Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1943, Síða 35

THE ROYAL GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS ACADEMY 29
where all important decisions are taken, are held at different
places offers the advantage that it enables the Academy to come
into contact with all major research institutes and all major
centres of culture in Sweden, and that no individual locality
can acquire an undue influence on elections to the committce,
resignations, etc. Even members resident in distant parts of the
country are thus enabled to attend the meetings and make their
influence felt on the matters which come before them.
After the rules had been adopted, the Academy elected as
its president K. G. Westman, as vice-president Nils Ahnlund,
as secretary Jöran Sahlgreen, as librarian C. W. von Sydow,
and as treasurer. J. L. Saxon. The other members elected to the
committee were Edwin Berger, Bengt Hesselman, Hjalmar Lind-
roth, and Sigurd Erixon.
V.
Meanwhile the enlistment of contributory members had been
proceeding at a rapid pace. Among them must be mentioned
Mr. Ernst Áquist, M. P., the managing director of the Oscaria
Shoe Factory of örebro, and Dr. Gunnar Didrikson, whose pre-
mature death was to deprive the Academy of a greatly valued
member. Both these men showed the Academy a very generous
interest from the very start. As representative of the Gothenburg
patrons, Mr. Otto Lesslie was elected member on March 10, 1934.
On the same day the young publisher Lars Saxon, son of J. L.
Saxon, was also elected.
Encouraged by these successes, I determined on an unpre-
cedented step, viz. to approach H. R. H. the Duke of Narke
and ask him for financial support as a contributory member.
It is hardly usual for members of the Royal Family to be invited
to become paying members of societies and associations, and
it is still less usual for them to accept elections of this particular
kind. Indeed, such a procedure might with some justice be regard-
ed by them as somewhat importunate. Prince Eugen, however,
met my proposal with the greatest understanding and sympathy.
Not only did he consent to accept election, but he subsequently
took a diligent part in our meetings, to which the charm of
his personality and his brilliant gifts lent an added lustre.
New elections of contributory members followed in rapid
succession, largely thanks to the efforts of the President. At the