“As you entered you read on the marble slab above the door the name given to this institution―’Gustavus Adolphus College of the Swedish Lutheran Church.’ There is a whole confession of faith in that name. Gustavus Adolphus is a name that shines like a star of the first magnitude with a resplendent luster in the firmaments of the annals of the world, and its very sound has a particular charm in the ears of a true Swede―not only because he was a great and good king and hero of Sweden, but because his name is associated with the greatest and dearest interests of all mankind. In every part of the world, Gustavus is known as the great and successful defender of the Protestant religion, and of human freedom in general. He lived and labored, he fought and died for the most momentous thoughts and principles. On the bloody field of Lutzen in Germany 244 years ago this champion of truth, of freedom of thought and conscience, of constitutional liberty and civilization breathed out his precious life, but his work did not die with him. It still lives and triumphantly attests itself in the victories of Protestant Christianity, education, humanity, intelligence and true liberty.”
Eric Norelius, Oct. 31, 1876
Read twice at the dedication of Gustavus Adolphus College, in Swedish then again in English
I think it is really cool that they read it in both Swedish and English- we should do stuff like that more often!