“
What is The Grand Charity ? ”
The Grand Charity is the central grant making
charity of all Freemasons in England and Wales. All funding
for the Grand Charity comes from donations by individual Freemasons
and their families. It is the anchor of the other three charities,
topping up their funds when necessary. It is also the foremost
donator of Masonic Funds to non- Masonic Charities and reacts
quickly to represent English Freemasons when emergency aid is
needed anywhere in the world.
Grand Charity was established by the United
Grand Lodge of England and commenced operation on 1st January
1981. It took over from the Board of Benevolence, the functions
of relieving individual petitioners and making donations to
Masonic and non-Masonic Charities. In April 2003 the Grand
Charity also assumed responsibility for the payments previously
made by the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution (RMBI) for
the purpose of providing general relief to Masons and their
dependents, permitting the RMBI to concentrate on providing
residential care to the elderly.
The Grand Charity is unique in that it is the
only charity answerable to all Freemasons in the English Constitution,
through their membership of Lodges under the United Grand
Lodge of England.
Income for The Grand Charity comes from contributions from
Lodges, Festival income and donations and legacies Today,
the primary activities of the Grand Charity fall into the
following categories:
Masonic Relief Grants originally provided help
for poor and distressed Freemasons and the making of Masonic
Relief Grants is still one of the primary activities of The
Grand Charity. The Grand Charity also provides financial support,
when needed, to the other three main Masonic charities.
Non-Masonic Charities which now receive a large
part of the Grand Charity’s annual allocation of grants.
Since 1981, more than £30 million has been given to
non-Masonic charitable causes.
Hospices in England and Wales also receive support
every year. Over the past 20 years the Grand Charity has given
in excess of £6 million to Hospices and this is now
running at more than £0.5 million each year. Support
for local hospices is one of the Grand Charity’s most
popular initiatives, and one, as we know is very close to
our hearts.
Emergency Relief Grants are given throughout
the year at the discretion of the President of the Grand Charity.
This aspect was recently dramatically highlighted by the Grand
Charity’s immediate response to the Tsunami disaster
in the Indian Ocean.
The members of the Province of East Kent, together
with non-Masonic charities within the Province receive great
support from the Grand Charity having benefitted in the region
of £150,000 in the past year alone.
WBro T A Denne PAGDC,PrGChStwd
Ed45, p15
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