Dana College - Danian Yearbook (Blair, NE)

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tw ee plefl lfltl 1926 - is um 1,5 -Y iiakae -L fx I gsm' rs- i f l' z a: -'et er is 1 - r' r-w a,5sf- - --3:1 sig,-4 . on-l to ' HISTORICAL Nellie Falk The beautiful custom of celebrating birth anniversaries is notable among the Scandinavians. Tl1is year of 1926 is the oc- casion of much rejoicing in the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in that its child in which is centered so largely that Church's hopes and endeavors for the future, cele- brates a special birthday anniversary. There was a time when the broad expanse of rolling hills west of Blair were of no special interest. They were covered with waving prairie grass and visited by the creatures of the wild only. To-day, however, a very different tale is to be told. You may go to almost any state in the Union-East, West, North, or South, yes, even to many a foreign land, and you will find some one who loves these hills, some one who has fond memories connected with them. To-day the eyes of a whole church are fixed upon them. What is the reason for this'? Forty years ago one of these hills became the abiding place of an institution of learning, one which should be a center of Danish culture in America. It has come to pass that the solid bosom of this hill has, in its fitting solidity, become the firm foundation upon which is being built up a strong institution for the preservation and dissemination of high and noble Danish ideals along with those of America,-and this institution is Dana College and Trinity Seminary. lf one were to give the history of Dana College and Trinity Seminary from their very beginning, one would have to go back two more years in time when actual instruction was being given in the home of Rev. A. lVl. Andersen at the corner of Park and First streets. lf one were to delve even farther into their his- tory, even into pre-historic times as Dr. Vig has pointed out, one would find oneself among the Norwegians. For it was in the Augsburg Seminary, begun first in Mar- shall, Wisconsin, in 1869, and later transferred to Minneapolis, that the founders of Dana College and Trinity Seminary received their education. These men went out as ministers and missionaries among their own country- men who had l11l1lllgl'3l.,6Cl to America, especially among those who had settled in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Nebraska. It was 11ot unusual for them to discontinue their studies at the seminary to go out among their people, so great was the need for Danish mission work. Two 1l1ll1lSt91'S of these early days were Rev. H. Hansen and Rev. A. M. Andersen, named by Dr. Vig for the special reason that it was through their work that the Danish people of the Conference did not become Nor- wegian. He further states that this latter was due to the influence of the Dansk Luthersk Kirkehladn more than to anything else. The Danish ministers in the conference published this paper for the Norwegian- Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and its editor was Rev. A. M. Andersen, Racine, VVisconsin. It was through the pages of this paper in 1882, five years after it first appeared, that a high school was proposed. This matter had been talked of before, hut it was not until in 1882 that both laymen and ministers dis- cussed it in meetings and in their paper. For a time, however, the matter seemed to be placed i11 the background, for another great thought was uppermost in their minds, that of separating from the Conference and of establishing a Danish Church in America. At a. District meeting in Omaha from February 28 to March 2, 1884, where were present 28 people, 5 of whom were ministers, it was decided that they should separate from the Conference. Thereupon a decision was made to send some one to Denmark to confer with the Inner Mission as to whether to join with the Danish Church in America, or to establish their own church, and finally to present a motion for a constitution at the autumn meeting to be held at Argo, Burt County, Nebraska, Rev. A. M. Andersen's charge. In the autumn of 1884 a constitution was adopted and synodical officers elected. What is important to us in connection with this meeting is that they saw that the building of a theological school was imperative. These men, strong in faith and clear of mind, saw the needs of their people, and knew how to provide for them. The assemblage elected a committee composed of three ministers: Rev. A. 'IM H... I- - -. -..l-In-..-. - - .. ... -. -. .. - ....,,- .- ... ....l.... .. .. .. -.,-. ... l-, ...,,.. 4,

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lf. re We Ditfw -fl - '926 he Q I ,Q A Kar A 1 ight-4,34 . A f id E-A K I eff . f 1:wElg:'1'f1etE'2ffIiif GREETINGS Dana College and Trinity Seminary has a very definite aim, namely to be the servant of the Church. To accomplish its purpose, this institution endeavors not only to impart knowledge and train the mind, but above all to inculcate in the hearts and minds of the growing generation a Christian view of life and give the Church men and women who do not ask selfishly, Wl1at can I take out of life? but Wliat can I put into life? . Vyfhile Dana hopes that the trained minds of her graduates will do her credit, it is her fondest hope to see them putting their acquireinents to account in serving God, church, home and country as humble followers of Him who came not to be ministered unto but to minister. VVe thank God for what We have in our school and for what it has con- tributed to our Church. VVe hope and pray for a greater Dana. The biggest con- tribution her graduates can make to realize our hope is: service in a meek and humble spirit. N. C. CARLSEN, President, United Danish Ev. Lutheran Church. Royal, Iowa. Dana College and Trinity Seminary sends most cordial greetings to the readers of The Damian and to all the friends and supporters of our school, It is with a feeling of sincere appreciation that we acknowledge the many expressions of good will and active interest in our work. We wish to as- sure you that in all our work we strive to worthily discharge the trust placeu upon us. Trinity Seminary was founded to serve the interests of the Church which supports it. When Dana College was added, the scope of our educa- tional program had heen Widenedg but the aim remained unchanged. As our Greater Danaf, pro- gram is being realized, the aim of the founders of our institution must not he forgotten, to wit: The Kingdom of God on earth through the means of education according to Christian principles. THEO. M. HANSEN, Acting President, Dana College and Trinity Seminary. Blair, Nebraska.

