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 2009 masonic relief grants were paid to 1,685 applicants for a total sum of: £3.1 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 2009 out of a total of £2.928m the Freemasons' Grand Charity gave :

£220,000 to Youth Opportunities Charities £425,000 to medical research £783,000 to vulnerable people £500,000 to 225 hospices (over £8 million since 1984) - the largest donation to hospices outside government funding £192,000 to 21 air ambulance & rescue charities

We have financed 2 permanent lifeboat stations and provided 11 boats. Masonic lifeboats have saved 1,030 lives . Emergency Grants in 2009 include help for Floods in India Cumbrian floods Haiti earthquake Chile earthquake These are just a few examples - in total over £2.9 million was given to non masonic charities in 2009 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 £6.9 MILLION in 2009.

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