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Congregational Meeting Minutes: 1895-1909

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Norwegian Transcription



3 January 1895

The annual meeting of the St. Pauli Norwegian-Lutheran congregation was held in the school-house on January 3rd 1895. At the meeting Pastor Evensen acted as chairman and Pete Paulson as secretary.

Mr. A. A. Odegaard with wife and four children were admitted as members of the congregation. The constitution was read by the chairman and accepted by the congregation of St. Pauli congregation. Sponsors from Thief River Falls congregation admitted.

As trustees the following were elected:
A. A. Odegaard, trustee for 3 years
Gilbert Skjerva, trustee for 2 years
Pete Paulsen, secretary for 1 year
Ole Pedersen, treasurer for 1 year

John Skjerva church singer [kirkesanger] for indeterminate time proposed that the regular annual meeting shall be held in early December. Before the end of December the pastor’s salary shall be paid to the trustees and this was unanimously accepted. Proposed that every home-owning member of the congregation, or family breadwinner shall pay annually $ 3.00 towards the pastor’s salary. This was accepted.

A. A. Odegaard is nominated to allot gravesites for the congregation, unless the grave site is distributed in lots to families belonging to the congregation. But for those not belonging to the congregation, who wish to bury theirs, but demand 50 cents for every grave. This was unanimously accepted.

Upon proposal the meeting was ended.
P. Paulsen, secretary
Copied by Pete Semonson


4 February 1896

The annual meeting of the St. Pauli Norwegian Evangelical-Lutheran congregation was held in the school-house on February 4th 1896.

The meeting was opened with prayer and song by the pastor I. T. Aastad as chairman. P. Semanson is put forward and supported as secretary for one year. This was unanimously accepted.

Reported as members of the congregation on February 4th 1896:
Halvor Johnson with wife and daughter
Peter Thune with wife and 4 children
Lars Lökken with wife and 5 children
Hans Amundson with wife and son

Gunder Torgersen, Knut Finstad, and Mikkel Seland are appointed to be advisory members at the congregational meeting. Tollef Erikson is proposed and accepted as one of the trustees of the congregation for three years.

Hans Fredrikson is proposed and supported as treasurer of one year. The proposition was supported and unanimously accepted to make a collection at the next service to cover the costs for a congregational protocol and a book for the treasurer. The proposition was supported and unanimously accepted that a committee of three men is appointed to direct the work on the graveyard of the congregation. The supervisor of the committee is A. Odegaard.

Alex Arveson, Hans Amundson, and A. Odegaard are put forward and supported as Sunday School teachers. It was unanimously accepted, proposed and supported that every voting member of the congregation shall pay for the past year, 1895, $2.00 as the pastor’s salary. It was proposed and supported that every breadwinner shall pay $ 3.00 and every bachelor $ 1.50 as the pastor’s salary for the coming year 1896. This was unanimously accepted. It was proposed and supported that the pastor’s salary shall be paid to the trustees and handed over to the treasurer before the end of December 1896.

It was proposed, supported and unanimously accepted that our next annual meeting shall be held in the first half of January 1897.

It was proposed, supported and unanimously accepted that the congregation shall make use of [illegible] and of the Synod.

Upon proposal the meeting was ended.

Copied by P. Semonson, secretary

The officials of the congregation are, trustees:
Gilbert Skjerva until 1897
A. Odegaard until 1898
Tollef Erikson until 1899
Hans Fredrikson, treasurer 1 year
Pete Simonson, secretary 1 year

P.S., secretary


1 January 1897

The annual meeting of the St. Pauli Norwegian Evangelical-Lutheran congregation was held in the school-house on January 1st 1897.

The meeting was opened with song and prayer of Pastor I. T. Aastad as chairman. Ole Hestekind, Pete Sanders, and Charley Kron were appointed as consultant members of the meeting. Thereafter the report of the secretary was read and accepted without changes.

Election of officials. Pete Nilson was proposed and supported as trustee of the congregation for 3 years – approved, Pete Simonson was proposed and supported as the secretary of the congregation for 1 year – approved, Halvor Thorstweth was proposed and supported as the treasurer of the congregation for 1 year – approved. It was proposed and supported that all of the pastor’s salary shall be paid to the trustees and handed over to the treasurer before the middle of December.

It was proposed, supported and approved that a committee and man shall be elected to oversee the work on the gravesite of the congregation.
The leader of the committee is:
I. A. Odegaard,
II. Hans Amundson,
III. Peter Thune.

