Wor. Bro. Leslie Rogers-Wright, Worshipful Master Joppa Lodge #35

The following message was sent to all current Masters and posted at the dcfreemasons yahoo group and it is with pleasure that I do take this opportunity to make it available to all brethren of Joppa and all masons who will surf this way

Grand Master’s Holiday Message to the Brethren

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”  

(VSL, Luke 2:14)

Dear Brethren, such was the angelic message delivered to shepherds in the pastures outside Bethlehem according to the Gospel of Luke.  Peace on Earth?  Good will toward men?  What did the angels mean on that night over two thousand years ago?  With all the stresses and conflicts evident today, the world does not always seem a place of peace and brotherhood.  Yet, one of the most enduring and truly heartening aspects of our Noble Craft is how so many men, from so many backgrounds and walks of life, can meet together in peace and on the level, always conducting their affairs in harmony and friendship.  I’ve been witness to this all over in my Masonic travels but particularly here in the District of Columbia.

For centuries, Masons have joined in brotherly cooperation to improve themselves while working to build a better world.  This is our heritage and our charge.  Let us sustain and intensify our efforts as we bring our Grand Lodge into its third century.  Looking ahead, we have much to celebrate and also much to accomplish in 2011.  Together, we will make a difference in our lodges and in our communities. In the process, we will nurture lasting friendships and develop new ones.  Membership in this great fraternity has enriched our lives and we should extend that gift to as many deserving men as possible.     

This holiday season, as you gather with loved ones and enjoy all that we have, I ask you to remember those less fortunate. While this can be a time of merriment and great fellowship, it can also be one of the darkest times for those who are alone, grieving, or suffering with great need.  Remember the widows, the orphans, the sick, the destitute, and all in affliction.  Reach out to them.  Think also of our Absent Brethren, who may be serving our country in distant lands and in harm’s way.  The pursuit of happiness is often elusive, but one thing is certain; if we focus on the happiness and needs of others, happiness will find each of us.   

May God’s blessing be upon you and yours during this Season of Light and throughout the coming year.  God bless our armed forces and the first responders who serve and protect us at home and abroad.  God bless Freemasonry and all who labor for Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth.  Finally, may God continue to bless the United States of America.     

Fraternally,
Jesse Villarreal
Grand Master