Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest social and charitable organisations. Its roots lie in the traditions of the medieval stonemasons who built our cathedrals and castles. For Freemasons, there are four important values that help define their path through life: Integrity, Friendship, Respect and Charity.
The United Grand Lodge of England (which also covers Wales, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and several Districts overseas) has around 200,000 Brethren meeting in 7,000 lodges and who regularly support charitable work by donations to the Masonic Charitable Foundation. Lodges may also support local needs within their province.
The Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) was created in 2016 and brought together the work of four separate charities:
The legacy of these charities and the principal of charity can be seen today through the work of the MCF.
The principal aim of the MCF is to be a force for good by providing support, care and services to Freemasons and their families in need and supporting other charities to help the most disadvantaged in society.
Clerestory Lodge is a constituent member of Metropolitan Grand Lodge (MGL), which adopts major fund raisings efforts. The first that the Clerestoy donated to was for a CyberKnife medical machine for cancer treatment. In 2016 over £2 million was raised to buy a second London Air Ambulance, with with sufficient additional funding to pay the salaries of its crew for a year.
MGL also raised funds for three rapid response vehicles, equipment, and personnel for the London Ambulance Service.
MGL donated over £100,000 towards the Grenfell Tower emergency appeal. Within the context of the Grenfell Tower disaster, in 2018 Metropolitan Grand Lodge donated £2.5 million to the London Fire Service for two new “long reach” fire engine. If such vehicles had been available before the fire in 2017, the 72 lives lost may have been saved by their evacuation from the roof of the building.
Clerestory Lodge made significant contributions to all three major fundraisings and received awards for its donations to the Fire Engines and the Air Ambulance. Included in the members area is a copy of typical correspondence.
Typically, Clerestory Lodge donates an annul total of between £3,000 and £4,000, but this can sometimes increase significantly depending on the generosity of individual brethren.
Further information about the Relief Chest and how to contribute is available in the members’ section under Documents
Clerestory Lodge is proud, once again, to support W.Bro. Paul Emmerson in his challenge to ride 100 miles in 10 days to raise awareness and finacial support for Prostate Cancer UK. If you wish to support Paul by making a donation please follow the link:
Fat bloke on bike – https://cyclethemonth.prostatecanceruk.org/fundraising/fat-bloke-on-bike
Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London
W Bro Paul R King SLGR
Metropolitan Grand Charity Steward
Dear Brother Craig
Clerestory Lodge No. 6551
I am delighted to inform you that the Lodge has attained the Bronze Award level for the London’s Air Ambulance Appeal. You may now display the attached logo on the Lodge’s summons or alternatively the words ‘Bronze Award for the London’s Air Ambulance Appeal’. Please do bring this achievement to the attention of the members and thank them for their help in this very important appeal.
The London Freemasons’ 2023 Appeal in support of London’s Air Ambulance is our latest charity appeal in support of the London Community. The appeal is the latest step in our objective to support the London community and help make London a safer place to live and work, it follows successive appeals to purchase a state of the art Cyberknife for Bart’s Hospital, five rapid responder cars for the London Ambulance Service, the previous two million pounds donation to fund London’s badly needed second Air Ambulance and the Metropolitan Masonic Charity London Fire Brigade Appeal which purchased two extended height aerial vehicles which have helped better equip the busiest fire and rescue service in the country.
Once again my sincere thanks and congratulations to you and all the members of Clerestory Lodge No. 6551 for your amazing support of this appeal.
Yours sincerely and fraternally
Paul King
Metropolitan Grand Charity Steward
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