Trail Markers A Newsletter of The History Center
October 2010
Volume 10, No. 1
Swedish Baptist Hymnody:
Dr. C. Howard Smith and the Pietistic Tradition By G. William Carlson
(Adapted from an article in the Baptist Pietist Clarion, July 2004)
In the back of hymnbooks often found in Baptist General Conference (BGC) churches is a collection of Swedish hymns that emerged from the pietist roots of 19th century Scandinavian “free-church” traditions along with sympathizers in low-church Lutheranism. The Worship and Service Hymnal, published in 1964, included 15 favorite Swedish-translation hymns in an edition that was only available from Harvest Publications. These hymns were recommended by the hymnal study committee of the Board of Publication of the BGC. One of the major scholars of Scandinavian hymnody was Dr. C. Howard Smith, professor of music at Bethel College from 1948–1980, who was Dr. C. Howard Smith also a gifted conductor and organist. Singing in the male chorus under his direction was a wonderful experience for Bethel students. He frequently referenced the Swedish hymns as helpful to one’s Christian journey and often included them in the choir’s concert programs. Smith’s monograph, Scandinavian Hymnody from the Reformation to the Present, is an important contribution to an understanding of Swedish pietist hymnody and the origins and themes of the Swedish hymns. Pietist believers in the free-church communities
and their supporters in the Lutheran movement were appreciative of the great hymns of the Swedish revival movement. John Alexis Edgren, the first president of Bethel Seminary, often wrote about the value of pietist hymns, especially “The Lamb’s Songs.” These songs expressed a deep longing for experiencing the love of Christ and a desire to live like Jesus. “O, that I could see my Jesus” was a common theme throughout the pietist section of the early issues of Evangelisk Tidskrift (Evangelical Journal). The Christian faith, stated Edgren, “goes deeper than to the mind or the will; it reaches the heart’s deepest inclinations and puts up its throne there. It is a loving trust in Jesus, our once dead, but now living Lord and Savior” (September 1879). Several of the Swedish pietist hymnists were important to early Swedish Baptist churches. The hymns were the expression of songs from the hearts of the people. Two of the hymns, “God’s Mighty Wonders” and “I Have a Friend,” were written by Nils Frykman (1842–1911), a public school teacher in Sweden who became active in the revival meetings in the late 19th century. This was a time when “crowds of believers and seekers gathered in farmhouses where they preached, prayed, and sang of their faith and the desire for a fuller spiritual experience” (Smith, p. 166). Frykman eventually resigned from his teaching position “under pressure because of his obvious deviation from the teachings of the State Church.” He was eventually ex onerated of the charges and received his call to become pastor of the Swedish Mission Tabernacle in Chicago in 1887. More than 100 of his hymns were found in the early hymnal of the Mission Covenant Church. continued on p. 2 1
If I Gained the World
Day by Day
by Anna Olander
by Lina Sandell
If I gained the world, but lost the Savior, Were my life worth living for a day? Could my yearning heart find rest and comfort In the things that soon must pass away? If I gained the world, but lost the Savior, Would my gain be worth the lifelong strife? Are all earthly pleasures worth comparing For a moment with a Christ-filled life?
Day by day, and with each passing moment, Strength I find to meet my trials here; Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment, I’ve no cause for worry or for fear. He whose heart is kind beyond all measure, Gives unto each day what He deems best, Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure, Mingling toil with peace and rest.
Had I wealth and love in fullest measure, And a name revered both far and near, Yet no hope beyond, no harbor waiting, Where my storm-tossed vessel I could steer; If I gained the world, but lost the Savior, Who endured the cross and died for me, Could then all the world afford a refuge, Whither, in my anguish, I might flee?
Every day the Lord Himself is near me, With a special mercy for each hour; All my cares He fain would hear and cheer me, He whose name is Counselor and Pow’r. The protection of His child and treasure Is a charge that on Himself He laid; “As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,” This the pledge to me He made.
O what emptiness! Without the Savior ’Mid the sins and sorrows here below! And eternity, how dark without Him! —Only night and tears and endless woe! What, tho’ I might live without the Savior, When I come to die, how would it be? O to face the valley’s gloom without Him! And without Him all eternity!
