Today one of the most important and necessary triple Constitutional ventures is the Jamaica Masonic Benevolence Association underscoring in every aspect this years Festival of St. Andrew Theme, “Together we Progress” and we will look at its history, thanks to Bro Aubrey Brown and then its current position
HISTORY OF THE JAMAICA MASONIC BENEVOLENCE ASSOCIATION
1882 –June 1982
Complied by W. Bro Aubrey A Brown
From the beginning of recorded history, people in every clime were known for their charity to the needy, but the Jews were outstanding in this noble institution. In the Holy Writ great stress was placed on being charitable.
It is no wonder therefore, that in the founding of the Jamaica Masonic Benevolence Association, seven members of Jewish faith were founding fathers:
W. Bros. Cabriel J. deCordova, Moses Delgado, Geo. C. H. Lewis, Joseph L. Ashenheim, Amos D'c Levy, Hozan
Abraham Haim, Nieto & Rev. Elias Friedlander
This Association was founded as its name indicates, to look to the needs of Masons, their dependents or relatives, who may be in need. It cannot be denied that in Masonry the membership is made up of those who may be, fortunately opulent, and also those who may be of less fortunate circumstances. Therefore, it is only natural that Masons should, by the tenets of their obligation, create the instrument to succour the less fortunate.
The Jamaica Masonic Benevolence Association held its inaugural meeting on Thursday, March 9, 1882 at the former Friendly Lodge Room at No. 23 Hanover Street, Kingston, and was presided over by Right Worshipful Brother Altamont deCordova, Deputy District Grand Master of Jamaica, English Constitution.
No one, besides the members of the Annuity Committee, is made aware of those to whom help is given.
Besides help in the domestic life of needy dependents, succour is extended in the area of Education, Sickness and Hospitalisation. There are many recipients today who were beneficiaries of the JMBA Holmes Education Fund or the JMBA Royal Lodge Hospitalisation Fund, which also takes care of those who need specialist treatment abroad.
The Jamaica Masonic Benevolence Association derives its income from bequests or gifts and contributions from Lodges and members. These are invested in gilt-edge securities and the shares and dividends derived there from form our income.
The first recorded bequest was that of W. Bro. Hon Charles Hope Levy one of founders of the Association who left £1,000.0.0. These were munificent sums in those days.
Over the last 100 years the Association has received gifts, which have all been gratefully accepted and faithfully applied. The English, the Scottish and the Irish Lodges have all contributed over these years. But sadly, there is a lack of vigorous response from individual members.
It is regrettable that there is no trace of minutes from the 1880s to 1957.
In 1957, W. Bro. Louis Hamilton of Kingston Lodge 1933 gave to the Association £500 of ordinary shares in the Jamaica Telephone Company Ltd. and this, the Association suitably acknowledged. It is recorded that at this time he enquired of the state of a previous donation of £250.0.0 donated to the Hamilton Garcia Fund.
In January 1958 the Friendly Lodge celebrated its 160th Anniversary, and, to commemorate the occasion donated £160.0.0 to the Funds of the Jamaica Masonic Benevolence Association. Also, the Ewing Lodge No. 3258 to mark its 50th year donated £50.0.0 while its Master, W. Bro. A. R. Scott gave £10.0.0
In a letter dated 18.6.59 W. Bro. P. L. Abrahams, D.G.M., resigned as President of the Association also as D.G.M, E.C. The Association lauded his work.
On the 25th January 1960, W. Bro. Meyrick McGilchrist was appointed Secretary of the Association in place of W. Bro. E. A. Tomlinson whose health failed. A letter of appreciation was suitably drafted and presented to the retiring brother. W. Bro. R. S. McPherson was also appointed Assistant Secretary.
It was in this year that Rt. W. Bro. Francis Bowen was elected Right Worshipful District Grand Master, E.C. and a resolution congratulating him was forwarded.
During the regular meeting of 25th September 1961 the last sad tribute to departed merit was paid to W. Bro. Sir Geoffrey Gunter, C.B.E. On the 26th February 1962 sad tributes were paid to W. Bro. Sir Henry Isaac Brown, W. Bro. C. deS Pinto, W. Bro. W. K. Evans, W. Bro. Harold Hart and W. Bro. K. V. Samuels. W. Bro. Sir Henry Isaac Brown bequeathed £1,000.0.0 to the Association, and the first JMBA Quarterly Newsletter was published in this year.
The Phoenix Lodge No. 914 in 1963 donated 100 guineas to mark their Centenary. It was during 1963 that dynamic Mason W. Bro. John McIntosh became Treasurer and immediately moved a resolution that the Jamaica Masonic Benevolence Association became a duly registered guarantee company.
From the Estate of W. Bro. W. E. Ashman, who died in 1958 and under the terms of his Will, the sum of $30,000.00 was received some years after by the Jamaica Masonic Benevolence Association'.
