These are words that for years every graduate of Upsala College knew by heart. They are from the call vision of the prophet Isaiah - speaking of the majesty of God's presence. They were the first words of the Swedish High Mass; chanted by the pastor as the Sunday liturgy began. They affirmed that God's glory was everywhere - nothing was hid from Him. And so the intellectual pursuit that motivated 102 years of Upsala College was grounded in a trust that encouraged the pursuit of knowledge in the widest possible sense. Nothing was beyond "God's glory" - everything was the subject of investigation and devotion.

Upsala was never seen as a place for narrow minded indoctrination. Although it was overwhelmingly Swedish during its first 50 years, it admitted Jewish, Islamic, Roman Catholic and agnostic students from the beginning. Doc Calman's history lists a student body in 1908 of "79 Swedes, 2 Finns, 1 Jew, 1 'American', 1 Chinese, 1 Korean, and 1 Persian."¹ It was the first college in New Jersey to admit women. It early championed not only required chapel but sports events, visiting lecturers, and musical presentations. It honored the sciences in the spirit of Lennaeus and Celsius and literature and history in the thought of Tegner and Geijer. It was a place where feminism (Fredrika Bremer) and socialism could be discussed and evaluated.

Much of this direction is due to the persistence and visionary leadership of Upsala's first President, Lars Herman Beck. "Father Beck" as he was affectionately known, refused a teaching position in philosophy at Yale to become the "rector" of an academy that existed only as a dream among Swedish immigrants to the east coast.

As early as 1870, Swedish Lutherans formed an Eastern jurisdiction known as the New York Conference of the Augustana Lutheran Church. But it was a long way to the Midwest for their youth to attend one of the three other colleges. And there was the pressing need for pastors and teachers. The idea was broached in 1885 and by 1887 the New York Conference had decided to establish its own college. Finally at the national synod at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL in 1893 it was decided to name the institution "Upsala." That year, Swedes were celebrating the 300th Anniversary of the Council of Uppsala, a national assembly that legally committed the Church of Sweden to the Lutheran Reformation. The name would also honor the Uppsala University in Sweden and be an inspiration for its growth and scholarship. Finally, Swedish youth from the mill towns of New England and the mines of Pennsylvania would have a place to gain their education and assume leadership positions in their new homeland.

"Father Beck" left his Salem congregation in Naugatuck, CT and was met with 16 students on the first day of class October 3, 1893. The classes were held in the old Bethlehem Lutheran Church in downtown Brooklyn - not far from the Academy of Music. By the end of the year there were 75 students in the "Upsala Laröverk" or academy.

The next year the school moved into larger quarters at St. Paul's Lutheran Church (392 McDonough St.) where it remained for four years. The original faculty of five was increased to seven. All instruction was in Swedish but English was also required to fit the immigrants for their new home. Already in the summer of 1895 ten students found preaching positions and during the year 1894, five had congregations. Such positions were also very helpful to the students in paying their expenses and were highly desired.

The dedicated preaching of so many faculty members and students supported many fledgling Lutheran congregations in the New York metropolitan area. Over the years, Upsala reached out to assist many congregations that would have disbanded without Upsala's active concern. The college campus was the scene for innumerable Luther League gatherings that provided inspiration for many youth to attend college. It hosted countless synod conventions and congregational study events.

In 1898 The New Orange Industrial Association offered the college a fine site in Kenilworth, N.J. Consideration had been given to White Plains, NY, Stamford and Middletown, CT, and even Jersey City. But the gift of free land and several thousand dollars made Kenilworth the choice of the Board of Trustees. Mention should be made of the Rev. Gustaf Nelsenius, bishop of the New York Conference who chaired the Board and who from the beginning championed the cause of the school.

At first Upsala used a farmhouse at 20th St. and the Blvd. but by May 30th, 1899, the cornerstone of Old Main had been laid. Here in a rural suburb that consisted of 40 farms, no electricity, water, gas, sidewalks, or a railroad, the college flourished. In 1903, it became a full college in the modern sense and in 1905 four received their bachelor degrees. Three other buildings were soon erected: a girl's dormitory - "Crescendo Hall", a Commercial Hall, and a gymnasium which had the first regulation basketball court of any private school in the state.