The Masonic Foundation: In the Beginning

The Masonic Foundation of D.C: In the Beginning

The Masonic Foundation of the District of Columbia was created by the Grand Lodge at a Special Communication, called by the Grand Master, J. August Johnson, Jr., on March 31, 1960. At that communication, following thorough discussion, the Grand Lodge adopted proposals authorizing the creation of a “Certificate of Incorporation” and the establishment of “By-Laws for the operation of the Masonic Foundation.”

By these actions the Grand Lodge responded positively to growing concerns about the future of fundraising for charitable purposes in the jurisdiction. It was clear at that time that developments over which the Grand Lodge had no control could impact adversely on established charitable programs. Moreover, there was a general feeling in the Craft that something should be done to regulate and protect the brethren, their lodges, and the Grand Lodge as they pursued their charitable endeavors.

These concerns had been voiced as early as 1959. The Masters’ Association in that year proposed a resolution in Grand Lodge “for the protection and safeguarding of the offices, the persons and the estates of the Grand Master of Masons of the District of Columbia and the Worshipful Masters of its constituent lodges, as well as the assets and funds of the Grand Lodge and its constituent lodges.” By this resolution, which was adopted, the association also obtained permission to apply for tax exemptions, federal and local.

During 1959 the Grand Master, MWB Reuben Bagley, Jr., appointed a Special Committee to study the possibility of establishing a foundation to handle such matters. He was concerned about the ability of Masons in the District of Columbia to continue to make significant contributions in support of the operation of the Masonic and Eastern Star Home. “In the near future,” he said, “we will lose the free facilities of the Ball Park (Griffith Stadium), adding

Stewart W. Miner, PGM Grand Secretary Emeritus

another great expense in rental of a suitable place for an affair of this nature (the Night of Thrills).” The Night of Thrills, to which the Grand Master referred, had been a consistently fruitful fundraiser ever since it was launched in 1938. Typically it involved the presentation of a professional baseball game, which was then followed by a program of very entertaining circus acts. Over the years it netted proceeds ranging from $20,000 to more than $30,000 per year. The success of these programs was made possible, in no small way, by the benevolence of Clark and Calvin Griffith, who made Griffith Stadium available to the fraternity at no cost whatsoever.

The premonition of MWB Bagley proved to be well founded. The local team, the Washington Senators, moved to Minneapolis in 1960, to become the Minnesota Twins, and a replacement expansion club, also known as the Washington Senators, moved to what is now known as RFK Stadium at the end of the 1961 season. The Griffith Stadium was closed in 1962 and demolished in 1965. According to the proceedings of the Grand Lodge, the last “Night of Thrills,” in its originally conceived form, took place in Griffith Stadium in 1961. During its first year of existence, that is, in 1960, the Masonic Foundation acquired donations derived from a social affair entitled the Golden Compass Ball, from individuals, and from established associated Masonic bodies, including the Scottish Rite Bodies of D.C., the Scottish Rite Foundation, S.J., and Almas Temple. The financial statement for the year, submitted on May 10, 1961, indicated receipts of $5,002.68 and disbursal of $2,427.68, all for the Masonic and Eastern Star Home. The balance, $2,575, was invested. From that humble beginning the assets of the Foundation, restricted and unrestricted, have grown to a total $6,626,555 as of December 31, 2007. The pattern of fundraising established by the Foundation in 1960 was carried forward, basically without change, until 1987, when the property of the Masonic and Eastern Star Home and the care of its guests was

The Masonic Foundation of D.C:

Past and Present

The Masonic Foundation of D.C. is a fully tax-exempt publicly-supported charity under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Service, and its activities must be exclusively for charitable, religious, scientific, literary and educational purposes under the terms of the IRS Code and Regulations. The current Trustees of the Foundation are the Grand Master, Akram R. Elias, ex officio; the Grand Secretary, Mansour Hatefi, ex officio; the Grand Treasurer, Robert F. Drechsler, ex officio; Harold Grainger, Paul D. Gleason, Alan L. Gordon and William E. Harvey. Each Lodge chooses a Representative to the Masonic Foundation and the members of Grand Lodge are the members of the Masonic Foundation.

The Foundation does not perform private Masonic charity to the brethren, their widows, and orphans or for activities which do not qualify under IRS guidelines. Those types of private Masonic charity are left to individual members, Lodges and to such organizations as St. John’s Mite. The Masonic Foundation consists of four endowment funds at the present time. The Restricted Fund is for the benefit of the Masonic and Eastern Star Home of the District of Columbia, Charities, Inc. (M.E.S.H.) which receives the annual income. There are two Unrestricted Funds – the General Unrestricted Fund and the Special Unrestricted Fund. The fourth fund is the Youth Fund which is to support the needs of Nation’s Capital DeMolay activities in Washington, D.C., scholarships for Washington, D.C., and other youth related purposes. During the 70s and 80s, most of the monies were raised by the Masters Association (now called Masters and Wardens Association) each year, which sponsored fund raising campaigns to raise money for the Foundation. The Foundations fund drives in the past reflected the wide-spread interest in the philanthropic objectives of the Foundation and the generosity of the brethren in this jurisdiction. The Foundation’s honor rolls listed hundreds of individual and lodge donors. The Foundation now receives

