Rev. Reuben E.
Nelson
The Bethel Clarion
Vol. XVIII No. 7 BETHEL INSTITUTE February 8, 1939
CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS HONOR
DR. EDGREN, FOUNDER OF SCHOOL
Bethel Loses Prof. Nelson
Dating back to 1927, pleasant connec-tions
between Rev. Reuben E. Nelson
and Bethel Institute have been constant-ly
increasing, and it is certain that future
connections between the two, even
though not quite as intimate perhaps,
Will prove to be as pleasant.
Rev. Mr. Nelson is the son of Mrs. P.
G. Nelson, of St. Paul, and of the late Rev.
P. G. 'Nelson. He grew up in a spiritual
atmosphere, accepted God's plan of sal-vation
at an early age and was baptized
on confession of his faith at the age of
nine. After graduation
from Des Moines Uni-versity,
Mr. Nelson en-tered
Bethel Theologi-cal
Seminary in 1927,
receiving his B.D. de-gree
from that institu-tion
in 1930. Since that
time he has taken grad-uate
work at Yale Uni-versity
and Andover-
Newton Theological
Seminary and received
in 1933 the degree of
Master of Theology.
While a student in the
East, Rev. Mr. Nelson held pastorates in
New Haven, Conn., and at Brockton,
Mass.
Becomes Promotional Secretary
With this excellent training and back-ground,
Mr. Nelson resigned his Brock-ton
pastorate to accept the position of
promotional and educational secretary of
our own Bethel Institute, taking up his du-ties
September 1, 1934. In pursuing his
work here at Bethel, Mr. Nelson had two
commendable aims, the first of which
was to successfully direct and control
the finances of the school; the other, to
interest many young people, particularly
those of our own denomination, in Bethel.
At the same time, he was zealous in fur-thering
the entire program of the Gen-eral
Conference. In this combination, Mr.
Nelson found a man-sized job—but he
proved equal to it.
Active On and Off Campus
Of the four and one-half years that he
was a member of the -Bethel school fam-ily,
four of those years were spent in the
above-mentioned capacity. The remain-ing
one-half year indicates his work as
fulltime professor in the seminary for
the semester which has recently been
completed. During that short period he
capably taught several subjects in the
Men of Note Plan
Southern Tour
KANSAS, HERE WE COME!
When one begins to hear familiar
songs echo in the rooms and halls, he
can be certain that the Male Chorus is
preparing for the annual spring concert
tour. No single event holds with it such
significance and carries such anticipa-tion
to the downy maestroes of Bethel as
this trip.
So once again this spring, the tremelo
tenors and the blaring basses eagerly
await the day when they may take a box
of Vicks, pack suitcases to capacity, fill
pocket's with penny post cards and board
the bus that will transport them on the
journey.
Six States to Be Visited
This will be the seventeenth season
that the Male Chorus will make a good-will
tour to represent the school and our
Lord, Jesus Christ. A twelve-day trip,
beginning the day after Easter, has been
outlined, that will include concerts in
churches in southern Minnesota, South
Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and
Iowa.
All of the fellows eagerly await for the
dawn of April 10, for it is then that the
assigned numbers are called out and the
bus leaves for the extensive trip. The
executive committee of the club with Ned
Holmgren as president is co-operating
with the administration to make final
and detail arrangements for the 1939
tour.
seminary and one course in the Christian
Workers' department of the Junior Col-lege.
In addition to his secretarial and
teaching work, Rev. Mr. Nelson served
as secretary of the Alumni Association
for several years.
Despite the loss which the school has
felt in Prof. Nelson's leaving, students
and faculty rejoice with him in his ad-vancement
and wish him crowning suc-cess
in all of his endeavors as the new
executive secretary of the Minnesota
Baptist Convention.
IMPORT OF EVENTS MAKES
A WEEK OF SERVICES
The annual Founder's Day celebration
has this year been lengthened to almost
a full week of festivities with a special
program arranged, bringing speakers
from as great distances as Chicago, Ill.,
and Rockford, Ill., and enlisting all the
churches of the conference to commemo-rate
the one-hundreth anniversary of the
birth of John Alexis Edgren.
