22nd February 2025
The Gathering of the St Olaf Brethren for the Calcutta Cup
Lo! Upon the twenty-second day of February in the year of our reckoning, Two Thousand and Twenty-Five, the Brethren of St Olaf did assemble in the hallowed halls of their Lodge, drawn together by a common purpose—to bear witness to the great contest of the age, the fabled Calcutta Cup. With solemn care had the chamber been prepared, adorned with a mighty screen that all might see the battle unfold, and with passage granted to the Level, where provisions of comfort and cheer were made plentiful.
A host of stout-hearted Scots did fill the hall, their number great, their spirit resolute, yet among them stood one of England’s kin—Trevor the Worshipful—who alone bore the standard of his homeland. From the first call of the horn, the Scottish warriors upon the field of battle did charge forth with valour, seizing an early advantage. A great cry arose from the gathered throng, their voices lifted in triumph, and the air grew thick with the fire of contest.
Long and hard-fought was the struggle, neither side yielding, the ebb and flow of the fray keeping all in breathless anticipation. As the hour waned, so too did the fortunes of the North. By but a single point did Scotland falter, and the laurels of victory were denied them. A hush fell upon the hall, sorrow tempered by the noble truth that they had fought well and with honour.
Yet, though the day’s triumph was not theirs, the spirit of the Brethren did not wane. For this gathering was of greater purpose than sport alone—it was a testament to the bonds of fellowship, the unshaken unity of those who stand together through trial and cheer alike. In laughter and good company did the men of St Olaf find solace, their hearts steadfast in the knowledge that such days would come again.
So let the tale be told, and let the horn sound once more in years to come. For though victory may be fleeting, the spirit of camaraderie endures evermore. To the next meeting of the Brethren, and to the battles yet to be fought
