Is Father Christmas A Mason?
By David Downie
St Trinians Lodge No 2050
Isle of Man
I have a very serious question to put to you all.
I would like to raise it with you and then do some detective work, examining the evidence that might lead us to answering it.
It is a most important question that I am sure you have often asked yourself, and relates our Craft to the wider society in which we
live and concerns several major issues of this season. This very serious question is "Is Father Christmas a Freemason?"
Let us consider the facts of this case: Of whom does this remind you?
A worthy gentleman, who is (we
Is Father Christmas A Mason?
By David Downie
St Trinians Lodge No 2050
Isle of Man
must admit) getting on a bit in years and is perhaps a little overweight, who wears a very distinctive
costume as the badge of his activities, who provides the opportunity for friends and visitors to meet in fellowship, who is surrounded
by secrecy and mystery, dispenses goodwill and the charity of gifts all over the world (avoiding ostentatious public display while
doing so) and is there doing it year after year!
Well, fellow detectives, you must admit that this description could fit either Santa or a Freemason. But this is merely circumstantial
evidence. We need some proof!
Let us start with his movements on the evening in question. All the reports have him coming from the North Pole. As the sun rises in
the east to open and enliven the day, and with him needing to finish the world before dawn, then he would have to begin in the East
and move towards the West. Therefore Father Christmas must begin his journey at the north-east corner of the world. This, of course,
is exactly what we do with an
Entered Apprentice.
Similarly, you would assume he would finish heading for home, which would place him in the north-west corner at the end of his work,
to give his salute to the world and leave. Convincing proof, you must agree!
But, think too, he undertakes this great journey to provide the gifts but once a year, and I am sure that any Brother Treasurer will
agree that this is exactly the frequency with which most Brethren provide the gift of their charity to the lodge! And the secrecy,
the mystery? Those of you who are parents, remember. What was the worst crime that an older child could commit at this time of the
year? To tell the younger ones the secret of Santa, to break the faith that they should have kept. And I am sure your punishment of
them pointed out that they were void of all moral worth and totally unfit to be received into the dinner table but be sent to their
room for destroying something that was so good, so worthwhile and so innocent.
Surely all this evidence shows us beyond doubt that Father Christmas is a Freemason! He practices Brotherly Love