Letter. Anton SANDER to Laur Larsen (6 May 1878). Images courtesy of Luther College Archives under their fair use policy.
Dear Professor Larsen:
Your esteemed and highly welcomed letter of 29th April has arrived. It was not without surprise that I observed that I had been billed by the College. A forgotten debt it can't be. At the opening of school in January '74, I paid the steward $20, as I remember. The rest was not paid until sometime during the summer. A day or two before the last payment I asked the steward O. Larsen if he would be so kind to check and see how much I still owed so that I could pay that; and I especially brought it to his attention that the entire amount was more than two quarters. The same was repeated when a day or two later I paid him. But he answered that from New Year on it would be regarded as half a year. And so I paid him. Perhaps steward Larsen still remembers it. It is not my intention to hide behind the steward's lack of accuracy. If I come home during vacation I will pay then, if not, I will send the money anyway. In the meantime I am very indebted that it will be being corrected.
There is an insinuation in your letter dear professor, that I must have your permission to correct, since it is unwarranted, and I had earlier heard something like it from others. That my specialty is not "more direct" came from the Synod, and not necessarily from the lack of money, although I -- ceteris paribus (all other things being equal) -- would prefer a larger over a small salary. But one is not equally qualified in everything. And for such work that I am (best) qualified the Synod has deemed it, as far as I know, to be of no use. There are still many of us in such situations with much to learn; and then I believe the East has better teaching methods than the West. I am also a Norwegian American. The greatest part of my life has been in American schools, and therefore I often feel sad when I hear these negative discussions.
Friendly greetings from your student,
respectfully Anton Sander
Lawrenceville, New Jersey,
The 6th of May, 1878
Of interest is the mention of his specialty not being directly from the Synod, perhaps a foreshadowing of later conflicts.
Letter. Anton SANDER to Laur Larsen (29 Jun 1878). Images courtesy of Luther College Archives under their fair use policy.
56 Monro N.Y.
June 29, 1878
Dear Professor Larsen:
Your esteemed letter should have been answered a long time ago, without sending you a "Post Order" for my remaining debt to the College. I thank you because you made me aware of it; but now I am ashamed for taking such a long time to pay it. My school work stopped on Thursday because of vacation and after spending a few days with Pastor Everson I think I will be spending the summer in New Haven doing my own work. I was a little careless in my earlier letter. I did not have any special meaning in mind. From what little I can understand it has been decided that "bomman" School was a superfluous institution and not to be recommended. I sincerely hope that I had misunderstood that.
A heartfelt greeting from your respectful student.
Anton Sander
I attempted to do some searching to see if I could find out what "bomman" or "bommon" means and have had little success as of yet. However, I did find out a little about the "Pastor Everson" mentioned above. He went to Luther and Concordia Seminary and was pastor of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church at 56 Monroe, Brooklyn, NY, from where the above letter was written.
Letter. Anton SANDER to Laur Larsen (15 Jul 1878). Images courtesy of Luther College Archives under their fair use policy.
Dear Professor Larsen:
Allow me to thank you for your esteemed letter of the 3rd that contained your dear explanation. It is gratifying to me that my earlier article regarding "Synodene" [the Synod] teaching about School-Question had been misunderstood. I have not, for a long time, followed the discussions; but it had occurred to me that there are some who did not express themselves as clearly as you, dear Professor, or is there a separation and those like myself have misunderstood the "Synoden's" position.
With friendly greetings, your respectful student,
Anton Sander
202 Elm St. New Haven, Conn.
the 15th July 1878
It is difficult to understand to what he is referring when he mentions the "Synod teaching about School-Question." Are these questions about how the school is to function or what they are supposed to teach?
Letter. Anton SANDER to Laur Larsen (30 Jul 1878). Images courtesy of Luther College Archives under their fair use policy.
