Report To The Synodical President
re. North Logan Property
St. Peter's Dan. Ev. Luth. Church
On Saturday, July 22nd, Pastor H. G. Christensen (President, Nebraska district) and I met with Mr. Henry Sonderup at his home next to the church, eight miles north of St. Paul. Pastor Jeppeson of our congregation at the Ord also met with us. His congregation is interested in securing the North Logan Church building for their use in Ord, fifty miles away.
The title to the property is in the name of St. Peter's Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church under the United Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The congregation, though no services have been held for about six years, is not dissolved. Past members have moved away and those living nearby have united with other congregations. The wooden structure of the church measures about 40' x 24'. there is a small bell tower. The two acres of land on which this property stands has a cemetery with about sixteen graves, perhaps fewer. Mr. Henry Sonderup has been caring for the property without charge and looked after the graves.
Attorney Haggart of St. Paul from where Mr. Sonderup has sought counsel has been trying to suggest the simplest way out of the difficulty by calling a meeting of past council and selling the building to the Ord congregation. Mr. Sonderup thinks that if the church is moved the Ord congregation should fill in clean up, erect fence and a gate and place a historical marker for St. Peter's Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church. No estimates that the work, if done by him will cost about $700.00 including the price of the marker. (About $125.) Pastor Jeppesen was afraid his congregation could not accept this burdon, besides $600-$1000 moving expense and the cost of placing and conditioning the building on their new lot in ord, but Paster Jeppesen promised to look into it again.
Our Attorney for the Synod, Mr. Reed O'Hanlon made the following suggestions. He had already cared for one situation like it in Washington County, Nebraska.
- Secure copy of the deed.
- Call eight or ten persons the originally members of theoretical congregation with a synodical official in charge of called meeting.
- Declare that no services have been held for so long a time.
- Pass resolution officially dissolving the congregation.
- Synod could then deed the cemetery to the cemetery association.
- Bill of sale could then be made out to the Ord congregation.
- The cemetery (????)
- Organize cemetery association if there are enough people.
- Move graves, if there are only a few, and if all agree.
- Ask County Board to take charge.
- Alternative to meeting of theoretical members of the congregation.
- Secure an affidavit from Mr. Sonderup stating that there have been no services for so long a time.
- Then follow name recommended course (not sure on this wording)
Pastor Christensen and I would make the following recommendations:
- Pastor Jeppesen makes certain that his congregation desires this building and that movement of the structure is feasible.
- That we proceed with process of dissolution as outlined by our Attorney.
- That the North Logan Church be sold to the Ord Congregation for the one dollar fee to make the sale binding.
The Ord congregation has just become self-supporting. It will require their strongest efforts to make a move that will place the church where the congregation can do more effective work. If it is feasible to move the church building to Ord. Then our support in helping the congregation to realize this will be well worthwhile. Pastor Christensen is seeking a little financial help from the Nebraska District to assist the Ord people.
The above information was obtained from research on a photo of a carbon copy of the "report". This report was written by Reed O'Hanlon on July 22, 1950.
