Augsburg College - Augsburgian Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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as far as compatible with efficient work at school, also during tin- school year. A number of student organizations have been formed, and several of them have attained a very respectable age. 'I'he Students’ Society and the Boarding Club arc among the oldest. Literary, debating, oratorical, and athletic societies, as well as musical organizations, library societies, and other associations, have all had their share in shaping the development of the school, and in increasing its usefulness. The Students’ Missionary Society, organized in 1885, deserves special mention, as it has done much to foster the missionary spirit among Norwegian Lutherans in America. The Augsburg Alumni Association was organized in 1891. It meets once a year, generally the day after the College Commencement. Its function is mainly of a social character; it endeavors to further good-fellowship among the graduates of the school. It also seeks to create a greater interest in the work and aims of their Alma Mater. In 1870 two young men were graduated from the Theological Department of Augsburg Seminary. I'he total number of graduates from this depart- ment up to and including 1920 is 431. Almost all of these have become pastors, teachers, or missionaries, and a great majority of them are serving the Church at the present time both at home and in foreign lands. 'Phe preparatory curriculum of the school had a steady development during the first years of its existence, class after class being added, until in the year of 1879 five voting men were graduated as Baccalaurci Artium. The total number of College graduates up to and including 1920 is 273. more than 55 per cent of whom have subsequently taken up the study of Theology. Among the other graduates from the College are teachers, physicians, lawyers, and men in other callings of importance and trust. PAGE TWENTY

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electives are offered. Students who have completed the course receive upon graduation the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and are admitted to the graduate departments of universities both in America and Furope. Augsburg Seminary endeavors to awaken and nourish the spiritual life in all its students. For this reason it not only makes attendance in classes of religious instruction obligatory, but it also seeks to surround the young men entrusted to its care with a truly Christian atmosphere. Kach class in the Academic and College Departments is given religious instruction two hours a week, and besides this a voluntary class for the study of missions has been maintained for several years, led bv one of the Facultv members. Kvery morning, except Sunday, all stu- dents arc required to attend chapel exer- cises. which are led by one of the professors. Frequently visiting pastors and others are invited to speak to the students in chapel. Prayer-meetings are held several evenings a week, either by the student body or by smaller groups of students. Xo Sunday services are held at the Seminary, as the students attend the serv- ices in the different churches of the Lu- theran Free Church in Minneapolis, where a large number of them also take active part in Sunday school work, young people’s work, and church choirs. The 'I'heological Department of Augs- burg Seminary offers to its students a three- year course of study. The aim is to give them a thoro knowledge of the Bible, the history of the Christian Church, and the teachings of the Lutheran Church, and also a practical training in dealing with the principal questions that arise in pastoral life and in the pastoral leadership of the congregation. As far as possible the Bible is studied in the original. It is clearly realized, however, that mere knowledge is not all that is necessary for the complete equipment of a worker in the vineyard of Our Lord. The all-important consideration is to awaken and foster in the student true loyalty to Christ and absolute obedience to the Holy Spirit; for without these qualities no man can become “a good and faithful servant in God’s house. The majority of the 'I'heological students of Augsburg Seminary are naturally preparing themselves for service either in the home Church or in foreign mission fields. But many of the students in the Academy and College also have the same calling in view. For this reason many of them are engaged in Church work during their vacations, and. KKV. HANS A. L’ltSETH PAGE NINETEEN

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♦ TUB FIRST IIO.MK OF AFOSRFRO Augsburg in Marshall, Wisconsin Rev. J. A. Bergh, Class of ’69 WHEN Prof. A. eenaas with a few assistam teachers and a handful of students in 1869 began the little school in Marshall, we little thought that in fifty years it would be able to hold a celebration like the present one, which is graced not only by the presence of the governor of the state and the mayor of the city, but also by a bishot) from the mother church. Marshall is a small hamlet lying a score of miles or so from Madison. Wis. Just as every village now must have its high school, so fifty years ago it must have its academy in order to be of any account at all. So must Marshall too. A rather pretentious building was erected. It had two stories. The lower was arranged for reading rooms, kitchen and dining room ; the upper served as dormitory. But a building does not make a school, and the academy was not a success. So when the Norwegian branch of the Scandinavian Augustana Synod was looking for a location for its proposed theological seminary, the village offered them their academy building on the condition that besides the sem- inary they should conduct a regulation American academy. The offer was gladly accepted. It seemed like a gift from Divine providence In the autumn of 1869 Professor eenaas and a few students from Paxton, 111., came for the purpose of opening the school. At a meeting of I'AUK TWKXTY ONK