St Olaf College - Viking Yearbook (Northfield, MN)

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it through mail in due time. Indeed there was but little if any hesitancy on the part of the graduates. It seemed the natural thing. It had been our purpose when we entered college to study theology after completing the college cours-Q, and this purpose had been strengthened from year 'to year. We were, therefore, not surprised to meet the majority of the class of ,7Q at Luther Seminary in the fall. On the other hand, the failure on fthe part of some individual to put in an appearance at the opening of the theological school year was commented on. It was almost like falling from grace. Of the three years spent at the Seminary I shall say but little. They were not uneventful years, by any means. On the contrary Mr. Kildahl will be able to point to this period as the most significant in his whole life. The lessons and impressions received during this period were largely instrumental in determining his future career, and placed their stamp on him for life. In 1882 Mr. Kildahl-finished his theological course, was ordained, and in- stalled as pastor of Vang and Urland congregations .in Goodhue County, Minn. In the summer of the same year he married Bertha Soine of Goodhue County, a marriage which has been blessed with six children of which only four are now living. Withotit resigning his charge in Goodhue County Mr. Kildahl served for one year as president of the I-Iauge Synod's Seminary at Red Wing, Minn., be- ginning at the opening of the school year in 1885. In 1889 he was called to the pastorate of Bethlehem Church of Chicago, serving this charge until ISQQ when he was elected president of St. Olaf College. Of the ten years' pastorate in Chicago suffice it to say that with his marked ability as a pulpit orator and a pastor he succeeded in building up a strong congregation. His personality was instrumental in uniting elements which under other condi- tions would have kept separate. This biography will not touch on President Kildahl's work at St. Olaf. Let me only point to what St. Olaf was in 1899 and -compare conditions then pre- vailing with the school as it is today. President Kildahl must not be given all credit for the wonderful progress of St. Olaf during the past six years. That would not be just either to him or the corps of faithful and self-sacrificing teach- ers that have stood by his side. Nor must we leave out of consideration the fact that with the year 1899 began a new era in the history of St. Olaf College. Wliat had up to that time been a poor, private institution struggling for existence, owned by nobody in particular, was then adopted by the United Church, the largest Norwegian church body in America. President Kildahl possesses the essential qualifications necessary in a College president. VVhat was the strength of the pastor is the strength also of the col- lege president: a christian personality, winning people's confidence, and uniting elements, otherwise heterogenious, into harmonious work for the cause he repre- sents. TH. EGGEN. 8

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PRESIDENT J. N. KILDAHL. 433:

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AP- i is z H . ,5 in 1- 's 'Q A. Fossum P. M. Glasoe Pres. J, N. Kildahl I. F. Grose O. G. Felland P. J. Eikeland Martha Larson-Steensland M. M. Steensland C. A. Meliby Nils Flaten Agnes Mellby Agnes Kittelsby Serine Eisteinson Olav Lee O. Ellingson O. E. Rolvaag Frida M. Bu E. W. Schmidt F. M. Christiansen E. Hetle P. G. Schmidt 9