Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Masonic Samaritan
Fund?
What does the Masonic Samaritan Fund do?
Where can I find out more information about the MSF and its
activities?
Why are we having a Festival for the
MSF?
Why should I donate?
How much
should I donate?
What is the best way to donate?
Where can I obtain the Standing Order Forms and the Gift Aid
Declarations?
Who will know how much I have
donated?
I belong to more than one Lodge. Do I have to
make a donation in respect of each Lodge of which I am a member?
I have heard that the total amount expected to be collected for
the Festival is £3.5 million but the Brethren of the Province are only
expected to raise £2.2 million. How do you explain the
difference?
Can we raise money for the Festival in other
ways?
If we raise money by any of these means can the
proceeds be gift aided?
How do I know how much my Lodge
has donated so far?
How do I know how much has been
collected throughout the Province?
If we have any other
questions, who can we go to?
What is the Masonic Samaritan Fund?
The MSF was established in 1990 for the relief of suffering and sickness in respect of Freemasons, their wives, children or dependants, or the widows, children or dependants of deceased Freemasons.
What does the Masonic Samaritan Fund do?
A situation will often occur where a freemason, his wife/widow/partner or dependant needs to have medical treatment, but they have been told that they will have a long wait on an NHS waiting list before that treatment can commence. Should this individual be unable to afford to have the operation privately, then the Masonic Samaritan Fund may be able to help.
Where can I find out more information about the MSF and its activities?
Every Freemason receives a copy of the Grand Lodge Freemasonry Today Magazine and with it is delivered a copy of the MSF Newsletter called ‘In Need’ which contains up to date news. In addition there is a dedicated web site at www.msfund.org.uk. Leaflets are also published by the MSF for each Brother in England and Wales.
Why are we having a Festival for the MSF?
There are four principal national Masonic Charities – the Grand Charity, The Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys, The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution and the MSF. In general terms they all rely on voluntary contributions from the Freemasons of England and Wales to enable them to carry out their work. A Festival is held for each Charity in all the 47 Masonic Provinces on rotation so that approximately once in every 11 years each Province will hold a Festival for one of the Charities. In 2012 Warwickshire has a Festival for the MSF with the appeal for funds leading up to it. This enables the MSF to be assured of a larger amount than normal since we will be donating right up until 2012. The money that is collected is handed over to the MSF on a regular basis. The total amount collected will be announced at the conclusion of the appeal.
There is no obligation to give but one of the basic tenets of Freemasonry is that we should help all those less fortunate than ourselves. Unlike the other three principal charities, however, all monies paid out by the MSF are for the exclusive use of Freemasons and their dependants. None of us knows if or when we may be ill and need hospital treatment. There may well be delays in obtaining that treatment in an NHS hospital and in these circumstances you may be able to have help from the MSF and be treated much earlier. A bit like an insurance policy!
This is a matter for you and your conscience. However, we hope to raise £2.2 million from the Brethren of Warwickshire and we calculate that this requires each Brother to donate the sum of £400 over the period of the appeal which commenced in September 2005.
What is the best way to donate?
If you wish to pay over the period of the appeal the best way is to decide the total amount you wish to pay and then divide it up into regular monthly payments and pay those by Standing Order. To make the payment even more valuable we strongly recommend that you also complete a gift aid declaration. For every £1 that you donate by this method the MSF will receive an additional 28 pence from the Chancellor of the Exchequer. (This only applies if you pay income tax at the standard rate). If you agree to donate the £400 the MSF will actually receive the sum of £512. Alternatively you can pay a lump sum every now and then or all at once but we do suggest that payments of this kind are also supported by gift aid declarations.
Where can I obtain the Standing Order Forms and the Gift Aid Declarations?
Your Lodge Charity Steward has a plentiful supply. There are also copies which you can download from our web site at www.warwickshire2012.org with a separate form you can use to order Festival merchandise.
Who will know how much I have donated?
Your Lodge Charity Steward and one member of staff employed by the Province. Neither will divulge amounts donated by individuals.
I belong to more than one Lodge. Do I have to make a donation in respect of each Lodge of which I am a member?
The short answer is no, but if you wish to do so that is a matter for you.
I have heard that the total amount expected to be collected for the Festival is £3.5 million but the Brethren of the Province are only expected to raise £2.2 million. How do you explain the difference?
It is anticipated, based on previous experience, that other Masonic Orders in Warwickshire and other Provinces in England and Wales and Districts overseas will make substantial donations and this accounts for the two amounts. Revenue will also accrue that cannot be credited to particular Lodges such as from the concert at Warwick University in 2007. We all hope, however, that these amounts will be exceeded.
Can we raise money for the Festival in other ways?
Of course. An alms collection, say once or twice a year, in the Lodge can be donated or the proceeds of a raffle. You may also wish to organise a social or similar event to raise money for the Festival. If you think that the event would appeal to a larger audience then send details to the Provincial Information Officer who will be able to publish details on the Provincial web sites and in the Provincial Newsletter. He will also be able to tell you if it clashes with any other Provincial wide event so that you can arrange another date.
If we raise money by any of these means can the proceeds be gift aided?
No. It is not permissible for Lodges to reclaim tax on the monies donated by individual Brethren for charitable purposes in the collection which is routinely conducted in the Lodge Meeting or at the Festive Board. The whole collection cannot be "assigned" to a member of the Lodge who has taxable capacity sufficient to enable him to reclaim tax on it as if he had donated the entire amount personally. Another erroneous idea is to treat in a similar manner monies which are paid for raffle tickets, and similar fund-raising initiatives. It is wrong for any donations to be treated in this way. It is a criminal offence. However, there can be no objection to an alms collection being taken from Brethren who gift-aid their own personal contributions.
How do I know how much my Lodge has donated so far?
We are sure that the Lodge Charity Steward will tell you and the other members of the Lodge from time to time during meetings of the Lodge since he will be constantly encouraging you to donate.
How do I know how much has been collected throughout the Province?
Your Lodge Charity Steward can find out from the Provincial Charity Office on 0121 454 0554 but we also publish the monthly amount on the dedicated web site at www.warwickshire2012.org This amount represents actual cash collected not money that has been promised by Standing Order or otherwise.
If we have any other questions, who can we go to?
The first approach should be to your Lodge Charity Steward. If he is unable to help he can approach the Festival Area Coordinator for your Lodge and hopefully he will be able to resolve the matter. You may also ask the Provincial Grand Almoner or the Provincial Grand Charity Steward or Pam the Office Manager at the Charity Office on 0121 454 0554. The Area Coordinator will also visit your Lodge from time to time, if invited, and will give a presentation about the Festival so that all the members are up to date with what is happening. He will willingly answer your questions.
Rodney Pitham PSGD
Assistant Provincial
Grand Master
Provincial Information Officer
September 2006