10th Anniversary

The Millennium Lodge of Charity in East Kent was consecrated on the 8th of December 2000 at the Winter Gardens in Margate with a record number of 53 Founders. The key aim of the Lodge was to provide and maintain a masonic forum for Almoners and Charity Stewards within the masonic Province of East Kent.

Ten years later, on Saturday the 8th of January 2011, the members celebrated their 10th anniversary at the Tovil Masonic Centre in Maidstone with a ‘White Table’ meeting. And what better way to celebrate than to invite the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, Michael Robin Bailey, to present cheques, on behalf of the Freemasons’ Grand Charity Hospice Programme, to the representatives of the following local Hospices? 

• Demelza House Children’s Hospice;
• Heart of Kent Hospice;
• Ellenor Lions Hospice (Adults);
• Pilgrims Hospice – Canterbury;
• Pilgrims Hospice – Thanet;
• Pilgrims Hospice – Ashford.

Witnessing the occasion were the Lodge’s special guests from the Freemasons’ Grand Charity in London, Ms Laura Chapman, the Chief Executive Officer, together with Mr Roger Freeman, the Appeals Director. After the cheque presentations, Laura and Roger gave an impressive and insightful talk on the Freemasons’ Grand Charity.

The Freemasons’ Grand Charity is a grant-making charity dedicated to supporting people in need and has donated more than £80 million since 1981. It provides grants totalling nearly £7 million each year in the areas of medical research, support for vulnerable people, youth opportunities, hospices, air ambulances and disaster relief, as well as providing assistance to individuals in financial help. It continues a commitment to charitable support that began nearly 300 years ago in the earliest days of organised Freemasonry.

The Grand Charity aims to:

• make a significant difference to people in real need;
• support issues of concern to Freemasons and their families;
• help the wider community by funding vital projects.

The talk explained and put into context the charity’s work on a day to day basis, why Provincial Festivals are so important and how help is given to helping so many Masons and their dependents in the Masonic Province of East Kent and its wider community.

The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master said “We are delighted to be supporting the Freemasons’ Grand Charity through our 2014 Festival Appeal and I am proud of the efforts and generosity of our members in helping to raise money and push towards reaching our target of £3 million.”

The 143 members, guests and visitors then retired to the Festive Board.

To conclude a memorable 10th Anniversary, Worshipful Brother John Grumbridge, a Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master and one of the Founder members, was asked whether the Lodge has achieved its original aims since being consecrated. He said “I think it is fair to say that it is work in progress. I do however think that we have managed to raise the profile of Lodge Almoners and Charity Stewards and in doing so given them a voice within the Province.”

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
Winston Churchill

A video of the event.

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