DOCSLIB.ORG

Carl Aaron Swensson Born June 25, 1857, Chandler’S Valley Near Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania (South of Jamestown, New York)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Carl Aaron Swensson Born June 25, 1857, Chandler’S Valley Near Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania (South of Jamestown, New York) Carl Aaron Swensson Born June 25, 1857, Chandler’s Valley near Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania (south of Jamestown, New York). Died February 16, 1904, at Los Angeles, California. Founder of Bethany College, October 15, 1881; Second President 1888-1904. Pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church, Lindsborg, Kansas: 1879-1904. Ordained into the ministry of the Lutheran Church, June 22, 1879 A. Swensson, giant of a leader. Although the founding pastor of Lindsborg was Swedish-born Rev. Dr. Olof Olsson, it was his successor — Rev. Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson — who was the person who gave rise to the development and exceptional strengths of the community of Lindsborg, Kansas, in the heart of the Smoky Valley in central Kansas. His original dynamic influences and leadership are responsible for much of what continues today on the college campus and in the community. The Lindsborg pioneer years 1879-1904 under the inspired leadership of Rev. Dr. Carl A. Swensson are nothing short of amazing. The Lindsborg community, Bethany College, and Swensson became deeply intertwined with each other for more than two crucible decades. It is no accident that his larger-than-life statue constructed of Italian marble, which was donated by the Lindsborg Commercial Club (forerunner of Chamber of Commerce), has been at the heart of the College campus since shortly after his death on February 16, 1904. Swensson’s strong charisma motivated Lindsborg residents and followers to achieve accomplishments far beyond their own dreams and everyday goals. His optimism and spirit were unfailing. Today his legacy-shadows seem impossible to replicate. His beloved College became paramount among his many leadership roles. Bethany College was at the center as he sought to empower the “flock” of his church parish, as well as members and leaders of the larger units of the Augustana Lutheran Synod (church) — to motivate the academy / college educators and students, to achieve high visions, and to promote religious faith and activities — while at the same time he also strengthened all that he knew and loved in “Swedish-America.” A life-long Republican, his considerable political activities were noteworthy achievements. Swensson died unexpectedly in Los Angeles, California, on February 16, 1904, while he was Bethany College president, pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church of Lindsborg, and an internationally respected church leader in the Augustana Lutheran Synod. B. The Swensson Lindsborg Years Newly ordained by the Augustana Lutheran Synod, Pastor Swensson arrived in Lindsborg in June 1879 to succeed Rev. Dr. Olof Olsson, who had moved to a position at Augustana College and Seminary in Rock Island, Illinois. For 25 years Swensson served church, community, state, Swedish-America, and (from 1881) his beloved Bethany College — until his sudden death. Swensson was only 22 years old when he became pastor of the Lindsborg community’s first church with 675 members, at the heart of the settlement. Residents had appreciated him from a year and a half earlier, when he was a member of the popular touring Augustana Silver Cornet Band. He came with high recommendations from Olof Olsson. There were major contrasts between Swensson — energetic, forceful, high-achieving, a natural leader — and Olsson, who was quiet, scholarly, mild- mannered. Both were committed Christians with läsare pietistic backgrounds. Swensson was American-born. But Lindsborg residents, who were mostly Swedish-born and with that background, soon discovered that his sermons (preached in Swedish during his entire ministry) were outstanding in content and excellence of language. He did have a thorough knowledge of the old country. On February 15, 1880, he married Alma Lind of Moline, Illinois — a highly talented musician, gifted leader, and a person who added greatly to her husband’s resources through faithful support and inspiration. They had two daughters, Bertha and Annie Theo. Swensson’s founding of Bethany College represented a great venture in faith. He recognized that early founding visions had come from Olsson and his Värmland beloved friends. But it was he who, after a summer 1881 meeting in Lindsborg by the national Augustana Synod, “could not rid