin g s h e l d i n t h o s e y e a r s are n o t c o n ta in e d in Budbaereren and a t t h a t tim e E i e l s e n ' s Synod was n o t p u b l i s h i n g a n n u a l r e p o r t s s e p a r a t e l y . The f a c t t h a t t h e c o m m i t t e e s w e r e e l e c t e d f o r t h r e e y e a r s i n 1 8 7 1 w ould p o i n t t o 1868; ho w ev er, t h a t i s n o t c e r t a i n . b ,,R e f e r a t a f H a u g e s n o r s k e v a n g e l i s k l u t h e r s k S y n o d e s 4 4 d e A a r s m o d e , ” i b i d . , XX ( 1 8 8 9 ) , 4 3 3 .

with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission

455 d e c i d e d upon p o l i c i e s , the

church c o u n c i l ,

structed

to

w hich th e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e

or so m e tim e s t h e m i s s i o n

o fficers,

su ch as

co m m ittee, were i n ­

carry ou t.

The common p r o c e d u r e f o r p r o m o t i n g home m i s s i o n w o r k w a s to

c a ll

and s u p p o r t m i s s i o n

sio n a ries. of th eir servin g

Som etim es

synod;

con gregation s of

absence

p a city

tem p orarily.

cap acity;

C onference

were

fu ll-tim e

o f t h e i r own;

from t h e i r

at tim es

con gregation s

em ployees

em ployees,

to serve

in

th is

B o t h c l e r g y m e n a n d la ym e n w e r e u t i l i z e d

freq u en tly used the

laymen f o r t h i s

ca llin g

and a s

p u rp o se.^

ca­ in

and th e

In 1868 th e

o f a t r a v e l l i n g home m i s s i o n p a s t o r ,

1 8 6 9 O l a u s Normann w as o r d a i n e d

M innesota, p a r is h

a lso

p a s t o r s w ould g e t

H au ge’ s s y n o d , t h e N orwegian A u g u sta n a n s,

Synod a u t h o r iz e d and i n

th ese em issa ries

o r t r a v e l l i n g home m i s ­

s o m e tim e s t h e y were p a r t - t i m e

leaves

th is

em issa ries,

as p a s t o r o f th e

S t . P au l, p a t r a v e l l i n g home m i s s i o n p a s t o r . In

1 8 6 9 l a y m a n Ole J . K a s a w a s d e s i g n a t e d b y E i e l s e n ’ 3 S y n o d t o t r a v e l on b e h a l f o f m i s s i o n s .

In J a n u a r y ,

1871,

th e C onference

•^•The C o n f e r e n c e i n 1 8 8 8 , f o r e x a m p l e , w e n t on r e c o r d t o e n c o u r a g e t h e u s e o f l a y m e n i n s o f a r a s p o s s i b l e i n home m i s s i o n work. S y n o d ic a l R ep o rt, the C onferen ce, 1888, p. 9 6 . See S y n o d i c a l ' R e p o r t , N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a Syn od," 1 8 7 8 , p . 2 3 , f o r an i n s t a n c e where t h e m i s s i o n com m ittee was a u t h o r i z e d t o send o u t a m i s s i o n p a s t o r a nd o n e o r s e v e r a l l a y e m i s s a r i e s . And H a u g e ’ s S y n o d , o f c o u r s e , cham pioned l a y a c t i v i t y t o a g r e a t e r d e g r e e th an the o t h e r s . ^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e

Synod,

1870,

p . 20.

3 0 . J. Kasa, " M is s io n s -B e r e tn in g ,M B udbaereren, II (1 8 7 1 ), 154 f . I t i s o f i n t e r e s t t o n o t e t h e condiTTTons " u n d e r w h i c h H a u g e ’ s Synod i n 1873 c a l l e d layman A n d rea s N e l s o n t o s e r v e a s la y em issary. He wa s t o t r a v e l on b e h a l f o f b o t h home and f o r e i g n m i s s i o n s ; he was t o v i s i t o l d c o n g r e g a t i o n s , new o n e s , and a r e a s w h e r e n o n e w e r e o r g a n i z e d , on b o t h s i d e s o f t h e M i s s i s s i p p i ; h i s s a l a r y , t o b e p a i d o u t o f b o t h home a nd f o r e i g n m i s s i o n t r e a s u r i e s , w a s t o b e $ 2 6 . 0 0 p e r m o n t h and t r a v e l l i n g e x p e n s e s . In 1875 he

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

456 d esign ated

a P a sto r Jakobsen as

its

tra v ellin g e m i s s a r y . I n

1 8 7 4 t h e N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a n s a p p o i n t e d a s p e c i a l home m i s s i o n 2 e m i s s a r y , a la y m a n named Knud S a l v e s o n . The names o f c o - w o r k e r s of,

an d s u c c e s s o r s

m entioned h ere are th is

to,

the

leg io n ,

wo rk o v e r t h e y e a r s .

t o keep t h e i r

church b od ies

tr a v e llin g pastors

and l a y e m i s s a r i e s

f o r a g r e a t many men w e re o c c u p i e d w i t h T h e s e home m i s s i o n a r i e s w e r e e x p e c t e d inform ed o f t h e i r

many o f t h e m f a i t h f u l l y d i d s o i n t h e

a c tiv ities,

colum ns o f th e

and

syn od ical

p erio d ica ls• The w o r k o f home m i s s i o n s was s o m e t h i n g t h a t e v e r y o n e was expected

t o be

concerned a b o u t.

A ll pastors

were e x p e c t e d

what t h e y c o u ld f o r th e u n ch urch ed Norwegian s e t t l e r s com m u n ities.^ pastors

th eir

C o n g r e g a tio n s were en co u ra g ed t o perm it t h e i r

to devote

com m unities

in

to do

a p ortion

of settlers

of

th eir

where t h e r e

tim e

to making t r i p s

to

were no s e t t l e d p a s t o r s . ^

w a s o r d a i n e d a s '’m i s s i o n p a s t o r . ” ’’U d d r a g a f F o r h a n d l i n g e r n e v e d Synodemodet f o r den E v a n g .-L u t h . K irke i A m erica . • . 1 8 7 3 , ” B u d b a e r e r e n , V ( 1 8 7 3 ) , 1 0 ; C. L i l l e t h u n , " V o r t S a m fu n ds A a r s m o d e , ” i b i d . , VII (1 8 7 5 ), 59. •^ B e r e t n i n g om E x t r a - K o n f e r e n t s e m 8 d e t , a f h o l d t i M a d i s o n , W i s . , f r a d e n 4 d e t i l d e n 9 d e ~ ' J a n u a r y 1 8 7 1 ( 'i nc lu de d' ' w i t h ' s y n o d i ­ c a l R e p o r t, the C o n fe r e n c e , 1 8 7 1 ) , p . 7 9 . 2 S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t, N orwegian A ugu stan a Synod, 1 8 7 4 , p . 18. 3 The 1 8 7 3 c o n v e n t i o n o f t h e s y n o d , f o r e x a m p l e , w e n t o n r e c o r d t o t h e e f f e c t t h a t p a s t o r s , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e l i v i n g on t h e f r o n t i e r s , m ust r e g a r d i t as a s a c r e d d u ty t o m i n i s t e r t o th o se who w e r e w i t h o u t p a s t o r a l s e r v i c e ' s o r e n d e a v o r t o h a v e th em v isited . S y n o d ic a l R eport, th e Synod, 1875, p. 7 0 . See S y n o d lc a l R e p o r t , t h e C o n f e r e n c e , 1 8 7 4 ,' p . 7 0 , f o r a r e s o l u t i o n e n c o u r a g i n g p a s t o r s , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e In th e w e s t , t o ta k e m is s io n t r i p s . 4 An i n s t a n c e o f t h i s i s r e f e r r e d t o i n S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , N orwegian A ugu stan a Synod, 1 8 8 7 , p. 2 0 . The m i s s i o n ' c o m m i t t e e ' was a u t h o r i z e d t o make a r r a n g e m e n t s s o t h a t t h e o l o g i c a l s t u d e n t s c o u l d s e r v e c o n g r e g a t i o n s d u r i n g t h e summer and t h u s f r e e t h e

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

457 I t was

custom ary fo r p r o f e s s o r s

th e o lo g ic a l students tio n p erio d s.

t o engage

The l e a d e r s

at

the

sy n o d ica l sch ools

i n home m i s s i o n w o r k d u r i n g v a c a ­

of the

synods

seem t o have b een r a t h e r

u n ifo r m ly concerned about d o in g so m eth in g f o r o f the

thousands

o f im m igran ts.

the s p i r i t u a l needs

Herman A . P r e u s , w h o s e p r e s i d e n c y

o f t h e N orw egian Synod sp an n ed t h e p e r i o d 1 8 6 2 - 9 4 , p le

o f a vigorous

th o se m entioned a b o v e .

p u b l i s h e d n e w s and r e p o r t s being done. m ission

a g o o d exam­

in

se v e r a l other

The s y n o d i c a l p e r i o d i c a l s

a b o u t home m i s s i o n n e e d s a n d t h e w o r k

C o n g r e g a t i o n s w e r e e n c o u r a g e d t o h a v e s p e c i a l home

serv ices

w ith s p e c i a l o f f e r i n g s

At s y n o d i c a l c o n v e n t i o n s

it

t o t h e home m i s s i o n t h e m e . of a ll

is

p r o m o t e r o f home m i s s i o n work.-*-

I n t e r e s t i n home m i s s i o n s w a s f o s t e r e d ways b e s i d e s

and f o r

the syn od s

was

f o r home m i s s i o n w o r k .

the p r a c t i c e

Women’ s s o c i e t i e s

to devote in

the

a sermon

con gregation

gave h i g h l y v a lu e d s u p p o r t t o t h e work o f m i s ­

s i o n s , b o t h home a nd f o r e i g n ,

and

the form ation o f such s o c i e t i e s

was e n c o u r a g e d . 2 Many o b s t a c l e s s io n work. pastors trip s•

confronted th ose

There w ere t o o

few w o r k e r s

f o r two o r t h r e e m o n t h s i n

c o n c e r n e d a b o u t home m i s ­ f o r th e ta s k to be p e r -

order

t o make home m i s s i o n

^ H is a n n u a l m e s s a g e s t o s y n o d i c a l c o n v e n t i o n s a n d h i s a r t i c l e s in t h e s y n o d i c a l p e r i o d i c a l r e v e a l h i s i n t e r e s t . See, f o r e x a m p l e , H. A. P r e u s , "Et Ord t i l B e d s t e f o r v o r I n d r e - M i s ­ s i o n , ' * E . L . K . , I I ( 1 8 7 5 ) , 2 9 3 - 9 8 , o r , "Vore I n d r e M i s s i o n s v i r k s o m h e d , »' T 5 l d . , I I ( 1 8 7 8 ) , 3 0 5 - 0 9 . ^A« H. E i k j a r u d , " K v i n d e n s D e l t a g e l s e i A r b e i d e t , " i n F e s t s k r i f t , e d . H. H a l v o r s e n , p p . 3 6 6 f . j S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e Synod, 1 8 9 0 , p p . 6 4 , 67; S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e Norwegian A ugustana Synod, 1 873, p . 31; S y n o d ic a l' R e p o r t, th e C o n fe r e n c e , 1880, p . 75; S y n o d ic a l R eport, the C o n fe r e n c e , 1 882, p . 6 4 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

458 form ed, tio n a l the

and t h e r e

was a c o n s t a n t s h o r t a g e o f f u n d s a s

s u p p o r t o f home m i s s i o n a c t i v i t i e s

needs.

I n many a r e a s

and N o r w e g i a n s e t t l e r s ties

d ista n ces

were w id e ly

n e v e r m e a s u r e d up t o

t o he

t r a v e r s e d were g r e a t ,

scattered .

w itn e sse d a p erio d o f hard tim e s --th e

and g r a s s h o p p e r p l a g u e s . r a llied

in

congrega­

The m i d d l e s e v e n ­

P an ic o f

1875,

drought,

H ow ever, Norwegian Am erican L u th era n s

a m o s t c o m m e n d a b le w ay t o

th e a s s is t a n c e o f those 1 s t r i c k e n b y g r a s s h o p p e r s and d r o u g h t . The e x i s t e n c e o f s o many

Norwegian L u th eran s y n o d s ,

each w ith i t s

r e s \ i l t i n g in

over-lap p in g

hin drance

th e most s a t i s f a c t o r y r e s u l t s

to

of e ffo r ts

p r o g r a m o f home m i s s i o n s ,

a nd c o m p e t i t i o n ,

was a n o t h e r p

i n home m i s s i o n w o r k . 0

The E l e c t i o n C o n t r o v e r s y o f t h e

e ig h ties

o f home m i s s i o n

s y n o d , a n d w he n t h e c o n t r o v e r s y

w as e n d e d ,

the

a ctiv ity

in the

c a l l went out

for

p u t a damper on s u p p o r t

a g rea tly

i n t e n s i f i e d home

A Synod com m ittee c r e a t e d to a s s i s t t h o s e in t h e a f f l i c t e d a r e a s r e p o r t e d in 1875 r e c e i p t s o f $>9,857.08 i n c a sh ; 6 , 6 6 2 b u s h e l s o f s e e d w heat; f i f t y - 3 e v e n b o x e s , n in e b a r r e l s , and 148 s a c k s o f c l o t h i n g a nd s h o e s . R e c e i p t s t o a i d c h u r c h e s and s c h o o l s i n t h e n e e d y d i s t r i c t s amounted t o $ 1 , 7 9 2 . 8 9 . T h ese g i f t s were d i s t r i b u t e d i n s i x c o u n t i e s i n M i n n e s o t a , i n Io w a , D a k o t a , and K ansas. " R e g n s k a b o v e r U n d e r s t o t t e l s e f o r de N o d l i d e n d e i ' ’G r a s h o p p e d is t r ik t e r n e , ’ " E . L. K ., I I ( 1 8 7 5 ) , 5 3 6 -3 9 . That the same n e e d s o o n r e c u r r e d I s e v i d e n c e d b y p u b l i c i t y i n t h e c h u r c h p a p e r I n 1 8 7 8 , and t h e c o m m i t t e e t h a t f u n c t i o n e d on t h a t o c c a s i o n a g a i n r e p o r t e d a s i i b s t a n t i a l r e s p o n s e on t h e p a r t o f i n d i v i d u a l s and c o n g r e g a t i o n s t o t h e a p p e a l s f o r h e l p . "Regnskab f o r G r a e s h o p p e k o m m it t e e n ," i b i d . , V ( 1 8 7 8 ) , 347 f . ; VI ( 1 8 7 9 ) , 62 f . The C o n f e r e n c e a n d H a u g e ’ s S y n o d s i m i l a r l y a s s i s t e d t h e i r n e e d y m e m b er s i n t h e a f f l i c t e d a r e a s . p J . N o r d b y , "Den i n d r e M i s s i o n , " i n F e s t s k r i f t , e d . H a l ­ ve r se n , p . 291. p a s t o r A . E . Boyum, t h e n p r e s i d e n t o f H a u g e ’ s Sy n o d , a f t e r a t r i p i n t o t h e D akota T e r r i t o r y , i n 1878 w r i t e s k n ow ingly o f th e tra g ed y o f th e d iv id e d e f f o r t s o f a d is u n it e d N orw egian-A m erican L u th era n ism . " B e r e t n i n g om e n R e i s e i D a k o t a , " B u d b a e r e r e n , IX ( 1 8 7 8 ) , 1 8 5 .

with permission or the copyriph, owner Fur1her reproduorion prohibited whhou, p e ™ s ^

459

m ission

p r o g r a m . ' 1' S p e c i a l Home M i s s i o n P r o j e c t s The S y n o d ’ s i n t e r e s t i n

among N o r w e g i a n s

c a rr y in g out

a s p ir itu a l m in istry

i n New Y o r k C i t y a n d e n v i r o n s

u n d e r t a k i n g two s p e c i a l home m i s s i o n

projects

an I m m i g r a n t M i s s i o n a n d a S e a m a n ’ s M i s s i o n . Ole J u u l i s

p r o m in e n tly a s s o c i a t e d w it h the

resu lted

in

its

in that lo c a t io n , The name o f p a s t o r

origin s

of both of

th ese m is s io n s . In 1866 J u u l a c c e p t e d York C i t y c o n g r e g a t i o n .

a c a ll

w as d e d i c a t e d

located

to se r v e

le ft

New Y o r k i n

both the

1876.

on New Y o r k ’ s e a s t

sid e

JU ul,

c o n t i n u e d t h i s w o r k among s e a m e n u n t i l In 1878 p a s t o r

seam en’ s work,

h a l l in B rook lyn .

When he

O le A s p e r h e i m w as c a l l e d

w h i c h w a s now c a r r i e d on i n a

l e f t t h e work i n

1880 a form er M ethod­

c h u r c h and p a r s o n a g e h a d b e e n p u r c h a s e d f o r t h e s e a m a n ’ s m i s ­

sio n ,

p r o v i d i n g ample

propered under

fa c ilities

a su ccession

fin a n cia l d if fic u lt ie s men i n the

I n 1 8 7 2 Our

c o n g r e g a t i o n and s e a m e n .

e x c lu s iv e ly to the

ist

g r e a t numbers.

on Monroe s t r e e t

t o g e t h e r w i t h an a s s i s t a n t , he

s e r v e t h e S y n o d ’ s New

He e n d e a v o r e d t o m i n i s t e r t o S c a n d i n a v i a n

s e a m e n who f r e q u e n t e d t h e p o r t i n S a v i o r ’ s Church,

to

sh ip s,

seam an's

r e a d in g room .^

a ctiv ities.

o f seam en's p a s t o r s ,

were e n c o u n t e r e d .

h o sp ita ls, church;

for i t s

N ot u n t i l

^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

1890 d id

held s e r v ic e s

litera tu re

1887, p.

sea­

in

and m a i n t a i n e d a

the Synod p r o v id e

the Synod,

frequent

The p a s t o r s v i s i t e d

a nd b o a r d i n g h o u s e s ;

and d i s t r i b u t e d

but

The w o r k

fo r annual

142.

^ R e p o r t f r o m p a s t o r K. K. S a a r h e i m , B r o o k l y n , S y n o d ic a l R eport, the Synod, 1890, pp. 6 7 - 7 1 .

with permission o, the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission

N. Y . ,

in

460 fin a n cia l ect

support o f t h i s

seam an’s m is s io n

S i m i l a r w or k o f a l e s s

ried

on i n

other ea stern

the

Synod in

g r a n t s »- m i s s i o n a r y "

f o r New Y o r k . 3

w or k w i t h s e a m e n ,

S.

the M isso u r i

w or k f o r h i s

synod,

and t h e i r h o s p i c e ,

e r a l n a t u r e , b u t e s p e c i a l l y was sp iritu a lly

fath ers

in t h e ir

v o tio n a l serv ices

new h o m e . the

tors

in

areas

sk rift,

P astor th is

a su ccessio n

th e m o f f i c e

h elp

of

fa c ilities

The p u r p o s e

and c o u n s e l o f a g e n ­

a concern them f o r

d istrib u ted

for h elp in g

the

immi­

church o f t h e i r

b esid es

con d u ctin g d e ­

tracts

and b o o k s

nam es and a d d r e s s e s

t o w h ic h th e y were

In 1890 th e

to

a ssist­

P i l g r i m H ouse and e n g a g i n g i n r e l i g i o u s

the im m igrants w ith the the

to

The m i s s i o n a r y ,

con versation w ith in d iv id u a ls , . p rovided

there

and f o r r e t a i n i n g

in

p o sitio n .

the Lutheran p ilg r im H ouse.

o f t h e i m m i g r a n t m i s s i o n was t o p r o v i d e

grants

ju u l's

who w a s a l r e a d y e n g a g e d i n

m aking a v a i l a b l e

c a lled

At h i s

o f an " im m i­

Larsen,

to t h is

was o f g r e a t a s s i s t a n c e

N orw egian Synod w o r k e r s ,

t h e many i m m i g r a n t s

ca llin g

Peder e .

was c a l l e d

Synod,

the

car­

and B o s t o n . 2

t h r o u g h New Y or k h a r b o r .

1875 a u t h o r i z e d

ant in h i s Keyl o f

such as B altim ore

a concern fo r h e lp in g

who e n t e r e d t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s suggestion

o r g a n i z e d n a t u r e was a t t i m e s

seaports,

Pastor Juul f e l t

a s a home m i s s i o n p r o j ­

synod a u t h o r iz e d

and

o f Synod p a s ­

g o in g .4 a home m i s s i o n

• S. E v e r s o n , "Sjttm andsm issionen i e d . H a lv o r sen , pp. 3 0 8 -1 1 .

project

New Y o r k , "

^ I b i d . , p . 3 0 9 ; r e f e r e n c e t o work i n B a l t i m o r e R e p o r t, M in n e so ta D i s t r i c t , the Synod, 1 8 8 0 , p . 1 4 . •z S y n o d ic a l R ep o rt, the Synod, 1 8 7 5 , p . 7 2 . ^E- P e t e r s e n , " E m i g r a n t m i s s i o n e n , " i n H alvorsen , pp. 3 0 4 -0 8 .

that

in F e s t in S y n o d ic a l

F e s t s k r if t , ed.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

461 w as t o p r o v e e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t estab lish m en t o f a m ission

to the

when p r o v i s i o n was made f o r t h e S c a n d i n a v i a n s i n Mormon U t a h . 1

The p r e c e d i n g p a r a g r a p h s h a v e r e v e a l e d 1 8 7 0 - 9 0 was one o f a g r o w i n g a w a r e n e s s b ilities entered

o f home m i s s i o n r e s p o n s i ­

and o f much home m i s s i o n a c t i v i t y . and o c c u p i e d b y t h e

churches.

th a t the p erio d

Many new f i e l d s w e r e

Many c o n g r e g a t i o n s and

p r e a c h i n g p l a c e s w e r e e s t a b l i s h e d , b u t mu ch o f t h e w o r k w a s n o t so lid ly the

grounded as y e t .

f o l l o w i n g p e r i o d would s e e

C onseq uently,

t h e home m i s s i o n

in m agn itud e.

see

a greater

more r e m a r k a b le

were

still

expand ing,

a d d i t i o n a l new r e g i o n s

t a s k was o n e t h a t c o n t i n u e d t o g r ow

fo llo w in g tw en ty -fiv e

i n home

o r t h i r t y y e a r s were

f l o w e r i n g o f home m i s s i o n a c t i v i t y grow th in

and

settled .

T h is was a p e r i o d o f f r u i t f u l b e g i n n i n g s

m is s io n work, bu t th e to

The f r o n t i e r s

and an e v e n

church m em bership.

F oreign M ission i n t e r e s t

and S u p p o r t

Growth o f i n t e r e s t Our p e r i o d w a s c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a d e e p ­ en in g in t e r e s t

in

fo reign m issio n s,

and t h e y e a r 1890

found t h e

N orwegian L u th eran ch u rch b o d ie s

on t h e

in ten siv e

The n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y r e l i g i o u s

fo r e ig n m issio n work.

th resh h old of a p eriod

of

1S y n o d ic a l R ep o rt, th e Synod, 1 8 9 0 , p . 6 5 . For a b r i e f d i s c u s s i o n ~ o T “W i T l n r s s T o n s e e ~ A T ^ T T i T ^ O v e r n , " U t a h m i s s i o n e n , ” i*2 F e s t s k r i f t , e d . H a l v o r s e n , p p . 3 1 6 - 2 1 . One o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e ' s p a s t o r s made a t r i p among t h e Mormons o f U t a h i n t h e e i g h t i e s ; as a r e s u l t t h e C o n f e r e n c e i n s t r u c t e d i t s p r e s i d e n t and s e c r e t a r y t o c o m m u n i c a t e w i t h t h e C h u r c h D e p a r t m e n t o f N or wa y t o e n c o u r a g e t h e S t a t e C h u r c h o f N or wa y t o c om ba t M orm oni sm i n Norway and t o s e n d out m is s io n a r ie s to U tah. S yn od ical R eport, th e C onference, 1884, p. 78.

perm ission o f the copyright owner. F „ r ,n e r r e „ „ production prohibited without Perm ission.

462 a w a k e n i n g i n Norway s t i m u l a t e d i n t e r e s t resu lted

in fo r e ig n m issio n s

i n t h e f o r m a t i o n o f w h a t was t o h e a fa m o u s and e f f e c t i v e

ind ep en dent m is sio n

so ciety ,

N orw egian L uth erans

i n A m e r i c a , when s t i r r e d

t h e Norwegian M is s io n S o c i e t y

n a t u r a lly turned p r im a r ily t o M is s io n news,

b eg in n in g in th e cred it

eig h ties means:

in terest

of

B orch grevin k ,

The c h u r c h p a p e r s d e s e r v e a g o o d

o f fo reig n m issio n a r ie s

in te r -s y n o d ic a l m ission m eetin gs.

speaking to u r ,

t h e NMS, a n d r e c e i v e d s io n work.

tio n s

in the

in

fo r m is­

The f i r s t

Iowa,

in te r -s y n o d ic a l m ission

in O ctober, in Septem ber,

1 8 8 3 , a nd t h e 1889.

