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What
is Freemasonry
The
Three Great Principles
A page for
the curious
Why do people join?
Who
can join?
How
can I join?
Charity
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Freemasonry involves working
with others both in and outside the Masonic world - in a word, good
citizenship. It also means being happy and communicating happiness. It
follows that Charity is one of its greatest attributes. Freemasons take
great pride in their charitable work and support their Charities
wholeheartedly, totally unaided by the public at large.
Masonic charitable giving is not
confined to Freemasons only looking after themselves - for that is
certainly not the case. It should also be observed that all money raised
by Freemasons for charitable purposes comes out of their own pockets or
those of people with close connections to them; appeals are not made to
the general public.
Relief
Chest Scheme
The scheme provides individual accounts which a Lodge,
Chapter, Province or any other Masonic Organisation, can use to
accumulate funds for charitable purposes. Payments into an account may
be made by; a regular payment promise with a direct debit, to pay not
less than £3 per month or £36 per year for three years; By Gift Aid,
of not less than £36 per year; and by "ah-hoc" donations.
The
Grand Charity
The Grand Charity is the central grant
giving charity of all Freemasons in the United Grand Lodge of England.
It is intended to be flexible enough to respond quickly to urgent need,
as in the case of natural disasters. Every Freemason contributes
regularly to this fund and during 1999 a sum in excess of £3,000,000
was disbursed to a very wide range of non-Masonic charities. Large
grants of £15,000, were made to the relief of victims of the hurricane
in the West Indies, and to refugees in Sierra Leone and the Gambia,
£25,000 for hurricane relief in Turkey, £10,000 for hurricane relief
in Columbia, £25,000 to cyclone relief in India, and £100,000 to
refugees in Kosovo. In addition, special grants of £25,000 each were
given to Bridget's Trust, and to Mobility Trust, and the Mines Advisory
Group received £55,000.
The Grand Charity is the largest single
donor to the hospice movement in the UK; in 1998 the Grand Charity gave
£251,500 to 178 hospice services. A further £255,000 has now been
approved to double those grants for 1998.
Masonic
Trust for Girls & Boys'
The aim of this charity is to assist the children of Freemasons, where
death or misfortune has occurred within the family. In practice this
means providing, so far as possible, the same opportunities in life had
such misfortune not occurred. The Trust also has in its power, provided
sufficient funds are available, to grant assistance to any child whether
or not the child of a Freemason. The Trust currently has over one
thousand five hundred boys and girls in its care.
The
Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution
The R.M.B.I. provides annuities for
Freemasons and their dependants who are 60 and over (younger if
incapacitated). It also runs Residential and Nursing Homes throughout
England and Wales. Today, there are 15 Homes offering care and security
to about 1000 residents for the rest of their lives.
Prince Edward Duke of Kent Court
is an
R.M.B.I. home at Stisted, Essex. Visits to the Home can be
arranged and the Association of Friends is always looking for volunteers
to help throughout the year and with the Annual Fetes.
New
Masonic Samaritan Fund
The N.M.S.F. is a medical charity which
aims to provide support for needy sick and infirm Freemasons and their
families and dependants. Petitioners must show both a financial and
medical need before relief may be granted. The policy of the fund is to
provide support at whichever hospital is most appropriate to the needs
of the petitioner.
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