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Provincial Grand Chaplain Brian Roberts writes: Dear Brethren, firstly may I congratulate you all on a magnificent result in the 2025 festival which surpassed all expectations, particularly as Covid intervened at the outset. Well done to you all. The benefit to many people in the Province and the broader community will be long lasting. What Freemasons do for others sets a fine example to the whole country and represents the best practice of every Charity and religion.
In Lincoln you may know of the story of the Swineherd of Stow who, hundreds of years ago, demonstrated his charitable instinct by giving the little he had to spare to the Cathedral, yet in “giving” terms it was worth as much as a rich man’s purse. The Swineherd is placed on top of the West end of the Cathedral alongside St Hugh as a practical demonstration that charity begins at home, and that offering all you can is worth everything.
Another example of charitable giving is St Martin of Tours who had only his cloak, which he split in half, to give to a poor beggar that had nothing. Think too of the Christmas carol In the bleak Midwinter, where the verses reflect this theme: “What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb”.
This time of year is known as Advent, which represents a period of waiting and watching until the arrival of the Christ child. Churches over the world have different celebratory timings, but the common feature is the joy and happiness associated with expectation and eventually the arrival of the long awaited child.
For those not so involved in religious celebrations it is nevertheless a time of family celebration and festivity, of giving and receiving. Whatever category you find yourself in this year, give thanks for the little things as they are most important.
I wish you and your families every good wish for Christmas and the New Year which I trust will give you a year of renewed hope and a new beginning.
Finally, let us pray at Christmas for those who are lonely, who have no family or friends and who cannot share time with anyone-Lord comfort them.
Let us pray for those who have recently lost loved ones that they may find respite in a kindly word or thought that may be offered to them-Lord be with them.
Let us pray for those who face economic hardship at this time of year-that they will have enough to sustain them and their families. Amen.
Brian E Roberts, Provincial Grand Chaplain, Dean, St Swithin’s, Lincoln.
