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this site was only across the public road from the one originally thought of, plans for building were immediately made. A. P. Falk was chosen to circulate a subscription list for the purpose of raising the money with which to buy lumber for the roof of a sod building, to be used as a church.    Mr. Falk completed his task, and in the late summer of 1879 a sod church was erected on the Hokanson site at a cost of $121 for lumber and $7.50 for nails. The sod was plowed up in a pond a quarter of a mile north of the place, and the walls were erected in two days, the members of the congregation all lending a helping hand. The roof was made in the usual way, out of boards, tar paper and sod, but as the building was a large one, 40 feet long by 20 feet wide, this proved too heavy and threatened to cave in. It was deemed unsafe before the end of two years. A shingle roof was then put on and this served until the new temple was completed.    A. P. Falk, John Abrahamson and Andrew Berkman did the carpenter work on the wooden portions of the old sod church. They also did what little interior work was necessary. John Abrahamson built a platform at the further end of the church. He also made the pulpit, which was wide and square, framed and panelled in front, and had a shelf for books in the rear.    The church was now ready for service, but it had no floor. Mr. Sargent, the director for the school district just organized, but which had no school house, proposed to the congregation that the district lay

the floor, provided the keeping of public school in the building should be allowed. This was granted and the church was given a floor. Seats were lacking. A collection was taken for the purpose of buying lumber for the seats. The collection was not enough, and again Mr. Falk circulated a subscription list for the purpose of raising the amount lacking. When a sufficient sum had been raised and lumber gotten, he and Mr. Abrahamson made the seats. These were simply pine benches with no backs. There was, however, one exception: there was one seat with a backrest to it, and that luxury belonged to Otto Sand, who had it built especially for himself and family. This piece of art and comfort had its place near the front. But the back part of the church was still empty and Mr. Falk and Mr. Abrahamson constructed a few more, enough to fill the floor. These were their individual property and were removed when Mr. Falk and Mr. Abrahamson joined the people who organized the Salem M. E. Church, three miles to the southeast.    The Fridhem congregation was incorporated on the 28th of November, 1882, and the names of B. J. Fahlund, A. J. Olson and C. J. Johnson (Charlie Fletcher) appear as deacons, and C. J. Johnson, Otto Gustafson and B. J. Fahlund as trustees, in the articles of incorporation.    How the Rev. Elias Peterson acquitted himself of the task imposed on him by the congregation, we may judge from reading his report to the Kansas Conference, in session at Kansas City, June 12-15, 1879. From this report we gather the information that the matter of Fridhem's

organization, and its application for admittance into the conference, had been broached when the conference last met in Omaha, February 26 to March 2, 1879, and that its case had been unfavorably regarded. But this report gives the true conditions at Fridhem and no doubt had a hearing on the case later on.

    At the conference of October 6--10, 1880, held at Edensburg, Neb. Fridhem again asked admission, but as protests had been entered both by Bethania and Bethel, the petition was refused.

    Here was a unique situation. A congregation of more than 100 members, who were and wished to continue to be Lutherans, could not gain entrance into a synod of Lutherans. The only thing brought forward against the congregation was that the people in the territory were too few and too poor to maintain a church. As a good many congregations with a smaller number of communicants and whose future prospects could not compare with the prospects of the Fridhem congregation, had been admitted, this rebuff was considered an injustice by a number of its members. The feelings of sorrow among the people of Fridhem over this matter shall not be described in this article. Suffice it to say that the Augustana Synod and the Lutheran Church of America were, by a few, compared to the State Church of Sweden, and these suggested that it would be better to organize as a different denomination than to have no church at all. Thus a leaven of discontent was introduced and a number of the most prominent and active members demanded their letters and organized a Methodist church three miles to the southeast of the Fridhem temple, and the congregation lost a valuable portion of its membership. A statement printed nearly twenty-five years later in Omaha Posten says that one-half of the members left at the time of this division.

    These were dark days for Fridhem. The prospect was most dubious. Had the Lord forsaken His children, that He should thus allow them to become divided and scattered? No. The Lord had not forsaken His children, neither had He forgotten them. Whenever He has a work to be performed, and the proper time arrives, He always has a man for the task. Thus it was in Fridhem. As murmurs of discontent arose, Jons Person always voiced the sentiment that the congregation should stay together, and Andrew Akeson had this piece of sage advice: "Let us wait, perhaps our case will be viewed in a different light presently." Thus Akeson och Person became towers of strength to the remnant few, who had become almost like unto a family whose home is threatened to be consumed by fire. But to another man, to B. J. Fahlund, fell the lot

of holding the timid and almost despairing congregation together during these times of sore distress and trial. Fahlund was a small man, appearing smaller by reason of a physical deformity, but he had strong will-power and a mind capable of grasping the crucial moment of a situation. He possessed a complete trust in the Lord and an unflinching sense of duty. He took a broad and generous view of people and events and was as willing to wait as Akeson was to advise the waiting. He conducted services every Sunday during the long time of suspense.

He organized a Sunday-school of which he was the superintendent. He taught parochial school and imparted to the children of the parish the fundamental principles of Christianity. He functioned in the Holy Sacrament of Baptism and at funerals. He went as a delegate to conferences and mission meetings, and finally had the satisfaction of viewing the dawn of a better day for his beloved Fridhem. The congregation was admitted into the Augustana Synod when that body met in Red Wing, Minnesota, June 14-22, 1883.

   After this Fridhem felt established on firmer ground. It was part and parcel of that organization which represents the Lutheran faith in America and could issue a call to a Lutheran pastor. Hence, in the first

part of the year 1884 the Rev. C. H. Södergren of Geneva, Illinois, was given the call. This call was by Bethel and Fridhem jointly, and the salary promised by the Fridhem congregation was $250. Södergren accepted and by next May was established at his post in a sodhouse between the two charges.

 

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