One o f

c o n v e n i n g o f t h e s e m i s s i o n m e e t i n g s was

P a s t o r p . A. Rasmussen o f

the sy n o d , b u t t h e

that p a r tic ip a tio n

w o u ld be s i n f u l u n i o n i s m . in

He made

NMS m i s s i o n a r i e s W ale n and

Illin o is,

s i x t h was h e l d i n E s t h e r v i l l e ,

p ation

t o him

the

among N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n c o n g r e g a ­

m e e t i n g was h e l d i n L i s b o n ,

general f e lt

America,

generous f i n a n c i a l c o n tr ib u tio n s

as B o rch g rev in k had d o n e.

th e prim e movers

in v ita tio n

o f t h e NMS

stim u lated a great d ea l o f in t e r e s t

L a te r in th e e i g h t i e s

Jorgenson t r a v e lle d

in the

I n 1 8 8 3 C. D .

NMS m i s s i o n a r y t o M a d a g a s c a r , v i s i t e d

C o n f e r e n c e h a v i n g e x t e n d e d an o f f i c i a l an e x t e n d e d

However,

was s t i m u l a t e d c h i e f l y t h r o u g h two

th e American v i s i t s

a nd a s e r i e s

the s y n o d ic a l p e r io d ic a ls

fo r s tim u la tin g m ission i n t e r e s t .

m ission

in terest,

i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t NMS m i s s i o n s ,

freq u en tly in

sev en ties.

to m ission

(NMS) .

t h e NMS w i t h t h e i r s u p p o r t .

p a rticu la rly

a p p e a r e d more and more

deal of

and

in th ese

Synod p a s t o r s

g e n e r a l m issio n m eetings

C o n s e q u e n t l y , t h e r e was l e s s

t h e s e m e e t i n g s by t h e Synod th a n by th e o t h e r

^S yn od ical R ep o rt,

in

the C o n feren ce,

1882, p . 99.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

p a rtici­ synods.

463 B esid es b ein g a stim u lan t to m ission L utherans

th e s e m is s io n m eetin gs

o f a g rea ter degree

c ieties.

c o n tr ib u te d t o th e developm ent

p eriod

the d i r e c t i o n

for

in the e ig h t ie s - - a lt h o u g h

to A u stralia settlers

in

to m in ister that

a fo reig n m ission

synods, the

m i s s i o n a r i e s - - t w o y o t m g men w e n t la te

in te r -s y n o d ic a l m ission

of its

own.

o f o th er synods or s o ­

C onference,

sent out foreign

t o M a d a g a s c a r t o t h e NMS f i e l d

the

to the

country.

a t a tim e

o f u n ion .

supported the m is s io n s

Only one o f t h e

synods

1 8 7 0 -9 0 none o f th e N orw egian L u th eran

sy n o d s assum ed r e s p o n s i b i l i t y F in a n c ia lly th ey

among N o r w e g i a n

o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g among t h e

when t h e y w e r e w o r k i n g i n D uring the

in terest

Synod i n

1879 s e n t a p a s t o r

s p i r i t u a l needs

However,

in

th is

o f Norwegian

p e r i o d an i n d e p e n d e n t ,

s o c i e t y was o r g a n i z e d u n d er t h e

lead ersh ip

o f C onference

pastors

p eo p le.

Z i o n S o c i e t y e m p l o y e d o n e m i s s i o n a r y a b r o a d and on e

T his

i n A m erica p r i o r sion s o c ie t y ,

the

to

t o c a r r y o n m i s s i o n w o r k among t h e J e w i s h

1890.

And i n

1890 a n o th e r in d ep en d e n t m i s ­

China M i s s i o n S o c i e t y ,

came i n t o b e i n g ,

its

m em bership b e i n g r e c r u i t e d m a in ly from H auge’ s Syn od. These con sid eration

g e n e r a l remarks

in d ica te

th a t in

th e p e r io d under

t h e r e was a m a r s h a l l i n g o f f o r e i g n m i s s i o n

and s u p p o r t t h a t was t o b e f r u i t f u l o f e f f e c t i v e

in terest

m i s s i o n work in

the p e r io d im m ed iately f o llo w in g . . A . L a r s e n , "The G r o w th o f F o r e i g n M i s s i o n I n t e r e s t and S u p p o r t i n t h e E v a n g e l i c a l L u t h e r a n C h u r c h t o 1 8 9 0 , " ( U n p u b ­ l i s h e d P h . D. d i s s e r t a t i o n , Graduate S c h o o l , Y a le U n i v e r s i t y , 1947; copy in l i b r a r y o f Luther T h e o l o g i c a l Sem inary, S t . P a u l, M in n esota), p a ssim . L arsen 's d is s e r t a t io n is v a lu a b le fo r i n ­ f o r m a tio n abou t t h e Norwegian Synod and H a u g e 's Synod; h o w e v e r, i t d o es n o t d e a l w i t h th e C o n fe r e n c e and t h e N orw egian A ugu stan a Synod.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

464

The N o r w e g i a n S y n o d The S y n o d d u r i n g t h e

six ties

devoted

fo reig n m ission s

ch iefly

A merican I n d ia n s

by th e M is s o u r i Synod.^

d isco n tin u ed i t s

w o r k among t h e

c h i e f l y t o t h e NMS. gregation s

con trib u ted

to

t o t h e m i s s i o n w o r k c a r r i e d on among

In d ia n s,

A fter

th e M i s s o u r i Synod

c o n t r i b u t i o n s were s e n t

I n 1 8 6 9 t h e NMS h a d r e q u e s t e d N o r w e g i a n c o n ­

in A m erica to c o o p e r a te w it h

n eg o tia tio n s

funds

it

in

its

work.

The

c a r r i e d on b e t w e e n t h e NMS and t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d

through i t s

m i s s i o n com m ittee r e s u l t e d i n the S y n o d ’ s a f f i l i a t i o n 2 NMS* I t w as t h e M a d a g a s c a r f i e l d o f t h e NMS w h i c h t h e

w ith the

S y n o d wa s p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t e r e s t e d R elation s

betw een th e

in su p p o rtin g .

NMS a n d t h e S y n o d w e r e

1 8 7 3 , when t h e C o n f e r e n c e was a d m i t t e d w ith the

NMS a s

an i n t o l e r a b l e

in to the

t h a t e n jo y e d by th e S y n o d .4 situ a tio n

it

was e n g a g e d i n

leged errors reso lu tio n itse lf

of

same r e l a t i o n s h i p

T h i s w as r e g a r d e d a s

by th e synod b eca u se

S y n o d w as b r o u g h t i n t o f e l l o w s h i p w i t h t h e

co rd ia l u n t il

it

meant t h a t

C o n f e r e n c e , w i t h whom

t h e o l o g i c a l w arfare

in d o c tr in e

i n America b e c a u se o f a l 5 an d p r a c t i c e . D u r i n g t h e s e v e n t i e s no

t h e p r o b l e m w as

found.

The NMS w o u l d n o t i d e n t i f y

w i t h e i t h e r p a r t y e n g a g e d i n t h e American r e l i g i o u s

troversy,

a n d t h e r e was d i s a g r e e m e n t

needed to b e ,

or could b e,

1I b id . , pp.

135,

done.

The a c t i o n

87.

^S y n o d l c a l R e p o r t , t h e

Synod,

fin a lly

ta k e n by t h e

1871, pp. 87-89.

4 Supra, pp. 304. Synod,

con­

i n t h e S y n o d a s t o what

148.

^ S yn od ical R eport, th e 5I b id ., p.

the

1874, p.

15.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

465 Synod a t i t s m e e t i n g in le ft

it

1881 c o n s t i t u t e d no d e c i s i o n b u t

to each co n gregation

t h e M S s h o v i l d be."*" cause o f a p eriod

to d ecid e

what i t s

A fter 1873, because

a ttitu d e

of th is

o f f i n a n c i a l hard t im e s ,

sim p ly toward

problem and b e ­

givin g

to fo r e ig n m is­

sio n s to

d e c lin e d s h a r p ly , bu t c o n tr ib u tio n s f o r the M S co n tin u ed 2 come i n . D uring th e p e r io d o f t h e s e u n p l e a s a n t r i e s a m is s io n

among A m e r i c a n N e g r o e s ,

o r g a n iz ed by the S y n o d ic a l C onference

1877, received

some o f t h e i n t e r e s t

w ise have gone

to

bu tion s

to

the

a nd s u p p o r t t h a t w o u l d

NMS; a f t e r p e a c e was r e - e s t a b l i s h e d c o n t r i -

the negro m is s io n d e c li n e d

Synod r e g a r d e d t h i s

Indian m issio n as

m issio n alth ou gh i t

was l o c a t e d

sh arp ly.

its

in t h i s

took the

and t h e portance

con gregation s

Indian M issio n f o r i n t h e Synod a s

^Syn odical R eport,

a m ission ary.

But once

of f ir s t

foreign m ission in t e r e s t 1881, p. 39.

^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e S y n o d , t h e S y n o d , 1 & 76 , p p . I l 6 - 1 8 .

1 8 7 4 , p . 99;

L arsen, op. c i t . , pp. 2 50, 31 1 ,

t h e work

to i t s support,

a tim e assumed the p l a c e

the Synod,

®H. A .

a nd c o n s i d e r a b l e

th e Church C o u n c i l

o f th e Synod r a l l i e d

far as

''foreign ” T h i s work was

Synod,

overcome b e f o r e

steps necessary to c a l l

was b egun t h e

sy n o d ica l

country.®

su g g e ste d by P a s to r T. Larsen o f the

s y n o d i c a l l e t h a r g y had t o be

port,

oth er­

I n 1 8 8 4 t h e S y n o d o r g a n i z e d a m i s s i o n among t h e I n d i a n s 4 v i c i n i t y o f W itten b erg, W isco n sin . F o r some y e a r s t h e

in the

fir st

in

th e Synod,

1884, p. 84.

®S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

th e Synod,

1887, p. 141.

and s u p -

S y n o d ic a l Re­

427.

^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

im­

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

466 p o r t were c o n c e r n e d . 1 pute o v er the

The E l e c t i o n C o n t r o v e r s y p r o d u c e d a d i s ­

ow nership o f th e

f i n a l agreem ent p laced A nother m is s io n

In d ia n M issio n p r o p e r ty , hut the

the p ro p erty in the

p r o j e c t u n d e r ta k e n b y th e Synod in

p e r io d , b u t w hich could h a r d ly be t h a t t o Norwegian s e t t l e r s cep ted the esta b lish ed tra lia ,

a f o r e i g n m i s s i o n , was

in A u s tr a lia .

P a s t o r L. C a r ls e n a c ­

c a l l t o t h a t w o r k a nd l e f t s e v e r a l con gregation s

in

in

1879.

He

in Aus­

from t h e h o m e - b a s e .

1 8 8 7 , no p r o v i s i o n h a v i n g b e e n

A fte r again v i s i t i n g A u s tr a lia in

1891.

for about a

E fforts to

rep lace

fu tile .^ The C o n f e r e n c e - - t h e In th e

o rd in a rily in

field

and p r e a c h i n g p l a c e s

y e a r he r e t u r n e d t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s him w ere

for the

n o t alw ays r e c e i v i n g adequ ate b a c k in g

a successor.

th is

ca lled

He r e t u r n e d t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s made f o r

Synod’ s h a n d s.2

s e v e n t i e s moneys g i v e n

s e n t by th e

C onference

Zion S o c i e t y for

to th e

f o r e i g n m i s s i o n s were N orwegian M is s io n S o c i e t y ,

a c co r d a n ce w it h th e recom m endation o f i t s

In 1873 th e

NMS r e c o g n i z e d

M ission

t h e C o n f e r e n c e on t h e

th e S yn od, and t h e C o n fe r e n c e h e n c e f o r t h gave i t s t h e wor k o f t h e NMS.® A. L a r s e n ,

The r i s i n g op.

in terest

C om m ittee.^

same t e r m s a s f u l l support

to

in fo r e ig n m issio n s,

c i t . , pp. 339-41.

2S y n o d ic a l R e p o r t, th e Synod, 1 8 9 0 , p . 1 9 . In 1890 th e m i s s i o n was carin g T o r mo re t h a n n i n e t y I n d i a n c h i l d r e n . Ib id . 3 H. A. L a r s e n , o p . c i t . , p p . 3 5 0 , 3 5 3 - 5 7 . 4 S y n o d ic a l R eport, the C on feren ce, 1 8 7 1 , p . 3 0 . 5 I t wa s P r o f e s s o r A u g u s t W e e n a a s and P a s t o r F a l k G j e r t s e n who r e p r e s e n t e d t h e C o n f e r e n c e a t t h e G e n e r a l M e e t i n g o f t h e NMS w he n t h i s r e c o g n i t i o n w a s g i v e n . S y n o d ic a l R ep o rt, the C o n fer­ en ce, 1874, p. 54.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

467 p a rticu la rly

in the e i g h t i e s ,

wa s f e l t

fo rcib ly

a t Augsburg C ol­

lege

and S e m in a r y , w here th e M i s s i o n C om m ittee r e p o r t e d i n 1886

that

at

the c a l l

t o be m i s s i o n ­

a r ie s.1

in t h a t y e a r the an n u al m e e tin g o f t h e

C onference au­

th orized

th e e s t a b lis h m e n t o f a s p e c i a l fund t o a s s i s t i n

ca tio n

lea st

t h r e e y o u n g men h a d f e l t

o f Augsburg stu d e n ts p la n n in g t o

be m i s s i o n a r i e s . 2

In 1887 th e C onference a u t h o r i z e d th e sen d in g out o f J. was t o

p . H ogstad as

go o u t u n d e r t h e

H o g s t a d was t h e f i r s t

a m is s io n a r y to M adagascar.

in a f o r e i g n

send out a fo r e ig n m is sio n a r y ,

lan d ,

MS u n til

th e

first

is

to th e

ch urch body to

H o g s t a d a n d Tou r e m a i n e d i n t h e

1 8 9 2 w h e n t h e NMS t u r n e d o v e r t o of its

the

Madagascar

and a g r e e d t o p e r m i t t h e

serv ice

cep ted the

tw o y o u n g m i s s i o n a r i e s t o e n t e r C o f th e U n it e d Church. H o w e v er , n e i t h e r o f them a c ­

ca ll

e x t e n d e d by t h e U n i t e d C h u r c h . 3

OJl j y u i b a i 2Ib id .,

ed.

and i t

B o t h H o g s t a d a n d Tou w e r e

r e c e n t l y o r g a n i z e d U n i t e d Church a p o r t i o n field

M S .3

i n 1 8 8 9 h e was j o i n e d i n M a d a g a s c a r

o f the C on feren ce.4

g r a d u a te s o f Augsburg Sem inary. o f the

o f the

He

N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n t o go o u t as

c r e d i t o f th e C onference th a t t h e y were th e

serv ice

c o m m i s s i o n i n g and

c o n t r o l and s u p e r v i s i o n

m i s s i o n a r y to a pagan p e o p le

b y E. H• Tou, a l s o

t h e edu­

p.

jjwi u9

UUiJlCi’CiiUO,

XOO

65.

S y n o d ica l R eport,

the C o n fe r e n c e , 1887

"Syn odical R eport,

the C o n fe r e n c e , 1889

3M. S a e t e r l i e , " H e d n i n g e m i s s i o n e n , " i n F r a U n g d o m s a a r , B ru n, p p . 2 2 4 , 226 f . 6Ib id .,

p.

229.

R eproduced with perm ission o f the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission

468 The R e v e r e n d J o h a n p . G j e r t s e n a n d P r o f e s s o r S v e n R . Gunnersen o f th e C o n feren ce Jew ish m is s io n s .

G j e r t s e n h a d come t o A m e r i c a i n

G u n n e r s e n came t e n y e a r s Through t h e i r among t h e in terest

in flu en ce

la ter

as

a professor

in form ative

Jews a p p e a r e d i n

a rticles

in te r e st in

1864, w h ile

at A ugsbu rg.1 a b o u t m i s s i o n work

the C o n fe r e n c e 's p e r i o d i c a l ,

o f s e v e r a l i n d i v i d u a l s was s t i m u l a t e d .

a m ission

and th e

On J u n e 2 4 ,

s o c i e t y was o r g a n i z e d a t S t o u g h t o n , W i s c o n s i n .

C o n f e r e n c e was h o l d i n g i t s tim e.

awakened a c o n s i d e r a b l e

annual m eetin g a t

S toughton at

The new s o c i e t y w as o r g a n i z e d u n d e r t h e

S o ciety

for

Isra el,

versio n

o f the

w ith i t s

Jew s.

1878,

The the

name The Z i o n

p u r p o se b e i n g t o work f o r th e c o n ­

A C e n t r a l C om m ittee was

e le c t e d w ith J.

P.

G j e r t s e n as p r e s i d e n t ,

G u n n e r s e n a s t r e a s u r e r , a n d M. F a l k Q G jertsen as s e c r e ta r y . At f i r s t th e s o c i e t y gave i t s f i n a n c i a l support

to Jew ish m is s io n s

oth ers.

In 1 8 8 0 , w i t h th e

L eip zig ,

Germany, t h e

alread y

in e x is t e n c e

a ssista n ce

so ciety

c a lled

R ussian Jew ish t h e o l o g i c a l ca n d id a te E a rly in

to

leave

o f p rofessor D elitzsch its

P alestin e

after

and s a i l e d

a

for P a lestin e.

t o h i s w o r k , and he was

o n ly a few m o n th s .

t o o k m i s s i o n w o r k among t h e Petersburg u n t i l

f i r s t m issio n a ry ,

of

named T h e o d o r M e y e r s o h n .

1881 he was o r d a i n e d i n B e r l i n

H o w e v er , t h e r e was g r e a t h o s t i l i t y

a nd c o n d u c t e d b y

Jews o f R u s s i a ,

forced

M eyersohn th en u n d e r ­ la b o r in g in S t .

1 8 8 8 and t h e n M insk u n t i l h i s

death in 1913.

i n 1 8 8 2 t h e R e v e r e n d P a u l W e r b e r was c a l l e d b y t h e

Z ion S o c i e t y

^C. K . S o l b e r g , A B r i e f H i s t o r y o f t h e Z i o n S o c i e t y f o r I s r a e l ( M i n n e a p o l i s , 1 9 2 8 ) , p p . 15 f . S o l b e r g s e r v e d - as p r e s 'i d e n t o f t h e s o c i e t y f o r a number o f y e a r s . 2Ib id .,

pp.

21 f .

5I b ld ., pp.

23-31,

with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission

40-43.

469 t o w o r k among t h e u n til h is

Jews

death in

in B altim ore,

189 6 .^

M aryland, where he la b o r e d

In 1892 a t h i r d m i s s i o n a r y ,

R e v e r e n d R u d o l p h G- u rl and , w as c a l l e d ; Jews i n R u s s i a .

p

In t h e

m i s s i o n w o r k among t h e

c o u r se o f tim e

jew s

o f C hicago,

A lthough th e fo u n d e r s the

C onference,

In s c o p e ,

it

w as t h e i r

and e f f o r t s

he a ls o the

the

l a b o r e d among t h e

s o c i e t y supported,

New Y o r k , and M i n n e a p o l i s .

o f t h e Z i o n S o c i e t y w e r e members o f i n t e n t i o n t h a t i t be i n t e r - s y n o d i c a l

w e r e made t o

in terest

the

other synods.

1 8 8 3 t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e was e n l a r g e d b y t h e a d d i t i o n Rasmussen o f t h e

o f P. A.

N o r w e g i a n S y n o d , A u g u s t W e en aas o f H a u g e »s S y n o d ,

a n d S . M. K r o g n e s s ish

In

o f t h e N orw egian A ugu stan a Synod.^

and D a n is h L u th e r a n i n t e r e s t i n

the

Some S w e d ­

s o c ie t y d ev elo p ed , but

over the y e a r s

the

c h i e f s u p p o r t came f r o m t h e U n i t e d C h u r c h ,

Hauge’ s Synod,

and t h e L u th era n F ree C h u rch .4 The N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a s y n o d

A general Increase felt the

In t h e

of in terest

i n f o r e i g n m i s s i o n s was

N orw egian A u g u sta n a Synod a l s o .

funds g iv e n t o

fo r e ig n m ission s w ith in

General C o u n c il’ s m issio n

in In d ia ,

ca l reso lu tio n

However, i n

of 1872.

1I b i d . , p.

32.

O r ig in a ll y m ost o f th is

group went t o

the

in accordance w ith a sy n o d ithe

course

o f a few y e a r s ,

2I b i d ., p. 47.

*^J. H . B l e g e n , Z i o n s f o r e n i n g s H i s t o r i e ( M i n n e a p o l i s : F r i k i r k e n s B o g h a n d e l s Tr y k k e r I , 1‘9 0 3 ) , p p . 9 3 - 9 5 . B legen , a p r o ­ f e s s o r a t A u g s b u r g , w a s f o r many y e a r s s e c r e t a r y o f t h e s o c i e t y . 4 C . K. S o l b e r g , ’’Z i o n s f o r e n i n g e n f o r Ungdomsaar, e d . B run, p . 2 6 6 .

Isr a e l,"

in Fra

^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d , 1 8 7 2 , p . 14. 0 . J . H a t l e s t a d , one o f t h e l e a d e r s o f t h e Norwegian A ugustanans, m a in ta in e d r a th e r c lo s e c o n t a c t s w ith the G eneral C o u n cil.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

470 a l t h o u g h I t was s t a t e d t h a t

support o f the G eneral C o u n c il's m is ­

s i o n s h o u l d n o t be n e g l e c t e d , t h e o f th eir S in ce not,

f i n a n c i a l sup p ort to

the th is

N orwegian A u g u sta n a n s g a v e m o st

t h e Norwegian M i s s i o n S o c i e t y .

NMS was w e l l - k n o w n an d t h e G e n e r a l C o u n c i l ' s w o r k was was t h e m o r e n a t u r a l a r r a n g e m e n t

P a s t o r D a v id L y s n e s and h i s lar

co n g r eg a tio n s took a p a r t i c u ­

in terest

i n m i s s i o n w o r k among t h e J e w s and g e n e r o u s l y c o n 2 trib u ted to th at cause. T h i s i n t e r e s t came t o b e s h a r e d b y others in

the

synod.

R eceip ts

d is tr ib u te d but a fte r the

f o r J e w ish m i s s i o n s were v a r i o u s l y

o r g a n iz a tio n o f the

Zion S o c i e t y ,

the

s y n o d recommended t h e

s u p p o r t o f t h a t s o c i e t y ' s work.® That r e c 4 omm endation was f o l l o w e d . In 1887 the synod adop ted a r e s o l u t i o n a l s o a d v o c a t i n g s u p p o r t o f t h e Norwegian S y n o d ’ s I n d i a n m i s s i o n . ® H a u g e ’ s S y n o d — t h e China M i s s i o n S o c i e t y I t was i n tion e n t it le d gave

" M i s s i o n News" i n i t s

con sid erab le

w ith m is s io n s . tu tio n ,

1871 th a t Budbaereren began t o

atten tio n

to a r tic le s

When t h e E l l i n g i a n s

w h ic h was a d o p t e d i n

in clu d ed

pages,

in clu d e

a sec­

an d f r o m t h a t t i m e o n

a n d ne w s i t e m s

d ea lin g

f o r m u l a t e d t h e i r new c o n s t i ­

1876, A r tic le V o f the c o n s t i t u t i o n

s u p p o r t o f f o r e i g n m i s s i o n s as one o f th e s y n o d ’ s p u r -

"^ S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d , 1 8 8 4 , p . 1 7 j S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e ‘N o r w e g i a n Aug u s t a n a S y n o d , 188_7, p. 20. q

S y n o d ic a l R eport, th e

Norwegian A u g u sta n a Syn od ,

1875,

pp . 20 f . ^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d , 1 8 8 4 , p . 1 7 . ^ S yn od ical R eport, ® Ibid . ,

Norwegian A ugustana Synod,

1887, p. 4.

p . 20 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

471 poses.

O rd in arily

con trib u tion s

to f o r e ig n m is s io n s

t h e N o r w e g i a n M i s s i o n s o c i e t y . - 1con gregation s th eir

in terested

co n trib u tio n s

S o ciety .^

in

su p p o rtin g Jew ish m is s io n s

through the

en th u sia stic

sent

to

Hauge»s Synod e n c o u ra g ed t h o s e to send

s y n o d ic a l t r e a s u r e r to the

So g r e a t l y d i d m i s s i o n

d u rin g the e i g h t i e s

were

in terest

in t h is

Zion

synod i n c r e a s e

t h a t H a u g e »s S y n o d e m e r g e d a s on e o f t h e m o s t

supporters

of fo r e ig n m ission s

among N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i -

can L u th eran sy n o d s The C h i n a M i s s i o n s o c i e t y was o r g a n i z e d i n

June,

c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e a n n u a l m e e t i n g o f H a u g e *s S y n o d . t e r e s t had r ea c h e d a h i g h p e a k . gian m is s io n a r ie s

en r o u t e

In t h e

to ch in a,

o.

synod.

