Page 4 - 2020 Summer

Charity
Our own Rainbow Girls hand painted small flower pots, planted
As I'm sure is true for many of you, the them, and delivered them to the wives of the Masons of Centralia
Covid-19 crisis has me contemplating Lodge.
Masonic charity, and just what it means
to be a Freemason in these trying times. That was, in my view, an amazing touch of charity. Through their
Without question Masonic charity actions, these girls lived up to a very high calling of Masonry. They
includes our large, institutionalized made the world around them just a little bit brighter.
charities. Things like our Shrine
Hospitals, the Scottish Rite language My wife and I are quite lucky. We are both able to work from
programs, and closest to us, Washington home, and we are both still getting paid for doing so. Unlike millions
Masonic Charities. These large at this time, we do not need financial assistance. We are also young
organizations do superb, oftentimes life enough and healthy enough to be able to safely shop for ourselves
changing work every day. It is important and our family. Unlike so many in our society, we don't need
that as individual Masons we do all we physical help.
can to support these efforts.
RWB CAMERON Masonic charity also extends to the That doesn't mean however that these lockdowns haven't taken a
BAILY - GRAND toll. Working from home isn't easy; some checks from clients have
been late. We have three grandparents still alive, all between the
SENIOR WARDEN ages of 95 and 99 which causes a great deal of worry. We've been
Lodge level with our scholarships, bikes for books, and other locally unable to visit friends, travel, and certainly haven't been able to sit
focused endeavors. Each of these things improves the lives of down and enjoy the company of Masons and our Masonic family.
people in our communities, and like our larger, better known efforts, What I'm trying to communicate, using myself as an example, is
need our support as well.
that this has been a trying time for everyone, even those who,
Lastly though, and what I would like to touch upon today is brother generally speaking, have had it better than others.
to brother, person to person charity. Charity between one member This year Mother's Day was kind of a sad day for my wife. Usually
of our Masonic family to another.
we have a big BBQ at her grandmother’s house, the extended family
Often charity is thought of in terms of money. That certainly isn't comes, and we have a great time. This year we couldn't do any of
all that charity is however. Charity is comfort to those who are that. No brothers and sisters, only two out of the three kids, nothing
bereaved. Charity is shopping for those who might not be able to do at all at the grandmothers.
it safely. Charity is a smile to someone who is sad or stressed. So, my wife was feeling a little blue, as I'm sure countless millions
Charity is a ride to an appointment.
of other Mothers were around this country.
In fact, when the words 'Faith, Hope, and Charity' were written into I've got to say, that all changed when the Centralia Rainbow
our rituals the word charity didn't mean money at all. It meant "love wandered into our backyard and handed her the plant. It was a
of humankind."
small gesture to be sure, but a gesture from the heart, and as such,
I was reminded of all of this on Mother's Day, by our own Centralia charity in its highest form.
Rainbow Girls.

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