By Ibrahim Sesay
The District Grand Lodge of Sierra Leone, Scottish Constitution, on Saturday, 20 December,2025 hosted its annual Children’s Christmas Party at the Georgacland Masonic Temple, bringing joy and excitement to hundreds of children from surrounding communities.
The event brought together children mainly from the King Jimmy community, who took part in dancing competitions, games and other fun activities before receiving Christmas gifts. Many parents also accompanied their children to witness the celebration.
Speaking at the event, the Right Worshipful District Grand Master of the District Grand Lodge of Sierra Leone, Bro. Hon. Nicholas Colin Browne-Marke, said the initiative was part of a long-standing tradition of “benevolence” within Freemasonry.
“This move was started by the past District Grand Master, Brother Leslie Nichol, when he assumed office in 2015, shortly after the Ebola outbreak,” Brother Hon. Nicholas Colin Browne-Marke explained. “The project began in December 2016 and was continued by his successor, Brother Crispin Bishop Dave. This is my first year in office and I decided to continue the tradition.”
He noted that before the children’s party, members of the lodge visited the Connaught Hospital, specifically the Dr. Robin Coker Ward i.e children’s ward, where they donated presents, sweets and biscuits to children receiving treatment.
“The ward is named after a past District Grand Master, Dr. Robin Coker, who was a pediatrician,” he said. “We went there first to support children who could not attend this party, ensuring they also feel the joy of Christmas.”
Brother Nicholas Colin Browne-Marke emphasized that the party was exclusively organized for children in the neighborhood and not for children of lodge members. According to him, community leaders assisted in selecting beneficiaries.
“We initially selected 150 children through the headman of the King Jimmy community, but as you can see, more than 300 children are here today, some accompanied by their parents,” he said.
He added that the event was fully funded by members of the Freemasons, with contributions from all 20 lodges under the Scottish District, including 19 in Sierra Leone and one in The Gambia.
“All of what you see here is provided by the Freemasons. We all contributed towards hosting this event to show that we care and that we are not only thinking of ourselves,” Brother Nicholas Colin Browne-Marke Marke said.
Expressing his personal joy, the District Grand Master said seeing children happy is deeply fulfilling. “I have children myself and I love to see children enjoying themselves, especially when parents may not be able to provide this. Giving is one of the hallmarks of Freemasonry. You give more than you receive.”
Some of the children expressed joy and gratitude for the celebration. John Bangura said the event made his Christmas special.
“I am very happy to be here today. I enjoyed the games and the food, and I am thankful to the people who organized this party for us. This Christmas will be very special for me,” he said.
Another beneficiary, Fatima Kamara, described the experience as unforgettable. “This is my first time coming to this Christmas party. I am very excited and happy because we received gifts and played together. I want to say thank you to the lodge for making us smile today,” she said.
The annual children’s party is part of the District Grand Lodge’s broader charitable activities, aimed at strengthening ties with host communities during the festive season.
