THE MASONIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION
This Short Talk Bulletin is dedicated to the employees and Field Agents of
the Masonic Service Association of the U.S. who bring to the Freemasons, their
families and the public at large; information, dedication, caring and service.
It is intended to bring you the MSA story - Richard E. Fletcher, Editor
We hope you like our new look!
This logo is now the official insignia of the Masonic Service Association of
the United States. Using the Square and Compasses, widely recognized as the
visible symbol of Freemasonry, we have added the Book of Knowledge and the
Eternal Flame.
Both of these symbols are visible expressions of MSA involvement with the
Masonic Fraternity and the public at large.
The Book of Knowledge symbolizes learning and faith since knowledge is
available both through reading books and reading The Book or The Holy Bible, the
rule and guide of our faith!
The Eternal Flame symbolizes hope and is best expressed through the hope
given to patients by our Hospital Visitors through our National Hospital
Visitation Program.
Hope is also given to those who have suffered natural catastrophes and have
had an appeal made on their behalf through our Disaster Relief Program.
WHAT IS THE MSA?
The Masonic Service Association of the United States was formed in 1919 to
provide services to its member Grand Lodges that they would find it difficult to
provide for themselves.
Thus the national voice that the MSA has is dedicated to SERVICE to the
Masonic community.
Our statement of purpose is:
THE MASONIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES IS A SERVANT OF
FREEMASONRY. FORMED OF AND SUPPORTED BY AMERICAN GRAND LODGES, IT IS A VOICE
THEY MAY COMMAND TO SPEAK, A HAND THEY CAN MOVE TO ACTION, THAT THE GREAT HEART
OF THE FRATERNITY BE MADE MANIFEST AND THAT THE WILL OF A UNITED CRAFT MAY BE
DONE.
We do not have, nor do we seek, jurisdictional authority of any kind! Our
purpose is not to set policy, issue edicts, or otherwise become involved in
Masonic jurisprudence or law-making. That is the responsibility of each
sovereign Grand Jurisdiction!
What we are and what we do will be described in the following pages.
EDUCATIONAL/INFORMATIONAL
Feel free to contact the MSA for a copy of our Catalog which lists our
publications, films and videotapes available to Freemasons throughout the
country.
Our best known publication is the Short Talk Bulletin sent to all lodges and
Grand Lodge officers in our member jurisdictions. We also mail this publication
to our large subscriber list. This booklet is published each month on a Masonic
or Masonic related subject. We now have over 700 issues in print.
We also have digests on many subjects such as the "Think Tank For Junior
Wardens", "How to Dress Up Your Speech" and "Leadership" to name a few. These
digests are intended to make Freemasons more knowledgeable as they develop their
leadership qualities.
Several video tapes and films, usually for any audience, can be rented or
purchased. Some of these films and tapes were prepared by Grand Lodges and made
available to the MSA for wider distribution, while others were produced by the
MSA itself.
DISASTER RELIEF
The Association, after investigation, issues appeals to Masonic bodies
throughout the United States and Canada for funds to relieve the human needs of
Masons and their families resulting from disaster and catastrophes. The
administrative costs of such appeals are absorbed by the Association. All relief
funds collected are forwarded to the Grand Lodge in the afflicted area for
distribution to those in need.
The following list gives an idea of the many catastrophes to which MSA has
responded on behalf of the Grand Lodges of the United States and Canada.
