The Icelandic Canadian - 01.03.1954, Blaðsíða 56

54
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Spring 1954
its president, J6n Johnson. The out-
standing feature of which was an ad-
dress by the Rev. Theodore Sigurds-
son. The other items on the program
were of uniform and outstanding excel-
lence, including Lorna Stefansson,
Palmi Palmason and Miss Lilja Ey-
lands. The second evening, in the
First Lutheran church, sponsored by
the Icelandic Canadian Club, high-
lighted the Hon. Byron I. Johnson,M.
B.E., former premier of B. C. He gave
a lengthy and interesting statistical
report on the province of British Col-
umbia. He was introduced by Judge
W. J. Lindal. Also featured were the
Daniel McIntyre choir, John Graham,
Robert Ryback, violinists, Stuart Neir-
meir, Pianist, and Gordon Parker, bari-
tone. The concluding evening ,in the
hands of the Icelandic League, consti-
tuted the closing meeting of the con-
vention. It was held in the First Fed-
erated Church. The meeting was con-
ducted by Prof. Finnbogi GuSmunds-
son and although it was an outstand-
ing novelty to hear a Scotchman speak
Icelandic, as the Rev. Robert Jack did
both fluently and well, and though the
Rev. Eirlkur Brynjolfsson spoke with
his usual excellence, the show was
stolen by four little girls from Arborg,
reciting in Icelandic. They were Judy
Vopnfjord, Rosalind Palsson, Jona
Palsson and Erla Sasmundsson.
Honorary members were named at
the final meeting, and were: the Rev.
Einar Sturlaugsson of PatreksfjorSur,
in Iceland, and Dr. Stefan Einarsson
of the Johns Hopkins University in
Baltimore, Md.
Officers elected were:
President______ Rev. V. J. Eylands
Vice-Pres____ Rev. P. M. Petursson
Secretary ____Mrs. Ingibjorg Jonsson
Vice-Sec......—Prof. F. GuSmundsson
Treasurer ------Mr. G. L. Johannson
Vice-Treas....T______Mr. Thor Viking
Financial Sec........Mr. GuSm. Levy
Vice-Finan. Sec _______Olafur Hallson
Archivist ----Mr. Ragnar Stefansson
P.
The Rules of Life of the Old Norse Religion
In his translation of Norse Myth-
ology Dr. Rasmus B. Anderson in-
cludes many valuable comments by
the highest authorities on the subject,
who possessed thorough knowledge of
the Icelandic Eddas, as well as the
Norse Mythology, which explain the
religion of the Northmen prior to
their adoption of Christianity. One of
these authorities was Professor R.
Keyser. The rules of life as indicated
by the High Song of Odin (Havamial,
a poem of 1059 lines), and Sigrdrlfu-
mal (a poem of 245 lines), was sum
med up by him as follows:
1. The recognition of the depravity
of human nature, which calls for
a struggle against our natural de-
sires and forebearance toward the
weakness of others.
2. Courage and faith both to bear
decrees of the norns1 and to fight
against enemies.
3. The struggle for independence in
life with regards to knowledge as
well as to fortune; an indepen-
1. 1 ne three fates fo Norse Mythology, UrSur, VerSandi and Suld, past, present and future.
They dwell under the ash-tree Yggdrasill by the UrSar-fount and sprinkle this world-tree with
holy water from the fount to keep it sound and ever-green. They spin the threads of human
destiny. Besides these three Norns, every human creature has a personal Norn or fate. Some
are supposed to wield a good influence and others not so good.
H. F. D.