William F. Harvey, PM

President

direct donations and bequests from the brethren within the jurisdiction and from lodge contributions. Efforts to broaden the charitable concerns of the Foundation were increased from the late 80s, while continuing support for organizations already receiving financial assistance from the Foundation. In the last five years, the Trustees have concentrated on basic administrative activities such as making sure that its endowment funds are properly invested in well-diversified investments allocated among the various economic sectors of the economy and that the investment managers are well-qualified and that their fees are reasonable, that the tax reports of the Foundation and the annual audits are professionally prepared and performed, and that the Foundation continues to meet the IRS requirement that it is public supported and that all of its activities are for qualified charitable purposes. Beyond that, the Trustees have discussed ways in which the charitable activities of the Masonic Foundation of D.C. can be carried out in a manner that will reflect well on the Masonic fraternity in the District of Columbia so that the general public will recognize the important work that our fraternity performs in the community, to society in general, as well as to our brotherhood. This is a slow and thoughtful process. Thus far, we have made progress in our scholarship and educational support activities. The main scholarship activity is to award college scholarships to graduates of public schools in the District of Columbia. The Scholarship Program of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia evolved out of a recommendation made to the Grand Lodge by the then Grand Master in 1987, L. Robert Baker. Since then the program has assisted hundreds of D.C. high school graduates to matriculate at colleges and universities throughout the country. The Masonic Foundation’s scholarship recipients are selected from a large group of applicants, whose credentials are carefully evaluated by the Grand Lodge

Scholarship Committee, chaired by Worshipful itan Area to read and write and overcome related Brother Timothy R. Bennett. The Committee sends learning disabilities; raising of $18,000.00 for the commaterials to the public high schools in D.C. to solicit pletion and dedication of a permanent Obelisk in the applications and recommends to the Trustees those plot assigned to D.C. at the Medal of Honor Grove, a students deemed worthy of receiving these scholarfocal point of the Freedoms Foundation in Valley ships. We have expanded this program from a Forge, Pennsylvania, in that year; Initiation of a three one-time award to allow the recipients to continue to year project in 2000 to invest $15,000.00 per annum to apply during their four years of college as long as they establish The Masonic Model Student Assistance are making satisfactory progress. In 1991 the ScholTraining Program, to identify children and young arships were in the amount of $500.00 each. In 2007, adults at risk, in the District of Columbia; Production; Production we awarded ten scholarships at $2,500.00 each. of 7,500 copies of a 30-minute educational video on the The Trustees of the Foundation anticipate similar scholarship awards during current fiscal year and would like to expand its D.C. Public High School Scholarship Program. 1May 2 namairh Ciphsrolahc S,ttnen Be . RyhTimot ..C D ofonitndaou FicMason y W Nlvd., BruhtracA M5428 f 422516−220016−00 2..C DontgWashin ,ttnneer. B MDear , 70 20 beginnings of American History, entitled “Mr. Dreyfus Goes to Washington”, at a cost of $59,750.00, for distribution throughout the nation, in 2001; In 2004, the Masonic Foundation, commissioned Peter Waddell, The Foundation has estab,iphsrolahc Sniotndaou Ficsona Mehh tThrough ThroughThroug aveI h h I the New Zealand born lished two $15,000 scholarthi wniotcaud eyradonce−s t posy mrefurthbeen able to furbeen able to feen able toen able artist, to explore and display ships at American University d.ee n Iancethe financial assistancethe financial assistancthe financial assistanthe financial assistahe financial assiste financial assifinancial assfinancial ainancial nancial tah tlukfna th som a I 21 original paintings, depictfor graduates of D.C. public Iynitutr o oppe the mgiveyou have worked hard to giveyou have worked hard to givyou have worked hard to gyou have worked hard to you have worked hard tou have worked hard have worked hardhave worked harave worked harave worked he worked hworked ing the role of Freemasons schools – the Masonic Found,etadedicneed to succeed. 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Bennett, for leading that effortBennett, for leading that efforennett, for leading that effnnett, for leading that efnett, for leading that eett, for leading thattt, for leading tha for leading thfor leading tor leading r leadingleadin f y f ff Yf of the early Republic, especially in Washington, D.C. Masonic Foundation of D.C. the Foundation have given me access to the mostundation have given me access to the mostndation have given me access to the mostdation have given me access to the mosation have given me access to the mtion have given me access to the mon have given me access to the n have given me access to thehave given me access to thhave given me access to tave given me access tove given me access te given me access given me accesiven me acceven me accen me acn me a and the surrounding area. Perry A. Lester Scholarship. valuable opportunity fo a lifetime: Education. ty of a lifetime: Education. of a lifetime: Education. f a lifetime: Educationa lifetime: Educationa lifetime: Educatilifetime: Educaifetime: Educfetime: Edutime: Edime: E This project, at a cost of In addition to the scholarships, the Foundation has supported several projects to improve education in D.C. public schools and our current Grand Master is working very closely with the D.C. Administration on various educational projects. We hope to be an important part of the work that is ongoing in improving the D.C. public schools. I am honored to write this letter of appreciation tote this letter of appreciation toe this letter of appreciation tothis letter of appreciation tohis letter of appreciation this letter of appreciation s letter of appreciationletter of appreciatioletter of appreciattter of appreciaer of apprecr of apprer of approf appr you. Thank you for all that you do for youth in thishat you do for youth in thisat you do for youth in thisyou do for youth in thisyou do for youth in thiou do for youth in thu do for youth in tdo for youth in do for youth ifor youth for youthor yout community. You have given me the motivation totivation tovation toation t achieve all my dreams. I thank you fr om the bottomrom the bottomom the bottomm the bottomm the bottomthe bottohe bot of my heart and promise that I will do my very bestvery bestery bestry best to make you proud of me. You have displayed to me that adults and organizations do care about the plight of America’s you th. g I am indebted to the Masonic Foundation forever. Thank you so much!!!! Respectfully, Christina J, White f nearly $120,000.00, culminated in the exhibition entitled “The Initiated Eye: Secrets, Symbols, Freemasonry and the Architecture of Washington, D.C.”, which was opened at the Octagon Museum, on May 18, 2005. The exhibition has been on tour since then at th e George Washington Masonic Memorial, the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, the Grand Apart from providing finanLodge of Nebraska, and the cial support for a number of organizations and also a Grand Lodge of California with many more to follow. number of scholarships to high school graduates, on an annual basis, Masonic Foundation has played a significant role in assisting the Grand Lodge in its charitable and community base efforts. A partial list of such activities includes: In 2005, a fundraising campaign culminated in the raising of nearly $ 20,000.00 which was allocated, in part, to a number of the projects supported by the Foundation, such as the Initiated Eye Exhibition, Scholarships and the Masonic Model Student AssisContribution of $50,000.00 toward the purchase of a tance Training Program; In 2006, donations by the Wheelchair Bus for the V.A. Hospital in Washington, constituent lodges enabled the Foundation to raise D.C. in 1996; collection of $60,000.00 in 1979 to help $26,000.00 under the VA Chapel Project for the fund the activities of the Chelsea School, an institution purchase of new pews for the Chapel of the Washinghelping dyslexic children of the Washington Metropolton, D.C. Veterans’ Medical Center; In 2006 and 2007,

