The White Falcon - 02.02.1968, Page 3

Friday, February 2, 1968
WHITE FALCON
3
Iceland’s Grand Master of Masons
Attends Masonic Installation
NEWLY ELECTED OFFICERS TAKING their oath are: (1-r), Chief Petty Officer Arthur L. Cheatam,
chaplain; Lieutenant Jay Montgomery, secretary; Petty Officer Second Class Wilmer Bolton, treasurer;
Commander Russell W. Sims, first vice president; Mr. William Ward, second vice president and Chief
Petty Officer Clinton R. Thorell, president.
LIFE-TIME MEMBERSHIP in the Northern Lights Masonic Club
was presented Asgeir Asgeirsson (left) by Club President, U. S.
Army Lieutenant Colonel George D’Louhy.
ENLIGHTENING TALK was given by Mr. Sveinn K. Kaaber, worshipful master, Reykjavik’s
Edda Lodge on Icelandic culture and the warm friendship that exists between Iceland’s Masons and
those of the Northern Lights Masonic Club. He talked of the many fellowship hours spent with mem-
bers of the NATO base Club that was first founded in 1949.
Story and Photos
by JOl George Cates
Iceland’s President, Asgeir Asgeirsson was honored
guest and speaker at the Northern Lights Masonic Club
installation dinner held locally last Saturday evening at
the NATO base. Attending the affair was an esti-
mated 300 invited guests, including many Masons from
Reykjavik and neighboring communities who witnessed
the newly elected officers of the Northern Lights Masonic
Club take the oath of office.
Greeting His Excellency, Presi-*
dent Asgeirsson on his arrival at
the “56 Club” was: U. S. Navy
Rear Admiral Frank B. Stone,
commander, Iceland Defense
Force; U. S. Navy Captain Ralph
W. Hart, commanding officer,
Naval Station, Keflavik; U. S.
Army Lieutenant Colonel George
D’Louhy, staff officer to Com-
mander, Iceland Defense Force;
U. S. Navy Commander Russell
W. Sims, executive officer, Naval
Station Keflavik; U. S. Marine
Sei’geant Major Leadus R. Ar-
mes, Marine Barracks Keflavik;
Mr. Sveinn K. Kaaber, Worship-
ful Master, Edda Lodge, Reykja-
vik and Mr. Arthur Waterman
of Public Works Department,
Naval Station Keflavik.
A fellowship hour followed the
President’s arrival in the main
ballroom where invited Masons
and guests gathered in casual
conversation, re-establishing a
friendship that for many com-
menced six years ago at a similar
Masonic installation held locally
and attended by the President.
Mr. Paul Ward, Public Works
Department and a charter mem-
ber of the Northern Lights Ma-
sonic Club since its founding in
1949 was present for the instal-
lation and was honored at the
head table. A former member,
Mr. Val Bjornsson, state treasu-
rer for the state of Minnisota, ac-
knowledged an invitation mailed
him with regrets that official
U. S. NAVY REAR ADMIRAL Frank B. Stone (right) commander, Ice-
land Defense Force greets the President of Iceland, Asgeir Asgeirsson
upon his arrival to attend the Northern Lights Masonic Club instal-
lation dinner.
commitments in Minnesota made
his presence there necessary.
During dinner, several toasts
were made, with the first for
the evening being made by North-
ern Lights Masonic Club Presi-
dent, George D’Louhy to Presi-
dent Asgeirsson with these
words: “Dear friends, sisters,
brothers, we have the distinct
pleasure to have with us this
evening the Grand Master of
Masons in Iceland, Brother As-
geir Asgeirsson, his excellency,
the President of Iceland. This is
a great honor for us to see you
here tonight. Brothers, sisters
and honored guests, I ask you
to stand up with me and lift our
glasses to toast the Wor-
shipful Grand Master, frater-
nally and most respectfully."
President Asgeirsson respon-
ded to the toast with a speech
that included the friendship that
exists between himself and the
President of the United States,
the U. S. Ambassador to Iceland
and with military leaders of the
Iceland Defense Force. He talked
about the official trip he made to
the United States last year and
of the warm reception given him by
President Johnson and govern-
ment officials in Washington.
Another toast, to the ever-
lasting friendship between our
great countries, Iceland and the
United States drew a response
from Mr. David Henry, deputy
A TOAST TO THE PRESIDENT of Iceland, Asgeir Asgeirsson (third
from left) was made by Northern Lights Masonia Club President
George D’Louhy, followed by a brief speech by the President to those
attending the installation dinner.
chief of mission, U. S. Embassy
in Reykjavik. Mr. Henry was re-
presenting the Honorable, Karl F.
Rolvaag, U. S. Ambassador to
Iceland, who was unable to attend
because of official business in Ice-
land’s capital city.
Just before the installation of
officers for 1968 began, Mr. Jon
Gudmundsson, marshal, Northern
Lights Masonic Club was asked
to read the purpose of the Club
to the invited guests. He said,
“The purpose is to bring together
Brother Masons of all recognized
jurisdictions for the promotion of
fellowship, for the mutual benefit,
and for the furthermore of Ma-
sonic ideals." The Northern
Lights Masonic Club has an ac-
tive membership of thirty-five with
regular scheduled meetings held
on the second and fourth Tues-
(Continued. on Page U.)