Where can i go to find out how Freemasons allocate their charity money?

Question

Hi,

I'm in the Uk and everyone tells me Masons do a lot for charity but what do they actually spend it on? Someone told me most of it gets ploughed back to fellow members needs but a mason once confided to me that he had gone as high as he could in freemasonry but still didn't know how a single penny was spent, was he pulling my leg?

Answer 1

I've known 2 masons in my life and they were both complete arseholes...they wore the ties and badges and things. It seemed to be the most important thing in their lives.
It's like a gang for emotionally repressed men who like to get blind drunk with one another and help each other out in business....even if it's at the detriment of the business. They are duty bound to promote other masons ahead of non-masons. This even goes as far as masonic police officers letting off other masons when they have broken the law. (this is a direct quote from one of the masons)
The reason they have a lot of little 'secrets' and traditions like the handshake and rolling their trousers up and agreeing to be killed if they divulge the 'secrets'. is because their exclusivity is their strength...new members have to be invited by existing members, this promotes the 'helping each other out' ethos.
If the two men i knew had to cut it in the real world without having had 'helping hands' throughout their careers then they would have achieved very little. However, they seem to think they're the brightest button in the box because they joined this 'brotherhood'
As for charity money? Forget it, they give very little of their income to charity. Most of their money goes back to members in times of need or to the widows of diseased members.
If you were to be invited to become a member (which is a possibility as long as you are not catholic, jewish, muslim, hindi, or siekh) then consider it carefully...then decline. Or join and become a pompous, self-important, secretive dick.

Answer 2

Hello, I am a Co-Mason, Freemasonry for women and men. I am sorry that some people have had difficulties with Masons. I am sure one can always tar with a broad brush any organization made up of people.

I understand you want to know where the money goes. First, each Lodge in American Co-Masonry decides where it goes individually. I am Almoner of two Lodges I belong to. I bring to the Lodge the wants and needs of the world, including those of fellow Brethren.

So, we have a baseline amount we want to have in our checking fund for benevolent work. If a Brother is in need, he or she can ask the Almoner or the Right Worshipful Master (elected head of the Lodge) for help. We bring the cause (not the person's name) to the Brethren and usually the vote is in favor. The money is a last resort, however; we would rather do what needs doing for the Brother (like helping find a job, fix up her car, whatever). In any case, the Brother is expected to continue coming to Lodge and to pay back the amount as they can. No one checks on that, by the way. We leave that to the Brother's own conscience. People do not abuse this.

If we have over the baseline and we have had no one make a request, we then dispurse it to a local charity. Our Lodges support women's shelters, youth half-way houses, food for the homeless in the last year. I know: I saw the letters of thanks come back from them. We even supported some males only Lodges in New Orleans after the Katrina disaster.

No one checks on how much a particular Brother gives at any one meeting. Of course the tax people do but that is not up to our Lodge to monitor. As Almoner I have seen monthly checks from Brothers in the $100 range and seen also pennies in the bag. Everyone gives what they can.

In Co-Masonry, the Treasurer's report is read out loud in open Lodge twice a year. For that matter, our Grand Lodge in Larkspur, CO reads out their report at least in August.

I am very satisfied where the money has gone. I also give freely since what we are about in Co-Masonry has little to do with fundraising, but more to do with alchemy: changing the lead of our hearts into gold.

A Master Mason
American Co-Masonry

Hiram Lodge No. 11 (Santa Cruz, CA, US)
Amon Ra Lodge No. 9 (Los Angeles, CA, US)
Sapientia Lodge of Research (Larkspur, CO, US)
Adamant Mark Lodge No. 3 (Santa Cruz, CA, US)

Answer 3

Hi, I am a freemason in India for over 10 years. We do a lot of charity from our lodge to the needy - examples are paying tution fee for students, helping medical expenses, running a dispensary to provide medicine, donating furniture to schools, building a new ward in the govt. hospital, running eye camps, etc. So far, I have never come across an incidence where a fellow freemason solicited finanical or any other 'material' help from me for his personal gain.
Of course we meet regularly and socialize after the meeting. So does so many other formal or informal organisations. What's negative about it ?

Answer 4

Try this link to the Royal Masonic Trust for Boys and Girls.

Their annual revue should tell you what you need to know.

Answer 5

No thats the whole point of what they do for charity, it is anonymous, your friend should be able to find out through the proper channels, but its not the done thing to say.

Answer 6

I think this is a pretty private organzation. I don't really know but from what I have heard. I don't think they are going to show this info on the web. If interested, join up.

Answer 7

You can't. They are a secret society. Half of these neo druids are cops, the give away being the dishevelled right leg of their trousers

Answer 8

you can t go anywhere to find it out it is secret