Duke of Athol 210

Brethren and Companions of the Province of East Lancashire,
The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution, existing for almost 170 years, is the second oldest of our great Charities, which include the Freemasons’ Grand Charity, the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys and the Masonic Samaritan Fund. Collectively they give some £15 Million per year, through the Provinces, to support our brethren and their dependants who are in need. Of this more than £500K comes into East Lancashire. Nearly all of this has been raised by brethren like us, during the various Masonic Festivals running concurrently throughout Grand Lodge.

The RMBI is a very special charity offering immediate response to calls for assistance from the needy brother or his family, and providing exactly what is required from the excellent range of services they have available which are detailed on this website. Each year the RMBI has to find an additional sum (in the region of £5M) to pay for the charitable support of over 450 brethren and dependants who have become unable to pay for their own care in RMBI Homes. The Charity always steps in to supply the necessary funds!

These are the reasons that I, on behalf of our Province, have agreed with Grand Lodge, that we will take advantage of this golden opportunity to give something back, add to the might of generosity and together work, during the next 5 years, to support this extremely worthy cause.

In recent years, East Lancashire has developed a tremendous reputation for fund raising and we have an innate proclivity for giving, doing good in our local communities and communicating the results of our success to the outside world. Let us now repeat this time honoured commitment and apply our benevolence and consideration to this Festival.

As Freemasons, we all share that special connection and I implore you to support the RMBI with your usual tenacity. Please give in whatever way you can – whether this be undertaking an activity which raises funds, completing your own Gift Aided Regular Payment Promise or encouraging your colleagues in Lodge or Chapter to do the same matters not – we are then all doing something.

In 2015, I will be with you at the Festival as we donate to the RMBI a sum worthy of this splendid Province. When we entered the Craft the First Degree taught us valuable lessons –the foremost of these was putting our trust in God and later, using great imagery, the importance of Charity was explained in a way which gave us a clear, favourable and lasting understanding of its meaning. Why in the First Degree? – I suggest because Charity is the greatest of the Virtues and encompasses many of the others – generosity, compassion, gratitude, prudence and Love to name but a few. It is, perhaps, the most significant of our lessons. My only target is for us all to remember the importance of charity, as we enter this period of fundraising, and for you, the brethren and companions, to satisfy the demands of your own consciences by supporting our Festival for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution at the best level at which your circumstances and personal desires allow.

Thank you and God Bless You all, Yours Aye,

RWBro Jack Price, Provincial Grand Master
President of the RMBI 2015 Festival

For further details on the 2015 Festival click on this link here