Eulogy for Matthias Pedersen Øien

An original copy of a speech commemorating the memory of Matthias Pedersen Øien, 1867 - 1893.

Biographical Note

Matthias Pedersen Øien was born on Gården Island (Øie) in Voldens Præstegjeld (Volden Parish), Norway, on 21 January 1867. He was confirmed at the age of 15 by Pastor Gleditch, and immigrated in 1886 at the age of 19 to America. He first settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and then two years later he moved on to Seattle, where he became a active and leading member of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. He died at the age of 26 on 26 June 1893. He was remembered as being "the brightest" of his confirmation class of 60 students and he continued reading theology after confirmation, including classic Lutheran cannon such as Luther, Melankton, and other Reformation thinkers. Øien was a hard-working member of the Hjælp og Bistand for China Missionen (Help and Assistance for China) missionary organization, for which he also served as president for a short time. He was also one of the 18 founding members of a Christian youth literary group known for short as Fremad (Forward), however his illnesses by this time were impeding his work. A "teetotaler," Øien was also very active in the "war against King Alcohol" and the temperance movements, although he otherwise had no strong political inclinations. He was also remembered as being skilled in craftwork, and was loved by friends, family, and neighbors.