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My brothers, you are missing the point. Masonic lodges and masonically-affiliated groups, donate millions of dollars to charitable and humanitarian activities and causes. But I feel that we can do more. And I mean collectively, as an organization.
Of course, any mason is free to donate his own resources and time, to any charitable cause he wishes. No one denies this, in fact, I wish all of us did more.
But, there is so much more we can do collectively, as an organization, than could ever be done individually.
Each of us labors in the quarry, we all have the working tools. Our lodges are erected to God, and dedicated to the Holy Saints John. We are enjoined to improve ourselves in Masonry. But, how we improve ourselves is matter of the individual conscience, and the individual human spirit.
Many lodges around the USA, have adopted one or more charitable causes, often far removed from traditional Masonic charitable work. For example, a lodge in Kansas City supports Public television, a lodge in Seattle, supports the arts in Seattle. See:
Daylight Lodge-Seattle's Masonic Lodge Of The Arts
Our lodges can:
Open up their lodge halls for humanitarian and non-governmental organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous.
Expand support to Masonic youth groups, DeMolay/Job's Daughters/Rainbow.
Expand support to other youth groups: Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc.
Expand support to other non-governmental organizations, like the Big Brothers/Big Sisters, both financially, and with "sweat equity".
Open our lodge halls to educational causes, like adult literacy, and provide financial support
Reach out to single-parent families, offering to mentor fatherless and 'at-risk' youth.
And the list goes on, because, sadly there is an ocean of emptiness in our society, many lives that need to be touched, by the callused hands of Masons. Are we all deaf, to the cries of pain in our midst? Are we only listening to the alarms at the door of the lodge, which are caused by our membership?
Are we not all members of the human family? Do we not believe in the Brotherhood of Man, and the Fatherhood of God?
ALL mankind has a claim upon our good offices. How we answer the call, is up to us.
"You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”
"Wisdom ceases to be wisdom when it becomes too proud to weep, too grave to laugh, and too selfish to seek other than itself.”
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need. "
"It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding. "
-Kahlil Gibran, Philosopher