Knut Heidelberg

The periode 1893 to 1895 represents the beginning of organized Unitarianism in Norway.

After many years serving as Unitarian ministers in the USA both Hans Tambs Lyche (1859-1898) and Kristofer Janson (1841-1917) return to Norway and introduce Unitarianism mainly in Oslo (then named Kristiania (or Christiania)). For long historians considered Janson to be the first and only to carry out this mission, but as new research (see endnote) has revealed this may now be questioned. This short article will look into the whereabouts of Janson and Tambs Lyche from they returned and till Janson establishes the first Norwegian Unitarian church in 1895 and in this way demonstrate why Janson no longer can be considered the only one first to introduce Unitarianism to Norway and that Tambs Lyche and Janson independently of each other tried to organize a Unitarian movement. Only one of the would partly succeed.

Surely Tambs Lyche and Janson must have know each other from the Unitarian ministry in USA (the US Scandinavian Unitarian milieu at the end of the 19th century was easy to know). Despite this there are no records saying their return to Norway in 1893 was planned or in some way part of a mutual Unitarian mission. It is said that the reason for Tambs Lyche’s return was that he in Oslo received a position as editor to a periodical called Kringsjaa. The reasons why Janson left America are not that easy to see but his marriage was not working and because of his involvement with Spiritualism he was criticized by fellow Scandinavian Unitarians. He was disappointed, and there were little that held him back in America. It is probably a coincidence they both returned the same year.

Kristofer Janson almost immediately embarks on a lecture tour visiting the major cities of Norway. His lectures were to be published in the book «Foredrag» (1894). Later he was to write in his self biography that this tour was to test how Unitarianism would be received in Norway. But looking at the lectures to day this seems strange because they are not all dealing with Unitarianism but also with Spiritualism and re-incarnation. It may of course be that Janson considered these things to be important parts of Unitarianism. Then the spring 1894, he leaves Norway and travels to Denmark. At this time in Denmark there was no Unitarian church but a beginning Unitarian movement. Janson gathers a group for Unitarian worship in Aarhus. This group would later be «Aarhus Free Church Society». Janson would also be a source of inspiration for those founding the Unitarian congregation in Copenhagen, which to day still exists. The congregation in Aarhus has since long disappeared.

Although Janson’s work in Denmark is interesting the important here is the fact that he left Norway 1894. If his reason for returning to Norway would be to test how Unitarianism was received, why then leave? It seems somewhat bold to think he wanted by his own to introduce Unitarianism in both Norway and Denmark. On the other hand, Janson had both friends and family in Denmark and Norway. Since no records seems to shed a light over why he after his lecture tour left, my guess is that he in 1893 and 1894 was unsure of where to settle. This is to say that it was not a Unitarian mission or an attempt to «test» if Norway was ready for Unitarinism that was the main reason for Janson. He was simply unsure where to live. In 1895 he would end up in Norway but as often as possible spend the summer holidays in Denmark.

Hans Tambs Lyche on the other hand seems to have had a strong wish to introduce Unitarianism and as soon as possible to organize a Norwegian Unitarian church. Shortly after he settled in Oslo he published a leaflet addressed to all «liberal minded people». Here he outlines his understanding of Unitarianism and suggests that there should be organized a Unitarian church and a Unitarian society. This leaflet resulted in three things: 1. He ended up discussing Unitarianism with the State Church pastor Thorvald Klaveness (1844-1915). This discussion took place in the periodical «For Kirke og Kultur» (For Church and Culture) and is probably the first Unitarian Norwegian printed discussion. 2. About 30 people would gather in Oslo interested in establishing a Unitarian church but for some reasons Tambs Lyche argued that this was not enough and therefore no Unitarian church was founded in 1894. On the other hand he collected the names and addresses of those interested. This list he gave to Kristofer Janson on his return to Norway late 1894. 3. When failing to organize the first church he turns to publishing and creates the first Unitarian periodical to be published in Norway, «Frie Ord» (Free Words).

It is a puzzle why Tambs Lyche did find 30 interested people a too small number in order to organize a Unitarian church. When Janson returned from Denmark and received the list, he used it to organize the first Norwegian Unitarian church in 1895, «Broderskabets Kirke» (The Church of Brotherhood). And the church records show that the membership 1895 was almost 30 people. Still there may be one reason, and that is Tambs Lyche’s failing halth. In 1984 he has only four years still to live. It may be his reason for not establish the first Unitarian church was that his tuberculosis put a stop for it. It is not know how ill he actually was in 1894 but only three years later it is obvious he is no longer capable to keep up with all his work.

When Kristofer Janson in Norwegian history is given the honor of introducing Unitarianism to Norway it is because he in December 1894 arrived in Oslo, gave a speech explaining Unitarianism and then encourage people to establish a Unitarian church which he would lead. It is fair to say that Janson was a very much popular and famous writer that always collected large groups of people in public. The newspapers report that the audience applauded when Janson delivered his speech. In January 1895 The Church of Brotherhood was established and the first Norwegian Unitarian services took place in Oslo. I think it is fair to say that Tambs Lyche in 1894 was the one really preparing for this church but it was Janson that got the honor that secured him a place in Norwegian history as the one to introduce Unitarianism.

