The Bethel Lutheran congregation
is moved by a spirit of gratitude as it celebrates its 75th Anniversary
this year, September 21-24. The 50th and 60th Anniversaries were observed,
but the publishing of an album was left to this Diamond Jubilee.
We are fortunate to have most of
the early church records. They might easily have been lost in the fire
when the parsonage was burned. These early records are written in Swedish,
and therefore look very mysterious and foreign to most of our members today.
We are thankful to Mr. Nels Sandstrom for reading these documents, and
to Mrs. B. E. Leonard for listening hour after hour and transcribing the
interesting items for this album. Mrs. George Johnson and Mrs. W. A. Johnson
have spent many long hours searching the old church Registers in order
to complete the lists of Confirmation classes and to compile a book of
Confirmation pictures.
A central committee consisting of
representatives of each organization within the church met to make plans
for this Celebration. They are Clarence Dahl as chairman and Mrs. Allen
Ogren as secretary. Other committees were appointed: PROGRAM -Mrs. Clarence
Dahl, chr., Herbert Johnson, Mrs. Martin Sandstrom, and Mrs. Leslie Larson,
Jr. HISTORICAL - Nels Sandstrom, chr., George Johnson, Mrs. B. E. Leonard,
and Mrs. W. A. Johnson. BOOK SALES- Frank Berg, and James Wangler. CONFIRMATION
REUNION INVITATIONS-Mrs. George Johnson, and Mrs. Minnie Ogren.
We wish to thank our Vice Pastor
Carl Larson of Alta, Ia. for his guiding hand, especially in making out
the program, and Mrs. Clarence Dahl for writing the interesting Historical
Pageant.
May this Album of word pictures
of the past and the present, as well as other items of historical interest
help the present generation to realize its heritage from the struggles
of the past generations and the goal that is set before them.
Thanks be to God for the
Pioneers, those sturdy souls who left the homeland, travelling far
to seek peace for their souls and a livelihood for themselves and their
families.
There was an influx of
Swedish Lutherans between the years of 1869-1872. The establishing of homes
was fraught by many dangers and hardships. These brave souls knew they
could not live "by bread alone". Prompted thus by their faith in God and
deeply sensible of the truth of the Christian religion, a few of these
Swedish Lutherans met the 28th of July, 1875, at a school house a mile
and a half south of where the church now stands, and under the able leadership
of the Reverend J. Telleen of Des Moines, organized a congregation. Twentyfive
persons signed their names as members.
They were as follows: Nels
Anderson, Betty Anderson, J. P. Lund and wife Johanna, August Lindblad
and wife Christine, August Lundell and wife Maria, Nicholas Lindblad and
wife, Anders Johnson and wife Britta, Swan Sandstrom and wife Maria, Carl
John Johnson and wife, Carl Magnus Johnson, John Peterson and wife Anna,
Lars Lonberg and wife Margaret, Anders Gust Lagerlof and wife Caroline,
John Erickson and wife Anna.
These twenty-five signers
formed the nucleus of what is now the Bethel Evangelical Lutheran church
located in the southwest corner of Wheeler township, Sac county, Iowa.
A student by the name of
Joseph Swenson was secured to preach the :o-cl-cl and to teach Bible School
which was all conducted in the Swedish language. Having no church edifice,
the meetings were conducted in the various school houses in Sac, Crawford
and Ida counties. The ages of the children attending these Bible schools
in 1875 ranged from six years to seventeen as heretofore many of them had
had no Bible instruction.
At the end of the year
of 1875 there were thirty-one communicants and they desired a special place
in which to worship. Several more Lutherans moved into this community,
coming from Princeton and DeKalb, 111. and from Des Moines, Iowa. They
purchased forty acres of land one-half mile north and two miles east of
the present location. There was a discussion as to where the church was
to be built. At one time the members considered building at what is now
the F. E. Lundell home-As God said to Jacob of old, "Arise, go up to Bethel
. . . and make there an altar unto God." At this time, the congregation
was given an acre of land by John Larson, this acre to be used as a burial
ground. They then decided to purchase an additional two acres with a house
for the sum of $600.00. This house, after being moved and remodelled, became
the parsonage.
One of the oldest organizations
of the church is the cemetery association, which was incorporated in 1875.
The first officers of this
newly organized congregation were as follows:
Deacons: August Lindblad, Nels Winquist, C.
