p. 16 | The Swedish Seminary by L. H. Christian

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 22, 1915

The Swedish Seminary

By L. H. Christian

The first angel's message, or the 1844 movement, was preached in Sweden with wonderful power and results. Even children proclaimed that the judgment hour had come. In many parts of the country there was a mighty awakening and revival. But this led to a most severe persecution. There are Swedish Adventists in America who can tell of almost unheard-of cruelties inflicted on God's people in the Swedish state church. To escape these perils nearly a thousand believers in the soon coming of Christ decided to leave Sweden in 1845.

This was no small task. The preachers taught that to emigrate from Sweden was a transgression of the fifth commandment; people should dwell in the land the Lord had given them, which for the Swedes was Sweden. The government, too, prohibited any emigration, and no one could leave the country unless he paid a large sum of money. The thousand Adventist believers secured about twenty small sailing vessels, and after many trying hardships, set out for America. One of these boats was lost at sea, or at least was never heard of again. The nine hundred and fifty men, women, and children who arrived in the United States and Canada in the spring of 1846 decided to settle in northern Illinois, about one hundred and seventy-five miles west of Chicago, where their descendants, now wealthy and prosperous, still live. This so-called Bishop Hill colony was the beginning of a strong Swedish immigration to the United States.

Today there are more than 1,800,000 Swedes in America. Our work among this people has had many difficulties to overcome, but owing to loyal leadership it has made very substantial gains in recent years. Yet there is still a sad dearth of laborers. To meet this great need the Swedish Seminary was established. Every passing year demonstrates that we ought to have had this school long ago.

Since coming to this union I have made several visits to the Swedish Seminary, and have become quite well acquainted with its work and needs. This institution is twelve miles west of Chicago. It owns seventy-eight acres of land, and the land is as good as any in America. Owing to the liberality of our Swedish brethren the farm is equipped with a good herd of cows, some large, strong horses, machinery, and other necessary things. Last year the farm cleared more than one thousand dollars. When this land was bought, there was only one farmhouse on the place, but several buildings have been erected since, and the school is now furnished with substantial, healthful, and comfortable buildings. These are large enough to accommodate seventy-five students.

We have a faculty of experienced, well-qualified, and godly teachers at the Swedish Seminary; and at none of our schools are the youth more mature, devoted, and promising than the Swedish Seminary students. Several of them are ready to enter the ministry and other lines of Christian work this year. Our Swedish brethren have every reason to be encouraged over this institution. The Swedish Seminary greatly needs two things: first, to secure a larger attendance, and second, to pay off all its indebtedness. While the school has room for seventy-five students, the attendance is but little more than half this number. We ask for the assistance of our brethren throughout the North American Division in order that we may gather a large group of Swedish young people in the school. There are Swedish students at many of our academies who ought to be at the seminary, and there are very many Swedish young people here and there who would come to the school if they were properly encouraged to do so.

While our brethren have done well in helping the seminary, there is still a debt on the school of about $13,000. The Lake Union Conference promised $7,000 to the school when it was first started. All this money has now been paid in, and the Lake Union Committee has voted to donate at least $1,000 in cash to the school by the end of 1915. Our brethren in this union have done this on the condition that a strong effort be made to bring the school entirely out of debt. The Swedish Seminary Board has voted to ask Brother Nord, the principal of the school, to spend a good share of his time this coming year in visiting our people and in securing funds for that institution. We hope that our Swedish workers will take hold and help so that the heavy load of debt which is now resting on the school may be removed. We believe, too, that many of our American brethren who have an interest in the Swedish work will be glad to assist in this important enterprise. All gifts to the school should be sent to the treasurer, G. E. Nord, R. F. D. 1, La Grange, Ill. Surely it is the will of God that this seminary, which has a work to do for the 1,800,000 Swedes in America, should stand clear of the heavy debt which is hindering its work at present.

L. H. CHRISTIAN.