|
Post by kizzy on Dec 17, 2004 10:08:47 GMT
I have moved this post by Taylorsman from the Polls Thread to here as I feel it is more suitable for a General Discussion Topic.
Taylorman's Post following on from a comment by Whistler.
".....I firmly believe Fund raising for charities is better done by Lions or Rotary "
I agree 1 million % Whistler.
No doubt 100 or so years ago there was a strong case for the large scale and external Charitable Bodies which are part and parcel even today of UGLE Freemasonry , RMBI, MFAS, MFGB, Grand Charity, etc, etc, etc. However these days we have a plethora of national and international charities dealing with just about every aspect of need. On TV this morning I have counted 7 different Charity Adverts all exhorting viewers to donate "..just £3 a month..... " to some good cause. One cannot walk down a High Street or through a Shopping Mall without some bright young thing with a clipboard pretending to conduct a survey but actually trying to get one to sign up for a Direct Debit for some Charity. Many Employers now run an Payroll Giving scheme.
These well known organisations have as their prime purpose the raising of funds for their Charitable Aim and I would say they are far better equipped both to do this and to ensure that the money gets to those who need it than our Masonic Charitable Bodies. There is also only so much surplus money that a person has to give. I also feel that there is far, far more to Freemasonry than being "Rotary in Aprons".
I feel that we ought to critically examine the methods and scope of the big Masonic Charities and instead of large "Festivals" etc devolve the running of Charities back to the Ordinary Private Lodge, (which is how the Operative Lodges of Olden Times would have run this), where they can use money raised therein for Local Causes be this "The Brother in Distressed Circumstances" we are told about so graphically at our Initiation, and as illustrated by the actions of Bod and his Lodge regarding the funeral of a late Brother, or a Lodge donating money to some local good cause which benefits people in their area, thus re-establishing the link between a Lodge and its community which seems to have died out in recent times in many areas.
This is controversial and I can see some "Chains" and Dark Blues spluttering if they read this but I have felt this for a long time. If needs be this could be the topic for another thread of the Mods feel the need. « Last Edit: Today at 11:01:12 by Taylorsman » Logged
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Location Thames Valley- England
A 24/7 Freemason.
|
|
Agent J
Member
On a Mission from God...
Posts: 127
|
Post by Agent J on Dec 17, 2004 10:50:11 GMT
nothing to add to that...very well said, totally agree.
|
|
|
Post by billmcelligott on Dec 17, 2004 15:51:39 GMT
Please donr under estimate what the Masonic Charities do.
The Samaritans fund is active in all provinces and it makes a difference. There are a lot of Masons who work very hard for no pay and no other reward. The big Charities bosses get big pay packets.
OK they mess up sometimes, but how much money do you think we would raise if we were just thought of as the Lottery for example a 'money raiser'.
I think you need a lot more thought.
Have a look at the three main Charities and see the work they do.
They deal with massive amounts of money, they have the skills and the experience, to cope . I would worry if my Local Lodge tried anything in the order of their budgets.
There is a case going on in the Staes where a Local Mason running a Fund Rasing group has taken Millions of Dollars. At least you can be certain that the old farts are not running off to the Bahamas. They can't run anywhere.
With regard to Local Lodges, all the Lodges and Chapters I am involved with do both, they support the big Charities you have mentioned, they also work their own thing locally, I cant believe we are the only ones.
|
|
staffs
Administrator
Staffs
Posts: 3,295
|
Post by staffs on Dec 17, 2004 17:36:22 GMT
Good post Kizzy and i cant comment too much as my time in FM has been a short one and this is a subject i dont know too much about but definitely an eyebrow raiser and it will be very interesting seeing the replies
|
|
|
Post by taylorsman on Dec 17, 2004 23:03:39 GMT
I would still rather that we left the big charitable efforts and projects to the Professionals and that our money was used locally on smaller matters, not only helping the Brethren of our own Lodges in Time of Need , but on local projects of benefit to our communities and those within it who require assistance.
|
|
|
Post by Late Knight Chemist on Dec 18, 2004 0:07:53 GMT
As a Charity Steward I would strongly argue that we need balance.
Grand Charity is a major supporter of Medical Research posts. It also provides quick responses to disaster appeals. Neither of these would easily be supported by individual lodges. Mark Masonry provided one new ambulance to each St John Ambulance County about four years ago.
Lodges can direct support to the large National Charities to local causes.
