Masonic Province of Yorkshire, West Riding

LEEDS MASONIC CHARITY

Registered Charity 220438

Formerly

THE LEEDS MASONIC EDUCATIONAL AND BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION

Information Leaflet

Our History

The Institution was established in January 1877 by seven Lodges in the City.

The objects of the Fund are historically the providing of assistance to children of Leeds Freemasons, their widows and aged and necessitous Freemasons and the provision of Grants and annuities.

Today:

As social conditions have improved the emphasis recently has been on providing for a lesser number of necessitous beneficiaries; making ‘one off’ grants of assistance; supporting the two widow’s Social Functions; providing a ‘Death Grant’ to all newly bereaved widows; and donations to other Charities in the Leeds Area whose charitable work impacts on Leeds Freemasons.

The Charity is managed by Officers elected at the Annual meeting with each of the 24 Lodges having a vote. The Presidency rotates through the Lodges on a numerical basis and day to day running is in the hands of an Executive committee. There are five Trustees who oversee the work.

The “Red Book” as it was affectionately known ceased publication in 1984

During all the years of its existence these worthy purposes have, through the generosity of Leeds Masons, been faithfully applied to those in distress or needing aid. We have investments and funds in the region of £60,000. The Charity has the ability to act quickly to provide funds for a wide range of purposes which are not always able to be obtained from other sources without lengthy processes and administration. For example we have supplied, Cookers, Blinds, Reading enhancement devices, TV’s, Showers, Taxis for hospital visits, grants to local organisations, Beds, Reclining Chairs and wheelchairs.

We have an honorary Lady Almoner who visits our beneficiaries and provides gifts in kind, Christmas gifts and support of various types. She contacts recently bereaved widows to offer support and assess need and offer condolences as well as providing a £200 grant at a time of need. Her work is invaluable to the success of the Charity. We welcome referrals from Leeds Lodges with requests for assistance for members, widows and near relatives.

We hold two large functions for widows; a Christmas/New Year lunch and a midsummer dinner. We subsidise the meals and supply drinks for those Widows attending. These are very popular and regularly have over 120 present.

Since our 125th anniversary in 2003 we have donated money to many worthy causes in the Leeds area and will continue to do so for years to come.

SECRETARY – W Bro Kevin M Gould Elton Cottage Elton Vale Road Bury Lancashire BL8 2RZ
Tel 0161 764 1640 Email; kevin.gould@wrprovince.co.uk

Posted in Area 5, Charity News on April 30th, 2010

The Assistant Provincial Grand Masters David Pratt and Tony Brailsford together with the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Jack Pigot were in attendance at the Workshop for All at Tapton Hall, Sheffield.
VW Bro. Pigot attended the Wardens Workshop as he will be Installed into the ‘Chair’ of his Lodge once again in October.

The series of Saturday workshops and the Brighouse Warden’s Workshop was very well attended by over 450 Brethren and Royal Arch Companions.

Also in attendance were the Deputy Grand Superintendent John Briggs, the Provincial 2nd Grand Principal Rod Taylor, the Provincial Grand Secretary, the Provincial Grand Treasurer and the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies.

After the Workshops had concluded many stayed for lunch and discussed the various points that had been raised in there various Workshops.

Bro Russ Pettit of Kirklees Lodge No. 4710 who attended the Wardens Workshop said ‘This workshop was piched exactly right. It relayed a great amount of information without overloading me.  Its a great step towards my masonic progression and I will recommend others to attend‘.

Further information regarding the Autumn workshops will soon be available on this web site.

Posted in Education, Provincial News on April 19th, 2010

For the latest information on workshop and seminar programmes, please see the Provincial Education & Development page.

Posted in Uncategorized on April 13th, 2010

After a 46 year break, one Halifax Mason decided once more to pick up his Fiesta Red Fender Stratocaster and set about raising money for charity.

After a successful liver transplant W. Bro Tony Pye, now 61, now wants to say thank you to all those who helped him in his recovery and has just released a CD of his guitar playing, ‘Ray Of Hope’, inspired by the liver research charity Rays Of Hope, based at St. James’s Teaching Hospital, Leeds.

W.Bro Pye (pictured), a subscribing Past Master of Facula Lodge has raised £3000 for the charity by producing and selling  a CD of guitar music along with Brian ‘Licorice’ Locking, an ex-member of one of the most successful bands in the 60’s, ‘The Shadows’.

On Tuesday March 30^th at Southwood, Halifax, Facula Lodge No 4825 held a presentation evening to ‘The Rays of Hope’, a liver research charity based at St James Hospital Leeds where about 60 members, wives and friends were entertained along with members of West Riding Masonic Charities Ltd.

W.Bro Pye made a cheque presentation to a delegation of the research team from St. James’ Hospital. A surprise for W.Bro Pye followed when W.Bro Barry Hartley, Chairman of the WRMCL  then made a further presentation of another £3000 from the PGM’s fund, matching the original figure and raising the total to £6,000.

The team from St. James’ thanked everyone for their support and spoke about the work the team are involved in.
The evening concluded with W Bro Tony Pye and ‘Licorice’ Locking playing many well known numbers from the 60’s to present day.

Article submitted by W. Bro Raymond Lodge, Colne Valley no. 1645

Posted in Area 2, Charity News on April 6th, 2010