Page 3 - Triangle December 2007 Issue 3

Endoscope Those of us who have been in Regular At a meeting of Charity
appeal Masonry and Mark Masonry a Stewards and Almoners at
long time have seen many appeals Payment
Burnham, presided over by
update come and go. We are fortunate, the Deputy PGM, Ray Guthrie,
most of us are able to contribute Promises
in October, one of the most
and hopefully we will not have to important points discussed was
call upon the charity or service that we are helping. But we that of payment promises. The following is an extract
never know what is round the corner, as this letter from David from the minutes of that meeting.
George demonstrates. The item to which David refers can be The DPGM outlined the reasons why Charity Stewards
found on the BBC website, go to the BBC news website, type- should try to obtain more payment promises from
prostate cancer- into the search box, this gives a number of Lodge members (regular giving formally know as
links, click on link titled “ Treating Prostate Cancer, video” covenants). The PGM would like to build up the
Somerset Provincial Mark Benevolent Fund for the
Dear Ray, following reasons;
Sitting watching Points West earlier this week (6 Nov 07) 1. To be able to give greater f nancial support
an item came on about advanced treatment for Prostate Can- to the Mark Benevolent Fund by making a substantial
cer. As I had been diagnosed at the beginning of this year donation to the Mark Province that is running the
as having this disease I was very interested to learn of what annual festival for that Charity.
these new advances comprised. 2. To be able to offer more support to our
Imagine my surprise when the surgeon, Mr Jon Mc- own Somerset brethren who may f nd themselves in
Farlane, who had performed my operation, came on screen diff culty. (In addition to the JJ Weber Fund.)
and was explaining the new techniques which I now as- 3. To support local charities with individual gifts
sume he had used when perfoming my operation.I was also from the fund or in combination with Lodge gifts.
very gratif ed to hear the programme give credit to the Mark 4. To reduce the burden on Lodges when
Master Masons of Somerset who had generously contributed special projects are launched, i.e. the Wraxall Hospice
£25,000 towards the funding for these researches. or Endoscope appeal. If we had a f nancially strong
Of course I f rst read it in the Triangle! fund then in such cases half the money could come
Between my operation and the subsequent Radio from the Fund and half from Lodges.
Therapy my treatment has been successful and I will know Payment promises are tax eff cient, for every £1
for sure when I see the Oncologist in early January 2008. donated a further 28p is reclaimed by the Province
What a fantastic New Year’s present. from the Inland Revenue. Keith Fisher (charity Rep
As I believe that Charity should begin at home I am South) has calculated that if payment promises of £600
deeply grateful to all of the Brethren in the Somerset Mark per Lodge per year (10 members giving £60 or 20
Degree who contributed to the magnif cent sum of money members giving £30 per year) were made for a period
presented to the RUH on the 26th January this year. Com- of four years the Somerset Provincial Mark Benevolent
bined with the expertise of the surgeon Mr Jon McFarlane, Fund would increase by £70,000.
the care and attention of the Nursing Staff and the generosity
of the Somerset Mark Benevolent Fund I am now well on the 500 CLUB LUCKY WINNERS
way to a full recovery. Many, many thanks to all concerned. Draw Name Lodge
David George, Royal Sussex Lodge of M.M.M. No 177
Mar-07 Bro. Ray Harris 177
W Bro. Cerryl Sahoy TI
500 Club is now the 600 club!! Bro. Bob O’Malley White 781

Apr-07 W Bro. Robin Bex 730
Last year, the f rst year of operation, 460 shares were bought W Bro. Chris White. 128
in the 500 club and £2,300 was raised for the Somerset W Bro. Mike Waterman 162
Masonic Benevolent Fund. This year the Provincial Charity
Representative for the North John Nicholson, the co-ordinator May-07 W Bro. Mike Cotton 1608
of the project, reports that nearly 600 shares have been W Bro. Pat Morrissey 102
bought by generous Mark Masons throughout the Province. Mrs Susan Todd 155
John would like to thank Eric Kellet the Provincial Charity
Steward, Keith Fisher - Provincial Charity Representative for June-07 Mrs V Cross 1295
the South, all Lodge Charity Stewards and Lodge members Bro. P.Harris 807
Photo; Colin Pruett
who have generously contributed. Bro. S.John Smith 781
This year prizes will be drawn every month between September
nd
rd
st
2007 and June 2008 to the value of 1 £150, 2 £60. 3 £40. Sept-07 Mrs P Vaillant 571
Draws take place at a different Lodge meeting every month, Bro Barry McCormack 119
so far the draw has been conducted in 12 Lodges, leaving a
further 9 to be visited. W.Bro. Fred Kyte 119
There is still time to join in this years draw, just ask your Oct-07 W Bro. Frank Parsons 1656
Lodge Charity Steward for a form. This years effort means that Bro. Brian Hordle 348
£3000 has been raised for the Somerset Masonic Benevolent
Fund! W Bro. Tony Robins 162
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