Charity is at the heart of Freemasonry, from supporting Masonic families in times of need to supporting wider community based projects. It is one of the founding principles of the Fraternity, and has been a key focus since its beginnings in the medieval guilds of stone masons.
It is also a key element of the Craft’s quest for “Light”, as it embodies an ideal of benevolence and a commitment to advancing society. In one famous passage, Charity is depicted as a vital rung on the theological ladder that connects earth with heaven, and is described as being so important that a Mason who embody’s it ‘in its fullness can justly be considered to have attained the peak of Masonic wisdom’.
Masonic Charitable Foundation: Making a Difference
At the centre of our charitable activities are individual lodges and their almoners, but at a national level we have an umbrella charity called the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF), and it is one of the largest grant-making charities in the UK. This is funded entirely by the donations of Freemasons and their families, and aims to address the most pressing needs of people who are in need or who are struggling.
MCF offers individual “Relief Chests” which can be used to accumulate funds on behalf of a particular Lodge or other Masonic organization, which retains control over the disposal of the money, and it encourages donations to non-Masonic charities by offering a highly favorable rate of interest and the option for Gift Aiding to maximise tax efficiency. The MCF also makes a significant contribution to its charitable work through legacy gifts. We recommend that any member considering making a legacy gift seeks professional advice.