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4io VIII. THE MODERN PERIOD (A.D. 18121910).
parish at Jamestown, in the State of New York, in the
jubilee volume already quoted (pp. 198-212). This paper
contains some remarkable statistics, showing that of
1,659,467 persons of Swedish birth or parentage (according
to the census of 1900), only 457,973, or considerably less
than one quarter, are registered members of any church
(p. 206). It is argued that this does not mean wholesale
irreligion on their part, but an unwillingness to be bound
by any ties implying special nationality. The residue are,
in fact, gradually becoming Americanized. Many belong
to congregations, but not to organizations.
In connection with this it has been remarked that there
has been a falling off of Swedish immigration into this
country since the year 1903, when the influx was very
large, and that in 1908 (the year of industrial depression)
it was much smaller than in recent years. I do not, how
ever, attach much importance to these figures, and, when
the totals for the decade 1901-1910 have been made up, I
believe they will surpass those of the previous decade.86
But what is to be remembered here is the fact that
every year the proportion of the influx, in relation to the
great mass of Swedes already in this country, will be less
and less important. It is also clear that the rate of
Americanization is becoming more rapid. If, therefore,
the Augustana is to maintain and increase its work, it must
become more and more an English-speaking body. It has
already gone a long way in this direction. It has an
authorized English Prayer Book, and a good English
hymnal. Instruction at Rock Island is usually in English,
and its daily prayers (which we were very glad to attend)
were in that language.
(2) I do not think it wise to speak at length on the policy
of rejecting from the Church those who are members of
secret societies. I venture to say, however, that it seems to
86
See details in Appendix B at the end. On the growing
rapidity of Americanization see E. A. Steiner s The Immigrant
Tide : its Ebb and Flow, New York, 1909.
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