He moved to Minnesota in 1889 where he served five small churches in the Covenant denomination (Smith, p. 167). In 1907 he retired to Minneapolis and went to be with the Lord in 1911. Another Swedish pietist hymnist is Anna Olander. Born into a pastor’s family, she expressed an interest in writing materials for
children and young people. However, one of her major contributions to the Swedish music literature was “If I Gained the World but Lost the Savior.” It is illustrative of the “holiness” that pietism emphasized. She was a member of the “low-church branch of Lutheranism which was very sympathetic to the pietistic cause” (Smith, p. 215). Lina Sandell was also a Swedish pietist hymnist frequently found in Swedish Baptist worship hymnals. Born into a Lutheran pastor’s home in 1832, Sandell ranks among the highest in the percentage of her hymns to be found in the major Swedish free-
church hymnals. Two of her most familiar Swedish hymns are “Children of the Heavenly Father” and “Day by Day.” Sandell is referred to by some as the “Fanny Crosby of Sweden.” It is also of interest that Jenny Lind, a great Swedish vocalist, frequently performed Sandell’s hymns. Sandell’s work was enhanced by the melo dious music written for her hymns by people like Oscar Ahnfelt. Sandell gives Anhfelt credit for her own success as a hymn writer, once saying, “Ahnfelt has sung my songs into the hearts of the people” (Smith, p. 111).
Olson, Virgil, “The Baptist General Conference and Its Pietist Heritage,” Bethel Seminary Quarterly 4,3 (May 1956): 54–66. Smith, C. Howard, “The Hymnody of the Swedish Baptists,” Bethel Seminary Journal 17,3 (Spring 1969): 1–17. Smith, C. Howard, Scandinavian Hymnody from the Reformation to the Present (Metuchen, N.J.: The American Theological Library Association and The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1987). Stoeffler, F. E., “Pietism” in Dictionary of Christianity in America, ed. Daniel G Reid, et al. (InterVarsity Press, 1990), 902–904. Worship and Service Hymnal (Chicago: Hope Publishing, 1964); includes a section of 15 additional Swedish-translation hymns in an edition available through Harvest Publications.
Five Decades Book Introduced at Conference Meetings The new 50-year history of Bethel University and the Baptist General Conference (BGC) was unveiled at the end of June at the annual meetings in Denver. Five Decades of Growth and Change is a 675-page book detailing what has happened in BGC ministries and at Bethel from 1952 to 2002. More than 30 writers contributed to the book. In 1952 there were about 300 churches in the BGC and 50
missionaries on mission fields. Bethel had about 700 students. By 2002, there were 1,000 churches, more than 200 missionaries, and Bethel enrolled nearly 6,000 students. It was a half decade of tremendous growth and evident blessing from the Spirit of God. The book can be purchased for $20 from the Bethel Campus 2
Store (651.638.6202) or Harvest Publications (customerservice@ convergeworldwide.org). There is a $5 shipping charge. Five Decades is a companion volume to Centenary History by Adolf Olson, published in 1952, which documented the first 100 years of the BGC and Bethel.
Love of Life on Campus
Adapted from an article by Dean of Women Effie Nelson, Faculty Journal, February 1, 1961, p. 12-15
To be known as an authority on the subject “Love Life on the Bethel Campus” is a humbling experience and one that carries great responsibilities. Let it be understood that the vast amount of information that follows has been gained by observation and scientific research, not by personal experience. The Bethel campus seems to be a natural habitat for those who love one another. In a careful study of data collected between the years 1925 and 1961, six classifications of lovers become evident.