The proposition was supported and accepted that those not belonging to the congregation, who apply for a grave-place shall pay $ 1.00. A. Odegaard is put forward and supported to be the church singer of the congregation. Accepted.

John Skjerva and A. Odegaard are proposed as Sunday school teachers. Accepted.

Proposed, supported and accepted that the Pastor will decide whether the services are to be held in the eastern or the western school-house.

Proposed, supported and accepted that the congregation of St. Pauli shall apply to be admitted in the Norwegian Synod (general assembly) and that the congregation will accept the Synodal statutes.

On proposal the meeting was ended.

The official, trustees:

A. A. Odegaard until 1898
Tollef Erickson until 1899
Pete Nilson until 1900
Halvor Thorstveit, treasurer for 1 year
Peter Simonson, secretary for 1 year

Peder Simonson, the secretary of the congregation


28 December 1898

The annual meeting of the St. Pauli Norwegian-Evangelical Lutheran congregation was held in the Braaten schoolhouse on December 28th 1898.

The meeting was opened with song and prayer by Pastor I. T. Aastad as chairman. Thereafter the report of the secretary was read and accepted without changes.

Jorgen Thvetin and Ole Hestekind were admitted as consultant members during the meeting.

Election of officials:
A. Odegaard was re-elected as trustee for the congregation for 3 years.
Halvor Thortvet was re-elected as treasurer of the congregation for 1 year
Peder Simonson was re-elected as secretary of the congregation for 1 year

The grave-place committee:
Leader of the committee:
I. A. A. Odegaard,
II. Hans Amundson,
III. Peter Thune

The proposition was supported that Halvor Thorstveit shall take up a collection to cover the expenses for the grave-place of the congregation.

Sunday school teachers. John Sjerva is put forward and supported as Sunday school teacher. Ole Hestekind is put forward and supported as assistant teacher. A. Odegaard is put forward and supported as Sunday school teacher. Jacob Amundson is put forward and supported as assistant teacher. Accepted.

It was proposed and supported that the secretary shall collect a subscription towards the pastor’s salary. The subscription amounted to $ 46.00.

It was proposed and supported that the secretary shall write to the chairman of the Mission’s committee and ask the Mission for support to the pastor’s salary.

Upon proposal the meeting was ended.

Officials of the congregation, trustees:
Tollef Erickson until 1899
Pete Nilson until 1900
A. A. Odegaard until 1901
Halvor Thorstveit, treasurer 1 year
Peder Simonson, secretary 1 year

Peder Simonson, secretary of the congregation
Copied by Pete Semonson


21 January 1899

The annual meeting of St. Pauli Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran congregation was held in Braaten schoolhouse on January 21st 1899.

The meeting was opened by Pastor Aastad as chairman with reading from the Scriptures and prayer whereupon the chairman gave a summary over the state of the congregation and of his activities within the same, followed by the report of the secretary being read and unanimously accepted. Thereafter an assistant secretary was elected, because the secretary of the congregation was prevented from illness to be present.

Then the report of the treasurer was read and unanimously accepted. In the same report it was stated that during the past year between thirty-eight and forty dollars were received. At the same time the chairman announced that he had a balance in his favour of forty-four dollars from the congregation, that finally had been paid, and said that he would like to know what the congregation intended to do with the same. Whereupon Mr. Odegaard, as the chairman of the cemetery committee informed that the grave places of the congregation in the cemetery now was recorded.

It was then discussed to build a church within the congregation and it was decided to begin to work for the same. In this connection Hans Amundson offered to donate one and one-half acres of land to the congregation with higher, dry land in the south-eastern corner of the south-eastern quarter in Section. 25 – Township 158, Range 42, as building site for the church. The same offer was [illegible].

After this a subscription was raised to which around a hundred dollars was collected. These together with what the Ladies Aid in the western part of the congregation had, if they were willing to give it, and what else could be collected from subscriptions, were supposed largely to cover what was missing in the congregation’s subscriptions.

A committee was elected: Ole Pedersen, Johan Sjerva, Peter Nilson.

After that a building committee of five men was elected, whose members are the following: Pete Nilson, Hans Fredrikson, Jacob Amundson, Ole Pedersen, Andrew Odegaard.

It was now imposed on the building committee to work out a plan that would be the best to see to it that stones and foundation timbers were provided to the building site. And each and everybody present promised to help with all sorts of things. Thereafter a subscription was collected for the pastor’s salary which gave about thirty-eight dollars.

