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Messiah Lutheran Church 1881-1931

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[Page 107] Golden Jubilee—Messiah Lutheran Church

A UNIQUE EXCURSION IN 1895

Among memories cherished by those active in our church thirty- five years ago, the boat trip to Skanee in the summer of 1895 is one never to be forgotten. The genuine pleasure it gave through the splendid arrangements for the trip, the large and congenial party, the interesting program, the grandeur and beauty of nature at that time of the year, was only increased by the thrill experienced in the furious storm that made the return trip perilous, and by the extreme discomfort from seasickness to which almost all of the 80 participants fell victims.

From a vivid account by one of the excursionists, whose memory of it is still fresh, we gather that there was general enjoyment on hoard the steamer, "City of Marquette", as it left the harbor in Marquette. Everyone was singing and chatting for sheer pleasure. The group was in a festive mood. Prominent and gifted persons were in the company and were scheduled to grace the program with addresses and music. At Skanee, the destination, Captain Been and his family received the whole company most hospitably, and everyone ate heartily of the sumptuous food spread before them. The program was given and was most enjoyable. Up till this time the weather, too, had been ideal. But suddenly a storm arose, that drove every one indoors, and stirred the mighty Lake Superior into a terrible fury.

The real point of the account seems to be found in the contrast between the voyage going to Skanee and the return home. Rosy countenances of spirited and festive picnickers had changed to pale faces of seasick and anguished passengers, who were too distressed even to be mindful of the dangerous storm. The laughter and chatter had grown silent. No one spoke a word. Feelings were too profound for expression.

But everyone arrived safely home, none the worse for the experience, and the pleasure of it seems to have far outweighed the discomforts.

In an issue of "Superior Posten", a former Swedish Weekly of Ishpeming, dated July 13, 1895, the following account of the trip is given:

MARQUETTE-SKANEE EXKURSION
Superior Posten den 13 Juli, 1895

Messiasförsamlingens ungdomsförenings utflykt på sjön gick af stapeln i Måndags och gjorde stor heder åt nämda förening genom de

[Page 109] Golden Jubilee—Messiah Lutheran Church

i allo väl gjorda förberedelserna. Omkring 80 personer deltogo i båt färden, bland hvilka voro räft många vänner från Ishpeming hvilka erhållit inbjudning. Klockan fen på morgonen afgick City of Marquette och anlände efter sex timmar till det vid Huron Bay belägna täcka svenska nybygget, Skanee. Färden upp var mycket angenäm. De sköna scenerierna utmed det djupa blå slogo an på allas sinnen och muntert samspråk samt glada hälsningar, under det alla om-bord bekantade sig med hvarandra, utgjorde alias sysselsättning utom då det glada budskapet bragtes, att godt Superior-kaffe serverades på bottendäcket. Till den allmanna trefnaden bidrog mycket de många vackra sånger, hvilka på båten sjöngos af damqvartetten och den blandade kören från Marquette samt mansqvartetten från Ishpeming. Himlen var redan litet mulen, då sällskapet anlände till Kapten Walfred Beens sköna hem, men detta hindrade icke, att alla med ens slogo sig ned med sina fyllda matkorgar under de lunimiga träden i den vackra trädgården. Bud kom dock snart ofvanifrån i form af starka regnskurar, att det var bäst flytta inomhus, hvarför herrskapet Beens välvilliga inbjudan till deras rymliga hem med mycken tacksamhet antogs. Sedan middagen afslutats, hvarvid de flesta, som det sedan visade sig, läto de läckra rätterna smaka sig allt för väl, utfördes ett intressant och roande program. God sång presterades af den blandade kören och damqvartetten frän Marquette samt af en mansqvartett frän Ishpeming. Fröken Beda Stake sjöng ett solo samt fröknarna Ida Ekströni och Hilda Bergh en duett. Pianospelet sköttes af student E. G. Chinlund. Pastor J. F. Borg höll ett lärorikt tal, påvisande värdet af arbetsamhet och id uti hvarje lifvets kall, hvarom det omkringliggande vackra nybygget bure vittne. Fröken Minnie Bergh deklamerade med mycken känsla "Vintergatan". Derpå hölls ett tal af Professor C. R. Chindblom från Chicago, hvilken först i några roande drag visade, att det icke var så förfärligt "för det att det rägna', samt sedan talade om våra landsmäns betydelse i detta land under den tid som flytt, samt deras pligter som Amerikanske medborgare. Pastor L. G. Abrahamson från Chicago höll ett värmande och uppmuntrande tal om våra pligter met vår Lutherska kyrka och afslutade med bön. Pastor John Truedson hade på öfligt sätt börjat programmet med en andaktsöfning. Till slut uttalade Pastor F. A. Johnson, som ledde förhandlingarna, allas tacksamhet till herrskapet Been för deras stora gästvänlighet. Hans ord besvarades af student G. E. A. Henidahl, hvillcen tackade för den