At the 28th October 1963 meeting, the Board in session expressed felicity to W. Bro. A. L. Evans, its Chairman, who recently attained his 50th year in Masonry, and to commemorate the occasion, donated £50 to start a fund in his name.
During this year W. Bro. John Larson moved a motion, which was seconded by W. Bro. J. L. Varma that a committee be appointed to look into the possibility of issuing a jewel of the Jamaica Masonic Benevolence Association to be worn by Presidents, Vice Presidents and Life Members of the Association. The English and Irish Grand Lodges gave assent to the proposal but the Scottish District did not agree. Nothing, however, came out of this move.
On 27th January 1964, sad tributes were paid to W. Bro. Ernest A. Tomlinson of Ewing Lodge No. 3258 E.C. and who was Secretary of the Association for a number of years; also to W. Bro. Brian Harcourt of St. John Lodge No. 6235 E.C.
It is to be noted that in 1962 the Royal Lodge Hospital Fund was renamed the JMBA Royal Lodge Hospital Fund, also the Holmes Educational Fund was renamed the JMBA Holmes Educational Fund.
The Board on December 15, 1964 paid suitable expressions of appreciation to Rt. W. Bro. Jackson McL. Wint on his elevation to DGM of the S.C.
In March of 1965 the Board expressed appreciation to Rt. W. Bro. J. J. Mills for 21 years sterling Masonic work.
At the July meeting the J. J. Mills Fund was established and the Board expressed its sorrow at the passing of W. Bro. Canon F. V. Jolly and Bro. Cedric C. Mason.
At the January 1967 meeting of the Board, W. Bro. Meyrick McGilchrist was elected Chairman in place of W. Bro. A. L. Evans.
The Hamilton-Garcia Fund was augmented by the bequest of W. Bro. Louis Hamilton of £I, 000 for which the Board expressed their gratitude.
W. Bro. A. L. Litherland was elected Secretary at the January meeting of 1968. In April of that year a sad tribute of respect was paid to W. Bro. Frank E. Lyons of the Friendly Lodge No. 239.
In 1972 W. Bro. R. Ernest Fennell was elected Secretary and W. Bro. Adolphus Doyley as Assistant Secretary.
Rt. W. Bro. Dr. Aubrey S. Jacobs, District Grand Master, E.C. succeeded as President of the JMBA.
In 1968 W. Bro. Rudolph Green offered to the Board the “Officers Mess” at Up Park Camp to hold meetings, which they accepted but in 1979 they returned to McGregor Square.
Rt. W. Bro. Ossie McDonald, J.P., District Grand Master, S.C. succeeded Rt. W. Bro. Dr. Aubrey S. Jacobs, DGM, EC., in 1981 as president.
All during these years we attended to the needs of our needy brethren and dependents and at Christmas time we shared the Xmas spirit of giving at lest two months' allowance as an Xmas cheer.
It is the hope that the Masonic Homes Ltd. and the JMBA will in the near future both merge for the common cause.
At present we are responsible for 16 recipients. Our latest review of our securities revealed that we have listed $103,000 worth of securities.
It was a pleasurable task to compile this history, as it strongly brought home to me the great work being done by the Association, and reminded me of my duty to respond to the needs of those who perhaps from circumstances of unavoidable calamity and misfortune have been reduced to the lowest ebb of poverty and distress.
Oswald Leo McDonald, J.P. D.G.M. (S.C.), President
Meyrick McGilchrist, D.G.D, Chairman
R. E. Fennell, P.D.G.S.W., Secretary
2001
REPORT OF THE JAMAICA MASONIC BENEVOLENCE ASSOCIATION (JMBA) TO THE DISTRICT HALF-YEARLY COMMUNICATION, JULY 21, 2001 - GRAND CAYMAN
By W. Bro. Neville Miller, Chairman
Past District Senior Grand Warden E.C.
MEETINGS:
The Association held three (3) meetings to date, with the Annual General Meeting of the Association to be held in June 2001.
All current Masters of Lodges under the three Constitutions are eligible to attend meetings of the Association, however, the continued absence of current Masters or their representatives from our meetings are of concern, as their attendance would undoubtedly improve the brethren's knowledge of the Association's objectives and activities.
In this regard, a JMBA presentation has been done, and presented to several Lodges beginning with Lodge Seville on October 26, 2000. It is our hope that more Lodges will invite us to make similar presentations where possible.
OBITUARIES:
It is with the deepest regret that we record the "passing" of W. Bro. Barrington Miller, District Grand Master of the District Grand Lodge of Jamaica, Scottish Constitution, on March 8, 2001 who had only recently assumed the office of President of the Association for the usual 2-year term in May 2000.