Then officials were elected. The following were elected:
Halvor Torstvet re-elected as treasurer for 1 year
Tollef Erickson re-elected and trustee for 3 years
Jacob Amundson elected as secretary for 1 year

After this it was decided to hold a special congregational meeting on March 7 at 1 o’clock in the afternoon in order to further discuss the various things. As proposed the meeting was ended by the chairman with the Lord’s prayer.

Officials of the congregation, trustees:
Tollef Erickson = 1902
Andrew Odegaard = 1901
Peter Nilson = 1900
Halvor Torstvet, treasurer 1 year
Jacob Amundson, secretary 1 year

Jacob Amundson, secretary of the congregation


4 March 1899

The meeting of St. Pauli Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran congregation was held in Braaten’s school house on March 4th 1899.

The meeting was opened with reading from the Scriptures and prayer by Pastor Aastad as chairman, whereafter the meeting was declared opened by the chairman and everyone was free to speak. He called the attention of the congregation to the purpose of this meeting. The report of the secretary was read by him and unanimously accepted without changes.
The proposition was supported and accepted to begin building the foundation of the church as soon as possible.

The proposition was supported and accepted to build the church 26 x 44 feet.

The proposition was supported and unanimously accepted to leave it to the building committee to settle when to start the building of the church.

Upon proposal the meeting was ended.

Jacob Amundson, secretary of the congregation

P.S. The proposition was supported and unanimously accepted to receive as member of the congregation Cornelius Oien and wife.


9 July 1899

The St. Pauli Norwegian Evangelical congregation held a meeting in Braaten’s school house on July 9th 1899.

The meeting was called to order by the chairman who read a communication from the chairman of a meeting of Synod pastors that had been held in Grand Forks, N.D. a while ago, in which was requested that the St. Pauli congregation give its pastor leave of absence to take charge of an office to which he had been elected by that meeting. After proposition the necessary leave was unanimously accepted.

It was then proposed and supported that the building committee should set about having the foundation wall started as soon as possible. Unanimously accepted.

After proposal the meeting was ended

Jacob Amundson, secretary of the congregation


9 December 1899

St. Pauli Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran congregation held its annual meeting in Braaten’s school house on December 9th 1899.

The meeting was opened with song, reading from the Scripture and prayer by Pastor I. T. Aastad as chairman. Then the report of the secretary from the last meeting was read and accepted without changes. After that the report of the treasurer was read and accepted unanimously.

Thereupon Mr. John Sjerva asked permission to speak and said that because of change of residence he could no longer remain in the congregation, and thanked for the time together so far and urged everybody to live a true Christian life. And he informed that he had gathered about eleven dollars for the church and that he would send it over as soon as the church was started on. Finally he wished the congregation and its members a good and prosperous future. Whereupon Pastor Aastad answered with a few and well chosen words and thanked him for what he had performed for the congregation and wished him the best in his new situation.

Thereafter were elected officials in the congregation: Mr. Peter Nilson was re-elected as trustee for three years, Halvor Torstvet re-elected as treasurer for one year, likewise Jacob Amundson as secretary, all unanimously accepted.

It was proposed and supported to hold a discussion meeting about the Christian brotherly punishment. It was unanimously accepted that the following committee was instructed to negotiate with those who have turned out to be in debt to the congregation: Pastor I. T. Aastad and Pete Simonsen. Unanimously accepted.

It was proposed and supported that the subscriptions committee as soon as possible shall begin its collection for the church. Unanimously accepted.

Thereafter Mr. Andrew Odegaard informed on behalf of the trustees that he had received the deed for the church lot, but that it had not yet been put on record. To fill the vacancy in the subscription committee after John Sjerva, was elected Pete Simonsen. On proposal the meeting was brought to and end with the Lord’s prayer by the chairman.

The officials of the congregation are as follows:
Trustees were elected:
Andrew Odegaard, 1901
Tollef Erickson, 1902
Peter Nilson, 1903
Halvor Torstvet, treasurer 1 year
Jacob Amundson, secretary 1 year

Jacob Amundson, the secretary of the congregation


12 January 1901

St. Pauli Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran congregation held its 7th annual meeting in Braaten’s school house on January 12th 1901.

The meeting was opened with reading from the scripture and prayer by Pastor I. T. Aastad as chairman, whereafter the report of the secretary from the last annual meeting was read and accepted without change. Then the report of the treasurer was read and accepted.

