Every Freemason at the beginning of their association with the fraternity is instructed in their responsibilities to those less fortunate than ourselves and to the general well being of the community in which we live. There are no demands made on individual members, it is left entirely too each member to decide if and what he is able to contribute to the charity fund. The actual words are “what ever your circumstances in life may reasonably warrant”.
I can do no better than to quote Most Worshipful Brother Stanley Threlfel who, during his term as Grand Master of Western Australia, said, “When ever a group of good men meet regularly together, charity is inevitable”. This is exactly what happens in Freemasonry. Every lodge appoints its own Charity Steward who conducts collections at each meeting. These funds are donated to various charities as selected by the members of the lodge. Typical recipients of theses donations are local schools, hospital, and other not-for-profit societies, as well as the Freemasons WA (previously known as Freemasons Homes for the Aged) and many more worthwhile causes.
Freemasons WA are operated throughout the state and provide low cost accommodation for those in need of shelter and care. These homes are not restricted to people with Masonic connections and, in fact, are occupied in the main by residents with no Masonic connection what so ever.
In addition, The Grand Lodge of Western Australia conducts a number of coordinated collections among the brethren throughout our state for other charities. In the past they have included WA bush fire appeals, cyclone appeals, tsunami appeals, hospital equipment appeals, and Christmas appeals.
Charity is one of the principle objectives of Freemasonry, which are brotherly love, relief and truth. Brotherly love refers to respect for the beliefs, values and opinions of our fellow creatures. Truth refers to the encouragement of Freemasons to follow and practice their individual chosen faith and relief is simply the practice of charity towards those who are in need. We are unable to put any one of this trilogy of objectives before another, they are to us equal in their importance but it should be obvious to all who care to look that charity is regarded as an integral part and continuous practice of Freemasonry.
Freemasons practice charity towards all who are in need regardless of their race or creed. If our own members need help at any time we will of course, do all we can for them just as any decent family would do for one of their own? The reality is however, that most of the charitable efforts of Freemasonry are directed to those in need within the greater community in which we live.
The Grand Lodge Fund of BenevolenceAll donations over $2, to the Grand Lodge Fund of Benevolence (ABN 58 284 834 069) are tax deductible. The Grand Lodge Fund of Benevolence is classed as a deductible gift recipient under Subdivision 30-B of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, as a public fund for the relief of persons in Australia in necessitous circumstances.
