CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2011

Dear Sir and Bro

“ And the Grinch, with his Grinch feet ice cold in the snow,

stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so ?

It came without ribbons, it came without tags,

It came without packages, boxes or bags.

And he puzzled and puzzled ‘till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.

What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store ?

What if Christmas , perhaps, means a little bit more ?”

It may be said that Christmas is a time when most people would wish their past forgotten and present remembered. In this most joyous of all seasons, we , as Freemasons, are exorted to exhibit that “ little bit more “ of the character we have been taught in our Lodges to portray. We need to be aware that in this time of giving , the most precious gift that we may offer is our love , affection and concern. There are those among us for whom Christmas can be a time of sadness due to the loss of family and friends. Spare a thought for them, a card or gift may not be enough, give of your time, utter a kind word, it means a “little bit more .“ In so doing, we can celebrate the anniversary of Christmas , not in a meretricious manner, but in a way that truly reflects the essence of the occasion.

In retrospect , we have much to be thankful for. The past twelve months have been exciting as regards the planning and design of our new District Grand Lodge Headquarters and Temple in Germiston . We are experiencing an increase in the number of new candidates and the standard of our Ritual Work has, in general, improved.

I would thank in particular the Commissioned Office Bearers and Brethren of the District Grand Lodge for a magnificent effort this past year in promoting, promulgating and practicing the tenets of our Craft.

To these Brethren, the Residents and Staff of Roslin Park, the Administrative Staff at our headquarters, the Brethren of our constituent Lodges and those of our Sister Constitutions, I wish a peaceful and joyful Christmas , a Happy Chanukah and a prosperous and healthy New Year .

Fraternal Greeting

Robert G Law