J. Johnson, Nels Anderson, J. F. Lind, John Samuelson.
Trustees: Lars Lonberg, S. N. Sandstrom, A.
G. Largerlof, Andrew Johnson, John Erickson, John Peterson.
Due to the fact they had
no student or minister, August P. Lindblad (father of Pastor Victor Lindblad)
had charge of the services from 1876-1878. During the week this pious soul
harvested his crops and on Sunday entered the pulpit to preach the word
of God.
Some of the pastors who
came to preach and to minister to the needs of this young and growing congregation
were: J. Telleen, 0. J. Seljestrom, S. F. Westerdahl, 0. Sundberg, C. J.
Damstrom.
March 2, 1878 a decision
was reached to build a church 22 x 24 x 12 and in 1879 Nels Anderson offered
to build the church for $300.00 which was completed one year later.
On the 22nd of May, 1880
Pastor C. G. Viden was called but declined the call. It was then decided
that August Lindblad again serve as leader of the church until such a time
as a permanent minister could be called. For this work he was to receive
$50.00 but he said he would take only $25.00. Later that year the church
decided to call a student and pay him $35.00 a month.
April 15, 1881 P. A. Pihlgren
was called and accepted the call. He consequently became the first pastor
of the church and served the congregation until 1886.
At the annual meeting in
1883 the congregation decided to sell the forty acres of land purchased
shortly after the organization of the church. It was sold to the original
owner for $634.25 or about $15.00 an acre.
No mention is made of a
musical instrument in the church but there evidently was an organ as Sarah
Nojd served as organist in the year 1882. In 1885 Emily Johnson was asked
to serve as organist, her salary to be a special offering to be lifted
on Palm Sunday.
After Pastor Pihlgren left,
Pastor Liljgren was called and served the church from 1886 until 1890.
A special meeting was called in July 1888 for the purpose of deciding on
the rebuilding of the church. This building was to be 32 x 48 x 14 and
be built at a cost of $1200.00.
Pastor A. M. Broleen came
in 1890 to serve as the church's third pastor. His salary was to be $450.00
cash per year, hay enough for two cows and one horse, and 150 bushels
of corn and free rent. Before Pastor Broleen's arrival, Student Film served
the church during the summer months and conducted Swedish school. We note
that all through these early years, these first settlers were loath to
forget their Swedish manners or their language. It was not until about
1910 or 12 that the Swedish school was finally abandoned.
In September of 1891 at
a special meeting it was decided that a bell be purchased for the church,
said bell to weigh at least 1200 pounds and that it was to be hung in the
belfry within two months. The cost of the bell including installation costs,
was $276.56.
A definite salary for the
organist was decided upon. It was to be $50.00 a year as was the salary
of the sexton.
A petition from the neighboring
church at Odebolt (officially organized a year later) was presented at
Bethel's annual meeting, asking that Pastor Broleen be permitted to preach
in their church as often as convenient. It was decided that Pastor Broleen
was to preach in Odebolt every Sunday afternoon if he saw fit to do so.
The pastor's salary was raised $50.00 that year and the Odebolt congregation
was to pay whatever was satisfactory between themselves and the pastor.
One of the motions passed
at the annual meeting was that the church bell was to be rung every Sunday
morning at 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30, and also every Saturday night at
sundown. Another motion on the books was that the church edifice was to
be house cleaned twice a year.
A new barn for the pastor's
horses was built in 1892. The expenses for this year of 1892 were $1,163.83
and a debt of $526.00, and the books showed a balance of $5.83.
Time marches on and the
first mention we have of the Sunday School was in 1893 when August
Lindblad, that stalwart pillar of the church, was elected its superintendent.
The Sunday school classes were held regularly after the morning services
every Sunday.
In 1894 we find mention
of the Sewing Society, later "Ladies Aid", being made in the minutes of
the church proceedings. Yet in later reports, we read of an offering from
this organization being made in 1892 and in 1893. We gather from this that
this society evidently was organized in 1881. This society gave generously
toward the paying the church debt.
In the fall of 1894, known
as the dry year, the Iowa Conference met at Bethel. Two tents had been
erected, one right north of the church, close to the windows to allow the
overflow crowds to hear the speakers. The other tent was south of the church,
near the parsonage, and here meals were served. This conference had an
inspiring influence in the community and much good was derived therefrom.
It is interesting to note
how prices rose and fell according to the times. The communicant fee in
1895 was voted to be $6.50 for the men and $4.50 for the women. Why a distinction
was made is not known.