Excerpts from the Grand Master’s Installation Address

“I am deeply humbled not of birth. America by the honor that the to me is much more Freemasons of this than a country; it is an Grand Jurisdiction idea, a powerful idea have bestowed upon that has been shaping me by electing me as human civilization for their Grand Master.” more than two and a “I am so indebted and grateful to my wife and partner Lou who has stood next to me, not behind me, nor in front of me, but always next to and by me. On behalf of the Grand Lodge, I would like to thank you Lou for all that you have done and are continuing to do in support of me and Freemasonry. I would also like to recognize the presence of your Sisters who have come in force to show their support to you, and by extension to me, on this unique occasion. Our ladies are very important and precious to us. In order to better acknowledge their M.W.Bro. Elias at prayer imme as Grand Master ofMasons in half centuries. My father passed away few years ago, but my mother traveled all the way from Paris, France to witness this ceremony. My mother is an extraordinary woman who was once a leader in the women’s movement in Lebanon, founded several non-governmental organizations, and was an advisor to at least three Presidents ofLebanon. She taught me and my brothers and sisters to always dream big and do the right thing. I love you Mom.” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . diately prior to his Installation the District of Columbia contribution, I would like my wife LINA: “I am proud ofyou, and to say a few words to them.” would like to be always proud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ofyou. But as a mom, Ican’t but LOU: “I know what it means to make some recommendations: be supportive of your husbands • Keep your goodness and as they go about doing the good generosity works as Freemasons. On behalf ofmy husband, the Grand Master, I would like to express my • Keep to im your dreams plement them and work most sincere thanks to you and • Don’t let honors go to your present you with a small gift as The Grand Master with his wife, First head a token of our appreciation. This gift is quite special and very symbolic to me. It is a sterling silver bracelet made up of white and pink pearls and is being sold by its maker for the Lady Lourdes Elias • Don’t forget your native country, Lebanon. Lebanon needs peace; all the regions needs peace, but especially Lebanon needs peace. purpose ofraising funds for the I didn’t know what gift to offer Susan G. Komen for the Cure. you, after giving you my As some of you know, I am a heart. I was looking in my breast cancer survivor.” family heritage, and I found . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a ring, my father’s ring; he “I owe so much to my parents who gave me the opportunity to come to the United States and become an American by choice The Elia G s rand Master and his mother, Lina was a Freemason. It is a very old stone, from the Roman Empire; it is almost two thousand years old; a Phoenician