History of Sons of Norway
Sons of Norway was started by Norwegian founders that were cautious men that worried about survival for their families and neighbors. They recalled the assistance plan from Trondheim where members paid a small amount each week and in return received free medical care for themselves and their families. It was in this spirit of necessity that Sons of Norway was founded as a mutual assistance society, one built on the principles of American fraternalism. The organization provided not only security against financial crises via life insurance and an outlet to celebrate their nationalism, but it also served to preserve their Norwegian heritage.
To qualify for membership originally, one had to be male, either Norwegian or of Norwegian descent, give proof of being morally upright, in good health, capable of supporting a family, at least 20 years old and no more than 50. Now, membership is open to everyone with an interest in Norwegian culture.
The organization slowly expanded across the United States and now includes Lodges in Canada and Norway. Today, Sons of Norway continues to make an effort to build on the traditions of the past while at the same time focusing on modern Norwegian-American lives. There must be programs to appeal to the 4th and 5th generation descendants who show interest in their roots.
Read more about this topic: Sons Of Norway
Famous quotes containing the words history of, history, sons and/or norway:
“A great proportion of the inhabitants of the Cape are always thus abroad about their teaming on some ocean highway or other, and the history of one of their ordinary trips would cast the Argonautic expedition into the shade.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“To summarize the contentions of this paper then. Firstly, the phrase ‘the meaning of a word’ is a spurious phrase. Secondly and consequently, a re-examination is needed of phrases like the two which I discuss, ‘being a part of the meaning of’ and ‘having the same meaning.’ On these matters, dogmatists require prodding: although history indeed suggests that it may sometimes be better to let sleeping dogmatists lie.”
—J.L. (John Langshaw)
““My mother thinks us long away;
‘Tis time the field were mown.
She had two sons at rising day,
To-night she’ll be alone.”
—A.E. (Alfred Edward)
“Write about winter in the summer. Describe Norway as Ibsen did, from a desk in Italy; describe Dublin as James Joyce did, from a desk in Paris. Willa Cather wrote her prairie novels in New York City; Mark Twain wrote Huckleberry Finn in Hartford, Connecticut. Recently, scholars learned that Walt Whitman rarely left his room.”
—Annie Dillard (b. 1945)