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Show Missionary Letter 1' From V. A. FjeldJ All over tho world, this week, tho contcnlal of Norway's independence is being celebrated wherever Norwegans aro found, bo that tho following letter from Virgil FJeld, who Is doing missionary mis-sionary work In Norway will be found of Interest. N'ornjr'8 Ccntciilal For 434 years previous to tho year 1814, tho history of Norway Is much that of Denmark. During Hint tlmo norwny wns under tho Danish king ahd law, and the natlonnl personality oi tho former wns largely ntisorbed by me latter. During tho Nnpoleoulo wnr Denmark Den-mark was an ally of Napoleon and when Napoleon's fortunes went down his allies were humiliated In a llko manner. .... , After the abdication of Napoleon by ttie I'cnco of Kiel, Norway was given to dweuen as a consequence of Denmark's iiiiiaiao with isnpoieon. Later tho congress con-gress of Vienna, which sot to work to leaujust tho altalrs of the continent, sustained Sweden In tho possession ot Norway, in dividing up tho available itjiiuorieB recoored trom Napoleon tho congress took no account of tho nghtB or raco and nationality but appointed ap-pointed them among tho various sovereigns like so many cattle. however, that old "Viking" Bplrlt, which nsserted itaolf so Btrongly In tho earner days of European history, hau not yet disappeared, and tho idea oi oolng bartered off llko a herd of cattle old not appeal to Norway. Accordingly, whllo tho congress of Vlonua was rearranging tho national uounanry lines of Eurcpe, somo of tho leading spirits in Norway had convened con-vened aim wcro drawing up a national nation-al constitution, which waa modeled largely after tne American constitution, constitu-tion, and has survived with but fow changes until tho present tlmo. While norvyuy yet belonged t; Denmark Den-mark tho Danish King sent his nearest near-est relative, Kustlan Fredrlk, as governor gov-ernor to Norway, and nftor tho two countries had separated ho was chosen chos-en king. The delegates who drew up tho constitution met in a plnco called "Eldivold" and worked much under the samo conditions of poverty ns tho authors of American Independence, and ou tho 17th day of May, 1811, their work was completed and signed by Kustlan Fredrlk. This dr.to marks tho beginning of Norwegian Independence Indepen-dence and Is hold Just ns sacredly and loyally us our own Fourth of July. During the Contlucntlal wars tho commcrco of Europe was largoly demoralized, de-moralized, and Norway being a marl-lino marl-lino country suffered not tho least from this. For several yenjs tho country had been In a stato ot starvation star-vation about tho only available food boing bark-bread. Not a fow had starvorl to death, and under this stato V-toUt,'1"8' Norway prepared to defend tier now constitution. Karl Johnn of Sweden, accordingly prepared to cocrco his nowly acquired ac-quired subjects to acknowledge his sovereignty and tho two armies met uear tho border. Tho war lnstcd tor a short tlmo without much gain for cither side, but for fenr that tho powers pow-ers should again givo Norway to Den-mnrk, Den-mnrk, Karl Johau began negotiating for ponce. Norway's resources were about spent, and so tho "Treaty of Moss" Was drawn up. In thlr. It wns agreed that Kustlan Fredrlk should leave Norway and that Norway should recogutzo Karl Johau as king, but should havo their own constitution and parliament. This arrangement subsisted for ninety years, or until 11)05, but was tho cause of continual friction between tho two countries. In 1905 Norway declared' tlio union dissolved, nnd choosing Prince Charles of Denmark ns king, became an Independent In-dependent kingdom. Ho assumed tho throno as "Haakon I." nnd was crowned In Trondlycms Demklrko (I)otn Church) In 100t. This year, 1914, Is tho lOOth anniversary anni-versary of Norwegian Independence nnd tho country Is preparing n big celebration In tho shape of a centennial exposition. Tho exposition will bo at Chrlsttanla, tho capital, and Judging from the preparations being made, bids fair to do Justice to tho occasion. occa-sion. This In brlof Is tho history of Norway's Nor-way's struggle for independence, tho memory of which Is so dear to her native sons it is tho history of nearly evory other country coun-try ut tho same stago of their dovolopmout, and she values not the least thoso blessings and privileges obtained for her by tho life .mil blood of her forofnthers. The peoplo lovu their fatherland, and tho national spirit Is Imprinted on tholr roln with tho words "Alt for Norge " V. A. FJELD, Trondlrjem, Norway. |