Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire><br /> <h1 class=About freemasonry

Your Questions Answered - continued

Don't you run around with your trousers rolled up?  

  • A candidate does have to roll his trouser legs up during the three ceremonies
  • He is required to take an obligation as to his conduct and as obligations were traditionally taken on bare and bended knee he copies that example

 

Don't you only look after and prefer fellow masons, at the expense of others?

  • We do have masonic charities which will care for a member or their family in time of need
  • When freemasonry was formed, the welfare state did not exist and freemasons cared for members and their families when they needed support. This may have been in the form of financial help, medical assistance, the education of their children or simply by visiting them and providing a sympathetic ear
  • In 2004 masonic relief grants were paid to 1,731 applicants for a total sum of: £2.8 million.

 

Don't you only look after and prefer fellow masons, at the expense of others?

No!

  • The support given to freemasons continues today and with the assistance of Grand Charity every freemason who is in need of help receives it
  • However, a significant part of our charitable activities support non-masonic organisations and members of the community
  • As an example in 2004 Grand Charity gave :

£1,000,000 to old and young People with disabilities

£413,000 to medical research

£550,000 to 210 hospices (£5.4 million since 1984) - the largest donation to hospices outside government funding

£194,000 for youth opportunities


We have financed 2 permanent lifeboat stations and provided 11 boats. Masonic lifeboats have saved 1,030 lives .

These are just a few examples - in total over 2.3 million pounds was given to 299 non masonic charities in 2004 and in addition lodges support community activities and Local charities in their own area

Other than the National Lottery Freemasons give more to charity than any other organisation in the UK with £5.1 MILLION in 2004.

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