RECEPTION AT FISHMONGERS’ HALL

AT THE RECEPTION held by the President and the Council of the Institute of Actuaries on Monday, 2 July 1973 the President (Mr Geoffrey Heywood) said: First of all, it is really with tremendous pleasure that I welcome you all tonight to Fishmongers’ Hall. With all the reconstruction outside I was terribly worried as to whether you would all get in, but I see that I need not have worried at all.

When we planned to have this little ceremony of presenting gifts at this time, I was hoping that all those who had brought gifts would say a few words. But the generosity of our friends from overseas, and the actuarial societies overseas, has exceeded our expectations, and we have no less than 24 gifts tonight. Therefore, if everyone spoke for three minutes, this would take well over an hour. So I have rather changed the arrangements at the last minute, and have suggested that we should have only one speaker. I propose that those who have gifts should present them in alphabetical order, and that means that Australia comes first. I therefore call on John Anderson, and I ask him to speak on behalf of every- body else. (Applause.) I am sorry about this. I know that some of you wanted to say a few words. If, therefore, you would let me or the Institute office have a note or a message of any sort, I can assure you that in due course we shall print it in Volume 100 of our Journal. I now ask John Anderson to say a few words on behalf of all those who have brought gifts.

Mr J. M. Anderson (Past President, Institute of Actuaries of Australia and New Zealand) said: Mr President, ladies and gentlemen

Let us now praise famous men. . . . Set in office o’er us; And they beat on us with rods— Faithfully with many rods— Daily beat on us with rods, For the love they bore us.

Kipling was writing about schoolmasters, but for those of us in many countries who took our examinations through the Institute these lines reflect our first feelings towards that body. Professionally this respect continues to grow, but with it also admiration and affection for all the Institute is and does.

As young Institutes we look to you for a model. We regard you as our guide, mentor and friend. We value your wise counsel. As individuals we have a great affection for you because we feel so much at home and are made so welcome. You do so much to make us feel at home, even making the big change to a sub- tropical climate.

I have been honoured, perhaps because of my height or alphabetical order, to be asked to speak on behalf of the actuarial bodies of the various countries here

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tonight. I bring our congratulations and our very best wishes for the future, and thank you. (Applause.)

Presentations were then made in the following order:

Australia By Mr J. M. Anderson (Past President, Institute of Actuaries of Australia and New Zealand): a painting.

Belgium By Mr P. Thyrion (President, Association Royale des Actuaires Belges): pewter candlesticks.

Canada By Mr J. C. Maynard (President, Canadian Institute of Actuaries): carved cedarwood plaques.

Denmark By Mr E. Rosendahl (President, Den Danske Aktuarforening): a porcelain figure of Hans Andersen.

Finland By Dr V. Keinanen (President, Actuarial Association of Finland): a rug.

France By Mr. M. Henry (President, Institut des Actuaires Français): a Sèvres vase. By Mr. J. Sousselier (President d’honneur, Association des Actuaires Diplômés de l’Institut de Science Financière et d’Assurances): a paperweight.

Germany By Prof. Dr H. Kracke (President, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Versicherungs- mathematik): a Nymphenburg vase.

India By Mr S. Rangarajan (President, Actuarial Society of India): an ivory lamp.

Italy By Prof. G. Ottaviani (Vice-President, Instituto Italiano degli Attuari): photo- graph of a Roman Law.

Japan By Mr M. Yamanouchi (Past President, Institute of Actuaries of Japan, Inc.): a cloisonné vase.

Netherlands By Mr J. A. M. Dams (President, Actuariëel Genootschap): a Delft vase.

Norway By Mr A. Knudsen (President, Den Norske Aktuarforening): a crystal vase.

Facing page 110

South Africa

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By Mr H. de G. Laurie (President, Actuarial Society of South Africa): a tiger’s eye stone paperweight.

Spain By Mr J. Bourkaib Broussain (President, Instituto de Actuarios Españoles): three Toledo dishes and a badge.

Sweden By Dr H. Bohman (President, Svenska Aktuariefõreningen): a print of Stock- holm.

Switzerland By Prof. Dr H. Ammeter (President, Association des Actuaires Suisses): a clock.

