Hundreds of Freemasons jammed into a Queens lodge in 1941 during Louis Eickhoff's initiation into one of the world's oldest fraternal groups.
During the ceremony, a Masonic leader asked, "In whom do you put your trust?"
"Myself," Eickhoff nervously replied.
He soon realized his mistake.
"Oh, no," he said, taking another stab. "God."
Seventy years later, the 92-year-old Eickhoff - who has lived in Georgia for five decades - returned to Queens last week to mark a rare anniversary.
It's unusual for a Freemason to reach his 70th year in the group since members must be 21 and often don't join until they get married.
At a time when the group is struggling to recruit members and hold onto their once-ubiquitous lodges, members cited Eickhoff's longevity as a welcome boost.
Read more: [url]http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2011/06/28/2011-06-28_70_years_of_proudly_being_a_freemason.html#ixzz1QxJZFbNX[/URL]
During the ceremony, a Masonic leader asked, "In whom do you put your trust?"
"Myself," Eickhoff nervously replied.
He soon realized his mistake.
"Oh, no," he said, taking another stab. "God."
Seventy years later, the 92-year-old Eickhoff - who has lived in Georgia for five decades - returned to Queens last week to mark a rare anniversary.
It's unusual for a Freemason to reach his 70th year in the group since members must be 21 and often don't join until they get married.
At a time when the group is struggling to recruit members and hold onto their once-ubiquitous lodges, members cited Eickhoff's longevity as a welcome boost.
Read more: [url]http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2011/06/28/2011-06-28_70_years_of_proudly_being_a_freemason.html#ixzz1QxJZFbNX[/URL]