myself of the thought that the right time was at hand” to build the school or “air-castle” as many called it. Swensson said: “I saw how God had blessed our settlements in this beautiful, flourishing, and liberty-loving state. But how our children and youth should obtain the necessary Christian education was a question….” The date set to open the Bethany Academy was October 15, 1881. J.A. Udden, a recent Augustana College graduate, was engaged as the teacher. [Smoky Valley People, by Emory Kempton Lindquist, Bethany College Press, 1953, Pp.86ff.] The college grew rapidly, and within five years enrollment was at 161. Then a large five-story Old Main building was constructed, even while many pioneer supporters lived in dugouts. (The story of the college early development can be left to another article.) On April 12, 1881, Carl Swensson was present in Rock Island for the first rendition there of Handel’s great oratorio, the “Messiah.” Inspiration for the oratorio society there had been brought by Dr. Olof Olsson after visiting London. It didn’t take long until Carl and his wife Alma soon had a chorus rehearsing in Lindsborg, and the first Lindsborg “Messiah” renditions were presented in March 1882, with orchestral help from Illinois. Who could have known the extent to which the Lindsborg tradition would grow, to become the major internationally-known festival and religious presentation of community and college? Swensson was always proud of his American citizenship, although he appreciated values of European culture, especially Swedish. The Bethany founder believed citizenship should not be a passive matter, and his entire life showed understanding of its dynamic quality. Swensson was a loyal Republican and was exceedingly conservative, even as judged by the time in which he lived. (Historian Emory Lindquist said: “…until the 1930s, Swedish Americans were overwhelmingly Republican in politics. Geographic factors, a natural conservatism, influences of the Swedish press in America…were important factors.”) Political activities of Swensson constituted a great crusade which he thoroughly enjoyed. He was a capable, untiring campaigner for causes, issues, and political party. He campaigned for public office only once, and in 1889 he was easily elected to the Kansas legislature from McPherson County. Like Olsson two decades earlier, he represented a constituency proud of his presence among Topeka lawmakers. He fended away efforts to make him governor or U.S. congressman, because he felt called to make his unique contribution through Christian higher education at Bethany College. He was Bethany’s greatest asset, and the college needed him. He served numerous roles in the Lutheran church, first of all as Bethany Church pastor. His sermons were simple but inspiring evangelical messages. He was active officially as an officer of the Kansas Conference of Augustana Lutheran Church. He was a champion of Lutheranism among Swedish American circles, yet he realized the future belonged to a united Lutheran Church with American orientation. As president of General Council of Evangelical Lutheran Church of North America, he said: “…the Lutheran Church of America needs today…spiritual awakening…a more sincere confession of sin, a deeper contemplation of God’s love, and a fuller and more real acceptance of Christ by faith…. Fanatic revivalism and dead formalism are the extremes….” Swensson produced an amazing range and amount of writing, including books, pamphlets, and hundreds of newspaper articles. He traveled widely and was a popular speaker, although sometimes controversial. Near the end he knew that his earth days would be short. A few week before his death, while in Brockton, Massachusetts, he said “I won’t live to be old. I have something wrong here,” pointing to his heart. Shortly thereafter Swensson was in California speaking to the California Conference of Augustana Lutheran Synod, and he helped lay the cornerstone for Ebenezer Lutheran Church in San Francisco. The following Saturday he became ill while enroute to Los Angeles on a train, was forced to cancel Sunday preaching plans at Angelica Church there, was taken to a nearby hospital, and was diagnosed with pneumonia and heart complications — but he continued to show his characteristic optimism. His nurse asked during the night “How do you feel?” and he answered “Oh, I feel splendid.” In ten minutes he was dead. The news reached Lindsborg by telegram the next day. “Grown men wept like children. Infants clung to mothers, sensing deep tragedy. People gathered in small, quiet groups. In Old Main on the Bethany campus Rev. Dr. Ernst F. Pihlblad, vice-president, met with board members and