My mother Lodge has strong service links and I use our Christmas Charity box to support SSAFA locally.
I also agree that we should consider local causes that may not be supported by strong professional fund raisers. Ultimately, we cannot support everything.
|
|
|
Post by taylorsman on Dec 18, 2004 7:18:15 GMT
"Grand Charity is a major supporter of Medical Research posts. It also provides quick responses to disaster appeals. Neither of these would easily be supported by individual lodges"
But should we be doing this anyway Bruce? Whistler's point was that there are already well estalished National and International Charities which do these things, and do them better. If I want to give to Medical Charities then the likes of Cancer Research, Alzheimers Society, Mencap etc would be my target, the Homeless and down and out suggest Shelter or Crisis or the Salvation Army to me.
As a Freemason I would rather my charitable donations thereto went primarily to fellow Freemasons in need , and we all know some I am sure, or to some local person or cause which could do with our assistance. The sort of thing which occurs to me is paying for work to be done to a person's house to accomodate a wheelchair where they are not eligible for Local Authority or Governmental grants etc. The example elsewhere on this Forum of Freemasons paying for the Funeral of a Brother Mason who's Estate and Family were unable to cover the cost is the type of Charitable action I prefer to some grandoise project.
Some would criticise us for being a "mutual support society", well they say that anyway. It saddens me greatly when good Brethren who have served their Lodge and Freemasonry well are excluded after two years arrears of Subs if they have hit hard times when they could have stayed on "with a little help from their friends".
Charity begins at home, and I feel we should revert to the practices attributed to the Stonemasons Lodges of Olden Times of having a support chest for Brother Masons and their families. If I wish to support a need in some far away land of which I know little , I can donate to Oxfam or buy the Band Aid CD etc.
|
|
|
Post by whistler on Dec 19, 2004 5:49:25 GMT
Masonic Fund raising and the efforts By Masons to raise those funds, also touch on the area of spreading the word. As Masons get more involved with many Masonic tasks, be it side degrees, of fund raising, the more they seem to get isolated from other people in the community- Ok when a donation is made it can be a grand occasion, with Photo Op's, but it is not very personal.. Just as an example suppose a Non Masonic group gets envolved in a big fund raising project and as individuals some of us have the time to assist - It does more for spreading the word that Freemasons are ordinary people and Freemasonry might just be worthwhile to join if the Non Mason discovers the chap beside him with the shovell, as well as a worker for charity is also a Mason... He has had a chance to measure the man before he discovers he is a Mason. The more we can get out into our community as ordinary Moral men and women, the more likely we are to discover and attract new people. When we Fund raise as Freemasons, the general public sees the Craft before they see the man and I think there is a difference
|
|
|
Post by taylorsman on Dec 19, 2004 10:27:12 GMT
I would also go with Whistler that we need to be part and parcel of our local Community, especially here in England where there is a discontinuity these days between the Lodge and the Town in too many cases.
I can remember when many Local men of prominence, Doctors, Mayor and Councillors, MPs , the Vicar etc would be "On the Square" in a locality. Doesn't seem to happen these days or at least we wrongly keep this hidden.
By changing our Charitable Emphasis to many small and local projects and causes rather than fewer high profile National and International ones we can remake the bond with our local citizens. The man in the street may merely shrug his shoulders and soon forget when told that one of the large Masonic Charities has paid for some great project at a London Hospital but is more likely to be lastingly impressed if he knows that the Local Lodge paid for the old pensioner next door to have a small shed built to house her motorised buggy and the charging equipment for it, and helps towards its annual servicing.
|
|
|
Post by atarnaris on Dec 19, 2004 11:54:50 GMT
Charity begins at home, and I feel we should revert to the practices attributed to the Stonemasons Lodges of Olden Times of having a support chest for Brother Masons and their families. If I wish to support a need in some far away land of which I know little , I can donate to Oxfam or buy the Band Aid CD etc. When I wrote these exact same words to he Province email list I TEXT to belong (well South Wales for your info), the moderators did their job by not allowing my email to go to other members of the list. So watch out Bro Taylorsman you might be excommunicated!!! Now that's what I call freedom of speech!
|
|
|
Post by atarnaris on Dec 19, 2004 12:35:06 GMT
By changing our Charitable Emphasis to many small and local projects and causes rather than fewer high profile National and International ones we can remake the bond with our local citizens. The man in the street may merely shrug his shoulders and soon forget when told that one of the large Masonic Charities has paid for some great project at a London Hospital but is more likely to be lastingly impressed if he knows that the Local Lodge paid for the old pensioner next door to have a small shed built to house her motorised buggy and the charging equipment for it, and helps towards its annual servicing. This is indeed good thinking.From what MrMason has told m when we met him last time this is exactly the way Charity is run in GLoScotland. And It makes sense that this is far more effective...
|
|
|
Post by taylorsman on Dec 19, 2004 12:49:30 GMT
Bro Andrew, this is an INDEPENDENT Forum, their writ does not run here. Kizzy spelt out the Rules which DO apply and are endorsed by the other two Mods.