Golden Jubilee—Messiah Lutheran Church [Page 110]

njutning programmets utförande beredt de närvarande på platsen boende landsmännen.

Klockan fyra börjades återfärden och trots regnet voro alla i bästa humör, till dess båten, då, den kommit ut i sjön, som nu var mycket upprörd of stormen, började rulla och vräka sig åt alla sidor. Med högst få undantag fingo deltagarne göra mycket helsosamma, ehuru något obehagliga erfarenheter, under det båten kämpade sig hem mot vågorna, men klockan tio inlopp den i en stilla hamn, och vedermödan var snart glömd. "Faran roar när den är öfverstånden". Alla förberedelser utom vädret voro de allra bästa, och äfven det var på det hela taget hyggligt.

Perhaps it is of interest to the reader to identify some of the persons mentioned in this article. Captain Been of Skanee and his good wife have passed away. Beda Stake is also dead. Ida Ekstrom is now Mrs. John Johnson, an active member of our church. She herself no longer sings in the choir, but her two daughters are active in the musical projects of the church. Hilda Bergh is now Mrs. Mogren, another active member of our church. She too has left the choir, but her voice is heard blending with others in the pew. Student E. G. Chinlund is now Dr. Chinlund, Director of the Immanuel Deaconess Institute of Omaha, Neb. Pastor J. F. Borg has passed to his reward. Minnie Bergh is now Mrs. F. A. Johnsson, wife of Dr. F. A. Johnsson, former pastor of Messiah Lutheran, and present at our celebration. Professor C. R. Chindblom is now Congressman Chindblom, prominent lawyer in Chicago and one of the outstanding laymen of the Augustana Synod. Pastor L. G. Abrahamson is the well-known Editor of "Augustana", the synod's official organ. Pastor John Truedson is now living in Seattle, Wash. Student G. E. A. Hemdahl is now Rev. Hemdahl, retired and living in Rock Island, Ill.

And so it goes. We meet and mingle awhile, only to separate again. The threads of our lives are woven together into strange patterns, and soon separate to form the warp and woof of other cloth. And in it all God is the Master Weaver. May we all yield to His purposes and to His gracious will.

[Page 111] Golden Jubilee—Messiah Lutheran Church

OPENING SERVICE of the
SUPERIOR CONFERENCE and the
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Thursday, May 14th, 7:30 p. in., Church Auditorium

Processional: Hymn No. 163; Holy, Holy, Holy (Dykes) Liturgists—Rev. V. I. Vestling

Rev. Carl H. Nelson

Anthem: Unfold, Ye Portals, from Gounod's "Redemption"—Choir Sermon---Dr. C. A. Lund, President of the Superior Conference
Anthem: Springs in the Desert ( Jennings)—Choir

Words of Welcome—Dr. Otto H. Bostrom

Recessional: Hymn No. 363; Saviour, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise (Hopkins)

Friday, May 15th, 8:oo p. m., Delft Theatre

Sacred Concert,
"THE MESSIAH"
An Oratorio by G. F. Handel
Presented by the Messiah Lutheran Church Choir
assisted by singers from other choirs
Dr. Otto H. Bostrom, Director
Soloists—Madame Else Harthan-Arendt, Soprano
Madame Agnes Rast-Snyder, Contralto
Mr. Martin M. Johnston, Tenor
Mr. Carl L. Nelson, Bass
Organist—Miss Grace Lindberg
Pianist—Mrs. Ernest Dolf
Accompanist for Mme. Arendt—Mr. Edwin Stanley Seder

Saturday, May 16th, 6:3o p. m., Colonial Hall

ANNIVERSARY BANQUET
Mr. J. F. Anderson, Toastmaster
Toasts by Former Pastors
and by
Members of the Messiah Lutheran Church
Musical numbers interspersed

Golden Jubilee—Messiah Lutheran Church [Page 112]

Sunday!, May 17th, 9:00 a. m., Church Auditorium
ANNIVERSARY SERVICES

Swedish Service at 9 :00 a. m.

