SOCIETIES--PRESS--PROMINENT CITIZENS--CHURCHES.
Scandinavians in Seattle have contributed largely to the social feature
of life. They have organized a number of societies, some flourished
immensely for some time, then died a natural death, others have continued
to prosper through sun and storm. The Normanna Literary and Social Club
was among the first Norwegian societies, but alas! only a few days of
sunshine then clouds and dispersion. The Baltic Lodge, I. O. G. T., was
placed on record February 10, 1888, and has since its birth drank vigor
from the fountain of wholesome reform. In a word, it is the healthiest
Scandinavian society in the city of Seattle, and some of the members
merit gratitude for their indefatigable work. G. Nygard, Gust. Thompson,
Ole Finnoy, Martin Erickson, Ole Larsen, James Eggan, Anton Peters, B.
H. Miller, Peter Peterson, W. T. Hillestad, A. Zaar, and Belle and Lena
Egge, Christina Newgard, Augusta and Lottie Stromberg, Mrs. Emma Eggan,
Ida Peters and Matilda Iverson have sacrificed both time and energy for
the advancement of the temperance cause.
[Illustration: THE BALTIC LODGE, I. O. G. T., ON A PICNIC.]
A Swedish society, baptized Svea, the 31st of May, 1894, had but a few
struggles with the chilly world. The following year it withered into
oblivion unsung. Nordmændenes Sangforening (Norwegian Singing Society)
was organized in November, the same year, but soon gave signs of
ephemeral existence. The Sagatun was born the year after, lingered on a
narrow path for a while, finally fell into an innocent grave.
The Swedish Club, organized in 1892, is a healthy and vigorous society.
From its embryo to the present time it has had a smooth run of sunshine
and prosperity. It takes unity of hearts and energy to steer a social
fleet through all sorts of weather from the tiny stream of embarkation
into the calm sea of triumph. The Swedish Club has accomplished this.
The object of the organization is exclusively fraternal, to unite the
Swedish elements in the city by friendly ties, and to extend a warm
hand to those coming within its reach from other cities or climes. The
first officers were: H. E. Humer, Prest., Rudolph Alm, V. Prest., David
Petree, R. Sec., G. Edinholm, F. Sec., Andrew Chilberg, Treasurer, A. T.
Lundberg, Librarian, Hugo Hettengren, M. C. At its rift of morn only
thirty-two names smiled on the recording scroll, while now two hundred
members in good standing bespeak its strength, with the following
incumbent officers: J. M. Johnson, Prest., N. J. Nyquist, V. Prest., A.
Zaar, R. Sec., H. J. Norden, F. Sec., N. B. Nelson, Treasurer, A. T.
Lundberg, Librarian, J. Nyman, M. C., and P. J. Melin, Otto Roseleaf and
D. Nordstrom, Trustees.
The Danish Brotherhood, a national league of high standard, aiming to
benefit and to educate, found admission to Washington about eleven years
ago. The Seattle Lodge 29, was organized April 8, 1888, with eleven
chartered members, which now numbers one hundred and fifty. The Danish
Sisterhood, an auxiliary to the Danish Brotherhood, has taken steps in
the right direction, working to sweeten and strengthen the ties of love
and mutual amicability.
The Norwegian Workingmen's society sprang into existence about eight
years ago, and lived through many scenes of joy and pathos, now
flourishing, now trembling to its foundation. Alas! detonating meteors
exploded within its labyrinth and gloomy melancholy spread her black
veil, an oratorical flower dropped here, and a declamatory bloom there,
at last the tree of support shivered in chilly desolation, and withered
into nothingness.
[Illustration: THE 17TH OF MAY COMMITTEE, 1899.
A. Dahl, H. P. Rude, Erik Frisch, N. A. Christof, Frank Oleson,
Jacob A. Hendricks.]
The Norse Club, organized three years ago, has reveled in healthy
sunshine, and smiling tendrils have encircled its prop. The 17th of
May, 1899, bespeaks its culmination. The celebration of Norwegian
independence under its banner was a marked event among the
Scandinavians.
Thousands of people gathered at Madison Park, Seattle, from all parts
of the Sound, to participate in perpetuating the memory of the Norse
heroes. Honor is due to the following gentlemen for launching and
piloting this social ship into a haven of safety: H. P. Rude, C. M.
Thuland, Frank Oleson, Christian Bolgen, A. J. Thuland, A. H. Soelberg,
B. A. Clausen, N. A. Christof, A. Scottness, Theodore Pederson and
Julius Sunde.
Fremad, the social wing of the Norwegian Lutheran church, has lived
through many upheavals, and yet looks forward with unclouded eyes. The
other Scandinavian churches have their inviting adjuncts, but of more
recent date, which tender valuable aids to their respective mothers.
[Illustration: JAMES EGGAN.]
