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'This page has been approved by the United Grand Lodge of England’
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DECEMBER 2004 MESSAGE
THE FESTIVE SEASON This is the time of year, in the eleventh and twelfth month of the calendar that we are in a sense overcome by Festivals, Dassera, Deepavali, Id and Christmas, followed of course by the ‘New Year’ celebrations. It is also a time of conspicuous consumption, driven by a frenzy of advertising to relieve celebrants of their savings, past and future. In times past what were essentially family occasions, and family celebrations have now spilled over into the public domain, including in them, business associates, public servants, customers and so on. Therefore it is also a time when those outside the pale, in poorer circumstances, can feel more dis-advantaged and left out, of the beating of the commercial drums and the fireworks, experiencing the flames of hunger while their more blessed compatriots burn their money. In addition to all these occasions, the Greeting Card industry has now sponsored all kinds of days, for gifts and greetings for Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Teacher’s Day and all sorts of other occasions of expenditure, so we have a year-full of opportunities to consume. One does not wish to sound like a spoil-sport, but to draw the attention of our fraternity while celebrating to spare a thought for those in need, the un-supported child, the sick, the elderly and the poorer fellow human being. Some communities do indeed set apart a certain allocation for Charity on these festive and other occasions, but one wonders whether our fraternity should consider making such a commitment, particularly during this period. On that note, and with sincere and warm greetings to all our Brethren and their families during this season of peace and goodwill, I close this last Message for the year 2004 with best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy & Prosperous New Year.
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Designed and maintained by
H. L. Ratan for
the DGL - Madras |