When t h e

enough in su it

som e,

o f the

some o f t h e

ann ual m e etin g in

the d i r e c t i o n the

in

M ission i n ­

S.

N e ste g a a r d th e Younger A* jtfstby o f

con gregation s

of that

1890 d i d not p r o c e e d r a p i d l y

o f e n t e r i n g upon m is s io n

work i n C h i n a t o

C hin a M i s s i o n S o c i e t y was o r g a n i z e d i n d e p e n d e n t l y

synod m e e t i n g .

O f f i c e r s were e l e c t e d The s o c i e t y

ab le r e s p o n se ,

f i r s t m e e t i n g was h e l d A u g u st 2 8 - 3 0 ,

and i t s

N estegaard the E ld e r ,

ju st

returned

e lic ite d

and a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l

c o m m i t t e e was c h o s e n .

p.

in

S p r i n g o f 1 8 9 0 tw o N o r w e ­

and S* N e t l a n d , b e c a m e a c q u a i n t e d w i t h P a s t o r 0 . H a u g e »s S y n o d a n d v i s i t e d

1890,

an i m m e d i a t e a n d f a v o r ­

fr om C h i n a , w as

1890.

consecrated

■''See, f o r e x a m p l e , S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , H a u g e 1 s S y n o d , 2 8 ; H. A- L a r s e n , o p . c i t . , p . 2 6 9 . 2 S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t, Hauge*s Synod, 1 8 9 0 , p . 2 9 .

•Z.

1890,

H. A* L a r s e n s u g g e s t s t h a t H a u g e ’ s S y n o d s u r p a s s e d t h e o th e r s in t h i s r e g a r d . Qp. c i t . , p p . 2 7 3 f . However, th e accom­ p lish m e n ts of th e C onference in c o n n e c tio n w ith f o r e ig n m is s io n i n t e r e s t an d s u p p o r t a r e w o r t h y o f a s mu ch r e c o g n i t i o n a s t h a t g i v e n t o H a u g e *s S y n o d . Supra, pp. 466-69.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited without p erm ission.

472 as

the

so ciety 's

w ith h is

sister

m ission ary,

T hea, were a l s o

When t h e S o c i e t y d i d n o t

as

ca lled

own.

c a l l e d by th e

m ission ary,

u n til

its

S ociety

t o be i t s

w ork was t a k e n

though the

China M i s s i o n

to H auge's

Synod,

it

However,

M ission S o c ie t y

t o China th e

N e l s o n was i n 1 8 9 2

and he s e r v e d a s

o v e r b y t h e U n i t e d Church i n

1903.

such A l­

S o c i e t y was b e g u n b y t h o s e who b e l o n g e d

was i n t e n d e d t o b e an i n t e r - s y n o d i c a l a g e n c y

f o r th e N orw egian-A m erican Lutheran c h u r c h e s . Synod o f f i c i a l l y

C h i n a a n d who

c a n d id a te, he s a i l e d

same F a l l a n d b e g a n w o r k on h i s

t o C hina.

an I o w a f a r m e r who

c a l l t o m i s s i o n work i n

a m issio n a ry

together

as m is s io n a r ie s

c a l l D a n iel N elson ,

was c o n v i n c e d o f a d i v i n e was a v a i l a b l e

and P a s t o r H. N. R o n n i n g ,

esta b lish ed

Its

own m i s s i o n

came t o b e e s s e n t i a l l y

When I n 1 8 9 2 H a u g e ' s in

a m ission

C hina,

the

China

s o c ie ty w ith in

t h e U n i t e d C h u r c h a n d was e v e n t u a l l y a b s o r b e d b y i t . 2 C h aritab le

In stitu tio n s

The N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n s y n o d s i n A m e r i c a w e r e s l o w e r i n g e t t i n g underway w ith th e

estab lish m en t of

than i n any o t h e r ph ase o f t h e i r the

f o u n d i n g o f o r p h a n a g e s , homes

in stitu tio n s

ch a rita b le

a ctiv ity .

N othing in

s m a l l b e g i n n i n g s w e r e made i n t h e p e r i o d we a r e The Homme I n s t i t u t i o n s occasion

•^The v e n e r a b l e

o f the

t h e w ay o f

f o r the a g e d , h o s p i t a l s ,

o f m ercy was a c c o m p l i s h e d p r i o r t o

On t h e

in stitu tio n s

1870,

and o n l y

co n sid erin g .

(in d ep en d en t)

celeb ra tio n

o f th e N orwegian S y n o d 's

and b e l o v e d R o n n i n g d i e d

ju st

recen tly

(1950). 2

H. A . L a r s e n ,

op.

c it.,

or other

pp. 408-18.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

473 t w e n t y - f if t h an n iversary the

fact

th a t thus

in stitu tio n s

to

f a r n o t h i n g had been done abou t

care fo r

such i n s t i t u t i o n s

i n 1 8 7 8 P r e s i d e n t H. A. P r e u s d e p l o r e d

t h e n e e d y an d u n f o r t u n a t e .

ha d b e e n f e l t

The n e e d f o r

on many o c c a s i o n s . 1

C o m m i t t e e re c o m m e nd ed t h a t e a c h d i s t r i c t a com m ittee

esta b lish in g

The M i s s i o n

o f th e Synod s h o u ld

o f t h r e e members t o d e t e r m i n e w h a t i n s t i t u t i o n s w e r e

n e e d e d m o s t b a d l y and w h e r e t h e y s h o u l d be l o c a t e d . 2 n oth in g d e f i n i t e

came o u t o f t h e s e

fin a n c ia l stra in

i m p o s e d on t h e S y n o d b y i t s

wa s a d e t e r r e n t Ole J u u l w r o te

to

in the

th e m a tte r t o a c o m m itte e .4 wa s p a s t o r i n W i t t e n b e r g .

the

aged,

pastor

the need

th a t y e a r recom­

a c h i l d r e n ’ s home i n

but the d i s t r i c t

referred

The R e v e r e n d E . J . Homme o f t h e Homme, a S y n o d p a s t o r

sin ce

Synod

1 8 6 7 , had

o f g e t t i n g a c h i l d r e n ’ s home f o u n d e d f o r some

and when s y n o d i c a l a c t i o n was n o t

r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s o f J u u l and h i m s e l f ,

in itia tiv e.

the

e d u c a t i o n a l program

and i n

esta b lish

o f W itten berg, W iscon sin ,

b e e n an a d v o c a t e

No d o u b t ,

sy n o d ic a l paper in 1880 s t r e s s i n g

mended t h a t th e E a s t e r n D i s t r i c t

tim e,

su ggestion s.

However,

t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f new i n s t i t u t i o n s . 3

f o r a n o r p h a n a g e a n d a home f o r t h e

the v i c i n i t y

select

forthcom ing in

h e w e n t a h e a d on h i s

He b o u g h t t h e n e c e s s a r y l a n d i n t h e

W i t t e n b e r g an d p r o c e e d e d w i t h p l a n s ^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , 2I b id ., p.

little

for b u ild in g .^

the Synod,

1880 d e s p i t e

1878, pp.

own

town o f

preus

stro n g ly

21 f .

34.

3

Ole J u u l , " B a r m h j e r t i g h e d s - A n s t a l t e r ," E . L. K . , V I I 97. 4 I b i d . , pp. 9 7 -1 0 0 ; S y n o d ica l R eport, E a stern D i s t r i c t , the Synod, 1 8 8 0 , pp. 3 9 -4 1 . (1880),

S y n o d ica l R eport,

the S yn od ,

1881, p.

24.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

474

recommended s u p p o r t o f t h e p r o j e c t , b u t t h e Synod was u n w i l l i n g t o go any f u r t h e r t h a n t o commend Homme’ s u n d e r t a k i n g t o i t s

con­

g r e g a t i o n s , e n c o u r a g i n g t h e i r s u p p o r t t h r o u g h p r a y e r s and g i f t s . The Synod want ed t h e W i t t e n b e r g p r o j e c t t o c o n t i n u e a s Homme’ s p r i v a t e u n d e r t a k i n g s i n c e i t d i d n o t f e e l a b l e t o assume f i n a n c i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y and t h e r e was some q u e s t i o n a s t o th e a d v i s a b i l i t y o f l o c a t i n g s u c h an i n s t i t u t i o n on t h e o u t s k i r t s o f Synod t e r r i ­ to ry .1 A t w o - s t o r y frame b u i l d i n g , l o c a t e d i n t h e town o f W i t t e n ­ b e r g , was d e d i c a t e d a s an orp ha n age on O c t o b e r 3 1 , 1 8 8 3 , b u t a l ­ r e a d y i n A u g u s t , 1 8 8 2 , t h e work had b e g u n , w i t h f o u r c h i l d r e n and an o l d man b e i n g c a r e d f o r . ^

He a l s o e s t a b l i s h e d a p r i n t i n g shop

and p u b l i s h e d a p a p e r e n t i t l e d Fo r Gammel og Ung ( For Old and Y o u n g ) ; t h e s u r p l u s r e c e i p t s were t o be u s e d f o r th e home . 3

Homme

was a f i r m b e l i e v e r i n th e power o f t h e p r i n t e d wo rd, and he l a t e r p u b l i s h e d a Sunday s c h o o l p a p e r , a s w e l l as o t h e r p u b l i c a t i o n s . 4 He e r e c t e d a b u i l d i n g t o a s s i s t i n m i s s i o n v/ork among t h e I n d i a n s ; an a d d i t i o n was made t o t h e p a r s o n a g e t o s e r v e as an academy; and i n 1887 he began t o c o n d u c t a no r m al s c h o o l f o r t h e t r a i n i n g o f tea ch ers.5

The or ph an age b u i l d i n g i n ’W i t t e n b e r g became t o o s m a l l ,

and i n ti m e Homme had a new c h i l d r e n ’ s home b u i l t a m i l e and a ^ I b i d . , p p . 2 4 , 41 f . ^ " K i r k e k r o n i k e , ” E. L . K. , X ( 1 8 8 5 ) , I n d v i e l s e , " i b i d . , p p . 7 4 3 "f.

59 f . ;

"Vaisenhuseta

5,lK i r k e k r o n i k e , » E. L. K . , IX ( 1 8 8 2 ) , 3 1 9 . ^H. B. K i l d a h l , " H o m m e - a n s ta lt e r n e I W i t t e n b e r g , w i s . , M i n Fra Ungd omsaar, e d . Brun, p . 2 8 2 . 5 I b i d . , p p . 280 f .

er

fu r th er reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm issio n .

c o D v r i g h t ow ner. Furtnei i c y

" p r o d u c e d with perm issron of th e c o p y r g

475 h a lf northeast

of W itten b erg.

c o m p l e t e d , was ta k e n i n t o u s e home b e c a m e a home f o r aged p r io r in h is

care

stitu tio n s

to t h is

the

in

1898,

a g e d .l

alth ough n ot f u l l y

and t h e o r i g i n a l c h i l d r e n ’ s

Homme h a d b e e n c a r i n g f o r t h e

tim e, however.

six ty -fo u r

In 1 8 8 6 ,

f o r e x a m p le , he had

c h i l d r e n and e l e v e n o l d

in W itten berg,

a nd f o r t h e a g e d ,

The b u i l d i n g ,

thus,

2

«phe i n ­

for

ch ild ren

p e o p l e .

in clu ded f a c i l i t i e s

to g e th er w ith a m ission sch o o l for

Indian c h i l ­

d r e n and a n o r m a l s c h o o l . Homme’ s i n s t i t u t i o n s w e r e of a ll

synods.

ing h is

The p r o p e r t y r e m a i n e d h i s

lifetim e.

d eath the

in stitu tio n s

o f th e U n it e d Church. accom plishm ents

personal p ossession

dur­

He b r o k e w i t h t h e S y n o d d u r i n g t h e E l e c t i o n

C on troversy, th row in g in h i s h is

su p p o rted by N orw egian L u th eran s

of E.

It

l o t w ith th e A n t i - M is s o u r ia n s .

Upon

t h a t h e had f o u n d e d b e c a m e t h e p r o p e r t y is

w i t h good r e a s o n t h a t t h e

name a n d

J . Homme a r e r e m i n i s c e n t o f A u g u s t Hermann

Francke. M a r t i n L u t h e r C h i l d r e n ’ s Home

(Synod)

I n a s m u c h a s Homme w as an A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n , h a r d l y a n y l o n g e r commend h i s three b ility the

orphanage to i t s

Synod c o u ld

con gregation s.

d i s t r i c t m e e t i n g s o f t h e Sy no d i n 1 8 8 8 c o n s i d e r e d of esta b lish in g

lap s

o f the

a c h i l d r e n ’ s home a n d l a i d

s y n o d ic a l church C o u n cil.

upon th e o p e r a t io n •*~ I b i d . , p p .

3H. (1889),

The

the p o s s i ­

th e problem in

The l a t t e r

group d e c i d e d

o f a c h i l d r e n ’ s home i n M a d i s o n , W i s c o n s i n . ^ 281 f .

2 " K i r k e k r o n i k e , ” E^JL . K . , X I I I

XVI

the

A. P r e u s ,

’’M o r t e n

(sic)

(1886),

618.

L uth ers B arn eh jem ,” E . L . K . ,

645.

w ith p e r m i s s i o n o , t h e c o p y r ig h t o w n e r . F u n n e r r e p r o d u c t i o n p r o h i b i te d w i th o u t p e r m i s s i o u

476 In th e F a l l o f

1888 the

s e m i n a r y o f t h e Synod h a d b e e n moved from

M adison t o M in n e a p o l is p r e p a r a t o r y t o l o c a t i n g p e r m a n e n t ly i n R ob b in sd ale, meant t h a t

w hich i s

ju st

the b u ild in g s

orphanage p r i o r

to the

again a v a ila b le

for th e ir

a short d istan ce

it

t i m e whe n t h e S y n o d p u r c h a s e d t h e m , w e r e o r ig in a l purpose.

In th e F a l l o f 1889 as a c h i l d r e n ’ s home.

f i r s t y e a r tw e n ty -tw o c h ild r e n were h e l p e d . H o w e v e r ,

was r e c o g n i z e d t h a t

d ecid ed a t

T his

i n M a d i s o n , w h i c h h a d b e e n u s e d a s an

t h e p r o p e r t y i n M a d i s o n was t a k e n i n t o u s e D uring th e

from M i n n e a p o l i s .

th e b u i l d i n g s were i n a d e q u a t e ,

and i t

was

t h e s y n o d i c a l m e e t i n g o f 1 8 9 0 t h a t t h e home s h o u l d r e ­

m a in i n M a d i s o n o n l y u n t i l I t w as a l s o n e c e s s a r y

a mo re s u i t a b l e

to take

steps

lo ca tio n

to r e v is e

the

c o u l d be f o u n d .

sy n o d ica l con-

> stitu tio n

to in clu d e

a statem ent provid in g for sy n o d ic a l e s t a b l i s h ­

m e n t and o p e r a t i o n o f c h a r i t a b l e

i n s t i t u t i o n s .2

d r e n ’ s home w as m o v e d f r o m M a d i s o n t o fr o m S t o u g h t o n ,

W iscon sin ,

where

a lo ca tio n

m

1894 th e

ch il­

a short d istan ce

t h e new home was d e d i c a t e d

in

18 9 4 .5 U nlik e tion

t h e home e s t a b l i s h e d b y Homme a s a p r i v a t e

in stitu ­

t h e M a r t i n L u t h e r C h i l d r e n ’ s Home was ow ned and m a i n t a i n e d

b y th e N orwegian Synod. In 1 8 9 0 t h e M i s s i o n C o m m i t t e e h a d c a l l e d t h e Sy no d

t o t h e n e e d o f a home f o r t h e

th e Church C o u n c i l a s c e r t a i n •^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

what

the

atten tio n

of

a g e d and r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t

c o u l d be d o n e a b o u t e s t a b l i s h i n g

the Synod,

1890, p . 19.

^ I b i d . , p p . 66 f . A d o l f B r e d e s e n , "M artin L u t h e r B a r n e h je m ," i n ed , H a lv o r se n , p p , 346 f .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission of th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission .

F estsk rift,

477 one.

However,

there

is

no r e c o r d o f a n y a c t i o n b e i n g t a k e n a t

t h a t time.-®B elo it in

1890 the

C h i l d r e n ' s Home

(U nited church)

N orwegian A ugu stan a Synod,

w h ich had o p e r a t e d

its

sem inary a t

B elo it,

Iowa,

became a p a r t o f

th e U n it e d Church.

The

property at

B e l o i t w a s no

lo n g e r needed as

a sem inary;

q u en tly i t

was t u r n e d i n t o

U n ite d Church. 1890,

a c h i l d r e n ' s home, o p e r a t e d b y th e

The home r e c e i v e d

and grew r a p i d l y .

the

la st

90 c o i n c i d e d

o f the

three

in d ate w ith

o ld p eople

first

in

167.

Thus,

orig in s

in December,

six ty -sev en the B e l o i t

ch ild ren C h ild ren 's

the p erio d 1870-

o f the U n ited C hu rch.2

c h i l d r e n ' s h o m e s and n o h o m e s

the p e r io d 1870 -9 0

a t W itten berg in

ch ild

s u c h homes fo u n d e d i n

the

A lthough o n ly th r e e a g e d were e s t a b l i s h e d

its

In 1897 t h e r e were

a t th e home; b y 1905 t h e r e were Home,

conse­

for the

(Homme c a r e d f o r some

c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h w h a t was p r i m a r i l y a

c h ild r e n 's hom e),

N o rw eg ia n -A m erica n L u th er a n s were n o t i n d i f f e r e n t

to e x is t in g

fo r such i n s t i t u t i o n s .

needs

preoccu p ied w ith o th er m a tte r s , d r e n ' s h o m e s an d h o m e s

for

^ S yn odical R ep ort,

an d w i t h i n

R ather,

th e y had been

a s h o r t t i m e many c h i l ­

the a g ed had b e e n fo u n d e d . the

Synod,

1890, p. 66.

B. K i l d a h l , " B e l o i t b a rn eh jem ," in Fra Ungdom saar, Brun, p p . 2 8 4 -8 7 . B l l i n g E i e l s e n , who d i e d i n T H 8 3 ," was~ i n t e r e s t e d I n h a v i n g an o r p h a n a g e e s t a b l i s h e d . H is w i l l ( a ls o sig n e d by h i s w i f e ) p r o v i d e d t h a t i n memory o f h i s s o n E l i a s , who m e t d e a t h i n an a c c i d e n t , t h e p r o c e e d s f r o m t h e s a l e o f some p r o p e r t y w h i c h h e ow n e d i n C h i c a g o s h o u l d be u s e d t o e s t a b l i s h a c h i l d r e n ' s home i n th e C hicago v i c i n i t y . I t w as s t i p u l a t e d t h a t t h e B o a r d o f D i r e c ­ t o r s s h o u l d b e c o m p o s e d o f tw o r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s e a c h o f f o u r s y n o d s : H a u g e ' s S y n o d , t h e C o n f e r e n c e , t h e N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d , and E ie ls e n » s Synod. " P a s t o r E . E i e l s e n s o g H u s t r u s T e s t a m e n t s , " Bu db a e r e r e n , XV ( 1 8 8 3 ) , 7 1 f . R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e named s y n o d s m et, but E i e l s e n ' s orphanage never m a t e r i a li z e d . S y n o d ica l R eport, Norwegian A ugu stan a Syn od, 1 8 8 4 , p . 5 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

478 W ritin g in tw elve aged a t

1914,

0 . M. N o r l i e

ca lls

a tten tio n

to the e x is t e n c e

of

N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n c h i l d r e n ' s homes and s e v e n homes f o r t h e t h a t time.-*-

In t h e

g e n e r a t io n im m e d ia te ly f o l l o w i n g our

p e r i o d t h e r e w as a g r e a t d e a l o f a c t i v i t y d i r e c t e d

towards p r o v i d ­

in g f o r the b ad ly

needed i n s t i t u t i o n s o f m ercy, w hich th e

fath ers never got

around to e s t a b l i s h i n g .

fou ndin g

D e a c o n e s s Homes and H o s p i t a l s In A p r i l , York C i t y

1883,

D e a c o n e s s E l i z a b e t h F e d d e a r r i v e d i n New

f r o m No rwa y t o b e g i n t h e c h a r i t a b l e

th a t d evelop ed

in to a great in s tit u tio n ,

the

D e a c o n e s s e s ’ Home and H o s p i t a l i n B r o o k l y n . devoted h e r s e l f o f m isery.

t o home n u r s i n g ,

In 1885 t h e

poor r e l i e f ,

and p o o r r e l i e f work N orwegian L uth eran S ister

Fedde a t f i r s t

and t h e

a llev ia tio n

N o r w e g i a n R e l i e f S o c i e t y was i n c o r p o r a t e d ,

a n d a b u i l d i n g w a s r e n t e d a s a t e m p o r a r y D e a c o n e s s e s ’ Home and H o sp ita l. ta tio n

I t had a c a p a c it y o f o n ly nine b e d s ,

o f fu nds,

a so lic i­

a frame b u i l d i n g w i t h a c a p a c i t y o f t h i r t y b e d s

was i n 1 8 8 9 t a k e n i n t o u s e . was i n c o r p o r a t e d u n d e r i t s D e a c o n e s s e s ’ Home

and a f t e r

and

I t was i n 1 8 9 2 t h a t

the

in stitu tio n

p r e s e n t nam e, The N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n

H o s p i t a l .

^

in subsequent y e a r s the

fa c ili-

^ N o r l i e , Den F o r e n e d e N o r s k L u t h e r s k e K i r k e i A m e r i k a , p . 101. Of t h e t w e l v e c h i l d r e n ’ s h o m e s t h r e e w e r e a f f i l i a t e d w i t h t h e U n i t e d C h u r c h , f i v e w i t h t h e S y n o d , tw o w i t h H a u g e ' s S y n o d , and t w o w i t h t h e L u t h e r a n F r e e C h u r c h . Of t h e s e v e n h o m e s f o r t h e a g e d t w o w e r e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e U n i t e d C h u r c h , tw o w i t h t h e S y n ­ o d , t w o w i t h t h e L u t h e r a n F r e e , and one u n d e s i g n a t e d . Ib id .

p

C e r t i f i c a t e o f I n c o r p o r a t i o n and c o n s t i t u t i o n may be f o u n d i n The F i f t y - n i n t h and S i x t i e t h and t h e S i x t y - f i r s t and S i x t y - s e c o n d A nnual R e p o r t s o f t h e Norwegian L u th eran D e a c o n e s s e s ’ Home a n d H o s p i t a l ( F o r y e a r s e n d i n g D e c . S T , 1 9 4 S , 1 9 4 3 , 1 9 4 4 , 1945) (B rooklyn: A rnesen P r e s s , I n c . , n . d . ) , pp. 9 7 -1 0 1 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

479 ties the

o f t h e home a nd h o s p i t a l w e r e g r e a t l y e x p a n d e d . in stitu tio n

p rivate

w as f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g f o u n d e d a n d o p e r a t e d b y a

corp oration ,

it

h a s h a d an ' i n t i m a t e

N orwegian L u th era n c o n g r e g a t i o n s The i n t e r e s t p ita l

A lth ough

con n ection w ith

i n B r o o k l y n a nd v i c i n i t y . ^

i n e s t a b l i s h i n g a d e a c o n e s s e s ’ home a nd h o s ­

in C hicago d a t e s back t o

1885.

I n t h a t y e a r P a s t o r A.

M o r t e n s e n p r e a c h e d i n B e t h l e h e m L u t h e r a n Church i n C h i c a g o , w h i c h N . C. B r u n w a s p a s t o r ,

about th e d ia c o n a te .

the purp ose o f p rom otin g d e a c o n e ss work. the

s o c i e t y over the

of

A s o c i e t y named

The N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n T a b i t h a S o c i e t y was o r g a n i z e d i n

u n ity w ith in

the

However,

1885 fo r

t h e r e was d i s ­

q u estion o f the d ia co n a te;

some

w a n t e d a h o s p i t a l a nd d e a c o n e s s h o m e , o t h e r s w a n t e d o n l y a h o s 2 p ita l. The s o c i e t y r e o r g a n i z e d i t s e l f a nd i n 1 8 9 1 s u c c e e d e d i n f o u n d i n g a d e a c o n e s s home a n d h o s p i t a l , I t was h o u s e d b u r n e d i n but again i t

1895.

s p l i t because

A th ird

but the b u ild in g o rg a n iza tio n

then

o f in te r n a l d isagreem en ts.

N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n D e a c o n e s s S o c i e t y wa s i n c o r p o r a t e d ,

in w hich appeared

In 1896 t h e and In

1897 th e its

N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n D e a c o n e s s Home a n d H o s p i t a l b e g a n 3 work In C h i c a g o . I n a f e w y e a r s o w n e r s h i p w as t r a n s f e r r e d

t o th e U n it e d Church,

and t h e i n s t i t u t i o n

E v a n g e l i c a l Lutheran Church.