United States of America By Mr M. D. Miller (President, American Academy of Actuaries): a paperweight with a ‘gold eagle’ of 1848. By Mr T. E. Murrin (Past President, Casualty Actuarial Society): a wine cooler. By Mr E. A. Lew (President-Elect, Society of Actuaries): some Indian figures.

Venezuela By Dr E. Michalup (President, Instituto Venezolano de Actuaries): a silver salver.

Faculty of Actuaries By Mr J. G. Wallace (President): a silver inkstand.

International Actuarial Association By Prof. E. Franckx (President): a crystal vase.

A.S.T.I.N. By Dr H. Bühlmann (Chairman): a pewter wine jug with six goblets.

International Association of Consulting Actuaries By Mr J. A. T. M. Brans (Chairman): a Notice of an Insurance Bill, printed in 1665.

(The presentations were greeted with applause.)

The President (Mr Geoffrey Heywood), in reply, said: On such an occasion as this, what can one really say? The generosity of our friends in the actuarial bodies throughout the world has been really quite fantastic. I am almost at a loss for words. It really has been magnificent. I suppose that I should try to say ‘thank you’ in twenty-five different ways—which would be very difficult—and in 17 different languages, or 18 if you count American as another one.

It is a long tradition that whenever you have a birthday, people bring presents. It is an absolutely splendid tradition, and long may it continue. We have gifts of

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all sorts: historical documents; pictures to improve our culture; things which are just rather nice to look at and, of course, from Switzerland we have just a clock, to keep me happy. So, on behalf of the Institute of Actuaries and all its members, to all our guests and all the societies throughout the world: thank you for coming to our 125th anniversary, and thank you for bringing these delightful gifts which we shall keep at Staple Inn and which will be among our most precious treasures. We are most grateful to you. Thank you very much indeed. (Applause.)

In accordance with the President’s suggestion, the following remarks were subsequently submitted in writing.

Mr P. Thyrion: En vous offrant ces chandeliers d’étain, œuvres d’artisans de notre pays, j’ai le plaisir et l’honneur de représenter l’ensemble des actuaires belges, membres de l’Association Royale des Actuaires Belges, de l’Association des Actuaires, Docteurs et Licenciés en science actuarielle de l’Université Catholique de Louvain et de l’Association des Actuaires et Licenciés en science actuarielle de l’Université libre de Bruxelles.

Nous vous prions d’y voir tout d’abord le témoignage de gratitude d’une Association qui se souvient encore que sa fondation a été grandement faciliteé par l’appui efficace autant qu’amical que lui a apporté votre Institut qui etait, alors déjà, un des piliers essentiels de l’actuariat mondial. Ces objets vous expriment aussi nos très chaleureuses félicitations pour votre brillant jubilé.

And finally, Belgian actuaries expect English actuaries will receive these candlesticks as the expression of their best wishes for an illuminating future of the Institute.

Mr J. C. Maynard: On this happy occasion it is a pleasure to bring greetings to the Institute from the Canadian Institute. We are a body young in age, being incorporated in our present form in 1965, and situated in a young country; but our foundations rest on many years of association with actuaries in the U.K., Canada, and the U.S.A. We admit to membership Fellows of the Institute, the Faculty, the Society and the Casualty Actuarial Society. With this background, it was with real enthusiasm that the Council of the Canadian Institute passed a resolution extending our congratulations to the Institute on attaining its 125th Anniversary.

We would ask you to accept a gift in honour of the occasion. It consists of two wooden plaques carved in yellow cedar. The carvings are by a member of the Kwakiutl Indians who live on the west coast of British Columbia. They represent a hawk and a beaver. It may be noted that hawks are relentless in pursuit of an objective, while beavers are hard-working, industrious, and known for their care and ingenuity in building dams. It may benefit young actuaries to think of these characteristics when they come to form the attitudes and habits which will help

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them in their work. However, we present these plaques to you with no thought of moralizing but only with the hope that you may enjoy them.

Mr. J. Sousselier: In the name of the Association of Actuaries from the Institute of Insurance and Financial Science of the University of Lyon, I have the honour and pleasure to offer, as a present to the Institute of Actuaries on the occasion of its 125th Anniversary, this paperweight consisting of a strong base of onyx with a lion rising above it.

It is not the British lion, or even the lion as a reminder of the city of our University; I should like you to see in it a symbol of the qualities of an actuary: a firm knowledge resting on solid foundations and the courage to face difficulties and problems.

