When one comes to the high office of Grand Master and realizes that sixty other men and Masons have preceded him in that office, there is very naturally a spirit of humble pride and a desire to equal his predecessors and probably to achieve something more than mere routine. Having known all of the Grand Masters of this Grand Lodge, except our first one, and most of them intimately and well—we give it as our best judgment that Grand Master Pond ranks high in the long line of those Masons who have presided over the destinies of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of North Dakota. He was able to devote himself during most of the year exclusively to his work as Grand Master and Grand Lecturer, and that was an advantage in many ways. It enabled him to travel North Dakota from end to end, even though weather and road conditions made travel at times difficult, and at times impossible. Few Grand Masters have known North Dakota Masonic conditions better than M.'-M.'. Brother Harold S. Pond.

       His elementary education was that of the small district school. This was followed by three years in Gunnery school for boys, and one year in New Haven High School. Quite properly the influence of Old Eli (Yale University) was strong and in 1908 Harold S. Pond was graduated with a B. A. degree. That fall he took Greeley's advice and went West, and we find him a book-keeper in the First National Bank of Grand Forks. His banking experience was continued at Crary, North Dakota, where he went to be Assistant Cashier, March 1st, 1913; became cashier in 1919 and Vice President in 1930. Those were difficult times, as most of us can testify. In July, 1932, he returned to the First National Bank of Grand Forks as Assistant Cashier, continuing until his retirement September 1st, 1949. While retirement is compulsory in these big banks, it does not mean that the individual is in any way ineffective for Harold S. Pond is in his prime so far as both his physical and mental powers are concerned.

       The next important event in our Grand Master's life was his return to Washington, Connecticut, to take unto himself a bride in the person of Miss Marian Frances Seeley, June 24th, 1911. This happy union was blest by four sons and a daughter, Harold S. Pond, Jr., Sheldon S. Pond, James E. Pond, William E. Pond and Rebecca Pond. These have all grown to manhood and womanhood. They are the pride and joy of their parents.

       As might be expected of a Yale graduate, M.W. Brother Pond is a Congregationalist, and has been for many years an active member of Plymouth Church, Grand Forks, and one time moderator of the Congregational Conference of North Dakota.

       While located at Crary he became interested in Masonry and during the spring of 1919 he petitioned Minnewaukan Lodge No. 21 of Devils Lake; was elected, and during March, April and May he received the several degrees of Symbolic Masonry; May 15th, 1919, being the date of his raising to the sublime degree of Master Mason. He became active in Minnewaukan Lodge No. 21 and presided as Worshipful Master in 1930. Following his return to Grand Forks he affiliated with Acacia Lodge No. 4, April 13th, 1934, and naturally he became active, served as District Deputy, and in 1939 he was appointed Grand Tyler and regularly advanced until his election as Grand Master of Masons in Fargo, June 1949. He has been made an Honorary Past Master of Acacia Lodge No. 4. He was exalted a Royal Arch Mason in Corinthian Chapter No. 3, in 1944, Greeted in Rae Council No. 5, 1946 and Knighted in St. Aldemar Commandery No. 3, 1945. Recently he received the Scottish Rite degrees and following this he was made a Noble in Kem Temple, Grand Forks. He is also a Knight Companion of St. Felix Conclave No. 45, Red Cross of Constantine, Fargo.

       The Sixty-first Communication of the Grand Lodge of North Dakota was held in Grand Forks with Acacia Lodge No. 4 as host. It is needless to say that these brethren intended that it should be outstanding in every way. Plans were begun as soon as the 1949 Communication closed. Committees in charge of every detail were set up with W. Brothers Bernhard G. Gustafson, Everest B. Fowler, Grover C. Bogenrief and Worshipful Master Isaacson as what we would call an executive committee. There have been many fine Grand Lodge Communications but none have exceeded that of 1950 at Grand Forks. M.W. Brother Pond presided with dignity and efficiency; the details of each session kept very nearly on schedule, and while the final session Wednesday was a bit prolonged, we think it can be said in the language of our Ritual that the 61st Annual Communication was conducted in order and closed in harmony.