Thereafter the report of the secretary of the building committee was read and accepted by the congregation. This report informed that the church was now erected and that there were no longer any debts due insofar as the outstanding subscription covered this with surplus. Thereafter Mr. A. Odegaard reported on behalf of the trustees that the deed on the church site was on record and in his possession, and that the church was erected and nearly ready.

After which trustees were elected:
A. Odegaard re-elected as trustee for 3 years
H. Torstvet re-elected as treasurer for 1 year
J. Amundson re-elected as secretary for 1 year
Which was unanimously accepted.

Thereafter was collected a subscription for the pastor’s salary. The subscription amounted to about fifty dollars. It was proposed and supported that the trustees of the congregation shall negotiate with those members of the congregation who have turned out to be in debt to the congregation and find out their explanation about what they will do about it. This will be discussed at a later meeting with the congregation.

It was proposed and supported to form a committee of three men to take care of the religion school of the congregation. Accepted. Members of the committee: A. Odegaard, L. Lökken, H. Fredrikson

It was proposed and supported to elect Jacob Amundson as sexton for one year. Accepted.

Thereafter the chairman announced that Mr. Ole Helgesen and wife and adopted son wished to be accepted as members of the congregation. And that they would be admitted at the next service. Proposed and supported to give to St. Hilaire Synod congregation what stones were left over in the church yard. Accepted.

It was proposed and supported that the building committee was reduced from [illegible] to [illegible] members and that these also will serve as a subscription committee. Unanimously accepted. Members of the committee who were elected: Andrew Odegaard, Jacob Amundson, H. Fredrikson.

On proposal the meeting was ended with the Lord’s prayer by the chairman.

Jacob Amundson, secretary of the congregation

Trustees of the congregation:
Tollef Erickson, 1902,
Peter Nilson, 1903,
Andrew Odegaard, 1904

P.S. Proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to incorporate the congregation and that the chairman draws up the papers necessary.


9 June 1901

A special meeting was held in the church on June 9th 1901.

The chairman informed that the purpose of this meeting was to elect a representative and substitute for the coming annual meeting of the Norwegian Synod that was to be held in the Wild Rice congregation from the 20th to the 26th of June. Thereafter was proposed, supported and unanimously accepted to elect an representative and substitute and to this positions were elected Andrew Odegaard, Rep., Ole Helgesen.

After this the meeting was ended by the chairman


20 September 1901

A special meeting was again held in the church on Sept 20th 1901.

The meeting was called to order by Mr. Andrew Odegaard, who informed that the chairman was prevented from being present, and he informed that the purpose of this extra meeting was to find out what the congregation intended to do on account of that its pastor had by letter been summoned from Grand Forks. A. Odegaard was proposed, supported and unanimously accepted a chairman of the meeting, after which each and every man expressed his opinion about the matter which in all cases amounted to [an agreement] so that the present Pastor I. T. Aastad would stay to serve St. Pauli congregation if he could.

After this was proposed and supported to elect a committee of three men that would meet in Thief River Falls on the same day, and at a meeting there express the decision of the congregation, and further to handle matters on its behalf and with full authority. To form this committee were elected A. Odegaard, Pete Nilson, Ole Pederson.

After which the meeting was ended with the Lord’s prayer.

Jacob H. Amundson, secretary


11 January 1902

St. Pauli Scandinavian Lutheran congregation held its 8th annual meeting in Braaten’s school house on January 11th 1902. [Note: the church has changed from a Norwegian Lutheran congregation to a Scandinavian Lutheran congregation.]

The meeting was opened by the chairman I. T. Aastad with reading from the Scriptures, prayer and hymn song after which the chairman declared the meeting opened.

The Secretary’s report from the last annual meeting was thereafter read by the Secretary and also two special reports. These were put together into one, after which they were all unanimously accepted without changes. After this the treasurer read his report, which was also unanimously accepted without changes.

Then the secretary for the building committee of the congregation read the last reports of the records of the building committee that showed what actions had been taken to build the church, and also informed about the financial status which was shown to be good. Thereafter it was unanimously accepted without changes.

Then the meeting proceeded to discuss the incorporation of the congregation and it was decided that the chairman should read the incorporation form which he had brought. This was done after which it was proposed to accept the incorporation articles one at a time. It was unanimously accepted after the articles of incorporation had been read and accepted one at a time. It was proposed and supported to accept the same as a whole, which was unanimously done. These articles of incorporation say among other things that a trustee shall be elected within the congregation for a certain time, and that the congregation shall hold its annual meeting in December every year.

After this officials were elected.

