A Peculiar System of Morality?

WORKS OF CHARITY

92 On his introduction into the Craft, the obligation of charity is impressed on every Freemason — ‘that virtue which may justly be denominated the distinguishing characteristic of a Freemason’s heart’:

Since at this stage of his initiation the candidate has not only been divested of articles of clothing but of any money he had on his person, it is only possible for him to indicate that, had he money with him, he would willingly have responded to this claim on his charity. When he is in a better position to contribute to the welfare of others he clearly expects and is clearly expected to do so — with the caveat of the Third Degree ritual, ‘so far as may be fairly done without detriment to myself or my connections’.

93 Charitable giving has in fact been a feature of Freemasonry from its earliest days, when Masonic Charities were in advance of an unhumanitarian society, and it was this characteristic of its Lodges which explains their exemption from proscription under the Unlawful Societies Act of 1799 and its successor the Seditious Meetings Act of 1817. The earlier Act exempted regular Lodges of Freemasons established before it was passed on the grounds that ‘the meetings thereof have been in great manner directed to charitable purposes’ (Section 5). Section 36 of the 1817 Act preserved the exemption of Lodges, whether they had held meetings before or after 1799, and also exempted Quakers and any Meeting or Society ‘formed or assembled for purposes of a religious or charitable nature only’.

94 Among the earliest beneficiaries of Masonic Charity were first the daughters then the sons of Freemasons who were unable themselves to provide for the education of their children. Later, provision was made for widows and orphans. Later again, attempts were made to provide annuities for ‘indigent Brethren’ and for their widows. And in 1850 an ‘Asylum’ was opened for aged Freemasons. Not until 1920 was the Freemasons’ Hospital and Nursing Home opened in London — the future of which has been the subject of debate.

95 Whilst it would not be wholly correct to say that Masonic Charity continued exclusively to begin and end "at home", it was still true in 1971 that ‘generally speaking Masonic Charity exists, and is generally believed to exist, for Freemasons and their dependants. In this respect Freemasonry differs from such organisations as Rotary and Round Table and others, whose charitable works are not so limited’. (Bagnall Report). It was partly this "inwardness" of Masonic benevolence which caused some anxiety within the Craft and led to the appointment by the Grand Master of the United Lodge of a Committee of Inquiry under the chairmanship of the Hon. Mr Justice Bagnall which was to report not only on the achievements of the charities and their best interest but also on the best interests of the Craft, some of whose members believed that the restrictions of benefit to members prompted unfavourable comparison with other charitable organisations which brought their own into disrepute.

96 The recommendations of the final report, which were accepted by the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge itself, resulted in the establishment of the Grand Charity (1980), whose Council and Petitions Committee deal with the allocations of grants and funds to non-Masonic institutions and organisations. There are now ranges of Masonic charity — Grand Charity, the Masonic Trust for Boys and Girls, and the Foundation for the Aged and Sick. As a matter of policy, the Grand Charity has come to devote roughly a third of its annual expenditure to non-Masonic charities, organisations and institutions, to the great benefit of Universities, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, the Girl Guide Association, the National Playing Fields Association, Hospices, the Church of England Children’s Society, the St Marylebone Healing and Counselling Centre (Christian Healing Centre) and, each year, a number of cathedrals. In 1984 the contribution to non-Masonic charity was 5 per cent of all published Masonic giving.

97 To this centrally administered charitable assistance must be added the assistance of individual Provinces, Districts and Lodges, in time as well as money, to local non-Masonic as well as Masonic needs.

98 There can be no doubt that Freemasonry is justly proud of the extent of its charitable giving. In a world where human need is a major problem, contributions to alleviate need and suffering must be welcomed and harnessed. However, charitable giving is not to be equated with Christianity. The Christian faith sees its charitable giving as a response to the love of God in Christ (not just a response to human need) and as an integral part of the mission of God in the world. "Buying your way into Heaven" is impossible.