Community Involvement

With "Angels and Demons," Dan Brown's novel about secret societies and ancient rites, on the big screen, talk has turned to which shadowy organization the best-selling author will train his sights on next. Rumors have placed him in the District, scoping out sites related to the Freemasons.

The Masons are a natural choice for Mr. Brown. Freemasonry, perceived by many to be a secret society, is an organization with deep ties to American history - 14 presidents have been confirmed as Freemasons, including George Washington; nine signers of the Declaration of Independence were Freemasons, including Benjamin Franklin and John Hancock; and 13 signatories to the Constitution were Freemasons - leading conspiracy theorists naturally to assert the group had some sort of unholy influence over America's institutions.

But the biggest impact the Masons have had on America is no real secret, and it can be discovered simply by walking into the temple on 16th Street Northwest (Washington, DC) and asking a few questions.

"The Masons spend over $3 million a day, over a billion dollars a year, in philanthropy," Brent Morris says when asked about the impact of his organization's charitable giving. Mr. Morris is the managing editor of the Scottish Rite Journal and author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Freemasonry." During a recent tour of the museum and library at the temple, Mr. Morris went into greater detail about the organization's charitable work.

"The main philanthropy of the Scottish Rite, the Southern jurisdiction, is speech pathology," he explains. "We've got a network of 170 clinics, while the Northern jurisdiction has 35 or 40 clinics up there." "We provide speech and language training and intervention for children of all ages, usually at no cost or at a modest cost," he says.

From: Secrets of giving: Masonic Philanthropies over the years - (Washington Times)

A quote for thought:

"I care not what others think of what I do, but I care very much about what I think of what I do!"

A Few Words About Charity

Being a Freemason has always been about helping and giving to others (in one way or another) and Charity is one of the principal tenants of Freemasonry. Charity can happen in many ways: through the contribution of money, through the contribution of time, through visitation programs, through showing caring concern for others, by helping your brother, your neighbor or the widow or child of a Brother of the fraternity. Or, by just being a supportive friend and a Brother when one is needed.

The list on the right page is a small representation of some the good work that Freemasons do - it certainly does not list all of the charitable acts that Freemasonry and their Appendant Bodies accomplish on a daily basis. Most of what Freemasonry does to help others is not known. Freemasons, as a general rules, do not look for or expect recognition for their acts. They only hope for an societal awareness of their good work so that other interested, like minded individuals, might join their ranks in their efforts to help others. It's what we are all here for - after all.

There are over 192 branches that spring from the base of Freemasonry with organizations that offer opportunities and interests to every walk of life. If you are interested in belonging to a Brotherhood (Fraternity) where every member is your Brother, where you have a chance to challenge yourself and continue to grow spiritually while contributing to society, where you can learn the moral lessons of life while increasing your mental awareness and growing spiritually, we invite you to consider becoming a part of the Freemasonry fraternity. (BTW, there are also sororities and mixed organizations that all fall under Freemasonry - so that no one is left out that wants to better themselves and help others.)

We are always looking for a few "Good men" - to make them "Better". No one will ask you to join. Freemasons do not solicit membership in their fraternity. To be one of us, you must have a genuine interest in the fraternity and you must ask to join. You must want to help others to be a part of one of the oldest fraternities in the world (with a legacy that extends through history for centuries). We encourage you to have the strength and courage to be one of us. Freemasonry will make a difference in your life and in the lives of others.

The Basic Structure of "Core" Freemasonry

Does not include all of the appendant bodies

Freemasons (Blue Lodge)

National Masonic Foundation For Children

Masonic Medical Research Laboratory

and other local Scholarships

Other Community Involvement

York Rite

Royal Arch Masons

R.A.R.A. for Central Auditory Processing Disorders

Cryptic Masons

Cryptic Masons - Medical Research Foundation (CMMRF)

Knights Templar

Knights Templar Eye Foundation

Sponsor of trips to the Holy Land for local clergy

Support of local churches

Scottish Rite

Northern Jurisdiction

&

Southern Jurisdiction

RiteCare Childhood Language Program

ROTC & JROTC Programs

Scholarships

Foundations

Other Campaigns & Programs

Masonic Youth Groups

Order of DeMolay

Scholarship Program

The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls

Rainbow Girls

List of Charities

Job's Daughters International

Hearing Impaired Kids Endowment

Other Masonic Appendant Bodies

The Order of the Eastern Star

See section - Charities

Order of the Amaranth

American Diabetes Association

High 12

The Wolcott Foundation, Inc.

and other local Scholarships

Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine

or Shriner's International

Children's Burn Hospitals

Mystic Order of the Veiled Prohets of the Enchanted Realm

(Grotto)

The Humanitarian Foundation

Scholarship Program

(Now with DeMolay)

The Tall Cedars of Lebabnon

Muscular Dystrophy