The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 32, July 1928 - April, 1929 Page: 71
361 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Danevang, Texas
wild life. He has left beautiful descriptions in Danish of Texan
landscapes and Texan flora.
The settlers with the aid of the Danish People's Society secured
a tract of forty-five acres for a church, a parsonage, and a church
farm (Praestegaard) besides a twenty-acre tract of woodland for
a picnic ground. On the larger tract an assembly hall (Forsam-
lingshus) was built already in 1895, later a parsonage, and finally
in 1909 a church was completed. The dedication of the church
on March 28, 1909, was indeed a red-letter day in the history of
the settlement. On that occasion "the people were so attentive
and their singing so spirited and inspiring," wrote Reverend Mr.
Henningsen, who had been invited by the congregation to assist
with the dedication.
Though six hundred miles from the nearest Danish settlement in
the North and never a populous settlement-at present (192'/)
about five hundred people-the Danevang people have managed to
have a resident minister since 1895. Reverend Mr. Henningsen
was succeeded by Reverend R. J. Kristensen, who in turn was fol-
lowed by S. M. Madsen, Johannes Ravn, N. Moller, J. M. Rod-
holm, and A. H. Kyhl. Many other Danish American ministers
have visited the settlement as well as travellers from Denmark.
Such visits were frequently made the occasions for a series of meet-
ings, social and religious, extending over a period of several days.
Speakers always expressed their satisfaction with the capacity of
the Danevang people for listening to lectures on a variety of sub-
jects and their interest in community singing.
Despite the smallness of the congregation, Danevang parish was
not entirely a sinecure, for the pastor was expected, until recently,
in addition to the ordinary ministerial duties, to teach Danish
Saturday and vacation school. This made serious cuts in the
weekly and annual holidays of both children and ministers. To the
latter, however, the extra work was something of a labor of love,
because they as well as the parents of the children, were anxious
to perpetuate the Danish language and so far their hopes in this
respect have been realized.
The ministers also had special duties in connection with the
local young people's society (Ungdomsforeningen). This organi-
zation provided opportunities for the young people in leadership
and self-expression. Its aim was mainly through social activities
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 32, July 1928 - April, 1929, periodical, 1929; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101089/m1/75/: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.