faculty. Students greeted each other without spoken words. Hundreds of telegrams — from President Theodore Roosevelt, from intimate personal friends, from casual strangers — brought sympathy messages to Mrs. Alma Swensson and young daughters Bertha and Annie Theo., to Bethany College, and to Lindsborg.” [Smoky Valley People, Pp.143ff.] Typically, Mrs. John Holmquist of rural Lindsborg wrote in her diary: “I can scarcely see to write…we are all enveloped in deep sorrow…It seems so strange that one who was so needed should be taken away from his place of service.” Three thousand people came to Lindsborg for the funeral and burial, February 22, a bright and clear day which people called a “Carl Swensson day.” The McPherson businesses closed during services at Bethany Church. A student honor guard stood by the casket in the “Messiah” Auditorium, while people passed in a continuous line for several hours. Sermons and eulogies were presented. The Messiah Chorus sang Dr. Swensson’s favorite “Worthy is the Lamb.” Sad people followed the funeral cortege to Elmwood Cemetery…. The Kansas City Star observed editorially: “It is scarcely too much to say that Dr.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Theology Catalog May 2013
    Theology Catalog May 2013 Windows Booksellers 199 West 8th Ave., Suite 1 Eugene, OR 97401 USA Phone: (800) 779-1701 or (541) 485-0014 * Fax: (541) 465-9694 Email and Skype: [email protected] Website: http://www.windowsbooks.com Monday - Friday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Pacific time (phone & in-store); Saturday: Noon to 3:00 PM, Pacific time (in-store only- sorry, no phone). Our specialty is used and out-of-print academic books in the areas of theology, church history, biblical studies, and western philosophy. We operate an open shop and coffee house in downtown Eugene. Please stop by if you're ever in the area! When ordering, please reference our book number (shown in brackets at the end of each listing). Prepayment required of individuals. Credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover; or check/money order in US dollars. Books will be reserved 10 days while awaiting payment. Purchase orders accepted for institutional orders. Shipping charge is based on estimated final weight of package, and calculated at the shipper's actual cost, plus $1.00 handling per package. We advise insuring orders of $100.00 or more. Insurance is available at 5% of the order's total, before shipping. Uninsured orders of $100.00 or more are sent at the customer's risk. Returns are accepted on the basis of inaccurate description. Please call before returning an item. __A Heritage of Great Evangelical Teaching__. Nelson. 1996. Hardcover. 1248pp. VG. $9 [U23157] . __A New Catechism: Catholic Faith for Adults__. Herder. 1967. Hardcover, no dust jacket.. 510pp.
    [Show full text]
  • Maria Erling, “Wrestling with the Mission Mantle: Matthias Wahlstrom
    Wrestling with the Mission Mantle: Matthias Wahlstrom, Failed Missionary to the Comanche, and the Relation between the Augustana Synod and the Covenant Church MARIA ERLING he Augustana Synod meeting in June 1879 convened in Chi- cago, Illinois, where lively religious factions contended within Tthe Swedish-American community. Augustana claimed the Lutheran mantle, but retained in many ways the fervency of the Swedish revival. To the pious, however, the mantle of conservative Lutheranism was a heavy burden. Even though Swedish citizens learned the faith through Luther’s catechism and the traditional forms of the Church of Sweden, orthodoxy felt at times like a spiritual strait- jacket. In America, and especially in the booming metropolis of Chicago, Swedish churches courted immigrants who often wanted something new. When Augustana’s ministers and delegates came to Chicago, their college and seminary in Rock Island boasted its ortho- doxy, but the synod also embarked on a missionary initiative to the Comanche. It was a bold gambit to show that from their outpost in Rock Island they could claim both a foothold in the west and a central role in the piously demanding Swedish religious environ- ment.1 Augustana’s first twenty-five years followed an itinerant path, moving its school from Springfield to Paxton, then to Rock Island, and becoming more orthodox, traditional, and formal in teaching and practice. In 1860 professor Esbjörn and most of his students abruptly left Springfield, where a strained partnership with the American Lutheran General Synod had ended in recrimination. Chicago pro- vided a temporary home, while financial pressures pushed them into speculative ventures in land holding and colony building in Paxton, 136 Illinois.
