THE first Seventh-day Adventist minister to raise up a company of believers in Chicago was Elder J. G. Matteson. At the invitation of some Scandinavians he came to Chicago in the year 1870. His first meetings were without results, but on his next visit quite a number embraced the faith, and a Scandinavian church was organized in the year 1871. This was the first Seventh-day Adventist Church in Chicago.
In the fall of 1871, this congregation erected a small chapel on Erie and Elizabeth Streets. Four brethren, though in very limited circumstances, each gave $250, and others contributed smaller sums. The wives of two of these brethren, who were among the charter members of the church, are still living, and are members of the present organization. The brethren built the church themselves, doing most of the work on Sundays.
In 1873 and 1874 some work was done by the English Adventists in Chicago. For some time the English and Scandinavians were united in one church organization, but later the English brethren effected a separate church organization, and held their services in the afternoon, while the Scandinavians met in the forenoon. For some time Prof. W. W. Prescott was superintendent of this our first English Sabbath school in Chicago, while he pursued his studies in that city. Later this English organization moved into rented quarters on Lake Street. At the present time this church, known as the West Side English Church, meets for Sabbath services in the newly dedicated Humboldt Park Scandinavian house of worship.
Among the early laborers whose work was signally blessed by God in this field, may be mentioned Elders Lewis Johnson, J. F. Hansen, and H. Steen and Brother Z. Sherrig. Others have since carried on the work, which has grown and advanced. In the year 1900 the church was divided into two congregations, one division remaining to worship in its chapel on Erie Street, the other locating farther north and west, where there had grown up a large Scandinavian settlement. However, the Scandinavian populace was rapidly leaving the community about Erie Street, and the Italians and other southern Europeans were rapidly moving in, so that the congregation which remained in the chapel on Erie Street continued to decrease in numbers; and it seemed futile to undertake public work for the Scandinavians in that neighborhood. The Scandinavian Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists, and others disposed of their churches there, and moved out to Humboldt Park and beyond. In view of this situation, the two Danish-Norwegian churches united again about three years ago, and met for worship in a church building on Rockwell Street, near North Avenue. The old church building on Erie Street was purchased, under the direction of Elder O. A. Olsen, by the Northern Illinois Conference, for the use of the Italians and other foreigners. The property on Rockwell Street has been sold to the Salvation Army, and with this money and other funds collected, the present building has been erected, of which we shall speak briefly.
The Architecture of the New Building
Inasmuch as many of those who have seen the building have thought the plans followed quite ideal for a city church, we will give a brief description of this building.
First may be mentioned that the site chosen is a strong Scandinavian center, a prominent place facing a beautiful park. The building measures approximately one hundred feet in depth by thirty-seven feet in width, with a basement under nearly the whole building. In the rear of the basement, which is, by the way, only two feet underground and nearly six aboveground, is a three-room janitor’s flat. The flat is designed to net $12 to $15 a month toward the salary of the janitor. Directly above the janitor’s flat is the church schoolroom. The auditorium proper is a light, airy room, seating about 250 persons. In the front end of the building, on the right-hand side of the vestibule as one enters, is a vestry, which opens into the auditorium with folding doors. This vestry furnishes seats for about fifty, thus increasing the total capacity of the church to 300. On the opposite side of the vestibule is an office room; above this a room which may be rented to one or two Bible or missionary workers, at $5 or $6 a month; and in the third story, in the front of the building, is a five-room living apartment, which rents for $20 a month. Thus there is a net income of $37 to $41 a month on the building. This income means a great deal to a city church, not only in helping to carry the running expenses of the church, but in helping to carry on aggressive city work.
DANISH-NORWEGIAN CHURCH, CHICAGO
The Financial Standing
The building lot cost, with purchasing expenses, nearly $3,700; the building, auditorium, and school—furnished and the flats fitted up, everything complete—about $13,500 more, making a total cost of approximately $17,500. About $16,000 of this had already been paid at the time of the dedication, and about $500 was raised on this occasion. Plans were then laid to pay the remaining indebtedness. So it can be said that the building was dedicated very nearly free from debt. This is as it should be, and we are thankful to God and to friends who made it possible.
The Dedication
The dedicatory services were begun Friday evening, October 1, and concluded the following Sunday evening. On Sunday afternoon Elder W. A. Westworth, the president of the local conference, delivered the sermon, setting forth in a clear and concise way the truths for which this people stand.17
Elder L. H. Christian, the president of the Lake Union Conference, gave a brief history of the church, and rendered a financial statement. Quite a large number of other ministers were present, and took part in the services. In all these services, the main burden of the speakers was, first, a dedication of self, then of the church, to the Lord’s service.
The Outlook
There are more than 130,000 Danes and Norwegians in Chicago. Less than 25,000 of these are affiliated with any church whatever. This spring Elder Lewis Halsvick came to Chicago to take charge of the Danish-Norwegian work, and he, with his colaborers and the church, is entering heart and soul into the work. P. E. BRODERSSEN.