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41 B Eje WN BA 1926 ,fp- A' sf' A si, .. gk . 'T y ' msn 5-is at - .gi ' -1-Qu: - 1 V F - ,, . A, l.. H If fill g.?Nii'if?.: .. 4?'nf ', V. ,Q -X 3:25. f--. -..gfa r ?q,9f'z-if , ' f'r. aw - 'Q' i s vii fi. 1 , . 'z. . - . . 4 ' 5.- . imma-Q wir lvl. Andersen, Chairman, Rev. H. P. Bertelseng and Rev. G. B. Christianseng and two laymen: G. A. Byije and P. T. Jacobsen. This committee was instructed to prepare plans and to send a call to Rev. H. Steffensen at Smidstrup, Denmark, to become a. teacher at the Theological School. The undertaking seemed well-nigh impossible. The mission field was enormous and workers few-in actual numbers only nine. At this time Rev. Andersen was living in Blair. He was authorized to begin a school for theological students, and in spite of the fact that he was secretary of the Synod and was serving five or six congregations, he assumed the work of teacher, also. Thus in October, 1884, the Danish theological school began in the private home of Rev. A. M. Andersen with an enrollment of four pupils and with one teacher as faculty, all sharing one and the same house as home and school. It was clear, however, that the school should be a separate institution. Questions arose as to its location, its comprehensiveness,--whether it should be limited to a theological school, or whether provisions should be made for other departments- and finally as to the procuring of funds with which to build it. Times were hard for this was the year of great cholera ravages among swine. Rev. Andersen estimated that a building which should have dormitory room for 40 students, rooms for a family, school rooms and a dining room, would cost 86000. That the school was established at Blair, and not in Hamilton County where the largest congregation was, was decided on because of an offer made by the city of Blair to contribute 553000 and building grounds for the school, if the Synod would raise a. like sum and build in Blair. This offer was accepted. At the same meeting it was decided to name the school Trinity Seminary. In July of 1885 the school committee met and formulated Incorporation Articles, and elected as Board of Trustees: Rev. A. lVI. Andersen, chairman, L. Nyboe, secretaryg M. Beck, treasurer, N. J. Petersen, Andrew Larsen, Rev. G. B. Christiansen, and Rev. J. Risdall. Through Mr. Kenny it was learned that the city of Blair had received 5152300 of the promised 553000. Upon motion of Rev. A. M. Andersen, the committee accepted the offer of grounds made by Mr. H. B. Dexter and lVl1'. W. Cline. A building committee was elected and specifications for the building were made. The building committee met in September, and by November the building was well under way. In December a storm very nearly razed it, but Providence spared it. At the next annual church convention the school committee received instructions to make arrangements for admission of girls to the school. The subsequent year this instruction was followed by a motion to provide for an academy course in English. On the 21st of October, 1886, the schoal was dedicated. The impressive cere- mony was opened by a passage from Isaiah: 'tLord, send me, as a fitting message to those who should attend this school. lVlay these words shape the lives of many who come to Dana! The school has had several leaders. The first of these was Rev. A. M. Andersen, who had charge of it from its beginning to 1889. He was re-called in 1895, but re- signed again in 1897. Too much cannot be said in honor of Rev. Andersen, who, in spite of many pressing duties, kept the weighty responsibility of carrying on the school. Rev. G. B. Christiansen was president during the interim from 1889 to 1896. Under his leadership girls were admitted to the regular school course, whereas hitherto only summer school provisions had been made for them. Dr. P. S. Vig was called in 1896. He left his position at the high school in Elk Horn, Iowa, and came to Trinity Seminary, remaining until 1899. I-le was succeeded by Rev. Anker, who remained until 1905. Under his leader- ship the scope of the school was greatly widened. Enrollment was increased, build- ing additions were made. The school became co-educational, a business course and a normal department were added, and a steam heating apparatus was installed. From 1905 to 1908 Rev. J. P. Jensen was president. l-le worked for the interests of the school until his death in 1908. At that time Dr. C. X. Hansen became president of Dana College and Professor S. C. Eriksen, president of the theological department. Upon the resignation of Professor Eriksen, Dr. Vig became president of Trinity Seminary, a position which he held from 1908 to 1914, and from 1919 to 1925. -,--M-----------------........-..------.... 4.