    [Show full text]
  • By One Spirit a Revised Name Index
    By One Spirit A Revised Name Index Timothy J. Johnson and Mark J. Pearson HIGH COFFEE PRESS · CHICAGO, ILL. Copyright © 1993 by Timothy J. Johnson All rights reserved. No portion of this index may be reproduced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the compiler. First Printing High Coffee Press Chicago, Illinois 60625 Note: Letters ä and å are alphabetized under a; letter ö is alphabetized under o. Abbott, Lyman, 342 American Bible Society, 642 Abumambazi area, 574 American College of Surgeons, 399 According to Thy Word, 627 American Council of Churches, 620 Ackerson, Ellen, 449 American Friends Service Adams, Dora, 426 Committee, 636 Adams, Gabriel, 373, 376, 377 American Home Missionary Society, Administration Building, D14 371 Adolf Fredrik (King of Sweden), 27 American Indians, 588 Afghanistan, 412 American Medical Association, 399 Africa, 299, 566, 569, 570, 575 Amundsen, H. Roald, 586 Ahlberg, P. A., 67, 79-81, 84, A14, Anabaptists, 323 125-131, 136-137, 140, 151, 194, 195, Anaconda, Montana, 466, 467 229, 410 Anarchists, 309 Ahlberg school, 206, 229, 361, 478 Anchorage, Alaska, 585, 586 Ahlin, M., C5 Andersen, Paul, 388 Ahlsborg, Sweden, 195, 206 Anderson, (a colporteur), 139 Ahnfelt, A. N., 513 Anderson, A., 469 Ahnfelt, Oscar, 41, 51, 56-58, 65, 84, Anderson, A. Harold, 614 A8, 84, 122-123, 156, 177, 195, 200, Anderson, A. L., 483, 484 201, 203, 626, 643 Anderson, Albin, 387 Ahnfelt, P. G., 41 Anderson, Anna E., 608, 609 Ahnström, J. M., 482, C6 Anderson, Anna Louisa, 391, 393 Alabama, 588 Anderson,
    [Show full text]
  • The Cultural Heritage of the Swedish Immigrant: Selected Refer- Ences
    Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign http://www.archive.org/details/culturalheritageOOande AUGUSTANA LIBRARY PUBLICATIONS Number 27 LUCIEN WHITE, General Editor / h The CULTURAL HERITAGE of the SWEDISH IMMIGRANT Selected Rererences By O. FRITIOF ANDER ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS AUGUSTANA COLLEGE LIBRARY 1956 AUGUSTANA LIBRARY PUBLICATIONS 1. The Mechanical Composition of Wind Deposits. By Johan August Udden (1898) $1.00 2. An Old Indian Village. By Johan August Udden (1900) 1.00 3. The Idyl in German Literature. By Gustav Andreen (1902) 1.00 4. On the Cyclonic Distribution of Rainfall. Bv Johan August Udden (1905) io: 5. Fossil Mastodon and Mammoth Remains in Illinois and Iowa. By Netta C. Anderson. Proboscidian Fossi.s of the Pleistocene Depos- its in Illinois and Iowa. By Johan August Udden (1905) 1.00 6. Scandinavians Who Have Contributed to the Knowledge of the Flora of North America. By Per Axel Rydberg. A Geological Survey of Lands Belonging to the New York and Texas Land Company, Ltd., in the Upper Rio Grande Embayment in Texas. By John August Udden (1907) O. P. 7. Genesis and Development of Sand Formations on Marine Coasts. By Pehr Olsson-Seffer. The Sand Strand Flora of Marine Coasts By Pehr Olsson-Seffer (1910) IjOO 8. Alternative Readings in the Hebrew of the Books of Samuel. By Otto H. Bostrom (1918) 11 9. On the Solution of the Differential Equations of Motion of a Dou- ble Pendulum. By William E. Cederberg (1923) 75 10. The Danegeld in France. By Einar Joranson (1924) 1.25 11.
    [Show full text]
  • Swedish American Genealogy and Local History: Selected Titles at the Library of Congress
    SWEDISH AMERICAN GENEALOGY AND LOCAL HISTORY: SELECTED TITLES AT THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Compiled and Annotated by Lee V. Douglas CONTENTS I.. Introduction . 1 II. General Works on Scandinavian Emigration . 3 III. Memoirs, Registers of Names, Passenger Lists, . 5 Essays on Sweden and Swedish America IV. Handbooks on Methodology of Swedish and . 23 Swedish-American Genealogical Research V. Local Histories in the United Sates California . 28 Idaho . 29 Illinois . 30 Iowa . 32 Kansas . 32 Maine . 34 Minnesota . 35 New Jersey . 38 New York . 39 South Dakota . 40 Texas . 40 Wisconsin . 41 VI. Personal Names . 42 I. INTRODUCTION Swedish American studies, including local history and genealogy, are among the best documented immigrant studies in the United States. This is the result of the Swedish genius for documenting almost every aspect of life from birth to death. They have, in fact, created and retained documents that Americans would never think of looking for, such as certificates of change of employment, of change of address, military records relating whether a soldier's horse was properly equipped, and more common events such as marriage, emigration, and death. When immigrants arrived in the United States and found that they were not bound to the single state religion into which they had been born, the Swedish church split into many denominations that emphasized one or another aspect of religion and culture. Some required children to study the mother tongue in Saturday classes, others did not. Some, more liberal than European Swedish Lutheranism, permitted freedom of religion in the new country and even allowed sects to flourish that had been banned in Sweden.