Processional : Swedish Psalm No. 324 :1-3

Liturgists—Rev. Carl S. Ohman

Rev. Anders André

Anthem: Lover Gud i Hans Helgedom (Wennerberg)—Choir Sermon—Rev. Oscar Sandahl

Offertory Solo—Mrs. Pauline Carlson Recessional: Swedish Psalm No. 500:6-7.

English Service at 10:30 a. m.

Processional: Hymn No. 264; The Church's One Foundation (Webb)
Liturgists—Rev. Carl E. Lundgren

Rev. L. J. Södergren

Anthem: Now Let Ev'ry Tongue Adore Thee (Bach)---Choir

Sermon—Dr. F. A. Johnsson

Anthem: Holy, Holy, Holy (Bach)—Choir

Recessional: Hymn No. 439; How Firm a Foundation (Wade) Sunday, May 17th, 3:00 p. m., Louis G. Kaufman Auditorium

ANNIVERSARY HISTORICAL MEETING
and

"OUR CHURCH" SESSION of the SUPERIOR CONFERENCE Hymn No. 276; My Church, My Church (Giardini)

My Church! my Church! my dear old Church!
My fathers' and my own!
On prophets and apostles built, And Christ the cornerstone!
All else beside, by storm or tide, May yet be overthrown;
But not my Church, my dear old Church,
My fathers' and my own!
My Church! my Church! my dear old Church!
I love her ancient name;
And God forbid a child of hers
Should ever cause her shame! Her mother-care I'll ever share;
Her child I am alone,
Till He who gave me to her arms Shall call me to His own.

Scripture Reading and Prayer

Anthem : Built on a Rock (Christiansen)—Choir

Historical Resume—Dr. Otto H. Bostrom

[Page 113] Golden Jubilee—Messiah Lutheran Church

Hymn No. 266; A Mighty Fortress is Our God (Luther)

A mighty Fortress is our God,
A trusty Shield and Weapon,
He helps us in our ev'ry need
That hath us now o'ertaken. The old malignant foe E'er means us deadly woe:
Deep guile and cruel might Are his dread arms in fight,
On earth is not his equal.
The Word they still shall let remain,
Nor any thanks have for it;
He's by our side upon the plain,
With His good gifts and Spirit. Take they, then, what they will, Life, goods, yea, all; and still, E'en when their worst is done, They yet have nothing won,
The kingdom ours remaineth.

Address—Dr. G. A. Andreen, President of Augustana College

Anthem: Beautiful Saviour (arr. by Christiansen)—Choir

Hymn No. 664; Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Benediction and Three-fold Amen

Sunday, May 17th, 7:30 p.m., Church Auditorium
CONFIRMAND REUNION

and

CLOSING SERVICE of the FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION and of the SUPERIOR CONFERENCE

Processional: Hymn No. 254; Holy Spirit, Lord of Glory (Haydn) Scripture Reading and Prayer---Rev. Oscar Sandahl

Hymn No. 470; Jesus is My Friend Most Precious (Düben)—Confirmation Classes

Anthem: Onward, Christian Soldiers (Shelley)—Choir

Address: "Confirmation, a Memory"—Rev. Carl H. Nelson Vocal Solo—Aleda A. Boyer

Address: "Confirmation, a Possession"—Rev. Anders André Hymn No. 259: O Jesus, I Have Promised (Mann)—Congregation

Address: "Confirmation, a Daily Experience"—Rev. Carl Lundgren Offertory Solo—Mr. Arvid Paulson

Closing Remarks and Benediction—Dr. Otto H. Bostrom Recessional: Hymn No. 559; Day is Dying in the West (Sherwin)

Note: Pages 114-118 have been omitted as it only contains tables of financial data with no names and is of no genealogical value.

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Messiah Lutheran Church 1881-1931

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