[juniordeacon85]

I would like to Know what others do for their communities and chairities.
our lodge is very involved with local law enforcement as many of our members are in law enforcement. Our next stated communication Our county Sheriff (also a brother) is going to speak on gang relations and how the community can help we will dflmml to let all in to hear. also so many of us ride motorcycles and we all ride to The Masonic and Eastern Star Home and visit with the orfins and widows its a great time and you feel great afterwards.

[Ashlar521]

We raise funds for the local volunteer fire department . I'm trying to start up a safety class for our local schools , were we finger print kids and enter them in a national database (thanks again Rustybones) . I've also started a " Back to school BackPack drive " for needy kids . It will have pencils , crayons and what have you in the backpack . And I'll be starting a coat drive for the needy . I have a few more projects I'm working out the details on .

[juniordeacon85]

that sounds great ashler i really like the idea with fingerprinting the kids. What a wonderful idea.

[Ashlar521]

Thanks , I've been racking my brain for ideas . I really want to get our names out there for the right reason .

[cemab4y]

There are a number of Masonic lodges around the country, with a "theme". One of the most fascinating is the Seattle lodge of the Arts. The lodge was started by men, working in the arts, as well as others who were unable to attend lodge at night, due to their work schedule.

Check out:

Daylight Lodge-Seattle's Masonic Lodge Of The Arts

Some of my friends and I are discussing setting up a similar daylight lodge, with intention to support the arts in our community (Bowling Green KY)

[Green-Moo]

Originally Posted by Ashlar521

I've also started a " Back to school BackPack drive " for needy kids . It will have pencils , crayons and what have you in the backpack . And I'll be starting a coat drive for the needy . I have a few more projects I'm working out the details on .

These 'small' projects are the ones I like to hear about, as they have such an immediate effect for those of our community who receive the goodwill. The joy of needy child on receiving something as simple as a backpack full of school supplies far outweighs the cost.

[cemab4y]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

[Ashlar521]

So , what your saying is , by your standards my lodge is not doing enough ? We help kids with schools supplies who can not afford their own , we donate coats to the homeless , we take up food for food drives for the needy , we give to the masonic youth groups .We help raise money for our local volunteer fire department who is always in need .We have a small scholarship set up for a worthy teen . And we give to Masonic youth groups . We take care of our widows and their children of our Bro's who have passed . And we are working on a few more . But we're still not seeing the big picture ? We are out in the country , about an hour from the city limits . We have no Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts in our area , a lodge in town takes care of that . There are no Big Brother/Sister programs in my area . Like many other small country lodges , my lodge has 120 members with 10 or 12 active members , we do what we can with our limited funds and resources . We can not solve all the problems . But going by your post , am I'm to feel bad because that's not enough ?

[Green-Moo]

As a non-Mason, might I suggest that the increased use of 'sweat equity' (as you put it) in the community may help to dispel some of the myths surrounding the Masons?

[cemab4y]

No one wants you to feel guilty. The topics I posted were only meant as suggestions. If you reside in a city, where there is no Big Brothers/Big Sisters, then you obviously cannot help their organizations.

But every Mason is required to help the widow, the orphan, the poor. Even a small lodge, can offer assistance and support to their communities. All mankind has a claim on our good offices.