May this modest gift warrant—between our two Associations—your older and our young one—a true, faithful and lasting understanding and friendship.

Prof. Dr H. Kracke: I bring you the best wishes of the German actuaries for the next one hundred and twenty-five years of your activity, and in token of this a gift which may remind you of another occasion when we were together, namely a vase from Nymphenburg, in other words from Munich.

Mr S. Rangarajan: Actuaries in India have always held in high esteem their alma mater-—the Institute of Actuaries. On the occasion of the 125th Anniver- sary of the Institute of Actuaries, I have great pleasure and privilege to convey, on behalf of the Actuarial Society of India, their fraternal greetings to the Institute and our fellow Actuaries in the U.K. To commemorate this occasion, and as a token of the regard the Society has for the Institute, the Actuarial Society of India has presented to the Institute a three-minaret lamp, carved out of ivory.

Ivory, with its white colour, symbolizes purity and strength. Ivory carving is a rich ancient art practised in the States of Kerala, Mysore and Rajasthan in India. The particular piece presented is made by Rajasthan craftsmen. The delicate and intricate lace work on the minarets as also on the stem of the lamp is exquisite in design.

Traditionally, in our country Kuthuvilukku (the lamp) illumines the sanctum sanctorum of our temples. The Institute is the sanctum sanctorum of the temple of learning of actuarial science. It is in this context that we have chosen this gift.

Mr M. Yamanouchi: It is my great privilege to attend the 125th Anniversary of your time-honoured Institute of Actuaries and to greet you on behalf of the Institute of Actuaries of Japan. Your Institute has the oldest history in the world and has brought up numerous, excellent actuaries. Your fellowship has been highly esteemed by Japanese actuaries.

Our Institute now comprising nearly 1,200 members was established in 1899, about fifty years after the foundation of yours, and is engaged in various activities

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in the fields of life and non-life insurance, trust and so on. As you know, Tokyo was selected as the site of the 20th International Congress of Actuaries in 1976 with the support and co-operation of actuarial associations of many countries. In order to make the Tokyo congress successful, we Japanese members do hope that as many people of your Institute and other associations in the world as possible will attend the meeting.

As social and economic situations become more and more complicated, we are expected to deal with a lot of new subjects in the actuarial fields. In this respect, we sincerely hope that your organization will play an important role in actuarial science. Nowadays we can meet and talk together easily, with the progress of international relationships, so let us avail ourselves of every opportunity for exchanging our ideas in actuarial science.

In conclusion, I wish for the further progress of your Institute and for your health and success. I would like to present this traditional cloisonné vase from Japan to you in memory of your Anniversary.

Mr A. Knudsen: It is a great privilege and an honour for me on behalf of the Norwegian Actuaries’ Society to congratulate the Institute on its 125th Anni- versary. I have the pleasure to bring a small gift on this notable occasion and I do so with a feeling of admiration and gratitude. Admiration for what the Institute has achieved for actuarial science in the past, and what a vast field they are covering today both in education and research; gratitude for what the Institute has done and meant for Norwegian actuaries and Norwegian life insurance in general. I can tell you that the oldest Norwegian life insurance office, which was founded at about the same time as the Institute, from the start used Finlaison’s mortality tables, and later on the 17 English Offices’ tables. And the HM tables were commonly used in Norwegian life offices up to 1925.

Furthermore, in the last 40 years our Society has—like the other Scandinavian societies—had an arrangement with the Institute and the Faculty about sending young actuaries to study at these eminent institutions. This has been of great importance both to the students who have been lucky enough to make use of this opportunity, and for the actuarial profession in Norway in general. We have also, in cooperation with the other Scandinavian Societies, over the years had a great number of lecturers from the Institute—the latest being Sidney Benjamin. These events also have been of great importance for our Society and for our close connexions with the Institute.

Let the gift symbolize the clarity of thought that is the most important tool for the actuary. Let the engraved ships remind you of our two countries’ mutual interests on and in the oceans. I bring on behalf of the Norwegian Actuaries’ Society our best wishes for a prosperous and glorious future for the Institute.

Mr H. de G. Laurie: The Actuarial Society of South Africa has always been especially appreciative of the work of the Institute of Actuaries. With few excep- tions all South African actuaries are Fellows of the Institute or its sister body in

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Scotland. They studied with the aid of the Actuarial Tuition Service and with textbooks published under the guidance of the Institute. Through the pages of the Journal they have been kept informed on current actuarial thinking.

