Bethel University - Spire Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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THE ACORN I a test came lie showed himself big enough to place his own personal interest and comfort secondary and to choose the seemingly harder path of duty. And for the next several years he was continually traveling from place to place without almost any rest or vacation, supervising lovingly and encouraging manfully, our work from coast to coast. But let us go back a few years to 1892. Upon Dr. Hagstrom’s graduating from the seminary he was for a short time pastor of the American Baptist Church at Newark. ill., where lie carried on a lively work. But the time when he began to get a real grip upon the hearts of the Swedish Baptists was when he became Sunday school missionary in Illinois. As he travelled thoughout the state, old and young flocked to hear him and soon learned to love him. He became indeed, a “Bror Arvid” to all. Since that time, as previously intimated, Dr. Hagstrom has for ten years been pastor of the First Swedish Baptist Church of Chicago; for three years, General Financial Secretary of the Swedish Baptist denomination; for four years, pastor of the First Swedish Baptist Church of St. Paul, Minn., and since January, 1914, he has been President of Bethel Academy and Theological Seminary. But it is not necessary to tell of the various stages which characterized the marked success of that Minneapolis boy who was so inspired by his pastor. Dr. Frank Peterson. President Hagstrom's history is an integral part of the history of the Swedish Baptists and as such is well known. And the high confidence that he holds in the hearts of our American brethren has made him an important link as well, between the English and Swedish speaking Baptists of America However, gleaned from his own heart to heart talks with young people, we should say that his success is largely due to four habits or maxims which he early adopted. The first he accepted from a veteran preacher who came to Newark to lecture: “Young man, plow through books.” This advice he has consistently. followed throughout the years. Rarely is he seen alone on a streetcar except that he is plowing through a book or other important matter. Is it strange that such a man is well informed? The second is a resolution he laid bare at the Rockford convention, when he, for the third or fourth time, was elected Chairman of the General Conference; namely, “that he will never say No to the call of ciuty if it is within his power to respond.” Is it any wonder that such a life is full of accomplishments? The third is his powerful prayer life. Of this his own heart alone knows the deeper details. The world secs the reflection and the results. But he once told of a prayer book which he has kept for years, in which is recorded the answers to prayers,—his experience with God; and that when shadows of doubt beset his soul he often turns to the pages of this little book and there is reminded of how wonderfully God has dealt with him in the past; and so faith’s bright ray again shines through. Is it a wonder that such a soul attempts great things for God The fourth maxim we have not heard him express, but we have seen it in his life. It was also the maxim of the beloved Dr. Beeman, and is conveyed in the lines,—“Let me live in my house by the side of the road, and be a friend to man.” to man.’’ With such resolutions written on the heart, how can a life fail? But what is success? And what will be Dr. Hag 3trom’s monument? The tourists as they wander through St. Paul’s church in London, will see many beautiful- monuments with appropriate inscriptions, over the honored dead. But when they come to the place of Christopher Wren, there is no wonderfully carved stone; only these words in Latin: “Woulds't thou see his monument? Look about thee.” What does it mean? it means that Christopher Wren was the (Continued on page IS.)

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0 THE ACORN {Jrastbrut Ijagainmt'fi Auniumary Henry Wmgblade Emerson has aptly said that great institutions are the shadows of great men. it may well be added that the man himself is always bigger than the work of his hand; that the man himself is always more stable and more deeply rooted than the shadow which his personality casts. But the finished product or institution does not always express or even suggest to those who rest under its canopies or drink from its fountains, what its evolv-ment on the part of the great author heart has cost. The careless laughter of jovial children, as they wander through the corridors of the fragrant rose garden, betrays innocent ignorance concerning its history; they little dream that in the metamorphosis from desert to garden, every rose has been planted in pain and watered with tears. It is only the veteran gardener, as he stands with bared and bowed head, that can see in the dewdrops on every flower the transfigured tears ot the years; that can truly appreciate the varied shades of color and the mystic meanings of perfume. There are said to be three ways of acquiring greatness; being born great, achieving greatness and having greatness thrust upon- one. Pres. G. A. Hag-strom was born great in that his parents were of sterling Swedish stock who believed in work and in prayer. He has achieved greatness in that from the time his eyes became fixed on the great Christian ideal, he has wrought with matchless industry the work of his hand. And he has had greatness thrust upon him in that high and heavy honors, have from time to time been placed upo nliis shoulders, almost without his consultation and certainly without his seeking. When Mahomet at a dinner of his intimate friends outlined to them his great world task, he could not refrain from bursting into tears. When John Knox at a meeting of staunch Presbyterians was unanimously voted the torch bearer of Scotland's reformation, he burst into tears. When the General Conference in Duluth by a standing vote put the burdens of our school system upon Dr. Hagstrom he, too, burst into tears. But lie did not swerve or shrink. Three important events in a minister’s life are,—his graduation from the seminary, his ordination and his marriage. Dr. Hagstrom ecelebrates this year the twenty-fifth anniversary of all three of these events. That he made no mistake in entering the seminary and that the council made no mistake in ordaining him, a splendid record of twenty-five years convincingly demonstrates. That he made no mistake in marrying—and in marrying the modest girl from Scandia—his own repeated testimony in public and in private— clearly attests. Furthermore, he celebrates this year the fifieth anniversary of his birth; he has attained unto manhood’s prime vigor. To such a life such anniversaries are indeed happy. Bet us extend to him our heartiest felicitations! The first time we were privileged to see Dr. Hagstrom was when he was presiding officer at the Kansas City General Conference. With boyish eyes wc admired the metropolitan cut of his coat and the quiet dignity of his bearing. We enjoyed the firmness of his “clean cut” rulings as well as the warmth of his genial smile. The next time we saw him was at the General Conference in Chicago. At that meeting he was elected Financial Secretary of our denomination. Some of those who voted against him on the first ballot, explained that it would be of no use to elect him, as he could not and would not leave the First Church of Chicago, where he was so much loved and where he was doing such telling work. But when the

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 THE A CUKN JJrinripal A, 31. Uittgblaiip, A, fH.. ®eti f eara in Urtliel Acahemy Georgius Hardly any profession is so important as that of a teacher, because he is constantly coming in contact with young lives more or less undeveloped. Under his care and influence they are formed and moulded for future fitness in life. Year after year he receives new material and year after year he leaves to the world his finished products, as far as he is concerned. Professor Wingblade has now closed his tenth year in Bethel Academy as professor, and his fifth year as principal. As students we recognize with highest appreciation our beloved Principal's work among us. The Academy has progressed step by step, towards better equipment and greater reputation. The success has been beyond expectations. The principal has played a large part towards this end especially with regard to internal effectiveness of the school. His true religious influence has aided us to higher levels than can be reached by solely intellectual education. As Principal, Instructor, Adviser, and Friend, we give him our heartiest thanks for past years; and we wish him God's richest blessing to attain many more similar anniversaries in connection with this so important a place in our denomination.