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that he at once became the leader in the agitation
for a withdrawal. In this article in Den Norske
Lutheraner, February 10, 1869, -entitled “What we
want,” Prof. Wenaas gives the reasons for a
separation. “It should be emphasized from the beginning,”
he says, “that the reason is not to be found in any lack
of harmony among the Norwegians and the Swedes, but
the Norwegians have from the beginning been in a
minority, and the disproportion between the two groups
is constantly growing larger. Naturally, therefore, the
Swedes will continue to place more and more emphasis
upon the Swedish work. There is danger, too, that the
nationalistic spirit in the homelands will be transplanted
to this country, and ultimately cause division anyway.
There is also danger that heresy is finding its way into
the Augustana Synod. The Augustana Synod people,
since the leading men in the Synod are Swedes, cannot
fully understand our peculiar Norwegian character and
our ecclesiastical and national traditions so well that
they can guide us in proper channels. Swedes and
Norwegians are quite dissimilar people and they require
a somewhat different treatment. Furthermore, the synod
is becoming too large, so that it is hard for any one
congregation to receive it for the annual convention.
Business matters have come to the fore in the meetings,
which have thus lost their original edifying character.
The synod is also intending to join the new organization,
the General Council; the Norwegians are opposed to
this, as they want to wait and see what stand the General
Synod seems to have been raised in the first place by the
Swedish brethren, and at the meting at Berlin, Illinois, in
1867, there was in private some talk concerning a division
along nationality lines, this because of the great growth
of the Synod.”
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