On the other hand this honor was short lived in the Unitarian milieu. Only some months after the foundation of The Church of Brotherhood Tambs Lyche started to print critical articles about Janson’s Unitarianism. In these articles he is warning against the Spiritualism of Janson and also arguing that Janson’s person seems to be too important. Shortly before he dies, Tambs Lyche writes an article saying there should be another Unitarian church in Norway. He was obviously very disappointed. And so was Janson’s congregation. In 1898 Janson was forced to quit as minister to the congregation and 1900 the congregation split into one group that later would follow Janson and another that would call a new Unitarian pastor from the USA, Herman Haugerud. What then happened is not the topic of this short article but will be dealt with in an article to come later this year.

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This article is based upon: Knut Heidelberg: Frisinnet kristendom : unitarismen i Norge 1893-1937 (2006, Menighetsfakutetet, Oslo – The Lutheran School of Theology, Oslo). For details consult this thesis or contact webmaster.

I regret to have to inform you that the Unitaran Bishop, Ragnar Emilsen, of Sweden died in Malmö Hospital in Sweden yesterday February 5 2008. Bishop Emilsen was ordained to the Unitarian ministry in 1987 in Copenhagen, Denmark, by Unitarian Bishop Lajos Kovács of Romania. Emilsen served as Unitarian Christian Bishop to Scandinavia. May he rest in peace, RIP.

The Church of Brotherhood was the name of the first Unitarian church in Norway founded by Rev. Kristofer Janson in 1895. I have scanned and uploaded some Norwegian historical sources related to this church here http://morgenstierne.org/norskunitarisme/broderskabetskirke.htm

On August 17 2007 several Unitarian Christian churches met to discuss

what is our common Unitarian Christian identity. The result of these
discussions are found in the so called Avignon Manifest. The manifest is
available in French text here
http://afcu.over-blog.org/article-12204296.html As I understand Italian
and English translations will come later.
The Norwegian Unitarian Church was not par of these discussions but
never the less agrees that the manifest is an important mark of
identity. Even if it is not a creed or confession in any way it may be
considered as an important symbol for Unitarian Christian churches to
agree on in order to connect closer.
The Norwegian Unitarian Church will therefore study the text and
consider whether it should agree officially to the Avignon Manifest.

 

These days Norwegian authorities are discussing a new law of marriage (including a same-sex marriage law). Among other churches The Norwegian Unitarian Church has also been asked to comment upon the suggestion for a new law.

We have so far concluded on the four major topics discussed:

1)
a) Same-sex marriages should be accepted by law and in all aspects equal
to heterosexual marriages.
b) Churches should receive the right to marry same-sex couples but not
be forced to do so.
c) The Bét Dávid Unitarian Association (The Norwegian Unitarian Church)
is among those churches that want to marry same-sex couples.
2)
The old Law of Partnership is to be removed.
3)
a) Full rights of adoption for same-sex married couples.
b) The word “spouse” should be used both for same-sex marriages and
heterosexual marriages.
4)
All rights given by the Law of Biotechnology should be the same for both
same-sex marriages and heterosexual marriages.

Dear Friends,
I am very happy to tell you all that there now is a Unitarian Bishop in Scandinavia. Not long ago Rev. Ragnar Emilsen of the Unitarian Church in Sweden was appointed Unitarian bishop in order to preserve and to continue the Transylvanian church tradition and teaching going back to Francis David in 1568. This would also mean that for the first time in history it is now in Scandinavia opened up for Unitarian Christian ordinations of Transylvanian Unitarian Christian succession.

Ragnar Emilsen was ordained in 1987 to the Unitarian ministery by bishop Lajos Kovács (1909-1994) of the Unitarian Church in Romania.

Friday I received from America the hymn book pastor Kristofer Jansons edited when he startet his Unitarian ministry among the Norwegian settlers in Minnesota. His headquarter was Minneapolis where the Unitarian congregation disposed of a wonderful church building (later to be sold and become synagoge).

The hymn book was published 1883 and titled «Salmer og Sange for Kirke og Hjem» («Hymns and songs for church and home»). In the Foreword Janson writes that liberal Christians no longer can use the old hymn books (probably referring to the standard and even to day well known Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran hymn book edited by pastor Landstad). Janson therefore collected hymns that did not preach Trinitarian Christian theology and in some cases – where the hymns was so dear and well-known to the Norwegians – he admits having changed the text.

What is interesting from our Norwegian Unitarian view is that Janson included many hymns and songs by Henrik Wergeland (1808-1845) – a person who many of the first Unitarians in Norway at the end of the 19th century regarded as one of the first Norwegian Unitarians. If not the very first. Of course Wergeland was not a Unitarian but he was a very liberal minded person, a famous poet and played an important role in the formation of what to day is Norway. For more information about Henrik Wergeland, see Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrik_Wergeland

We have to day information saying Janson edited two Unitarian hymn books. The first was the one mentioned above. The second after his return to Norway and after he was forced to leave the Norwegian Unitarian church he founded 1895. The second hymn book was published in Oslo (then named Krisitiania) in 1901 and titled «Sanger og Sange» («Hymns and songs»).

