News
The Guild Assembly of Christian the IV’s Guild on Thursday Februar 27th
When the benchors entered the cellar to conduct the 2025 Guild Assembly, they were met by a packed room. Many members took the opportunity to attend this evening to hear about the guild’s activities over the past year.
Following the customary welcome toast, "Our thirst first," the Chief Bencher warmly welcomed everyone to this important evening, the annual Guild Assembly. A structured agenda was in place, and to oversee proceedings, the Chief Bencher proposed the election of the former Colonel and Garrison Commander Flemming Larsen. This proposal was met with enthusiastic applause, and Flemming Larsen took over the leadership of the meeting.
The Chief Bencher, Niels Voss Hansen, then addressed the assembly, reporting on a busy year for the guild in 2024. A major highlight was the 400th anniversary of Jens Bang’s Stone House, which led to two special jubilee admissions of new members. The guild also played a role in the anniversary tours of the historic building and participated in the official reception celebrating the house’s milestone.
Over the past year, 250 paying new members were admitted. Additionally, a new initiative was launched—a Donation Club within the guild, which has already attracted twelve donors. These donations will help strengthen the guild’s social work.
The report was approved.
The guild’s treasurer then presented the financial report, which showed a healthy surplus, thanks to prudent management of the guild’s funds. This, too, was approved.
Under the agenda item for board elections, there was a change in the treasurer position. Torben Røgild had chosen to step down but wished to remain a bencher. As his replacement, Henrik Røgild Knudsen was proposed and elected, officially taking over as treasurer upon receiving the key to the guild’s treasury. All other board members were re-elected.
With the agenda completed, the Chief Bencher thanked Flemming Larsen for guiding the assembly through all agenda points with a steady hand.
Next came the presentation of scholarships and donations.
- The Guild’s Honorary Award was given to world champion runner Stine Rex for her remarkable achievements—not for her outstanding athletic performance but for raising several hundred thousand kroner, which she directed toward improving young people’s living conditions.
- The Guild’s Initiative Award was presented to Keld Gregersen, the founder and chairman of the association Gestus, which conducts significant social work.
- The Guild’s Aalborg Award was also scheduled for presentation, but the recipient was unfortunately unable to attend and will receive it at a later occasion.
As tradition dictates, donations were also awarded to students residing in the Churchill Room and Toldstrup Room at the May 4th College.
Following this, the traditional admission of new members took place. The history of the guild, the origins of its name, and the significance of the Guild Toast—which outlines the proper conduct within the guild community—were explained to the new members. Their knowledge of Aalborg was further expanded during a city tour, including a stop at the Town Hall, where the guild’s beautiful linden tree was presented. They were then led to the “secret passage,” where they successfully tested their newly issued C4 keys.
The group reconvened in the cellar, where they enjoyed the traditional Viking drink, mead, before taking their seats once more. The evening continued with communal singing, cheerful camaraderie, and the guild’s signature schnapps ritual. The guild’s two troubadours provided additional entertainment before the benchers eventually departed.
Later in the evening, as tradition holds, the benchers gathered with the donation recipients for a reception at the Town Hall.
Once again, it was a wonderful evening filled with great experiences in Christian the IV’s Guild.
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On Saturday, February 15, 2025, a record-breaking initiation took place. At least fifty-seven members from the Odd Fellow lodges in North Jutland sought initiation to Christian IV’s Guild.
This meant that every seat in Duus Wine Cellar was occupied by people eager to join the guild. After a city tour through both old and new Aalborg, as well as a check to ensure that the secret entrance could be accessed with the C4 key, the group returned to their seats, where they had the opportunity to taste the ancient Viking drink, mead.
The large gathering created an electrifying atmosphere in the cellar, especially when the benchers sat the main table repeatedly toasted with delicious beer—an act that was met with longing glances from those awaiting initiation.
There was also much amusement during the introduction of the benchers, whether during the short or extended presentation of the chief bencher, the troubadour who graduated from the Royal Danish Academy of Music, or the senior brother who married into a fortune.
Christian IV’s Guild’s “Grand Lunch” dinner was enjoyed with the necessary respect, and afterward, the gathering was introduced to the renowned temperance advocate Larsen-Ledet and his efforts in this cause. 
The guests sang along enthusiastically with the songs from the guild’s songbook, and the atmosphere was further lifted when the guild’s troubadours performed several musical pieces.
It turned into a couple of joyful and festive hours—not least because, naturally, it took some extra time to organize all fifty-seven new applicants. However, the benchers were able to leave behind a happily buzzing crowd.
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On a lovely Saturday morning, a Danish/Norwegian family of 16 people was inducted into the guild. It was a joyful induction, filled with both Norwegian and Danish voices, depending on which family members were speaking. The Norwegian participants primarily came from the area around Kristiansand, while the Danish speakers were from the Aalborg region. Naturally, they were all informed about whom they were now becoming sisters and brothers with in the Guild, including our former Majesty, Queen Margrethe, and our current Majesty, King Frederik X. The guild master also mentioned that many Norwegians were already members of the Guild.
The guild master recalled that the first induction outside Aalborg took place in Kristiansand in 1988, in the cellar of Christiansands Bryghus, and that the Guild had since visited Kristiansand numerous times.
All participants had submitted an application for membership, with one person even submitting two—perhaps to be absolutely sure of their acceptance. The guild master read aloud the membership rules from the Guild Charter, and all applicants took note of them and accepted their induction.
After the traditional tour, including a visit to the Guild Tree, the induction was, as usual, celebrated in high spirits with the Guild’s gala dinner, delightful music, singing, and lively conversation. One story, in particular, about a young northern Norwegian priest struggling to keep his congregation awake during his sermon, caused great amusement.
The Danish schnapps/spirits were given due attention, reverently consumed under the guidance of the head table—and, not least, practically sung down.
The Guild’s two troubadours entertained with excellent music and cheerful songs, which only added to the already lively atmosphere.
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Notice of Guild Assembly 2025
The regular Guild Assembly, in accordance with Article 7 of the Guild Charter, will be held on:
Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 6:30 PM
at Duus Vinkjælder, Østerågade, Aalborg.
Agenda as per the Guild Charter.
Any items for the agenda must be submitted in writing to the Guild Board no later than February 20, 2025.
Members who have paid for a "lifetime membership" or the 2025 annual fee are eligible to vote.
Table reservations can be made with Guild Cellar Master Ole Bech Kristensen at +45 30290591.
Individual inductions into the Guild may be arranged in limited numbers on this evening at a cost of DKK 400, also by contacting Ole Bech Kristensen.
We encourage our members to join us for this pleasant evening.