Mark Charities
The Mark Fund of Benevolence
In 1868 the Mark Fund of Benevolence, latterly to become affectionately known as the MBF, was established by the then Grand Master, Reverend Canon G.R. Portal. Its purpose was to render financial assistance to Mark Master Masons in distress, their widows & children. It was his visionary belief that it was necessary for the Mark Degree to establish its own Benevolent Fund to enable that financial assistance to be dispensed quickly and efficiently if it was to be effective. The Grand Master introduced the Latin motto “Bis dat qui cito dai" – “he gives twice who gives promptly” – and this has been the guiding principle ever since.
The fund continues to be administered by Mark Grand Lodge and is also acknowledged throughout the Fraternity for its very clear and distinct charitable motives. For over 140 years it has been at the forefront of charitable giving and it is something that Mark Master Masons readily identify with as over and above the ritual and ceremony of our Order.
Since the fund was first established a sum in excess of £3.2 million has been distributed in relief. The first grant, of £5 was made in 1868 to a shipwrecked Mark brother who had lost virtually everything he possessed.
Recent addition to the RNLI fleet
Some breaking news with a link to the first shipwrecked Mark Brother is that quite recently the Grand Master of Mark Master Masons HRH Prince Michael of Kent visited Angle in South West Wales to try out for himself the latest addition to the RNLI fleet, a Tamar class craft soon to be named “Mark Mason."
The Mark has funded the completion of this lifeboat, which will be launched in June or July 2009 and be ocean going, to the tune of £1.6m. This is the largest single donation ever received by the RNLI. For a full report click here.
Hertfordshire Provincial Mark Benevolent Fund
This fund was established in 1985 and allows the Provincial Grand Lodge of Hertfordshire to again provide financial assistance to their members and dependants similarly along the lines as that of the Mark Fund of Benevolence by Mark Grand Lodge.
It is a charity, registered number 291376, with the Charity Commission and has three Trustees appointed by Provincial Grand Lodge, together with a Custodian Trustee appointed by the Provincial Grand Master – RW Bro Chris Radmore – who at the present time is VW Bro District Judge Seymour M Samuels PGJO.
Hertfordshire Mark Master Masons recently helped a local based charity to start running a vital service in conjunction with hospitals based in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire and the National Blood Service [NBS]. Currently the NBS do not replenish stocks from their North London base at Colindale after 7pm and before 6am. This service is now being provided by the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire group of “SERV” which stands for Service by Emergency Riding Volunteers more usually referred to as “The Bloodrunners” and is a team of Advanced Motorcycle Riders based throughout Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire who are on call during that time, 365 days a year. The hospital requiring an urgent top-up of their stocks ring a central telephone number which diverts to the teams Controller for the night, who in turn then calls out 1 of 2 riders who are on standby and they make their way to Colindale, where they sign for a consignment of blood or by products and convey them by motorcycle to its destination. Bedford Hospital is the only hospital currently signed up to this service although it is expected that both the Lister and QE2 hospitals are poised to start the service in the very near future with other hospitals also following on from them.
The Provincial Grand Master Chris Radmore and his wife Brenda recently attended the Press launch of this service at Bedford Hospital where, as you can see, the pictures show the PGM officially handing over the High Visibility tabards that Hertfordshire Mark Master Masons have sponsored to the co-ordinator Duncan Neill outside the Accident and Emergency Department.
Mrs Radmore also accepted an invitation to try out a blood bike and showed the PGM how to adopt the best riding position although he declined to try it out for himself, however the co-ordinator was heard to say how grateful he was for at least one other volunteer!
Administration
Provincial Grand Charity Steward: W Bro Steve Washington
Provincial Grand Treasurer: W Bro Duncan Beardsley, PAGSwdB.
Lodge Charity Steward: Appointed each year by the Master and to whom all charitable collections are made.
Provincial Almoner: W Bro James Innes, PProvGJW. Readily available to offer advice and help to all Lodge Almoners, particularly in seeking support from the Hertfordshire Benevolent Fund and in submitting petitions to the Mark Fund of Benevolence in suitable cases.
Lodge Almoner: Appointed each year by the Master. All Lodge members are encouraged to report cases of sickness or financial hardship to him so that appropriate action can be taken.
Provincial Grand Secretary: W Bro Richard Walker. Fully responsible for all Provincial administration. In conjunction with the Provincial Charity Steward and Provincial Almoner, will oversee all petitions submitted to both the Province and to Grand Lodge. Also acts as Secretary to the Trustees of the fund and is responsible for making annual returns to The Charity Commissioners.
Steve Washington
ProvGChStwd
January 2009
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