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633-8075Pastor Edlen's Memories
Cherished Memories of our Last Three Charter Members
Among countless precious reflections that remain in my mind and
heart from my years as a visitation pastor at Grace are happy
memories of the three remaining charter members who were still alive
during those years. They were Julius and Alice Foss and Hildur
Carlson, all in their middle nineties, and a joy to visit and talk
with.
Julius and Alice were lovingly looking after each other in their
little home on Bennet Street, even when they both eventually had to
navigate around the place in wheel chairs. Their loyal son, Arnie,
and his wife, Marge, lived just across the creek that ran between
their two houses and kept a watchful eye on the needs of the two
old‑timers. In earlier years Julius and Anne had built a foot‑bridge
across the creek to connect the two homes.
In these later years, when Alice's birthday came around in August,
Arnie saw to it that she would have a beautiful cake on hand to
serve to pastors and other friends who stopped by to celebrate. I
still see Alice skillfully wheeling herself from the kitchen with a
cup of coffee and a generous piece of cake along with ice cream to
treat me at the dining room table. She knew I relished such things.
Another afternoon when I was visiting, Alice and Julius we were
looking at the 1989 Grace Church Directory with the picture on the
front cover of our front window, Christ praying in Gethsemane. I
commented on how much that window meant to me and to others as we
come to worship. Julius felt the same. They he humbly added, "I cut
and shaped the wooden frame mound that window." I was astounded and
amazed. That graceful, Gothic design, how did he do it? Some 40
years before, in his small, simple shop with no sophisticated
machines, how did he get all the joints to blend so perfectly'? He
didn't try to explain it to me. But, remember with me, when we gain
strength and hope from meditating on the Christ in our timeless
front window, to say a prayer of thanks for our old charter member,
Julius Foss, who 40 years ago preserved and remounted the glass of
this venerable window that was once at the front of the original
little Grace Church.
With his son Amie as general contractor, Julius played a large part
in transforming the first small Grace into the spacious Grace we now
enjoy. But there is more. As we worship here we can draw strength,
also, from twelve carved shields surrounding us on both sides on the
walls above the windows. They are symbolic shields, each
representing one of the eleven disciples, plus St. Paul, since Judas
is missing. Each symbol speaks of the life, mission, and sacrifice
of a disciple.
Yes, say thanks to Julius for these also. He carved them by hand,
one by one, over a period of several months 40 years ago, at the
suggestion of Pastor Roland Johnson. They are a perfect reminder of
the great words from chapter 12 of Hebrews: "Therefore since we are
surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside
every weight and the sins which cling so closely and let us ran with
perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the
pioneer and perfector of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that
was set before him endured the cross."
That brings us back to our front window. Here in this place we find
both the assurance of Jesus' Presence and the quiet assurance that
we are surrounded by the presence of countless dear ones who, like
Alice and Julius, have labored and loved and worshiped within these
walls.
I must add another memory about our fellow member Julius. He had a
delicious sense of humor. A friend tells how he once engaged Julius
to construct a counter‑top for a lovely new cabinet at the Woman's
Club. When he came to pick it up he saw, to his horror, that the
fancy top was secured, not with invisible glue, but with about 50
prominent bright screws, the rounded tops of which protruded in
perfect order on the surface of the Formica top. How could the
respected Julius do a job like that? The truth was that Julius had
playfully cut the heads from 50 screws and laid them in perfect
order upon the surface of the counter top! The friend has never
forgotten it!
Julius died about five years ago at the age of 96, Alice about two
years ago at the age of 97. They were partners in marriage and in
the life of Grace Lutheran Church for over 70 years
The other delightful remaining charter member I was able to meet was
Hildur Carlson, the mother of one of our present members, Robert
Carlson. With her husband, Robert Sr., she was one of the 85 members
on the charter of 1924.
In her later years Hildur was a resident at P.A. Peterson Home. She
had joined First Lutheran Church when the family moved within a
block of that church years ago, but she and Alice Foss remained
close friends of each other. What I remember about Hildur with real
joy is the marvelous way she would, while sitting in her wheelchair
at P.A. Peterson, sing from memory in a sweet voice, "Beautiful
Savior, King of Creation," a whole verse or two! Hildur made it to
100 years, still singing!
Such were the last three of our 85 charter members! I'm glad I had the opportunity to know them."
Robert G. Edlen, Visitation Pastor 1987‑1997.