“Do you need to head right home?” asked the Lodge’s Treasurer as they walked together through the parking lot after the officer’s meeting. It was a balmy evening, the sky just beginning to darken as night fell. Things had run smoothly, there were few issues which needed longer discussion, and the homemade cookies brought by the Junior Warden had been delicious. It was still early in the evening.
“What’s up?” asked The Old Webmaster.
“Well, before the meeting this evening I got into an interesting discussion about our charitable spending with the fellow who’ll become Junior Steward at the next installation. Has he talked with you about this?” They’d reached the Treasurer’s van and he put his case inside. He opened the back hatch so they could sit but still enjoy the fragrant evening air.
“He hasn’t said anything to me. Is there some reason why he would have?”
“One of his suggestions – requests, actually – was that we list all of our charitable giving we do on the lodge’s website… and keep a running dollar total of it” said the Treasurer hesitatingly. “I’m not really sure what to think about that. It seems an awful lot like bragging but maybe I’m just too ‘old school’ and feel that charity is something that gentlemen don’t need to brag about.”
The Old Webmaster nodded. It wasn’t the first time he’d thought about the conundrum. “We Masons really are schizophrenic when it comes to charity, aren’t we?” he mused. “We don’t give our time, talents, and cash because we’re hoping for some sort of recognition and yet so many men are drawn to the organization initially from having seen our extensive charity work that to not acknowledge it publicly could lead many to believe that we only do things for ourselves. Some – even some Masons – quibble that our charity is 99% involved with the Shrine hospitals and most of that money comes from invested funds. They ignore the many bequests made by Masons in their wills which brought the invested funds to the point where it could achieve such returns. And we both know well that there are hundreds upon hundreds of little-mentioned charitable programs occurring throughout Masonic jurisdictions that the public will likely never know about. While on a business trip a couple of years ago I visited a lodge whose members actively refurbish various types of medical equipment: wheel chairs, canes, crutches, and that sort of thing. There are a goodly number of folks who don’t have the funds to buy those things – or don’t want to spend the money for just a few weeks or months of use so here’s a great Masonic charity that never gets ‘counted’. We both know the things our lodge and its members do – but many would feel uncomfortable being recognized for those efforts….” His voice trailed off and he stared up at the stars now beginning to populate the darkening night sky.
“Freemasonry’s not about charity, though…” said the Treasurer similarly gazing skyward. They both stared upward watching the miracles of the Creator slowly present themselves.
“Do I remember someone saying that he enjoyed photography?” asked The Old Webmaster. The Treasurer’s thoughts were yanked back to earth.
“I think I recall hearing that…. but what….?”
“While he’s been active at meetings here, I never seem to see him at any of our other events. I’ve just figured he was off attending to other matters. I wonder if he feels somewhat odd about just ’showing up’ – and I was thinking that perhaps if we encouraged him to start coming for the purpose of being our ‘lodge photographer’, he might get more involved. I’d then have some pictures to put with the stories about our activities on the website and we’d be letting people know about our charitable AND our fun activities without making a big deal over it. Do you think that might work?”
The Treasurer rose from the back bumper seat. “I’m going to give him a call on my way home!”
“It’s still dusk when lots of accidents happen and there’s a fair amount of wildlife moving around this time of year. Why not wait a few extra minutes until you’re safely home. Just don’t stay on the phone too very long – and tell Marie it was my fault that you were here late. She’ll understand.”
The two men shook hands. The handshake they used was different from that of others but to them, it was the most natural way of shaking hands in the world.
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