In the church records of
1895 we find the Young People's Society being mentioned for the first time,
this society having been organized in March of 1894 with a membership well
up in the dozens. In 1899 there were 80 members on record and in one of
those early years the Luther League treasury showed a balance of $1500.00.
This organization was very
active, meeting twice a month for spiritual and social gatherings, working
untiringly and unselfishly for their church. We read more of the things
they accomplished as time goes on. Another interesting fact that transpired
at this some annual meeting was the changing of the time of the Sunday
School. Heretofore classes had been held after the regular Sunday services.
Now the time was changed and the Sunday School was to meet before regular
morning services. Also on the minutes we note the organist was to be excused
from paying her church dues, these to be included as part of her salary.
Pastor Broleen resigned
the pastorate in May 1898. Students J. P. Kraft and Bergstrom were here
during the summer months.
Bethel voted to call their
own pastor and not join with Odebolt. We note the communicant fee was lowered
in 1899 and the pastor's salary was raised.
Pastor J. Mauritzon was
called after Pastor Broleen left but he was here only until 1901 as he
received and accepted a call to become an instructor of Swedish in the
Augustana Seminary.
The church sponsored several
Fourth of July celebrations and people came from far and near to partake
of the wholesome fun provided. The greater number of these celebrations
were held on the church lawn but several were held at the old August Lundell
home, some at the younger August Lundell's and some at the home of P. G.
Lundell. Though the church was responsible for many of these festivals,
the first one in 1894 was sponsored by the Luther League and the Sunday
School.
How little the children
of today know of the true meaning of the Fourth of July.
In September of 1900 the
Bethel congregation celebrated its 25th anniversary. When the plans were
being drawn up, a motion was passed by the board that a good lantern, one
with a strong bright light, be hung outside the church door. Dr. Evald,
the President of the Synod, was the affluent speaker at this convention.
May 16, 1901 a special
meeting was called to discuss the raising of the church and the building
of a basement. The cost was to be paid by the Young People's Society, said
cost being $1000.
Christ said, "Come unto
me all ye that labor and are heavy laden,' We can almost hear Him uttering
those words as we gaze upon the beautiful altar painting as we enter the
sanctuary. The church is grateful to Mr. Nicholas Lindblad for this great
gift and also for the first trees planted around the church yard.
In 1903 faithful Mr. August
Lindblad again took charge of the worship services. That same year Pastor
J. A. Benander accepted a call to become Bethel's shepherd. He served in
that capacity until in 1906. In the call entended Pastor Benander,
his salary was set at $600. per year, 150 bushels of corn, 100 bushels
of oats, 5 ton of hay, free house rent and free use of the telephone on
all local lines from the Kiron Telephone Co. It so happens the Kiron Telephone
Co. was organized in the year 1902.
In the year 1904 Bethel
suffered a great loss in the passing on of one of its most staunch and
faithful members, August P. Lindblad. Work in the Lord's vineyard came
first in the life of this sturdy Pioneer. He never tired of serving his
Master. His was a labor of love. Thank God for men like August Lindblad.
In August of 1905 one of
the sons of Bethel, Victor Lindblad, son of August Lindblad, undertook
to instruct the children in Swedish school. Forty-one children were enrolled
that year. Victor was studying for the ministry at Augustana Seminary at
Rock Island, Illinois and in what better way could he serve in his chosen
profession than to bring the Word to the children during his vacation days
from the Seminary.
We pause to enlighten the
reader as to the meaning and substance of "Swedish School." As was mentioned
earlier in this history, the Pioneers wanted their children to remember
the Mother tongue. They felt their children
needed more instruction than they themselves could give them in the home.
Consequently, these Swedish Schools were established. Let us not forget
that while the language was one of the reasons for the establishment of
these schools, the foremost reason was to bring God's word to the children.
Thus, regular classes were conducted in Bible History and the Sacraments.
In the summer of 1906 Oscar
Purn served the church as student. Six weeks of Swedish school were conducted
by him. Fifty-two children were enrolled. Pastor Jessup was then called
and served Bethel one year.
At a special meeting in
June 1907 Pastor J. A. Christenson of Maywood, Ill. was called to serve
Bethel congregation and his salary was to be $800. per year, feed for a
horse and a cow, free rent and free use of the telephone on local lines.
The cemetery association
drew up Articles of Incorporation and were henceforth to be known as The
Bethel Lutheran Church Cemetery Association of Sac County, Iowa.
