Members of The Villages Masonic Lodge #394 visited The Villages Charter Elementary School Thursday afternoon, with the lodge officially “adopting” Delia Collins’ fourth grade class.
Collins gratefully received their presentation of several donated items for classroom use, plus $300 in cash to purchase additional classroom supplies. In attendance, dressed to the nines, were Larry Kent, Ed Mayfield, David Dix, Bob Moynihan and Jim Farrow.
“The main reason we do this is to help the children,” Moynihan said, “however, since there are so many misconceptions about the Masonic Fraternity, this is also a good opportunity to show the non-Masonic public some of the good work we do for the community at large.”
The group plans to make annual donations to different area schools in the future, and four times a year, members participate in a local cleanup project along Rolling Acres Road in Lady Lake.
For centuries, millions of men of every race, color, creed and political persuasion throughout the world have found in the Symbolic Lodges of Freemasonry the light to guide their search for answers to eternal questions: ‘What is the meaning of life? What is the nature of God and man?’
While primarily a men’s brotherhood, there are several appendant organizations which a Mason’s family members can join to share many of their common interests and activities.
The Scottish Rite Masons of Florida, and of the United States , are affiliated with Freemasonry, a worldwide fraternal organization whose members share the common desire to better themselves as citizens and members of society. They perform myriad charitable deeds, both large and small, working quietly, with little fanfare or publicity. The organization supports hospital care for children with severe illnesses, and works tirelessly to raise money to fund worthy charitable endeavors.
In Florida, the Scottish Rite Masons do not have a hospital; however in affiliation with the Scottish Rite Foundation of Florida, they support fourteen speech and language, pathology clinics in our State, which are affiliated with the University of Florida, All Children’s Specialty Care, Wolfson’s Children’s Hospital at Baptist Medical Center and other well known healthcare providers.
For more information, contact general secretary Ralph R. Shollenberger, Sr. at 352 694-3579 or Robert J. Moynihan III at 352 7512414.
