A parishioner’s letter to Nils Lund
In 1922, 101 years ago this past summer, at the age of 37, Reverend Nils W. Lund (1885-1954) left the church he pastored in Boston for an appointment at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago. During his time at the Covenant Church’s seminary he would become known as a teacher, dean, renowned scholar, thoughtful theologian, and, notably, an innovative writer and biblical thinker. Before all this, however, he was distinguished more plainly in his Swedish immigrant parish as “Pastor Lund.” On the day of his farewell service from his church, Paul Anderson of Arlington, Massachusetts, a parishioner and friend, wrote Pastor Nils a letter that fondly recalled his years of ministry. I found this letter in the Lund archive at North Park early in my first call to parish ministry. I have re-read it every year for over a decade as I aimed toward faithful and meaningful ministry. In it I found pastoral principles simply stated along with resolve and integrity in the face of misunderstanding and even opposition. In and between the lines of this letter are aspirations, inspiration, and the character and ideals of one the Covenant’s forebears who continues to be worth remembering and even imitating. I hope the inclusion of this century-old correspondence here encourages you wherever you find yourself in the Church today.
1922
To Rev N.W. Lund
My Dear Friend,
The separation of friends is always hard yet it has its good side in that it proves the quality of the friendship. It is a comfort to know that the friendship that has existed between us has grown stronger as the years have gone by.
As you are about to leave to take up your new work I am going to tell you of some of the pleasant memories you leave behind.
You will be remembered as a preacher because your sermons were filled with the gospel thru which you appealed to our hearts. In addition they were of the teaching kind in that they helped us to better understand our Bible.
You have also left a pleasing memory as a minister. You were quick to see the needs of the church and fully as quick to see that the needs were taken care of. You were also wise in building your friendships. You are leaving many old and new friends who will always be true friends. I will remember you as a minister for your visits to me while sick. I shall never forget the comforting prayers offered at my bedside.
Another memory is that of the student. You were eager to learn that others might learn. You sought knowledge not as an end but as a means to an end. The coming ministers of our Covenant will be the better for the many hours you spent in studying.
It will also [be] pleasant to remember you as a man. You have had principles and ideals and have followed them even when misunderstandings and oppositions arose from those who treat ideals and principles lightly.
Last but not least is my memory of you as a friend. We have spent many hours in our homes and they have always [been] pleasant and congenial. Our friendship has been such that neither of us felt the need of being anything but ourselves a fact which makes the friendship worth while.
In closing I wish to congratulate you on your appointment as Professor in Theology at North Park. It shows the confidence our Covenant has in you and your beliefs as a Christian. While you will find a new set of difficult problems you will gain as rich an experience as your twelve years in the ministry gave you. I am sure that your new work will be of such a character as to give you an opportunity to show results that will be remembered for years to come.
I had intended to say these things in person but my sickness prevents it.
It has been a keen disappointment for me to be unable to be present to hear your farewell sermon as well at your farewell reception tonight.
God bless you and keep you.
Your friend,
Paul A. Anderson
Arlington Mass, August 15, 1922
The original letter can be found in the F. M. Johnson Archives in the Brandel Library at North Park University.