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one half on each date. Money was hard to get and there was considerable lagging in the payments. To remedy this the congregation was divided into collection districts and a collector appointed for each district. The church district extended two miles north and two miles south of the church, the north district as far north of this and the south district as far south as any members lived.    In 1887 Södergren accepted the call to Scandinavia, for half of his time, at a salary of $350. The salary paid by Fridhem was now $500 for the other half, but as he lived in this congregation, Fridhem naturally received the biggest half.    Rev. Södergren had to contend with ill health nearly all his life. This sometimes made him despondent. At such times he failed to see the bright side of things and thought his efforts were not appreciated, especially if they did not bring the speedy results he expected. In 1888 he accepted a call to Bertrand and in the beginning of 1889 the congregation was vacant.    That Rev. Södergren's efforts were appreciated by the people of the con-   _____ * See "Corrections" page

gregation is beyond dispute. Probably he was not allowed to see any of the fruit of his labors, but this is the way of life: what one sows others follow to harvest. Rev. Södergren is to this day held in fond remembrance by his former parishioners. None of the Fridhem pastors have been more beloved than he, and eternity only can reveal the effects of his personality.

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© 2002 for the NEGenWeb Project by Pam Rietsch, Ted & Carole Miller.