Promises Matter

The very essence of a fraternity is fraternalism—the sense of obligation to each other which makes us feel responsible for each other’s welfare.  As the philosopher Starks pointed out, “I will forgive my friend and brother for refusing to share his triumphs and hoarding his joy, but his refusal to share his sorrows and pain comes nigh to unforgivable.”

Each Mason has made a direct, unequivocal promise to God that we will care for our Brothers, and their wives, widows and orphans.  And promises---especially those made to God---matter.

Most of us feel that the obligation is especially acute when the Brother or widow is elderly;  but, young or old, we have promised.

Promises Matter is the program of the Charity Foundation to help Lodges fulfill that obligation.  Lodges have always kept track of their members, helping when help was necessary.  Most of the time, the needs do not involve money.  An elderly Brother or widow may need transportation---perhaps to go shopping, or to the doctor’s office or to visit friends, or for a drive in the country just to get out of the house for a bit.

They may simply need someone to spend an hour in conversation with them from time to time.

They may need someone to fix a screen door, or change a light bulb they cannot reach, or hand something down from a shelf in a closet.  These are the things which individual Masons as well as Lodges must do, because they promised.

But sometimes money is needed, too.  When that happens the Promises Matter Program has two ways to help,  Matching Funds and Promises Matter grants.  In addition to the $7,500 in Matching Funds each Lodge can use (discussed later in this report) each Lodge also has $2,500 each year in Promises Matter Matching.  That program, announced late in 2001, started in January 1, 2002.

Joe R. Manning, Jr., PGM and Executive Director of the Foundation, likes to use this hypothetical example to illustrate the way the programs work together.

A Masonic widow lives in town.  She is on a fixed income, but her little house is paid for and, because she is very careful, she can just make ends meet.  As part of making ends meet, she has a $1,000 deductible on her homeowners insurance.

One night there is a bad storm and her roof is seriously damaged.  The insurance will cover it, but she will have to pay the $1,000 deductible.  Because she is on a fixed income, that $1,000 might as well be $10,000---it would be equally as impossible.

But the Brethren know their duty.  It’s a small Lodge, without a lot of resources, but they pass the hat and come up with $100.  They apply for Matching Funds, giving them a total of $200.  They then apply for a Promises Matter grant for the remaining $800.  The problem has been solved, and the members of the Lodge have been able to meet their fraternal obligation.

The program is catching fire, and more and more Lodges are taking advantage of this opportunity to help them with their fraternal obligations.

Promises Matter, and the Masonic Charity Foundation is happy to help the Lodges keep those promises.
 

Promises Matter Report - 2006