Through these doors….

October 15, 1881.
Place: Bethany Lutheran Church, Lindsborg, Kansas.
Time: the fresh hours of morning.
The mood: anticipation.
Waiting in the Sacristy this morning, were Pastor Carl Aaron Swensson and Professor J.A. Udden–waiting to see who would come to the first day of class of Bethany Academy. They had made careful plans. And with Alma’s urging, Bethany Academy would be open and welcoming to young girls as well as the young boys of the community.

There is a rustle. Young voices are heard! Here they come–John Johnson, Eric Olsson, Fredrik Carlson, Nora Lind, Lovisa Olson, Jenny Carlson, Andrew Cedarholm, Oscar Hobbart, Johanna Falling, Otto Hakanson. They may be hesitant, of course, but their faces are eager. They begin their education. Udden teaches arithmetic, geography, English reading, swedish reading, penmanship, orthography. Carl taught Bible and religious history. And Alma–she would see to it that the children who attended this school would know music–music that would inspire their lives.