Charity
Masons donate almost $2,000,000 a day
The art of benevolence or charity has been one of the guiding principals of Masonry since the first lodges united in London to form the Grand Lodge of England in 1717. Upon their first entry into a lodge of Masons, new initiates (known as Entered Apprentices) were always taught that relief for others should be given as widely and effectively as possible without hampering one's own state of well being.
As we enter a new millenium, this simple lesson remains the central focus of Free and Accepted Masons throughout the world.
Below are just a sampling of some of Masonry's charitable organizations. There are thousand of programs, scholarships, hospital visitations, etc., in which many Masons contribute time, energy, and money.
Shriners
Shriners Hospitals for Children is a network of pediatric specialty hospitals, founded by the Shrine, where children under the age of 18 receive excellent medical care absolutely free of charge. There are 18 orthopaedic Shriners Hospitals, three Shriners Hospitals dedicated to treating children with severe burns, and one Shriners Hospital that provides orthopaedic, burn and spinal cord injury care. Shriners Hospitals are located throughout North America — 20 in the United States and one each in Mexico and Canada. These "Centers of Excellence" serve as major referral centers for children with complex orthopaedic and burn problems.
There is never a charge to the patient, parent or any third party for any service or medical treatment received at Shriners Hospitals. Shriners Hospitals accept and treat children without regard to race, religion or relationship to a Shriner. Any child may be eligible for treatment at a Shriners Hospital if the child is under 18 and if, in the opinion of the hospital's chief of staff, the child has an orthopaedic or burn condition that Shriners Hospitals can help.
All of the orthopaedic hospitals are equipped and staffed to treat children with congenital orthopaedic deformities, problems resulting from orthopaedic injuries, and diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Three of the orthopaedic hospitals (in Chicago, Philadelphia and Sacramento) also have special programs dedicated to caring for children with spinal cord injuries.
The Shriners Hospitals in Boston, Cincinnati, Galveston, and Sacramento treat children with acute, fresh burns; children needing plastic reconstructive or restorative surgery as a result of "healed" burns; children with severe scarring, resulting in contractures or interference with mobility of the limbs; and children with scarring and deformity of the face. More ...
All Shriners are Masons. Not all Masons are Shriners.
Grand Lodge - CHIP Program
Each year 1 Million children are reported missing in the United States alone. While most children are eventually found, many are not.
Massachusetts Freemasons in cooperation with the Massachusetts Crime Prevention Officers Association and the Massachusetts Dental Society have organized MYCHIP in order to provide parents with the needed materials to protect their families.
CHILD IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM (CHIP)
The Masonic CHIP Program is the most comprehensive service of its kind anywhere. CHIP is provided free of charge to the public and all of the identifying items generated during CHIP are given to the child's family.
The CHIP program includes the following:
VIDEOTAPE:A brief videotaped interview that can be quickly distributed to the media in order to reach a huge audience.
Finger Priniting
FINGERPRINTING: Fingerprinting is a well-known means of identification. Resourceful parents keep fingerprints available should the need arise.
Tooth Printing
TOOTHPRINTS TM: A toothprint bite impression is quick and easy. Teeth, like fingerprints are unique. A dental imprint gives both accurate and important information for identification purposes.
If you have any questions about the CHIP program, please email us:
General Information or Questions
York Rite Masonry
That Others May See
Mission Statement of the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc.
To provide assistance to those who face loss of sight due to the need for surgical treatment without regard to race, color, creed, age, sex, or national origin provided that they are unable to pay or receive adequate assistance from current government agencies or similar sources and to provide funds for research in curing diseases of the eye.
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Scottish Rite Masonry
32° Masonic Learning Centers for Children
A Brief History...
A small boy sits at his desk, looking down at his open book as his classmates read aloud. He wrinkles his forehead and squints his eyes but the letters and words he sees are jumbled, twisted and senseless.
He grips the book tighter, holds his breath and makes a silent wish that the teacher will not call on him ...
This child has dyslexia, a common learning disability. He needs help to overcome it before it sets him back emotionally as well as educationally.
Since 1994, many children have received free specialized instruction at 32° Masonic Learning Centers for Children. Our pledge is to continue to offer this service for as many children as we can - free of charge. We also provide guidance and funding for other means to defeat dyslexia, such as teacher tutor programs, research, and scholarships for teachers.
Centers are now open in Bangor, Maine; Nashua, New Hampshire; Newtonville (outside Boston) and Lowell, Massachusetts; Rochester, New York; Pemberton, Scotch Plains and Tenafly, New Jersey; Allentown, Pennsylvania; Cincinnati, Toledo and Youngstown, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Scheduled to open within the next few months are Chicago, Illinois and Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Fund raising continues to operate existing Centers and fund new ones. While all contributions benefit children with dyslexia, donors can designate how they want their gifts to be used. All donations are tax exempt under Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.
Do You Need Our Help?
For information on dyslexia and procedures for admitting a child into the program, call the hotline at 1-800-647-3394.
We Need Your Help
Do you have skills which you will make available to us? Could you volunteer an hour a day, a week, or a month? Your time and expertise is very valuable to us and the children we are serving. Please call 1-800- 647-3342 and volunteer. The children will benefit and you will experience the satisfaction of helping improve these children's lives. Whether it is answering phones, soliciting contributions, playing with kids, pounding nails, painting walls or murals or just giving moral support to others, you can make a difference.
Scottish Rite Schizophrenia Research Program
Since 1934, Scottish Rite in the Northern Jurisdiction has been in the forefront of the fight against mental illness and schizophrenia, the most prevalent and serious type of mental affliction. Our efforts to conquer this dreaded affliction grants for both psychological and biological research. Since that time, several hundred projects have received Scottish Rite grants which have totaled over $21 million. Progress has been slow due to the complexity of understanding the functions of the human brain. The use of antipsychotic drugs has helped reduce some of the problems associated with the affliction.
Today our emphasis is placed on fellowships for graduate students in behavioral science at colleges and universities located within the 15 states of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction.
All contributions are tax-deductible in accordance with the Federal Internal Revenue Code. For information on how to contribute to this effort or details on the fellowship program, contact the Supreme Council at 33 Marrett Road, Lexington, MA 02173.
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