engaged as
pastor in New York and Brooklyn from 1873, until 1917, when failing
health compelled him to retire.

"At present, the Norwegian Lutheran churches of Greater New York are
carrying on an active and aggressive work. Their total membership is not
as large as it might be. Partly because the Norwegians coming here from
the State Church do not at once realize the importance or necessity of
becoming members of local congregations, but have the idea that as long
as they attend services, have their children baptized and confirmed, and
so forth, they are members of the church. The report of the membership
of the churches is therefore, hardly a correct indication of the number
of people reached or even the strength of the Norwegian Lutherans in the
Metropolis.

"The language question is one of great difficulty. Many of our people
live, as it were, with one foot in Norway and one in America; and are
thinking of returning to the old country at some time or other. There is
also a constant influx of new people from Norway which makes it
imperative to have Norwegian services constantly. On the other hand, the
young people are rapidly Americanized and prefer to use the language of
the country, which necessitates English work, and where this demand is
made, the young people are, generally speaking, quite loyal to their
church, but it is no easy matter to satisfy both elements and to keep
the old and the young together in the same church.

"The Norwegians have been very active in Inner Mission and Social
Service work. As witness: the organization of the Norwegian Lutheran
Deaconesses' Home and Hospital about thirty years ago. This institution
has now grown to be the largest Norwegian charitable institution in the
country and has a splendidly equipped modern hospital and an excellent
Sisters' Home, which together represent a value of $500,000. It is not
owned by a church, but is owned and controlled by a corporation of
Norwegian Lutherans.

"The churches have directly been engaged in Inner Mission work for a
number of years, and now have three city missionaries constantly at
work. The institutions conducted by this branch of the service are the
Bethesda Rescue Mission at Woodhull St., Brooklyn, the Day Nursery at
46th St., Brooklyn, and an extensive industrial plant also in Brooklyn.
Besides the Inner Mission has purchased land on Staten Island and
erected a cottage there for a summer colony for poor children. The
Norwegians