Worshipful Master's Message

WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT DECEMBER?

I am certain that if you thought about it, you would come up with two or three important "December" days that everyone knows. Everyone celebrates the last day of the year as New Year’s Eve. It is the time to renew our commitments and vows to improve ourselves, just as Masonry attempts to improve our living stones.

Our Christian Brethren celebrate the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Our Jewish Brethren celebrate "the Festival of the Lights" through the season of Hannukkah. This is also the commemoration of the rededicating the second temple in Jerusalem.

Our Brethren of African heritage may celebrate kwanzaa to acknowledge the African heritage. Both kwanzaa and hannukkah are celebrated for at least a week. Our British and Canadian Brethren celebrate the Feast of St. Stephen (the first Christian martyr) on Boxing Day (the day after Christmas). The term "Boxing Day" is thought to come from that day being when the "poor boxes" in the Church were opened.

There are other important days that make December special. You will recall December 7th as Pearl Harbor Day, the "Day that lives in Infamy" when, in 1941, Pearl Harbor suffered a sneak-attack by the Japanese. In 1948 the United Nations issued the Declaration of Human Rights on December 10th and we celebrate Human Rights Day on its anniversary. And Poinsettia Day is celebrated on December 12th.

December 16, 1773 was the date of the Boston Tea Party which should be familiar to all Masons. On December 17th a mere 130 years later, the first manned flight was made by the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, NC. December 21st is the first day of Winter.

And for those of us who like food, December is the month that celebrates a day for chocolate, pies, red apples, fritters, cookies, cotton candy, cocoa, brownies, noodles, maple syrup, oatmeal muffins, egg nog and chewing gum.

As you might expect, there are a number of famous and infamous people born in December. One who I think is most interesting is Walter Elias Disney. He was born on December 5, 1901. The reason I think he is interesting to masons is because of the conflicting information regarding his masonic heritage. One thing that all accounts agree on, is that he was a member of the original Mother Chapter of the Order of DeMolay in Kansas City, Missouri. Of course, for the negative, there are allegations that he was a member of the Illuminati and that his amusement parks are designed to "brainwash" children and a whole host of evil accusations. To say the least, he no doubt had a fabulous imagination and was a great entertainer of children of all ages. (I still enjoy works from the Disney studios).

So Enjoy December!!!

Fraternally yours,

Herb Atkinson
Worshipful Master