organized by Lauritz Larsen, then Norwegian Professor in Theology at
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, who stopped here for a while on his way
to and from Norway in the early sixties. The first resident pastor was
Ole Juul, who came to New York in 1866 and labored here until 1876,
when he was succeeded by Pastor Everson, who was actively engaged as
pastor in New York and Brooklyn from 1873, until 1917, when failing
health compelled him to retire.

"At present, the Norwegian Lutheran churches of Greater New York are
carrying on an active and aggressive work. Their total membership is not
as large as it might be. Partly because the Norwegians coming here from
the State Church do not at once realize the importance or necessity of
becoming members of local congregations, but have the idea that as long
as they attend services, have their children baptized and confirmed, and
so forth, they are members of the church. The report of the membership
of the churches is therefore, hardly a correct indication of the number
of people reached or even the strength of the Norwegian Lutherans in the
Metropolis.

"The language question is one of great difficulty. Many of our people
live, as it were, with one foot in Norway and one in America; and are
thinking of returning to the old country at some time or other. There is
also a constant influx of new people from Norway which makes it
imperative to have Norwegian services constantly. On the other hand, the
young people are rapidly Americanized and prefer to use the language of
the country, which necessitates English work, and where this demand is
made, the young people are, generally speaking, quite loyal to their
church, but it is no easy matter to satisfy both elements and to keep
the old and the young together in the same church.