Members of Corporation: I T Aastad, president
Trustees, members of Incorporation, 1904: Andrew A. Odegaard, Vice President
Trustees, members of Incorporation, 1905: Halvor J. Hostvet
Trustees, members of Incorporation, 1903: Pete Nilson
This was unanimously accepted.

Proposed and supported to elect Ole Pederson as member of and chairman for the building committee instead of Hans Fredrickson who has resigned. Unanimously accepted.

Proposed and suppoorted to elect a religion school committee of three men. As members were elected Halvor Torstvet, Hans Fredrickson, Ole Pederson.

A. Odegaard and J. Amundson were elected to be Sunday school teachers.

Proposed and supported to settle for a sum of ca. sixty dollars as the pastor’s salary for the year 1902. Unanimously accepted.

Proposed and supported that St. Pauli congregation will help to form a group for arranging district meetings. Unanimously accepted.

Delegates were elected:
Ole Pederson
J. Amundson

After which the meeting was ended with the Lord’s prayer

Jacob Amundson, secretary


8 December 1902

St. Pauli Scandinavian Lutheran congregation held its 9th annual meeting in the church of the congregation on Dec. 8th 1902.

The meeting was opened with reading from the scriptures and prayer by the chairman I. T. Aastad. After which the chairman declared the meeting opened and everyone was free to speak.Then the secretary read his report from the last annual meeting and likewise the treasurer gave his report both of these were unanimously accepted without change.

Proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to elect Gilbert Sjerva as trustee for a period of one year. Proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to elect Ole Viken as consulting member. Proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to re-elect Jacob Amundson as secretary for one year and Halvor Torstvet as treasurer for one year. Proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to elect A. A. Odegaard and Fredrik Sjerva as auditors of the accounts. Proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to settle for a sum of ca. sixty dollars and what more might come in for the same purpose as permanent annual pastor’s salary during the following financial year 1903. Accepted.

Proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to elect Jacob Amundson as sexton for one year.

Proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to elect a religion school committee of three members. The following were elected:
A. A. Odegaard,
Pete Nilson and
Halvor Torstvet

These were to see to it that there were held at least one one-month religion school within the congregation and to collect as much as they could in order to be able to meet the expenses of the same school.

Proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to leave to the trustees of the congregation to carry on with the improvements and further maintain the church and cemetery of the congregation, and have a steeple erected by the church as soon as possible. Proposed and supported and unanimously accepted that the reports of the building committee were added to the report of the congregation.

Proposed and supported to admit Halvor Viken as a member of the congregation. Unanimously accepted.

Trustees:
A. A. Odegaard 1904, H. J. Hostvet 1905, Gilbert Sjerva 1905
Halvor Torstvet, treasurer one year
Jacob Amundson, Secretary one year

Proposed and supported to consider Peter Thune as excluded from the congregation owing to his own relations to same. Accepted

After which the meeting was ended by the chairman with the Lord’s prayer

Jacob H. Amundson
Secretary of the congregation


14 December 1903

The St. Pauli Scandinavian Lutheran congregation held its 10th annual meeting in the church of the congregation on December 14th 1903.

The meeting was opened with reading from the scriptures and prayer by the chairman I. T. Aastad, after which the chairman declared the meeting opened and everyone was free to speak. Whereupon the secretary and the treasurer read their reports from the last annual meeting, both of which were unanimously accepted without changes.

It was proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to elect Martin Lökken as consulting member during the meeting. Whereupon Andrew Odegaard in words reported on behalf of the trustees and the auditors, which reports were unanimously accepted. Then the chairman re-appointed A. Odegaard and Fredric Sjerva as auditors of the accounts.

It was proposed and supported and accepted to re-elect A. Odegaard as trustee for three years, and also to re-elect H. Torstvet as treasurer for one year and J. Amundson secretary for one year. This was accepted. It was proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to elect Hans Fredrikson as sexton for one year.

It was proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to accept the offer of A. Odegaard to build a stables by the church of the size of 12 x 16 ft. Half of the same belongs to the congregation and the other part to Odegaard, on condition that the treasurer of the congregation pays Odegaard a sum of ten dollars after it has been completed. Proposed and supported to decide upon a sum of ca. seventy dollars as pastor’s salary for the coming financial year. Accepted.

It was proposed and supported that the religion school committee will see to it that as many religion school meetings as possible are held til the coming year, if possible for two months, and that its members will see to it that as much as possible is subscribed to the school. Accepted.

