HOW TO APPLY TO THE MASONIC FOUNDATION FOR RELIEF
SECTION 18 - HIRAM'S HANDBOOK
During your year as Master, a few members of your Lodge or the widow of a
member might need help. You can request financial relief, in moderate amounts,
from the Masonic Charitable Foundation.
The first step is to get an application form. A copy is attached.
The second step is to interview the recipient in order to obtain the information
needed to complete the form.
These are the things the Foundation looks for in evaluating an application and
deciding on the appropriate level of relief:
1. Application. Your application will receive a quick response if you submit a
complete application with all the blanks filled in and with bills reflecting the
outstanding obligations.
2. A narrative. The Foundation has no independent means of evaluating an
application. It is always helpful if you enclose a letter giving some background
on the individual and his or her situation.
3. Participation by the Lodge. It is not required, but it adds credibility to
your application to show how much the Lodge, itself, has done to relieve the
distress of a Brother or his family member.
4. Negotiation. Many applications indicate obligations far in excess of the
Foundation’s ability to relieve. Many Lodges take a very active role in
assisting a Brother to negotiate or compromise his obligations. In a recent
case, a Brother had medical expenses in excess of $41,000.00. The Brother and
his Lodge very skillfully negotiated this down to slightly more than $6,000.00
which he, his Lodge and our Foundation were able to pay in full.
5. Allocation. When the application is complete, the background information
provided, all other sources tapped, and the obligation reduced as low as it can
be, the Foundation can respond quickly taking into consideration the extent of
funds available and the needs of other applicants.
GRAND LODGE OF MAINE, A F & A M, CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
APPLICATION FOR RELIEF
Before making an application for relief please read carefully the brochure
giving information about applications for and policies governing Maine Masonic
Charity_____Lodge, No.____ A. F.&A.M.
located at________________________________________ requests relief for the
following beneficiary:
1. Name__________________________________________________
Age______
2. Address
___________________________________________________________
3. Masonic affiliation or connection (name of
member)____________________________
4. Address of member named as Masonic connection, if
living________________________
5. Is the beneficiary employed? (Yes or No) if unemployed, is beneficiary able
to work?______
Is the beneficiary handicapped?____ If handicapped, in what way and to
what extent _________
___________________________________________________________________
If beneficiary is not employed and is not handicapped, give reason for
unemployment ___________________________________________________________________
6. Former business or occupation
________________________________________________
7. What has been the means of support?
___________________________________________
8. Living relatives (including wife, children, mother, father)
| Name |
Relationship |
Age |
Residence |
| _________________ |
_________________ |
_________________ |
_________________ |
| _________________ |
_________________ |
_________________ |
_________________ |
| _________________ |
_________________ |
_________________ |
_________________ |
| _________________ |
_________________ |
_________________ |
_________________ |
| _________________ |
_________________ |
_________________ |
_________________ |
| _________________ |
_________________ |
_________________ |
_________________ |
9. Is the beneficiary a member of York Rites____Scottish
Rites______Eastern Star______
10. To what other organizations does, or did, the relative named in Question No.
3 above belong?___________________________________________________________
11. Is the beneficiary receiving aid from other organizations?____If so, give
names of the organizations and amounts
received________________________________________
12. Has beneficiary served in the Armed Forces?___________If so, in which war
and the branch and length of service_________
13. Real estate owned by beneficiary and/or spouse:______________________
a. Location of
property_____________________________________________
b. Market value______________________ c. Amount of annual
taxes____________________
d. Is there a mortgage on the property?_________ If SO, how
much? $________
e. What is the amount of monthly or other payments being made
on the mortgage and by whom? $________
f. Who holds the mortgage?______________________
14. Indicate by an (X) the type of housing in which beneficiary is now living:
Owned____Rented____
Boarding ; Lodging; Nursing Home - (Name and
address)____________________________
If the beneficiary is living with a relative, give the name, relationship and
address______________
If living with a non-related family, give name and
address__________________________
15. Personal property of beneficiary Check and cash $_______________ savings
$_______
securities $___; other personal property including automobile, etc. ____________
16. Amount of life insurance $ _______ Beneficiary of policy(s)________________
17. Is beneficiary eligible for retirement insurance under the Federal Social
Security law? (Yes or No) Has beneficiary applied? __________ If not, give
reason_________________________
Result of application_________________________________
18. Income per month from all sources including assistance from member of the
family but excluding Masonic relief:
Source
Amount per Month
____________________________________________________________ $_____
____________________________________________________________ $_____
____________________________________________________________ $_____
____________________________________________________________ $_____
19. Approximate amounts per month now being expended for:
Rent $__________ Care $________ Fuel $_________ Clothing $________ Food $_______
Medicine$____ Utilities $___ Other$_____
Explain_________________________________
If in a nursing home, what is weekly or monthly rate?
$______________________________
20. The following bills are unpaid (please list name of company(s) and
individual (s) owed and the amount of each unpaid bill or attach the bills to
this application.) Give specifics
21. How much relief is requested by the beneficiary for the
period ending March 31? $_______
22. How much relief is requested by the Lodge? $________
Is this request being made by vote of the Lodge or the elected Charity
Committee? _________
23. Other information which will be helpful in considering this application
_________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Financial Condition of Lodge
24. Last annual communication date____________No. of members on that date ____
25. Annual dues per member $_________________ Assessments $______________
26. Total amount of dues collected as given in last Annual Report?
$______________
27. Amount of uncollected dues at last Annual Communication?
$_______________________
28. Balance of General Funds at last Annual Communication?
$________________________
29. Debt of the Lodge or Association at last Annual Communication?
$_________________
30. Amount of Charity Fund at last Annual Communication? $_____________________
31. Is the principal available for relief or only the income?
__________________________
32. Approximate annual income from the Charity Fund $____________
33. Source of other funds for relief purposes
____________________________________________________________________________
34. What is the total amount of relief from all sources, excluding Grand Lodge
funds, spent in the year ending at the last Annual Communication of the Lodge?
$___________________
35. How much will the lodge provide for the beneficiary of this application?
$____________
36. List all other charity cases to which the Lodge is now contributing and the
amount of each:
| Name |
Amount
|
|
_____________________________________________________
|
$ __________ |
| _____________________________________________________ |
$ __________ |
| _____________________________________________________ |
$ __________ |
| _____________________________________________________ |
$ __________ |
| _____________________________________________________ |
$ __________ |
37. If relief is granted, is it proposed to disburse it to the
beneficiary in one lump sum or in occasional
payments?___________________________
38. If the Lodge requests assistance from the Charitable Foundation for
more than one beneficiary, list
names of all of them in order of need: 1st __________________________________
2nd _________________________ 3rd _______________________________
This application is made on behalf of ____________________________Lodge. No.____
by the undersigned. The Secretary will act as Almoner in the distribution of any
grant that may be made by the Trustees of the Charitable Foundation to assist
the Lodge in the relief of the beneficiary for whom this application is made.
Signed________________________________ W.M.
Type or print name_______________________ W.M.
Address______________________________________
Phone Number____________________
Signed________________________________Secretary
Type or print name _________________________
Address _________________________
Phone Number _________________________
Date _________________________
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