Charity Committee

ST. ALBAN LODGE NO. 529

FREE & ACCEPTED MASONS OF PENNSYLVANIA

St. Alban Charity Committee

ST. ALBAN LODGE No. 529

Pennsylvania freemasons

Charity Committee News and Information

Duties of the Committee:

FROM LODGE BY-LAWS

Section 12.02 COMMITTEE ON CHARITY. There shall be a Committee on Charity, consisting of three members, one of whom shall be a Past Master, to whom shall be referred all petitions for charity. It shall be their duty to examine and see if the applicant is worthy to receive charity from the Lodge, and, if so, may recommend the appropriation of such sum as they may deem proper. In case of immediate emergency they may request the Master for permission to draw an order for such a sum as the case may require.

Recent Charitable Donations:

Annually, each of our guests residing at the Masonic Villages (Independent Residents excluded) receives a minimum stipend of $175.00 each from the Charity Committee. Gift checks are sent for Birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Easter and Christmas/Chanukah.

In addition, the following contributions have been made, on behalf of the Officers and Members of St. Alban Lodge for the 2006 Masonic Year, thus far.

The Masonic Temple, Initiative Fund***

Somerton Chapter, Order of DeMolay

Friendship-Bray Chapter, Order of DeMolay( Annual Honor Roll Challenge)

Pennsylvania DeMolay, Annual Convention Ad Book

Memorials:

Members of the Lodge desiring to; “Honor” or “Memorialize” a particular Lodge Member or to commemorate a Masonic milestone may; “Dedicate” a page in the Lodge Minute Book, for a minimum contribution of $25.00.

Recent Bequests:

The William C. Patterson Estate.

Brother Patterson, Past Master was a fifty year plus member of St. Alban Lodge. He also served as Secretary, Chairman of the Charity Committee, and on the Instruction Committee. He passed away in May, at the Masonic Village, Elizabethtown, PA. St. Alban Permanent Charity Fund is the sole beneficiary of his estate.

Inasmuch, various Masonic items from his estate will be available for purchase from the Lodge Web Site. These items will be available to be purchased through the Lodge PayPal account on the website. Proceeds from these sales will naturally go to the Permanent Charity Fund, and the amount of your purchase will be tax deductible. A great way to help the Lodge and obtain a Masonic Treasure

Other Charity Committee Resources Available:

Cemetery Lots

St. Alban Lodge, through generous donations from Members; owns burial plots in the following Philadelphia area cemeteries.

Arlington Cemetery, Drexel Hill, PA

Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA

West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, PA

Mt. Moriah Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA

Emergency or Immediate Need of a Burial Plot

In the event of the death of a Member, member’s wife, child, or grandchild; graves (usually 2 burials per lot) are available at the cemetery of your choice (listed above) without charge. Any applicable deed or transfer charges will be assumed by the Charity Committee.

Applicable grave opening charges are the responsibility of the deceased’s; spouse, next of kin, family, care giver, administrator, executor or estate, as well as any endowment care or perpetual care charges that may be required by the individual cemetery.

Advance or Pre-need sales of Burial Plots

Lots are available for sale (open to anyone) from any of the listed cemeteries at $500.00* per lot. Usually allowing two tradition burials or up to four interments of cremated remains per lot. ( Cemetery regulations prevailing ) Any applicable transfer or deed charges are the responsibility of the purchaser.

*Purchase price is from $400.00 to $1500.00 less than if purchased directly from the cemetery, and is tax deductible.

(Disclaimer: St. Alban Lodge, 529, its Officers and Members assume no responsibility for the care, upkeep or condition of the various cemetery properties when transferred by sale or contribution to Member’s, their families or individuals purchasing cemetery property(s)}

All contributions and proceeds from cemetery lot sales are transferred to the Lodge Permanent Charity Fund. Thus, insuring the continued important charitable works of our Lodge, for years to come.

Total Contributions and Donations for the 2006 Masonic Year exceeded $18,000.00 to the following:

Masonic Village Guests, Elizabethtown, PA,

Lafayette Hill, PA

Masonic Temple, Phila., PA ***

Northeast Chapter, Order of DeMolay

Chip Program

Morning Light, OES

St. Alban DeMolay Legion of Honor Preceptory**

Prospect Lodge No. 578

Friendship-Bray Chapter, Order of DeMolay

LuLu Shrine Scouting Association

Grand Court, Order of the Amaranth

**Contribution created a Permanent Fund. The only Preceptory in Pennsylvania with a Permanent Fund.

*** Non-mandatory contribution for the upkeep of the Masonic Temple, Philadelphia, PA

Charity Committee, Masonic Year 2008:

Joseph A. Fletcher, Jr., P.M. Donald H. McFarland Newell W Anderson

Contact the Worshipful Master or any of the Charity Committee members for further information or application for assistance.

Confidentiality:

Any Member of St. Alban Lodge requesting assistance from the Charity Committee can be assured of complete confidentiality. Only members of the Charity Committee and the Worshipful Master are aware of those seeking assistance.