Bethel congregation suffered
a loss in membership that year as about a dozen members moved to other
localities. What was Bethel's loss was some other congregation's gain.
Shortly after Pastor Christenson
came to Bethel, a hot water heating system was installed in the Parsonage.
A Fourth of July celebration was held on the church lawn that year and
in this same year the Young People's Society adopted the name "Luther League."
In 1910 the auditorium
of the church was beautified by the gift of the altar table from the Honorable
Nicholas Lindblad. The new benches, gifts from the Ladies Aid and the Luther
League, added to the dignity of the auditorium. In 1911 the Luther League
bought a piano for the church. From the financial report of 1911 we gather
that the gas lights were evidently installed that year.
The year 1912 a society
called the Scissors Guild was organized This organization consisted of
young women who sewed beautiful handwork which was later sold at public
auction, the proceeds being used in the church for the furtherence of God's
kingdom on earth.
Another faithful worker
in the church was called home to his eternal rest, John Peterson. The torch
of his Christian faith is being carried high by his children and his children's
children.
The 20th of October 1913
Pastor and Mrs. J. A. Christenson together with the congregation celebrated
twenty five years of their marriage. The Pastors of the District and friends
from far and near came to be present at this festive occasion.
The auditorium of the church
was redecorated at this time when a steel ceiling and steel walls were
put in at a cost of $700. Mortal man craves beauty and it seems that the
more beautiful the house of worship is the more hallowed it becomes.
These must have been prosperous
times as in addition to the afore mentioned reparations new barns were
built for the horses to be housed in during the cold winter months when
the members drove to church.
The Fourth of July celebration
in 1913 netted the Sunday School $100. New carpets were bought for the
church. A new pulpit to match the altar table was given by the Sunday School.
In 1914 a new type organ
was installed, one that required some one to hand pump it. The older toys
of the Sunday School took turns pumping it every Sunday. This organ was
paid for by the Scissors Guild, the Ladies Aid, and the Luther League.
Another addition for the
betterment of the material side was the construction of a cave for the
gas lights. This eliminated further danger of explosions in the church.
(Mentioned in story on "Light.")
The Fort Dodge District
Luther League convention was held in Bethel that year. These conventions
were held annually in the various congregations of the district and were
a great inspiration to the young people.
One of the largest Fourth
of July celebrations was held that year and an inspiring Harvest Festival
in the fall of the year.
On the 18th of December
Bethel congregation was saddened by the resignation of its Pastor, Reverend
J. A. Christenson. He and his family had endeared themselves to all whom
they met. Pastor Chris enson had been called to Newman Grove, Nebr. and
moved there in April 1915.
The new constitution of
the Synod was adopted in May of 1915. This was a great turning point in
the history of the Augustana Lutheran church as women were given the right
to vote. A new era had begun.
Pastor N. E. Glad was called
as Bethel's Pastor and came to Kiron in the fall of 1915. Pastor Christenson
and family left in April. During the interim Student J. A. Martin occupied
the pulpit. As this young man had a wife and family, the members
of the congregation ransacked their storerooms for furniture and quickly
furnished the parsonage for the summers occupancy. This was a memorable
summer in the church. The Martin's endeared themselves to young and old.
When Mrs. Martin raised her voice in song, all eyes were dimmed with tears
as she sang as the angels in heaven must sing.
That fall a festival was
held in the church commemorating the fortieth year of Bethel's establishment.
The next ten years were
more or less interrupted by war. Twelve young men namely Oscar Danielson,
Edwin Danielson, Martin Lundell, George Carlson, George Baker, Abel Christenson,
Arthur Johnson, Thure Linden, Emil Ogren, Robert Swede, Clarence Ander,
Wilburt Christenson went out from Bethel in 1917-1918 and all save one
returned safely. Robert Swede passed away in a hospital in Europe and his
body was later returned to this country for reburial.
Some other events of these
years were; the first English Sunday School class in 1916; the entire Sunday
School was converted to English in 1917; the building of a garage for the
Pastor's car; the 100th year birthday celebration of the old Patriarch
Nicholas Lindblad. An occasion of this sort is unusual and will long be
remembered by all present, especially the children and grandchildren. His
descendants represented three denominations all working in harmony for
the saving of souls.
Another memorable occasion
in the life of Nicholas Lindblad occurred at the funeral service for Mr.