    [Show full text]
  • Creating Diversities Folklore, Religion and the Politics of Heritage
    Creating Diversities Folklore, Religion and the Politics of Heritage Edited by Anna-Leena Siikala, Barbro Klein and Stein R. Mathisen Studia Fennica Folkloristica Studia Fennica Folkloristica 14 nimiöSF.indd 1 4.6.2004 13:07:48 The Finnish Literature Society (SKS) was founded in 1831 and has, from the very beginning, engaged in publishing operations. It nowadays publishes literature in the fields of ethnology and folkloristics, linguistics, literary research and cultural history. The first volume of the Studia Fennica series appeared in 1933. Since 1992, the series has been divided into three thematic subseries: Ethnologica, Folkloristica and Linguistica. Two additional subseries were formed in 2002, Historica and Litteraria. The subseries Anthropologica was formed in 2007. In addition to its publishing activities, the Finnish Literature Society maintains research activities and infrastructures, an archive containing folklore and literary collections, a research library and promotes Finnish literature abroad. Studia Fennica Editorial board Anna-Leena Siikala Rauno Endén Teppo Korhonen Pentti Leino Auli Viikari Johanna Ilmakunnas oa.finlit.fi Editorial Office SKS P.O. Box 259 FI-00171 Helsinki www.finlit.fi Creating Diversities Folklore, Religion and the Politics of Heritage Edited by Anna-Leena Siikala, Barbro Klein & Stein R. Mathisen Finnish Literature Society • Helsinki nimiöSF.indd 3 4.6.2004 13:07:53 Studia Fennica Folkloristica 14 The publication has undergone a peer review. © 2004 Anna-Leena Siikala, Barbro Klein, Stein R. Mathisen and SKS License CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International A digital edition of a printed book first published in 2004 by the Finnish Literature Society. Cover Design: Timo Numminen EPUB: eLibris Media Oy ISBN 978-951-746-631-8 (Print) ISBN 978-951-858-071-6 (PDF) ISBN 978-951-858-072-3 (EPUB) ISSN 0085-6835 (Studia Fennica) ISSN 1235-1946 (Studia Fennica Folkloristica) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21435/sff.14 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International License.
    [Show full text]
  • The Catalog / 2006–2008 / Catalog The
    The Catalog 2006-2008 The Catalog / 2006–2008 1 Founded 1864 A Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Mailing The Lutheran Theological Seminary Address: at Philadelphia 7301 Germantown Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19119-1794 Phone: 215-248-4616 or 800-286-4616 Fax: 215-248-4577 Web Site: www.Ltsp.edu Email: [email protected] (general) [email protected] (admissions) September 2006 This catalog is a statement of the policies, personnel, programs, and financial arrangements of The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia as projected by the responsible authorities of the seminary. The seminary reserves the right to make alterations without prior notice, in accordance with the seminary’s institutional needs and academic purposes. The Catalog / 2006–2008 The Catalog September 2006 This catalog is a statement of the policies, personnel, pro- grams, and financial arrangements of The Lutheran Theo- logical Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP) as projected by the responsible authorities of the seminary. While every effort is made to ensure that the information contained in this catalog is correct at the time of publication, it is not intended that the Catalog establish a contractual relationship. The seminary reserves the right to make alterations without prior notice, in accordance with the seminary’s institutional needs and aca- demic purposes. The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia is fully ac- credited by the Association of Theological Schools, 10 Summit Park Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15275-1103, the major accrediting agency of theological seminaries in the United States and Can- ada. It is also fully accredited by the Middle States Association 2 of Colleges and Schools, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2680.
