Can you name one appendant body that actually does do the serious Work of Freemasonry, other than "charity" work, which in all frankness, is not the "Work" but merely one of the "Results" of Freemasonic Work?
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What would you like to see changed in the Masonic experience?
- Thread starter cemab4y
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Can you name one appendant body that actually does do the serious Work of Freemasonry, other than "charity" work, which in all frankness, is not the "Work" but merely one of the "Results" of Freemasonic Work?
cemab4y
Premium Member
Let's keep the discussion "on point".
The appendant/concordant bodies (generally) exist to provide their memberships with experiences that cannot be had in the tyled lodge, nor in the activities that most Masons engage in, outside the lodge.
The Shrine was started by several Freemasons in New York City, exactly to provide fun, fellowship, dining, moderate use of alcohol, for the members AND THEIR WIVES. These activities provide the "ying" to the Craft Lodge's "yang". The Shrine hospital program started 50 years later, when the first hospital was opened in Shreveport LA.
The DeMolay was started by "Dad" Land, to provide wholesome activities and guidance (primarily) to fatherless boys in the Kansas City area. (Fatherless youth were not as commonplace in 1918, as they are now). .
Not all of the appendants engage in charitable work. Example: The Royal order of Jesters, motto is "Mirth is King".
Bottom line: The serious work of Freemasonry is for the lodge. The appendants are for fun, fellowship, support of youth, masonic research, etc.
You could say that the York Rite and Scottish Rite provide the participant with an insight into the historical, philosophical and esoteric "underpinnings" of Freemasonry. The Scottish Rite degrees are performed with great dignity, and are instructive to the audience. I feel that my SR experience has been extremely beneficial to my understanding of Craft Masonry. I like to think of the Craft Lodge as "vertical', and the SR as "horizontal".
If you try to find an appendant, which does the "serious work" of the Craft Lodge, you are fishing in a dry creek.
LAMason
Premium Member
That is a moving target when you are involved in a discussion and "on point" is defined by you.
cemab4y
Premium Member
The discussion on this topic, is about what would you like to see changed in the Masonic experience. And about what humanitarian work the various appendants are engaged in. I am justifiably proud of the charitable and humanitarian work that the appendants support. I am especially delighted with the educational endeavours and college scholarship programs. Freemasons and Freemasonry have supported education for many years, and this is great.
The masonic family of organizations could enhance this splendid tradition, by supporting adult literacy. If you think that Masonry should stay out of such activities, and be indifferent, that is your right.
The masonic family of organizations could enhance this splendid tradition, by supporting adult literacy. If you think that Masonry should stay out of such activities, and be indifferent, that is your right.
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LAMason
Premium Member
You are the one that brought the "humanitarian work the various appendants are engaged in" into the discussion in an attempt to justify your position, just as you were the one who went on a rant about public education, the inadequacy of various government programs, and your dislike of teacher's unions.
Also if "adult literacy" is so important to you why don't YOU seek out an organization that does work in the area and volunteer. Each of us can have an impact in our communities through volunteer work in organizations that are dedicated to specific causes. There is no reason for us to try to reinvent the wheel, opportunities to "do good work" already abound, so why don't you put your money where your mouth is and volunteer yourself and not depend on Grand Lodges/Lodges to do something so you can be "justifiably proud" of the good that others do.
cemab4y
Premium Member
--I participate in volunteer work, primarily through my church.
But, supporting education is a Masonic tradition. I think that our organization (and appendants)should examine this project, and if found feasible, picked up nationally. There is very little that one person can do, but there is a lot that a national organization can do.
"Think globally, act locally" - Environmentalist slogan, that can easily apply to Freemasonry.
crono782
Premium Member
Of all the things I would like to see changed in the Masonic experience, I'd have to say diluting it by trying to make Freemasonry something it's not isn't one of them. What you keep proposing amounts to staring up a new philanthropy and hope one of the appendant orgs picks it up. I wholly agree that those philanthropies should be just the bearing of fruit of what we teach by our members, not the Craft itself. I agree with some of the items in the original post, but this is not one of them. Proposing to further convolute the craft by muddying the waters of what it is suppose to be isn't the way to get stuff done. Perhaps what we should be doing is campaigns in Lodges that urge members to practice what we teach, in such ways as being a paragon in the community by starting illiteracy programs, etc. not by being the program itself.
crono782
Premium Member
Further, I'm not dogging Lodges who do blood drives and such. There is a big difference between a community service project that takes a weekend and a full blown philanthropy that requires lots of administration. Perhaps hosting an event on illiteracy with speakers vs creating an entire program. Get the idea?
Freemasonry's grand aim is not to be a charity or philanthropy, but to teach and inspire our members to deeds above the common man in his community and not micromanaging those deeds.
Freemasonry's grand aim is not to be a charity or philanthropy, but to teach and inspire our members to deeds above the common man in his community and not micromanaging those deeds.
cemab4y
Premium Member
Freemasonry and the appendants distribute about $2.6 million dollars per day in charitable and humanitarian disbursements. This does not include the thousands of man-hours of "sweat equity" that individual Freemasons (and members of the appendants) donate. Lodges adopt a stretch of highway. Lodges pool resources to perform renovations on a handicapped persons apartment. The Grand Lodge of Kentucky operates a Masonic home, and a widow's home.
