United Grand Lodge
of Antient, Free and Accepted Masons
of England


 
Province of
South Wales Eastern Division

Charity

Freemasonry and Charity

CHARITY is one of the three great Principles on which Freemasonry is founded (the other two being Friendship and Integrity). Masonic Charity is slightly different from many other forms of Charity, in the sense that funds are raised only by donations from members, rather than any element of public fund-raising.

Freemasonry has something of a reputation for "looking after its own". 

In terms of charity, as far as it goes this is quite true and we are proud of that reputation. However, this is only part of the story. Freemasonry at various levels gives large sums of money each year to 'general' (i.e. non Masonic) causes.

Generally this charitable giving is organised and distributed at three levels. 

• Locally by individual Lodges, or by groups of Lodges working together

• Regionally at Provincial level. In this Province, donations are made by the Provincial Grand Lodge itself and by the Masonic Benevolent Fund, Eastern Division of South Wales (which is a Registered Charity)

• Nationally and internationally from London, where the four major Masonic Charities are based. They all derive their funding entirely from within Freemasonry. The charities are: