Pastor Peder Knudsen Mellang
Source, page 612
Through our "Kirketidende" we have in recent times been able to send many stories about new workers who have been sent out in the Lord's Vingaard. We know that these businesses have brought joy to our society among all those who have an open eye to the great need in the spiritual field and have learned to ask the master of the harvest to drive out more and more workers in his great harvest. This time we have the heavy message to bring to our readers that the Lord in his wisdom has called one of our young workers away from his work in this great harvest. Pastor Mellang, who in June last year completed the Theological Exam at our Luther Seminar and on the 20th of July was ordained Priest of the Hudson, River Falls, Stillwater and South Stillwater Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregations, died at his home in Hudson Saturday morning the 12th of September . Past writes about his illness and last days. Rosenquist, who was with him at the deathbed, told us the following:
Ever since the new beautiful Church in Hudson, for which he worked with tireless zeal both as a Student and Priest of the Congregation, was consecrated on the 28th of June d.A., Mellang felt less well. Sometimes he had to refrain from preaching as a result. He did not dare go to the Priests' Conference in Decorah. Nevertheless, he worked diligently and encouragingly all his hard work on the work that the Lord had put him in until Sunday, August 30, when he preached in both Hudson and River Falls. Those who heard this last sermon of his say that it was as if the Lord had in a marvelous way directed his thoughts to the things which were soon to enter without the foresight of any man. Over a free text he had spoken with life and warmth about the divorce, death prepared believing brothers and sisters, about the reunion with God in heaven and the joy they would then again enjoy.
For a long time this sermon will be remembered by his friends, of whom he had many; he won the love and esteem of all with whom he came in contact. Coming back from River Falls, he felt very exhausted and itchy. Partly he was lying down, partly he was up. On Tuesday evening he went to bed too well, and the disease increased daily, without the doctor giving up hope of recovery.
Wednesday morning, the 9th of September, I, his immediate neighbor and a member of the same Special Conference, traveled to Hudson to see him. Mellang was then so weak that he himself declared that he could not see me. The next day the doctor discovered a cancerous abscess in his stomach and thus gave up hope of being able to save his life.
Friday morning I was asked to get on the first train. Arriving at the sickbed I true the dear Brother in a heavy sleep; but exhausted as he was, he still understood what was being done to him. I then added in a few words to remind him of the glorious gospel which he had preached to others, and asked him if he also now consoled himself there and would die in the faith thereon. To this he replied with a nod and said Yes. After uniting us in prayer for him and commending him to the grace and warmth of God in Christ Jesus, his Savior, I reminded him again of the many glorious promises the Lord had given to those who believe, and read a few psalms that speak of Death and glory after the same for all those who die in the Lord, among whom also Nr. 412 in our Psalm ... which was one of Mellang's beloved hymns, He always felt happy and calm when the Word of God was preached to him.
But more and more it seemed to paint towards the End. Repeatedly, when he saw the hard cramps, we waited for it to be over. However, when these seizures were over, he came more to himself again, and again and again he asked me to comfort him with the word of God.
After thus having fought and fought the battle of death until Kl. 5 Saturday morning, he calls me in from the adjoining Room. I step near him and ask, "Are you going to God now?" To this he answered a resounding yes, lay down on the pillow and thus remained lying with sunken hands until he Kl. 51/2 calmly fell asleep into the Name of Jesus.
A truly heavy blow both to the deeply grieved and yet calm and settled young wife, as well as to the congregations, which are now left without a shepherd and...
Hans Jakob Grøgaard Krog
Pastoral Vitae
Hans Jacob Grøgaard Krog was born in Flekkefjord on June 10, 1845, to his parents, Johan Fredrik Vilhelm Krog and wife, Charlotte Lovise Amalie, née Grøgaard.
He completed Flekkefjord’s grammar school and Stavanger’s Latin school and began his study of theology soon after passing the “Examen artium” in 1863 and two further examinations in 1864. He had taken up his studies in that field without being fully committed, and it did not take long before he began to doubt his decision. Troubled by such misgivings, he abandoned his studies and his intention to become a pastor.
He applied for and received a teaching position, first at one of Kristiania’s Latin schools, and later at Trondheim’s grammar and middle school, while eagerly pursuing his interest in the living language. His path led him during this time further and further away from God and His Word, and more and more into the darkness of unbelief. He attended worship service and Holy Communion less and less, and became more and more indifferent to the study of the Bible. But thanks be to the Lord, who overcame his resistance and led him to reflect on his ways. After living for a longer period of time in the house of a Christian association he finally reached the decision to once again take up his study of theology, and it soon became his most passionate pursuit. One of the reasons for returning to his studies was his desire to journey to America as pastor and help his fellow countrymen living there. In November, 1872, on the advice of Pastor Ottesen, he departed for St. Louis, with the intention of completing his studies there, but by Easter, 1873, he had left due to illness. Later, he resided at the homes of a number of pastors of the Norwegian Synod, where he assisted them in the performance of their duties and continued his studies. After receiving a call from the congregation of Our Savior’s Church in Minneapolis to serve in the absence of Pastor Stub, he took his theological examinations in Decorah on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of March, and today he is to be ordained into the holy office of pastor. As he prepares now to embark on his important life’s work with its many responsibilities, he is more aware than ever before of his own frailness, and from the bottom of his heart he asks the congregation to pray for him. At the same time he is convinced that the same Lord who called and led him to serve His church in this country will also give him the courage and strength to remain a steadfast toiler in His vineyard. It is now and will forever remain his prayer, for as long as the Lord allows him to remain in his calling, that his life’s work be to God’s glory and to the true benefit of his fellow man.
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