It has not been time to compare these two hymn books and part from the fact that the 1883-hymn book has 386 pages, includes also some American Unitarian songs and different writers while the 1901-hymn book has 92 pages and seems mostly to include Jansons own hymns and songs – part from this little is so far known about the two hymn books.

But one very interesting comment was made in the Foreword of the 1883-hymn book, here it says that this hymn book includes some American Unitarian songs in case the Services sometimes should be in English. This is interesting because it indicates that Janson preached Unitarianism in Minneapolis in Norwegian and only among Norwegians (or Scandinavians). While other Norwegian Unitarian pastors also working in America would preach in English also and therefore not just among Scandinavians, such as Hans Tambs Lyche and Herman Haugerud. Earlier studies have shown that these Norwegian Unitarians preaching in English were more liberal in their Unitarian identity than Kristofer Janson.

The History:

The church was founded under the name The Free Church of Sweden (Fria Kyrkan i Sverige) in Malmö in 1974 by members of The Religion and Culture Society as an outpost connected to the Danish Unitarian church (Det Fri Kirkesamfund). In order to indicate its heritage from the original Unitarianism [in Transylvania] the church in 1999 changed its name to The Unitarian Church in Sweden. As first time in Scandinavia Ragnar Emilsen was ordaind according to the Transylvanian Unitarian tradition by Bishop Lajos Kovács (1909-1994) from the Unitarian Church in Romania. This ordination took place in Copenhagen during the meeting of International Association for Religious Freedom in 1987 – and Emilsen was appointed pastor for Sweden and Finland.

The Faith according to the church’s bylaws:

«We believe in one God that is the Life. We believe Jesus was the prophet of God. We believe in The Holy Ghost as the presence of God. We believe in everlasting life. The church is not bound by dogmas made after the time of Jesus. Our creed [Vår trosbekännelse] is the same as the one of Jesus: «Yahweh our God is the one» (Deuteronomy 6:4) and «love your neighbour as yourself» (Leviticus 19:18).»

By creating interest for and practise Jesus own gospel the church wants to work for a spiritual renewment.

The church wants to combine proof and religious experience, reason and emotion and mysticism. Openminded to the individual’s search for truth the church wants to serve all people.

The church base its exegesis on the Swedish Bible and the Hebrew as found in the Jewish texts and aramaic which was the language of Jesus. The church uses a modern version of Emanuel Linderholm’s The Swedish High Mass. With music by Oskar Lindberg and his rituals for baptism and Communion. Baptism is understood as an act of blessing and the Communion as ceremony of rememberance. Confession and personal conversations are vital.

To day the church is active mostly in Sweden. Two ministers are involved in a mission among the Romany people in Slovakia.

The Norwegian scholar Einar Molland (1908-1976) created the impression that the composer Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) was active in and member of the Norwegian Unitarian movement in the beginning of the 20 Century. Unfortunately this myth is hard to die and still to be found in books and articles published in the 21th Century. Still no traces of Edvard Grieg is found in Norwegian Unitarian church records, it is not known if he ever visited the first Norwegian Unitarian church, the first Norwegian Unitarian pastor, Kristofer Janson (1841-1917), has never mentioned Edvard Grieg as part of the Unitarian movement – and Grieg himself remained until his death a member of the Evangelical-Lutheran State Church.

What seems to be correct and confirmed from Grieg’s private correspondence just a month before he died (and from a letter he wrote May 17 1905), is that he discovered the Unitarian religion while visiting Birmingham (UK) in 1888. In a letter written at the hospital in Bergen August 28 1907 he as far as religion is concerned consider himself to be Unitarian and a believer in God.

It has not been possible to find the sourses from where Molland concludes the Grieg was part of the Norwegian Unitarian movement and because Molland also includes the Norwegian writer Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson (1832-1910, Nobel Prize in literature 1903) among those active in the movement, it is tempting to suggest that Molland is guessing. Bjørnson was surely not part of this movement!

January 27 started the Norwegian ‘Grieg Year’ in remembrance of 100 years since the death of the great composer. Hopefully this year also will mean a closer look on Edvard Grieg and Norwegian Unitarianism.

History is exciting and at the moment I am doing research on the early Unitarian movement here in Norway. The first movement begun in our capital, Oslo (then named Christiania or Kristiania), about 1893 for more or less to vanish into nowhere in 1937. A second Unitarian movement started at the end of the 1980ies and is still alive.

One of the new discoveries is that in 1909 the Norwegian Unitarian pastor Herman Haugerud travelled to the USA and England in order to collect money for a church building the Norwegian Unitarians were planning to erect. Looking at Haugerud’s old correspondence suddenly a letter from the Hungarian bishop Joseph Ferencz turns up. Here he writes that the Unitarian churches in Hungary have collected 1,000 Crowns for the Norwegian Unitarians. If you are interested to read the letter, click here: unitarian.christian.net/foto/hungarynorway.pdf