In addition to the millions of pounds given annually to non-masonic charities, freemasons are proud of their support of the various masonic charities, and like any club or organisation it is quite natural to want to look after your own members and their dependents.

Masonic charity starts in local Lodges with gifts and support for widows of past Members, summer outings and Christmas parties. In addition, many Lodges will support one or more local charities. Maidstone Masonic Charities also deals with local charities, widows etc. and can recommend certain cases up to London to the Grand Charity.
Whilst some Masonic Charities cater specifically for masons and their dependants, others do a great deal of non-Masonic charitable giving. The Grand Charity, in addition to helping Masonic petitioners and other Masonic Charities, is the central arm for the Craft's non-Masonic donations. Each year it gives in excess of £100,000 in sums from £500 - £2,000 to a whole range of national medical and welfare charities that have no connection with Freemasonry. In addition, each year it takes a major project to which it gives a donation, usually £250,000 over a period of five years. Over the last few years this has included the provision of a lifeboat to the RNLI; £250,000 to the Great Ormond Street Hospital Wishing Well appeal; the endowing of a Chair in Gerontology at Cambridge University; support to Crisis at Christmas, research into drug abuse, research into cancer and heart disease, and over half a million pounds to Hospices throughout the country. In addition large sums have been given to disaster appeals both at home and abroad. On a local level many Lodges support the local hospital, children's home, or old people's home etc. and in addition to money, provide time and talents to help within the community.

Of the Masonic Charities, the Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys supports over 1,000 children. The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution has 19 complexes throughout England and Wales, which combine flats and centralised accommodation. The Masonic Housing Association funds projects which result in sheltered accommodation part of which is reserved for Masonic use but the majority is available to the local community.

There is one slightly unusual but important aspect to Masonic Charity. All the money is raised internally by donations and covenants. We do not hold fund raising activities to obtain money from the general public.

Freemasonry is by no means confined to England or the U.K. It is world wide with 116 Grand Lodges which are recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England. It is particularly strong in the USA but also in the Commonwealth, South America, Europe and Australasia. The most exciting event of recent time has been the re-emergence of masonry in the former Communist countries. Hungary was first, then Czechoslovakia. Yugoslavia was anticipated to follow until civil war. Communism banned Freemasonry, just like the Nazis.

March 2008
A number of non Masonic charities, across England and Wales, will benefit from generous grants announced by The Freemasons’ Grand Charity and totalling an incredible £1.5 million. The grants have been awarded to worthwhile causes in the areas of medical research, youth opportunities and vulnerable people. The sum includes £600,000 for adult and children’s hospice services and £180,000 for air ambulance charities to be distributed during the current year. ... read more

4 February 2008
Following civil unrest in parts of Kenya, The President of the Freemasons’ Grand Charity has approved a grant of £10,000 to the District Grand Lodge of East Africa’s Grand Charity, complementing local relief efforts ... read more

27 November 2007
Children’s Hospices to receive support from
The Freemasons’ Grand Charity
Hospices across England and Wales are set for a funding boost as The Freemasons’ Grand Charity distributes £600,000 towards the operating costs of the widely respected services ...
read more

22 November 2007
Following the devastation of parts of Bangladesh by Tropical Storm Sidr, The Freemasons' Grand Charity is supporting the relief work of the Red Cross with an emergency grant of £20,000... read more

7th October 2007
A General Meeting of The Freemasons' Grand Charity has approved grants totalling £445,200. Fifteen non-Masonic charities supporting vulnerable people, youth opportunities and research into medical conditions will benefit from the money.
... read more

Members of the public are asked to donate £1, and receive a small yellow flower (or a yellow ribbon) as a token of thanks. W Bros Grumbridge and Thomas (probably two of the most unlikely looking flower sellers in the county) were pleased to lend their support to the project, each doing a stint for a couple of hours during the morning. "Delighted at the generosity of the public" was WBro Thomas's reaction to his busy station at the top of Gabriels Hill, whilst WBro Grumbridge commented that his high profile pitch at the entrance to The Chequers Centre was so busy that it required the energies of a young man, and that he was therefore very pleased to have been available.

The collection was this year organised by W.Bro Geoff Hart of the Bearsted Lodge, who was delighted with the support he received from the two Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, and that of the other dozen helpers, but was disappointed that only fourteen of the many hundreds of members of the Maidstone Lodges turned up. "If each Lodge pledged just two or three members, then each person would only need to help out for an hour" he commented "however, it has been a very happy and successful morning, and I would like to thank all those who made the effort to come along for an hour or two to assist in such a worthwhile event".

Well done WBro Geoff, and well done Maidstone!
A great example of Freemasons working IN and FOR the Community

W.Bro Hart (pictured above) would like to thank the following people for their time and assistance:

Miss Emma Merritt and W. Bro’s: J Grumbridge, P Thomas, M Ross, D Horne, D Herron, K Miller (West Malling), J Fry, R Humphrey, G Pomphrett, G Coomes, A Higgins and R Waltham.

For more information about The Grand Charity please visit the website
Click here

The Masons behind the Appeal are everyday people with families, jobs and commitments of their own, but who have a little time on their hands to make a difference to people’s lives effected by the distress of a sick or injured child... read more