THE LODGE CHARITY STEWARD

As a Charity Steward of Craft Lodges, R.A. Chapter, Mark and Ark Degrees within a charitable fraternity, I have never ceased to be warmed and surprised at the generosity of its members. I must admit that when I was first installed in the office of Charity Steward that I had no idea of what my responsibilities and duties were, but was all the same, grateful to the Worshipful Master and Brethren for this honour. At the first meeting when I was ‘ flying solo’ we had a V.O. who took me to one side before the meeting began and asked about the Lodge charitable plans, how we were fitting in with the Provincial charitable aims and what information I would be communicating to the Brethren that evening. His questions were met with open-mouthed silence by myself. I knew then that the office I had taken on was a very important office where the Lodge members expected me to be on the ball, and up-dated with all charitable matters in order to inform them of how their money was being applied, after all it had been gratefully accepted. Before our next meeting, I ensured that I gathered the information required. The first thing to do was to contact someone in Province to find out what information I needed and how to get it. This was in 1996, during the Province of Middlesex 1998 Festival. Our Lodge members were no more aware of our Festival at this time, than I was. However, with a Lodge that usually only had about twenty regular members attending meetings, we were a Patron Lodge by the end of the Festival. It was purely a matter of ( to use a phrase of our present PrGChStwd. W.Bro. John McNeece) creating an atmosphere where the Brethren can give freely. And they did. A lot of important lessons were learned during the Middx. ‘98 Festival and the Province has had the foresight to use this valuable information to make every Charity Stewards life easier. One of the most important and successful innovations was formation of Centre Charity Forums. In each of the five Middlesex Masonic Centres, a Charity Forum team has been appointed under the guidance of a Centre Chairman who is familiar with its particular members in that Centre. Not only is important information communicated at the regular meetings of the Charity Forum at the Centres , but important information is gained from Lodge Charity Stewards who attend the meetings. A rapport with Charity Stewards, Almoners, Secretaries, Treasurers, and of course Worshipful Masters has been established during these meetings as well as regular exchanges in the bar and via email and the telephone. The result is a much closer, ‘family’ feel amongst Charity Stewards and members, and of course vital and important information is getting back to Lodge and Chapter members about charitable matters that concern them. My conclusion, is that no Charity Steward can fulfil the duties of his important office without being in possession of up to date information and communicating that information during the Charity Stewards report in Lodge and by posting out or emailing information to all his Brethren and Companions, including absent members and country members. After all, they are still members of the Lodge or Chapter. When visiting some Lodges today, I am still sometimes astounded by the lack of information the members are party to and only wish that the Charity Steward and the Lodge members had the facility to come along to the Charity Forum Meetings in his particular Centre, when I know his eyes would be opened and his office would become much more satisfying to him, in the knowledge that he was performing his duties to the best of his abilities. I am pleased to be able to say that at every meeting we do see new faces and we are still learning ourselves from the information that members attending impart to us. My message to all Charity Stewards in the Province of Middlesex would be, support each other, support those on whose behalf you are collecting donations, support the members of your Lodge and Chapter and come along and support your Charity Forum at its meetings – you have been appointed to a very important office and you never know, you may just be able to impart the very experience and knowledge that could help your fellows – I know you will certainly enjoy the experience and you will also learn something new. Louis J Raphael Chairman The Charity Forum at Harrow