Looking after our Almoners and supporting them in their work.

Our Lodge Almoners have worked tirelessly for many years quietly going about their work in support of their local community. In early 2009 it was decided to launch a project to provide support tools for them – and the Almoners Information Pack was born.

This project also allowed us to actually compile a database of our Lodge Almoners.

The Almoners Handbook was updated and included in the pack.

The Freemasons Charity then followed up with an ambitious project to assist our Almoners in connecting with the widows in their area. A quantity of ladies handkerchiefs was purchased and at least five units were sent out to each Almoner included with plain cards and envelopes embossed with the square and compass inviting further requests for more hankies if required. It has been an enormously successful project over 2000 hankies have been distributed to date. We now know we have at least 2500 Masonic widows living throughout New Zealand, many concentrated in the warmer areas of the country. 

 There have been many letters and expressions of appreciation for this project ………

It's something discreet and personal; a delicate gesture. It's hello with a hanky, a thousand times.

  Each hanky is lace-edged and embroidered with a flower, and the Freemasons Charity is sending a wave of them to lodge widows all over the land. It's a way of saying, "Here's a little something ... we thank you and think of you". Just like that. No fuss or fanfare, but simple proof that Freemasonry is proud of its widows. Almoners are handing out the hankies.

   Feelings will be stirred, with tender and maybe even eye-dabbing moments.And most of the ladies will agree with Mrs Elwyn Webster aged 83 of Red Beach, Whangaparaoa, that "it's a thoughtful thing for the Freemasons to be doing - but I  always do find them thoughtful. I know that if I ever need to call them someone will listen and care."

    The widow since 1989 of Wilfred Glynes Webster, PDepGM, she nursed at the Roskill Masonic Village for nine years, finished her MA in anthropology with the help of an Effie Redwood (Masonic) scholarship, is an accomplished painter in oils and makes jam and tomato soup from the produce of her own  garden.

    One day a week she is a welcomer at Auckland's Holy Trinity Cathedral, and makes a point of telling visitors that the magnificent stained glass window in the north transept was a 1979 gift from the Freemasons of Auckland.

    "I could say a lot in praise of the Masons," she says. "But there, I don't want to overdo it!."

                                                                                                     - Bro Jack Leigh, Lodge Arawhaiti No.267

NOTE:

OVER 3000 UNITS DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT NEW ZEALAND