The Society wishes to congratulate the Institute on its 125th Anniversary and would like to present a small gift of a tiger’s eye paperweight as a token of its appreciation to the Institute. May the Institute go from strength to strength in future.

Prof. Dr H. Ammeter: At such a first class birthday party as we are celebrating today, I think it behoves us not only to congratulate the ‘birthday child’— although it may be a grandmother—merely by nice words but also to pay our respects with a presentation that is appropriate to the significance of the day and to the ‘birthday child’.

After long discussions within the Committee of the Swiss Society of Actuaries, we decided to present this clock to the Institute on its 125th Anniversary. We believe we have chosen something typically Swiss inasmuch as Swiss watches enjoy a special reputation. I once read in an essay written by an American schoolboy that there were only watches and cow-bells in Switzerland. We hope that members of the Institute will appreciate the fact that we selected a clock and not a cow-bell. It is a so-called Pendule neuchâteloise with the charm of history behind it. May it always tell you the right time!

Mr Morton D. Miller: A word of explanation may first be in order concerning the American Academy of Actuaries. In the U.S., actuaries, alas, lack legal status as a profession, something which the members of the Institute have been blessed with almost from the outset. The Academy was formed in 1966, to bring together the various actuarial organizations in the U.S. in order to seek ac- creditation for the profession as a whole. The membership of the Academy is drawn largely from its four constituent organizations; namely, the Casualty Actuarial Society, the Conference of Actuaries in Public Practice, the Fraternal Actuarial Association and the Society of Actuaries.

As a fledgling organization in comparison with the grandfatherly Institute, it should not be surprising that we should turn to your founding year in seeking an appropriate way in which to help you mark this joyous occasion in celebration of your 125th Anniversary. In this way we felt we could best acknowledge our great debt to the Institute and to its members for the early evolution of our profession and, at the same time, associate ourselves, albeit vicariously, with your long tradition.

By way of background briefly, the year 1848, when the ‘Institute was founded, was a time of great change and widespread upheaval. Migration to the New World was at a high point, partly due to man’s ever venturesome spirit, but more because of the instability of life on the Continent of Europe. As an outgrowth of the industrial revolution, practically all of Europe was in political turmoil.

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with governments toppling and wars between nations rampant. Although scarcely noticed then, it was also the year of the Communist Manifesto. Of considerably more immediate impact, however, was the publication of John Stuart Mill’s logical and brilliant exposition of classical economics, his Principles of Political Economy. On our side of the Atlantic, the war with Mexico had come to an end, and the acquisition of California from Mexico completed the establishment of the U.S. across the continent.

It is noteworthy that life insurance had already found its way to North America. A number of life companies had been started on the strength of the experience of the established British companies. Charles Gill, a mathematician who had earlier emigrated from England and is acknowledged to be the first actuary in America, was soon to be employed—first, by the Mutual Benefit Life of Newark, New Jersey, and then, by the Mutual Life of New York, both of which companies are very much alive today and still growing vigorously. Based on his fine performance Mr Gill was elected a ‘corresponding member of the Institute in 1851.

We first sought something relating to this early American insurance history as our anniversary gift, but could find nothing suitable. Instead, we decided on a gold coin minted in 1848. The fact that gold and the search for the precious metal had so much to do first with the discovery and then with the subsequent history of the U.S.A. made it seem an appropriate choice, especially since the first major gold strike in America took place in 1848 at Sutter’s Mill near Sacramento, California. It was this find that led to the gold rush and gave enormous impetus to the westward expansion of the country.

Our gift is an American Gold Eagle. The face of the coin bears the head of Miss Liberty and the minted date of 1848; the obverse depicts the American eagle and shows the value of the coin. The eagle became our national emblem by Act of Congress in 1782 and our system of decimal coinage, enacted a few years later, provided for both gold and silver coins. The Gold Eagle, which was the largest denomination, had a specified value often dollars. It is interesting that for a long time more gold coins were minted than silver ones. In 1934 gold coins were withdrawn from circulation entirely.

