Brethren, it has now been over a year since the first lockdown was imposed on us and Freemasonry disrupted beyond our wildest imaginations. Inevitability with the lockdown, and the subsequent associated restrictions that followed, came the disruption to our MCF Festival. With much of our fundraising grinding to a halt, it truly has been a tough twelve months.
Covid-19 has had a huge impact on the lives of many individuals and organisations worldwide and the repercussions will be felt for many years to come. Livelihoods and jobs have been lost, while our patience and mental health has been tested to the limits. Now, more than ever, we need the resources of the MCF to help many of our members and their families who have struggled to survive these testing times. There are also many in the wider community who will need our continued support to help them recover from personal setbacks. Charities large and small across the country have lost valuable fundraising opportunities.
However, there is now a light at the end of the tunnel, and we may soon be able to resume our meetings. Initially we will be restricted by the Rule of Six, with the relaxation of rules following as circumstances allow. As we begin to think about meeting again in our lodges, we also need to consider how we can resume our fundraising activity.
Now is the time to pick up where we left off pre-Covid and support the Oxfordshire 2022 MCF Festival: whether this is by making individual donations or by supporting our lodges in their fundraising activity. With just over one year of our festival remaining, having already raised £759,000, we need to have a final push to take us over the seven-figure mark. We need to consider what we can do over the coming months to make up for lost time and ensure that our appeal a stunning success of which we can all be proud.
In the next few weeks every member of our Province will receive a booklet updating them on the status of our Festival and where some of the funds have been put to use. Grants totalling over £435,000 have been distributed to local charities in the past three years. With almost £200,00 being used directly to support our members and their families, our Province has already benefitted from over £635,000.
Local charities and organisations that have benefited include:
Thames Valley Air Ambulance
Dogs for Good
Yellow Submarine
Helen and Douglas House
SSNAP Support for the Sick New-born and their Parents
Emmaus Oxford
University of Oxford
Guideposts
Sue Ryder South Oxfordshire Palliative Care Hub
Aspire Oxfordshire
The Chiltern Centre for Disabled Children
Oxford University Hospitals
Soundabout
The Archway Foundation
Occtopus Oxford Colon Cancer Trust
Katharine House Hospice
Oxford Health Trust
Lowland Rescue Oxfordshire
Full Circle
Witney Buttercross Scouts
Police Rehabilitation Centre
SeeSaw
Witney Foodbank
Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service
Oxfordshire Age UK
Oxford Health Charity
Hill End Residential Centre
Blood Bikes SERV – OBN
Over the past twelve months, Freemasonry has shown the public the charitable and compassionate side of our organisation and I believe that, going forward, we can build on the growing public perception that we are an organisation for good. An organisation that is keen to contribute to the wider society and assist people from all walks of life.
Many of our members have made valuable contributions which are credited to them and their respective lodges. We are extremely grateful and would like to acknowledge the following lodges for their ongoing support.
| Lodge Chapter No | Lodge Name | Honorific Award |
| L0478 | Churchill | Silver |
| L1399 | Marlborough | Silver |
| L1515 | Bertie | Bronze |
| L1895 | Thames | Bronze |
| L3015 | Semper Paratus | Bronze |
| L3831 | Caversham | GOLD |
| L3961 | Annesley | Silver |
| L4242 | Isis | Bronze |
| L5172 | Calthorpe | Bronze |
| L6507 | Weyland | Bronze |
| L6535 | Evenlode and Norton | Silver |
| L7725 | Old Bloxhamist | Bronze |
| L7942 | Shiplake | Bronze |
| L8292 | Icknield Way | Silver |
| L8585 | Clavis | Silver |
| L8696 | Upper Thames | Silver |
| L8850 | Lodge of Peace | Bronze |
| L8904 | Saint Giles | Bronze |
| L8926 | Aelfric | Bronze |
| L9233 | St Edburg’s | Silver |
| L9607 | Redman-Brown | Bronze |
| L9738 | Exemplo Ducemus | Bronze |
For any lodge that has funds in their Relief Chest, and intend donating to the Festival, I encourage them to arrange a transfer as soon as possible. The funds are disbursed to deserving charities soon after they are received; they are not stockpiled until the end of the Festival. Be assured that your donations will be put to good use almost immediately.
Brethren, your support for the Festival so far has been very much appreciated, but please continue to help those in our community who need our assistance. Together we can make a real difference to so many lives. Let us get back to our meeting and do what we are good at.
Finally Brethren, keep an eye out for the Festival booklet that will soon be arriving in the post. Digest the facts and figures and decide if you can help the Festival further. In the meantime, you may like to visit the Oxfordshire 2022 MCF Festival page at https://mcf.org.uk/festivals/oxford.
Should you have questions, require support or guidance please feel free to contact either myself or our Provincial Grand Charity Steward, W. Bro Andrew Keech.
Graham Ellis dpgm@oxfordshirefreemasons.org Andrew Keech charity@oxfordshirefreemasons.org
Brethren, I look forward to seeing many of you soon. I sincerely thank you for your support.
Stay safe.
V W Bro Graham Ellis Deputy Provincial Grandmaster & Festival Chairman