Types of lovers who attend Bethel: 1. The purse-bearer type: The tall handsome youth is brave enough and strong enough to carry “Lillums’” heavy purse. After the wedding, “Lillums” is strong enough to carry her own purse as well as his, and she holds the purse strings ever after. 2. The campus-leader type: The Bethel student senate’s motto is “Every student a leader.” There are many who lead each other up the steps, down the steps, down the hall, and into the chapel where they continue to hold hands. This type causes much frustration on the part of observers, as no one can determine who is leading whom. 3. The puppy-love type: These are the ever-present cuddlers who inhabit the lounges, who occupy only one-half of a car seat, and who make any spot on the campus a “mushing” area. This type proves the old saying that “puppy love leads to a dog’s life.” 4. The crooner type: This singing sobster is a forerunner or follower of Elvis and cannot be separated from his “musical instru-
ment.” When he sings “I’ve Got Love and a Dime,” it is evident that he overestimates his financial holdings. Whenever one is subjected to his nasal whine, the thought comes that the poor campus wolf is caught in a trap from which he will never escape. 5. The Sputnik type (space travelers): This type has no regard for time or place. They return late to the dormitory and bring with them fuzzy excuses they have gathered on their soaring expeditions: 1) “My watch stopped.” What a timely tale. 2) “We ran out of gas.” Too bad a car can’t run on hot air. 3) “We got lost in Como Park.” No one could doubt that story as they could get lost on the campus. 4) “We got a flat tire.” This tale falls as flat in 1961 as it did in 1930. 5) “We went canoeing and while we were in the middle of the lake we lost one paddle so we could only go in circles.” Is it possible that they are still going in circles? 6. The ideal-lover type: Yes, there is such a type. These lovers maintain high standards of ethics and of scholarship. They never make public demonstrations of their love for one another. They return to the dormitories on time. The great number of Bethel couples can be classified in this group.
Conclusions
Love life on the Bethel campus in 1961 is much the same as it was in 1925. The author predicts that future love activities will be as interesting as the past have been. What about long-range planning? Whether the campus is on North Snelling or in the Arden Hills area, the faculty must continue to look, to overlook, to listen, and “to suffer long and be kind.” 3
Swedish Hymn Sing Planned for Homecoming! On October 17, the Sunday of Homecoming weekend, the Bethel Alumni Association and the Friends of The History Center will sponsor a 3 p.m. hymn sing in Benson Great Hall. Everyone is invited, including those who have come for Homecoming. Jonathan Larson ’69, senior pastor at North Isanti Baptist Church in Cambridge, Minn., will lead the singing. Larson Bruce Stavem ’87 will be the organist. The plan is to sing the Swedish hymns that many of us have known since childhood. We may even try one verse of “Children of the Heavenly Father” in Swedish, for those who remember the language. Mark your calendar!
Note to our Minnesota Readers:
The Minnesota-Iowa Baptist Conference is considering whether to drop Baptist out of their name and change their name to Converge MinnesotaIowa or Converge Upper Midwest (or something like that). If you have an opinion one way or the other, this would be a strategic time to let your voice be heard. Call District Executive Dan Carlson at 651.633.0560 or email him at dcarlson@mail. mbcworld.org. You can also write him a note and mail it to 1901 W. County Road E2, St. Paul, MN 55112.
Spin-off Ministries from the Baptist General Conference At the recent annual meeting of Converge Worldwide (Baptist General Conference), two stories were told about significant spin-off ministries with their roots in the BGC. Among the key speakers was Wes Stafford from Compassion International, one of the largest international Christian children’s programs in the world. Stafford began his message to conference delegates by thanking the BGC for the existence of Compassion. Compassion International was begun by Everett Swanson, a Chicago BGC pastor. Another remarkable story of a ministry with strong BGC roots was told by Joel Wright, a current conference missionary to Brazil. Wright has become friends with pastors in the Assembly of God denomination. Through these pastors he learned that this great evangelical movement started in a church pastored by a Swedish Baptist missionary. Gunnar Vingren, a graduate of the Swedish Baptist Seminary in Chicago, became influenced by the emphasis on the Holy Spirit in the Azusa Street
revivals in California in 1906. Vingren felt called to Brazil and travelled there with another Swedish Baptist, Daniel Berg. They began their ministry by trying to help an existing Baptist church in Brazil whose believers felt that the strong emphasis on the work of the Spirit in Vingren’s teaching did not fit their congregation. They encouraged him to start his own church, which he did. That church became the mother church for the modern-day Assembly of God movement in Brazil. The Assemblieia de Deus is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Trail Markers is proud to present the work that God has done through the ministries of Converge Worldwide and Bethel University, but God also has employed brothers and sisters from our churches in many kingdom ventures far beyond the boundaries of the BGC. And in that we rejoice!
Steering Committee of The History Center: James Spickelmier, Chair; Diana Magnuson, Archivist; Alvera Mickelsen, Editor, Trail Markers; Stan Anderson; Marlys Arenson; Richard Burton; G.William Carlson; Gwen Forsline; Jonathan Larson; Dwaine Lind; Marv Lindstedt; Mary Jo Monson; Virgil Olson; Rich Sherry; Flossie Winquist
The History Center is housed and supported by Bethel University.
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