Incidentally, a recent newspaper account heralded the beginning of a new gold rush, with the re-opening of the old mines to take advantage of the soaring price of gold throughout the world. Be assured, it was not our intention to join the mounting speculation over gold. We will have to admit, however, that if gold prices continue to rise as they have, we may well have made an important down payment to assure the future financial soundness of the Institute.

Uppermost in our minds, of course, was the desire to add to the significance of this memorable Assembly by our gift. We hope that it will find favour in your eyes, for it comes to you with our warmest good wishes and our most sincere congratulations. We express the hope also that it will serve to weld even more strongly the bonds of high purpose, common interest and lasting friendship which already unite the branches of our profession in the U.S.A. and the U.K.

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Mr Thomas E. Murrin: It is an honour and pleasure for me to bring you sincere congratulations and best wishes on behalf of the President, Officers, Board of Directors, and members of the Casualty Actuarial Society. Your gracious invitation to the 125th Anniversary Celebrations presented an actuarial problem in that it was thought typical or average representation would be appropriate under the circumstances, but clearly actuaries are all above average. The dilemma was solved by our Society by selecting as its delegates Mr Harold W. Schloss of New York City, and myself, from San Francisco, thereby affording a reasonably average representation, at least on a geographical basis.

Like other actuarial bodies around the world, we owe much to the Institute for its development of actuarial theory and practise. We have much to learn also from your dignified conduct of interesting and thought-provoking meetings and the grace and elegance of your official and private hospitality. Not the least of our debts was created because you provided us with two Fellows, Francis S. Perryman and Laurence H. Longley-Cook, each of whom had a distinguished actuarial career in America, contributed significantly to our literature, and led us as President.

On behalf of the Casualty Actuarial Society, we present this wine cooler as a token of its friendship and esteem on this memorable occasion, in the hope that it will not only add to the decor of Staple Inn, but that it might also be put to practical use when the Fellows become parched after lengthy and learned actuarial discourse.

Mr Edward A. Lew: In paying homage to the Institute we naturally look to its rich experience, formidable intellectual resources, practical wisdom and high professional standards. These should suffice to ensure the survival of the pro- fession, but in a pinch we can now draw on the strength inherent in a worthy tradition more than 125 years old. The magic of man’s inner strength was brought home to all of us in Winston Churchill’s tenacity and valour, and more recently in the miracle of the astronauts who plucked bright honour from the pale-faced moon. The next generation of actuaries will surely be the beneficiaries of new and more astonishing miracles, but they will also have vastly more difficult problems to contend with. Those who follow us will need a sharper awareness of the human condition and will have to keep in mind that the work of an actuary is as much of an art as a science.

It is with thoughts such as these in mind that we of the Society of Actuaries decided on an indigenous piece of American art as a gift to the Institute. Specifi- cally we have brought with us a set of Katchina dolls, ceremonial figures carved by the Hopi Indians of New Mexico, intended to mediate between man and the supernatural. On the masks of these dolls you will find symbols relating to the principal elements of human concern: food, fertility, the heavenly bodies and the mystery of the world about us, denoted by strange geometrical patterns.

We are confident that the Katchina dolls will find a happy home at Staple Inn Hall and that in such circumstances they will contribute their primal insights in

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the cause of actuarial science. In addition to their occult powers, the Katchina dolls carry to the Institute the personal affections of its many friends and the gratitude of the entire actuarial profession in the U.S.A. and Canada.

Dr E. Michalup: On behalf of the Venezuelan Institute of Actuaries, the young- est association represented here, it is my privilege to bring our most sincere congratulations to the Institute of Actuaries on its 125th birthday. To mark the occasion I wish to present to you this silver dish and I ask you to accept this gift for your Institute with our best wishes for the future.

Mr J. G. Wallace: It is my privilege on behalf of all members of the Faculty of Actuaries in Scotland, both in age and location your nearest—whether or not your dearest!—fellow actuarial association, to present you with this gift of a silver inkstand to mark your 125th birthday. On the occasion of your 100th birthday, my predecessor and very good friend, the late Colin Penn presented your then President, the late Sir Andrew Rowell, with a silver inkstand. Unfor- tunately, by some mishap, the inkstand had not reached London in time for the presentation, and in his delightful way Sir Andrew referred humourously to the ‘imaginary inkstand from Scotland.’ However I can assure you the inkstand was delivered! Unfortunately, our English friends in their turn somehow or other have lost that inkstand! So we decided to try again and auspiciously this replacement inkstand is actually here. Replacement it may be, but I can assure you that it is today just the same token of our great esteem for the Institute and carries the same good wishes for the Institute’s future as its predecessor did 25 years ago.

