Strangers to Sisters - Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Library: Essays

During his time at DMLC, Levorson was also the unofficial ambassador and gobetween
for officials of both synods. Levorson maintained friendships with key members
of both the Norwegian Synod and the Wisconsin Synod and these friendships in turn
proved to be a useful when problems arose. Whether it was WWII draft issues, the need
of an ELS Lutheran Elementary School for a teacher, or a doctrinal issue that needed
discussion, people from both synods contacted Levorson. One such key friendship that
Levorson maintained was with Norman Madson of the ELS. Some of the most delightful
reading found in the ELS archives at Bethany Lutheran Seminary is the correspondence
between Norman Madson and Oscar Levorson. Their correspondence is a mixture of
deep discussion both of practical and theological issues, peppered with light-hearted
humor. On March 31, 1939, Madson wrote to Levorson,
Dear Oscar,
No, this is not preparatory to the first fishing
expedition of the 1939 season, though that will have to be
attended to ohne Aufschbub. It is rather of a more solemn
nature. We are again in need of a teacher for our day
school….
By the way, you will let me hear from you at your
convenience… Will you be at the Marshall meet[ing] on
April 25-26? It is going to be an historic event, if I don’t
miss my guess. The lines are drawing tighter on the union
sector, and something will have to break sooner or later.
This spiritual philandering cannot go on forever. If Mo.
wants to fraternize with Augustana and Norwegian Merger
and the Free Church, she will have to do so, but I am not
going to keep her company anymore in that event…
But, by the roadside, did you hear the announcement last
evening (from the state capitol) that the legislature had
decided to make the pike limit a 6-day affair the coming
year? Rise in righteous wrath and indignation, brother
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