News
It was a pleasure to have the employees from the company Auto-G at the Guild.
When the chief bencher entered the cellar of Jens Bang Stenhus after the master of ceremonies had asked the guests to rise, they were greeted with friendly but curious looks, as there was some anticipation about what was going to happen.
The anticipation grew a bit more pronounced when the toastmaster ensured that the chief bencher quenched their thirst, while the guests only had the opportunity to watch and perhaps wonder why they weren't offered anything to drink.
The chief bencher then began to introduce the guests to the history of Christian the Fourth's Guild, when and why the Guild was established, and why they are located in the renowned Jens Bang Stenhus, before explaining the rules of admission to the guests. All guests wished to join, so it was pleasing that none were deterred by the requirements.
On this day, it became necessary to take a short city tour, so we did not get to see the Guild's magnificent linden tree at Gammel Torv by the City Hall. This was necessary due to another event at Gammel Torv.
The company was received the secret passage by the Guild's historical expert, who explained why the secret passage became necessary, and demonstrated how the new members would have the opportunity to use the C4 key, which they each received upon admission.
Back in the cellar, spirits rose a few degrees as the guests finally got something to drink, first by getting acquainted with the old Viking drink mead and later learning about "Potato Juice" as well. Our two-man band played the Guild's good songs, and the atmosphere rose even further after the chairman entertained the guests with anecdotes, including those about Nordic cooperation and understanding, creating a really good mood during the intake of the Christian the Fourth Guild's grand and splendid dinner, where the red sausages were enjoyed with great joy.
But all good things must come to an end, so the chief bencher left the good company to move on to the next item on their agenda.
Photo: Private
There was humility and great joy in finally being able to participate in a long-awaited initiation ceremony at Christian the Fourth's Guild on August 26, 2023.
Christian the Fourth's Guild had the pleasure of initiating no fewer than 46 new members from the Cimbria Lodge in Aalborg.
The Freemason Lodge subsequently sent an article about the initiation, which we hereby present:
Freemasons, their families, and close friends from Randers to Skagen defied the gloomy weather forecasts and flocked to Aalborg on a cool and cloudy Saturday morning.
The Freemason Lodge filled the entire basement of Jens Bang's Stone House, including the first floor, with family members and guests of the initiates. In total, 46 excited Freemasons, family members, and friends were ready for initiation into Christian the Fourth's Guild on this day.
The Chief Bencher, along with the benchers, conducted a fantastic and colorful initiation ceremony. Fortunately, there were plenty of bricks supporting the ceiling, or else it might have been blown off. All guests and recipients of initiation respectfully and reverently received the presentation of the benches, and no one dared to make any witty remarks during the ritual.
The guild's troubadour provided mood-setting music that truly lifted everyone's spirits, especially when the treasurer, accompanied by a helper, went around selling the guild's beautiful C4 pins. The treasurer could later report that there had been a successful sale of these pins, which can help one make friends all over the world.
During the visit to our linden tree, the guild's forester informed us that he visited the tree daily with a bit of mead to ensure it stayed in good shape and never went thirsty. He also mentioned that King Christian the Fourth's dog was buried under the tree, although he was somewhat uncertain about whether the King had a dog.
The procession continued through Aalborg and ended at the Secret passage, where our historian, Henrik Schou, explained the origins of the secret entrance, where the provided key could grant access. Master of ceremonial Palle Bjørnstrup asked a new member to test the key, and fortunately, it worked, allowing the group to return to the wine cellar, where the Chief Bencher waited.
The hearty North Jutlanders from Cimbria ensured that the schnapps song echoed in Aalborg and consumed the well-poured potato juice with due respect for the noble drops.
It was a group of happy and cheerful guests that the benchers left in the delightful wine cellar.
Se the pictures here
On July fourth, the American Independence Day, we had our traditional inauguration in connection with the festivities at Rebild Hills.
There were twenty-seven applicants, who all succeeded in walking around the Stonehouse as well as tastning the mead, the sausages, beer, not to forget the potatojuice.
Among the new members were the US keynote speaker Elisabeth Bumiller, head of The New York Times in Washington, minister for digital government Marie Bjerre, representing the Danish government and Simone Saustrup, This year’s youth speaker.
We started the inauguration at half past nine and ended ten to eleven, so everybody could reach the tent luncheon in Rebild, which started at 12 o’clock.
The tent luncheon was as usual a remarkable success, with a fully booked tent, everybody in a good mood, and good entertainment.
We awarded a Christian the Fourth tie to the Danish keynote speaker Adam Price, the American keynote speaker Elisabeth Bumiller, minister Marie Bjerre and youth speaker Simone Saustrup all got a new designed Christian the Fourth silk scarf.
Furthermore, we presented to the above mentioned, our new C 4 cap, which is especially useful in sun or rain!
Former and present President of the Rebild National Park Society Jesper Jespersen and Jørgen Bech Madsen also got a C4 tie.
Like last year the weather did not behave, it was raining, so raincoats were in great demand when all went down into the Hills!!
You can buy the new C4 cap on our Homepage.
See the pictures here
Photo: Private
.
On May 4th, the distribution of the donations took place in Duus’s Winecellar. With the donation, there were served wonderful red sausages, beer, or wine, so there was a pleasant atmosphere in the Cellar.
Chairman of the Foundation Vibeke Gamst mentioned, that it was the twenty-six time the donations had been paid out.
This year 69.000 Dkr. was paid out to good purposes. In all, since the start in 1997, the Foundation has donated 1.8 mil. Dkr.
There was also entertainment in form of Aalborg Pensionistorkester and Aalborg Huntingclub, playing natural horn.
Like last year, when the donations had been paid out, we walked to Aalborg Monastery, where Søren Wormslev, gave an interesting lecture about the Monastery and news about the “Churchill group.”
Many of the participants ended the day by attending “alsang” at “Gammeltorv”.
See the pictures here
Photo: Private
Once again, we had the pleasure of seeing many Norwegians in the Cellar. They are always god company, with a lot of humor and god spirit.
The participants came from Kristiansand, Stavanger and Sarpsborg, and all, but one, had survived the voyage over the sea!
Our treasurer was very happy, having counted the money in the “cashbox” after the sale of our “pin”.
Our Gala diner, consisting of red sausages, beer and potato juice, was enjoyed with great pleasure.
After the diner, some twenty descendants from “Churchill Gruppen”, the first Danish resistance group, arrived.
They stayed for a few moments, the Chief Bencher briefly told the story about the young boys, who had the same status in Denmark, as Max Manus had in Norway.
Before we ended, our “Twoman band” played, and we had a “singalong” together.
Again, a nice and cheerful, inaguration in the Cellar