Jan 2006

Home
Up

'This page has been approved by the United Grand Lodge of England’

2006 January Message

RING OUT THE OLD

The year that has just gone by must surely figure as the most disastrous in recent history, by all counts. We have had a Tsunami, the first in living memory, earthquakes, monsoon floods, train crashes consequent upon and independent of natural calamities – name them and we have had them.

If there was anything at all that one could derive from these calamitous events, it was perhaps the basic spirit of generosity that pervades our societies, so that one could see sincere efforts at ameliorating pain and suffering both by human intervention and material help. Our English Brethren are particularly to be remembered and thanked for their spontaneous and munificent contributions to the Tsunami efforts in the District, through the Grand Charity amounting to more than £500,000 or about Rs.4 crores.

The year offered testing times for our N.G.Os. social service organisations, and indeed our Governments, both local and federal as well as opportunities to rise to the occasion. By and large, they performed well, despite the suddenness and enormity of most of the natural disasters, and hopefully, have taken from these experiences valuable lessons for the future. With global warming being a fairly obvious culprit, in these climatic disturbances, we can expect to see more aberrant behaviour from nature.

As we look forward to the New Year which is now upon us we should perhaps take comfort from the possibility that it can only offer better prospects than its immediate precursor; so let’s all look forward to 2006 in a spirit of optimism and good cheer.

For us in this District we have before us some important events to look forward to – the inauguration, hopefully, during the year, of the Cornwallis Senior Citizens’ Home, which commenced construction last month, and is on its way to completion, by October 2006. The other launch which we are anticipating, is the Masons’ Welfare Fund, to cater to the demands on our Brethren, from their increasing longevity, and arising from our established custom and obligation, to take care of our own.

We therefore need our Brethren to make a few Resolutions in the New Year in favour of these Projects of the District on which we are eagerly soliciting and expecting their support.

So here’s wishing you and all your families a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year, bearing in mind the obligations you owe to the society of which we are all proud and happy to be Members.