    [Show full text]
  • Augustana Heritage Association June 19–22, 2008 in Lindsborg, Kansas Theme: “Children of Augustana”
    TheAugustana Heritage Newsletter Volume 5 Number 4 Spring 2008 Welcome to Gathering VI Augustana Heritage Association June 19–22, 2008 in Lindsborg, Kansas Theme: “Children of Augustana” Welcome to the biennial national gathering of the tage of this historic community founded by Swedish Augustana Heritage Association in Lindsborg, Kansas, immigrants. Those attending the Gathering will enjoy from Thursday, June 19, through Sunday, June 22, the music and dancing, exhibits, special foods and other 2008. All sons and daughters of the former Augustana events in this Midsummer’s celebration. Lutheran Church, together with family and friends, Bethany College, Bethany Lutheran Church and are invited to inspirational music, worship, displays Messiah Lutheran Church, all in Lindsborg, are spon- and events on the theme, “Children of Augustana.” sors of the Gathering. Some 500 or more people are Participants will look back to the contributions of expected to take part. The local committee, chaired “old Augustana” as well as looking to the future as by Judy Burch, the Rev. Richard Monson and Janet the Augustana tradition continues in the Evangelical Monson, are working with the entire Lindsborg com- Lutheran Church in America. munity to welcome all who join this AHA Gathering VI. The Gathering falls during the annual Midsummer’s This spring 2008 issue of The Augustana Heritage Weekend in Lindsborg, which celebrates the living heri- Newsletter focuses on the coming Gathering VI in Lindsborg. (Note the Registration Form and lodg- ing information on pages 11-14. You may pull this out from the center of the news- letter or photocopy it in order to register.) photo by Jim Turner Bethany College – Presser Hall with relocated statue of founder, the Rev.
    [Show full text]
  • Preliminary Program Book
    PRELIMINARY PROGRAM BOOK Thursday - 10:00 AM-5:00 PM M19-100 Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception Editorial Board Meeting – Main Editors Thursday - 10:00 AM-5:00 PM Hyatt-Kennesaw (Atlanta Conference Level) Thursday - 6:30 PM-7:30 PM P19-401 Adventist Society of Religious Studies Reception Thursday - 6:30 PM-7:30 PM Hyatt-Embassy AB (International Tower Level LL2) Thursday - 7:30 PM-9:30 PM P19-402 Adventist Society of Religious Studies Meeting Thursday - 7:30 PM-9:30 PM Hyatt-Embassy EF (International Tower Level LL2) Friday - 8:00 AM-12:00 PM Friday - 8:00 AM-12:00 PM A20-100 Status of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, and Queer Persons in the Profession Committee Meeting Patrick S. Cheng, Chicago Theological Seminary, Presiding Friday - 8:00 AM-12:00 PM Hilton-401 (Level 4) P20-1 Adventist Society of Religious Studies Meeting Friday - 8:00 AM-12:00 PM Hyatt-International North (International Tower Level LL1) Friday - 9:00 AM-11:00 AM M20-100 Dharma Academy of North America (DANAM) Theme: Mindfulness as Medicine: Its Roots in Buddhist Contemplation Friday - 9:00 AM-11:00 AM Marriott-International 2 (International Level) P20-100 North American Association for the Study of Religion Executive Council Meeting Friday - 9:00 AM-11:00 AM Hilton-314 (Level 3) Friday - 9:00 AM-11:30 AM A20-110 Teaching and Learning Committee Meeting Lerone Martin, Washington University, Saint Louis, Presiding Friday - 9:00 AM-11:30 AM Friday - 9:00 AM-11:30 AM Hyatt-222 (2nd Level) P20-101 North American Paul Tillich Society Theme: Pedagogy
    [Show full text]
  • A Thesis Presented to the Division Ot Social Sciences the Kansas State Teachers College Ot Emporia
    AN HISTORICAL STUDY OF VIEWS AT BETHANY COLLEGE ON EDUCATION, MORALITY, AND ACADEMIC FREED(JtI g A Thesis Presented to the Division ot Social Sciences The Kansas State Teachers College ot Emporia In Partial Fultillment of the Requirements tor the Degree Master ot Arts by Wilfred Danielson January 1967 · I 3 2~OOA:l TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page I. INTRODUCTION • • • • • • • • • • • ••• •• ••• • . • 1 The Problems of Church Colleges ••••• • • • • • • 1 The Purpose of This Study. