Charity begins with you

31 August 22

At a lodge’s fundraising sausage sizzle there was a blackboard. On the front were the prices; on the back was written ‘Remember the Northeast Charge’. 

Another Charge reminds us that we ‘as masons hope to arrive at the summit by the assistance of a ladder’. The three principal rungs of this ladder are Faith, Hope and Charity. 

If you were to ask non-masons what they know about Freemasonry I feel sure that the most common answer is that masons spend a lot of their time doing charitable work. I have heard some of our local masons say that they joined Freemasonry to ‘do Charity’ and they are not happy if they can’t do this. 

What is Charity? I wen to Mr Googleand my trusty dictionary and there is a great deal describing Charity. Here are some definitions: an act of private or public help to needy people; showing kindness or compassion; generosity and helpfulness especially towards the needy or suffering. Charity can provide goods, services, education, counselling, spiritual guidance or improvement of the environment. 

COVID has done, and is still doing, much to upset the way we live. BBQs and ticket sales to the public had to stop and in some cases these events have not, and may never, start up again. The need for Charity did not stop when COVID hit us. No, it created a greater need. 

There is one very important aspect of Charity and it is that YOU, no one else, can give YOUR help or time. Only you are the one that has it and controls it. We all have talents that have been given to us by the Great Architect of the Universe; 

we use them to keep our jobs and care for our families. But there are many other less obvious talents that we can use for others: we can talk and listen, some of us can drive, some are strong enough to lift and carry things and some have time to just sit with others. 

Charity work brings great satisfaction – Charity can make one feel better than good. 

Now here is my challenge to anyone who is not a volunteer – become one. 

The list of organisations needing volunteers is long. Here are some examples.

Now that nursing homes are open again after the stringent COVID lockdown, the residents seem to light up when they have someone who will sit and talk, and perhaps just listen – a listener who is not a fellow resident or a family member. 

There is a lot more to volunteering than visiting. There are games and activities where helpers are always needed, and most nursing homes are happy to have volunteers who will help staff to care for their residents. Whiddon Homes a few months ago called for volunteers to help when their workforce was depleted by COVID. 

There is a Masonic Centre I know that is being used as a soup kitchen and at another lodge they run a meal centre. If you look there will be something of this sort near you; they need cooks, people to clean up, people to serve and someone to talk to the lonely people who use these facilities. 

Hospitals also need a lot of volunteers. I am sure that if you went to your local hospital and ask you would be accepted with open arms.  SES and Rural Fire Services are always in need of new members. If cooking sausages on the weekend is what you like to do and your lodge is not running a BBQ, ask if you can help another lodge near you. 

Remember, your Charity can be done by YOU and no one else. 

Peace be with you.