Scandinavians in Seattle have been fortunate in having men and women
gifted and willing to make the social feature of life entertaining
and successful. Of all the gaudy society flowers, no one merits more
applause than the genial photographer, James Eggan. He was born in
Osterdalen, Norway, 1872, came to America in 1880, locating in the city
of Minneapolis. From boyhood he evinced unusual talent as a comedian and
as an artist. He could have gathered jewels on the stage as well as in
the photographic studio. In 1889, he set out for the Pacific, and
after taking a survey of the picturesque Puget Sound, selected Seattle
as his future abode. Though only a youth of seventeen, yet he soon
invited the attention of the public in both the social and the artistic
world. Not only is Mr. Eggan possessed of natural endowments as a
photographer and as a reciter, but is a true type of integrity and
honesty.
Very few cities of three decades in the United States can boast of more
short-lived Scandinavian newspapers than Seattle. The Scandinavian
Publishing Company was the first on record, and issued two Scandinavian
weeklies, viz., Vestra Posten and Washington Posten, which yet live and
thrive. This company dissolved, and from its dissolution sprang two
others; The Swedish Publishing Company, issuing Vestra Posten and a
Norwegian concern of similar nature, publishing Washington Posten.
Vestra Posten was founded by N. P. Lind and T. Sandegren, and Washington
Posten by Frank Oleson, assisted by Julius Sunde. The former is at
present in the hands of N. G. Lind, J. W. Martin and A. Olson, who have
raised the paper to a high standard. The latter is owned and edited by
A. J. Thuland. C. M. Thuland, now lawyer, also gave heed to journalism.
He turned out Seattle Tidende and The North, but both fell into an early
tomb.
Julius and Engward Sunde organized and published Fram, which blossomed
and bore fruit, but one sad day it was stretched on a lazy bier and
wheeled to the grave. Folketidende popped into existence about four
years ago but through some intrigue it died and was buried minus tears
and ceremony. Folkets Blad was the next of the ephemeral journals; it
was born in 1899, lingered through a few sunny months, then swallowed,
without pity, by Tacoma Tidende.
[Illustration: GEORGE BECH.]
Anent men of literary ability among the Scandinavians, George Bech,
without doubt, stands in the first rank. He is a well-known author,
musician and business man of Seattle, born in Roeskilde, Denmark, April
4, 1846. After finishing his education in the State School, 1865, he
was awarded the degree of A. M., and the following year took examin
philosophicus, Ph. M., at the University of Copenhagen; studied
mathematics for some time, then went into business, trading in Norway,
Sweden and Germany, but always assiduously at work during leisure
writing poems and novels for the different journals of Denmark and
Norway. In the latter country he made acquaintance with Olaf Lofhus,
editor of "Bergens Tidende," to whose paper he frequently contributed,
and Johan Sverdrup, then president of the National Storthing, in whose
house he was a welcome guest. In 1887 he left Copenhagen, arriving in
Seattle, August 22, where he found a rich field for his literary talent,
for some time contributing to local and other papers, then editor of
Folkedidende, and later Folkets Blad. He has written an exquisite
dramatic work, "Hæng Ham," and a song, "Old Glorious Glory," which
he has also put to music. It is Mr. Bech's ambition to have his song
adopted as a national hymn. He was married in May, 1880, and has one
son, sixteen years old.
[Illustration: GRAEBERT ANDERSEN.]
Graebert Anderson, an eloquent ex-minister of the M. E. church, and
a gifted writer, was born in Denmark, 1860. After graduating from the
public schools, he spent some time in private study, with a view of
entering some academy, but instead of carrying out his plan, he left for
America, when about eighteen years old. Shortly after his arrival in the
New World, he commenced to prepare for the ministry of the M. E. church
at the university in Evanston, Illinois. Here he spent five years,
then migrated to the Pacific, where he has been recognized as the most
eloquent pulpit orator among the Scandinavians on the coast, and has
served as expounder of the gospel in the largest Norwegian-Danish
churches, namely in Oakland and Eureka, California, and Tacoma and
Seattle, Washington. Two years ago he resigned from the ministry to
devote his time to journalism. In 1889 he was married to Miss Lottie H.
Christensen, a lady of fine education, a teacher in the public schools
of Racine, Wisconsin. They reside in Seattle, where Mr. Anderson is
interested in newspaper business, being secretary of the Tacoma Tidende
Publishing Company, with office in Coleman building, First Avenue,
Seattle.
[Illustration: REV. JOHN JOHNSON.
Presiding Elder of the Swedish M. E. Church.]
[Illustration: SWEDISH M. E. CHURCH, SEATTLE.]
[Illustration: SWEDISH BAPTIST CHURCH, SEATTLE.]
[Illustration: NORWEGIAN-DANISH LUTHERAN CHURCH, SEATTLE.]
[Illustration: NORWEGIAN-DANISH BAPTIST CHURCH, SEATTLE.]
Scandinavians have been liberal in their contributions to religious
worship. Eight Scandinavian churches in the city of Seattle join to
confirm this fact. The various denominations are represented: Lutheran,
Methodist, Baptist, and Mission Friends. There are one Swedish and two
Norwegian-Danish Lutheran churches, one Swedish and one Norwegian-Danish
Baptist churches, one Swedish and one Norwegian-Danish Methodist
churches, and one Swedish Mission church.
SCANDINAVIANS IN BALLARD.