It

is

today d ates

now o w n e d b y t h e its

orig in s

back to

■ ^ I n f o r m a t i o n i n t h i s p a r a g r a p h d e r i v e d fr o m The N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n D e a c o n e s s e s ’ Home a n d H o s p i t a l ( 4 0 t h A n n i v e r s a r y p u b l i ­ c a t i o n ) ( B r o o k l y n , 1 9 2 3 ) ' , pp % ru n (ed.), F ra Ungdom saar, p . 2 7 4 . Brun w orked h a r d on b e h a l f o f t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a d e a c o n e s s home a n d h o s p i t a l I n C h icago. 3 I b i d . , p p . 2 7 5 f . ; N o r l i e , Den F o r e n e d e N o r s k L u t h e r s k e Klrke i A m e rica , p . 8 4 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

480 1897, but the

in itia l

in g take us back to The o r i g i n s

in terest

and i m p e t u s t h a t l e d t o i t s

1885. o f a th ird

and h o s p i t a l m u s t b e n o t e d .

N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n d e a c o n e s s home

I n t h e F a l l o f 1888 t h e R e v e r e n d

W i l l i a m A» P a s s a v a n t o f t h e

G eneral C oun cil, noted f o r h i s

s h ip in Lutheran c h a r i t a b l e

a ctiv ities,

tend a m e e tin g .

passavant su ggested

to

serv ices

of

a deaconess.

w o r k wa s a t a s t a n d s t i l l ,

lea d

s t a r t the work.

i n g a t h e r i n g m o n e y , and i n in

G jertsen Novem­

1889, b ecause the

th e Board o f T r u st e e s r e s i g n e d .

f e s s o r Georg S verd ru p o f A ugsburg s te p p e d i n

the

and

S i s t e r E l i z a b e t h F e d d e wa s p e r s u a d e d

a d e a c o n e s s home was o p e n e d ,

b o a rd , w h ich he

to a t ­

The d i a c o n a t e was d i s c u s s e d

from B r o o k l y n t o

an d s v e n O f t e d a l t o o k t h e 1888,

was i n M i n n e a p o l i s

s t a r t i n g t h e work i n M in n e a p o lis by o b t a i n i n g

come t o M i n n e a p o l i s

ber,

lea d er­

He and a f e w o t h e r s m e t i n t h e home o f P a s t o r M.

F alk G je r tsen o f the C o n feren ce.

the

fou nd­

and o r g a n i z e d a new

served as p resid en t u n t il 1903.

Norwegian L u th eran D e a c o n e s s

In stitu te

n in eties

In A u g u s t ,

wa s i n c o r p o r a t e d ,

a d e a c o n e s s home and h o s p i t a l w e r e m a i n t a i n e d . i n t h e U n it e d Church i n t h e

Pro­

A fter the

1889, and

sp lit

t h e L u th e r a n F r e e Church p r o ­

v i d e d t h e c h i e f s u p p o r t f o r t h e L u t h e r a n D e a c o n e s s Home a n d H o s ­ p i t a l i n M inneapolis.^" The t h r e e L u t h e r a n d e a c o n e s s hom es and h o s p i t a l s

in

^N« N . R o n n i n g and W. H . L i e n , The L u t h e r a n D e a c o n e s s Home a n d H o s p i t a l , F i f t i e t h A n n i v e r s a r y , I & 6 & -1 9 5 9 ( M i n n e a p o l i s , 1 9 3 9 ), pp. 3 6 -4 ^ . At i t s o r g a n i z a t i o n a l m e e t in g in 1890 th e U n i t e d Church e x p r e s s e d i t s h a p p i n e s s o v e r th e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a d e a c o n e s s i n s t i t u t i o n i n M i n n e a p o l i s , commended d e a c o n e s s w o r k t o i t s m e m b e r s h i p f o r s u p p o r t , a n d h e a r d a n a d d r e s s on t h e d i a c o n a t e by Georg S v e r d r u p , w h ic h was p r i n t e d w i t h t h e s y n o d i c a l r e p o r t . S y n o d ic a l R e p o r t, U n ite d Church, 1 8 9 0 , p p . 1 15, 1 2 1 .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

481 B rook lyn,

C hicago,

the p r e s e n t.

in operation u n t i l

A l t h o u g h t h e d e a c o n e s s p r o g r a m i s more r e s t r i c t e d

than f o r m e r l y ,

the h o s p i t a l s

theran h o s p it a ls in

and M i n n e a p o l i s c o n t i n u e

con tin u e

were e s t a b l i s h e d

in

to p r o s p e r .

Numer ous L u ­

s t r o n g Norwegian co m m u n ities

the y e a r s im m ed ia tely f o l l o w i n g our p e r io d , b u t u s u a l l y t h e y

w e r e s m a l l an d w e r e f o u n d e d i n d e p e n d e n t l y o f a n y s y n o d s a s p r i v a t e corp oration s E d u cation al A c t i v i t i e s Interest

in the F ie ld

of R elig io u s

E ducation

The N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n s y n o d s w e r e i n t e n s e l y terested

in ,

an d i m p r e s s e d w i t h t h e i m p o r t a n c e

own s c h o o l s .

P recedin g ch a p ters have

revealed the

c e r ta in h igh er ed u ca tio n a l i n s t it u t io n s L u t h e r C o l l e g e was a f o r c e a s w as A u g s b u r g i n

a t Red W i n g , M i n n e s o t a , parable

in the

havin g t h e ir in flu en ce

life

o f g r e a t power i n th e

the C o n fe r e n c e .

reo rg a n ized th em selves

of,

o f the

Red Wing S e m i n a r y a s s u m e d a p l a c e appears

th at the

o f th e Norwegian A ugustanans a t M a r s h a l l , W is c o n s i n , B elo it,

Iowa, n ev er occu p ied q u ite

and i n f l u e n c e of

a s w as t r u e

synods.

follo w ers

a s H a u g e ' s S y n o d and f o t i n d e d t h e i r

It

so c e n tr a l a p lace

school of

com­

sem inary

and l a t e r

in

o f im portance

o f the h ig h e r e d u c a tio n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s

the o th e r sy n o d s. The

restricted

concern o f th e

s y n o d s a b o u t e d u c a t i o n w as b y n o m e a n s

to p rovid in g sc h o o ls

for tr a in in g p a sto rs.

T hey were

■ ^ N o r li e , p e n F o r e n d e N o r s k L u t h e r s k e K l r k e i A m e r i k a , p.

of

N orwegian S y n o d ,

A fter E ie ls e n 's

prom inence in H auge' 3 Synod.

in ­

100.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

482 in ter e sted

in the

secondary le v e ls in terested

problem o f e d u c a t io n a t as w e ll.

t h e e l e m e n t a r y and

The N o r w e g i a n S y n o d w as p a r t i c u l a r l y

in C h r is tia n e d u c a tio n ,

and i t s

pastors

put a d e f in it e

e d u c a t i o n a l program i n t o e f f e c t .

cated

con gregation s

that

tio n a l,

or p a r o c h ia l,

subjects th eir

its

sch ools

w ould be t a u g h t .

ch ild ren t o

should e s t a b l i s h

sca th in g ly c r it ic iz e d ,

n o n -relig io u s

character.

D espite

to

p rim a rily because

o f Synod p a s t o r s

p r o g r a m f r o m many s o u r c e s w i t h i n a n d

p a r tic u la r ly in ten se

w hich p r e v io u s r e f e r e n c e h a s been made,

o f the p a r o c h ia l s c h o o l in the

o f the

as t h a t

sev en ties,

o f th e Synod p a s t o r s

-*~ S up r a,

to

issu es advocates

b u t the

s c h o o l found th e r e

f o r e x a m p l e , much t h e

same

c o u l d b e f o u n d among l e a d e r s

S v e r d r u p and O f t e d a l w e r e mo re a p ­

o f th e American p u b l i c

in volved

were

o th er synods as w e l l ,

C onference,

Old T e n d e n c y , w h e r e a s

p recia tiv e became

In t h e

A b itter

a nd some o f t h e

tow ards t h e American p u b l i c

was more g e n e r o t i s . a ttitu d e

in the

are m en tion ed i n t h a t d i s c u s s i o n . T h e r e

general a ttitu d e

of th eir

t h e r e w a s much

Many S y n o d l a y m e n w e r e o p p o s e d .

controversy r e s u lte d ,

involved

s c h o o l s , w hich s c h o o ls

e d u c a t i o n a l p r o g r a m w as t h e M i s s o u r i S y n o d .

th e whole

w ith o u t the Synod.

own c o n g r e g a ­

The g u i d e a n d m o d e l f o r t h e S y n o d i n

the prom otional e f f o r t s

o p p o sitio n

th eir

T h i s w o t i l d make i t u n n e c e s s a r y f o r

a t t e n d American p u b l i c

advocacy o f t h is

The S y n o d a d v o ­

i n w h i c h b o t h s e c u l a r a nd r e l i g i o u s

Synod l e a d e r s

its

endeavored to

sch o o l.^

i n an e x te n d e d d i s o u s s i o n

In 1877 t h e of the

Conference

school q u estion .

pp. 8 9 -9 4 .

% e l l a n d , Georg S v e r d r u p , p p . T r a n s itio n , p. 270; supra, p . 204.

216 f . ;

B legen ,

The A m e r i c a n

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

483 P a s t o r M. F a l k G j e r t s e n p r e s e n t e d sta ted th at to g iv e

the

sch o o ls.

not w ith in However,

its

rig h ts

in e s ta b lis h in g p a ro ch ia l

o n l y S v e r d r u p s u p p o r t e d him i n t h i s the f o ll o w i n g

However, th r o u g h o u t t h e

e r a l l y mor e f a v o r a b l e a t t i t u d e w ould f i n d

spoke a g a i n s t h i s

in

there

N. E. B o e , is

a gen­

s c h o o l s t h a n one 1 a s i m i l a r d i s c u s s i o n b y Synod p a s t o r s .

some c o n g r e g a t i o n s

for

session ;

however,

in these

sch o o ls.

w ith

th8 A m e r i c a n p u b l i c

e s ta b lis h e d p aroch ial s c h o o ls .

t h e p r a c t i c e more g e n e r a l l y giou s " sch o o ls

d iscu ssio n

p o si­

towards p u b lic

Because o f d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n school

con ten tion ,

B . G j e l d a k e r , T . H. D a h l , M. E g g e n , O le P a u l s o n ,

J . A. Bergh.

w hich

a n y t h i n g b u t t h e Word o f God an d c o n s e ­

an d s u c h p r o m i n e n t men a s tio n :

a th esis

c o n g r e g a t i o n h a s n e i t h e r the r i g h t n o r t h e d u t y

in s tr u c tio n in

q u en tly i s

for d iscu ssio n

f o l l o w e d was t h a t o f h o l d i n g

a f e w w e e k s w hen t h e p u b l i c some b a s i c s e c u l a r

However, " reli­

s c h o o l was n o t i n

s u b j e c t s m i g h t a l s o be t a u g h t

2

The A c ad e m y Movement On t h e

s e c o n d a r y l e v e l a nu mber o f L u t h e r a n a c a d e m i e s w e r e

e s t a b l i s h e d d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d we a r e t h e f o l l o w i n g two d e c a d e s .®

con sid erin g,

as w e l l

T h i s a c a d e m y mo ve m e nt r e a c h e d

as i n sig n if­

ic a n t p ro p o rtio n s. •^ S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t ,

th e C on feren ce, 1877, pp. 8 6 -1 1 9 .

^ H alvorsen ( e d . ) , F e s t s k r i f t , p . N o r s k L u t h e r s k e K l r k e i Am e r' lk a ,' "pT~*64.

191;

N o rlie,

Den F o r e n e d e

®A v e r y h e l p f u l s t u d y o f t h e N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n a c a d e m i e s i n A m e r i c a h a s b e e n p r e p a r e d b y P r o f e s s o r B. H. N a r v e s o n o f S t . O l a f C o l l e g e , N o r t h f i e l d , M i n n e s o t a , e n t i t l e d , "The N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n A c a d e m i e s , " N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n S t u d i e s a n d R e c o r d s , XTV (1944), 184-226.

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.

484 Prom t h e b e g i n n i n g L u t h e r C o l l e g e , Red W in g S e m i n a r y h a d p r e p a r a t o r y , it

w as t o i t s

or academy, d e p a r tm e n ts,

academy in M a r s h a l l , W is c o n s in ,

A ugu stan a Synod added i t s the

Augsburg S em in a ry ,

th a t the

t h e o l o g i c a l sem inary.

tory departm ents.

However,

as a ru le

was owned a n d o r g a n i z e d b y a p r i v a t e

and

N orwegian

In t h e s e

s y n o d s a s s u c h ow ne d a n d o p e r a t e d t h e a c a d e m i e s ,

and

in sta n ce s

or p r e p a r a ­

a N orwegian L u th era n academy co rp o ra tio n .

There were a

f e w i n s t a n c e s w h e r e an i n d i v i d u a l o r p a r i s h w as s o l e l y r e s p o n s i b l e . in a d d itio n the

to th e academy d ep a rtm en t a t L uth er C o lle g e

f o ll o w in g academ ies brought in t o e x i s t e n c e

in our p e r i o d by

i n d i v i d u a l s a nd c o n g r e g a t i o n s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d were s t i l l M innesota

in op era tio n

in 1890:

St.

O laf*s S c h o o l,

( 1 8 7 4 ) ; W illraar S e m in a r y , W i llm a r , M in n e s o t a

Bode L u t h e r a n A c a d e m y , B o d e , High S c h o o l

Iowa

(1887);

D e v i l s Lake, N orth Dakota N orth Dakota class

(1882);

A l b e r t Lea L u th er a n

( l a t e r L u th er A cadem y), A lb e r t L ea, M in n e so ta

S t o u g h t o n Academy, S t o u g h t o n , W i s c o n s i n

the

N orth field ,

(1888);

( 1 8 8 9 ) St.

o f 1890 b e in g the

( 1 8 8 8 ) ; A aberg Academy,

and B r u f l a t Academy,

O la f’ s S chool d evelop ed in t o first

co lleg e

P ortlan d , a co lleg e,

grad u atin g c l a s s ,

a p r e p a r a t o r y d ep a r tm en t was m a in t a in e d u n t i l 1 9 1 7 . S e m i n a r y w a s on e o f t h e b e t t e r

(1888);

a tten d ed acad em ies,

but

W illm ar servin g 7 ,1 1 0

s t u d e n t s fr o m t h e t i m e o f i t s o r i g i n u n t i l 1 9 1 9 when I t w a s p clo sed . B od e Academy was s u p p o r t e d b y t h e l o c a l c o n g r e g a t i o n u n t i l 1 8 9 5 .5

L u t h e r Academy a t A l b e r t Lea f l o u r i s h e d b e t t e r

^ b id .,

pp. 217-19;

H alvorsen

(e d .),

Fes t s k r l f t , pp.

163-90. P

Narveson,

op. c i t . , p.

197.

3

Ib id .

R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.

than

485 m ost,

f i n a l l y b ein g d isco n tin u ed

changed hands tin u ed a ft e r

s e v e r a l tim es a d isa stro u s

in

in 1928.^

its

fire

in

The S t o u g h t o n A ca demy

b r i e f h i s t o r y ; i t was d i s c o n 2 1900. The s c h o o l a t D e v i l s

L a k e , b e g u n b y t h e R e v e r e n d 0 . H. A a b e r g i n d ertak in g,

o p e r a tin g o n ly d u rin g the

1 8 8 8 , was a s m a l l u n ­

w i n t e r a nd s e r v i n g c h i l d r e n

below c o n fir m a tio n a g e,

a s w e l l a s t h o s e a b o v e ; i t was i n e x i s t 3 ence about a dozen y e a r s . B r u f l a t Ac ad e m y w as t h e c h i l d o f t h e Reverend S ju g H a r sta d .

He h a d p r e v i o u s l y f o u n d e d t w o s c h o o l s

w h i c h w ere no l o n g e r i n

o p e r a t io n — the F ran k lin S c h o o l conducted

in h is

parsonage near M a y v ille ,

Gran B o a r d i n g S c h o o l , Gran c o n g r e g a t i o n ,

conducted in the

1880-89.

t io n a l u n d ertak in g,

N orth D akota,

and i t

1878-80,

and t h e

church b u i l d i n g o f the

The B r u f l a t A ca dem y was a c o n g r e g a ­ in c lu d e d a p r e -c o n fir m a tio n d epartm en t.^

D uring th e

p e r i o d 1 8 7 6 - 8 1 Monona Ac ad e m y w a s c o n d u c t e d i n M a d i s o n ,

W iscon sin ,

in the

I t w as

clo sed

in

same b u i l d i n g o c c u p i e d b y t h e 1881,

o s te n s ib ly because

the

Synod s e m in a r y .

sem inary needed the

room o c c u p i e d b y t h e a c a d e m y , a l t h o u g h i t s u f f e r e d from l a c k o f 5 support. I t s h o u l d a l s o b e m e n t i o n e d t h a t Homme c o n d u c t e d a sch o o l fo r the

ch ild ren

cared

fo r in h is

orphanage.

Two a c a d e m i e s w e r e m a i n t a i n e d u n d e r t h e

c*

au sp ices

o f the

^ I b id ., p. 198. O H a lv o r s e n ( e d . ) , F e s t s k r l f t , p p . 165 f . 3 Narveson, op. c i t . , p . 199. 4 I b i d . ; H alvorsen

vorsen

(e d .),

F e s t s k r lf t , . p. 170.

^S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e S y n o d , 1 8 8 1 , p p . (ed .)', F e 's t s k r if t ,'p ~ 164.

19 f . ,

^Supra, p . 4 7 4 .

w « h p e r m is s io n

, h e c o p * * , o w n e r F u r t h e r r e p r o d u o ,,o n p r o h i b i te d w « h o u , p S S S T

73; H a l­

486 C onference. inary;

One w a s t h e p r e p a r a t o r y d e p a r t m e n t o f S u g s b u r g Sem­

t h e o t h e r was S t . A n s g a r A cadem y.

I o w a , was p r i v a t e l y

founded i n

couragem ent o f P a s to r s

The a c a d e m y a t S t . Ansgar,

1 8 7 8 b y H . S . Houg w i t h

J o h a n O l s e n a nd B . B . G j e l d a k e r ,

1 8 8 2 wa s s u p p o r t e d b y t h e S t . A n s g a r c i r c u i t I t e v e n t u a l l y became o ne o f t h e s c h o o l s was d i s c o n t i n u e d

in

1 9 1 0 .^

o f the C on feren ce.

T h e r e was a p r e p a r a t o r y ,

or academy,

o p e r a t e d by t h e E l l i n g i a n -

p e r i o d - - H a u g e 1s C o l l e g e a n d E i e l s e n ’ s T h e o ­

l o g i c a l Sem inary in C h ica g o esta b lish ed in

and a f t e r

o f t h e U n i t e d Church b u t

departm ent a s s o c i a t e d w it h b o th s c h o o ls Haugean group i n t h i s

the e n ­

(1871-77),

Red W i n g , M i n n e s o t a ,

a nd Red W in g S e m i n a r y ,

1 879.^

No o t h e r a c a d e m i e s

w e r e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h H a u g e *s S y n o d i n t h e p e r i o d 1 8 7 0 - 9 0 . The N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d o p e r a t e d an " A m e r ic a n " a c a d ­ emy a t M a r s h a l l , W i s c o n s i n ,

from th e d a t e o f i t s

Su bseq uently th e sem inary o f th e

g r o u p was a l s o

o rig in , lo ca ted

1870. I n Mar­

sh a ll.

In 1881 th e s e m i n a r y a n d academy were t r a n s f e r r e d

B elo it,

Iowa.

lin e

to Canton,

In 1884 th e

a c a d e m y was m o v e d a c r o s s

South D ak ota,

on c o n d i t i o n

that

it

to a c o l l e g e .

In 1890 th e

Church,

1 8 9 4 I t w a s d e c i d e d t o l a y down t h e

and i n

p a r tm e n t and c o n d u c t t h e The

future

saw f u r t h e r

^Narveson,

op.

s c h o o l was t r a n s f e r r e d

school

state

be e n l a r g e d to the

U nited

c o l i e ge d e ­

a s an a c a d e m y a n d n o r m a l s c h o o l . ^

c h a n g e s and s h i f t s c i t . , p.

the

to

in

c u r r i c u l a a nd o r g a n i ­

196.

^S u p r a , p p . 1 3 3 , 1 3 9 f . The Red Wing s c h o o l was a t f i r s t c a l l e d Ha uge *s S e m i n a r y , b u t i n 1 8 8 3 i t w as r e n a m e d Red Wi ng N orwegian E v a n g e l i c a l L u th er a n S e m in a r y . 3 A . G. T u v e , " A u g u s t a n a C o l l e g e , C a n t o n , S . D . , " U ngdom saar, e d . Brun, p p . 164 f . j H a t l e s t a d , H i s t o r i s k e M ed d elelser, pp. 7 8 -8 0 .

R e p r o d u c e d w ith p e r m i s s i o n o f t h e c o p y r i g h t o w n e r . F u r t h e r r e p r o d u c t i o n p r o h ib ite d w ith o u t p e r m is s i o n .

i n Fra

487 za tio n .

E v e n t u a l l y o n l y A u g u s t a n a Acad emy r e m a i n e d i n C a n t o n ,

w h i l e A u g u s t a n a C o l l e g e was l o c a t e d It

is

of in terest

or in

to note

o p eration ,

C anton,

in

c o -ed u ca tio n a l.^ or

is

still

excep tion

t h e o lo g ic a l sem in aries

" college"

that o f a l l

in e x iste n c e .

and o f L u t h e r C o l l e g e

these

or p r iv a t e

be a c o n s id e r a b le

sp read in the

years.

acad em ies,

a l t h o u g h t h e r e was a p t

ages o f the

R e lig io n w as,

academ ies s e r v e d

in b o th the

N orwegian la n g u a g e and c u l t u r e . to preserve

given a p la c e

to h e lp perpetuate

in t e r e s t in

the

to

students, p a r tic u la r ly

of course,

and t h e

the d e s ir e

a c a d e m ie s were

s c h o o l s were com parable t o A m eri­

prom in en ce,

that

th ese

A l t h o u g h s o m e t i m e s d i g n i f i e d w i t h t h e name

" sem inary,"

ea rlier

the academ ies e s t a b l i s h e d ,

o f th e p r e p a r a to r y departm ents o f the

can h ig h s c h o o l s ,

in the

S o u th Dakota*

th e p e r i o d 1 8 7 0 - 9 0 o n l y A u g u sta n a Academy,

South D akota, W ith t h e

in Siou x P a l l s ,

of

in terest

B legen p o in ts

out

Norwegian la n g u a g e

a nd c u l t f i r e w a s a p r o m i n e n t m o t i v e i n academ ies, a lo n g w ith the r e l i g i o u s N a r v e s o n makes t h e

the e sta b lis h m e n t o f the 2 one. As t o c u r r i c u l a B . H.

f o l l o w i n g o b s e r v a t i o n s on t h e b a s i s

o f h is

s tu d y: The a c a d e m i c , c o l l e g e p r e p a r a t o r y , c o m m e r c i a l , n o r m a l , and p a r o c h i a l n o r m a l c o u r s e s w e r e t h e l e a d i n g o f f e r i n g s . Some a c a d e m i e s o f f e r e d a l l o f t h e s e w h i l e o t h e r s e m p h a s i z e d th e academ ic o n l y . Some s c h o o l s l o c a l i z e d t h e i r c o u r s e s f o r I m m e d i a t e communitsr n e e d s . ^ D uring th e p e r io d

1 8 7 0 - 9 0 t h e a c a d e m y m o v e m e n t w a s on t h e

•^The N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d ' s a c a d e m y i n M a r s h a l l , W i s ­ c o n s i n , was c o - e d u c a t i o n a l . S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , Norwegian A ugustana Synod, 1 8 7 5 , p . 1 9 . 2 B l e g e n , The A m e r i c a n T r a n s i t i o n , p p . 5 5 7 f . ^Narveson,

op.

c it.,

pp.

208 f .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

488 up-grade.

The g r o w i n g i n t e r e s t i n a c a d e m i e s r e s u l t e d i n t h e

t a b l i s h m e n t o f s e v e r a l new o n e s . a nd f e l l b y t h e w a y s i d e , t o be th e

future

o f the

Some w e r e i n a d e q u a t e l y s u p p o r t e d

an i n t i m a t i o n o f what w a s , academy m ovem ent,

in

1 8 9 0 and 1 9 1 0 .

reached i t s

peak in 1907;

The s u b s e q u e n t s t o r y i s the

other.

However,

the d e c lin e w ith in

Comb ine d a t t e n d a n c e

in

g en eral,

the f o l l o w i n g y e a r s

many ne w c h u r c h - r e l a t e d a c a d e m i e s w e r e e s t a b l i s h e d , betw een

p a rticu la rly

a t th e academ ies

in t h a t y e a r a permanent d e c l i n e

the

d iscon tin u an ce

set

in.^*

o f one a c a d e m y a f t e r

to e n te r in t o a d is c u s s io n

o f the

causes

o f th e N orw egian-A m erican L utheran acad em ies

the p ro v in ce o f t h i s

es­

of

Is not

d isserta tio n .

