The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

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Chapter 8 - Categorization of Rituals
This information shall suffice with regard to North American Masonic
charity. In other countries, the Masons are less present in public, and therefore
are less well known for their good deeds, for example in Germany. The situation
is also different in France where the beneficial system raises other problems:
Modern France is a welfare state, and there is little scope for organised
charity on the scale adopted by American Masonry. Such organized
charity as there is in French Masonry is devoted to widows and orphans
of Masons, and indigent Masons. Despite the divisions in French
Masonry, five grand bodies combined to support a Masonic orphanage
and other in-house charities: GLNF, GLdF, GOdF, GLTSO and the
women-only GLFF. Contributions are based per capita on membership
figures. This presented a problem. The GLNF and GOdF base their
figures on returns of membership from lodges, not on an actual headcount
of Masons within the Obedience - and individual members often
belong to several lodges. These two bodies withdrew support, and the
orphanage is now maintained by the combined contributions of GLdF,
GLTSO and GLFF. 1611
Now let us leave the Masons for a moment and consider a similar fraternal
organization, the Oddfellows. Here, we will notice a striking difference to the
Masonic order as far as charity is concerned. The social conditions of the country
during the advent of Oddfellowship are very important: Oddfellowship
originated in England, and when it was introduced to North America, it arrived
just at a blessed time: its birth fell into the first quarter of the nineteenth century,
when the country had seen fundamental positive changes. It was the era of
growing independence and self-determination. For the second time, North
America had maintained her independence of Great Britain, and the newly born
Republic had achieved a strong position among the nations of the earth. The
social conditions of the people had improved, and the Republic was considered
"the country offering the best homes, shelter, and advantages to the oppressed
and the poor." 1612 The first presidential term of Monroe and the popularity of his
doctrine had blessed the whole nation with a "tide of good feeling," and an "era
of prosperity" 1613 :
The coëval blessings attending the American people made it a most
fitting period for the advent of American Odd Fellowship. Almost born
in a manger, like many others of the truly great its birth was unhonored
and unsung. Nursed in secrecy, performing its deeds of charity in the
modest manner recommended by Divine law, its growth was unnoticed
[...]. 1614
1611
Henderson and Pope, vol. II, p. 192.
1612
Stillson, The History and Literature of Odd Fellowship, p. 66.
1613
Ibid.
1614
Stillson, The History and Literature of Odd Fellowship, p. 66.