It was further proposed and supported and unanimously accepted that it is left to the trustees of the congregation to arrange for some improvements to the church, such as the building of a privy, and the arranging of steps and other things. This was unanimously accepted.

Further that it is left to the same trustees to have the cemetery of the congregation fenced in and also taken care of. Accepted.

Proposed and accepted that St. Pauli congregation will contribute to the expenses to build a stables at the parsonage in Thief River Falls with a subscription from its members, to be collected by the treasurer. After which the meeting was ended by the chairman with the Lord’s prayer.

By Jacob Amundson, secretary of the congregation

The trustees of the congregation: Halvor J. Hostveit 1905, Gilbert Sjerva 1906, Andrew A. Odegaard 1907


12 December 1904

St. Pauli Scandinavian Lutheran congregation held its 11th annual meeting in the church on December 12th 1904.

The meeting was opened by the chairman I. T. Aastad with reading from the scriptures and prayer. Whereafter the chairman declared the meeting opened and everyone was free to speak. After which the secretary and the treasurer read their reports and accounts. Both were found to be in order and unanimously accepted without changes.

It was proposed, supported and unanimously accepted to elect Ole Helgeson as trustee for three years. It was proposed and supported to re-elect J. Amundson and H. Torstvet as secretary and treasurer. Unanimously accepted.

It was proposed and supported to settle on a sum of ca. seventy dollars as pastor’s salary for the coming year. Unanimously accepted. Proposed and supported to elect J. Amundson as sexton with a salary of ca. two dollars for one year. Accepted. Proposed and suppported to elect A. Odegaard, John Sjerva, Ole Helgeson who form the building committee for further repair of the church. Accepted. After which the chairman appointed the re-elected A. Odegaard and J. Sjerva as auditors of the accounts for the coming year. Proposed and supported to re-elect the same as school committee for the coming year. Accepted.

Proposed and supported to appoint a committee of three members: A. Odegaard, O. Pederson, J. Amundson to negotiate about the move of the church to Hazel. Accepted.

After which the meeting was ended by the chairman with the Lord’s prayer.

Jacob Amundson, Congr. Secretary

The trustees of the congregation: Halvor Hostvet 1905; Andrew Odegaard 1906; Ole Helgeson 1907


11 December 1905

St. Pauli Scandinavian Lutheran congregation held its 12th annual meeting in the church on December 11th 1905.

The meeting was opened with reading from the scriptures and prayer by chairman I. T. Aastad who thereafter declared the meeting opened and everyone free to speak.

Whereupon the secretary and the treasurer read their reports. The report of the secretary was unanimously accepted. That of the treasurer was unanimously accepted with a formal correction.

Proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to elect Hans Fredrikson as trustee for three years. Proposed and supported and accepted to settle for a sum of ca. eighty dollars as pastor’s salary for the coming year.

Proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to elect a committee of three men, which were A. Odegaard and J. Amundson and H. Torstvet to oversee the installation of a pulpit and communion table and altar rails, which are made by Albert Angell at a cost of ca. seventy dollars. Also [illegible] a subscription for improvements at the church. For this was collected ca. ten dollars and fifty cents which, with a small contribution from the funds of the congregation are used to wall up the privy and the installation of stairs.

Proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to re-elect J. Amundson and H. Torstvet as secretary and treasurer for one year, and J. Amundson as sexton for one year.

Proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to elect O. Helgeson, A. Odegaard, L. Lökken as religion school committee and proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to elect P. Nilson, J. Amundson and H. Torstvet as cemetery committee for the coming year.

After which the meeting was ended by the chairman with the Lord’s prayer.

Jacob Amundson
Secretary of the congregation

To be the trustees of the congregation were elected: A. A. Odegaard 1906, Ole Helgeson 1907, Hans Fredrikson 1908


10 December 1906

The St. Pauli Scandinavian Lutheran congregation held its 13th annual meeting in the church on December 10th 1906.

The meeting was opened by the chairman I. T. Aastad with reading from the scriptures and prayer. After which the chairman declared the meeting opened and everyone free to speak. Whereupon the secretary read his report from the last annual meeting, which report was accepted without change. Thereafter Hans Fredrikson reported on behalf of the trustees. Then the treasurer read his report which was accepted without change.
After this A. A. Odegaard spoke and said that as far as he could see it was appropriate for the congregation to express its gratitude to the Girls’ Club [Pigeforeningen] for what it had contributed towards pulpit, communion table, and altar rails. It was proposed and supported and unanimously accepted that the chairman should express the gratitude of the congregation after a service.