N or m al S c h o o l s A nother a s p e c t o f t h e d e v e l o p i n g e d u c a t i o n a l program o f th e p e r i o d was t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f norm al s c h o o l s

fo r th e purpose

o f t r a i n i n g t e a c h e r s , n o t o n l y f o r p a r o c h i a l s c h o o l s and a c a d e p m ie s, b u t a l s o f o r the p u b lic s c h o o ls . There had b e e n a n orm al departm ent o p era ted a t Luther C o lle g e s i n c e was d i s c o n t i n u e d . a nd b e g a n t o

Three y e a r s

operate

South D akota.^

la ter,

in

1865, b u t in

1889,

1886 i t

th e Synod d e d i c a t e d

t h e L u t h e r a n N or m al S c h o o l i n S i o u x P a l l s ,

In 1887 a p r i v a t e

n o r m a l s c h o o l was b e g u n i n

■*"Norlie, H i s t o r y o f t h e N o r w e g i a n P e o p l e

in A m erica,

p. 375.

2

H. A . P r e u s , " T a l e v e d I n d v i e l s e n a f d e t n o r s k - e n g e l s k l u t h e r s k e S k o l e l a e r e r - S e m i n a r i S io u x F a l l s , D a k .," E . L. K . , XVI ( 1 8 8 9 ) , 6 9 2 . H alvorsen , XVI

. 0. L ., p . 159,

"L uth eran Normal S c h o o l , "

in F e s t s k r i f t , e d .

4"The L u t h e r a n N o r m a l S c h o o l o f S i o u x F a l l s , " E . L . K . , ( 1 8 8 9 ) , 571; " K ir k e lig e E f t e r r e t n i n g e r , " i b i d . , p . "679.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

489 W itten b erg, W iscon sin , A n ti-M issou rian

in co n n ection w ith

au sp ices,

but i t

t h e Homme s e t u p , u n d e r

rem ained i n

t h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e U n i t e d C h u rc h ., ^

At i t s

i n g t h e U n i t e d C h u rc h d e c i d e d t o e s t a b l i s h c a te d in M adison, M in n e so ta ,

it

any lo n g er

in e x is t e n c e .

p a r t o f Augustana C o l l e g e , d iverted

o r g a n iz a tio n a l m eet­

a normal s c h o o l .

Lo­

w as d e d i c a t e d i n t h e F a l l o f 1 8 9 2 ,

and i m m e d i a t e l y t a k e n i n t o u s e , ^ is

o p era tio n on ly u n t i l

N eith er o f th ese

normal s c h o o ls

The s c h o o l i n S i o u x F a l l s The b u i l d i n g s

became a

in M adison h a v e b e e n

to another purpose. The L a n g u a g e p r o b l e m In t h i s

d i s s e r t a t i o n we h a v e b e e n d e a l i n g w i t h a f o r e i g n -

la n g u a g e-sp ea k in g group o f

i m m i g r a n t s , ^ C o n t a c t w i t h a new

vironm ent brought

and e v e n tu a lm o d if ic a t io n s in t h e i r

way o f l i f e

ten sion s

and p o i n t

o f the E n g lis h

o f v iew ,

lan gu age.

in clu d in g a tr a n s itio n

L ea d ers o f t h e N orwegian

n ized

t h e n e c e s s i t y o f an e v e n t u a l t r a n s i t i o n

lish ,

but th e y d id n ot want i t

wanted t o be su re suffered

in the p r o c e s s .

n ecessity

for

W hile t h e y r e c o g n iz e d

p r o s p e r and t o b e good c i t i z e n s th eir r e sp o n sib ility preserved

in i t s

to

to the use

see

p u rity .

in

were n o t

that i t

was a

learn E n g lish in order to

th eir

th a t the

o f Eng­

and t h e y

and c u l t u r a l l o s s e s

N orwegian im m ig ra n ts t o

to th e use

churches r e c o g ­

t o be o v e r - h a s t e n e d ,

that r e lig io u s

new h o m e ,

fa ith

C onsequently,

o f the

t h e y deemed i t f a t h e r s was

N o r w e g i a n w as l o o k e d u p o n

■*_Knut L o k e n s g a a r d , "Den f o r e n e d e k i r k e s n o r m a l s k o l e M a d is o n , M i n n . , ' r i n Fra U ngaom saar, e d . Brun, p . 1 4 5 . 2I b i d . , pp.

144 f .

en­

5 Supra,

pp. 4 0 -4 4 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

i

as

"the la n gu age

truths

s h o u l d he

o f the h e a r t , ” th e

language

in w hich r e l i g i o u s

t a u g h t a s l o n g a s i t w a s t h e more f a m i l i a r

g u a g e i n home a nd c h u r c h .

However,

it

was r e c o g n i z e d t h a t E n g l i s h

m u s t h e u s e d mo re and more e x t e n s i v e l y i n

t e a c h i n g and p r e a c h i n g

in o rd er to r e a c h the r a p i d l y i n c r e a s i n g second g e n e r a t io n whom N o r w e g i a n was n o t t h e

langu age

r o r s w o u l d he a b s o r h e d a l o n g w i t h t h e

other hand,

certa in

elem en ts

m o s t r e a d y t o make t h e

as th e u se

estim a tes

only f i v e

s t i l l d efin itely concerned.

o f the

1905,

fifteen

th e e x c e p t i o n o f the

in

1890.

congrega­ 0 . M.

y e a r s beyond our p e r io d ,

s e r m o n s w e r e p r e a c h e d i n E n g l i s h and

o f Sunday S c h o o l p u p i l s

However,

On t h e

a Norwegian p e r i o d

N early a l l

on i n N o r w e g i a n p r i o r t o

th a t in

seventeen per cent in E n g l i s h .^

too rap id a tr a n s it io n .

o f l a n g u a g e was

per cent

a d op tion o f the E n g l i s h l a n ­

tra n sitio n .^

t i o n a l work was c a r r i e d N orlie

t h a t American d o c t r i n a l e r ­

o f t h e Norwegian A u gu stan a Synod were

The p e r i o d 1 8 7 0 - 9 0 w as as f a r

for

o f the h e a r t . 1

The S y n o d i n p a r t i c u l a r f e a r e d

g u a g e a nd c o n s e q u e n t l y r e s i s t e d

la n ­

the

in stitu tio n s

sem in aries,

the

received

in stru ctio n

o f h igh er le a r n in g ,

w ith

greater part o f in s tr u c tio n

^ " E r k l a e r i n g om v o r e S k o l e - S p r o g f o r h o l d , " K. M. , IV ( 1 8 5 9 ) , 1 56 f . ; " V i g t i g h e d e n a f a t l a e r e E n g e l s k , " i b i d . , XV ( 1 8 7 0 ) , 8 8 ; "Den L u t h e r s k e K i r k e s Opgave i d e t t e L a n d , " E . L . K . , V I I ( 1 8 8 0 ) , 755-41. 2 S u p r a , p p . 152 f . , 240 f . Of c o u r s e , t h e r e w e r e i n d i v i d ­ u a l s I n a l l s y n o d s , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e c i t i e s , who w e r e a n x i o u s for as speedy a t r a n s it io n to E n g lish as p o s s ib le . It is in te r e st­ i n g t o n o t e t h a t as e a r l y a s 1841 E l l i n g E i e l s e n had L u t h e r ' s S m a ll C a t e c h i s m t r a n s l a t e d and p u b l i s h e d i n E n g l i s h . W e e, K a u g e a n i s m , p . 52. N orlie,

H is t o r y o f th e N orw egian p eo p le

i n A m erica, p .

557 .

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

491

was g i v e n i n t h e E n g l i s h l a n g u a g e b y a b o u t 1 8 9 0 . H a lv o r s o n o f t h e Synod s c h o o l s , n in e tie s.1

At L u t h e r C o l l e g e ,

L arsen had in th e

sev en ties

t i o n was p r o g r e s s i n g t o o con servative lieved the

supporters

c a tio n .^

gian in th e

fo r exam ple,

been c r i t i c i z e d

e a rly in

because A m erican iza­

in the e i g h t i e s

t h e more

in trod u ction that

o f E n g lish .

Larsen view ed

o f o ffe r in g b i- lin g u a l edu­

188 0* s E n g l i s h g r a d t i a l l y r e p l a c e d N o r w e ­

O laf's

S c h o o l i n N o r t h f i e l d was

P resid en t

" in ten sely

American in

t h o u g h t and p u r p o s e

tim e o f i t s

f o u n d in g E n g l i s h was e x t e n s i v e l y u s e d a t S t .

S ch ool,

only r e l i g i o n

langu age d u r in g th e in g the

fir st

six

f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g . 1,4

a nd h i s t o r y b e i n g t a u g h t

fir st

years

s t r u c t i o n was g i v e n

the

P r e sid e n t Laur.

c l a s s r o o m a n d i n campu s s p e e c h a t L u t h e r . ®

T . N. Mohn o f S t .

John

o f t h e s c h o o l o b j e c t e d t o what t h e y b e ­

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y as

In t h e e a r l y

a n d h e was w r i t i n g

s lo w ly whereas

t o be a t o o r a p i d

co lleg e* s

So s a y s

in

term i n w h ic h i t

of its

O la f’s

Norwegian

in s e s s i o n .

Dur­

ex isten ce

the E n g lis h

g i v e E n g l i s h an i m p o r t a n t p l a c e

was

in the

From t h e

tw o -th ird s o f the in C langu age. The e n d e a v o r t o

a t Red W in g S e m i n a r y h a s p r e v i o u s ­

l y been noted .® I t was n a t u r a l t h a t

the

sch ools

o f the

synods,

sin ce

they

Ijo h n H a lv o r s o n , " H i s t o r i c a l Review o f th e Norwegian Evan­ g e l i c a l L u t h e r a n Synod i n A m e r i c a ," H i s t o r y o f t h e S c a n d i n a v i a n s and S u c c e s s f u l S c a n d i n a v i a n s i n t h e U n i t e d S p a t e s , e d . ~0. M. Ne I s o n , ( M i n n e a p o l i s : 0 . M. N e l s o n , 1 8 9 8 ) , T^6. ^K. L a r s e n ,

Laur. L a r se n , pp.

248-50.

^ B l e g e n , The A m e r i c a n T r a n s i t i o n , p p .

522,

525.

4 B e n s o n , H i g h on M a n i t o u , p . 27 . ^ I b id ., pp.

28,

41 f .

®Supra, p .

140.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

492 were d e a l i n g w i t h young p e o p le

an xiou s t o

be i n advance o f th e c o n g r e g a t io n s tio n

to E n g lish ,

d iffic u lt

and b e f o r e

langu age

learn E n g lish ,

sh ou ld

in th e m a tte r o f the t r a n s i ­

the c o n g r e g a t i o n s had w ea th ered th e

tra n sitio n ,

thousands

l o s t by the N orw egian-A m erican L utheran

o f y o u n g p e o p l e had b e e n ch u rch es.^

However, th e problem a s s o c i a t e d w it h A m e r ic a n iz a tio n and la n g u a g e t r a n s i t i o n was n o t f u l l y p r e s s i n g in upon th e b egin n in gs ten sio n s

as

churches,

fa r as the

faced in

first

quarter of

sitio n

w as b y no m e a n s

a d j u s t m e n t was c o n c e r n e d .

the t w e n t i e t h fu lly

I t was

b u t a s y e t t h e y h a d made o n l y s m a l l

came a n d t h e m a j o r t r a n s i t i o n

o f the

our p e r io d .

was e f f e c t e d century,

The c h i e f in

the

alth ou gh th e

course tran­

com pleted even t h e n .

l " O u r E n g l i s h Home M i s s i o n , 1' F r a U n g d o m s a a r , e d .

p . 220.

R e p r o d u c e d w ith p e r m i s s i o n o f t h e c o p y r i g h t o w n e r . F u r t h e r r e p r o d u c t i o n p r o h i b i te d w i th o u t p e r m is s i o n .

Brun,

CHAPTER IX

A REVIEW OF THE PERIOD 1 8 7 0 - 9 0 In the p e r i o d

1 8 7 0 - 9 0 N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n i s m was

c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a s t a t e

of fragm en tation .

At t h e e n d o f 1 8 7 0

t h e r e were f o u r s e p a r a t e s y n o d i c a l b o d I e s - - E i e l s e n , s Synod, Norwegian Synod, t h e

N orw eg ia n -D a n ish Augustana Synod,

C onference.

two s y n o d i c a l d i v i s i o n s

D espite

church u n ion in th e

in terim ,

and t h e

and one s i g n i f i c a n t

by t h e e n d o f 1890 t h e r e were s t i l l

fo u r N orw egian-A m erican L uth eran s y n o d s - - E i e l s e n ' s Synod, N o r w e g i a n S y n o d , H a u g e ’ s S y n o d , a nd t h e U n i t e d C h u r c h . mented s i t u a t i o n

is

the

the

T his f r a g ­

a c c o u n t e d f o r c h i e f l y by the f a c t t h a t th e

d i v e r g e n t r e l i g i o u s v i e w s and em phases w h ic h e x i s t e d w i t h i n t h e Ch u rc h o f Norway d u r i n g

the p e r io d s

c e n tu r y were t r a n s p l a n t e d ment w ere s e p a r a t i o n o f the variou s h eld

o f m ig r a tio n in the n in e t e e n t h

to A m erica.

In t h e American e n v i r o n ­

o f c h u r c h and s t a t e

relig io u s

p rev a iled r e p re sen ta tiv e s

v i e w p o i n t s , w h i c h i n Norway h a d b e e n

t o g e t h e r u n d e r one r o o f i n t h e s t a t e - c h u r c h ,

of th eir

took advantage

freed om and fo im ed s e v e r a l I n d e p e n d e n t s y n o d i c a l o r g a n i ­

za tio n s • In c h a r a c t e r i z i n g it

is

con ven ien t to

th ese

c la ssify

synods in r e la t io n to

them i n t h r e e

groups.

one a n o t h e r

The N o r w e g i a n

Synod r e p r e s e n t e d

th e r i g h t w in g o f N orwegian-A m erican L u th e r a n ­

ism .

to the

In r e l a t i o n

clo se ly k n it,

o th e r church b o d ie s

th e m ost e f f e c t i v e l y

organ ized ,

i t w as t h e m o s t the m ost c o n c e r n e d

493

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

494 ab ou t church o r d e r , and th e m ost a p p r e c i a t i v e l i t u r g i c a l and w o r s h i p p r a c t i c e s . by i t s Its ties

E s p e c i a l l y w as i t

ch a racterized

c o n c e r n f o r t h e p r e s e r v a t i o n and p r o m o t io n o f pure d o c t r i n e *

d o c t r i n a l c o n s e r v a t i s m was s t r e n g t h e n e d w ith th e M isso u r i Synod,

an a t t i t u d e

o f ex clu siv ism

A merican L u th era n s y n o d s .

and i t

The l e f t

E ielsen . nam ely,

T his

Synod and,

lea st

alth ou gh w ith th e

to th e o th e r N orw egian-

group o r i g i n a t i n g w ith E l l i n g

after

o f more e f f e c t i v e

w ith

Its

o b jectiv e

lay w itn e ssin g .

and t h e r e v i s i o n

the m a jo r ity o f t h i s

group

(the

s t e a d i l y moved i n t h e

o r g a n i z a t i o n and in c r e a s e d o r d e r ,

o f b ein g f a it h f u l

repentance

T his

c h u rch o r g a n i z a t i o n and o r d e r ,

e m e r g e n c e o f a new l e a d e r s h i p

tio n

our p e r i o d ,

1 8 7 6 , H auge's Synod.

e l e m e n t w h i c h made u p H a u g e ' s S y n o d )

a nd c o n v e r s i o n ,

t o Haugeanism t h i s

T hese Haugeans were t h e m o st p i e t i s t i c

of relig io u s

d irec­ in

form alism in

lin e

gr o ii p

personal C h r istia n ity ,

N orw egian-A m erican L u th e r a n s , and t h e y were h o s t i l e m a n ifesta tio n

adop tion o f

w ing o f N orw egian-A m erican

concerned about

sy n o d ica l c o n stitu tio n

stressed

in I t s

g r o u p w a s r e p r e s e n t e d by two s y n o d s i n

E ielsen 's

g r o u p was t h e

and n u r t u r e d b y I t s

resu lted

in r e la t io n

L u th eran ism was r e p r e s e n t e d b y t h e

of the

o f the t r a d i t i o n a l

and

o f the

tow ards any

con n ection w ith

litu rg y

and w o r s h i p . E ielsen 's

S y n o d and t h e

ways were q u i t e d i f f e r e n t sy n o d ic a l groups In term ed iate

to be

from one a n o t h e r , were t h e

organ ized .

In t h e

fo llo w in g .

first

c o u r se o f tim e

group d e v e l o p e d w h ic h was n o t a t t r a c t e d

th e Synod or t o E i e l s e n ' s m ediate

N o r w e g i a n S y n o d , w h i c h i n many

a large

eith er

In our p e r io d t h i s

o f the

to

in ter­

g r o u p wa s r e p r e s e n t e d b y t w o s y n o d i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s ,

with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without

the

495 C onference

an d t h e

in to e x iste n c e than th e

in

N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a S y n o d , b o t h o f w h i c h came 1870.

A lth o u g h h a n d ic a p p e d by a l a t e r

N orwegian Synod or E i e l s e n ’ s Synod th e C o n feren ce grew

very r a p id ly , d evelop in g in to group.

However,

the

a w e l l - o r g a n i z e d and i n f l u e n t i a l

N o r w e g ia n A u g u s ta n a Synod r e m a in e d a s m a l l

and s t r u g g l i n g s y n o d d u r i n g t h e ence.

As m i g h t be e x p e c t e d

u n ity of s p ir it oth er tw o. to s t r e s s

th is

both d o c tr in e

tra d itio n a l

ab le

in

en tire

a n d an e x p e r i e n c e d C h r i s t i a n i t y ;

o rg a n iza tio n ,

respects

very

sim ila r.

itse lf

and t h e y d e s i r e d

sta n d in g alon e

in term ed iate

the

a reason­

and s y n o d i c a l s u p e r v i s i o n

g r o u p w e r e i n many came t o

N orw egian Synod u s u a l l y

in o p p o sitio n to

of

groxip a n d t h e

As a m a t t e r o f f a c t , w he n i t

in ter-sy n o d ica l r e la tio n sh ip s,

of

a l t h o u g h t h e r e was n o t

H auge’ s Synod o f th e E l l i n g i a n

N orwegian A ugu stan a Synod o f t h e

they

They fa v o r e d r e t e n t i o n

l i t u r g i c a l and w o r s h i p f o r m s ,

church a c t i v i t i e s .

e x ist­

g roup were c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a d e s i r e

o f ’’o r t h o d o x p i e t i s m . ”

of order,

of it s

group than i n e i t h e r o f t h e

agreem ent or u n ifo r m ity h e r e ,

degree

tw enty years

t h e r e was g r e a t e r d i v e r s i t y and l e s s

in term ed iate

M embers o f t h i s

were a d v o c a t e s

com plete

start

found

the rem ainin g syn o d s,

p a r t i c u l a r l y w he n d o c t r i n e w a s t h e i s s u e . These geograp h ic w est;

N orwegian syn od s were

area, th e ir

m ethods

of

an d t h e i r

in the

s tr e n g th b ein g cen tered in

they endeavored to appeal t o

im m igran ts;

located

same g e n e r a l t h e Upper M id­

t h e same g r o u p o f N o r w e g i a n

forms o f s y n o d i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n

c a r r y i n g on c h u r c h w o r k w e r e b a s i c a l l y

c o m i n g more and more s i m i l a r a s

the years p a ssed .

N orw egian L u th er a n im m igran ts were i n e x p e r i e n c e d

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without

an d t h e i r

the sam e, b e ­ A ll o f the in the

496 e c c l e s i a s t i c a l - s e l f - g o v e r n m e n t made n e c e s s a r y b y a f r e e settin g .

However,

situ a tio n , p o lities o f the

and a l l

th ey r a p id ly adapted th em selv es o f the

synods

t o t h e new

adopted c o n g r e g a t i o n a l - s y n o d i c a l

w i t h a s t r o n g e m p h a s i s b e i n g p l a c e d on t h e

lo ca l

church

ind ep en dence

con gregation .

Our p e r i o d w i t n e s s e d an e x c e e d i n g l y h e a v y N o r w e g i a n m i ­ gration

to

a l l o f the field in

A m erica. synods.

A t r e m e n d o u s home m i s s i o n c h a l l e n g e

T h e y w e r e e s p e c i a l l y made a w a r e o f t h e f e r t i l e

f o r home m i s s i o n w o r k i n n o r t h e r n an d w e s t e r n M i n n e s o t a a n d

the Dakota T e r r i t o r y .

However,

in

c o m i n g m o r e a n d more a w a r e o f t h e i r farth er w est, p a r tic u la rly th is

sitxiation

com m ittees,

teach ers,

N orthw est.

es exp erien ced

e s t a b lis h in g con gregation s

In t h i s

period

b egin n in gs.

of

developm ent in

and b u i l d i n g

m ission set­

churches.

Much was a c c o m p l i s h e d ,

t h a t n e e d e d t o b e d on e c o u l d b e d o n e b e c a u s e because

ca p a cities

organ ized

of the

of a

o f en ervatin g

a n d f o r many o t h e r r e a s o n s .

o f im m igration o v e r -ta x e d th e

its

face

Norwegian-A m erican Lutheran c h u r c h ­

a la rge n u m erical grow th.

c o n t r o v e r s i e s and s t r i f e ,

was i n

In t h e

S yn od ical o f f i c i a l s ,

l a c k o f r e q u i r e d manpower and f i n a n c e s ,

tim e.

for region s

and t h e o l o g i c a l s t u d e n t s - ~ a l l a s s i s t e d

tw e n ty -y e a r p erio d the

a ll

th e y were b e ­

resp o n sib ilities

th e p eriod w itn e s se d a c o n sid era b le

w i t h t h e w ork o f

but not

eig h ties

t r a v e l l i n g home m i s s i o n a r i e s — l a y and c l e r i c a l ,

tled p astors,

In t h i s

the

the P a c i f i c

home m i s s i o n i n t e r e s t an d e f f o r t s .

th is

confronted

The t i d e

synods a t

just

s y n o d i c a l home m i s s i o n w o r k

The p e r i o d f o l l o w i n g 1 3 9 0 saw t h e

syn od i­

c a l home m i s s i o n p r o g r a m s d e v e l o p c o n s i d e r a b l y a nd b e c o m e e v e n m or e e f f e c t i v e .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

497 The l a s t r e m a r k a l s o a p p l i e s , to th e

ch a rita b le

the s y n o d s .

en terp rises

The d e c a d e

of in terest

m ission s o c ie t ie s for

Israel

o f the

(1878),

field

s io n work c a r r i e d

of

the

ch a rita b le decade

the

c o n stitu en cy o f th e C onference, la rg ely

fr o m t h e

co n stitu ­

sen t out

tw o

in the e i g h t i e s ,

p rior to

for a fo reig n

fa r b ein g con ten t to su p p ort m is­

o f the e i g h t i e s .

field

and s o c i e t i e s .

The c h i e f

accom­

d u r in g our p e r io d was t h e r e ­

o f an I n d i v i d u a l ,

P a s t o r E . J . Homme, w h o ,

esta b lish ed

h is

in W itten b erg, W iscon sin .

1890, a f t e r

the

ind ep en dent Late

in

church un ion o f th a t y e a r ,

U n i t e d C h u r c h b e g a n a c h i l d r e n ' s home i n B e l o i t ,

Iowa.

o f two L u t h e r a n d e a c o n n e s s homes and h o s p i t a l s ,

B r o o k ly n and one owned a t the

The Z i o n S o c i e t y

the

t h e S y n o d f o u n d e d a c h i l d r e n ’ s home n e a r S t o u g h t o n ,

c o n s i n , and i n

gin s

Two i n d e p e n d e n t

our p e r io d :

(1890),

sy n o d ica l supp ort,

in stitu tio n s

the

in M in n eap olis,

tim e,

n eith er

W is­ the

The o r i ­

one

in

o f w h i c h was s y n o d i c a l l y

d a te back to th e decade o f the e i g h t i e s ,

i n t e r e s t w h ic h was

s u c h home and h o s p i t a l ,

tid e

were o r g a n iz e d by N orw egian-A m erican

decade

ch a rita b le

in itia tiv e

w ith ou t o f f i c i a l

eig h ties.

t o M adagascar l a t e

own, t h u s

of

o f f o r e i g n m i s s i o n s w hich

A lth ou gh th e C onference

in stitu tio n s

the

w itn essed a r is in g

on b y o t h e r L u t h e r a n c h u r c h b o d i e s

L utherans p r io r t o p lish m en t in

a ctiv ities

synods had a c c e p te d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y

of its

No c h a r i t a b l e

in the

l a r g e l y from t h e

fo reig n m issio n a ries 1890 none o f th e

support

were o r g a n i z e d i n

ency o f Hauge’s Synod.

su lt

sev en ties

p rop ortion s

and t h e C h in a M i s s i o n S o c i e t y

m ission

and f o r e i g n m i s s i o n

i n a n d an i n c r e a s e d

reached s ig n if ic a n t

i n an e v e n g r e a t e r m e a s u r e ,

to e v e n t u a t e

in

the next

decade

in

and

a th ird

lo c a t e d in C hicago, had been s t im u la t e d .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

498 As f a r a s

organ ized

c h a r i t a b l e work g o e s ,

sm all b e g in n in g s, but subsequent years man y c h a r i t a b l e

in stitu tio n s

saw t h e

y e a r s w as t h e tu tio n s. of the

future

lem s

a s o f mo re

o f m aking p r o v i s i o n

lay

in ten d ed

lead ers

p r o v id in g adequate co lleg es,

Sin ce

for ed u cation al f a c i l i t i e s However,

in the church.

