How Our Relief Fund Helped 120 Families This Quarter

Every quarter the Treasurer of the Benevolent Fund presents a full and audited report to Grand Lodge. That report is then published so that every subscribing member — and every member of the public who supports our work — can see exactly where the money went.\n\nIn the fourth quarter of 2024, the Fund distributed the equivalent of $184,200 across four categories of relief. The largest single category was medical assistance, which accounted for just under half of all expenditure and covered sixty-two families.\n\nThe second largest category was educational assistance: school fees, text books, university registration and trade apprenticeship tools for the sons and daughters of deceased and distressed brethren. Thirty-three families received assistance of this kind.\n\nThe third category was immediate distress relief — rent arrears, utility arrears, funeral costs and emergency food vouchers. Nineteen families were supported through the lodge relief visitor system.\n\nThe final category was brother-to-brother micro-grants: small, interest-free advances of up to a month's wages, repaid over twelve months, which help a brother weather an unexpected expense without having to resort to predatory lenders. Six brothers used this facility in the quarter.\n\nEvery single disbursement required a written application, supported by two brethren of the applicant's lodge, and approved by a majority of the Benevolent Committee. No brother — and no officer — has authority to disburse funds unilaterally.\n\nThe audited accounts for this quarter are available on request from the Grand Secretary, and the next Benevolent Fund meeting is open to all subscribing Master Masons.