The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-09
MASON IN CHARITY
Topeka Lodges Take Care of
Scores of Families.
Few Are Aware of Work That
Is Done Quietly.
CONDUCT BUREAU FOR WORK
Employment Is Found for Hun
dreds Every Year.
Even Keep Up Life Insurance
Policies of Destitute.

Adversely enters the home of per-
sons on the rolls of no charitable or
gan1ZatiOl. In the heart of winter, the
head of the household is without en-
ployment, without funds, and without
! food or fuel. Outside a winter storm is
| raging. Inside the shelter called a
home. no fire offers to comfort the
distress of the outer man, no food -
satisfy the inner.
AS nearly as they can possibly do
| so, the persons within the home keep
to themselves the secret of their pow
erty. Relief from a charitable insti-
| tuition is to them a calamity no less
than the misfortune that has already
visited them. And yet they nave
reached the limit of their means.
Their misfortune has dulled them.
They hardly look about for relief.
They know of no place where they can
get it.
And then one day. they are dis
turbed. A coal man wants to know
where he is to unload his wagon.
grocer calls to leave an order and The
butcher sends his package.
Not one of the persons within that
home has the faintest idea who their
benefactor it. Probably not one of
their neighbors could tell them.
An old woman, alone in the world,
is missed by her neighbOrS. 1nveSti-
cation proves that she is ILL What lit
tie help her friends can offer her, she
receives. Then a doctor comes. Med
1cines are sent to her and perhaps, #
she needs one, a trained nurse is pro-
vided.
Who stands the expense?
Such cases are not unusual although
information concerning them is. The
organizations that are dealing out this
charity are taking particular pains to
see that their work is given no pub
liclty. That is one of the characters
tics of their work.
Although few persons outside of the
orga nizations are aware of the fact,
every Masonic club is in itself a char
liable agency. They confine their
work to no particular field. They
limit themselves to no particular eX-
penditure.
Every Mason who knows of case
that needs assistance is duty bound to
report it to his lodge. That the per-
sons in distress are not members of
any Masonic body is a matter that
must not concern the Mason.
Conduct Employment Bureau.
In the local Temple, as in every
other Temple in the country, an en-
ployment bureau is maintained and
here Mason and non-Mason alike seek
work.
One Masonic body maintains an
almoncr fund A Mason designated
as an almoncr is appointed to take
charge of it. The only report that |
the club will accept from the almoner |
is a statement of the amount ex- |
ana the amount on manu- 4NO
mention of where or for what purpose
the money was spent is made. None
is wanted.
That is the nature of Masonic char
ity.
One body is caring for a member
who has lost the use of his limbs The
man is absolutely helpless. His club
not only sees that he and his wife are
provided with the necessities of life,
but also keeps up his life insurance
policies and pays for a nurse to care
for him. The single item-payment
FOR nurse-costs that club 1855 a year.
That is only one item in the expense
IF caring for one individual
When information concerning the
charitable work of the Masons is
sought, no one can be found who
knows a thing about it. Few MaSons
n fact do know who is being assisted
Even a general idea of work is obtain
I'd with difficulty.
The work is carried on continuously
and quietly. A Mason is told by
friend that sit is too bad those poor
are in such distress" The
Ma son tips off the almoner and the
.lmoEer investigates. Whenever the
;ase is worthy relief is prompt