Dr. Alexis Edgren
In past years, the celebration has been
a program of one day, to 'which those in-terested
in the school were invited to
the school were invited to keep alive the
memory of him who sacrificed so much
that we, who were to follow, might have
an institution in which to train for the
great work of forwarding the gospel at
home and abroad. This year being the
one-hundredth anniversary of his birth,
it was considered appropriate to cele-brate
it by a week of special commemo-rative
services throughout the denomina-tion.
This celebration, if carried out ac-cording
to the ideals and objectives set
before it, will promote the future growth
and prosperity of the work of'the school
and its part in the extension of the King-dom
of God.
(Continued on page 3)
Sacredly Secular
The normal life of a student is fourfold.
We catagorize the different elements in our lives in these four groups to show the
complexity of one's life, not in order, to set up division. But all too often this is the
case. One person is a marvelous athlete but a poor student; another is a marvelous
student but definitely a social wall-flower. The one Christian is a pious person, but
a poor sport. What a tragedy.
There is but one single objective in our life and that is to glorify Christ. In order
to do that, we must advance as He, "in wisdom and stature, and favor with God and
man." Unless we do so in every respect, we're not living up to the utmost of our
capabilities. Study to the glory of Christ, play to the glory of Christ, sing to His
glory and live completely to His glory.
Make the so-called secular side of your life sacred.
DEVOTIONS
Thy Word have I hid in my heart. Psa. 119:11.
David reveals the best method of studying God's word when he cries, "Teach
me, 0 Lord, the 'way of thy statutes." v. 33.
It has rightly 'been said, "He who is his own pupil has' a fool for a master."
How foolish of man to grope in the mysteries of such a Book when he can' call
on the Author who has promised, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way
which thou shalt go."
A lesson is not necessarily learned because we have memorized the text.
A learned lesson requires a comprehension of all that the facts contain. "Give
me understanding, and I shall keep thy law," pleads David, and so shall we
that our soul may be deified.
The soul with such an education needs help in its application. Let him
pray, "make me to go in the way of the commandments." He will then step
out, a living epistle, to reveal the wisdom of God to a lost and ignorant world.
—Carl Holmberg.
Page 2 THE BETHEL CLARION
The Bethel Clarion
BETHEL INSTITUTE
1480 N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul, Minn.
Official School Paper of Bethel Institute Published twice
monthly during school year
EDITORIAL STAFF
Gordon Peterson—Carl Young Co-editors
John Valine News Editor
Viola Waihela Feature Editor
Vernon Pearson Sports Editor
BUSINESS STAFF
Alrik Blomquist Business Manager
Dorothy Drotz Asst. Business Manager
Stanley Rendahl Circulation Manager
Doris Eggleston Asst. Circulation Manager
Grace Widen—Elaine Youngquist Typists
ADVISERS
Miss Enid Platte Editorial
Dean Emery A. Johnson Business
Student Opi•n ion 4
Question: How could Bethel be im-proved?
Stress that the college is not neces-sarily
a training place for preachers and
missionaries but that it is an accredited
secular educational school in a Christian
atmosphere.—Frances McOlash.
Every one should attend to his own
business and not every one elses.—Ruby
Christianson.
Forth Into the Future
Two prominent Bethelates have consented to fill in the vacancies left in the class-es
taught by our former professor, Reuben Nelson. Rev. E. A. Finstrom, who taught
in the Seminary from 1920-1934, will return to give instruction in Biblical Archeolo-gy,
a subject which he taught here previously. Rev. Eric Lindholm, who substituted
at Bethel on another occasion, will become instructor in the class of Advanced Homi-letics.
Professor Olson has ,consented to add to his busy schedule the teaching of
the 8 o'clock Bible Class. The instructor in Greek Exegesis has not yet been an-nounced.
This arrangement is temporary. A new memiber of the faculty will be se-cured
for the next school year.
Vacancies arise and they must be filled. Therefore the above news is of impor-tance
to all Bethel students, especially those individuals in the seminary. Not that
mere names are a solution to the problem facing the school board and not so muck
that instructors have been found to take care of the classes that Prof. Nelson taught,
but the noble aspect of the appointments is the fact that these men were capable
and willing to step in when the time came for their call. High tribute is theirs.