Dear President Larsen:
Your esteemed letter of the 20th gave me cause to be not just a little surprised. It was kind of you to accept my humble thank you for the honor that you, Mr. President, and the other professors and teachers at Luther College so unexpectedly have shown me. I can't do other than accept the call with the hope that God will guide us to do our best with His blessing. I thought at first that I would not accept it, but with closer consideration after I had consulted Pastor C. S. Everson in New York, and others, I came to this decision. It is not without concern to that I accept an invitation to a position of such importance.
In regards to the arrangements of work and associations I don't believe it will be of any great difficulty. I am willing to reprimand and teach when it is in the right spirit. My thoughts are to consider others as cultured "Gentlemen" and also myself as such.
In regards to what classes I should teach I would suggest Greek and Latin. This has been my specialty for several years, and studied for the most part at Luther College -- either a private education or otherwise: so I believe -- without being guilty of any sinful self-righteousness -- that I dare to regard -- these classes as somewhat "adult." And beside it is not out of the question to teach English, German, Hebrew, or something else. (Other than mathematics). My greatest difficulty would probably be Norwegian since I have not spoken it for .... ? teaching in English. [cannot decipher]
Salary will have to be decided by the College. My moving expenses should be about $100 dollars.
My intentions are, God willing, to travel west on the 19th of August presumably traveling by train to Buffalo and then by steamship through the great lakes to Milwaukee or Duluth. I hope to hear from you closer to the time I leave.
With heartfelt greetings to you and the College's professors and teachers.
Your young student, Anton Sander
202 Elm St., New Haven, Conn.
30th July, 1878
My interpretation of the sentences where the translator had difficulty is that Anton is concerned about teaching in the Norwegian language as he had not been speaking it for a long time and is hoping that perhaps his classes may be taught in English. Just to be able to teach Greek, Latin, English, German, and Hebrew is amazing to me.
Letter. Anton SANDER to Laur Larsen (6 Aug 1878). Images courtesy of Luther College Archives under their fair use policy.
Dear President Larsen:
[Cannot decipher completely] Your .... I have just received and I thank you for that. You did not misunderstand; this is "single" - et lege et corde.
The schedule, I am not worried about, will be completed when I get there.
If Prof. Siewers's old room is still divided into two, I would suggest [that I] not live at the College: otherwise it will not make any difference.
My salary at the school in New Jersey was to be $600 "and home" (= furnished room, board, and washing). I don't know what it costs to live in Decorah. The college will have to make the adjustments whether the $100 cost of traveling is covered or not. If at the time of my arrival I could get help to get my room furnished, I would be very thankful and if it could be done as soon as possible.
Friendly greetings from
Your student,
Anton Sander
202 Elm St. New Haven, Conn.
6th Aug. 1878
It appears that the opening of the letter refers to a letter Anton received written by Larsen on the 3rd. Where the translator has "this is 'single,'" probably should have read, "for I am 'single.'" The Latin phrase, "et lege et corde," means "and law and heart." It is possible he was answering a question about his living arrangements and relationship status by stating that he was single "by law and in his heart." Perhaps he intended to dedicate his life to serving the Lord through his teaching and did not plan on having a wife and family.
Letter. Anton SANDER to Laur Larsen (15 Aug 1878). Images courtesy of Luther College Archives under their fair use policy.
New Haven, Conn.And so began Anton's brief tenure at Luther College.
Aug. 15, 1878
Dear President Larsen:
I received your esteemed letter of the 12th today and I am very thankful for the information. The schedule and classes satisfy me completely, and I have nothing special that I have to do. I am excited about the Hebrew, and I have no great concerns about the high requirements. In regards to where I will live I leave to you and the College to decide; although I, as far as I know, would suggest that I live at the College. I thank you for your willingness to help me get my room in order. I leave for New York in the evening and leave from there on Monday morning, probably getting to Decorah before Monday or Tuesday of the following week.
I will then put it all into God's hands with a prayer and His blessings to guide my way so that my work will benefit the College.
Respectfully yours,
A. Sander