One of the fastest growing masonically-affiliated charities is the Masonic Angel Fund. see http://www.massfreemasonry.org/index.tpl?&ng_view=131
It was started in Orleans, Mass. and it has spread to 141 lodges in 13 states.
The Shrine hospital program began in 1922. The Job's daughters has a terrific program which receives donations of surplus hearing aids, and cannibalize the parts and return serviceable hearing aids to people who cannot afford a new one. The Tall Cedars of Lebanon support handicapped people, and people with degenerative muscle diseases.
Many members of the appendants are not masons. Not one single female member of the Eastern Star is a Mason. The Job's daughters/Rainbow/DeMolay have no Masonic members, only adult advisors.
Masonic charities support research into diabetes, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and diseases of the eye. The Scottish Rite runs a network of speech/language/hearing disorder clinics, nationwide.
I understand that many Masons are opposed to any changes at all. If you believe that everything is just fine, then this discussion is not for you.
If being involved in an organization, which does charitable and humanitarian work presents a problem for anyone, they should write to their lodge, and ask for a demit.
One of the fastest growing masonically-affiliated charities is the Masonic Angel Fund. see http://www.massfreemasonry.org/index.tpl?&ng_view=131
It was started in Orleans, Mass. and it has spread to 141 lodges in 13 states.
The Shrine hospital program began in 1922. The Job's daughters has a terrific program which receives donations of surplus hearing aids, and cannibalize the parts and return serviceable hearing aids to people who cannot afford a new one. The Tall Cedars of Lebanon support handicapped people, and people with degenerative muscle diseases.
Many members of the appendants are not masons. Not one single female member of the Eastern Star is a Mason. The Job's daughters/Rainbow/DeMolay have no Masonic members, only adult advisors.
Masonic charities support research into diabetes, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and diseases of the eye. The Scottish Rite runs a network of speech/language/hearing disorder clinics, nationwide.
I understand that many Masons are opposed to any changes at all. If you believe that everything is just fine, then this discussion is not for you.
If being involved in an organization, which does charitable and humanitarian work presents a problem for anyone, they should write to their lodge, and ask for a demit.
crono782
Premium Member
You must have missed where I said "of all the things I would like to see changed..."
Try not to throw the baby out with the bath water here. Just because someone doesn't agree with one of your main talking point, doesn't mean that their entire POV is invalid, that's just the equivalent of sticking your fingers in your ears. The discussion remains "on point", as you are fond of saying.
I realize that it is easy to view Freemasonry as a giant conglomerate of philanthropies, but it shouldn't be hedged into that and I personally don't think we should be furthering that as the mission either. As far as appendant orgs go, I do think some should be shed, but not all are pointless or charity farms. Some still do maintain the goal to some degree or another.
Kinda like being involved in an organization where some people are not tech savvy enough presents a problem, they should ask for a demit as well?
I think rather, it is okay to have opinions and want to effect change without needing to condemn those who do not share your POV. We are a large enough fraternity to accommodate men of differing ideals.
This discussion reminds me of something I heard recently. In a moment of self reflection someone said "We all want to be famous but we aren't really good at anything". Being "vicariously famous" my donating money, space in our Lodges, or even our free time does not seem like the answer to me. First we should become "really good at something", perhaps Masonry. This should help us to keep our egos out of the good works we do.
LAMason
Premium Member
I see that number (2.6 million dollars per day) bandied around on the internet, but I have never seen a spreadsheet or other supporting information as to who came up with it or how it was arrived at. I know that Freemasonry certainly contributes a significant amount to various charities, but I also believe that if someone uses a specific amount they should also be able to demonstrate how that number was derived.
LAMason
Premium Member
I thought
but then I remembered "on point" is what you think supports your position and that you want it to be at the time of your post.
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cemab4y
Premium Member
I have heard the expression: "You will be surprised at what can be accomplished, when you do not care who gets the credit". Most masonic charities get very little "press". Freemasons have supported humanitarian and charitable activities, since the days of operative Masonry. Most Masons, let alone the general public, are clueless about masonically-affiliated charities.
cemab4y
Premium Member
The point of this thread is about change, and what changes people would like to see. Since the topic is about the possibility of adding an educational activity, It is "on point" to discuss the background of the charitable work performed by the Craft and the appendants. (I edited my response, since this topic is about the possibility of expanding another educational activity, it is appropriate to discuss other charitable and educational activities)
We are discussing the possibility of Masonry (or one of the appendants) picking up the cause of advancing adult literacy. Some (not all) Masons are opposed to charitable and humanitarian efforts. I once tried to get my home lodge (KY) to underwrite a public television program. Since Masonry has supported public education for many years (some people dispute this fact), I thought this would be a way for our lodge to keep up with our splendid tradition in the modern age. I was almost scalped for even suggesting the idea.
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cemab4y
Premium Member
I have heard this dollar amount spread around. I am not a CPA, but I would think it would be very difficult to assemble an accurate figure. There are so many different Masonically affiliated charities, and so many lodges, with a small scholarship program, that assembling the data would be a chore.
The expenditures of the Shrine hospital program is huge. Some of the appendants sponsor medical research, and this is expensive.
LAMason
Premium Member
I am on point, and that point is that there are no appendant examples that you have offered that do the serious Work of Freemasonry, which, to be on point, is a change that I would like to see. Perhaps we could start with the lodges themselves. It sure would be an improvement over the currently offered business meetings.
LAMason
Premium Member
Citation please.
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