We join with the entire Masonic fraternity in sympathy for this distinguished and much revered District Grand Master and Brother.
It is our hope that his vision of the merger of both the Masonic Homes Ltd. and the Jamaica Masonic Benevolence Association will become a reality, to the ultimate benefit of all Freemasons under the three (3) Constitutions.
The Association is very appreciative to Mrs. Elaine Miller for the donation of $40,157.00 from the funeral collection of W. Bro. Miller and a further $6,950.00 from his children residing in Canada.
The Rt. Wor. District Grand Master of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, W. Bro. Afeef Lazarus will resume the office of President for the remainder of the term.
We also record our sincere condolences on the recent death of our beloved secretary of the Association, Wor. Bro. Aubrey Grant who peacefully passed to the Grand Lodge above on Tuesday, May 22, 2001. Wor. Bro. Grant will be missed for his outstanding contribution to the Association for over twenty-five years. W. Bro. Carlton Stephen will act as Secretary pending a formal confirmation at the Annual General Meeting.
MEMBERSHIP:
Every Freemason under the three (3) Constitutions who subscribes to the Association shall be a member and current dues are as follows:
An annual contribution of $500.00
Hon. Vice-President - five (5) times the annual contribution.
CHARITY:
The Jamaica Masonic Benevolence Association’s primary function is to assist needy brethren and their dependents, in the areas of monthly allowances, health care, educational and funeral expenses.
As previously advised, the Association has implemented contingency plans to increase monthly allowances to beneficiaries based on any devaluation of the Jamaican currency.
We currently have nine (9) beneficiaries receiving monthly allowances of $2,500.00 (increased from J$2,000.00) with an additional bonus of $2,500.00 during December. Christmas gift baskets are also given to the widows of Past Presidents of the Association. Gift baskets are also given to our beneficiaries’ compliments of Grace Kennedy & Company Ltd.
All applications for relief should be submitted by individual lodges to the Association on the prescribed Petition forms available from the Secretary, and should state the assistance given by the Lodge to the applicant before submission to the Association.
We have been advised that the proposed group membership of the JMBA in the "Samaritan Fund" was not possible, as the fund was exclusively for English masons.
FINANCE:
As charity is the cornerstone of our fraternity, brethren are again reminded that the Jamaica Masonic Benevolence Association (J. M. B. A.) is entirely dependent on dues and contributions from Lodges and Chapters under the three (3) Constitutions (English, Irish, and Scottish).
Despite providing a current Donation and Subscription Report on all Lodges, there continues to be a number of Lodges and Chapters who have not submitted any dues or contributions over an extended period and is of some concern to the Association.
We are however, very grateful for the donations received and in this respect again offer our sincere appreciation to Lodge Collegium Fabrurom's annual contribution of J$20,000.00. We also wish to thank both the Kingston and Liguanea Lodges for their significant contributions.
A policy statement regarding the source of funding for the Association was recently circulated and is as follows: -
The fund raising activities of the JMBA should be "pure" in the sense that any funds resulting from such activities should come from within the Masonic fraternity.
The JMBA will accept contributions to its funds from Lodges, but will not allow Lodges to have fund raising activities for which the name of the JMBA is used as recipient of such funds.
Lodges should be advised, that in general, the name of the JMBA should not be used to supply any form of patronage unless its previous permission has been obtained. Lodges are again reminded of our request for a "one-time" contribution of J$5,000.00 and a similar contribution of J$500.00 from each mason to the Association's funds and the consideration of the Association receiving a part of any of the individual Lodge's fund raising activities, subject to the rules of the recent fund raising memorandum.
It has also been suggested that Lodges donate one of their meeting's charity collection to the JMBA.
We implore brethren to respond positively and generously to this appeal, as we try to make the JMBA the useful vehicle of benevolence it was designed to be.
Our Treasurer has expressed his concern that he has been unable to obtain statements of account from Freemasons Trust, which currently holds J$4.126M dollars for the JMBA, as the Trust has been to date unable to present audited accounts to the Ministry of Finance regarding their Tax Free status.
A 5% management charge has also been requested by the Trust. Our average monthly expenditure is J$49,170.00
Our capital fund as at May 2001 is J$3,923,654.00.
For year ending May 2000, medical assistance granted to brethren and their dependents, and grants for living expenses was J$112,000.00 and to date J$270,000.00 and reflects the significant increase in medical expense grants to brethren.
A small profit of J$53,697.00 was realised on the Wine & Cheese party held on the grounds of King's House on May 27, 2000.
GENERAL:
The Association again places on record, its sincere appreciation for the strong continued support and appeals given to the Association by the District and Provincial Grand Masters, and to the several Lodges, Chapters and Brethren who by their generosity enabled the Association to continue to meet its charitable objectives and obligations.
W. BRO. NEVILLE MILLER
CHAIRMAN