From the Junior Warden's
Station in the South:
Masonic Brotherhood Fund
To My Brothers
in Shakespeare Lodge:
It is my honor
once again to be the Lodge Chairman of the Masonic Brotherhood Fund. As you
all know, last year was the 225th anniversary of the founding of
the Grand Lodge of the State of New York. In that anniversary year the Fund
collected $1,271,032 statewide with over 28% participation of the
membership. This represented a record number of Brothers stepping forward
and enabling the Fund to continue its good works.
It is a
particular source of pride that the 6th Manhattan was the
District contributing the largest amount of any District in the State. It
provided a total of $86,918, contributed by only 14% of the membership. This
participation rate more or less reflects the number of participating
Brothers in the individual lodges in the 6th Manhattan, including
Shakespeare Lodge. I believe we can exceed this level of participation and
in this new campaign year we will have ample opportunity to do so.
The MBF is
building on last year’s success and expanding to provide relief for the many
Brothers who are in dire financial and/or physical distress. Many lodges
can offer no more than sympathy to a brother who reaches out for assistance
during difficult times. Therefore the Grand Lodge is establishing and
launching a Masonic Benevolence Endowment Fund Campaign as part of this
year’s Brotherhood Fund appeal. The goal is to raise a minimum of
$1,000,000 over the next two years, so that the income from these invested
funds will provide a constant source of monies to assist our Brothers in
need. All donations will be matched dollar for dollar by the Trustees of
the Hall and Home.
This past
summer you received a special mailing from the Grand Master announcing this
new campaign, enclosing a donation envelope and a special New York Masonic
magnet that I expect you are displaying with pride. Also, a Brother making
a donation of $500 or more to the new Masonic Benevolence Endowment Fund,
will receive a new exclusive Grand Lodge of New York pocket watch and pen
knife engraved with the contributor’s initials.
Also,
continuing the successful recognition of donations to the Masonic
Brotherhood Fund of $100 or more with a commemorative crystal, a new second
annual commemorative crystal has been created and will be given to Brothers
donating $100 to the MBF before the end of the campaign year in May.
Donations are cumulative. A brother’s donations are tallied up in order to
qualify for the gift crystal.
But ultimately
it does not matter what your individual gift is. What is important is to
examine the length of your cable tow and make a donation appropriate to your
situation. There is strength in numbers and with your participation, in
whatever amount you may determine, we can make this year another high point
for Masonic giving.
A forthcoming
newsletter mailing will include a donation envelope with a full expanded
list of designated charities from which you can choose a donation
recipient(s). Each Shakespeare Lodge communication this year will feature a
brief description of one of the Masonic charities to which you can
contribute.
I am always
available to discuss the Brotherhood Fund and to provide information on how
to donate. My contact information is below. Also, at various times during
the year, the Lodge Brotherhood Fund Team will try to contact each brother
by telephone to answer any questions he might have about the Brotherhood
Fund or the new Masonic Benevolence Fund. We encourage your participation,
which will help us continue our good works as the most charitable fraternity
in the world.
My Brothers,
thank you for your attention.
S&F
Gilbert C
Ferrer
Junior Warden
Shakespeare
Lodge #750
Lodge Chairman
Masonic Brotherhood Fund
The Junior Warden
E-mail
to the JW
