and keeping it meaningful among the younger generation. Finnish-language schools naturally played a very limited role, but together with youth organizations, sports groups and other activities it has brought about the preservation of Finnish folk music, folk dances, games, customs, even language. In an agricultural region such as Paddock it has been easier, of course, to preserve the Finnish language than in more urban areas, but without organized youth activities this would scarcely have been possible.

The church above, together with its auxiliaries, later became the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sebeka. in Wadena County. Its membership grew when the Red Eye congregation (which had been

established in 1898) joined it in 1945. A new church building was dedicated in 1948.

The Paddock Bethania (Suomi Synod) Church was established in 1903, at a meeting held at the home of Antti Ruotsala. Its first officers included Matti Santa, chairman; Israel Komppa, vice-chairman; Simon Niemelä, secretary, and Erik Reini, treasurer. With H. Sarvela as pastor, services were at first held in private homes and later in an American church, until a church of its own was built in 1916. Shortly after its founding, the parish had 30 members, but only 12 in 1915, with a rise again to 38 in 1945 and up to 49 in 1953.

A temperance society for this `north country' was established in 1902 under the name of `The Plowman'. Its first officers were John Kotila, Peter Peterson, Albert Wierimaa, and Joseph and Lydia Wilson. The society first had a hall of its own in Red

Sebeka's (Paddock) Finnish church.

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