Gloucestershire and Herefordshire Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons

Mark Masonry and Charitable Giving Every newly-admitted Freemason is immediately told that he is expected to exercise Charity, not just to his brethren but to anyone in need of comfort and support.  Freemasonry is a major charitable donor;  in the United Kingdom its Grand Charity is second only to the National Lottery in its donations to Charities at home and abroad. Mark Masons' charity is exercised through a national Mark Fund of Benevolence, by a Benevolent Fund for the Province and by individual Mark Lodges. No funds are generated from the general public - all come from member's own resources and through private fund-raising efforts; Details of recent donations to local recipients are set out below. Severn Area Rescue Association Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Hereford Scanner Osteoporosis Donations To Hospitals St. Johns Ambulances SARA is the largest independent lifeboat service in the UK, second only to the R.N.L.I.  Its key role is the provision of water-borne and land search emergency services throughout the Severn River basin. It is entirely dependent upon donated funds, volunteers and voluntary effort. Its three stations, eight operational boats and over 150 personnel provide search, rescue and assistance throughout our Province. Its efforts were particularly notable during the recent periods of flooding in the two counties, where many rescues of stranded residents were effected. SARA's effort came at a heavy cost, however, which severely depleted its reserves. Continuous investment in equipment and land facilities is essential if SARA is to continue to meet demands upon it. The station at Sharpness was in particular need of exapansion. The 100-year-old crane by which lifeboats have been launched had become incapable of lifting the primary boat at Sharpness. A slipway and large boathouse were required urgently if the station was not to close, and available funds were insufficient. The Mark Master Masons of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire are therefore delighted that the Mark Benevolent Fund has made available £87,000 to enable a new slipway and boathouse to be built, enabling the whole project to proceed. The slipway was ceremonially dedicated and opened at a ceremony where the Mark Assistant Grand Master, Benjamin Addy  (pictured left) unveiled a commemorative stone and formally named it "The Keystone Slipway". Lifeboats can now be deployed rapidly without use of a crane whenever an emergency arises.