It was proposed and supported to re-elect H. Torstvet as treasurer for one year and J. Amundson as secretary for one year. For appointment as sexton it was accepted to re-elect J. Amundson on the same conditions as before. Proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to elect H. Fredrikson, A. A. Odegaard, F. Erickson as religion school committee for the coming year. Proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to re-elect the same cemetery committee and to commission it to perform [illegible].

Proposed and supported and unanimously accepted that at least two months of religion school are held, and if possible more, during the coming year. Proposed and suppported and unanimously accepted to re-elect A. A. Odegaard as trustee for three years.

From the report of the treasurer it was evident that a remaining sum of about seventeen dollars and fifty cents was still not paid for the pastor’s salary, and was now underbalanced. And now Odegaard wanted to know what the congregation wished to do about this. Proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to collect a subscription to cover the deficit in the pastor’s salary.

The secretary spoke and said that he regarded it as fair that the congregation should pay him a compensation of ca. three dollars for extra work that he had carried out. This was, however, not decided upon at once.

Proposed and supported to allow the same sum for the pastor’s salary as last year. Unanimously accepted. Proposed and supported to elect a committee of three men to settle the pastor’s salary. Unanimously accepted to elect the members of the committee: J. Amundson, H. Torstvet, Cornelius Oien.

Proposed and supported that the pastor raises a collection to the Synod funds. Proposed and supported to elect as delegates to the district meeting in St.Hilaire: L. Lökken, and H. Hostvet. It was unanimously accepted to elect Odegaard as [illegible]. Proposed and supported and accepted to pay the secretary a sum of ca. one dollar and fifty cents for extra work performed on the church, such as walling of the privy and building of stairs with materials brought there, but the secretary finds that when the St. Pauli congregation finds that it cannot afford to pay him the sum he asked for, then it cannot afford anything, which is why the request is withdrawn.

After this the meeting was ended with the Lord’s prayer by the chairman.

J. Amundson, secretary of the congregation

The trustees of the congregation elected: Ole Helgeson 1908, Hans Fredrikson 1909, A. A. Odegaard 1910


9 December 1907

St. Pauli Scandinavian Lutheran congregation held its 14th annual meeting in the church on December 9th 1907.

The meeting was opened by the chairman I. T. Aastad with reading from the scriptures and prayer. Whereupon the chairman declared the meeting opened and everyone free to speak. The secretary read his report from the last annual meeting and the same was accepted unanimously without change. After this the treasurer read his report which was accepted without changes.

Then were re-elected the same officials as before: secretary, treasurer and trustee, sexton with same salary as before were each re-elected. Unanimously accepted.

Proposed and supported to elect A. A. Odegaard, H. Fredrikson, H. Torstvet as religion school committee. The same committee were instructed to hold as much school as possible. Unanimously accepted.

Proposed and supported that the St. Pauli congregation accept the resignation of Pastor I. T. Aastad as he enters an association with the congregation of St. Hilaire. This was accepted. Proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to appoint Pastor S. T. Palm to be the pastor of the congregation.

[The newspaper in Thief River Falls - The News - reported on 16 January 1908 that "In the past, Rev. I. T. Aastad has been in charge of the congregations at Red Lake Falls, St. Hilaire, and Rocksbury [St. Pauli], as well as Thief River Falls and Silverton. The meeting [of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod Church] decided, in order that more services be held here [in Thief River Falls], that Rev. Aastad give up the three first named congregations. Services will be held in the local church [in Thief River Falls] every Sunday morning, services being in Norwegian and the evening services in English. Rev. S. T. Palm of Sandridge will in the future have charge of the Red Lake Falls, St. Hilaire, and Rocksbury [St. Pauli] congregations and will reside at St. Hilaire. It was also voted to increase the salary of Rev. Aastad."]

Proposed and supported to decide on a sum of ca. one hundred dollars as the pastor’s salary for the coming year. Accepted. Proposed and supported to elect a committee of three men: A. A. Odegaard, Christ Moe and Cornelius Oien to decide the pastor’s salary which was accepted.

To be auditors of the accounts were re-elected A. A. Odegaard and Ole Pederson.
To be the cemetery committee were re-elected the same as before and to build a bridge to the entrance.

After this the meeting was ended with the Lord’s prayer by the chairman.

Jacob Amundson, congr. Secr.

The trustees of the congregation elected: Hans Fredrickson 1909, A. A. Odegaard 1910, Ole Helgeson 1911


14 December 1908

The St. Pauli Scandinavial Lutheran congregation held its 15th annual meeting in the church on December 14th 1908.