SUMMARY OF MASONIC RELIEF
Japanese Earthquake Relief, 1923 1,577.25 Florida Hurricane, 1926 114,236.97
Mississippi Valley Flood, 1927 608,291.91 Puerto Rico Hurricane, 1928 86,316.58
Florida Hurricane, 1928 107,622.14 Kentucky Flood, 1937 33,771.01 Austrian
Relief Fund, 1938 5,202.36 Chilean Earthquake, 1939 7,387.27 Masonic Service
Centers, 1941 to June 30, 1946 1,538,334.42 Philippine Relief Fund, 1945
46,798.46 European Masonic Relief, 1946 to December 31, 1955 206,780.51 Ecuador
Relief Fund, 1949 20,734.51 Manitoba Relief Fund, 1950 19,210.44 Holland Relief
Fund, 1953 29,985.32 Tamaulipas Relief Fund, 1955 18,024.42 Miscellaneous
Relief, 1958 1,000.00 Chilean Relief, 1960 11,436.75 Cuban Relief, 1961-62
54,718.90 Louisiana Hurricane Relief, 1965 59,395.54 Italy: Flood Relief, 1967
20,008.68 Mississippi Relief, 1969 87,367.33 Peru Relief, 1970 19,220.82
Philippine Flood Relief, 1972 5,960.00 Nicaragua Earthquake Relief, 1973
13,696.60 Honduran Relief, 1974 7,320.00 Guatemala Relief, 1976 66,130.26
Mississippi Flood Relief, 1979 80,560.63 Dominican Republic Disaster, 1979
32,859.55 Chilean Earthquake, 1985 36,927.00 Florida Hurricane, 1985 20,244.00
Mexico Earthquake, 1985 6,220.00 Columbian Earthquake, 1985 100.00 Chilean
Flood, 1987 32,500.00 Hospital Visitation Program, 7/1/46-12/31/87 9,456,046.00
_____________ 12,870,185.63
HOSPITAL VISITATION PROGRAM
Perhaps the best known of all the MSA Programs is the Hospital Visitation
Program which provides assistance and service to our sick or wounded veterans
and is truly "Freemasonry working at its very best!"
The Masonic Service Association of the United States conducts an active
Hospital Visitation Program in more than 140 Veterans Administration Medical
Centers, several state operated Veterans Homes, and in a number of Military
Hospitals, using hundreds of volunteers who contribute more than one half
million volunteer hours of service each year. This program is wholly financed by
the voluntary contributions of Masons and Masonic bodies. More than nine million
dollars have been expended in the operation of this Program since 1946.
Its hard to describe this program. You really have to experience it to
realize the warmth and love shown by our Hospital Visitors to both patients and
hospital staff and the same affection shown in return!
Grand Lodge officers routinely visit V.A. Hospitals during their term of
office. As a Past Grand Master this "official duty" was also performed by me.
However, it was done with so many other things on my mind that the full
importance of what was occurring didn't come to me at the time. Only later when
visiting as a "helper" did the full impact of our great and good work in the
hospitals become more apparent.
You have to see a patient on several occasions before they come to trust you
and share with you their hopes and fears. No one wants to be in the hospital.
Our job is to make an unpleasant occurrence have real meaning to the patients.
To tell them that they are not alone.
When a family arrives at a V.A. Hospital not knowing what will happen to
their loved one; no place to stay, no where to turn; you can bet a Masonic
Hospital Visitor will be there to help them.
When a patient can't communicate in a normal way, such as speaking or
writing, a hospital visitor tries to understand the patient's needs and help
them make themselves understood.
When a patient has no one to turn to; no one to care; no one to confide in;
the Masonic Hospital Visitor fills that lonesome void and in most cases is able
to be of real comfort and help to the patient.
The Masonic Hospital Visitation Program, working on behalf of all Freemasons,
gives us an excellent opportunity to let the community at large understand what
a "great heart" our fraternity truly has!
The next time someone says to you "Freemasons really need a national
charitable program" rest assured that it already has one. It is a program that
is making a tremendous contribution to those who answered our nation's call!
When the call came to serve our nation, our veteran's answered with pride and
dedication. Now it is our turn to answer their call for someone to care! Do we
dare not answer them with the same pride and dedication?
The Masonic Service Association of the United States salutes all Freemasons
for making this outstanding program possible!
This then is a brief outline of the MSA story. We are here solely to serve
Freemasonry through our many and varied programs.
We do these things in your name!
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