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1915 History

CHAPTER XV.

CHURCHES AND RELIGION. (CONT'D)

From History of Audubon Co., Iowa (1915)
by H. F. Andrews

DANISH LUTHERAN CHURCH, AUDUBON.

The Danish Evangelical Lutheran church, of Audubon, was organized, February 9, 1909, under the leadership of Rev. G. B. Christiansen, R. D. However, the church work among the Danish people in Audubon was begun about 1884. As most all of the Danes belong to the Lutheran church in Denmark and wished to continue the same relationship, the work was taken up among them, not by the mother church in Denmark, but by men whom God called to the ministry in this country, and who gladly took hold of the work among their countrymen in the United States.

Rev. Mr. Auker [?sic Anker], now (1914) located at Lincoln, Nebraska, was the first who held a Lutheran meeting in the Danish language in Audubon. He came here in 1884 from Elk Horn, Iowa, where he, at that time and for about thirty years, was located. He served the people for about two years.

From 1886 to 1888, Rev. C. Falck, now (1914) located in Jewell, Iowa, but who at that time held a charge in Oak Hill, came here and held services once each month. After some interruption in the services, Rev. A. C. Weismann, from Jacksonville, Iowa, came and held services from 1894 till 1902. Following him came Rev. Brede Johnson, from Buthana, Iowa, who served two and one-half years. In 1905 Rev. G. B. Christiansen, from Ebenezer, took up the work and continued to preach here until 1909. During the years prior to 1909, the church had no building of its own, but held services in the Evangelical church a large part of the time. Now it became more thoroughly organized with a membership of about one hundred and, opportunity presenting itself, bought the Baptist church, at a cost of three thousand dollars. The church has a seating capacity of four hundred. At the same time, the congregation bought a house located next to the church on the north, to be used as a parsonage. This house was rebuilt and modernized in 1914, so that now the church owns a splendid property, including a fine home for the pastor. In November, 1908, Rev. J. P. Christiansen, then in Lincoln. Nebraska, accepted a call here and, with his family, came here Mav 14, 1909, and has continued the work since.

The present membership is two hundred and seven. The Sunday school has ten teachers, with sixty-five children. The Young People's Society was organized, December 9, 1909, with twenty-eight members. The present membership is seventy-two. The Ladies Aid Society, which was organized some years ago, number forty-five. All of the services are conducted in the Danish language and, as one-fourth of the population of Audubon is Danish, there is a great field for work.

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Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, November, 2018, from History of Audubon Co., Iowa (1915), by H. F. Andrews, pp. 225-226.