CHARITY STEWARD

The Charity Steward of the Lodge is: -

WBro. Lieut. Colonel Roy Eyeions OBE, 5 Huntsman’s Mews, Mytchett, Camberley, Surrey. GU16 6JA

Telephone - 01252 511121

Charity is described as the distinguishing characteristic of a Freemason’s heart and all members of the Lodge are encouraged to be charitable within their means. Each new Master at his installation as Master of the Lodge nominates a recognised charity, which may be Masonic or Non-Masonic as his chosen Charity to support during his year in office.

For the past 12 years or so, successive Masters have nominated the New Masonic Samaritan Fund as their chosen charity and during that time a sum of over £25,000 has been donated to the fund, which provides medical care for Freemasons and their families where necessary.  It is the Masters prerogative as to which charity the Lodge supports and for 2008-09 the Worshipful Master Col Graham Housham has chosen to support the Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys. This is principally because of the bursaries that this Masonic Charity give out  and the effect it has on Choristry at Hereford Cathedral (of which Graham is a Patron).

The Charities that benefited from the generosity of the Brethren in 2008 - 2009 during the Mastership of W.Bro Col Graham Housham are as follows:

£600 to the Masonic Samaritan Fund;
£1000 to Royal Masonic Benevolent Institute (as part of the London Metropolitan Grand Lodge Appeal);
£477 to the Lodge Centenary Fund

The Charities that benefited from the generosity of the Brethren in 2007 - 2008 during the Mastership of W.Bro Bob Shakesby are as follows:

£700 to the Masonic Samaritan Fund;
£1500 to Royal Masonic Benevolent Institute (as part of the London Metropolitan Grand Lodge Appeal);
£211 to the Lodge Centenary Fund

During the year 2006 to 2007 W. Bro Des Hillier, the following contributions were made as indicated:
The New Masonic Samaritan Fund - £500.00
The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institute - £1500.00
The Lodge Centenary Fund - £500.00

During the year of the previous Master [2005 to 2006] WBro P Brown, the following contributions were made:
The New Masonic Samaritan Fund - £2,740.50
The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institute - £1,500.00
The Lodge Centenary Fund - £93.00

Details of preceding years are available from the Charity Steward.

Charity funds are collected by individual donations to the Masters List. The amount donated by each individual is confidential between the Charity Steward and the individual. There is no fixed sum expected, but whatever the individual can afford. A popular method of making a contribution is by way of purchasing raffle tickets sold at the Festive Board, which follows each Lodge meeting. Members also help by contributing Raffle Prizes, which may include unwanted gifts. The total proceeds of the Raffle are then donated to the chosen Charity.

The In Arduis Fidelis Lodge is listed as:

Patron Lodge of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution
Patron Lodge of The Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys
Patron Lodge of The New Masonic Samaritan Fund (now the Masonic Samaritan Fund)

The Grand Charity

The Grand Charity website can be accessed HERE

The Grand Charity is the central grant-giving charity of all Freemasons under the United Grand Lodge of England The three main areas in which the charity provides assistance are:-

‡Masonic applicants in distressed circumstances
‡Giving to Non-Masonic charities
‡Support to other Masonic charities