THE FREEMASONS CHARITY

STANDS READY WILLING AND ABLE

a tradition of caring 

The Freemasons Charity stands ready willing and able to support those individuals in the community in the earthquake ravaged areas of Canterbury who are in need.

 As the charitable arm of Freemasons New Zealand, we have our brethren in Christchurch on the lookout to bring our urgent assistance to those in need in the affected areas.

As the news reports began on Saturday morning we first made contact with the Southern Division Grand Almoner (who lives in Canterbury district and has himself suffered damage to his home) to get his first hand damage report and to offer assistance. 

By the time Grand Lodge opened for business last Monday morning, the benevolence officers in the Division, along with Lodge Almoners, were going door to door to check on the welfare of our elderly widows and widowers living in the area. 

As the aftershocks continue, we are pleased to report that most of our Masonic family seem to be in good spirits. 

We will continue to monitor the situation and as time passes we expect that there could well be many individuals needing assistance to recover from this terrible event.

Freemasons New Zealand (under the management of the Grand Superintendent of Works and his team) will support our lodges in conjunction with the authorities on the assessment of the level of damage to their lodge buildings. 

So too, The Freemasons Charity remains committed long term to its tradition of caring, and on this occasion supporting the citizens of Canterbury in their material and physical recovery from this disaster. 

10 th September 2010

 Footnote:

The people of Canterbury are not forgotten by our Australian Brethren either. A call received by The Freemasons Charity yesterday from the Acting Grand Secretary of Queensland was to enquire how they might help and as a result of that conversation a call has gone out to brethren across Australia inviting their participation in support of the New Zealand Grand Lodge Canterbury Earthquake Appeal Fund.