52 Ancestors in 52 weeks - #12 "Membership" - Dr. Rev. L.G. Abrahamson

Prompt #12 (Mar 19-Mar 25): "Membership" - Dr. Rev. L.G. Abrahamson

Dr. L.G. Abrahamson, the cousin of my great grandfather Robert Albin Abrahamson, was given by Gustav V, the King of Sweden, the prestigious title of 

Commander of the Royal Order for the North Star.

"The degrees from the Swedish King are a recognition of the work that is being done in this country for the intellectual development of Swedish-Americans. The degrees are conferred upon direct recommendation of Bishop van Scheele to the Swedish monarch, based upon investigations made by the bishop upon the occasion of his visit at the jubilee celebration and subsequent tour of the country."

TEN AMERICANS GIVEN DEGREES BY SWEDISH MONARCH
RANK OF THREE IS RAISED, 7 AMERICANS KNIGHTED

The entire list of those honored can be read by enlarging the newspaper clipping above. Rev. Dr. Laurentius Gustav Abrahamson (cousin of Robert Albin Abrahamsson) was one of those previously knighted by the king who was now elevated in Rank.

referring specifically to Dr. Abrahamsson as printed in the news clipping above...

"Abrahamson First Decorated.

Dr. L.G. Abrahamson, who also is elevated to commander of the Royal Order of the North Star, was the first minister in the synod to receive knighthood in that order. He received the degree in 1894, upon the occasion of Bishop von Scheele's first visit to America. Dr. Abrahamson is perhaps the most influential leader in the synod. For twenty-four years he was pastor of the Salem Lutheran Church in Chicago, resigning there in 1908 when he was chosen editor of "Augustana" by the synod. Previous to that time he had been associate editor of the publication for a period of eleven years.

He is a member of the board of directors of Augustana college, the mission boards of the synod  and Illinois Conference and the foreign mission board of the General council of the Lutheran Chirch of America. He is also on the directorate of Augustana hospital of Chicago, and was one of the founders of that institution. For six years he was president of the Illinois conference. 

In 1900 he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Augustana college, his alma mater, In addition to his editorial work Dr. Abrahamson is the joint author of the Jubilee Album of 1893, published jointly with the late Dr. Carl Swensson of Bethany college."

my cousin thrice removed

Robert Albin Abrahamson's cousin

Rev. Laurentius Gustav Abrahamson D.D.R.N.O.

1856-1946

The Royal Order of the Polar Star (Swedish: Kungliga Nordstjärneorden) is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim.

The Order of the Polar Star was until 1975 intended as a reward for Swedish and foreign "civic merits, for devotion to duty, for science, literary, learned and useful works and for new and beneficial institutions".

The letters after our cousin Laurentius name indicate D.D. Doctor of Divinity, R riddare  (Swedish for knight) N.O. Nescit Occasum (Latin for - it knows no decline) 

From Amy Johnson Crow, a genealogist, far more experienced then I. "The data that we've accumulated in our genealogy software and in our binders and folders doesn't do a whole lot of good just sitting there. We need to do something with it." Each week she sends out a prompt to share a bit about an ancestor, collateral relative, or family friend.