We are likely to be under the erroneous impression that faculty changes will
cause the foldup of the school. The entire student body regrets exceedingly the fact
that Professor Reuben Nelson left the faculty (temporarily, we hope, for he is defi-nitely
needed in Bethel), and in due respect to the appointments made we can truth-fully
say, Bethel still marches on!
Change the idea that the first time you
take a girl out every one should talk
about it, and after the second time, you
may as well take her to the altar.—Hen-rietta
DeCamp.
A business course should be added to
the curriculuan.—John Valine.
More quiet in the libraries.—"Snuffy"
Smith.
The school year should be divided into
quarters instead of semesters, in order
that a student may start any time of the
year; examinations would be less of a
strain; and make the possibility of a
summer session.—Ethel Tederman.
'—Earl Sherman.
After all, we're in college, and we
should act a little grown up.—Dorothy
Beckman.
Supply another word instead of "Insti-tute"
to Bethel. It sounds like a place
for the mentally deranged.—The Wart.
The music department should be ex-panded.
The seminary could be adver-tised
more efficiently.—Sidney Larson.
A faith to step out and do things; those
things which we cannot already see.—
Gordon Anderson.
THE BETHEL CLARION Page 3
Reggy, Again?
Dear susie
ya no more git started when ya hav ta
begin period exams is over an we thot
sure that profs wod be so tireda seein
Fs that wed git it a lil Easier fer a spell
comma so that a coupla As wod crop up
but no sich luck cause no As aint flyin
Around period granpa ;holmberg sez to
grin an bear it but that grinning jist
dont corn natchurel an there aint No
choice about bearin it period we had a
fin time at chatooqua that other nite
period its kinda interustin ta see how
drawins is drawn And not only that it
was partikilar inturestin ta really find
out who Was the most distingushed gent
in tha school an when it came ta a show
down comma ell Sherman found his Place
period a thunda storm thundad arouii
one day an maid tha gulls a lil scared
but roy lundquiss jus slep rite thru it
period maibe it was roy wat scared tha
gulls period ow revow entil anuther
time. —from reggy.
Founder's Week
(Continued from page 1)
Memorial Library Is Project
A committee has also been appointed
to launch an Edgren Memorial Fund and
this committee recommends that plans
be made to include the erection of an
"Edgren Memorial Library" on the school
campus as a centenary project. Such a
project will meet a need of long standing
for better library facilities, as well as
for more room for the Seminary. At the
same time it would take the entire school
into consideration. The financial goal in
an effort of this type would have to be
about $35,000.
The week of activities is to open with
a banquet at the school on Monday eve-ning,
February 20, at which a Swedish
poem about Dr. Edgren will be read by
Rev. R. A. Arlander. Rev. L. J. Ahlstrom,
who is 85 years of age and the oldest
graduate of the school, will give an his-torical
sketch, and Dr. Arvid Hagstrom
will deliver an address. This banquet is
open to all.
There are to be day and evening ses-sions,
Tuesday through Friday, with the
day sessions at the school, and the eve-ning
sessions in the Twin City churches.
Two addresses between the hours of ten
and twelve each forenoon, two addresses
on each of the two afternoons, and one
address at the 7:30 meetings, will be the
daily program. Music will be furnished
by students for the services at school,
and the churches will furnish special
numbers at the evening sessions. The
main emphasis in the messages will be
upon the doctrines especially set forth by
Dr. Edgren.
COMING EVENTS
Feb. 13—Basketball, Bethany—there.
Feb. 14—A Cappella Choir party.
Feb. 15—Missionary Band.
Feb. 17—Basketball, Waldorf—here.
Feb. 18—Basketball, Farm School —
there.
Feb. 20—Basketball, Rochester—there
Feb. 20-24—Founder's Celebrations.
Feb. 2,2—Washington's b i r t h d a y, a
holiday.
Cordial Invitation
As we begin a new semester we are
looking forward to' a happy and profit-able
time as members of the Missionary
Band. A large number joined the society
last fall, but only a small percentage
have attended regularly. We should like
to see all who are really interested in
missionary activities take an active part
in both the mission study classes and the
missionary meetings held at various
places, as well as our regular monthly
meetings, held the third Wednesday of
each month. Tuesday, February 7, the
Mission Study Class, taught by Prof. A.
