The Freemasons Grand Charity Donates £1million To Male Cancer Research


The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has agreed to donate £1million to vital research into prostate and testicular cancers at The Institute of Cancer Research.

The donation will take the form of £100,000 each year for the next ten years and will provide vital funding for the position, to be known as The Grand Charity of Freemasons Chair of Molecular Biology, which heads up the male cancer research centre at The Institute.

Head of the Male Cancer Centre at The Institute of Cancer Research, Professor Colin Cooper said, “This is an extremely generous donation by the Freemasons’ Grand Charity and we are delighted with their support. There is still so much we need to know about prostate and testicular cancer and this money will provide vital funds that will help us to continue our work over the next ten years.”

Laura Chapman, Chief Executive of the Freemasons’ Grand Charity said, “We have a long history of funding medical research projects but this is the largest grant we have offered. We are very pleased to support the excellent work at The Institute of Cancer Research particularly research into prostate and testicular cancer because this area still receives little funding.”

The Everyman centre is the only dedicated male cancer research centre in Europe and needs £2million each year to support the work. This centre concentrates on gene isolation, the identification of causes, hereditary risks and the development of improved diagnosis and treatment of prostate and testicular cancers.

In the past 20 years the Freemasons’ Grand Charity has paid a total of nearly £30 million in grants to non-masonic charities.

Freemasonry is one of the world's oldest secular fraternal societies. Below we explain Freemasonry as it exists under the Grand Lodge of Scotland which is the corporate body governing Freemasonry in Scotland and Scottish Masonic Lodges in many other parts of the world.

The explanation may correct some misconceptions.

Freemasonry is a society of men concerned with moral and spiritual values. Its members are taught its precepts by a series of ritual dramas, which follow ancient forms, and use stonemasons' customs and tools as allegorical guides.

The Essential Qualification for Membership

The essential qualification for admission into and continuing membership is a belief in a Supreme Being. Membership is open to men of any race or religion who can fulfil this essential qualification and who are of good repute.

Freemasonry and Religion

Freemasonry is not a religion, nor is it a substitute for religion. The one essential qualification means that Freemasonry is open to men of many religions and it expects and encourages them to continue to follow their own faith. It is not permitted for Freemasons to discuss these subjects at Masonic meetings.

The Three Great Principles

For many years Freemasons have followed three great principles:

Brotherly Love - Every true Freemason will show tolerance and respect for the opinions of others and behave with kindness and understanding to his fellow creatures.

Relief - Freemasons are taught to practise charity and to care, not only for their own, but also for the community as a whole, both by charitable giving, and by voluntary efforts and works as individuals.

Truth - Freemasons strive for truth, requiring high moral standards and aiming to achieve them in their own lives.


Freemasons believe that these principles represent a way of achieving higher standards in all walks of life.

Charity

From its earliest days, Freemasonry has been concerned with the care of orphans, the sick and the aged. Today charitable work has expanded to include the whole community and in addition large sums are given to national and local charities.

Freemasonry and Society

Freemasonry demands from its members a respect for the law of the country in which a man works and lives. Its principles do not in any way conflict with its members' duties as citizens, but should strengthen them in fulfilling their public and private responsibilities. The use by a Freemason of his membership to promote his own or anyone else's business, professional or personal interests is condemned, and is contrary to the conditions on which he sought admission to Freemasonry. His duty as a citizen must always prevail over any obligation to other Freemasons, and any attempt to shield a Freemason who as acted dishonorably or unlawfully is contrary to this prime duty and the teachings of Freemasonry itself.

Secrecy

The secrets of Freemasonry are concerned with its traditional modes of recognition. It is not a secret society, since all members are free to acknowledge their membership and will do so in response to enquiries for respectable reasons. Its constitutions and rules are available to the public. There is no secret about any of its aims and principles. Like many other societies, it regards some of its internal affairs as private matters for its members.

Freemasonry and Politics

Freemasonry is non-political, and the discussion of politics at Masonic meetings is forbidden.

Other Masonic Bodies

Freemasonry is practised under many other Grand Lodges which set the same standards and promote the same principals as the Grand Lodge of Scotland. However, there are some Grand Lodges and other bodies which claim to be Masonic that do not meet these standards. For example some, do not require a belief in a Supreme Being, others permit their members as such to participate in political matters. For these reasons such bodies cannot be considered to be Masonically regular and Scottish Freem