How come Freemasons are given charitable status when no one actually knows what they do?

Question

The world wildlife trust is not allowed to be a charity because it has political aims, but politics and power are synonymous with each other and everyone knows masons like power.So how come Freemasonry is a charity, but not the world wildlife trust? After all, the world wildlife trust doesn't have two masonic lodges in the houses of parliament, are you getting my drift?

Answer 1

For a start Freemasons do not have charity status only certain charitable accounts in lodges and to be honest this is a total pain in the **** for us as each year we have to fill in forms to tell how every penny is spent,detailing how much goes to masonic & non masonic charities.
(do you know of anybody else who has to report at a level like this?
Secondly one of the things that cannot be discussed at a Masonic Lodge is Politics as it against the beliefs of Freemasonry to get involved in political disputes, or debates
I would really like someone to explain to me just exactly HOW Freemasonry could infulence politics, as I can't see how this could happen as it is TABOO to even speak about it at a meeting
There might be a lot of Masons in the House of Parliment but I really don't know (or care)
The idea of Masonry is to make good men better not World Dominance!
Fed up with fools like this mouthing off about things they don't have a clue about.
Freemasonary does a lot of charitable work which is done quitely without looking for praise or thanks, which is as it should be
Bro Eddie Lapsley
Lodge Doric Kilwinning No68 Port Glasgow
Scotland
A MASON & PROUD OF IT

PS Once we rule the world we will round people like this up & have them shot!
(JOKE!!!!!!!!)

Answer 2

Can you give evidence that Masons like power, or aim for power? It is possible that you have encountered powerful people who are Masons, but I, as a non-Mason, have encountered people who have power who are not Masons but are members of my local golf club. I am a member of Essex County Cricket Club, this confers prestige, and has a dress code, etc, etc, etc.

The Masons are given Charity status because of their significant donations to charitable causes. I understand that they also have systems internal to their organisation that dispenses aid to their members. Trades Unions also operate such schemes, as do other organisations such as the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes.

I have no knowledge that the World Wildlife Fund has political aims, and my sole objection to the WWF was that they pestered me with mailshots for a number of years, even though I told them I did not wish to be member.

The proceedings of Trades Unions are private - I should know, as I have thirty years service in the Trades Union movement, not just as a member, but in Branch and District roles, including Financial Secretary. Masonry is entitled to similar privacy. No Mason will tell you what goes on in their Lodge, just as I would not tell a non-member what my Union is up to. Skullduggery afoot? Often alledged, but seldom proven.

Answer 3

I know what freemasonry is. Do you mean W W F, (World Wildlife Fund) ? W W F , like Greenpeace do not have "political" agendas, however their conservation strategies sometimes `clash` with other interests. We could fund both organisations for 100 years, with 0.5% of what Iraq is costing !!

Answer 4

They may of been given charity status on the money they donate to any charity whom they support but I'm not absolutely sure. The individual Mason would not qualify on their personal income.

Answer 5

Maybe a non profit org for tax purposes. Is there a difference. However the need for lodges is what what Masonry is about, charity is by product.

Answer 6

Charitable status is distinguished by a set of rules and if you match up you get it and if you don't, well you fail. There is no opinion in what constitutes a charity other then these rules

Answer 7

...over the years "they" have done a=lot of good under the banner of "religion" so they have schlepped themselves off as a religious/org. The have a wonderful Hospital for Children and treat the kids for free. and lots of other good stuff mix'd in with their BIG SECRETS....

Answer 8

ONE WORD ANSWER ,SAME AS THE WORLD IS IN THE MESS IT IS IN ,CORRUPTION , AS YOU SAY, THERE AIM IS POWER , ALL POWER CORRUPTS . REMOVE ALL FREEMASONS FROM POSITIONS OF POWER ,GIVE THE JOBS TO THE PEOPLE ON MERIT ,LET HONEST BE AGAIN THE KING PIN OF DECENT PEOPLE , THROUGHOUT THE WORLD . THE ADVANCEMENT OF MANKIND ,BUT DON,T HOLD YOUR BREATH , GREED AND CORRUPTION ARE RIFE EVERY DAY IN OUR COUNTRY, AND, THROUGHOUT THE , CIVILISED ( I USE THE WORD LOOSELY) WORLD . AMEN TO THAT.

Answer 9

good question, my grandpa is a mason and he never talks about it