Olson, held its first meeting this semes-ter.
The Mounds and Midway nurses
were our guests. February 15 we have
our regular monthly meeting. An inter-esting
program is guaranteed, and we
would like to see you there, enthusiastic
and ready for a semester of active work.
—Ruth Ericson, Sec'y.
From Ear to Print
Ambrose Collins underwent an appen-dectomy
recently.
Ethel and Gerald Ahlquist made their
radio debut over station WMIN, Febru-ary
2. They were interviewed in regard
to their impressions of India.
Among previously mentioned students
who are not returning is Albert Sand-strom,
who temporarily discontinues be-cause
of poor health. Kermit Johnson
will also be missed the second semester.
Among the grads who has found favor
in news columns is Bob Wingblade who
won the "National" snowball throwing
contest at the University of Minnesota.
Willard Anderson, first year semina-rian,
has been forced to discontinue stud-ies
because of ill health.
C. J. & H. W. ANDERSON
JEWELERS
OPTOMETRISTS
1573 University Ave.
Midway 9910
Do "You Xemember ?
"Lightly Flying O'er the Stow"
January 22. A large group of the stu-dent
body enjoyed a sleigh ride party
given by the faculty. Three sleighs were
loaded and set out about the vicinity of
the school. Returning to the chapel, the
group enjoyed a light lunch served by the
faculty. Coach Adams directed a num-ber
of games after which songs were
sung.
"What Was He Doing, the Great
Gad Pan"
January 30. The artist, J. Franklin
Caveny, presented a pleasant evening of
entertainment. Mr. Caveny divided the
program into three interesting phases,
each representing an individual method
of visually translating his talents.
The portions of poetry and the illus-trations,
which he quoted as he worked,
sustained an undivided attention and em-phasized
the sentiments of the various
creations.
"Tribute to Whom Tribute is Due"
February 1. Tribute was paid to Dr.
Hagstrom by a student, Maurice Wess-man,
and a friend, Dr. Wall, at the Alexis
meeting. One phase of Pastoral Theolo-gy,
"The Pastor and the Young People,"
was discussed by Rodger Goodman, Ned
Holmgren, and Maurice Lawson.
Each meeting this spring will be held
in honor of a member of the seminary
faculty in which a 'brief life sketch will
be presented and tribute will be paid.
"Who is Sylvia, What is She?"
February 2. Honorable tributes were
paid to the bachelor life of Clarence Ol-son
last ground hogs day at the home of
John Valine by a group of "note" friends
of Bethel. About three years ago "Clag"
was afflicted with a dangerous case of
heart trouble that has doomed the days
of his single bliss.
The last rites will be on February
eighth when Clarence will take Sylvia
Abra,hamson, also a former Bethel stu-dent,
to be his wife.
Rumors:
WHAT: All school basket ball trip.
WHEN: Monday, Feb. 13, 1939.
WHO: Basket Ball teams, varsity and
girl's team, Band, and stu-dents
who wish to go.
PRICE: One Dollar per person.
AND SO: Watch for further definite an-nouncements.
DUPONT
5495
PRINTING
'HAT s""s"'s THE ANDERSON PRESS 11F 4209 Standish Ave. — Minneapolis
Page 4 THE BETHEL CLARION
Bethel Quint Continues
'Trophy'umphant March
Road Trip: One Defeat, One Win
The Bethel cagers were outplayed by
the fast moving St. Cloud Teacher's
freshmen team, January 30. Final score,
43-36.
The Brainerd J. C. five were nosed out
by the close margin on January 31. The
entire game was close but Bethel emerg-ed,
breaking a tie during the last few
seconds of play, 36-34.
Conference Tilts
Chalking another conference game in
the win column by defeating a basket-hot
Luther J. C. team on the opponents
floor the clique-passing Bethel cagers ad-vanced
in their efforts for a champion-ship.
Paced by "Del" Peterson who
scored 14 points, the Bethel squad held
the long end of a 30-28 score.
Bethel-30 fg. ft. p. Luther-28 fg. ft. p.