One o f t h e

s y n o d s d u r i n g o u r p e r i o d was t h a t

of

s c h o o ls — academ ies,

p e r io d 1870-90 th e t h e o l o g i c a l sem in aries

by t h e

Augustana Synod.

o f the

Norwegian A u gu stan a Sy n o d , Hauge’s Syn od,

Norwegian s e c t i o n

As t o

co lleg es,

founded in 1861,

reorgan ized

in

and S t .

a co lleg e

sch ools

Augsburg

the sem in a ry o f th e C o n fe r e n c e , had been founded l a t e

the s i x t i e s

m ent,

the

p e r s is te n t prob­

and t h e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n B r o t h e r h o o d w e r e e s t a b l i s h e d .

had b een

that

ed u cation al op p ortu n ities

f in a n c ia l support fo r t h e ir

N orwegian Sy n o d , th e

in

the

and t h e o l o g i c a l s e m i n a r i e s .

In th e

Sem inary,

the need

the synods e a r ly r eco g n ized

to provide

co n fro n tin g each of the

organized a c t i v i t i e s

im portance.

an a d e q u a t e m i n i s t e r i a l s u p p l y .

founded were a l s o for

o f ed u cation al i n s t i ­

o th er phase o f th e

was a p r e s s i n g o n e ,

would i n s u r e

a t t e n t i o n and c o n s u m e d much

e s t a b l i s h m e n t and m a in t e n a n c e

s y n o d s was r e g a r d e d

n ecessity

estab lish m en t o f

o f t h e N orwegian L u th eran synods i n t h e i r e a r l y

I n o u r p e r i o d no

for p astors

was a p e r i o d o f

by N orw egian-A m erican L u th e r a n s .

T h a t w h i c h e n g a g e d much o f t h e o f the resources

th is

la te

the m iddle

o f the

Scand inavian

Luther C o lle g e o f D ecorah,

Iowa,

A u g s b u r g S e m i n a r y I n M i n n e a p o l i s was sev en ties

O l a f ’ s S c h o o l w as in th e e i g h t i e s .

to

Include

transform ed

fr om an a c a d e m y i n t o

Some c l a s s e s

junior e o l l e ge l e v e l w ere t a u g h t a t

a college d e p a r t­

on w ha t w o u l d b e a

Red Wi ng S e m i n a r y b e g i n n i n g

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

499 in

the l a t e

eig h ties,

was s e p a r a t e d

a n d when t h e

Norwegian A u g u s t a n a n s ’ academ y

fr om t h e s e m i n a r y i n B e l o i t ,

I o w a , and moved t o

Canton, South D a k o ta , in th e m id d le e i g h t i e s , i n c l u d e what would c o r r e sp o n d t o the

ju n ior

Synod e s t a b l i s h e d

it

co lleg e

was e x p a n d e d t o o fferin g s.

in the

eig h ties

P a lls,

S o u t h D a k o t a , and a p r i v a t e n o r m a l s c h o o l ,

by th e A n t i - M i s s o u r i a n s , was i n A n otab le evid en ce

o f the

i n e d u c a t i o n was t h e

were e s t a b l i s h e d .

o f N orwegian-A m erican L u th eran s

t h a t a number o f a c a d e m i e s , These were i n

T h is movement, w h i c h f l o u r i s h e d

ad d ition

the c o l l e g e s

As t h e

c u l m i n a t i o n some y e a r s student

in

or h i g h

to the

prepara­

a nd s e m i n a r i e s .

p a r t i c u l a r l y am o n g t h e c o n g r e g a ­

o f t h e S y n o d , g a i n e d momentum d u r i n g t h e

and r e a c h e d i t s

la r g e ly supported

L uth eran academy movement w h ic h d e v e l o p e d

to r y departm ents a s s o c i a t e d w ith

tion s

a normal s c h o o l a t S io u x

o p era tio n in W itten b erg, W iscon sin ,

in terest

our p e r io d w it h th e r e s u l t sch o o ls,

L ate

o f today read s

p eriod

1870-90

la ter. the r e l i g i o u s

litera tu r e

p u b lis h e d by N orwegian-A m erican L u th eran s d u r in g th e p e r i o d 1 8 7 0 90 , he i s of I t .

q u ic k ly im pressed by th e c o n t r o v e r s i a l nature

Much o f t h e h i s t o r y

of c o n f lic t s . str ife ,

o f t h e p e r i o d m u st be v i e w e d In te r m s

T h i s was a p e r i o d o f t e n s i o n s ,

of " th eological c o n ten tio u sn ess.”

co n tro v ersies,

v ictio n s.

to

com prom ise,

Much e f f o r t ,

by c o n t r o v e r s i e s of the lig io u s

synods

th ey contended b i t t e r l y

for

a t a t i m e whe n a l l p o s s i b l e

could have w e ll been u t i l i z e d

needs of the

and b e i n g th eir

t im e , and v a l u a b l e r e s o u r c e s were

and s t r i f e

and

T h e se N o r w e g ia n Lu­

t h e r a n s w e r e much c o n c e r n e d a b o u t c o r r e c t d o c t r i n e , d isin clin ed

o f much

con­

absorbed

resources

in m eetin g th e r e ­

I m m i g r a n t s and i n e x t e n d i n g t h e

kingdom o f

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

500 God t h r o u g h e d u c a t i o n ,

m issio n s,

a nd c h a r i t i e s .

These

ten sion s

were h o t h i n t r a - and i n t e r - s y n o d i c a l . ir re c o n c ila b le in the

form ation

d i f f e r e n c e s w i t h i n E i e l s e n ’ s Synod r e s u l t e d

o f H auge’ s Synod i n

1876.

W ithin

the C onference

t h e O ld T e n d e n c y a nd t h e New T e n d e n c y f o u g h t b i t t e r l y , d u rin g th e

la tter

sev en ties

sch ism r e s u l t e d du rin g th e ath ies

liv ed

on t o p l a g u e

in the

w ith draw al o f th e

and e a r l y e i g h t i e s . life

esp ecia lly

A l t h o u g h no

o f th e C onference,

the

old a n t ip ­

t h e U n i t e d Church and I n 1893 e r u p t e d New T e n d e n c y e l e m e n t

fr o m t h e r e c e n t l y

o r g a n iz ed U n it e d Church,

in the e i g h t i e s

the h i t h e r t o s o l i d l y

u n ified

th e most s e v e r e

in tern al c r is is

Synod e x p e r i e n c e d

and, as a r e s u l t con version ,

it

o f the b i t t e r

saw a b o u t

c o n tr o v e r s y about e l e c t i o n

on e-th ird o f i t s

za tio n

alth ou gh i t

d o c tr in a l c o n tr o v e r sy in the n i n e t i e s B e r g s l a n d and p a s t o r out the

synod.

was t o

exp erien ce a

b e t w e e n P r o f e s s o r H. H.

o f any syn od-w id e

through­

sig n ifica n ce*

w e r e m ar ke d b y t h e

p a r t i c u l a r l y was t h i s

f a r as

tru e as

f o r th e Synod r e g a r d e d a l l

gro u p s a s h e r e t i c a l and u n - L u t h e r a n i n S y n o d was p a r t i c u l a r l y

E i e l s e n ’ s Synod and t h e A fter

organ i­

The N o r w e g i a n A u g u s t a n a n s w e r e s p a r e d a n y i n t r a -

S y n o d wa s c o n c e r n e d ,

Synod.

of its

In ter-sy n o d ica l r e la tio n s

t o 1870 the

seem ed to

0 . S» M e l a n d w h i c h h a d r e p e r c u s s i o n s

sy n o d ica l c o n tr o v e rsie s

ten sio n ,

M atters

s m o o t h ly i n H a u g e’ s Synod from th e tim e

to th e end o f our p e r io d ,

and

m em bership, th e A n t i -

M isso u r ia n e le m e n t, w ith draw d u r in g 1 8 8 7 -8 8 . move r a t h e r

of a ll,

in v o lv ed in

type o f

Norwegian

o f the

other

on e way o r a n o t h e r .

N orw egians o f th e

1870, however,

the

same

P rior

controversy w ith

S ca n d in a v ia n Augustana

t h e m a j o r a nd m o s t h e a t e d t h e o l o g i c a l

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

501

w arfare were

was c a r r i e d

critica l

p ra ctice. tie s.

on b e t w e e n t h e S y n o d a n d t h e C o n f e r e n c e , who

o f o n e a n o t h e r on t h e b a s i s

T h i s was p a r t i c u l a r l y

The b i t t e r

feelin g s

true

in th e decade o f the s e v e n ­

b e tw e en t h e N o r w e g ia n A u g u sta n a Synod

a n d t h e C o n f e r e n c e w h i c h had r e s u l t e d 1870 p e r s i s t e d

o f b o t h d o c t r i n e and

fr o m t h e i r s e p a r a t i o n

in

f o r some y e a r s b u t w e r e n o t l a s t i n g e n o u g h t o ham­

p er union n e g o t i a t i o n s

in the e i g h t i e s .

A f t e r 1876 E i e l s e n ’ s

Sy n o d was s o s m a l l t h a t i t h a d f e w c o n t a c t s w i t h t h e

other

church

b o d i e s , and H auge’ s Synod, a lt h o u g h f r i e n d l y enough tow ards th e C onference and the to c u ltiv a te

N orwegian A u g u s t a n a n s , was d i s i n c l i n e d a s y e t

a sso cia tio n s

o f so in t im a t e

a n a tu re t h a t union

could r e s u l t . At t h e

same t i m e t h a t t h e

p eriod

1870-90 i s

o r d i n a r y d e g r e e marked by c o n t r o v e r s y and c o n f l i c t ,

t o an e x t r a ­ it

also w it­

n e s s e d t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a p o w e r f u l a n d s u c c e s s f u l mo ve me nt f o r u n io n o f N orw egian-A m erican L u th e r a n s ,

p a r t ic u la r ly by the l a i t y ,

and a l t h o u g h s om e i n t e r - s y n o d i c a l c o n f e r e n c e s w e r e h e l d

fo r the

p u r p o s e o f f u r t h e r i n g u n i o n , t h e p r e - 1 8 9 0 u n i o n m o v e m e n t was l a r g e l y a developm ent o f the decade Rasmussen o f t h e

synod in 1880 p r o v id e d th e

m ov e m e nt i n m o t i o n w i t h h i s an d a c h i e v i n g u n i o n . started

t h in g s m oving.

syn od ical conferen ces d ifferen ces free

of the e i g h t i e s .

sp ecific

spark w hich s e t

convened

eig h ties

for the

a series

purpose

attended by in t e r e s t e d

o f f i c i a l rep resen ta tiv es o f th e ir

W,h p e n n o n o r * . copyright owner. Further

but i t o f in ter-

o f i r o n in g out

a n d p r o m o t i n g u n d e r s t a n d i n g among t h e

conferences,

the

p r o p o sa l fo r en d in g s t r i f e

H is p r o p o s a l was n o t a c c e p t e d , D uring th e

P a s t o r P . A.

synods.

Three

i n d i v i d u a l s who w e r e n o t

church b o d i e s , were h e ld in

^

^

502

1881,

1 8 8 2 , and 1 8 8 3 ,

conferences

The n e x t s t e p w a s t o

o f f i c i a l l y recogn ized by the

s u c h j o i n t m e e t i n g s were h e l d b etw een enough,

i t was t h e E l e c t i o n

hastened the

convene a s e r i e s

c o n fe r rin g synods;

1 8 8 5 a nd 1 8 8 8 ,

M i s s o u r i a n s w it h d r e w from t h e S y n o d , i n s t e a d

u n io n m ovem ent. lized ,

p lan s

When t h e A n t i -

lead ersh ip of

the

f o r u n io n were q u i c k l y c r y s t a l ­

and i n 1 890 t h e U n i t e d Church was born w i t h t h e m erger o f

the C o n feren ce,

t h e N orw egian A u g u sta n a Syn od , and t h e A n t i - M i s ­

sourian B rotherh ood. in to

S tra n gely

o f f o r m i n g a new

t h e y assum ed a g g r e s s i v e

S p ecific

four

C o n tr o v e r s y w i t h i n th e Synod t h a t

accom plishm ent o f a church u n io n .

syn od ical o r g a n iz a tio n ,

of

such a u n io n .

ends in

H a u g e's Synod was not y e t r ea d y t o e n t e r In v ie w o f t h i s

1 8 9 0 on a n o t e

s i g n i f i c a n t m erger our p e r io d

o f accom p lish m en t,

optim ism ,

and g e n e r a l

rejo icin g . However, t h e

first

decade

was t o b e a v e r y t r y i n g o n e . Augsburg C o lle g e so le,

cause

fe r r in g the t i t l e

from t h e

start

"F riends

Church i n

1893 and t h e i r

in 1897.

The A u g s b u r g c a s e w e n t t o

lo ss

in

w ith the

if

church.

not the

s itu a tio n w ith in

and f o u g h t a g a i n s t

o f Augsburg"

organ ization

p r o p e r ty o f the

th e Lutheran Free

ch ief,

to Augsburg to th e U n ite d Church.

s e p a r a t i o n o f the

rem ained th e

the

o f th e ow nership of

I t w a s t h e New T e n d e n c y e l e m e n t o f t h e

t h a t became d i s s a t i s f i e d

th e U n it e d Church a lm o s t

was t h e

The q u e s t i o n

and S e m in a r y was t o be

of tro u b le.

o ld C onference

o f t h e U n it e d C hurch's e x i s t e n c e

trans­

The r e s u l t

from t h e U n i t e d

o f t h e L u th era n F ree Church

the

courts,

a nd t h e

school

c o r p o r a t i o n c o m p o s e d o f members o f

The U n i t e d C h u r c h s u f f e r e d

1 9 0 0 when a s m a l l g r o u p w i t h D o n a t i s t i c

id eas

another as t o

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

c h u r c h m em b ersh ip was r e c r u i t e d from i t s lead ersh ip ren.

o f P a s t o r K» 0 . L u n d e b e r g t o

Lundeberg l a t e r

c o n s t it u e n c y under the form t h e L uth eran B r e t h ­

r e t u r n e d t o th e U n i t e d Church, bu t th e o r ­

g a n i z a t i o n he b r o u g h t i n t o b e i n g c o n t i n u e d i t s E arly in th e set

in m otion .

in

the

c e n t u r y a n o t h e r u n i o n m o v e m e n t was

I t s momentum w a s s u f f i c i e n t l y

the d i f f i c u l t i e s solve

tw en tieth

in

T he r e s u l t

in

endeavoring to

was t h e f o r m a t i o n

N o rw eg ia n L u th e r a n Church o f A m e r ic a ,

as t h e E v a n g e l i c a l L u th era n C h u rch . ticip a ted

g r e a t t o overcome

e n c o u n t e r e d by t h e t h e o l o g i a n s

o ld d o c t r i n a l p rob lem s.

1917 o f t h e

ex isten ce.

The t h r e e

t o d a y known

synods w hich p a r ­

t h i s m erger were t h e U n it e d Church, Hauge»s Synod,

and th e N orw eg ia n S y n o d , a l t h o u g h a s m a l l group o f th e most c o n ­ serv a tiv e an d i n as

me m b er s o f t h e

la tte r refused

to

1918 formed th e u l t r a - c o n s e r v a t i v e

the L i t t l e

N orwegian S y n o d .

go a l o n g i n t h e u n i o n g r o u p p o p u l a r l y known

To o n e who i s

f a m ilia r w ith the

h isto ry

o f N orw egian-A m erican L u th eran ism p r i o r

o f 1917

stands

o u t a s a rem ark able a c h ie v e m e n t.

L u th er a n Church t o d a y c o n t i n u e s t o natiire

of its

g ive

stro n g ly a p p recia tiv e

1890 t h e Union

The E v a n g e l i c a l

str o n g evidence

b ack g ro u n d and h i s t o r i c a l r o o t s ,

te r iz e d both by d o c t r in a l con servatism

to

for i t

is

o f the charac­

and by a p i e t i s m w h ic h i s

o f t h a t w h ic h H augeanism r e p r e s e n t e d .

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

BIBLIOGRAPHY P eriod icals

and N e w s p a p e r s

Budbaereren. Red W i n g , M i n n e s o t a ( e t c . ) ; V o l s . I - X X I I ( 1 8 6 8 - 9 0 ) . t HTs was t h e p e r i o d i c a l o f t h e E v a n g e l i c a l L u t h e r a n Church i n A m e rica ( E i e l s e n ’ s Synod) D ecem ber, 1 8 6 8 - J u n e , 1 8 7 5 , and was t h e n t h e org a n o f H a u g e ’ s Synod u n t i l December, 1 9 1 6 . D ansk-L uthersk K ir k e -B la d . R acine, W iscon sin ; V o l. I (1 8 7 7 -7 8 ). T ^ i i s "was t h e p e r i o d i c a l o f t h e D a n i s h e l e m e n t o f t h e C onference, 1877-84. E v a n g e lisk L uthersk K ir k e tid en d e . D e c o r a h , Iowa; V o l s . I-X V II (1874-90) . T h i s was t h e p e r i o d i c a l o f t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d , 1 8 7 4 1917. I t was t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n o f K i r k e l i g M a a n e d s t i d e n d e . K i r k e lig M aanedstidend e. D e c o r a h , Iowa ( e t c . ) ; V o l s . V I-X V III ( i 8 6 0 - 7 3 ) ‘. T h is was t h e p e r i o d i c a l o f t h e Norwegian S yn od, 1 8 5 5 - 7 5 . I t w as s u p e r s e d e d b y E v a n g e l i s k L u t h e r s k K i r k e t i d e n d e ♦

„

K v a r t a l - S k r i f t f o r Den N o r s k L u t h e r s k e K i r k e i A m e r i k a . M inneap­ o lis ; V o ls. I-V II (1875-81). T h i s p e r i o d i c a l was e d i t e d b y t h e F a c u l t y o f A u g s b u r g Sem inary d u r in g 1875; d u rin g th e r em a in in g s i x y e a r s o f i t s e x i s t e n c e i t was e d i t e d b y P r o f e s s o r s G e o r g S v e r d r u p and S v e n O f t e d a l a n d was t h e s p o k e s m a n f o r t h e i r v i e w s . L utheraneren. (T itle v a ries: pen Norske L u th er a n e r , 1 8 6 6 -6 9 ; L u t h e r a n e r e n , 1 8 7 0 - 7 3 ; L u t h e r a n e r e n o'g M x s s l o n s b l a d e t , 1 8 7 4 - 8 6 ; L u t h e r a n e r e n og B i b e l b u d e t " , 1886-90")". M ln n ' ea p o l i s ( e t c . ) ; V o l s . I-XXIV ( 1 8 6 6 - 9 0 ) * . T h i s was t h e p e r i o d i c a l o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e , 1 8 7 0 - 9 0 . It was t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n o f t h e p e r i o d i c a l o f t h e N o r w e g i a n s e c t i o n o f t h e S c a n d in a v ia n A u g u sta n a Synod w hich began p u b l i c a t i o n i n 1 8 6 6 u n d e r t h e t i t l e , Den N o r s k e L u t h e r a n e r . L uthersk K ir k e tid e n d e . L a c r o s s e , W is c o n s in ( e t c . ) ; V o l s . I-fXV] -----------------( W 4 - T ) r r r ; — N ot p u b l i s h e d c o n t i n u o u s l y d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d . T h i s was th e p e r i o d i c a l o f th e N orwegian A ugustana S y n o d . L utherske V id n esb yrd . N o r t h f i e l d , M innesota; V o l s . I-IX (1 8 8 2 ---------------- SVT.---------T h i s was t h e p e r i o d i c a l w h i c h was b e g u n b y p r o f e s s o r 504

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

505 P . A» S c h m i d t o f t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d a n d w h i c h b e c a m e t h e organ o f the A n ti-M is s o u r ia n B ro th e rh o o d .

ft

Nodtvungent F o r s v a r . L a c r o s se , W iscon sin ; V o l. I (1 8 8 2 -3 3 ). T h i s p e r i o d i c a l , c o n s i s t i n g o f o n l y o n e v o l u m e , was p u b ­ l i s h e d b y p a s t o r H. H a lv o r s e n o f t h e Norwegian Synod d u r ­ in g the E le c tio n C ontroversy. The f o l l o w i n g n e w s p a p e r s w e r e c o n s u l t e d peared i n the y e a rs in d ic a t e d : E m igran ten .

L a cro sse, W iscon sin ,

F a e d r e la n d e t og E m ig r a n te n . F o lk eb la d et.

M in n eap olis,

Skandinaven.

C hicago,

f o r a r t i c l e s which a p ­

1866-67.

LaCrosse, W iscon sin , 1882.

1881-32, R eports

1388-89. a nd M i n u t e s

The r e p o r t s a n d m i n u t e s o f t h e c o n v e n t i o n s b o d i e s c o n s id e r e d have b een a major s o u rce Syn od ical R eports,

1870.

the C o n feren ce,

o f th e variou s church o f in form ation .

1870-90.

G e n e ra l form o f t i t l e s ( t i t l e s v a r y s l i g h t l y ) : B e r e t n i n g om . . . K o n f e r e n t s e m o d e f o r d e n n o r s k - d a n s k e v . TutKe'r's ke i A m e r i k a . .' r. ( y e a r )". F o r e x a m p l e ’: B e r e t n i n g om g d e t a a r i i g e K onferen'tsem oae a f Konfe r e n t s e n f o r den n o r s k d a n s k ' e v . l u t l n e ' r s k e 'Kirke' 1 A m e r i k a , a f h o l d t i d e n ' n o ' r s k d a n s k e v a ' n g e l T s k r" l u t h e r s k ' e " T r e ' f o l d i ^ i e d s - K i r k e i M i n n e a p o ­ l i s ' , M i n n / , f r a d e n 4 d e t i l ' de'ri''13dW'jurir~l8Yl, The a b ­ b r e v i a t e d f o r m o f r e ' f e r c u c e u s e d ' i n t'he' d i s s e r t a t i o n : S y n o d ic a l R eport, the C onference, 1 8 7 1 . H artlan d , W iscon sin : M. P . Ruh’ s B o g t r y k k e r i , 1 8 7 1 - 7 2 ; M in n eap olis: K onferentsens F o r la g sfo r e n in g s T rykkeri, 1873-89. ( S y n o d i c a l r e p o r t f o r 1 8 7 0 i n L u t h e r a n e r e n , IV [1 8 7 0 D , 1 2 9 - 4 4 ; r e p o r t f o r 1 8 9 0 i n c l u d e d i n S y n o d i c a ‘1 R e ­ p o r t , t h e U n i t e d C h u r c h , 1890.) Syn od ical R eports,

E ielsen 's

Synod and H a u g e 's Synod,

1870-91.

