Árdís - 01.01.1964, Page 55

Ársrit Bandalags lúterskra kvenna
53
Seventy-Five Years
INGIBJORG J. OLAFSSON
The seventy-fifth anniversary of Selkirk Lutheran Church
was officially observed May 31, 1964. A service was held at eleven
o’clock, conducted by Pastor W. M. Bergman, the guest speaker
was Dr. Otto Olson, president of the Central Canada Synod.
Dinner was served in the evening, followed by a concert in the
church at eight o’clock.
The congregation was organized June 9, 1889. It was in-
corporated October 6, 1891. The articles of incorporation were
signed by Klemens Jonasson, Gestur Johannsson, Gunnlaugur
Oddson, G. Arnason and Stefan Bjornsson. The first Board of
Trustees: Johannes Helgason, Larus Helgason, Matthias Thor-
darson, Christian H. Christianson and G. Finnson.
During the seventy-five years the congregation has worship-
ped in three churches. The first church was built on Rosser ave.
by volunteer labor and completed in five months. It was not a
large edifice as there were no funds to draw from, but perhaps
as pleasing to God as a beautiful cathedral might have been. The
pioneers felt the need of a place in which they could worship.
The second and third churches were built on the present site of
the Selkirk Lutheran Church cor. Jemima and Clandeboye.
Permanent pastors of the congregation have been:
Rev. Niels S. Thorlakson—twenty-eight years (1899-1927).
Rev. Jonas A. Sigurdsson—six years (1927-1933).
Rev. Theodore Sigurdsson—three years (1933-1936).
Rev. Sigurdur Olafsson—seventeen years (1940-1957).
Rev. Edward A. Day—three years (1957-1960).
Rev. Wallace M. Bergman—(1960-the present time).
Before a permanent minister was called occasional services
were held by Rev. Magnus J. Skaptason, Rev. Fridrik Bergman
and Rev. Oddur V. Gislason. Rev. Carl J. Olson served a part of
a year (1936-1937) as did Rev. Dr. V. J. Eylands—1938.
Rev. Johann Bjarnason served for two years (1938-1940).
Mrs. Olina Bjorg Christianson is the oldest member of the