Árdís - 01.01.1950, Page 75

Ársrit Bandalags lúterskra kvenna
73
Our Ladies’ Aids have been with us in spirit this summer as
before, many of them sending donations of various kinds. A list
of these will be published in our Icelandic weekly “Logberg”.
In closing I wish to thank all our campers for being such fine
girls and boys at camp, co-operating so well in every way. I also
thank all leaders for splendid work done at camp. And finally, I
wish to leave with our readers a picture of the closing item of the
program of the closing night of each group at camp. That is the
ceremony at the cairn. And what is the cairn? Those of you who
never visit our camp will not know—others who have been there
may think that the cairn is only a pile of stones on the camp grounds,
each stone bearing the initial of the person that laid it there, also
the date. Those who have attended some of our closing concerts
will know that after the closing hymn has been sung the campers
file out, lead by their Dean, each one carries their stone, which has
been carefully selected and initialled before. They march to the
cairn and form a circle around it. The audience from the hall
follow. Reverent silence reigns. The campers sing their opening
hymn. Each group with its Leader steps nearer to the cairn; in
unison they repeat a pledge which has been memorized and ex-
plained during the daily teaching periods. With the stone they lay,
they pledge themselves to noble living in a closer fellowship with
God. When all have laid their stones, a prayer is offered by the
pastor in charge. Another verse is sung in unison. The Lord’s
prayer is repeated and benediction pronounced. Thus closes the
session of each of our groups in Camp.
The cairn remains, and grows from year to year—a monument
to the work that is being done at camp—a monument built by
every camper that has attended our Sunrise Lutheran Camp. A
reminder of a sacred promise given, reminding each one of us that:
“We would be building: Temples still undone
O’er crumbling walls their crosses scarcely lift
Waiting till love can raise the broken stone
And hearts creative bridge the human rift.
We would be building, Master let Thy plan
Reveal the life that God would give to man.”
INGIBORG J. OLAFSSON.