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4.

. Led by Augustana Military Band

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Augustana Military Band President Gustav Andreen

Sciptures and Invocation .... Rev. W. H. Blancke, D. D.

5. Selection .

6.

Wennerberg Male Chorus

Corner Stone Laying Ceremony.

. . . Rev. L. A. Johnston, D. D., Pres. Board of Directors

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INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS: "WHAT MEAN

THESE STONES?"

BY PRESIDENT GUSTAV A. ANDREEN, PH. D.

In the book of Joshua we read that stones were to be placed by the river Jordan, which should be a memorial unto the nation forever, and when future generations should ask, "What mean these stones?" the answer would tell of the guidance of the mighty hand of God, so that all hearts might be filled with the fear of the Lord.

What mean these stones around which we are now gathered? They mean that a new civilization is springing up on territory which even within the memory of men yet living had lain fallow for ages. On these bluffs less than a century ago the Indians followed the chase and their canoes skimmed the surface of the father of waters, glistening at our feet. Our forefathers from this or yon side of the Atlantic shores heard the call of the wilderness and hither they came to found new homes, to win the richest valley of the globe for civilization, and to take part in building up the mighty commonwealth of our country. Their prosperity is made manifest before our very eyes by the homes they have built, by the mighty monuments they have raised to industry as well as to the spiritual and ideal promptings of religion and of learning.

These stones have not come hither of themselves, but they speak of much previous labor and preparation. Just as the rocks were slowly formed in the bosom of the earth, and as much exertion has been required to exhume, to shape, and to bring them hither, as well as to plan the structure of which we now see the foundation,

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so much labor, great exertion and ardent prayers must belong to the history of an institution before a development of this kind becomes even possible. Some years ago one of the donors of the building expressed to me a pregnant word which with its import has burned itself deep into my heart, "If you and your people and the friends of Augustana are in earnest with reference to the advancement of the institution, a library building will come to you." On this day, at the beginning of the 50th year of our history, I can testify that the friends of Augustana have been in earnest in their efforts for its upbuilding. Few and poor were the founders half a century ago, poor in everything except faith and hope in God and the future, in high ideals, in willingness to sacrifice, in these respects they were rich indeed. Their work has attracted the attention and commanded the respect of all who have beheld it. And in common effort for strengthening the hands of Augustana at its semicentennial jubilee, the children of the old pioneers have shown that they, too, are in earnest, filled with the zeal engendered by the fear of God and the love of learning.

These stones have for us to-day a peculiar and touching significance in that they bear testimony now and ever to the noble lives of parents, to whom not alone the children yield the glad tribute of filial love and reverence, but whose memory is warmly cherished by the community, they with signal grace and success helped to upbuild, and whose names are mentioned to-day by grateful hearts in ten thousand homes from ocean to ocean. These stones speak to us of Mr. and Mrs. F. C. A. Denkmann, whose mortal remains rest in yonder Chippiannock; yet their deeds live after them as a continued blessing from generation to generation. The forbears of Mr. Denkmann lived in Altmark's ancient capital, the nucleus around which grew up Brandenburg and Prussia, and a united Germany. Soon 300 years ago his ancestors stood shoulder to shoulder with the men from the north, reddening the water of the Elbe with their heart's blood in a common struggle for liberty and for the right to worship God according to the dictates of one's conscience. Shortly after his arrival in this country, Mr. Denkmann founded his home in Rock Island. If he were alive to-day, he, too, would celebrate a fiftieth anniversary; for during this year it

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