translated into Swedish. This society died in 1904, but a new attempt was made the following year, and since that time there has been a local chapter of the Runeberg Orden in Chisholm. There were 14 members at its founding, and membership grew, to a maximum of 49, and never sinking below 9. Even in the 1950s there were still 15 members. The first chairman was Alfred Johnson.

Religious Activity : In their religious aspirations, the Finns of Chisholm have appeared quite individualist, with four different denominations represented. Following the general pattern, the earliest trend was Apostolic-Lutheran, although formal organization did not take place until December 1905, with the names of Frank Hakala, J. Okerstrom, Charles Randa, Andrew Sodervik and Oscar Wiinikka appearing on the official documents. These same persons were the first officers of the church as well, with Okerstrom as president, Randa as secretary, and the rest as board members. The first pastor was David Castren.

Present also was an Evangelical-Lutheran church, begun at the time Heikki Sarvela roved throughout the mining area holding services. Actual organization followed in 1906, when regular services were also begun. The earliest services were held at Winquist's hall, then later at the Swedish Evangelical-Lutheran church as well as at the Methodist church, but in 1908 the congregation lost all its property, even before they had succeeded in getting a church of their own, although membership at that time was already about 150. After the fire, interest at St. Peter's increased, and in 1911 it was decided to join the Suomi Synod. Within the Synod, the Chisholm body was included in the Hibbing district, and Hibbing pastors took charge. Later the Chisholm-AlangoIdington district was set up, involving a smaller geographical area and encouraging a more active program around the church in populous Chisholm: by 1915 membership had climbed to over 300, and in 1930 it was still over 200. (In 1953, membership was 124.) The first definite plans to build a church of their own were made as far back as 1911, but action did not come until over a decade later: a new church was dedicated in 1924, a building which at that time cost more than $10,000 to erect.

The drive to get this building program completed had brought several auxiliary groups to life. One of them was a sewing circle (in 1950 its chairman was F. Pietilä), while a Bethany Society gathered together younger women for the same purpose, with Alyce Pohjonen as director. A parallel men's organization was under the chairmanship of Wayne Könönen. There was also a

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