at so many times about the church’s Did he set his goals too high? Les- Here – here’s the place, where meteors common witness before the world. ser souls could not follow him. They shoot, clouds form, This witness was not just for indi- saw only the risk, only the dangerous Lightnings are loosened, viduals, but for all peoples and na- obstacles lying in the way. He saw Stars come and go! Let joy break with tions. The world should understand something else. He saw the goal, and the storm, the unity which already existed in a it drew him onward. On the moun- Peace let the dew send! divided Christianity. For me and tain top he found few. But that was Lofty designs must close in like many others, there’s something great where the road led. There he went. effects; in that thought, that there, in the far The English poet Browning’s Loftily lying. north, a burning soul lay before the words in “The Grammarian’s Funer- Leave him – still loftier than the alter of Uppsala Cathedral, praying al” were written for one like Nathan world suspects, that the Church, the Church in the Söderblom: Living and dying. world – might become one, as Christ himself is one. On Both Sides of the Atlantic BY G. A. BRANDELLE (1861–1936). PRESIDENT OF THE AUGUSTANA SYNOD (Previously printed in Hågkomster och livsintryck till minnet av Nathan Söderblom (1934)) TRANSLATED BY JOHN E. NORTON Among Swedes in America and their truths of salvation. There was an known quickly throughout all Eu- descendants there has always been immediate shift of opinion among rope, and was shown respect every- a significant number who, because of many, and soon he won everyone’s where. their direct or indirect relationship confidence and fast friendship. It was A new day dawned at the same with Sweden, have followed, with soon understood, both at home and time for the Augustana Synod, more or less lively interest, develop- abroad, that a new day had dawned concerning the Church of Sweden’s ments in their old homeland. It was for the Church of Sweden. appreciation for, and evaluation of, thus with some surprise that they He took up his duties in times of the synod. In a surprising way, the found about 20 years ago, that a utmost gravity. The great World War archbishop approached the August- relatively young professor from Upp- had broken out only a few days ana Synod and let them understand sala University had been named earlier. No one had any idea how that he saw it as a true limb of the Archbishop of Sweden; more so many lands would be pulled in, what greater Lutheran church body. He because the other candidates were frightful results might befall them, also invited the Synod to be rep- well-known and powerful men, and when it would cease. The young resented at his inauguration. The known both for their education, archbishop threw himself into the invitation was accepted with joy and practical abilities, and fear of God. confusion, firmly determined that thanksgiving, and a representative Among the so-called right-thinkers whatever happened to him, he would was sent. in both America and Sweden, there seek mightily to bring an early end I will never forget the good will he were not a few who had their doubts to the fighting, and above all, retain showed me when I, in January of about the orthodoxy of the chosen the neutrality of the Scandinavian 1922, visited Germany on behalf of one. countries. He contacted leading our heathen mission, and returned It did not take long before the new churchmen everywhere in Europe home through Sweden. My visit in archbishop began both to speak and with the goal of uniting them in an Sweden lasted only two weeks, but act in his new capacity. Then it soon attempt to quickly bring war hyster- the Archbishop saw to it that they became clear to the doubtful and ia to an end. National forces were were well filled with sermons, lec- questioning where the Archbishop however too strong to accomplish any tures, and meetings of various kinds. stood in relation to the fundamental such end. But the Archbishop became I was naturally well aware that this Swedish American Genealogist 2005:4 15.