A Message from our District Grand Master

UNDER THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ANTIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF ENGLAND

A message from our District Grand Master

Dear brethren, As Christmas approaches and I look out the study window at a magnificent Pohutukawa tree coming into flower, while nearby the last of a cherry tree’s blossom falls, it is not hard to be reflective about the past year. We have had some great times and sad times. Our celebrations included our District Communications held in Petone in November. The work that was done by the brethren of Wellington and Aorangi Lodges and the Board of General Purposes enabled this to be both a memorable and a really enjoyable weekend. Nothing but favourable feedback has come back. In like manner, in early December Prince of Wales Lodge celebrated their 150th anniversary with a formal dinner and dancing at The Northern Club. All brethren who attended with their wives, had a fabulous time and the photographs from the event certainly confirmed this. Again, even earlier in the year the revitalised Sir Donald McLean Lodge celebrated their transformation into a Travelling Lodge with a wonderful weekend in the Wairarapa At the same time, 2022 has seen the passing of our dear Queen and a number of brethren who have very much been part of the history and fabric of the District including W.Bros Bruce McMurtrie and Garry Spooner. Other brethren and their family members have been much effected by the ongoing effects of COVID or other illness. It has been a year where our lessons of the Third Degree have very much been to the fore. The seasons of life, the joy, the sadness is played out and made visible in the cycle of nature. What I am certain of it is not the length of life that matters but the width and depth of a life that counts. The width being measured in the circle of people we touch in living and its depth being the level of good we able to achieve and leave behind. As Christmas trees are decorated, presents wrapped and food prepared it is good to be able to reflect on what is important in life. The values of family, of friendship and faith is what gives life it's continuum and us the strength to try and make this world a better and happier place. It is good to be able to reflect on what we as Freemasons and a District have done in endeavoring to try to assist in alleviating some of the pain and suffering occurring about us while we celebrate.

This includes the £1,000,000 raised by Grand Lodge for the Ukraine refugee crisis, to which you and your District contributed over $27,000; the $10,000 donated on your behalf through the Freemasons Foundation to the Auckland City Mission for food parcels and the $2,000 donated as the first installment of a $6,000 grant by our Charitable Trust to assist families with newly diagnosed babies with cystic fibrosis. This does not begin to include the many other outstanding charitable efforts individual lodges have completed in their own communities. Families have their own special traditions of celebrating this festive time. Some with formal Christmas dinners and others with BBQs at the beach. Wherever you may be over the Christmas period, may you have time to enjoy all those who are special in your life and be able to reflect on how precious they are. May we also take time to reflect on the needs of others beyond our immediate family and acknowledge our Masonic responsibilities to assist wherever we can. Jan and I will be spending the period in Australia with grandchildren we have not seen in the last two years. May we wish you and your families the absolute best of Christmases wherever you may be and look forward to catching up with you all up in 2023. Kind Regards Warren and Jan Weir

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