Page 18 - Essex Mason Spring Special Edition

Provincial Almoner

As we remain in the season of Easter when you will be receiving this special edition of Essex W.Bro Nick Clarke
Mason, let me open with a reflective message.
“I have said to many people over the last few weeks whilst we have been confined to our homes,
that you don’t need to visit special buildings or have groups of people around you to be with your
God, you just need peace, a focused mind and a willingness to think and reflect. Maybe it is in a
corner in the house or a small space in the garden, where we can close our eyes and think about
who we are, our friends and family, those we know who may be in distress and to say thank you
for all that we have and to consider how we can help others less fortunate”
This simple reflection underpins all the work that so many of you will have been doing and the
Almoner’s team is no exception.
I have been steadfast in trying to get our “Call for Action” message out to Lodge Almoners in
particular and to all masons in general within Essex Lodges and Chapters. Not just in delivering
the message but also, I hope in trying to ensure that the message is understood. Thanks to this
special edition of Essex Mason I have another opportunity to explain the message.

The Message
A Call for Action

s we now know, these are uncertain and very worrying times for all people but especially for those that live
alone, at the centre of every Almoner’s work is giving pastoral care and I have therefore suggested, if such
Ameasures have not already been put in place, that each Almoner sets up and leads a system of “buddies”
within their lodge to ensure that the vulnerable people are kept in contact with by telephone.
It is a huge job for one person to keep in touch with so many people, but it is a relatively easy task for many people to
undertake, as the saying goes “many hands make light work.” I have asked that each Lodge Almoner takes the lead on
this and he asks his lodge members to keep in touch with just a few of their widows and members of their lodge.
I am not asking for home visits but simply to make regular phone calls or even send emails to people who may be by themselves,
to check that they are well and that they have enough essential food and medicine.
The Provincial Almoner’s Team have already started this buddy system and each have an average of 6 unattached widows they are
phoning, as well as their own claimants that they look after. The response has been wonderful and many of the widows have said
such things as “it is so nice to have a voice to listen to” and “it is good to see that masonry is so caring.”
The Masonic Charitable Foundation and the Essex Provincial Almoner’s Team are not able to make any home visits at this time but
we are doing it by telephone. We have found that it is not just the visit that is important, it is the phone call that really matters and it
helps to reassure people about what is going on. With good communication and good reassurance, we can, in these extraordinary
times, ensure that the elderly and vulnerable brethren and widows have comfort, food, medication and
support. Most of us now, due to isolation restrictions, have even more time to make those phone calls and
think of others less fortunate than ourselves.
So, I hope that by now these or similar simple plans have been put into place and that all our members have
been encouraged to make that call today, tomorrow and the next day and not put off this essential action.
Let us act generously during these uncertain times and all make a conscious effort to reach out and help
somebody the elderly and those with health problems.

The Provincial Almoners Coronavirus Fund
A Call for Action

The Essex Provincial Charity Fund (EPCF) has generously provided the Provincial Almoner’s Fund with a wonderful
start-up grant of £10,000, and a wider appeal has been launched for Lodges, Chapters and masons to support the
‘Provincial Almoner’s COVID-19 Appeal’. Details have been sent to all Lodge Almoners but please get in touch with me
if you need more information: Nick Clarke, Prov.G. Alm. 07768 067817

The response has been excellent and as at the 27th April 2020, we have received private donations of £3,035, Lodge/
Chapter donations of18,816 and donations to the Just Giving Site of £17,225. A total of £ 39,076. All these figures
exclude the start up donation we received of £10,000 from the EPCF.
The money is being used now to initially assist those vulnerable people who have an Essex masonic connection, to be
given immediate cash support to enable them to either purchase food or have it bought for them. We have so far issued
£19,881 in grants and have set a guideline of £100 for a single person, £150 for a couple and £200 for a family, but these
figures are flexible. Repeat grants are now being given if they are needed.

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