It is often said that 'charity begins at home' and in the sense that a mans first duty is to his children and immediate family, this is true. When the first Masonic charities were founded, nearly 300 years ago, their aim was to support poor and distressed Freemasons and their families.

These charities quickly became successful and were thereby able to spread their support to charitable causes in the community at large. It is often said that Charity is one of the main pillars of Freemasonry, and during the last five years the Freemasons Grand Charity has given more than £25,000,000 for a wide range of non-Masonic causes, including Medical research, Community care, Hospice services, Support for vulnerable people, Air Ambulance services, Education, work with young people, Fire Brigade Services, and Disaster relief.

Collections for Masonic charities are usually conducted at Lodge meetings and other Masonic functions. In this way money is collected only from Freemasons, or occasionally from their family and friends on social occasions, usually by the way of raffles and auctions.

The Specific Charity our current Master has chosen for Ongar lodge to support this year is the TLC appeal and St Claire's Hospice, this is as well as the ones we usually support like Great Ormond Street Hospital and The Grand Charity. Over the last few years Ongar has given over £##### in charity