Easterford Lodge ✦ Kelvedon, Essex
Easterford Charities
The virtue that can justly demonstrate the distinguishing characteristic of Freemasonry is Charity. Easterford is proud to be part of a national institution, the Masonic Charitable Foundation, that contributes some £30 million annually to support local and national charities, individual grants and residential care. In Essex this means over £1.5 million is donated annually to local charities and support to individuals and families. This is only possible because of the generosity of members of Masonic Lodges.
Essex Provincial Festival Contributions
Easterford’s first donation to charity was in 1891 and since then it has been regularly contributing to Masonic Charities including, in the past, Masonic Schools and Masonic Hospital. In recent years Festivals have been the focus of fund raising, and Easterford has been a major contributor to the Essex Provincial Festivals which usually run for five years.
The Mark Province also has its own Festival 2030 and Easterford has contributed £8,500 to this.
Recent Local Donations
In addition to the support of the Festivals, Easterford has made donations recently to local charities and Masonic Institutions including:
Lodge & Chapter Honours
All charitable giving is recognised by honorifics granted to the Lodge in respect of the level of support to the Festivals.
Individual honorifics are also presented to members to reflect their contributions to the total raised. For the 2022 Festival, Easterford had 9 Grand Patrons, 6 Patrons and 16 Vice Patrons.
Charity Steward & Almoner
The first Charity Steward was appointed in 1975; W.Bro. FEC Coleman, who was also the Almoner whose duties are to look after the welfare of members due to illness, family problems and other personal issues. Today the roles of Charity Steward and Almoner are separated, but some of the funds collected at meetings are used to support the Almoner’s responsibilities. He is also the link between the lodge and widows, who receive a gift every Christmas and an invitation to the Christmas Lunch.
Easterford Lodge Benevolent Association (ELBA)
Easterford has its own charity, the Easterford Lodge Benevolent Association, and as a registered charity it can reclaim Gift Aid on all donations, which increases them by 25%. While the Charity Steward is responsible for raising funds and making donations, ELBA has Trustees who are part of the decision-making on donations. The focus is particularly on local charities, and applications for support should be made to the Charity Steward.
All Easterford members contribute regularly to ELBA through collections at each meeting as well as regular payments to the Festival Fund. The generosity of members makes our grants to local charities possible.
Presentation to the Provincial Grand Master
The Provincial Grand Master of Essex, RWBro Paul Tarrant, receives an ornamental cheque reflecting Easterford’s contribution to the 2022 Festival. From left to right: Rob Lancashire, First Principal of the Chapter; Keith Brown, Charity Steward; RWBro Paul Tarrant; and Mark Lawrence, Master of Easterford Lodge.
Members of Easterford Mark Lodge on the occasion of a presentation of cheque for the 2030 Festival to the then Deputy Provincial Grand Master John Finlay, October 2023.