VICTORIA LODGE 2196 ER. The Charity Steward. Context. WM and brethren, the Lodge s activities over the recent past and the current activity surrounding our 2013 fundraising event has highlighted the need for us to firmly establish what are the respective duties and functions of certain of the officers within the Lodge (in particular within Victoria with which I am more familiar). During the annual installation, the WM in announcing and appointing his officers for the ensuring year has traditionally relied on the Ritual to guide him and them on what is expected of them. In that regard, a clear path is set out for the primary officers within the Lodge but it is notable that no real instruction is immediately available for others. Indeed, I am sure the following enquiry is very familiar to all of us. WM, whom do you appoint Almoner? Bro Dick Harry WM to Bro Dick Harry Bro Dick Harry, I appoint you Almoner of the lodge and now invest you with the jewel of your office which is a scrip purse upon which is a heart. no more and no less. WM, whom do you appoint your Charity Steward? Bro Harry Dick WM to Bro Harry Dick Bro Harry Dick, I appoint you charity steward of the lodge and now invest you with the jewel of your office which is a trowel
no more and no less. Perhaps that is welcome relief for the WM on the night of his installation. He certainly has his hands full on that occasion and his work clearly defined. The zealous officer is left to do his research and make a personal advancement in Masonic knowledge by finding an experienced and/or expert brother to instruct him in the ways of his new offices. Alternatively, he may sit and do nothing secure in the knowledge and pride that he has been appointed a senior officer of the Lodge. The History of dispensing Charity at Victoria. Historically, and as far as I can remember, it has been the role of the JW, the ostensible steward of the Lodge as we are told to lead the charge on our yearly fund-raising- charity event. I suspect this pattern is common across the Lodges in the English Constitution and am told by a worthy brother, that in the Scottish Constitution it is the charge of the Senior Warden. Whether so or not, it has been he who has assembled the team and he who has engaged discussion with the various players to organise the Luncheon and, on occasion, the raffle. His team would normally include the WM in an ex officio capacity, the Treasurer (if only to ensure that monies are readily available to make deposits etc.) and other brethren whom he deem hard working or who are always bubbling with ideas or perhaps talk too much. Depending on how you look at it. There may be others. Disposal of the spoils of the fundraisers. The proceeds from the fundraiser would traditionally be deposited in the Charity Account of the Lodge and historically have been disbursed to widows, deemed to be needy masons, some charities and on occasion notable institutions. Red Cross, the QEH, the Irvine Wilson School in recent times etc. Again historically, the decision on where the funds would go would normally be determined by the Almoner and WM primarily after some discussion with Lodge Committee. Perhaps it was the brother whose proposition was the
most convincing whose recommendation would carry. In my year as master of the Lodge e.g., the apportionment of our charity funds was well agreed and did not require my input. But, is the raising of funds for the Lodge, the correct charge of the JW? What role is the Charity Steward to play in this exercise? What guidance is forthcoming from Grand Lodge on the matter of raising charity and its disposal? What really is the role of the Almoner? I am not persuaded on this instance to comment on the role of the Almoner in any detailed way. Perhaps that will come on another occasion and by a more worthy brother. Current thinking. We have now been pointed towards The Charity Stewards Handbook which was produced by a working group of Provincial Grand Charity Stewards. The handbook is designed to lend guidance on the role and duties of the Charity Steward. According to that Handbook which has only been in circulation within the last 12 months, The Charity Steward s responsibility is to undertake one of the most important and rewarding roles in Freemasonry. He is expected to initiate, lead and champion all forms of charitable activity within the Lodge (or Chapter for that matter) but, primarily, he is involved in fundraising. Concisely put, he: He plans, organises and implements events and fundraising activities and presents compelling cases for giving. The thinking is that having raised these funds, he should administer them and keep them safe. Wherever possible, he is expected to ensure that it is earning optimal interest. Obviously, he is expected to maintaining accurate financial records and the whole matter of the audit at the end of the year becomes a meaningful discussion. Included in those responsibilities seems to be a small bit of education in the sense that he is expected to ensure that members fully understand the limitations of the use of the Lodge s Charity-Funds as opposed to the Almoner s Funds, which can be used for a wider range of disbursements. Charity is encouraged to be seen no longer as giving monies but giving time and efforts to charitable activities. In that regard, the Charity Steward would be identifying ventures or activities in which Brethren may actively and physically participate.
The Almoner Here it is interesting to note that the Charity Steward and Almoner are considered to be performing very different roles within the Lodge although at times in our history those roles have been blurred or have often overlapped. Briefly, the Almoner acts as the distributor of funds for benevolent or welfare purposes. Whilst the Charity Steward is responsible for raising and disbursing funds for charitable purposes only. He (the Almoner) may request the Charity Steward to disburse charitable funds in cases of demonstrable need or hardship, but this can only be done with the agreement of the membership. Masonic Charities in the UK. Masonry in general,and Provincial Grand Charities in particular, from whence this guidance comes, and where resources are slightly more and greater than here in the Caribbean, recognises the following four Major Masonic Charities to which it makes donations. The Freemasons Grand Charity. Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys. Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution. Masonic Samaritan Fund. The nature of these four charities and to whom these charities may disburse is defined in clear terms in the Handbook. In these events, the Charity Steward and the Provincial Charity Steward play a very major role. In the Caribbean, the District Grand Lodge of Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean builds/creates its charity by way of a levy built into the annual dues of each member of the lodge and by special and other donations to the District during District Communication. There are also other inflows from District Institutions which help to swell its coffers. There is a District Grand Charity Steward and those of you who went to the last communication would have heard of his current initiative at raising charity for the District. Again at the last Communication, you would have heard of the Charitable donations made within the District by the District Grand Lodge over the past 12 months and we would all have remembered the contribution the District made to the Haiti Relief Fund not so long ago.
However, it is unlikely that we would ever be able (at least in the short term) to support the kind of lofty Charities such as those run in the UK (or even in north America for that matter). I am convinced though that, on a micro scale, lodges individually or as a collective, can do much more to raise funds in the cause of charity. Going Forward. So what have we gleaned from all of this? What are we going to do about it? Are we to continue to set our sights only on giving pittances to our widows at Christmas? Do we believe that by giving relief to a Brother we have fulfilled our Masonic mandate? How can we structure our charity to be more efficient at serving the society in which we live and have our being? In so doing, can we hope to attract good blood into our institution? The DGM has reminded that Charity alone is not what Masonry is about. We have all heard several times that we are not a service club. Leave that to Rotary or the Lions we are told. But are we to hang our existence and usefulness on doing excellent ritual alone and being wonderful rum- friends to one another? Brethren, it is clear to me that if we are serious about making a meaningful and memorable contribution to our society, we need to do more than what we currently do. Individually, collectively and institutionally, we need to leave a meaningful legacy when you exit masonry or get promoted to the Grand Lodge above. Worshipful Master, thank you for the opportunity to make this presentation to the Lodge. Anthony Brooks Charity Steward