C. F. Berg when grandpa Lindblad as he was called by all, stood beside
the grave and in his quavering but unfaltering voice sang an old Swedish
hymn, again exemplifying his great faith.
Mrs. Glad was instrumental
in organizing the Home and Foreign Missionary Society which was done in
their home Dec. 16, 1920. The first officers were president, Mrs. Glad;
vice president, Mrs. P. A. Peterson; secretary, Mrs. M. A. Sandstrom; treasurer,
Mrs. C. W. Nelson. At first only four meetings a year were held but in
recent years the society has been meeting once a month. All money that
comes in to this society is used for home and foreign missionary work.
Since 1927 nearly $8,000 has been sent out from this society alone. The
past four years a sewing project has been carried out; the society being
divided into three groups meeting at least six times a year. These groups
sew for the Home and Foreign Missions, shipping out annually hundreds of
pounds of clothing including dresses, layettes, crib quilts, school supplies,
toys and medical supplies. The good done by these groups cannot be measured.
On January 9, 1925 the
alarm went out that the Parsonage was on fire. Neighbors and friends rallied
to the rescue and saved as much of the household goods as was possible.
The various organizations as well as friends gave generously to the nearly
destitute family. The Ladies Aid gave $200, the Sunday School and the Luther
League $40.00 each toward the purchase of clothing as all but what the
family was wearing was destroyed.
Several board meetings
were called to decide on a home for the Pastor and his family. As Odebolt
did not feel obligated to furnish their parsonage for the minister at that
time, a home in Kiron was rented for their use.
Mr. Andrew Nelson, a pioneer
in this community, and in the work of the church, passed on in 1924 and
Bethel lost another member in 1925 when August Lundell passed away. He
was among the first Swedish settlers, coming here from Illinois. Besides
working hard for the upbuilding of the church, he was a tireless worker
for the betterment of the community.
August 21-22-23, 1925 Bethel
celebrated its 50th anniversary. Much had occurred in these years of the
upbuilding of the church. At this festival the individual communion cups,
a gift from the Ladies Aid, were used for the first time. The original
set was destroyed by fire.
The next 25 years we find
everything progressing smoothly.
Pastor Glad resigned in
1926 and Student Carl A. E. Gustafson took charge of the congregation that
summer and over the Holiday period.
One of the outstanding
events of this period was the uniting of Bethel and Odebolt churches into
one pastorate; the minister here after, to live in the parsonage in Odebolt;
and the salary to be shared equally by both congregations.
Another important happening
in the church and one of the best improvements was the installing of the
32 volt electric light plant. The old gas lights were discarded. We did
dislike seeing the beautiful chandelier, a gift
of the S. N. Sandstroms,
removed from its familiar place in the center of the ceiling. Some years
later, (1936) when the 32 volt plant was
taken out and the R.E.A. line brought in this lovely wrought iron fixture
was again hung in the church auditorium, having been converted into an
electric chandelier.
1928 saw the passing of
an old familiar figure, that of John Ogren. He served as a Sunday School
teacher for years. He was a true and faithful servant of the Lord.
Pastors who served Bethel
the next few years were H. W. Lundberg 1927- 1930. Pastor Linder temporary
pastor 1930-1933. Erland Borg called pastor 1933- 1935. G. L. Dagner temporary
pastor 1935-1936.
Pastor Herbert Johnson
was called in 1936 and took charge of the work that year. He was a most
talented man and in his quiet unassuming way won many souls for the Kingdom.
He and his family left Bethel in 1942 on a call to New Jersey. Pastor H.
Lester Peterson was called in August to fill the vacancy left by Pastor
Johnson. Pastor Peterson served the church well through the troublous times
of a second world war. He was a dynamic speaker and unafraid to stand up
for what is right.
In 1933 a familiar figure
was taken away from our midst, the well loved old gentleman, Mr. S. N.
Sandstrom. He was the last charter member of the church and was 87 years
old at his death.
1934 to 1940 saw the passing
of several of Bethel's oldest members, namely, Mrs. Ida Reed, Mrs. Anders
Anderson, Mrs. Caroline Berg aged 95, Gust Ogren, Fred Carlson, C. J. Danielson,
Mrs. P. G. Lundell, Mrs. Fred Carlson. In 1937 Bethel suffered the loss
of three men who did much for their church, namely Frank Ogren, Swan Johnson,
C. W. Nelson. Peace to the memories of all these departed friends.
During these years we pause
to pay tribute to the boys and a nurse who served their country in World
War II: