charity
“Oh, Charity, what hallowed benedictions rest upon thy brow!
It better becomes a king than his royal throne, and is more
to be desired by an honorable man than a crown of gold; for
Charity hath the approbation of both heaven and earth"

The last, but not the least, of the three great tenets of Freemasonry is Charity. From an initiate’s first introduction into the lodge, he is informed of his obligation to his fellow man. As with other lodges in Georgia, Roswell Lodge endeavors to give back to the community that it serves. Throughout it’s existence, Roswell Lodge has worked hard to help those needy citizens of Roswell most times without the recipient knowing where the helping hand came from. Mason’s in general are extremely proud of this fact35, and the brothers of Roswell Lodge are no exception as they greatly enjoy giving charity without feeling the need to publish their deeds. There are times, however, that the recipient knows whom their benefactor is and their appreciation is a subject of great pride for the members of Roswell Lodge.

How do the brothers of Roswell Lodge facilitate this generosity, and what form does charity take? Charity in Roswell Lodge has many facets. Helping a needy brother to pay bills or suspending dues payments until he regains his footing. Helping a widow who is in need either financially or just in need of a little help around the house. There are also times when the lodge helps those needy families within the community. But how does an organization dedicated to helping the community make sure that they are not being taken advantage of? This sentiment is discussed by Dumenil in depth, “The fear that undeserving men were taking advantage of Masonic relief surfaced frequently, and officials undertook a plan of systematizing relief that would weed out imposters and make sure that aid went only to the needy.” The answer to that question is found within the bi-laws of Roswell Lodge. According to Chapter 4 section 7, “Application for relief from persons in distress must be made through some member of the standing committee on charity, either verbally or in writing, and shall be acted upon immediately.” After an application is brought before the lodge, the Worshipful Master appoints a committee to investigate the severity of the need.

Once the validity of need is determined, the Lodge then administers charity as deemed necessary. Examples of the Lodge’s charitable actions abound within the pages of its archives. In the records from 1947 there is an excellent illustration of the Lodge’s charity. At some point in during the year, the home of Brother Henderson was burned down. The lodge voted to donate $50.00 to assist him in rebuilding his home. There are many examples of the Lodge helping others, but it is when the lodge is pulling together to help children that it exemplifies the true meaning of charity.

Throughout the years, Roswell Lodge has focused its charitable energies on the youth of Roswell. In 1928 the lodge, under the direction of Worshipful Master Reeve, donated $235.00 to help fund the Tubercular Cottage at Alto for Children. Donations such as this abound in the pages of the lodge archives. In 1990, the lodge held its annual “All You Can Eat Charity Pancake Breakfast” with the proceeds going to purchase a wheelchair for a Holcomb Bridge Middle School student. In 1987, the lodge also decided to help out a needy child. The lodge voted to help a young girl who was in need of a new wheelchair. The lodge took its profits from the chicken supper as well as additional donations from the brethren to purchase a wheelchair for Terra Hyatt. According to a dedication is one of the Lodge’s photo albums; in 1988 the lodge contributed over eight thousand dollars to needy families in the Roswell community. Another example of the Lodge’s benevolence is evident during 1989. Under the guidance of Worshipful Master Robert L. Hicks, the lodge helped a family who was in dire financial straights. According to the minutes from January 5, 1989;

“At this time, it was brought before the lodge, that baby Samantha Barrett, a one year old baby had been in the Scottish Rite hospital for heart trouble and that the parents had paid all but $659.71 of a bill of over $4,000.00. The parents having sold their car and other assets trying to pay the remainder could not meet the balance due and it had been turned over to a collection agency. The lodge on a motion made seconded, and passed agreed to pay the balance.”

The Brethren of Roswell Lodge worked extremely hard to give underprivileged children a chance to experience a full life. A centerpiece of the Lodge’s charitable actions is its involvement in Roswell’s Youth Day celebrations. References abound within the pages of local newspapers praising the Lodge for its involvement in assisting the children of Roswell. In 1950, the Lodge started its Barbecue and Arts and Crafts show and it has been paired with Roswell’s Youth Day ever since. Proceeds from the barbecue have been used to fund numerous charitable obligations throughout the years. In 2004, the 54th annual barbeque, the lodge teamed up with Canine Assistance to help a child in Roswell obtain an assistance dog. The lodge offset most of the cost of training a canine assistant, roughly sixteen thousand dollars. A letter from Ginger Foster shows just how appreciative the Canine Assistance organization was for the lodge’s assistance in funding the puppy.

Members of the Roswell Masonic Lodge,
     There is no way to express my gratitude for the outpouring of love and thoughtfulness you have shown to me. I truly appreciate the opportunity you gave to the Canine Assistants, allowing us to have a presentation last Thursday night.
     I’ll see you at the BBQ and I’ll be ready to work! Oh, I almost forgot…I am arranging for Canine Assistant volunteers to bring dogs throughout the day during the BBQ.

Throughout its existence, the brethren of Roswell Lodge #165 have worked extremely hard to give back to the community. Through barbeques, fish fries, pancake breakfasts, Christmas tree sales and anonymous donations they have raised thousands and thousands of dollars to aid those less fortunate members of Roswell. It is not out of pride, or desire for recognition but a deep desire to help those who cannot help themselves. A letter from a young child explains why the brethren work so hard for their community;

Dear Masonic Lodge Members,
     Thank you so very much for the money to buy my new clothes. I was so excited when Mrs. Granish brought the outfits for me to try on. I have some really sharp outfits to wear to school now. I even have a Milton jacket with my name on it.
     Last weekend I went to Special Olympics at Emory. I wore my new shirt and pants to the dance. Did I look cool!!
     Thanks again for my new clothes. I do appreciate your getting them for me.

Your Special friend,
Tommy

conclusion
In the final analysis, it is quite clear that the brethren of Roswell Lodge #165 uphold the values that they espouse. Brotherly love, morality and charity are alive and well within the halls of the lodge and the hearts of its members. Masonic publications speak to the fraternity making good men better. This sentiment is true for all lodges and especially Roswell Lodge #165. They give unselfishly of themselves to aid those less fortunate and to improve the community in which they live.

Next: Worshipful Masters & Secretaries