I would like to ask each of you two questions:
1. Do you believe in Santa Claus?
2. Do your actions demonstrate your belief?
It is not easy to be a leader, who sees the good and the bad. The bad which can sometimes overshadowed the good because far too often when the Grand Lodge Leader is called it is not good news; it is sometimes because of neglect, despair and apathy on behalf of the membership.
We are a band of brothers united by a lamb skin or white leather apron. Just because you join and travel in Appendant Bodies seeking further light – your foundation must still be in the blue lodge. Brethren, your Fraternity needs your help.
Far too many masons have forgotten that there is a Santa Claus, and that the fraternity has helped Saint Nick since 1616. Christmas is more than one day a year, it is spirit, a state of mind, a willingness to put others first. Now, I ask that you do not jump the gun and talk about the commercialization of the season and forgetting Christ’s birthday – hear me out. Perhaps if we remember what a little 8 year old girl named Virginia learned many years ago when she wrote to the New York Sun News newspaper on December 21, 1897 regarding the existence of Santa Claus, many would return to the teaching of masonry.
The newspaper editor responded, “Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, and no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank goodness he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, no, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to bring joy to the heart of childhood.”
The time has come that each of us remembers the true spirit of Christmas. Let us unite as Santa Claus’s helpers to once again spread the good news, help others less fortunate, reach out to our brothers when they stumble, and spread the mortar of brotherly love, relief and truth.
So tonight brethren I would like to say, Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus and sometimes he wears a Red Fez, or an Apron from the Chapter or Council. Sometimes he dawns a Red Cap or kirtle as a Knight Commander of the Court of Honor. Sometimes he is a shining Knight in his Commandery Uniform. Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus and in neighborhoods all around the world he puts on a lamb skin or white leather apron in the service of humanity.
So to all the “Virginia’s” if in the pilgrimage of their future they find themselves surrounded in darkness by skepticism and have loss they way. Remember that there is a Santa Claus and our Father in heaven has told us that one day storms will come, the rains will fall, but in the darkest hour of all: Santa Claus and the true meaning of Christmas will always shine the brightest!
With this in mind I wonder what will happen in the coming days when that midnight journey takes place. Will Santa Claus find you and me spreading relief, joy and cheer to our fellow man? Let’s all think about that and what it could and should be; if Saint Nicholas witnesses the gift of Christmas in all of us:
All huddled together in a one room home
The children united asleep in their bed
With visions of health playing around in their head
In an hospital filled with love and care
On this special day, a miracle was in the air
To begin this long nights journey
With a bag of presents, a wink and a flutter
Up the elevator I traveled, without a shutter
Every chair filled with sickness, sadness and despair
All the sudden, I saw him kneeling there
On bended knee, his eyes with compassion and care
He had reverently bowed; interrupt him, I do not dare!
This Fez of compassion, since 1922 had shown
In a room of children crippled and burned
He was there offering grace seeking nothing in return
I left that room my presence not needed
For a Shiner’s love had succeeded
In the stillness of the night, I wondered would joy ever return.
Look another, stooped over putting together a toy with look of concern
His eyes so focused intent on this deed
What kind of man was this, and what is his creed?
I moved closer to view
A Double Headed Eagle
So Noble and so Regal
A Scottish Rite Mason was he
This man on bended knee
This gift of speech would cost the parents, no not one penny!
There were others to see and the night almost gone
Soon darkness would flee and then comes the dawn
Passing by the lab I noticed a clinician
Focused on the task committed to the mission
I asked him what help he had, to fight the dreaded disease?
He smiled and said, “Santa, The Cryptic Masons charity holds the key!”
Once a year each home I do visit, leaving joy and cheer
But it is the masons who freely give, every day of the year!
I began to wonder how many children lay alone
On Christmas Eve in a bed not their own
Proclaiming the birth of Jesus the King
Silent night, Holy night, Jingle bells with a bang
An apron, square and compass uniting this gang
Looking back I noticed a Fez, cap and aprons
These masons freely giving with no aspirations
It’s not the words they say that points to our Father
It’s the gift of Love, and Grace to all, each one his brother
Back to my Reindeer with my sleigh now in tow
My mission ahead, each child safely cared for below
“Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!
Around the world we must go, let’s begin our flight!
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
Ken Dyer
Grand Master
