The Oftedal Trustees

The Oftedal Trustees were comprised of Sven Oftedal, Rev. Ole Paulson, Theodor Helgeson, Olaf Hoff, and Andrew Knutson.

Sven Oftedal had been named as a trustee of Augsburg Seminary by its original incorporators in the 1892 Amendments to the Articles of Incorporation for the Augsburg Seminary corporation, and was re-elected by the original incorporators and their duly elected associates at the annual meeting of the Augsburg Seminary corporation in 1896, for a term ending in 1901.^[1]

Rev. Ole Paulson had been named as a trustee in the original Articles of Incorporation of the Augsburg Seminary corporation, and also designated as a trustee in the 1892 Amendments to the Articles of Incorporation for the Augsburg Seminary corporation for a term of five years, to expire in June, 1897.^[2]

Rev. M. F. Gjertsen, the pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, and a supporter of the Oftedal Trustees, related the historical association between Rev. Ole Paulson and Augsburg Seminary in the following manner:

Ole Paulson, one of the respondents, was so active and efficient in the establishment of Augsburg Seminary in Minneapolis that he is commonly considered to be and is called the founder and the father of the institution.
He was one of its incorporators.
Almost without the aid or assistance of any one, he solicited the donation of the land upon which its first buildings were erected, contributed of his time and money to the erection of the buildings first constructed and solicited also donations of money and material by the use of which these buildings were completed.
For many years he was one of the members of the Board of Trustees.[3]

Theodor Helgeson had been named a trustee of Augsburg Seminary by the original incorporators in the 1892 Amendments to the Articles of Incorporation for the Augsburg Seminary corporation, and was reelected by the original incorporators and their duly elected associates for a second five-year term ending in 1899.[4]

Rev. M. F. Gjertsen identified the relationship between Theodor Helgeson and Augsburg Seminary in the following manner:

Theodor Helgesen is a member of a congregation located at Saron, Chippewa county, Minnesota, which was admitted to membership in the Conference in the year 1880, which made contributions to Augsburg Seminary both before and after its admittance, and which now has the custody of Congregational Funds, so-called, constituting a part of the Endowment Fund of Augsburg Seminary.
Said Theodor Helgesen, moreover, was elected one of the trustees of Augsburg Seminary by the Conference in the year 1883.[5]

Olaf Hoff had been elected as a trustee of Augsburg Seminary by the original incorporators and their duly elected associates for a five-year term at the annual meeting of the Augsburg Seminary Corporation held in June of 1896, to succeed H. Engemoen, who had resigned.[6]

Rev. M. F. Gjertsen identified the relationship between Olaf Hoff and Augsburg Seminary in the following manner:

Olaf Hoff has, since the year 1885, been a member of the church of which I have charge, which was one of the churches that united in the formation of the Conference in the year 1870.
Previous to last January, Mr. Hoff served for three years as one of the trustees of Trinity Church, and was re-elected as trustee thereof in January last.[7]

Andrew Knutson was elected as a trustee of Augsburg Seminary by the original incorporators and their duly elected associates at the annual meeting of the Augsburg Seminary corporation in June, 1893, for a five-year term, to succeed Oley Nelson, whose term had expired.[8]

Rev. M. F. Gjertsen identified the relationship between Andrew Knutson and Augsburg Seminary in the following manner:

Respondent Andrew Knutson is a member of a congregation located at Trysil, Douglas county, Minnesota, which was admitted to membership in the Conference in the year 1873, and which has made contributions to every assessment or general collection made or obtained for the benefit of Augsburg Seminary.[9]

Addressing the propriety of the election of various persons as trustees of Augsburg Seminary for the years 1872 through 1890, Rev. Ole Paulson in March of 1897 noted that such trustees were not only elected by the Conference, but also by the original incorporators of the Augsburg Seminary corporation:

Although it is true that the trustees of said Augsburg Corporation were elected at the annual meeting of said Conference from and including the year 1872, to and including the year 1890, it is also true that all trustees so elected were voted, for by two or more of the original incorporators, and it is also true that all said trustees were elected by a unanimous vote, so that in any event all of the same were lawfully elected by the lawful members of the corporation.[10]

Notes

[1] Minnesota Supreme Court Records and Briefs, 72 Minn. 590, page 68, April 1898; Brief for Appellant – Appellant’s Statement of Facts.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Aff. M. F. Gjertsen March 2, 1897, ¶ 14, page 145.

[4] Minnesota Supreme Court Records and Briefs, 72 Minn. 590, page 67, 69, April 1898; Brief for Appellant – Appellant’s Statement of Facts.

[5] Aff. M. F. Gjertsen March 2, 1897, ¶ 15, page 146.

[6] Minnesota Supreme Court Records and Briefs, 72 Minn. 590, page 68, April 1898; Brief for Appellant – Appellant’s Statement of Facts.

[7] Aff. M. F. Gjertsen March 2, 1897, ¶ 15, page 146.

[8] Minnesota Supreme Court Records and Briefs, 72 Minn. 590, page 68, April 1898; Brief for Appellant – Appellant’s Statement of Facts.

^[9] Aff. M. F. Gjertsen March 2, 1897, ¶ 15, page 146.

^[10] Aff. Ole Paulson, March 2, 1897, ¶ 26, page 69.