A n n u a l r e p o r t s f o r E i e l s e n ' s Synod f o r 1 8 7 0 - 7 4 i n Bud­ baereren . For H a u g e 's Synod i n the p e r io d 1 8 7 5 -9 1 r e p o r t s were p u b l i s h e d s e p a r a t e l y in 1 8 7 5 , 1 8 7 9 , 1880, 1 8 8 4 , 1 8 8 5 , 1 8 9 0 , and 1 8 9 1 . G e n e r a l form o f t i t l e s ( t i t l e s v a r y ) : B e r e t n i n g om Aarsm odet a f Hauges n o r sk e v a n g e l i s k l u t h e r s k e K ir k e i A r n e r i k a ~ .' '(y'ea'r) 7 F o r example": ' B e r e t n i n g om A a r s m o d e t a f Hauges n o rsk e v a n g e l i s k l u t h e r s k e K irke 1 A m erika,

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

506

a f h o l d t i A ren dahl M enisheds K i r k e , F i l l m o r e C o . , M in n ., f r a 5 t e t i l l b d e J u n i ' 1 8 7 5 , o r , R e f e r a t f r a AarsmBd'el; f o r *'Hauge's n o r s k ' eVa'nge'lTsk l u t h e r s k e S y n o d s * i A m e r i k a , a f h o l d t T C r ^ s t o n M e r l ^ V d ^ Xe'e ' c o u n t y , ' 1 1 1 . , f r a 4d'e t i l T l t e Jun'i' 'l884Hj A b b r e v i a t e d f o r m u s e d Tn' "dl s a e r t a t i ' o n : S y n o d ic a l R eport, Hauge’ s Synod, 1875. C hicago: L . E . S v e n d s e n , 1 8 7 5 ; o t h e r w i s e i n Red W i n g , M innesota; Hauge*s T ryk k e- o g P o r la g s F o r e n in g ( e t c , ) . (R e p o r ts f o r H a u g e’ s Synod f o r 1 8 7 6 - 7 8 , 1 8 8 1 - 8 5 , and 1 8 8 6 -8 9 are found i n B u d b a e r e r e n .) S yn od ical R ep orts,

th e Norwegian A u g u sta n a Syn od,

1870-90,

R eports p u b lis h e d s e p a r a t e l y u s e d in t h i s d i s s e r t a t i o n are fo r the y ea rs 1870, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1883, 1884, 1886, 1887, 188 8 . (in the p e r io d 1 8 7 4 -9 0 b r i e f r ep o rts of sy n o d ic a l m eetin gs are o c c a s io n a lly found i n th e i r r e g u l a r l y p u b lis h e d p e r i o d i c a l o f th e synod e n t i t l e d L u th ersk K ir k e t id e n d e . R eport f o r 1890 i n S y n o d i c a l R e p o r t , t h e "united" C h u r c h , 1 8 9 0 . ) T itles vary. E x a m p l e o f a common f o r m o f t i t l e : E llev te B e r e t n i n g om A u g u s t a n a S y n o d e n ; d e n n o r s k - d a n s k e v . l u t h e r s k e A u g u s t a n a Syn'odes F o r h a n d l i n g e r " 1 A a r e t 1 8 7 0 . Form o f r e f e r e n c e u s e d i n t h e d i s s e r t a t i o n : S y n o d ica l R e p o r t, N orwegian A ugu stana S y n o d , 1 8 7 0 . Place

of p u b lication v a r ie s :

S yn od ical R eports,

L a cro sse, W iscon sin ,

th e Norwegian Syn od,

etc.

1860-91.

G e n e r a l form o f t i t l e s : B e r e t n i n g om . . . S y n o d e m o d e a f Synoden f o r den n o r s k - e v a h g .'- lu - b h . K ir k e i Amerika . . . (ye a'r ) . F o r e x a m p le ': B e r e t n i n g om d e f 1'1't'e o r d e n t ' l i g e ' ' Sy n o d e m o d e a f S y n o d e n for' d e n n o r s k - e v ' a n ' g . - l u t h . l ( i r k e 1 A m e r i k a a f h o l d t 1 S y d p r a l r l e Ki rke',' L i s b o n M e n i g h e d , K e n d a l l C o . , I l l i n o i s , f r a 2 d e n t i l lO d e J u l i 1 8 7 0 . Form o f r e f e r e n c e ” u s e d i n the' d i s s e r t a t i o n : S yn od ical R eport, the Synod, 1 8 7 0 . p u b l i s h e d c h i e f l y i n D e c o r a h , Io w a , and L a C r o s s e , W is c o n ­ sin : Den N o r s k e S y n o d e s F o r l a g ( e t c . ) . S y n o d ic a l c o n v e n t io n s were h e l d b i e n n i a l l y d u r in g th e p eriod 1861-76, w ith ex tr a o rd in a r y m eetin gs in 1862, 1 8 6 4 , a nd 1 8 6 6 . In 1877 t h e f i r s t d i s t r i c t c o n v e n t i o n s w e r e h e l d , and a g e n e r a l c o n v e n t i o n w a s h e l d i n 1 8 7 8 . In the p e r io d 1 8 7 8 -9 1 g e n e r a l c o n v e n t i o n s were h e l d e v e r y th ir d year w ith d i s t r i c t co n v en tio n s in the in t e r v e n in g years. R eports f o r d i s t r i c t c o n v e n tio n s (Iow a, M in n eso ta , and E a s t e r n D i s t r i c t s ) h a v e i n d i v i d u a l t i t l e p a g e s a n d separate p a g in g s.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission

507 S y n od ical R ep orts,

S ca n d in a v ia n A ugustana Synod,

1860,

1868,

1869.

P r o t o k o l l h a l l e t v id S k a n d in a v isk a E v. L u th ersk a A ugustana S y n o d e n s F o r s t a Mo te i C l i n t o n , ' R o c k C o u n t y , ’ W i s c o n s i n , d . 5-11 Juni 1650. R o c k I s l a n d , I'l'lV: A u g u sta n a Book Concern, 1917. P r o t o k o l l h a l l e t v i d S k a n d i n a v i s k a Ev» L u t h e r s k a A u g u s t a n a Ni'on'de A a r s m o t e i C a r v e r / C a r v e r C o u n t y , M i n n e s o t a , d . 1 1 -1 7 , J u n i l'S6'8. R ock I s l a n d , i l l ' . : A u g u s t a n a B o o k C o n c e r n , 1017. P r o to k o l h S l l e t v i d S k a n d in a v isk a E v « L uth erska A ugustana S y n o d e n s T i o n d e A ar'sm ote 1 M o l i n e , R o c k I s l a n d C o u n t y , I l l i n o i s , d . ' l 6 - £ 5 J u n i I 8 6 0 * Rock' I s l a n d , i l l . ' : A u g u sta n a Book C o n c e r n , 1 0 1 7 . S y n o d ica l R eport,

th e U n ite d Church,

1800.

B e r e t n i n g om P e t l a t e A a r s m o d e f o r Den f o r e n e d e n o r s k l u t h e r s k e K i r k e i A m e r i k a , a f h o l d t ' 1 de n s v ' e n s k e A u g u s t a n a M en lg h e d 's K i r k e , ' M i n n e a p o l i s , M i n n . ~f'ra l o d e t i l i 8 d e J u n i 1890". M i n n e a p o l i s ; Den fo'rened'e' n o ' r s k - i u t h . K i r k e s T ryk k eri, IS00. S yn od ical R eo o rts,

t h e E v a n g e l i c a l L u th era n Church,

1046,

1948,

N o r v r e g ia n L u t h e r a n C h u r c h o f A m e r i c a . Annual R ep o rt, S e venteen-bh g e n e r a l C o n v e n t i o n , C entral' L u th er a n C h u rch , M i n n e a p o l i s " , M i n n e s o t a , Ju n e 1 1 - 1 8 , 10~4'6~I M i n n e a p o l i s ' : A ugsburg P u b l i s h i n g H o u s e , i04'6i The E v a n g e l i c a l L u t h e r a n C h u r c h . Annual R ep o rt, E i g h t eh n t h G e n e r a l C o n v e n t i o n , C e n t r a l L u t h e r a n ' C h u r c h , M i n ­ n e a p o lis" ,' Mi'nneso'ta, June 8 - 1 5 , 1 0 4 8 . M inneapolis': Augsburg P u b lis h in g H ouse, 1 0 4 8 . The E v a n g e l i c a l L u t h e r a n C h u r c h . Annual R e p o r t, M inneapolis': A u g s b u r g p u b l i s h i n g Hous’e',' 1 9 4 0 . The f o l l o w i n g r e p o r t s ences . Bergh,

are m inutes

of oth er m eetings

1049.

and c o n f e r ­

J . A. R efera t a f F orh an d lin gern e i d et f o r s t e F aellesm od e f o r d e f i r e n o r s k - l u t h e r s k e Kirkesamfund' i Am erika a f h o l d t 1 C h i c a g o , I l l i n o i s ' , " ' f r a ' 28de J a n u a r t i l ~ 5 t e F e b r u a r 188'5. C hicago: N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n " p u b l i s h i n g H o u s e , 188'5'.

F a e lle s m o d e t i S c a n d in a v ia , W is. Fra 15de t i l 21de Nov. 1 8 8 8 . W itten b erg, W iscon sin : W aisen h u sets B o g tr y k k e r i, 118883.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission

508

The F i f t y - N i n t h a n d S i x t i e t h a n d t h e S i x t y - F i r s t a n d S i x t y - S e c o n d A n n u a l R e p o r t s ' o f the N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n D e a c o n e s s e s 1 Home and" fio'spi t a l . ( F o r "the y e a r s ' e n d i n g D e c . 3 1 , 1 9 4 2 , 1 9 4 3 , lV44~,~ a n d 1 9 4 5 . ) B rook lyn: A r ne s e n P r e s s , I n c . , n .d . G j e r t s e n , M. F . , an d F r i c h , J . B . R e f e r a t a f F o r h a n d l i n g e r n e r>l e n F r i - K o n f e r e n t s p a a R o c k P r a i r i e , v / i s . , Me Hern Normand, der bekjende s l g t i l den e v a n g . lu th e r s k e K irk e, fr a l3d e t i l 2 2 d e November ' 1 8 7 2 . C h i c a g o ' ; ' "Sk and i n a v e n og~ Am©ri k a ’11s ~ F o r l a g ", n . d . G j e r t s e n , M. F . , a n d Ivluus, B . J . R e f e r a t a f F o r h a n d lin g e r n e i en F r i C o n f e r e n t s i D e c o r a h , I o w a , me l i e in N o r d m a e n d , som be k je n d e s l g t i l den e v a n g e l i s k l u t h e r s k e K i r k e T r a lS d e t i l 2 1 d e J u n i 1871'. L a c r o s s e ’,' \V L s c o n s i n : F a e d r e l a n d e t og E m igrantens O f f i c i n , 1 8 7 2 . H o lm , H. C . , a n d G u n d e r s o n , S . R e f e r a t a f F o r h a n d lin g e r n e i en F r i k o n f e r e n t s e i Ro 1 and , ~ ~ s t o r y C o u n t y , I o w a , mel'lem Nordmaend sorn b e k j u n d e s i g t i l d e n e v a n g . I u . t h K i r k e , f r a 1 2 t e t i l 18de Qktober 1 8 8 2 . C hica.go: J o h n A n d e r s o n and Co . , 1 8 8 3 . Homme, E . J . > and T o r g e r s o n , T . A. B e r e t n i n g ora E o l l o k v i e t , a f h o l d t i L a c r o s s e , W i s . , f r a 4 - l 4 a e Mai 1 8 8 6 . w ltten b erg"," Wi s c o n s i n : Wa" is eri hu set s ’F o r l a g , 1 8 8 6 . K r o g n e s s , S . M. R e f e r a t a f F o r h a n d l i n g e r n e 1 Andet. F a e l l e s m o d e a f N o r sk -T u th e r sk e K i r k e s a m f u n d i A m erika, a f h o l d t i G o l, Go odhue C o . , ' Mrn if/ , f r a 1 4 d e t i l o g me'd i§6de Mai 1 3 8 6 . C h i c a g o : Norwegian L u th er a n P u b l i s h i n g S o c i e t y ^ 1 8 8 8 . R e fe r a t a f F orhan dlin gerne I T redie F aellesm od e a f N o r s k - lu t h e r s k e ' K irkesam fund i A m erika7 a f h o l d t 1 w i l l m a r , K a n d i y o h i C o u n t y , M i n n e s o t a , f r a 6 t e t i l o g raed l 2 t e p k t . 188*7 . C hicago: Norwegian L u th e r a n p u b l i s h i n g S o c i e t y , 1887. K r o g n e ss , S . M ., and E ggen , T. R e f e r a t a f F o r h a n d l i n g e r n e 1 en F r i k o n f e r e n c e i H o l d e n , M i n n e s o t a , " m e l l e t r Nordiuaend, soxn b e k j e n d e r s i g t i l d e n e v a n g . - l u t h . K i r k e , 'f r a 2 7 d e Juni' t i l 4de J u l i 1 8 8 5 . De c o r a h , I o w a : Den N o r s k e S y n o d e s T ryk keri, 1885. Larsen,

L . , a n d B e r g h , J . A. R e f e r a t s f F o r h a n d lin g e r n e i en F r i k o n f e r e n c e i S t . A n s g a r , I o w a , me'llem N o r d m a e n d , som b e k j e n d e r s i g ~ t l i d'en e v a n g " .-" lu th ." Kirke','' f r a " ' 2 4 d e t i l " " 30 te Jun i 1881, be "corah/, Iovv'a: Norske Synodes T r y k k e r i, 1881.

N ilsen ,

0 . , and G j e r t s e n , G. R e f e r a t f r a F a e l l e s - d i s c u s s i o n s m o d e r ne i M i n n e a p o l i s , M inn. 20de D e c b r . 1875 o g 15de Januar 1 8 7 ^ . M inneapolis: K onferentsens F o r la g s fo r e n in g s T ryk k eri, 1874.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

509

Books A sperheim , O le . M isso u r lsy n o d e n og pen n o rsk e Syn ode, e t B idrag t i l d i s s e Samfunds B ed o m m e lse . B r o o k l y n : N i l s e n s B ogtryk k eri, 1878. An a t t a c k on t h e M i s s o u r i S y n o d b y a N orwegian Synod p r o f e s s o r . B a n g , A . C. Den N o r s k e K i r k e s H i s t o r i e . C h r i s t i a n i a and C o p e n ­ hagen"!^ Gy 1 de n d a'l s k e B o g h a n d e i , N o r d i s k F o r l a g , 1 9 1 2 . A h i s t o r y o f t h e Church o f Norway. Hans N i l s e n H au ge o g h a n s S a m t i d . 2d e d . C h r i s t i a n i a : N. A n d e r s e n ' s F o r l a g , 1890".' A~ s t a n d a r d b i o g r a p h y o f H a u g e . B en so n , W illia m C. H i g h on M a n i t o u . A H i s t o r y o f S t . O laf C o lle g e , 1874-Y S19. N o r t h f i e l d , M in n’. : S t . " "olaf C o l l e g e P ress, 1949. A r e c e n t , c a r e f u l and v a l u a b l e h i s t o r y o f S t . O laf C o l l e g e . Bergh,

J . A. Den n o r s k l u t h e r s k e K i r k e s H i s t o r i e i A m e r i k a . M i n n e a p o l i s : Augsburg P u b l i s h i n g H ouse, l 9 1 4 . A v a lu a b le h i s t o r y o f N orw egian-A m erican L u th era n ism , b u t l a c k ­ i n g a n n o t a t i o n , up t o th e d a te o f i t s p u b l i c a t i o n .

B iorn ,

L. M. P a s to r p . A. R asm ussen. En L i v s s k i t s e . M i n n e a p o l i s A ugsburg p u b l i s h i n g H o u s e , ISOd. A sy m p a th etic b io g ra p h y o f an o u t s t a n d i n g p a s t o r a n d l e a d e r .

E legen ,

J . H. Z i o n s f o r e n l n g e n s H i s t o r i e . Et T ilb a g e b lik ved Fem ogtyveaars j u b i l a e e t l M i n n e a p o l i s : FrikTrkens B oghandels "T rykkeri, 1 9 0 3 . A h i s t o r y o f th e Zion S o c i e t y c o v e r in g th e f i r s t t w e n t y - f i v e y e a r s o f i t s e x i s t e n c e as a m ission s o c ie t y .

B legen ,

T h eo d o re C. Norwegian M ig r a t io n t o A m erica , 1 8 2 5 - 1 8 6 0 . N o r th f i e l d , M inn. : N o r w e g l a n - A m e r i can" H i s "t o r i c a l A.s s o c i ation , 1931. The m o s t a u t h o r i t a t i v e s t u d y o f N o r w e g i a n m i g r a t i o n t o A m e r i c a d u r i n g t h e e a r l y p e r i o d o f t h e Im­ m i g r a t i o n m ovem ent. . N orwegian M ig r a t io n to A m e r ic a . The A m e r i c a n T r a n s i tio n . N o r t h f i e l d , Mi n n .1 Norwe g i an -Amer i c an H i s t o r i c a l A sso cia tio n , 1940. A. v a l u a b l e s t u d y o f v a r i o u s a s p e c t s o f th e l i f e o f the N orw egian-A m erican im m igran t, i n c l u d ­ i n g h i s r e l i g i o u s l i f e , i n terms o f th e p r o c e s s o f tra n sitio n .

B oth n e, Thrond. Kort U d s ig t over d e t L u th ersk e K irk ea rb eid e b l a n d t Nordm'aendene 1' A m e r i k a . ( a s u p p l e m e n t ' t o K . ~ 'G. H e g g t v e l t 1s j i l u s t r e r e t K l ' r k e h i s t o r i e . ) C hicago: K nu t T a k l a s F o r l a g ^ 1898 . i n c l u d e s b r i e f sum m aries o f t h e h i s t o r y o f th e v a r i o u s N orwegian L u th eran sy n o d s in A m erica.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

510

B r a n d e l l e , G. A * , e t a l . A fter S e v e n ty -fiv e Y ears, 1860-1955. A Ju b ilee P u b lic a tio n . S ev en ty -h i'fth ' A n n iv ersa ry o f the A u g u s t a n a S y n o d and A u g u s t a n a C o l l e g e and T h e o l o g i c a l S em in ary. R o c k i s l a n d , i l l . ; A u g u s t a n a B ook C o n c e r n , 1955. B r o h a u g h , C. 0 . , and E i s t e i n s e n , I . K o r t f a t t e t B e r e t n i n g om E l l i n g E i e l s e n s L iv og V irk som h ed . C hicago: "Skandin a v e n ' s 11 B o g t r y k k e r i , 1 6 9 3 . a”b r i e f b i o g r a p h y o f E l l i n g E ie ls e n p u b lish ed s h o r tly a fte r h is death . Bruce,

Brun,

G. M. ( e d . ) . The U n i o n D o c u m e n t s o f t h e E v a n g e l i c a l Lu­ t h e r a n C h u r c h V I t k a H i s t o r i c a l S u r v e y o f t h e U n i o n M ov e ­ ment . M in n e a p o l is : Augsburg P u b lis h in g H ouse, 1946. I n c l u d e s t h e docu m en ts l e a d i n g up t o th e ch u rch u n io n o f 1917. N. C . ( e d . ) . Fra Ungdom saar. M in n e a p o lis ; A u g sb u rg Pub­ l i s h i n g Housed 1 9 1 5 . a' h i s t o r y o f th e f i r s t t w e n t y - f i v e y e a r s o f th e U n it e d Church, i n c l u d i n g a d is c t i s s io n o f th e p r e -1 8 9 0 u n io n m ovem ent.

Brunner, E m il. The D iv in e -H u m a n E n c o u n t e r . T r a n s l a t e d b y Amandus W. L o o s , P h i l a d e l p h i a ; W e s 't m i' n s t e r P r e s s , 1 9 4 3 . C arlsen ,

C laren ce J . The Y e a r s o f Our C h u r c h . M in n eap olis: Lu­ t h e r a n F r e e C h u r c h p u b l i s h i n g C o . , I 9 ’4 2 . A h isto ry of t h e L u th e r a n F r e e C hurch b y one o f i t s p r o m in e n t p a s t o r s .

C oncordia T r i g l o t t a . S t . L ou is; C oncordia p u b li s h i n g H ouse, 1921. C o n t a i n s th e L u th e r a n Book o f Concord in t h r e e la n g u a g es. D ahl, T. H. Den F o r e n e d e K i r k e . Fred og S t r i d e l l e r L id t F o ren in g sh isto rie. Stoughton, W iscon sin ; "Normannens” T ryk k eri, 1894• D e a l s w i t h t h e u n i o n m ov e m e n t r e s u l t i n g in th e U n it e d Church. F e s t s k r i f t u d g i v e t i A n l e d n i n g a f Red W in g S e m i n a r i u m s F e m o g t y v e Aars Jub ilaeum " Re d w ' i n g , M i n n . , 1 9 0 4 . A h i s t o r y o f Red V7ing s e m i n a r y ' o f t h e H a u g e ’ s S y n o d p u b l i s h e d on t h e o c c a ­ sio n of i t s tw e n ty - fift h an n iversa ry. G jerde,

S . S . , a nd L j o s t v e i t , P . The H a ug e M ov em en t i n A m e r i c a . M in n eap olis: Hauge I n n e r M i s s i o n F e d e r a t i o n , 19"411 Em­ p h a s i z e s l a y a s p e c t o f Haugeanism , i n c l u d i n g b r i e f a c ­ c o u n t s o f many H a u g e a n i n n e r M i s s i o n o r g a n i z a t i o n s a nd b io g ra p h ica l sketches of le a d e rs.

G jerset,

K nut. H i s t o r y o f t h e N orwegian P e o p l e . V ol. I I . New York; M a c m i l l a n C o . ,"'1'915'. A s t a n d a r d h i s t o r y o f Norway by a r e c o g n iz e d s c h o la r .

H a lv o r sen , H alvor

(e d .).

F e s t s k r i f t t i l Den n o r s k e S y n o d e s

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

511

J u b lla e u m . 1 8 5 5 - 1 9 0 5 . D e co r a h , Iowa: Den n o r s k e S y n o d e s Po r T ag T 1 9 6 5 -. A v ery •useful so u r ce o f in fo r m a tio n ab ou t t h e Norwegian Synod c o v e r i n g t h e f i r s t f i f t y y e a r s o f t h a t synod’ s h is to r y . H a t l e s t a d , 0* J . H i s t o r l s k e M e d d e l e l s e r om Den n o r s k e A u g u s t a n a S y n o d e , sam-fc' n o g l e " 0 p l y s r i ' l n g e r om a n d r e - Sa m fu n d l A m e r i k a . D eco ra ii, Iowa: " D e c o r a h - p o s t e n s 11 B o g t r y k k e r i , 18 8 7 . a b r i e f h i s t o r y o f t h e N orw egian A u g u sta n a Synod by one o f i t s prom inen t l e a d e r s . H ollan d,

Andreas. A ugsburg Sem inar gjennem F e m ti A ar, 1 8 6 9 - 1 9 1 9 . Minneap o l i s ; P olk eb lad et' P u b lish in g C o ., 1§20. An e x c e l l e n t h i s t o r y o f Augsburg s e m in a r y , M in n e a p o l is . G e o r g S v e r d r u p , The Man a n d Hi s M e s s a g e , 1 8 4 8 - 1 9 0 7 . M i n n e a p o l i s : The M e s s e n g e r P r e s s , 1 9 4 ^ . A sym p ath etic b i o g r a p h y o f on e o f t h e m o s t i n f l u e n t i a l f i g u r e s i n t h e h i s t o r y o f N orw egian-A m erican L u th er a n ism .

H e lla n d , Andreas ( e d . ) . P r o f e s s o r G eorg S v e r d r u p s Samlede S k r i f t e r i U dvalg” 6 vol's. M in n eap olis: F rlk irk en s B ogharfdels F o r l a g , 1 9 0 9 - 1 2 . A six-volu m e c o l l e c t i o n o f th e w r i t i n g s o f Georg S v e r d r u p . J a c o b s , Henry E . A Summary o f t h e C h r i s t i a n F a i t h . P h ilad elp h ia: U n i t e d L u t h e r a n p u b l i c a t i o n House", 1 9 0 5 . A textbook fo r Lutheran d o g m a tic s . J o h n s e n , E . K. ( e d . ) . G. Hoyme, p r e s t o g F o r m a n d . M i n n e a p o l i s : A u g s b u r g p u b l i s h i n g H o u s e , l 9 o 4 . A c o l l e"ct i o n o f s e r m o n s , a d d r e s s e s , r e p o r t s , a n d l e t t e r s o f t h e man who was t h e f i r s t p r e s i d e n t o f the U n ite d Church. ju u l,

0.

E rin d rin ger. 19U21 M e m o ir s

Decorah, l a . : L utheran P u b lis h in g H ou se, o f a p ro m in en t Synod p a s t o r .

Koch, H a l . G rund tvig. Copenhagen: G yldendalske B oghandel, 1944. A r e c e n t , r a th er p o p u la rly w r it t e n biograp h y o f G rund tvig. K oren, Paul ( e d . ) . sam lede S k r i f t e r a f D r. t h e o l . U .: K oren. 4 v o ls. De c o r a h , I o w a : L u t h e r a n P u b l i s h i n g Hous e , 1 9 1 1 12. A fo u r -v o lu m e c o l l e c t i o n o f th e w r i t i n g s o f U. V. Koren, th e v e r y i n f l u e n t i a l l e a d e r i n th e Norwegian Synod. L arsen, Karen. Laur. L arsen, p ion eer C o lleg e P r e s i d e n t . N orthf i e l d , Minn'• ; No'rwe'gian-Arnerican H i s t o r i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n , 1936. A c a r e f u l a nd u n d e r s t a n d i n g p o r t r a y a l o f t h e f i r s t p r e s i d e n t o f L u t h e r C o l l e g e , D e c o r a h , I-owa, b y h i s s c h o l ­ a r ly daughter. Larson,

L a u r e n c e M. The C h a n g i n g W e s t and O t h e r E s s a y s . N orthf i e l d , M inn.; Norwegian-Arnericah H i s t o r i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n ,

with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

512

1937. A c o l l e c t i o n o f e s s a y s d e a l i n g w it h th e N orwegian e l e m e n t i n A m erica by a N o r w egian -A m erican s c h o l a r . Lehmann , E d v . 1929.

G rund tvig. Copenhagen: J e s p e r s o n and p i o s P o r l a g , A l e a r n e d srbudy o f G r u n d t v i g .