The meeting was opened by the new chairman of the congregation Pastor S. T. Palm with reading from the scriptures and prayer, after which the chairman declared the meeting opened and everyone free to speak. The secretary read his report from the last annual meeting and the same was unanimously accepted without change. The treasurer then read his report, which was also unanimously accepted.

From the report of the treasurer it was evident that during the past year not all had been received for the pastor’s salary decided upon. The cash balance turned out to be roughly ca. $200.00. Proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to remit Hannah Lökken what she owed. The chairman read his report and the same was accepted to enter into the minutes.

Thereafter the congregation proceeded to elect officials. Christ Moe was elected as trustee, as secretary the same, and treasurer, and sexton also with the same salary as before. After this was elected a religion school committee as follows: C. Oien, A. A. Odegaard and Ole Helgeson.

It was proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to appoint Mr. John Sjerva as advisory member. Proposed and supported and unanimously accepted to elect Albert Odegaard and principal of the Sunday School with his father as assistant. Proposed and supported and unanimously accepted that the congregation shall express its gratitude to its officials. Proposed and supported and accepted to elect the same cemetery committee as before.

After which was discussed the religion school at length. Finally it was proposed and supported and accepted that there would be held two months religion school: one month in the church and one month in the schoolhouse west of the church.

Proposed and supported and accepted to decide the same pastor’s salary as last year with the same supervising committee.

Proposed and supported and accepted to leave to the trustees to see to it that a privy was built and to find out what it will cost to build a steeple on the church and other necessary repairs.

After which the meeting was ended by the chairman with the Lord’s prayer.

Secretary Jacob Amundson
Treasurer Halvor Torstvet
Trustees of the congregation: A. A. Odegaard 1910, Ole Helgeson 1911, H. Hostvet 1912
1907, Hans Fredrickson 1908


1909

There were later held three special congregational meetings. The first took place in the church on April 12th and the item on the agenda was to agree with the Ladies Aid who expressed a wish in connection with the religion school, namely to hold it one month in the western school house and one in the eastern. This wish was unanimously accepted.

A committee was appointed to get information concerning the building of a steeple, and it was decided on to wait to the following service to settle the matter.

The second meeting was held on April 25th and it was decided to build a steeple as soon as possible and a committee of five: the trustees and Ole Peterson and C. Oien was elected to serve as building and sub-committee.

The third meeting was held on May 23rd.


13 December 1909

The St. Pauli congregation held its 16th annual meeting in the church on Dec. 13th 1909.

The meeting was opened with reading from the scriptures and prayer by the chairman S. T. Palm who thereafter declared the meeting opened and everyone free to speak. Whereupon the secretary read his report from the last annual meeting and the same was with after some corrections unanimously accepted.

Whereupon Anfin Torkelson and wife were admitted as members of the congregation and also Martin Lökken and wife and two children. Unanimously accepted.

Then the treasurer read his report, and the same showed an underbalance in the pastor’s salary. Proposed and supported that Christ Moe is requested to pay half of the pastor’s salary allotted to him for the past year. Proposed and suppported to accept the treasurer’s report. Unanimously accepted. Then was discussed for awhile the deficit.

After this C. Oien reported on behalf of the religion school committee that there had been held two months school and that it was paid for. The building committee reported through A. Odegaard that nothing had happened, apart from an agreement with a carpenter to build a steeple, but nothing came out of his building.

Proposed and supported and accepted to re-elect A. Odegaard as trustee for three years. Proposed and supported to re-elect J. Amundson and H. Torstvet as secretary and treasurer and as sexton. Proposed and accepted to elect A. Odegaard, A. Hestekind, C. Oien, O. Helgeson, O. Pederson as building committee. Proposed and accepted to elect as cemetery committee: A. A. Odegaard, A. Hestekind, C. Oien.

Proposed and accepted that external persons pay two dollars for a grave and five dollars for a plot in the cemetery.

Proposed and accepted to elect A. Hestekind, T. Stene, A. Odegaard, H. Fredrickson as a committee to arrange to move the pastor’s [illegible] in St. Hilaire.

Proposed and accepted to elect C. Oien, O. Pederson, T. Stene as building committee.
Proposed and accepted the same pastor’s salary as before.
Proposed and accepted to hold two months school as before. The school committee is L. Lokken, O. Torkelson, A. Odegaard.

After which the meeting was ended by the chairman with the Lord’s prayer.


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