If one of what the Scots call "The High Heid Yins" doesn't like what is posted then let him reply on this Forum stating his side of the argument for all to see. Heavy handed threats will only be counterproductive.
There are other Fora which take a more supine attitude and push the "Party Line". This one lets Ordinary Brethren state THEIR point of view which tends to go unheard by Official Channels or for which there is simply no conduit available. It is all too easy to listen to placeholders , sycophants, etc taking the "mirror, mirror on the wall" approach and giving the answers they wish to hear purportedly on behalf of the unasked majority.
I DO hope some of the Rulers in the Craft read this Forum as they may then be informed of what the man on the bench feels.
|
|
|
Post by mrmason on Dec 19, 2004 16:01:47 GMT
Andrew your quite right, We give a certain amount to PGL and GLoS each year. A portion of the Initiation fee paid by each candidate goes also to Grand Lodge for Benevolence, a swell as the collection at our Installation. Most of our money is kept for local charities etc. For example, 2 years ago we gave a healthy cheque to the local primary school for computers and last year we gave a donation to our local pipe band who needed cash. Both donations were published in the local press. While these are not charitable organistaions they are local projects and I can tell you that we have had nothing but praise from masons and non masons alike, over the pipe band donation as the band is made up of mainly local youngsters. That aside we do still give to our local hospital and charities further afield. Charity begins at home as they say, and by that I mean locally. If we can help locally the rest seems to follow. All of our lodges and chapters, preceptories, rose crox, etc do the same.
I think that this may stem from our history as we have always gave to the local communities. Certainly since 1766 as far as our lodge goes.
|
|
|
Post by whistler on Dec 19, 2004 16:58:18 GMT
Andrew your quite right, . Most of our money is kept for local charities etc. For example, 2 years ago we gave a healthy cheque to the local primary school for computers and last year we gave a donation to our local pipe band who needed cash. Both donations were published in the local press. . My point was MrMason, did any from the local primary school or Pipe band become freemasons - if they didn't might they have, if men who were Freemasons joined the school and pipe band players and assisted them to fund raise?
|
|
|
Post by mrmason on Dec 20, 2004 13:22:59 GMT
Hi Whistler, I think that most of the teachers from the local shcool are all women so no candidates there , and most of the pipeband are kids although the chairman is a member of our lodge. I suppose that in our lodge when we give money we never see it as an opportunity to find new members, we just believe that we are hopefully giving some well needed cash to the community.
|
|
|
Post by taylorsman on Dec 27, 2004 14:18:47 GMT
I am as you know critical of the Large Charities run under the auspices of UGLE as detailed above in this thread, but I DO hope that they will be giving some assistance to Emergency Aid to those devasted by the Earthquake and Tidal Wave in Ceylon, Sarawak, Malaya, Madras, etc.
|
|
|
Post by 724mason on Dec 27, 2004 15:36:44 GMT
I do believe that all Grand Lodges have their favourit charity's, to which they strive to feed monies. Oft times they forget that 'charity begins at home'.
I will leave you with an auls Scots sayin' " Dinna empy yer ain mooth tae fill ither folks"
|
|
|
Post by taylorsman on Dec 27, 2004 19:26:56 GMT
With you all the way there 724 Mason, as you will see from this thread, but in this special case of just about the worst natural disaster to hit mankind, (Plague and Flu pandemics apart), I feel they ought to give assistance, be that medical equipment, tents, water purification, etc.
|
|
|
Post by 724mason on Dec 28, 2004 18:17:06 GMT
Absolutely Taylorsman. No qualms there.
|
|
|
Post by taylorsman on Dec 28, 2004 18:22:23 GMT
The problem will be that disease/after effects of injury will kill as many as the tidal wave. Clean water, food, medicine, shelter, clothing will be needed asap.
|
|