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 4 The Religious and Educational Heritages of Bethany • • 4 Criticisms of the Christian College Rationale. • • •• 9 The Purpose of Bethany and Its Fulfillment • • • • • • 14 II. THE CORRELATION BE'lWEEN EDUCATION AND MORALITY • • • •• 17 President Edward James Nelander (1882-1889) ••••• 18 President Carl Aaron Swensson (1889-1904) •••••• 19 President Ernst Pihlblad (1904-1941) • • • • • • • • • 22 President Emory K. Lindquist (1941-1953) • • • • • • • 26 President Robert Mortvedt (1953-1958) •••••••• 29 President L. Dale Lund (1958-1965) • • • • • • • • • • 31 President G. Kenneth Andeen (1965 to the Present) •• 32 Church Officials and Alumni Speak about Bethany ••• 33 Student Views on Bethany's Religious Status ••••• 34 III. THE TRAVAIL OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM VERSUS RELIGIOUS BELIEF. 43 Edward James Nelander • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 49 Carl A. Swensson and the Open View • • • • • • • • • • 50 Ernst Pihlblad, Science, and Religion •••••••• 58 Professor Emil Deere and Evolution • • • • • • • • • • 62 Emory K. Lindquist • • • • • •
    [Show full text]
  • The Stolpes, Gustav and (John Gustaf) Mauritz. Two Pillars of Augustana
    The Stolpes, Gustav and (John Gustaf) Mauritz. Two Pillars of Augustana. Gustavus Adolphus…A New York City Augustana Church is Founded. New York City’s remarkable Augustana Lutheran Gustavus Adolphus congregation1 was organized on 2 November 1865, with the help of two pioneering midwestern Swedish- American Augustana pastors, Andreas Andrén(1827-1880) and and Erland Carlson (1822-1893). It was intended to serve those immigrants who had chosen to remain in New York City, and transients heading west to the growing Midwestern Swedish communities in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Kansas. Both its founders were connected with the early growth of the Augustana Synod. Rev. Erland Carlson was developer of the first Swedish Lutheran congregation in Chicago, while Andreas Andrén was father of Augustana’s fourth president, Gustav Andreen. By the summer of 1866, the congregation was ready to move into their new church home, by purchase of Bethseda Baptist church, located at their present site on 22nd St. It was dedicated by Dr. Tufve Hasselquist (1816-1891), Augustana Synod president, who later became second president of Augustana College. The young congregation was named for the celebrated Swedish warrior-king Gustavus Adolphus, whose military support of the Protestant movement during the Thirty Years War brought the spread of Lutheranism throughout northern Europe. Among the founding members of Gustavus Adolphus congregation was John Ericsson, celebrated Civil war engineer, and developer of the first ironclad, Monitor. The congregation’s early years were stormy, filled with both religious controversy and financial challenges. Its first resident pastor was Karl Karlén (1819-1903) from Gothenburg Sweden, serving 1865-67.
    [Show full text]
  • Good White Christians: How Religion Created Race And
    GOOD WHITE CHRISTIANS: HOW RELIGION CREATED RACE AND ETHNIC PRIVILEGE FOR IMMIGRANTS IN AMERICA A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Notre Dame in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Philipp Gollner _____________________________________________________ Mark A. Noll, Director Graduate Program in History Notre Dame, Indiana April 2016 © Copyright by Philipp Gollner 2016 All rights reserved GOOD WHITE CHRISTIANS HOW RELIGIOUS IMMIGRANTS SHAPED RACE, ETHNICITY AND PRIVILEGE IN AMERICA Abstract by Philipp Gollner This dissertation explores how religion helped to define the interplay between whiteness, ethnicity and power between 1885 and 1924 in ways that continue to shape the United States. How, I ask, did various European immigrants employ religion to become not merely pale-skinned ethnics, but fully acceptable Americans –good white Christians? Beginning with the encounter of these immigrants with Anglo-American elites in Chicago, I trace a crisscrossing religious network that is American in its focus, but global in its account of immigrants’ and Americans’ sweeping transnational efforts of activism and world-betterment. This dissertation demonstrates that various European immigrant religious groups harnessed the cultural capital and coercive power of white Protestantism by adopting a posture of restless cultural activism and fervent missionary zeal, as well as a view of ethnic boundaries as harmful to proper religion. Philipp Gollner While scholars of race, immigration, and religion have long tended to treat “white religion” as a byproduct of racial and ethnic binaries, I focus on how religion itself contributed to enduring cultural hierarchies. White Protestant “home missionaries” from the U.S.
    [Show full text]