Árdís - 01.01.1958, Page 18

16
ÁRDÍ S
Dr. Jon Bjarnason had presented a rare copy of the Bible to
the congregation, the Gudbrands edition, and it had stood on the
pulpit for some time . . . during the fire some one shouted “the
Bible is on the pulpit,” and as quick as a flash A. S. Bardal dashed
into the fire and rescued the Bible — this copy is now in the safe
in the office of the present building.
Then in 1921 the second church building was sold owing to
the fact that our people were moving south and west in our city,
so a building on Victor St. near Sargent Ave., was purchased and
that is the building in which the seventy-fourth convention was
held.
Through many years of poverty and inexperience in church
matters, foreigners in a foreign land, our people, struggled on,
building their homes and churches . . . they had faith, hope and
determination and a mighty army of women who, as time con-
tinues to tell are a powerful factor in church and benevolent work.
Pictures of the three church buildings of the First Lutheran
Congregation accompany this article . . . it is perhaps a coincident,
that this congregation has been served by three ministers and has
had three church homes (in 80 years). —Flora Benson.
Oh keep us building, master! may our hands
Ne’er falter when the dream is in our hearts
When to our ears there come divine commands
And all the pride of sinful will departs.
We build with Thee, Oh grant enduring worth
Until the heavenly Kingdom comes to earth.
by P. E. DIETZ