“I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.” – Wor. George Washington
“Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.” – Wor. George Washington
“Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.” – Wor. George Washington
“If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month.” – Bro. Theodore Roosevelt
“The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything.” – Bro. Theodore Roosevelt
“A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.” – MW Harry S Truman
“The pat on the back, the arm around the shoulder, the praise for what was done right and the sympathetic nod for what wasn't are as much a part of golf as life itself.” Bro. Gerald R. Ford
Freemsonry is the oldest and largest fraternal order in the world. Among the first lessons learned by every new Mason is the importance of the tenets of our Fraternity: Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.
Thus, as Masons, we “make good men better” through our charitable endeavors, which include, among other good works, visiting and aiding the sick, assisting the poor, and alleviating the distressed. The uninitiated may have little idea of how much Freemasonry contributes to the improvement of the community.
But consider this, according to Grand Lodge statistics:
Freemasons in North America contribute more than three million dollars ($3,000,000.00) each day to charity
Freemasons, many volunteering from Mount Horeb Lodge, operate the Shriners Hospital in Boston where more than 750 severely burned children are admitted each year and treated at no charge; some 3,700 children are treated each year in the hospital’s clinic, again at no charge
Freemasons are responsible for collecting more than 80% of the blood collected by the Red Cross in Massachusetts – more than 20,000 pints annually
Freemasons also provide more than $200,000 in scholarship assistance annually (for the past several years, Mount Horeb Lodge has made donations directly to the Woburn High School Scholarship Fund) and of course...
Through the efforts of many of Mount Horeb Lodge’s Brethren, especially the tremendous work by our late Brother Worshipful Kendall F. Stewart, Masonic Lodges promote child safety through the statewide Massachusetts Youth Child Identification Program.
These are but a few examples of the charitable work performed by members of Mount Horeb Lodge.
The Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts was established in 1733 and is the third oldest Grand Lodge in the world (after only the Grand Lodge of England, and the Grand Lodge of Scotland). Today, there are over 50,000 Freemasons in Massachusetts that meet in 239 individual Lodges in cities and towns throughout the Commonwealth.
Our fraternity teaches responsibility and righteousness, by having each member understand and feel its works of relief and charity, as well as encouraging each member to put these lessons into practice in his daily life.
