Bethel University - Spire Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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unto (Ajiiclom. n lakes for a period of complete relaxation. He finds a bit of fishing and meditating good for body, mind, and soul. Outstanding even above all his physical and mental attributes is the remarkable character possessed by this minister and educator. No one who has studied in his classes can fail to appreciate his depth of Christian experience. What lov ly freshman does net thrill when this man, who has been accorded a place in Who's Who in America, will stop in his hurry to classes and csk kindly concerning that humble one's welfare. Few men ever reach such pinnacles of greatness; fewer men remain as humble as he. Perhaps no one is more familiar with Dr. Hagstrom's lovable character than those members of the Bethel faculty who have worked with him for many years. Almost without exception each instructor mentions, first of all, our president's remarkable ability to put one at complete ease in his presence. He has the confidence of all his wide circle of friends and greatly enjoys the opportunities he has for counseling young people. Dr. Hagstrom is capable of taking ready command of any situation. He feels as much at home with a lcrge audience as with a single individual. As a presiding officer he is unexcelled. With the utmost courtesy and unending patience he listens to every contribution. In private conversation he is every bit as courteous and seems a deep, never-ending source of gentleness and sympathy. His is truly a character without reproach. And now, though Dr. Hagstrom is retiring from the presidency of Bethel Institute, he is still planning for the future. He has been asked by the school board to continue to serve or. the faculties of both the Seminary and college departments. In addition to his duties as professor he intends to continue the conducting of Bible conferences. For twenty-seven years Dr. Hagstrom has presided over Bethel Institute. During this long end successful administration many changes have taken place in the school cr.d many students have felt the uplifting influence of his quiet, unassuming personality. To really knew the man is to love him; tc love him is to want to be like him. Even as the pebble thrown into the sea causes never-ending, ever-widening ripples, so shall the influence of this mighty man of God reach out even into eternity. Our echoes roll from soul to soul, And live forever and forever. T iCelve

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• • • oux Triumfs Sanger, and Fridsroster. Among his other writings are the histories of the First Swedish Baptist Churches of Chicago, St. Paul, and Minneapolis. Dr. Hagstrom was active in establishing the first home for the aged among Swedish Baptists at Fridhem, Morgan Park, Illinois. To him also belongs the honor of being one of the three founders and original owners of the Bethany Beach Summer Assembly at Sawyer, Michigan, the first summer assembly among Swedish Baptists in America. Among the many offices Dr. Hagstrom holds at the present time is the combined office of trustee, secretary, and treasurer of the Northwestern Baptist Hospital Association. He is also secretary of the Baptist Hospital Fund, Inc. end a trustee of the Twin City Baptist Union. He holds a life membership in the Minnesota Historical Society and is a member of the Scandinavian American Foundation, the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Language and Literature, the Swedish Historical Society of America, and Pi Gemma Mu. Confidence in his executive ability has been shown by the fact that he has been elected six times as the president of the Swedish Baptist General Conference of America and is serving his fourth consecutive term as president of the Minnesota Baptist Convention. As The Watchman-Examiner for December 12, 1940, states, in both the Swedish General Conference and in the Northern Convention, he has filled so many offices and performed so many duties that it is difficult to know hew one man could accomplish so much. It is a sign of the fruitfulness of his valuable life. And so we have a partial picture of Dr. Hagstrom as mirrored in his accomplishments. We have a portrayal of a literary man, a minister, an educator, and an executive. But there is a very personal side not yet seen. And that phase of man's life is best seen in his home life and in his use of leisure time. Dr. Hagstrom possesses a library of mere than two thousand volumes and is constantly adding to that number. Much of his spare time is spent in reading and writing. He still contributes material to some religious paper almost weekly. On his free evenings he usually works in his library or study until after midnight and never goes to bed until he feels tired. Once Dr. Hagstrom remarked, “I have golfed regularly for the last ten years—about once a year. His days are too busy to permit the leisurely enjoyment of hobbies. Once each summer, however. he travels to one of Minnesota's ten thousand Eleven

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‘ Pzzi.i.J.znt i A [ WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT? War is in the air in almost the entire civilized world, but peace and harmony prevails at Bethel, and prospects lor a continuance and increase thereoi are as bright as ever. Bethel stands at the crossroads between the past and the future at the close of this year's work. It is seventy years since Dr. I. A. Edgren, a worthy hero of the cross, had the courage to open the doors of a school and invite young men in for the training of preachers and missionaries. This he did without a school board or school committee to back him up, and without a salary or other friends in sight except as the eye of faith might look to the resources of Almighty God for the supply. Christopher Silcnc was his first student and Mels Hayland his first graduate. How different those days were from ours today; v ith a faculty of sixteen and a student body of one hundred eighty-nine; then no buildings or other physical equipment, now fairly well equipped. Courses have been developed and expanded to meet the increased demands of this present day and age. Graduates, four hundred eighty-nine from the seminary and more than two thousand from the preparatory departments, lead one to remark, What wonderful things hath not God wrought! With such a splendid background and v ith a new girls' dormitory in prospect for next fall and a new president at the opening of the next school year, surely the spirit of optimism and hopefulness should abound through the halls of Bethel. The writer of these lines, who has been actively associated in service v ith this beloved institution since January 1, 1914, ought to be justified in some degree at least to assume the roll of a prophet, but conscious of his limitations, and remembering the thankless task of the prophet, humbly begs to be excused from any such a venture. However, there lurks in his mind not the faintest degree of misgiving or apprehension for the future of Bethel. So long cs our trust is in Almighty God, and His dear Son Jesus Christ as our leader, and a spirit of cooperation prevails for the carrying forward of the cause of training our youth for Christian life and service, especially for the ministry and missionary service, the favor of God's good will and blessing will never be found v anting, cr.d by Ilis grace He will lead on to still more glorious achievements and victories. The ever increasing list of supporters by prayer and gifts through the influence of pastors, church leaders and friends will, under God, assure Bethel of a brighter future for the years that are ahead. For that we fervently pray and plead with all the readers of the Spire. G. ARVID HAGSTROM. Thirteen