The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-29
TALES
 OF VIKINGS AT { vALHALLA MEET
Half Century Club Members
 Enjoy Themselves at
 "Allharjarting'' ;

Like a minstrel of old frecounting in a saga the deeds of the Vikings, John Nordstrom, secretary of the Half Century club, recalled deeds of the members for the last year at the. annual mid-winter meeting, ".allhar- jartung,"> and banquet yesterday. The gathering was held in Magma Charta hall at ITO Fairfield avenue. Instead sof following the ancient custom of praising the members for past per formances, however, Secretary Nord- strom reviewed the mistakes of the members for the last year. In his review" the secretary recalled some humorous experience of each mem- Der and poked much funaat each one as he delivered the recital The "re- view was received with much laugh ter and applause from all the mem bers. S
 The mid-winter ceremonials of the Half Sekel Klubben, Valhalla, No. l., began at Il o'clock yesterday morn ing when the members gathered in the hall and lunch was served. ITO be eligible for membership in the club, one must be 50 years old or more and of Swedish birth or descent. Yester day the club had as it's guests, Oskar Peterson, president, and Henry Holm, master of ceremonies of Val halla Mo- 2, of Hartford. This is a branch of the local organization re- gently established at the Capitol City. The members of the local club will journey there shortly to perform the initiatory ceremony for the Hartford club.
 At yesterdays session three new members were admitted to the Bridge port club. There were John A. An derson, Gustav Jacobson and John WaIlin The ceremony of initiation which was originated with the local organization, is an impressive one. Each member pledges himself to visit the sick of the organization. and at the death of 8 member follow the body, to the grace, there to utter the prayer of the Vikings of old, fGod Speed to Valhalla."
 At the close of the initiatory cer- emony "Au fattu tangsfreden" is pro nounced, which means, 'fNow let. no one disturb the peace of the meeting while it is in progress Yesterday the club voted to pay money to the family or relatives of deceased member toward defraying the funeral expenses. The reports of the officers show a substantial balance in the club treasury The club holds several gatherings during the summer months but the winter meeting is the most important
 Just before the close of the meeting yesterday, Carl Rising, sergeant-at- arms of the club led Fred Ryno be- fore the altar. MT. Ryno was 60 years old yesterday. He was presented with a big bouquet of chrysanthemums sur rounded by fern leaves and in the center of the bouquet was a horse- shoe pin set in brilliants with n1in- iature photograph of himself. He was also presented with the badge of the club with the yellow ribbon. Members who are 50 or more wear badges with a blue ribbon. Those 60 or more wear badges with yellow ribbons and those hore than 70 wear badges with blue and yellow, the colors of the Swed- ish flag The speech of presentation was made by Sergea Arms Ris- ing. MT. Ryno made fitting re- sponse.
 K. " Swenson of this city present ed the club with a gavel of ebony bound with /goId plated bands and marked with a silver "V.'' Albert Larson of Greenwich presented the