Warwickshire Mark Benevolent Fund
The Mark Benevolent Fund is a registered charity (no. 207610) came into existence in 1868 on the suggestion of the Reverend George Raymond Portal, Grand Master of the Mark. His views on charity were far more radical and progressive than the general thinking of the time. He felt that for charity to be effective it had to be disbursed swiftly and without the bureaucratic formalities of other Masonic charities. To him it was wrong for there to be any delay in providing assistance to those in need and his own Latin tag “Bis dat qui cito dat” – he gives twice who gives promptly – became, and still is, the principal guideline of the M.B.F.
The Fund has disbursed many millions to individual petitioners and an even greater sum in grants to charities within the wider community. A major grant of £1.6m has been made to the RNLI help fund a new life boat, Addenbrooke’s Hospital Trust received over £2m for machines to help in the diagnosis of prostate cancer and a pledge of £2.6 million has been made to Hope for Tomorrow Cancer Charity for the purchase of mobile chemotherapy units throughout the UK. These projects can only be funded with your help and dedication to the fund.
Emergency Petition for support
If you are aware of an urgent need by a brother or dependant of a present or past brother, initially speak with your lodge Almoner for guidance. If in the circumstances you feel unable to do so please speak with the Provincial Grand Almoner or The Provincial Grand Charity Steward if the Almoner is unavailable. They will guide you through the form and may be able to assist in many other ways.
When the form which is downloadable from the web site HERE is completed it will be passed to the Secretary of the Warwickshire Benevolent Fund for further action. The Procedure sounds lengthy but it reality it is not.
All Petitions are confidential.
2027 Warwickshire Festival
In 2027 The Mark Province of Warwickshire will be hosting a festival on behalf of The Mark Benevolent Fund the 159th such event. We are not setting a target, our aim is to raise as much as we can. The trustees of your own Warwickshire Mark Benevolent Fund have been preparing for this event for a number of years by placing a portion of its funds on deposit, now is the time for us all to act to support this festival. I know 2027 sounds a long way off but if we plan for it now, it will not be such a shock to the system in a few years time when we realize we only have a year or two left. 2027 is quickly approaching.
Look at the facts, can you spare 20p per day, this equates to £6 per month. If you pledge a covenant for this amount it would be £72 per year, add on the gift aid value from the government (Lets make the most of it whilst we still have it) the total to the fund each year would be £90. In 10 years this amount would be £900. If 100 brethren took out a covenant we would gain £9000 per year, £90,000 in 10 years time. If 500 brethren took out a covenant we would gain £45,000 per year, £450,000 in 10 years time. And remember these donations count towards the awarding of Mark Benevolent Fund Qualifications both individually and to Lodges.
There is a simple form for you to fill out down load able from the Web site; part goes to The Mark Benevolent Fund in London; part goes to your bank. Make sure you have your Mark membership number on both forms. Your lodge Secretary will have your number or ask the Provincial Secretary or London. Please think hard about this matter, we need your support and we need to start now. 20p per day is that so much to ask.
Warwickshire Mark Benevolent Fund Relief Chest Scheme
Downloadable from the web site is a copy of the guidance for operating the relief chest envelope scheme. The relief chest scheme brings the Craft, Royal Arch and mark into alignment in respect of the envelopes we use. The charities themselves remain as standalone charities operated by each order. The new scheme will ease the workload on the Provincial Grand Charity Steward and Benevolent Fund Treasurer as well as obtaining an enhanced rate of interest for our deposits. Gift Aid will still be applied for from H.M. Government. The administration and storage of the envelopes will be carried out free of charge by The Craft Grand Charity.