M almin,

Rasmus ( e d . ) . D r . Jo h n N a t h a n K i l d a h l , Bn M i n d e b o k . 2d ed. M in n eap olis! Augsburg" P u b l i s h i n g H o u s e , 1 9 2 ' i . in ­ c l u d e s a r t i c l e s a b o u t K i l d a h l a n d some o f h i s a d d r e s s e s and w r i t i n g s .

M ellby,

C. A. S a i n t O l a f C o l l e g e T h r o u g h F i f t y Y e a r s , 1 8 7 4 - 1 9 2 4 . N o r t h f ie id ,” M in n ., 1 9 25. A ^ b r l e ’f h i s t'ory' o f S t . ' O'laf C o l l e g e b y on e o f i t s v e n e r a b l e a n d b e l o v e d f a c u l t y m e m b er s •

*• M orstad

E . 0 . E l l l n g E i e l s e n o g d e n *Evangj3 l i s k - l u t h e r s k e K l r k e * i A m eriSa! M i n n e a p o l i s ’: F o i k e ' b l a d e t s T r y k k e r T ” 1 9 1 7 . A l i f e o f E i e l s e n and a s t u d y o f E i e l s e n * s Synod w r i t t e n in accordance w ith a r e s o liitio n o f the l a t t e r synod. T h is i s a u s e f u l soiirce o f i n f o r m a t io n .

M u eller

John T h e o d o r e . C h r istia n D ogm atics. S t . L ouis: Con­ c o rd ia P u b lish in g H ouse, 1934. T his i s a Lutheran d o g ­ m a tics p u b lish e d by the M isso u ri Synod.

F a l s k t V id n e s b y r d a f P r o f . A. W een aa s. Decorah, Muus, B . J . 1879. An a n s w e r hy'~a p r o m i n e n t ' S y n o d p a s t o r t o t h e c h a r g e s o f P r o f e s s o r A u g u s t V/eenaas o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e . . O m vendelse. S t u d ie r i k ir k e n s a e ld r e l a e r e r e . M in­ n ea p o lis: Den f o r e ' n e d e k ir k' es' tVylck'eVi^ 1 8 9 5 1 The d o c ­ t r i n e o f c o n v e r s i o n a s p r e s e n t e d by M uus , an A n t i M issou rian . N elson ,

0 . M. ( e d . ) . H i s t o r y o f t h e S c a n d i n a v i a n s and S u c c e s s ­ f u l S c a n d in a v ia n s in the U n ited S t a t e s . V ol. I . M in­ n ea p o lis : 0 . M. N e l s o n , 1 8 9 3 . In clu d es b r i e f h i s t o r i c a l s k e t c h e s of N orw egian-A m erican L utheran s y n o d s .

N issen ,

Rasmus T o n d e r . De N o r d i s k e K i r k e r s H i s t o r i e . p u b lish ed p o s t h u m o u s l y b y T h . G. B . OdTand. C h r i s t i a n i a : Th. Steens fo r la g s -e x p e d itio n , 1884. A h i s t o r y of th e church i n Norway.

N o rlie,

0 . M. pen F orenede Norsk L u th ersk e K irke M in n e a p o lis : Augsburg- P u b l i s h i n g H o u se , o f th e U n it e d Church.

i A m erlka. . a History

l'9l4

H i s t o r y o f the N orw egian p e o p le in A m erica . M inneapo­ lis ! Augsburg 'P u b lish in g b o u se , 1 9 2 5 . T his"book , pub­ l i s h e d on t h e o c c a s i o n o f t h e N o r w e g i a n c e n t e n n i a l c e l e ­ b r a t i o n i n 1 9 2 5 , c o n t a i n s a v a s t amount o f i n f o r m a t i o n ab ou t N orw egians in A m erica o f a s t a t i s t i c a l n a t u r e .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

515 . Prom inent p e r s o n a l i t i e s , N o r t h f i e ld , M in n ., 1942. S k e t c h e s o f sev en p io n e e r p a s t o r s g iv e n as r a d io t a l k s . N o rlie,

0 . M. ( e d . ) . Norsk L u th ersk e M en ig h e te r 1 A m erlka, 1 8 4 5 1916. V o l. I . M in n e a p o l is : Augsburg P u b lis h in g House, 1918. A c o m p i l a t i o n o f i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t N o r w e g i a n Lu­ th era n c o n g r e g a tio n s in A m erica, in c lu d in g v a lu a b le i n ­ t r o d u c t o r y a r t i c l e s on N o r w e g i a n b a c k g r o u n d s and t h e r e ­ l i g i o u s s i t u a t i o n among N o r w e g i a n s i n A m e r i c a . . No_rs_k_lu t h e r s k e p r e s _ t e r _ i _ A r a e r i k a , 1 8 4 5 - 1 9 1 5 . 2d e d . M i n n e a p o T i ' s : A u g s b u r g P u b l i s h i n g H o u s e , l 9 ' I 5 . A "Who's Who" o f N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n p a s t o r s u p t o 1 9 1 5 . S c h o o l Cal e n d a r , 1 8 2 4 - 1 9 2 4 . M in n eap olis: Augsburg Publishing" H ouse, 1 9 2 4 . A- ""Who' s Who" o f N o r w e g i a n A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n t e a c h e r s up t o 1 9 2 4 .

N o rlie,

0 . M ., e t a l . Who’ s Who Among P a s t o r s i n a l l t h e N o r w e ­ g i a n Lut~h'e¥an S y n o d s o f America',' 'l'84'3'-'l‘92V . T hird E d i­ t i o n of N o r s V L u t h e r s k e P r e s t e r i A m e r l k a T T r a n s l a t e d a n d r e v i s e d by"R asm us M a l m i n , 0 . M. N o r l i e , and 0 . A. T in g elsta d . M in n e a p o l is , M inn.: Augsburg P u b lis h in g House, 1928.

O ttesen,

Jacob A & ll. K ort Uddrag a f pen n o r s k e Syn odes H i s t o r i e . D e c o r a h , Den norlTke S y n o d e s F o r l a g , 1 8 9 5 . A b rief h ist o r y o f t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d b y one o f i t s p r o m i n e n t p astors.

P au lson ,

0* E r ln d r in g e r . M in n eap olis: F r e e Church Book C o ncern , 1907. Memoirs" o f a p r o m i n e n t C o n f e r e n c e and L u t h e r a n F r e e Church p a s t o r .

p iep er,

F. C o n v e r s io n and E l e c t i o n . S t . L ou is: C o n c o r d ia Publ i s h i n g H o u se , 19131 C ontains a d is c u s s io n o f d o c t r in a l c o n t r o v e r s y w i t h i n t h e N orw egian Synod from th e M is s o u r ia n p o in t of view .

P on topp idan , E r i c . Sandhed t i l G u d f r y g t l g h e d u d i en e n f o l d l g og e f t e r M u l i g h e d k o ' r t , d o g " t i l s t r a e k k e l i g ' F o r k l a r ' i n ' g 'o ve r D r . M o r t e n L u t h e r ' s L i d e n Ca't'e'chi'smd. S ta v a n g e r ; L . C. K ie l lan d , 1881. p’d n t 'o p p i' d a h » s f amou s e x p l a n a t i o n o f L u t h e r ' s S m a ll C a t e c h i s m , r e f e r r e d t o as t h e C a te ch ism in t h i s d i s s e r t a t i o n . P r e u s , H . A. P r o f e s s o r e r n e O f t e d a l s og W e e n a a s 's " W is c o n s i n is m e " b e t r a g t e t 1 S a n d h e d e n s Ly 's . E t G j ' e n s v a r t i ' l P r o f e s s o r W eenaas. D e c o r a h , Iowa: Den n o r s k e S y n o d e s F o r l a g , 1876. The a n s w e r o f t h e p r e s i d e n t o f t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d t o t h e a t t a c k s o f P r o f e s s o r Weenaas o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e . ___________. i

s y v F o r e d r a g o v e r de k i r k e l i g e F o r h o l d b l a n d t de N o r s k e A m erlka. Chr i s ' t i ' a n i a : H. J . J e n s e n , 1'86V. Seven ‘

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

514

l e c t u r e s g i v e n b y p r e u s in Norway c o n c e r n i n g t h e r e l i g i o u s s i t u a t i o n among t h e N o r w e g i a n s i n A m e r i c a . Q paley,

R h oll,

C a r l t o n C. N orwegian S e t t l e m e n t i n th e U n i t e d S t a t e s . N o r t h f i e l d , Minn". • N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n H i s t o r i c a l A s s o c i a tio n , 1938. A v a l u a b l e s t u d y o f th e a r e a s o f N orwegian s e t t le m e n t in A m erica, in c lu d in g s t a t i s t i c a l t a b l e s . A rthur ( e d .) Red W in g S e m i n a r y , F i f t y Y e a r s No p u b l i s h i n g d a t a , ± 9 5 o l

of S e r v ice .

Rohne, J . Magnus. N orw egian American L u th er a n ism up t o 1 8 7 2 . New Y o r k : M acm illan C o ., 1 9 The s t a n d a r d ' h i s t ' o r y o f the p e r io d p r i o r t o t h a t c o v e r e d by t h i s d i s s e r t a t i o n . R o n n i n g , N . N . , and L i e n , W. H. The L u t h e r a n D e a c o n e s s Home a nd H o sp ita l. F i f t i e t h A n n i v e r s a r y , 1589-1939". M inneapolis', 1959. A h i s t o r y o f t h e L u t h e r a n D e a c o n e s s Home a n d H o s ­ p i t a l lo c a t e d in M inneapolis* Schm id, H e i n r i c h . The D o c t r i n a l T h e o l o g y o f t h e E v a n g e l i c a l L u t h e r a n Church'. T r a n s l a t e d b y C h a r l e s A • Hay a n d H e n r y E. J a co b s. 5th ed. r e v is e d . P h ilad elp h ia: Lutheran P u b lica tio n S o c ie ty , 1899. Long a s t a n d a r d L u th e r a n d ogm atics• S c h o d d e , G e o r g e H. ( e d , ) . The E r r o r o f Modern M i s s o u r i ; Its Inc e p t i o n , D e v e l o p m e n t , a nd R e f u t a t i o n . C o l u m b u s , Ohio': L u t h e r a n B oo k C o n c e r n , 1897". D eals w ith E le c t i o n C ontro­ versy. S olb erg,

C . K. A B r i e f H i s t o r y of t h e Zion S o c i e t y f o r I s r a e l . M in n eap olis, 1928. c o v e r s t h e T i r s ’F f i f t y y e a r s o f t h e h i s t o r y o f t h i s s o c i e t y w h i c h c a r r i e d on m i s s i o n w o r k among t h e J e w s .

Solem , T. P. ( e d . ) . L uth eran A lm anac, 1 9 4 9 . M i n n e a p o l i s : Augs­ burg P u b lish in g H ouse, 1948. An a n n u a l c o n t a i n i n g s t a ­ t i s t i c s and g e n e r a l i n f o r m a t i o n p u b l i s h e d b y t h e E v a n g e l i ­ c a l Lutheran Church. S w a n s e n , H. F r e d . The F o u n d e r o f S t . A n s g a r , The L i f e S t o r y o f C la u s L a u r l t s C l a u s e n ^ B l a i r , N e b . : "Lutheran P u b l i s h ­ in g House, 1949. A b iograph y o f a p io n e e r p a s t o r . Wee, M . 0 . = H a u g e a n i s m . S t . P au l, 1919. I n c l u d e s an a n a l y s i s t h e s p i r i t and f u n d a m e n t a l p r i n c i p l e s o f t h e H a u g e a n m ovem ent• W eenaas,

of

A ugust. M i n d e b l a d e , e l l e r Q t t e A ar i A m e r l k a . V olden: R. P . H j e l l e » s F o r l a g , l 8 9 ' 0 . The m e m o i r s o f A u g u s t W eenaas, c o v e r in g th e p e r io d 1 8 6 8 - 7 6 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

515

• W iscon sin ism en b e l y s t ved h i s t o r i s k e K .jen d sg jern in g er. C hicago: Skandinaven’ s Bog- og A c c id e n ts tr y k k e r i, 1875. An a t t a c k u p o n t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d by W e e n a a s . "W iscons i n i s m " i s t h e term he u s e s t o c h a r a c t e r i z e th e e m p h a sis w h ic h he b e l i e v e s i s d a n g e r o u s . . W isconsinism en b e l y s t ved h i s t o r i s k e K je n d s g je r n in g e r . '2d e d . C hicago: S k a n d i n a v e n 1s B o g - o g A c c i d e n t s t r y k k e r i , 1876. W elle,

iv a r. Norges K i r k e h i s t o r i e . V o l. I I I . O slo: L u th ers t i f t e l s e n s F orlag, 1946. A h is t o r y o f the church in Norway.

W entz, A b d el R o s s . The L u t h e r a n C h u r c h i n A m e r i c a n H i s t o r y . 2d ed. rev ised . p K i 'T a c T e l p h ia : u h i t e c T L u t h e r a n P u b l i c a t i o n House, 1933. A standard r e fe r e n c e fo r in fo rm a tio n about th e h i s t o r y o f L utheranism i n A m erica. W ist,

J. F. (e d .). N orsk-A m erik anern es F e s t s k r i f t , 1 9 1 4 . Decorah, Iowa: Sym ra Company, 1 9 ’l 4 . P a r tic u la r ly u se iV l for i t s a r t i c l e s d e a l i n g w i t h th e N orw egian-A m erican p r e s s .

Y l v i s a k e r , S . C . , A n d e r s o n , C . , a n d L i l l e g a r d , G. 0 . ( e d s . ) . Grace f o r G r a ce , B r i e f H i s t o r y o f th e N orw egian S y n o d . M ankato, M in n .: L u t h e r a n S y n o d "Book C o . , 1 9 4 3 . a b rief h i s t o r y o f th e L i t t l e N orw egian Synod, th e e le m e n t o f th e N orwegian Synod w h ich r e f u s e d t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n th e U nion o f 1917, In c lu d in g a d is c u s s io n o f the d o c t r in a l c o n tr o ­ v e r s i e s i n w hich N orw egian-A m erican L uth erans have been in v o lv ed . p a m p h le ts and A r t i c l e s Bergh,

J . A. Den g a m l e o g n y e R e t n i n g e l l e r F o r s o g t i l b e d r e F o r s t a a e l s e a f S t r l d e n 'i K o n f e r e n t s e n , t r e F o r e d r a g a f J . A. B e r g h . C h icago: lrV o r t Land"s' T r y k k e r i , 1 8 8 4 . B e r g h ’ s c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n o f t h e O ld T e n d e n c y and t h e New Tendency in th e C o n fe r e n c e .

G jerset,

G rose,

Knut. "The H i s t o r i c a l B a c k g r o u n d o f N o r w e g i a n A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n i s m , " L u t h e r a n H e r a l d , XVI ( 1 9 3 2 ) , 6 1 5 f . , 6 2 0 , 649 f . , 682 f .

I. F. "The B e g i n n i n g s o f S t . O l a f C o l l e g e , " S f r u d i e s a n d R ecords (N orw egian-A m erican H i s t o r i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n ) , ' V TIS30T7 110-21.'

H alvorsen , H alvor. S k a l der b l i v e fred ? C hicago: "Amerikas" B o g t r y k k e r i , 18 87T A pam phlet by a p ro m in en t N orwegian S y n o d p a s t o r i n w h i c h he c o n s i d e r s t h e q u e s t i o n a s t o w h e t h e r t h e r e w i l l b e p e a c e a n d an e n d t o t h e d o c t r i n a l c o n t r o v e r s y w h ic h p la g u e d th e Synod in th e e i g h t i e s .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

516 H a n s o n , M. G . , a n d E l s t a d , H. Red Wing S e m t n a r i u m . Et kort Qmrlds a f S k o l e n s H i s t o r l e v e d M. G. H . o g H. E . R e d W i n g , Minn”. ; H a u g e s S y n o d e s T r y k k e r i , 189 8'. A b rief s k e t c h o f t h e h i s t o r y o f Red Wing S e m i n a r y . H ellan d ,

Andreas. 65-88.

" P r o f e s s o r Georg S v e r d r u p ," Symra, v i l ~

(1911),

K o r e n , IT. V . Hvad d e n n o r s k e S y n o d e h a r v i l l e t o g f r e m d e l e s v i l . D ecorati! L u t h e r a n ' P u b l i s h i n g H o u s e ' s B og t r y k k e r i , 0 1 8 9 0 } . S e t s f o r t h t h e N o r w e g i a n S y n o d ’ s a im s a n d g o a l s . N a r v e s o n , B . H. "The N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n A c a d e m i e s , " N o r w e g i a n A m e r i c a n S t u d i e s and R e c o r d s , XIV ( 1 9 4 4 ) , 1 8 4 - 2 2 6 . The N o r w e g i a n L u t h e r a n D e a c o n e s s e s ’ Home a nd H o s p i t a l . B rook lyn, 1983. A b r i e f h i s t o r y o f t h e D e a c o n e s s e s ' Home a n d H o s ­ p i t a l l o c a t e d i n B r o o k l y n , p u b l i s h e d on t h e o c c a s i o n o f i t s f o r t ie t h an n iversa ry. Q ualey,

C a r l t o n C, "A T y p i c a l N o r w e g i a n S e t t l e m e n t : S p rin g G r o v e , M i n n e s o t a , " N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n S t u d i e s and R e c o r d s , IX ( 1 9 3 6 ) , 5 4 - 6 6 . ‘ " ~~

R asm ussen, P. A. S k a l v i f a a F o r e n in g ? N o r t h f i e l d , M inn.: N orth­ f i e l d P u b lish in g C o., £1889J. The p a m p h l e t , w r i t t e n b y a l e a d e r i n th e p r e - 1 8 9 0 u n io n movement, a s k s th e q u e s t i o n as t o w h e t h e r u n i o n w i l l be a c c o m p l i s h e d . __________ . S v a r p a a T i l t a l e o g R e d e g j o r e l s e f o r mi n S k r i v e l s e t i l Syn odens M enighe'der. Supplement to t h e new spaper S k a n d in s e v e n ,"'"April 2 4 , 1 8 8 5 . A ns w er t o a t t a c k s d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t t h e - a u t h o r i n c o n s e q u e n c e o f an o p e n l e t t e r h e h a d add re s se d t o t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n s o f t h e Synod d u r in g th e p e r i o d o f c o n t r o v e r s y in th e e a r l y e i g h t i e s . R e u , M.

In th e I n t e r e s t o f Lutheran U n i t y . B o o k Con ce r n , 1 9 4 0 . ~

Columbus:

Lutheran

R o a l k v a m , H. "Den n o r s k - a m e r i k a n s k l u t h e r s k e K i r k e i d e s i d s t e 2 5 A a r , " Lut h e r a n e r e n , I I ( 1 8 9 6 ) , 7 0 6 , 7 2 2 . A character­ i z a t i o n o f 'the' " N o r w e g i a n - A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n c h u r c h e s d u r ­ i n g t h e t w e n t y - f i v e y e a r p e r i o d p r e c e d i n g t h e d a t e when t h e a r t i c l e w as w r i t t e n . R o n n i n g , N . N. F i f t i e t h A n n i v e r s a r y o f t h e L u th er a n D e a c on e s s Home a n d ' H o s p i t a l , 1 8 9 7 - 1 9 4 7 . C h i c a g o , L1 9 4 7 3 , a b rief h i s t o r i c a l s k e t c h o f t h e L u t h e r a n D e a c o n e s s Home a n d H o s ­ p i t a l lo c a t e d in C hicago. S c h m id t, F . A. N aad evalg-S trid en . C hicago: " N ord en ’ s" B o g t r y k k e r i , 1881„ A- p a m p h l e t b y S c h m i d t r e l a t e d E le c tio n C ontroversy.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

to

the

517 S t e p h e n s o n , G e o r g e M. "The Mind o f t h e S c a n d i n a v i a n I m m i g r a n t , " S t u d i e s and R e c o r d s ( N o r w e g ia n -A m e r ic a n H i s t o r i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n ) , " IV “(T S'SSy, 6 3 - 7 5 . Stub,

H. G. Om N a a d e v a l g e t . Guds Ords o g d e n l u t h e r s k e B e k j e n d e l s e s Lae r e d e r o m . De c o r a h , i o w a l Den Nor s k e S y n o d e s B~og t r y k k e r i , 1 8 8 1 . A pam phlet by Stub d e a l i n g w ith the d o ctrin e o f e l e c t io n .

T raktat No. 4 . Om R e t f a e r d i g g j o r e l s e n . D e c o r a h , Iowa: Den norske Synodes F o r la g , 1873. T his t r a c t s e t s f o r t h th e d o c t r i n a l p o s i t i o n o f t h e N o r w e g ia n Synod i n r e g a r d t o j u s t i f i c a t i o n and a b s o l u t i o n . I t was a t r a n s l a t i o n i n t o N orw egian o f th e d i s c u s s i o n o f t h o s e d o c t r i n e s c a r r i e d on a t t h e 1 8 7 2 c o n v e n t i o n o f t h e S y n o d i c a l C o n f e r e n c e . W eenaas, A u g u st. A f s k e d s o r d t i l de n o r s k e v a n g . l u t h e r s k e M e n i g h e d e r i A m e r i c a ^ Red W i n g , M i n n . : Hauge S y n o d e s T ryk keri, 1885. 'Weenaas' w o r d s o f f a r e w e l l t o N o r w e g i a n Am erican L uth eran c o n g r e g a t i o n s as he l e f t Am erica f o r Norway f o r t h e s e c o n d and l a s t t i m e . • O g s a a e t Ord om M o d e r k i r k e n . C h ic a g o , .1 8 7 3 . a pa m ph ~ le t d e a l i n g w i t h the r e l a t i o n b etw een N orw egian-A m erican L u t h e r a n s y n o d s and t h e C h u r c h o f N o r w a y . W islo ff,

Carl p . " R o s e n i u s o g l a e r e n om v e r d e n s - r e t t f e r d i g g j o r e l s e , " F a s t Grunn, N o. 2 , 1 9 4 9 , p p . 9 6 - 1 0 4 .

W iscon sin -B ib elen , af Profeten T u b alcain . 2d ed» C hicago: "Den ~ Nye T i d , " 1 8 8 2 . An” I r r e v e r e n t p a m p h l e t w h i c h r i d i c u l e s p a r t i c u l a r l y N orwegian Synod l e a d e r s . U n p ublish ed M a te r ia l C arlsen ,

C laren ce J . " E l l i n g E i e l s e n , p i o n e e r Lay P r e a c h e r and F i r s t N orw egian L u th eran P a s t o r in A m erica ." U n p u b lish ed M a s t e r ' s t h e s i s , G raduate S c h o o l , U n i v e r s i t y o f M inne­ so ta , 1932.

D v e r s d a l l , Norman 0 . " B r i e f B i o g r a p h y o f D r . U . V . Koren and a T r a n s l a t i o n o f D r. K o r en 's 'A ssu ran ce.'" U n p u b lis h e d B. Th. t h e s i s , Luther T h e o l o g i c a l S em in ary, S t . P a u l, M in n ., 1944. F a g e r e n g , Jo h n A . "Norwegian S o c i a l and C u l t u r a l L i f e in M inne­ s o ta , 1868-91: An A n a l y s i s o f T y p i c a l N o r w e g i a n N e w s ­ p a p ers." U np ublish ed M a ste r 's t h e s i s , U n iv e r s it y o f M innesota, 1932. K leven,

Bernhardt J . "The H i s t o r y o f t h e N o r w e g i a n - D a n i s h E v a n ­ g e l i c a l L u th er a n Church i n A m e r i c a ." U np ublish ed M a ste r 's t h e s i s , 'Gradu ate S c h o o l , U n i v e r s i t y o f M i n n e s o t a , 1 9 3 0 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

518 L a r s e n , Herman A s t r u p . "The G r o w t h o f F o r e i g n M i s s i o n I n t e r e s t an d S u p p o r t i n t h e E v a n g e l i c a l L u t h e r a n C h u r c h t o 1 8 9 0 . " U n p u b lis h e d Ph. D. d i s s e r t a t i o n , Graduate S c h o o l , Y a le U n iv e r sity , 1947. N o d tv e d t , Magnus. "Hans N i e l s e n Haug e a n d t h e R e b i r t h o f N o r w a y . " U n p u b lish ed Ph. D. d i s s e r t a t i o n , D i v i n i t y S c h o o l, U n iv e r ­ s i t y of C hicago, 1950. Raun,

J.

J. "D anish L u th er a n s in America to 1 9 0 0 ." U nn ublish ed Ph. D. d i s s e r t a t i o n , D e p a r tm e n t o f Church H i s t o r y , U n i ­ v e r s i t y o f C hicago, 1 9 3 0 .

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

:. u. -

■i. ' '.r.z

-Ji.C

.>

c-? ,.:-r i _

- »

‘ .v-.rv.'

1 „4;* :* ; ir*

» -

i * T

i l s

*

' ■'

■

• - ~

. 3

~ ' i

^ ^ a a le v ,

«

f

t

\


*

*.**'• 1 ' * •

-*

^

1;* • -

-

“

*•

4: *’

‘

2 I b l 6 «, p . 1«M. S y n o d ! c a l ht$jK»rtJ i. u*

Reproduced with

L }tiiz t * *

pennission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without

permission.