Peterson-F 4 6 2 Birkholz-F. 4 0 2
Paulson-F. 0 0 1 Preisz-F. 0 1 0
Johnson-F. 2 0 2 Mischke-F. 1 0 0
Sorley-F. 0 0 1 Schroeder-F. 0 1
Ferre-C. 2 2 3 Nolting-C. 0 3 1
Young-G. 0 0 1 Kujath-C. 0 0 1
Concordia Conquered
The Concordia Comets, exhibiting a
fighting spirit and demonstrating a scrap-py
team, fell by a close margin to the
powerful drive of a rejuvenated Bethel
squad in the second half of the fifth con-ference
game of the Bethel schedule.
Bethel's plunge for their fourth win start-ed
after the Comets had piled up an early
16 point lead in the first half. The fact
that four of Bethel's starting five were
benched because of fouls demonstrated
that all of Coach Adam's men are of near-equal
playing ability. D. Peterson, lead-ing
tonference scorer, captured high
point honors easily with 26 points, while
Brant, Comet forward, paced the losers
with 18 tallies.
Concordia-48.
Peterson-F. 10 6 0 Brant-F.
fg. ft. p. fg. ft. p.
4 10 3
Johnson-F. 2 1 4 Janssen-F. 2 0 2
Paulson-F. 1 0 3 Wittkop-C. 0 2 1
Edblom-F. 0 0 1 Nieting-G. 5 2 4
Ferre-C. 1 1 4 Taron-G. 5 1 4
Young-G. 3 0 4 Soeldner-G. —0 — 1 —3
Applequist-G. 1 0 4
Hovinen-G. 3 1 2 16 16 17
Holmgren-G. 0 1 21
— — —
21 10 24
Humor [esk ?]
The other day we were asked by one
of the beautiful coeds whether we had a
heart of gold. Of course we were eager
to admit that just such a thing was so,
but we were hardly prepared for the re-mark,
"Huh, just as I thought. Hard and
yellow."
"Mickey" stepped into a Mexican cafe,
and after glancing at the menu he de-cided
that he must have gotten into the
weather bureau by mistake. He read:
"Chile today. Hot tamale."
We've been rwatching with interest the
progress of the upper lip appendages of
several of our fellows. After inquiring
around a bit, we discovered that there
were several reasons for the display of
the abilities of some of our boys. We
found that one fellow says that a certain
young lady whom he secretly admires
(not too secretly), just adores a hair
mattress on a gentleman's upper lip. An-other
fellow is raising his nose tickler
on a dare, but we find that the main rea-son
is "because the other fellows are do-ing
it." One of the young ladies greatly
embarassed us the other day when we
appeared sporting our baseball whiskers
—(nine on a side)—by asking us if we
had forgotten to wash. Don't be sur-prised
if you should happen to see us
proudly displaying a few straggling hairs
under our nose, but we think that we
will leave the cultivating of a misplaced
eyebrow to the other fellow.
Have you noticed the group of sweet
hearts in the coffee shop lately?—No, we
mean the candy ones.
MIDTOWN COFFEE SHOP
1535 W. Como Ave.
Props. G. Anderson, R. Peterson
Bethel Baptist Church
24th St. and 28th Ave. S.
Rev. WALFRED HOLMBERG
Minneapolis, Minn.
EVERYBODY WELCOME
Central Baptist Church
Roy and Shield St.
Rev. ERIC ANDERSON
St. Paul Minnesota
FIRST SWEDISH
BAPTIST CHURCH
8th St. and 13th Ave. So.
Pastor, A. E. SJOLUND
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Westlund's Market House
Quality Meats and Provisions
597 N. Snelling, cor. Thomas
We Deliver N Estor 1321
LOFROTH BAKERY
Complete Line of Bakery and
Delicatessen for All Occasions
1193 Payne Ave. TOwer 2910
Hamlin Hardware Co.
GENERAL HARDWARE
F. 0. Hagen J. W. Hagen
755 North Snelling Avenue, St. Paul
Hovinen-G. 0 0 2 Horn-G. 2 2 4
Applequist-G 3 0 2. Kuether-G 0 1 2
Holmgren-G. 0 0 0 Mueller-G 2 2 0
— — —Muesing-G. 0 0 3
11 8 141 — —
9 10 13
Bethel-52.
Pittsburgh Coal Company
340 ROBERT STREET
Cedar 1851
