The Mark Benevolent Fund - What a Difference Your Donations Make
A Very Pleasant Morning spent with the Management and Staff from the West Lancashire Hospices
 
Early one Monday morning, 7.30 27th September to be exact  I set off for the lovely hall at Garstang where a get together had been arranged for management and staff from our West Lancs Hospices who had received grants to assist them in the great work they do. The grants were being made in recognition of a lifetime of service and dedication to the Crown and the Nation by His Royal Highness, The Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh.
All Present from West Lancashire
The event was hosted by the Province and was attended by our PGM R.W. Bro. Keith Beardmore, his Asst PGM V.W. John Bicknell, W.Bro. John Sarti Prov Grand Charity Steward who had made all the arrangements, Bob Boal, Press and W.Bro. Austin Fletcher Photo’s. It started with a warm welcome to all those attending and a warming drink of coffee/tea and biscuits and a good old chin wag amongst themselves.
In April the Trustees of the MBF approved a Major Capital Grant of £1.25 Million to support Hospices in England and Wales. Every Mark Lodge was invited to nominate a local Hospice to receive a £1000 donation wholly funded by the MBF.  The nominations culminated in over 230 organisations being identified as covering the running and support of 271 Hospices and Rainbow Children’s Trust which have suffered greatly during the Pandemic, it cannot be stressed enough how much these grants have meant to them whether it be £1000 or £10,000.  The total Province donated was in the region of £64,000.
 

Hospices from the Liverpool Area
The PGM was pleased to say a few words to everyone and thanked them all for attending, then the Prov Charity Steward John Sarti said it was good to see everyone chatting and passing on some of their own ideas along with the different problems they face. John talked about possible future funding opportunities that might be available to them and how they could get advice and assistance if needed.
The Mark Benevolent Fund (MBF) is the official charity of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons, the Third largest branch of Freemasonry.  It came into existence in 1868 on the suggestion of the Most Worshipful Grand Master Rev George Raymond Portal (in 1881 he was made Canon Portal). He strongly believed it was vital for Mark Masons to have ownership of a Benevolent Fund.to encourage all Brethren to practise the morals of donating freely and without hesitation, he considered the code of conduct with a clear and distinctive charitable motive with which Mark Masons could identify. A phrase was created “He gives twice who gives promptly” or “A gift given without hesitate is as good as two gifts”.  
 
What a very pleasant morning we all had, all the attendees were really nice and a joy to talk to.  
Keep in Touch with your Friends in the Lodge, and your family, we still have a long way to go.
 
Mark Well
Words and pictures by Austin N Fletcher.  PGJD.    Flixton Shepherd Eastwood Mark.  No.1173