Masonic Service Association and Information Center

Perhaps the saddest legacy of war is the forgotten warrior—the soldier, injured in the field, who survives and comes home, only to face years of pain as a consequence. These men, many of them Brethren, used to spend years in medical facilities run by the Veterans Administration, without other Masons knowing that they were there or knowing of their needs.

Because of that, many years ago the Conference of Grand Masters of North America created the Masonic Service Association. It has representatives in every state whose task is to work with V.A. hospitals and health centers to make sure that the needs of veterans, both Masons and non-Masons, are met. Sometimes it is a very little thing, a tube of toothpaste or a stamp. Sometimes they just need someone to sit and talk for a while. Sometimes the needs are more complex. But whatever they are, the Masonic Service Association works with Oklahoma’s representatives to make sure the needs are met.

The Masonic Service Association of North America is funded by contributions from Grand Jurisdiction. The Masonic Charity Foundation covers Oklahoma’s contribution to support the Association’s charitable and educational work and also makes Oklahoma Masonry’s contribution to the Hospital Visitation program.

Over the years, MSANA has added many significant education programs to its activities, publishing the Short Talk Bulletins and various other publications. Most recently, it was established as the headquarters for the Masonic Information Center, a source for information about Masonry to the Press and to the “outside world” in general. This program monitors issues across our Country that could result in unfavorable publicity for the Masonic Fraternity.  The Information Center stands ready, as a national resource, to provide the press with quick, accurate information about Masonry, thus seeking to avoid fragmented, conflicting descriptions of our Fraternity.  The Masonic Charity Foundation makes an annual contribution to this effort on behalf of all Oklahoma Masons.

The Masonic Charity Foundation makes a contribution on behalf of all Oklahoma Masons to every MSA request for funds resulting from a large national disaster.  Oklahoma was a recipient of this Disaster Relief charitable assistance, as a result of the 1995 Murrah building bombing and the May 3, 1999 tornado in the Oklahoma City area.

The Foundation also pays the annual dues for the Oklahoma Masonic Fraternity to belong to this essential organization.