Augustana College - Rockety I Yearbook (Rock Island, IL)

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weanhuw IQID Island. much of this useful exercise had to be dispensed with. Its place was taken by athletics and gymnastics of a more general nature. In time the work was organized into a definite system and for several years Augustena was abreast with its sister institu- tions of Illinois in athietic contests. Some yeaxs being decidedly in the lead. In the year, 1906. the Synod. however, placed a ban on all inter-coilegiate athletic contests. Literary work. independent of the class roam, has always enlisted much attention. Among the literary societies, which have exercised the greatest inEunce on student iife are the Phrenokesmian organized the same year as the institution was founded; the Adelphic, organized the same year that the institution became co-educational. or l833. and the Concordiai organized in i893. These three societies composed what is known as the Lyceum. The Lyceum conducts yearly a course of entertainments and pub- lishes the Augustana Observer. Some years back debates formed an important part of the programs rendered befure the literary societies. This branch of work has now been almost wholly taken over by smaller dehating clubs. There are at the present day three strong debating clubs at the institution. These clubs have not eonhned their work to the home institution alone. but have from time to time selected representatives to measure strength with debaters of sister institutions. Such contests have been carried on under the auspices of the College League-teumpcsed of the four college classiest, but will in the future be carried on by the Debating LeagueH which was organized last year and comprises the members of the three debating clubs. The religious spirit still continues intact at the institution. Prayer meetings cone ducted hy the students themselves are held Saturday evening. There is also a class conducted by the students. which meets every Sunday afternoon to study the Bible and such other topics as shall tend to arouse greater missionary zeal. The class on Sunday afternoons stands in direct connection with the Augustana Foreign Mission Society, organized in 1556. Since its organization this society has, for missionary purposes, collected no less than $l5.000.00. During the last nine years the institution has been under the leadership of Dr. Gustav Andreen. He came from Yale University in 1901, to be the successor of Dr. 0. Olsson. It is owing to his activity more than that of any other man that the Fittieth anniversary of our institution has been made a Jubilee year in actuality. In his strenuous and successful work for the Jubilee fund he has been aided by an able force of ec-wnrkers, but it is through his enthusiasm and his personality that the work has received the impetus, without which there wouId have been small hope of success Fifty years of constant progress have been added to the history of Augustanai Fifty years made successful. not through the efforts of any one man alone. but through the eu-eperatiun. the prayers, the sacrifices of an entire Synod. Fifty years of pIDgIESS have passed. but what of the future? With the blessing of God upnn us in the days to come. as it has been upcn us in the days that are gone. the future is assured. We conhdingly look forward, behulding at each stage of progress a GREATER AUGUSTANA. 16

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niv, c M, Essmnm nzv c. l. swzussom Raw, 1. n EnMnAHL REV M. WAHLSTROM REV c. L PETIL JOSHUA HASSELQIJIS'I FIRST GRADUATING CLASS OF AUGUSTANA CLASS OF 1877

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?Bmgrapbical REV. Li PV ESBJORN. Auguslana's First President. Ta Rev. L. P. Eshiorn belongs the credit for having laid ihc foundation of the Lutheran church in America. Ordained VD !he minislry in 1832 h: served for sum: lime a5 paslor in Osler Wahia. Sweden; laler as paler and chaplain at Hiile. About this time : iarge number of Swedish people ware immigrating m Amcrica. Amung mm. were a number of devoul earnest Christians who urge Rev. Esbjurn to accompany lhem lo lhc land across the Alianlic as lhnir pastor, He complied wilh their request. and in Septcmber I819 he arrived in America with the Iillle band of chdesi in Oclnbcr Rev. Esbjam came to Anduver. lllinuis where a Swedish Ewingelical LuII-enm congregalion was a! onc: organized. in '555 he was callad In Vhe Standinavian pmfessnrship at the Illinuis Stale Universily. an institulion contrnlied by Ike Evangelical Lulheran Synod of Nonhcrn Illinois. In 1360 Ih: Augustana Synod was eslablished. The Synod resolved to found a schuol of iheir own al. which Ihose wha were lo carry an lhe work of Ihc Synnd mighl he preparedi Ravi Esbjam was calizd as superimendenl and instruclor in this school. Hence having founded our Swedish church in America F: Was caiicd upon Io prcfurm lhe responsible ciulies devolving upbn lhe Em president nf Auguslana Collcge, and Theol. Sam. In 1862 he relumed to Sweden. Here he remained umil his death, July 2. 1370. Rev. Esbjom possessed an enurmuus slrnnglh nf budy and mi and our Synod and schonl pwe- him a areal dabt of gratilude far his willing and indefatigable iabor in the very early days of these msIIlullnns. 19