Prof. E. Franckx: Certains d’entre nous ont eu ce privilege d’assister au 100me anniversaire de l’Institute of Actuaries. C’était la premiere reunion d’actuaires après la 2me guerre mondiale, en pleine période d’austérite. Mais tous nous étions heureux de nous retrouver dans une atmosphere de grande cordialité.

Depuis 25 années nouvelles se sont écoulées et nous nous retrouvons ici à Londres avec le même esprit de profonde estime mutuelle et surtout, Monsieur le Président, pour vous féliciter et pour rappeler une fois de plus que ce sont d’eminents membres de votre Institute qui ont pensé et ordonné toute la théorie de l’assurance—vie.

Tous les membres de I'Association Actuarielle Internationale vous doivent reconnaissance. C’est un tribut dont s’acquitte le Président de l’A.A.I. en vous offrant, au nom de ses membres de toutes les nations, un modeste present.

Personne ne doute de l’avenir de l’lnstitute, d’autant plus que nos discussions a Staple Inn indiquent résolument une extension du champ d’activité de l’actuaire. Aussi souhaitons-nous voir se réaliser vos espérances et se confirmer l’importance croissante de la profession actuarielle.

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Dr H. Bühlmann: In our times young people all around the globe are demon- strating almost continuously in some place at some time and for—but mostly against—some cause. In connexion with these events a new terminology has arisen. Our vocabulary is enlarged by such expressions as ‘teach-in’, ‘sit-in’, ‘sleep-in’ or ‘march-in’. Already 125 years ago actuaries of this country fore- seeing the future development were adhering to this terminology when they created the In-stitute of Actuaries. They only made a slight error in their fore- cast: they placed the syllable ‘In’ at the beginning rather than at the end of the name of their In-stitution. Nevertheless, this being so, the Institute became one of the world’s leaders in promoting actuarial thought and activity. All of us who have come to London for this celebration pay our sincere tribute to this leader- ship.

I congratulate the Institute of Actuaries in the name of another ‘in’, a very young one among actuarial organizations and for this reason with its ‘in’ at the modern place: AST-IN. It was not so unlikely that the founders of ASTIN chose intentionally the modern permutation of syllables since our organization has indeed shown some affinities with tendencies typical of youth groups. Of course the Institute recognized the modern trend when they moved to Staple Inn.

Faced with the problem of the two In-groups at the In-place I had to find an appropriate present from the 15-year old ASTIN for the 125-year old Institute at Staple Inn. What was more natural than to search for a further ‘In’. This is what I found: A Swiss pewter pot as used in one of our mountain cantons—the Valais, together with six matching goblets. In this pewter pot the mountain girls usually offer the deliciously tasting Fendant wine. Unfortunately I was not able to bring along both a mountain girl and a bottle of Fendant. The whole I would call a WINE-IN.

By the way—this happening is recorded in an engraving reading as follows: ‘To the Institute of Actuaries on their 125th anniversary presented by ASTIN, July 1973’.

Mr J. A. T. M. Brans: It is a great honour and pleasure to be invited here. As our organization, the International Association of Consulting Actuaries, is still very, very young—a baby in comparison with this charming and vital body of 125 years—my friend Preston Bassett and I, as officers of our organization, are very grateful for your invitation to be present with our ladies at this celebration.

We would not come with empty hands, and therefore we shall appreciate it very much, if you will accept this antique print of an Insurance Bill, printed in the year 1665 by the government printing office of the Republic of the United Netherlands. This Bill insured the personnel employed by the land- and sea- forces of the Republic against the consequences of accidents, illness and dis- ability. For those who have little problems in reading Dutch, we added a translation in English.

The actuarial basis for this Bill was constructed by John de Witt, president of

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the Republic. He was one of the founders of actuarial science and constructed the first Dutch mortality tables; the results of this work were published in 1671. He lived also at the same time as your John Graunt, who had already published in 1662 his Observations made upon the Bills of Mortality.

We hope that this present may express our warm tribute and thankfulness for the pioneering of your Institute in the development of the profession of actuary all over the world, for 125 years. May it stay so for many, many years to come. May it stay so forever.